Year: 1886

page_text: I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Louis Etienne of 99 Avenue Parmentier Paris in
the Republic of France Engineer to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to couplings for pipes and consists mainly in the arrange-
ment of two parts of similar shape which are caused to interlock or be inserted
one into the other as hereinafter described. This coupling which is well adapted
for hose or other pipes containing fluids under pressure can be connected and
disconnected with the utmost rapidity and ease; it admits of being readily
tightened by hand with great force and combines all the conditions necessary for
strength and durability.
The coupling is made in two parts provided with shoulders which afford bearings
for corresponding internal flanges on clamping rings hereinafter described. Each
of the two parts is provided with similar projections having inclined sides and
forming irregular segments of a cylinder which projections fit into corresponding
recesses formed between the projections on the other part of the coupling.
Each projection is provided with a claw or shoulder the back or bearing surface
of which is slightly inclined to the axis of the coupling. The clamping rings
herein before referred to are provided internally with flanges or shoulders the
bearing surfaces of which are likewise inclined to correspond with the inclines on
the said claws or shoulders on the projections so that when these two parts are put
together with the projections on the one inserted into the recesses on the other
and the clamping rings are slipped over the claws on each projection (the internal
Hanges on the rings being partially cut away in order to provide a passage for the
claws) the parts of the coupling may be forcibly drawn or wedged together by
turning the rings. Rubber or other suitable packing is interposed between the
abutting surfaces of the coupling. The clamping rings are provided with teeth or
projections enabling them to be turned by means of a key or suitable instrument
and of affording a better hold fast for turning by hand.

page_text: According to another arrangement the clamping rings are provided with external
shoulders or projections and the claws are turned inwards so as to engage there-
with the action being precisely the same as in the arrangement herein before
described.
The distinguishing feature of the improved coupling lies mainly in the mode of
interlocking or of fitting the parts one into the other as herein before described.
The form of the clamping rings which force the parts together and the relative
arrangements of the inclines be modified or other equivalent devices be substituted
therefor.
In place of the claws studs may be employed and the inclines formed in slots of
grooves in the rings. The claws may be dispensed with and the rings so arranged
as to interlock or engage directly one with the other by means of suitable flanges
or projections and slots or a nut with a screw may be employed working upon &
thread presenting suitable openings to allow of the parts being placed in position.
A rack or ratchet arrangement with a spring pawl may be applied if required
to any part of the coupling or clamping rings in order to prevent the joint from
working loose.
•
· Dated this 25th day of January 1886.

page_text: I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Louis Etienne of 99 Avenue Parmentier Paris in
the Republic of France Engineer and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to couplings for pipes and consists mainly in the arrange-
ment of two parts of similar shape whereby the two portions of the coupling are:
enabled to interlock or be inserted one into the other as hereinafter described.
This arrangement constitutes a species of hermaphrodite coupling which is well
adapted for hose or other pipes or conduits containing fluids under pressure which
can be connected and disconnected with the utmost rapidity and ease, it admits of
being readily tightened by hand and combines all the conditions necessary for
strength and durability.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
+
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a section taken through the
axis of a coupling constructed according to this invention and Figure 2 shews the
coupling in elevation without the clamping rings.
and
Figure 3 represents a side and end elevation of one of the parts of the coupling
Figure 4 shews one of the clamping rings in end elevation and longitudinal
section.
Figures 5 and 6 represent respectively a longitudinal section and plan of a
modified form of the improved coupling as hereinafter explained.
Figure 7 represents a longitudinal section and Figure 8 a plan the clamping
rings being removed of another modification hereinafter described.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section illustrating another modification and Figure 10
is a detail connected therewith.
The ends of the pipes or tubing to be connected are attached to the couplings
at p. The coupling is made in two similar parts a a¹ one of which a¹ is shown
separately in Figure 3. These parts a a¹ are provided in the arrangement
illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 with shoulders o which afford bearings for
corresponding internal flanges on clamping rings b b¹ Figure 1. Each of the two
parts a al is provided with two similar projections d d Figures 2 and 3 having
inclined sides and forming irregular segments of a cylinder which projections
fit into corresponding recesses Figure 3 formed between the two corresponding
projections on the other part of the coupling as indicated in Figure 2.
These projections and recesses are similar in form and present inclined sides so
that they may be readily slipped into position and caused to engage one with the
other,
The projections & d₁ are provided with claws or shoulders ff¹ the back or
bearing surface of which is slightly inclined to the axis of the coupling. The
clamping rings b b are provided internally with flanges or shoulders i the bearing

page_text: ง
surfaces of which are likewise inclined to correspond with the inclines on the claws
or shoulders ff¹ on the parts a a' so that when these two parts are put together
with the projections on the one inserted into the recesses on the other and the
clamping rings b b₁ are slipped over the claws on each projection (the internal
flanges i on the said rings being partially cut away as indicated at m Figure 4 in
order to provide a passage for the claws) the parts of the coupling may be forcibly
drawn or wedged together by turning the rings in opposite directions. Rubber or
other suitable packing lis interposed between the abutting surfaces of the coupling
in order to obtain a tight joint capable of supporting considerable pressure without
leakage.
According to another arrangement illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 the clamping
rings are provided with external shoulders or projections and the claws fare turned
inwards so as to engage therewith the action being precisely the same as in the '
arrangement herein before described. By means of this arrangement the diameter
of the coupling is reduced.
It is evident that the structural arrangements hereinbefore described and the
number and shape of the shoulders d and of the claws f may be modified by employ-
ing studs or pins acting in a similar manner to a bayonet joint for example without
affecting the principle of the invention.
According to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the clamping
rings bare provided with continuous internal screw threads i having the same
functions as the inclines on the flanges or shoulders i hereinbefore described and
these screw threads engage with corresponding screw threads ff¹ on the parts a a¹
which are cut away so as to interlock or engage one with the other as in all the
other couplings constructed according to this invention. This arrangement enables
the joint to be tightened up by making several turns with the screw and thus
enables the joint to be packed with other or less elastic materials than india rubber
or caoutchouc. The screws may be provided with one or more threads and in the
latter case a portion of the first turn of the thread may be cut away as indicated
at k Figure 7 in order to facilitate the application of the clamping rings.
Figure 9 illustrates an arrangement whereby accidental loosening of the coupling
from any cause is obviated. With this object a notched or ratchet toothed incline
or screw thread is substituted for the regular incline or screw thread employed as
aforesaid. Figure 10 represents this arrangement of ratchet teeth forming inclines
on the interior of the clamping ring. The correspondingly formed claws or shoulders
on the two parts a a¹ of the coupling bear against these teeth or inclines and are
maintained in contact therewith by means of helical springs C in the form of a cone
enclosed in the ringa. This spring is so adjusted that it does not come into opera-
tion until the tightening action commences. The vertical faces of the teeth are set
back slightly or inclined in order to facilitate the operation of disconnecting the
coupling. It is obvious that various other means may be employed for preventing
accidental loosening of the parts such for example as spring pawls arranged either
internally or externally.
In order to limit the movement of rotation of the rings between two points so as
to allow them only sufficient freedom for the movements necessary for their action
the rings and couplings are provided with stops cast or otherwise formed, thereon
which stops limit the motion of the rings in the direction for loosening. In order
to retain the rings in the position for connecting the parts of the coupling in such
a manner as to obviate any possible delay or groping to find the proper position for
presenting the parts (recesses and projections) in order to connect them together
the clamping rings are secured in position directly after the coupling is disconnected
by means of devices which can be thrown out of action when the parts are to be
reconnected so as to restore freedom of motion to the rings. This result can be most
advantageously obtained by providing blade springs inside the rings opposite the
recessed portions. These springs being released when the parts of the coupling are
disconnected abut against projections formed on the shoulders of the corresponding
part of the coupling which being retained in position relatively to the ring by the

page_text: aforesaid stop or projection on the one hand and on the other by the action of
the spring necessarily remains in such a position that the shoulders coincide with
the recesses in the rings owing to the relative position of the parts forming the
coupling not having been allowed to change after the moment of separation. The
shoulders or projections on entering the recesses in reconnecting the parts of the
coupling act upon the springs in such a manner as to set the rings at liberty to
describe the rotary motion necessary to effect the tightening and successively connect
the several constituent parts of the conduit. The loosening and disconnection is
effected in the ordinary manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is,―
1st. A pipe coupling consisting of a combination of similarly formed parts pre-
senting corresponding projections and recesses fitting one into the other and one or
more rings or other equivalent tightening or clamping devices substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2nd. A pipe coupling with interlocking parts connected by means of clamping
rings or nuts provided with continuous screw threads engaging with corresponding
screw threads on the coupling portions of the latter being cut away to enable the
parts to interlock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 7
and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. A pipe coupling with interlocking parts wherein the nuts or clamping rings
are provided with ratchet teeth combined or not combined with a screw thread and
with or without a spring catch for the purpose of obviating accidental loosening or
disconnection of the parts substantially as herein before described with reference to
figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In a pipe coupling constructed and operating as hereinbefore set forth the
combination of fixed or moveable devices whereby after the parts of the coupling
have been disconnected the parts constituting the two halves of the coupling are
retained in their relative positions in such a manner that when the said parts are
to be reconnected they can be immediately presented in the proper positions for
promptly effecting the reconnection thereof substantially as herein before described.
5th. The improved pipe coupling with interlocking parts and clamping rings
provided with blade springs of any suitable form bearing against corresponding
projections on the respective shoulders of each half of the coupling in order to
retain the several parts of the coupling in their proper relative position after they
have been disconnected substantially as hereinbefore described.
6th. The several combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the
improved pipe coupling with interlocking parts whereby the said parts are enabled
to be connected or disconnected with speed and certainty substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the several figures on the accompanying
drawings.