Improvements in Loose Flanges for Pipes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Loose Flanges for Pipes.
I, FRITZ SCHUMacher, Engineer, of 69 Helmstederstrasse Brunswick, Germany,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The device forming the object of the present invention is a loose flange, made in
two parts, for use in connection with wrought iron and copper pipes as also cast
iron pipes to facilitate the laying and fixing of the former and the working of the
large flange surfaces of the latter.
In laying pipe systems the disadvantage often occurs that owing to the inaccurate
boring of the flanges, a displacement of the bends is caused, which disadvantage is
obviated in the case of flanges constructed according to the present invention as the
same may easily be removed from the pipe after the same has been laid, and any
defect in the borings for the bolts remedied, this was not possible with the loose
flanges hitherto employed as the same had to be placed on the pipes before the
latter were laid and could not consequently be subsequently removed.
The present flange is divided into halves, which are exactly similar in shape, so
that one pattern may be used for casting both halves. The said flange may have
the standard outside diameter, if desired, and a central orifice slightly exceeding the
diameter of the outside of the pipe in connection with which it is to be used.
The flange is divided into two segments having their ends overlapping each other,
and secured together by the flange bolts, the thickness of the overlapping ends
being reduced to half that of the flange so that when the two parts are in position
overlapping each other a complete flange having a uniform thickness will be formed.
The ends of each segment, where they overlap those of the other segment are
reduced in thickness at opposite sides, i.e. the one end has the metal cut away on
the face of the flange, the opposite end on the back of the said flange, so that all
the segments will have exactly the same form, and any two of the same may be put
together to form a complete flange.
And in order to make the present Specification more easily intelligible reference
is had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters denote similar parts
throughout the several views :—
Fig. 1 being plan view and elevation of a small flange,
Fig. 2 similar views of a flange of a larger size, showing in dotted lines the appli-
cation of the invention to an oval flange, and
Fig. 3 a plan and elevation of a cast iron flange.
As stated the exterior diameter may be of standard or other dimension, whilst the
interior diameter may be slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the pipe.
The flanges are constructed in the following manner:-
Parallel lines y are produced from the exterior diameter of the pipe d, and at
the points a a and b b where these lines cut the circumference of the orifice of the
flange, diameters v v¹ and w w¹ are drawn through the flange said latter lines deter-
mining the amount of the lap, at each end of the segments, which is to be thinned
down. This lap as shown in the drawing is reduced to the thickness of half that
of the flange, the said reduction being effected at different sides of the flange, the
metal being removed from the back of the flange at the upper side (to the right of
Fig. 1) and from the face at the lower side, and vice versa on the left hand segment
in the same figure. The two halves are held in place and secured by the flange
bolts. In the drawing the flange orifice is shown only slightly larger than the
exterior diameter of the pipe, this is done in order to illustrate that even here ample
lap may be obtained, according to the construction herein before described.

page_text: In Fig. 3 a larger flange is shown, in which case it is advantageous, in order to
reduce the amount of work in facing of the contacting surfaces of the laps, to recess
the same as at I, leaving only the upper and lower facings k and k¹. The edges of the
said laps at the lines and w may also be recessed at jj so as to enable the two
halves to fit better together.
"
Although the diameter of the flange orifice has been shown only slightly larger
than that of the exterior of the pipe, with copper pipes it will generally be consider-
ably larger as allowance must be made for the end ring or collar of such pipes, so
that the lap will be considerably greater, the points a a¹ being further apart.
The application of the invention to oval flanges is evident and needs no further.
description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A divided flange consisting of two segments similar in shape, the ends of one
segment overlapping those of the other on opposite sides and being of reduced thick-
ness and bored to receive the flange bolt the orifice of the said flange exceeding in
diameter that of the exterior of the pipe substantially as described.
2. The combination of a divided flange consisting of two segments similar in
shape, the ends of one segment overlapping those of the other on opposite sides
and being of reduced thickness and bored to receive the flange bolt the orifice of
the said flange exceeding in diameter that of the exterior of the pipe and recessed
contacting surfaces to said laps substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of May 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.