Improvements in Plugs or Stoppers for Drains and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 8th May. 1896-Accepted. 27th June. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plugs or Stoppers for Drains and the like.
1 WILLIAM FIRTH Registered Technical Teacher Sonth Kensington Honours
Freeman City of London Sanitary Inspector Shoreditch of 10 Shrubland Road
Dalston in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The improvement of drain & pipe stops or plugs for testing pipes or drains
sanitary or otherwise for testing by water gases or air or any other liquids fluids
or gases to improve the construction so that instead of being adapted for one size
of pipe only (that is to say the size for which they are made). My object is to
so improve the plugs or stops that the same plug or stop will fit several different
sizes of pipes from four inch 4" up to 12" twelve inches or larger or smaller if
necessary and may not be confined to round pipes alone. In carying out my
invention I have constructed a cylinder ball or bag of india rubber or some other
flexible material of such diameter as will easily enter the smallest of the service of
pipes it is adapted for and of such length and cubical capacity that it will fill out
and fit any pipe up to the largest of the series of pipes it is adapted for.
To this end I have a spindle or tube carried through the full length of the
cylender, ball, or bag with two plates and nuts of metal or other material
connected at each end of the cylender, ball, or bag, the spindle or tube having
a thread or threads, worm or worms, throughout its entire length and projecting
through a loose slotted collar and washer at one end. A boss with a thread
or threads or worm or worms fits on the spindle and by turning round the boss
it draws the two ends of the cylender, ball, or bag together and so distends the
sides as
to press against the internal surface or side of the pipe to stand any
pressure without allowing the water, air, or gases to escape.
In using the stopper for the smaller sized pipes the air contained in the
apparatus distends it so that it is perfectly watertight, if necessary to test the
larger pipes under great pressure the plug can be made quite firm and ridgid
by dipping it into a pail of water before screwing up. The apparatus becomes
charged with water through the annular apperture of the slotted collar. Water
being practically incompressible but flexible distends the plug to the shape of
the pipe to stand any pressure.
The fitting of the boss and spindle with double or concentric or right and
left handed threads or worms the boss is much shorter and the action much
quicker than the ordinary methods for fixing stops or plugs, combined with the
above, also the boss is fitted with a double swivel, or ball action universal joint
which with a handle of any convenient length enables it to be easily and instantly
fixed in any curved pipes or inaccessable corner without any personal discomfort
such as getting into manholes &c.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of July 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Plugs or Stoppers for Drains and the like.
I, WILLIAM FIRTH, of 10 Shrubland Road, Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, England, Registered Technical Teacher South Kensington, Honours
Freeman City of London, Sanitary Inspector for Shoreditch, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention 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 stoppers or plugs used in testing drains and like pipes,
by water, gas, smoke, or other suitable liquids or gases, and my object is to
construct a simple and convenient form of stopper or plug so that it can fit several
different sizes of pipes instead of as hitherto being made to fit one size of pipe
only.
But in order that my invention may be better understood I will refer to the
accompanying sheet of drawing which represents a sectional view of my drain
stopper.
In carrying out the invention I construct a cylindrical bag (A) of india rubber
or other suitable flexible material, of such diameter as will easily enter the smallest
of the series of pipes it is adapted for, and of such length and cubical capacity that
when distended will fit any pipes up to the largest of the series it is adapted for.
The central portion (A') of said cylindrical bag (A) is made thinner than the end
portions so that it can be more easily distended. A quick threaded spindle (B)
is attached to one end of said bag (A) by the plate (C) and nut (D), and
engages with an internally threaded flange on the tubular spindle (E). This
tubular spindle is externally threaded also and engages with the flange (F) on the
sleeve (G), upon the upper end of which is formed a forked stem (H) which
projects through the stuffing box (I) on the jacket (J) connected to the other end
of the bag (A) by the plate (K) and nut (L).
A small tap or cock (M) is attached to the jacket (J) and is used for letting
any suitable quantity of gas or liquid either into or out of the bag (A).
A movable handle (N) of any convenient length is connected to said forked
stem (H) by a double swivel (H¹) or other form of universal joint, so that the
plug or stopper can be easily and instantly fixed in any curved pipe or inaccessable
corner without any personal discomfort such as getting into a dirty manhole or
scraping the skin off the knuckles through screwing up the plug.
To use the invention the plug is first placed in position in a pipe, then the
movable handle (N) is turned, this action causes the tubular spindle (E) with the
spindle (B) to be screwed or drawn into the sleeve (G), at the same time causing
the two ends of the cylindrical bag (A) to be drawn together, and thereby
distend the central portion so that it presses firmly against the internal surface
of the pipe to prevent the escape of the liquid or gases used in testing the pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
Firstly. In drain and like stoppers, the combination of the cylindrical bag (A),
with the spindle (B), tubular spindle (E), sleeve (G) and jacket (J) substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth and as illustrated.
Secondly. In drain and like stoppers, the cylindrical bag (A) having a graduated
thickness, so that when the two ends of said bag are brought close together the
central portion is more easily distended, substantially as herein set forth.
Thirdly. In drain and like stoppers, the combination with the spindles (B)
and (E) and sleeve (G) of the forked stem (H), double swivel (H') and handle (N),
as and for the purposes herein stated and as illustrated.

page_text: Fourthly. A drain stopper consisting of the cylindrical bag (A), spindles (B)
and (E), sleeve (G), jacket (J), handle (N) and double swivel (H) all combined
and arranged as and for the purposes herein set forth and as illustrated.
Dated the 8th day of May 1896.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.