Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Disconnecting Gas and Water Mains and for Effectually Closing the Ends thereof.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec.,
1888
PA っ
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Disconnecting
Gas and Water Mains and for Effectually Closing the Ends
thereof.
I, JAMES WILLIAM HELPS of the Gas Works, Croydon, in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to adopt a method and to construct apparatus whereby
gas and water mains may be disconnected with great facility, and without the trouble,
loss, and consequent expense attending the so called cutting out of such mains; and
to provide appliances whereby the ends of the mains may be effectually closed and the
escape of fluid prevented.
For the purpose of disconnection I make a strong wrought iron clip in two parts,
hinged or otherwise fastened together at the bottom, and of size corresponding to the
diameter of the main to be disconnected. The ends of this clip are bent upwards
and each has a hole in it. Between the ends of the clip is placed an iron block
or nut having a hole in its centre and screwed a female thread. Into this hole is
inserted a screw having a head capable of being turned by a wrench or other suitable
means. The block is formed with two arms the ends of which are screwed and of
such a size as will admit of their entering and projecting beyond the holes in the
upper part of the clip, being secured thereto by a nut on each side. The clip may
thus be made to embrace the main very tightly.
The method of disconnecting and the use of the apparatus is as follows. The mains
to be disconnected are laid bare and one pipe is removed in the usual way. The clip
is then attached near the spigot end of the pipe from which the next pipe is to be
removed, and a block is placed under the pipe and near the clip attached to the said
pipe. The screw is then turned until the end rests against the socket of the pipe to be
removed. A chain or rope attached to the short end of a lever is passed round the
pipe near its further extremity. A suitable fulcrum being provided, the long end of
the lever is depressed and suddenly released as many times as found necessary
when the pipe will be found to have been loosened and drawn slightly away from

page_text: the end of the screw. The screw is then turned till its end rests firmly against
the socket when the operation with the lever and the screw is repeated. The
repetition of this action will in the course of a very few minutes draw the pipe
completely out of the socket bringing the lead with it, thus saving the trouble,
expense, and loss incurred by cutting, while the whole of the lead is drawn out and
may be returned to the melting pot.
To make the invention more complete and provide means for preventing escape from
the ends of mains, I make a disc of iron of a diameter slightly less than the interior of
the socket, cast with strengthening ribs on one side and a projecting rim on the
other. Between the rim and the edge of the disc I place a ring of india rubber
similar to a bicycle tire. This disc is thrust into the socket so that the india rubber
ring rests against the shoulder of the socket, and upon the application of a screw
which works through a bridge piece or clip which may be made adjustable to fit
different sized mains so as embrace the open end of the socket, the disc with its
india rubber ring may be forced so tightly against the shoulder at the bottom of
the socket as to preclude all possibility of any escape of fluid. To remove the
same, all that is necessary is to turn the screw in the opposite direction, take off
the clip and withdraw the disc. The main will then be ready for the attachment of
another pipe, or to be dealt with as occasion may require.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Disconnecting
Gas and Water Mains and for Effectually Closing the Ends
thereof.
I, JAMES WILLIAM HELPS of the Gas Works, Croydon in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer 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 :-
The object of this invention is to adopt a method and to construct apparatus
whereby gas and water mains may be disconnected with greater facility than by the
use of jacks or other instruments hitherto employed for the purpose, and without the
trouble, loss, and consequent expense attending the so called cutting out of such
mains; and to provide appliances whereby the ends of the mains may be effectually
closed and the escape of fluid prevented.
In order that the invention may be easily understood drawings are attached hereto,
Fig. 1 being an end elevation of the clip, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same,
while Fig. 3 illustrates the mode of using it. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a
pipe and the disc and ring, through S, T, Fig. 6 used for stopping it, the other part
of the appliance being in elevation. Fig. 5 is a part plan of the bridge piece,-and
Fig. 6 is a plan of the upper or outer side of the disc.
For the purpose of disconnection I make a strong wrought iron cr other suitable
metal clip in two parts A, A, hinged or otherwise fastened together at the bottom B,
and of size corresponding to the diameter of the main to be disconnected. The
ends C, C, of this clip are bent upwards and each has a hole in i.-Between the
ends of the clip is placed an iron block or nut D having a hole in its centre and
screwed with a female thread. Into this hole is inserted a screw E having a head F
capable of being turned by a wrench or other suitable means. The block is formed
with two arms the ends of which are screwed and of such a size as will admit of
their entering and projecting beyond the holes in the upper part of the clip, being
secured thereto by a nut G on each side. The clip may thus be made to embrace
the main very tightly.
Instead of the block just described a modification may be employed in which one
or both arms may be movable, but in that case the arms are made like bolts having
square or hexagonal heads at one end and a thread at the other, so that they may
pass through the holes in the clip and enter correspondingly screwed holes in
the sides of the block, and by turning the arms or bolts, the clip may be made to
clasp the pipe or main tightly as before mentioned.
The method of disconnecting and the use of the apparatus is as follows. Having
uncovered a few lengths of main, a break is made by removing the whole or part
of one pipe by the usual method of cutting out. The free end of the pipe is then
slung as shown at H Fig. 3, so that it can be sprung by the lever I sufficiently high
to allow of the introduction of a stout block J underneath the end of the next pipe.

page_text: In the case of heavy pipes it may be found more convenient to raise them by blocks
and falls. The clip with the screw drawn back, is then tightly clasped round the
end of the first or second pipe (according to whether the pipes are being extracted
socket or spigot end first) close to the face of the socket at which the disconnection
is to be made, as shown at K Fig. 3. The free end of the main is then raised, and
allowed to drop suddenly upon the block J. The effect of this jar (which is repeated
once or twice if necessary) will be to loosen the joint and draw the socket away at
the top side. The screw is then turned by hand until its end rests against the face
of the socket, and the process of lifting and dropping is repeated. This will still
further draw the pipe out of the socket, as it will be prevented by the screw from
regaining its original position. The repetition of the operations of lifting and
dropping and tightening up the screw to take up the slack will in a short time
completely draw the pipe out. of the socket, the lead being of course easily
recovered.
To make the invention more complete and provide means for preventing escape
from the ends of mains I make a disc of iron L, Figs. 4 and 6, of a diameter slightly
less than the interior of the socket, cast with strengthening ribs M, on one side
and a projecting rim N on the other. Between the rim and the edge of the disc I
place a ring O of india rubber similar to a bicycle tire. This disc is thrust into the
socket so that the india rubber ring rests against the shoulder P of the socket, and
upon the application of a screw which works through a bridge piece or clip R
Figs. 4 and 5, which may be made adjustable to fit different sized mains, so as to
embrace the open end of the socket, the disc with its india rubber ring may be forced
so tightly against the shoulder at the bottom of the socket as to preclude all possibility
of any escape of fluid. To remove the same, all that is necessary is to turn the screw
in the opposite direction, take off the clip and withdraw the disc. The main will then
be ready for the attachment of another pipe, or to be dealt with as occasion may
require.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. The construction and method of using clips for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth, and as herein described and shown on the drawings.
2. The disc L and ring O together with the screw Q and bridge piece or clip R, as
herein described and shown on the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of November 1888