AN IMPROVED ARTICULATED JOINT FOR WATER, GAS, AND STEAM PIPES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British
and Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ARTICULATED JOINT FOR
WATER, GAS, AND STEAM PIPES."-A communication from Victor Doré, a
person resident in Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th April 1859.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the. Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ARTICULATED JOINT
FOR WATER, GAS, AND STEAM PIPES," a communication, to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in an improved system of articulated pipe joint, the
arrangement of which will be readily understood by reference to the accom-
panying Drawing. A, pipe with circular chamber B, B, at the extremity; C,
second pipe with spherical extremity D, D, corresponding with the circular
chamber B, B. The spherical part D, D, of the pipe C being fitted into the
chamber B, B, the whole is secured by the insertion of a pledget E, E, formed
of lead, caoutchouc, or other suitable matter, which, while effectually main-
taining the spherical extremity of the pipe C in connection with the corre-

page_text: sponding part of the pipe A, permits of either being inclined to a certain
extent without interfering with their working power. It is evident that by
combining a number of these articulations any required curve or inclination
may be given to the pipes laid down, thus avoiding the formation of fixed joints
with acute angles as now generally practised.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices,
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of our. Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my.executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED ARTICULATED JOINT
FOR WATER, GAS, AND STEAM PIPES," (a communication), upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to. be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
The Invention communicated to me consists in an improved system of

page_text: articulation, applicable to the joints of water, gas, and steam pipes or mains.
The accompanying Drawing represents the simplest form of this arrangement.
A is a pipe with a circular chamber B, B, at its extremity; C is a second
pipe with a spherical extremity D, D, corresponding with the chamber B, B.
The spherical part D, D, of the pipe C being fitted into the chamber B, B, the
whole is secured by a pledget E, E, formed of lead, caoutchouc, or other
suitable matter, which, while effectually maintaining the spherical extremity of
the pipe C in connection with the corresponding part of the pipe A, permits
of either being inclined to a certain extent without interfering with its
working power. It is evident that by combining a number of these articu-
lations, any required curve or inclination may be given to the pipes laid down,
thus avoiding the formation of the fixed joints with acute angles now
generally employed.
This arrangement may to some extent be altered in practice according to
the requirements of the locality or position in which the pipes are laid, and
the kind of work for which they are intended; but for all ordinary purposes it
will be found amply sufficient in its present form. I therefore claim, in
reserving the right to such modifications of the details as experience may
suggest, the formation of an articulated or moveable joint, as above described
and shewn in the Drawing, and its application to water, gas, and steam pipes
or mains of all dimensions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of Septembre, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.S.)