Improvements in Pipe or Hose Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pipe or Hose Couplings.
We, Dr. KARL HORLIVY, Lawyer, and KARL SCHEINPFLUG, Manufacturer,
both of Schlan, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austro-Hungary, 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 present invention relates to pipe or hose couplings.
As is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings each half of the coupling consists of a
tube or barrel A widened at its end so as to form a conical head B on the outside
of which are provided projecting hooks, clutches or jaws C and in the interior of
which is placed an elastic ring R.
The tube or barrel A serves for the connection by tying, screwing, soldering or
other means of the hose or pipe S to the coupling-piece and also as a gripping
surface or handle to be used in bringing the two halves of the coupling close
together for producing the tight joint.
The head B of each coupling-piece has the shape of a truncated cone.
This conical shape of the outer surface of the head B not only facilitates the
fitting together of the gripping cheeks or clutches which the head serves to support,
but it also offers the advantage over all other couplings that it enables the heads to
be made perfectly uniform, so that any two heads of the same diameter may
conveniently be joined. The conical external head surface may moreover be
readily finished or smoothed down by suitable tools or apparatus such as files or the
like so as to improve the general appearance and working of the joint.
The modifications to which the head itself may be subjected are immaterial and
merely consist in providing it, in certain cases, with the ribs or otherwise
strengthening it.
The external surfaces of the gripping jaws C should be rounded off so as to
resemble as much as possible a hemispherical dome or cap so that the coupled hose
may be easily dragged along from place to place.
The most important part of the gripping jaw C is the surface & Figure 1. It
has been necessary for the inventors to modify the shape of this surface several
times before the present precise and perfect form was obtained. This joint surface
is tapering and undulating or wavy its centre coinciding with the axis of the length
of tube of the joint.
The employment of such undulating jaw surfaces results in the following
advantages:-
(1). It facilitates the closing and opening of the joint.
(2). It effectively prevents the coupling from becoming undone of its own accord
as the jaws cannot be moved apart at any point without the exercise of a certain
amount of power.
(3). The wear is reduced to a minimum, the points of contact being confined to
one line in each case.
It has been found by practical experiment that any deviation from the shape here
illustrated makes the gripping surfaces of the jaw less reliable.
In the case of couplings of a large size the closing and opening of the jaws will
not be feasible unless a rather considerable strain is exercised to overcome the
resistance or elasticity of the large inner rings. To facilitate therefore the closing
and opening in these cases each jaw is provided with two or more undulating
clamping surfaces ss (Figure 2). This modification may also however be applied
to small couplings without interfering with the simplicity and good appearance of
the joint. The number of gripping jaws depends on the size of the coupling, on

page_text: •
the particular purpose for which it is intended and on the strain it will have to
sustain.
The elasticity necessary for ensuring the strength of the coupling after it has
been closed, is afforded by the, elastic ring R which at the same time serves for
tightening the joint within.
This ring is fitted within the coupling-head B and retained in place by means of
an internally projecting rib r or of the head B (Figures 1, 3 and 7) and against
which it is held by a metal ring or short cylinder M (Figures 3 and 8). Or it may
remain in place simply owing to its conical shape (Figures 5 and 9).
A. recess e on that side of the elastic ring which is subject to pressure (that is on
the inner side in pressure-couplings and on the outer side in suction couplings)
enables the joint to be made perfectly tight.
By providing such a recess both on the inner and on the outer peripheries of the
ring it is made serviceable both for pressure and suction (Figure 3).
In the case of suction-couplings i.e. with an inner vacuum or an excessive pressure
acting on the outside, the elastic rings R should have a strong supporting surface so
that the inward pressure may not force them inwardly out of place.
This result is obtained by inserting a metal liner or ring M (Figure 7) into the
coupling-piece (and fixing it therein either by a screw-thread or a bayonet-joint or
otherwise) which affords support for the elastic ring R and in case of need retains
it in place in the manner shown in Figures 8 and 9.
External pressure forces the packing ring R against the said metal ring or
liner M..
This ring M which prevents the flexible ring R from being forced inwardly may
if necessary be removable and simply form a continuation of the length of tube
above referred to, within the head of the coupling (Figure 4). In this case an
elastic ring of a slightly tapering shape and if desired provided with a shallow
notch may
be pressed into the space between the metal ring M.and the wall of the
coupling-head. The jaws C are omitted (from Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9) to avoid
obscuring these drawings.
Each part of the coupling may as shown in Figure 6 be provided with a guard-
ring m adapted to protect the hooks or jaws against possible damage and also to
prevent any accidental loosening of the joint especially in joints of suction-hose
while in operation, this guard-ring fixing the jaws in the position to which they have
been moved.
To open or close the coupling this guard-ring has to be screwed back so that the
hooks may only overlap each other when the said ring is tightly pressed against the
head of the coupling.
The method of securing the hose to the coupling-piece now generally adopted is
to bind it in place by means of wire or cord as in Figure 1.
attachment offers the following advantages:
1). The attachment is secure and strong.
2). It is, if carefully carried out, perfectly air-tight.
This mode of
3). It is most simple and does not interfere with the easy closing and opening of
the joint or increase either the bulk or the weight of the parts.
4). The hose is in no danger of being damaged through it.
It is owing to these advantages that this mode of attachment is almost universally
adopted.
It is not however free from certain defects, viz. :-
1). The hose or flexible tube is necessarily contracted or reduced in section by
the insertion of the length of tube of the coupling.
2). The tying or binding process requires a special device however simple, and
also,, involves such an expenditure of time that it could not be carried out on
the spot.
3). It requires a certain amount of skill on the part of the operatives. To
remove these inconveniences while preserving the advantages mentioned above
is the object of the device hereinafter described and illustrated in, Figure 5. The
14

page_text: A terminates in a short and stoot come
15 40
projection or collar g provided with a screw-thread. is a nut and j a metal ring
or liner.
The hose S whether made of hemp, cotton or other suitable material is frayed or
opened at the end by withdrawing a number of cross-threads. This open piece is
then passed over the cone n and pressed against the cone n by the nut h screwed
collar and liner j.
9
The metal ring or liner; serves to protect the hose S from frictional contact with
the nut h.
To render the joint still more tight and reliable the annular projection 9 may be
fitted with an indiarubber or leather ring or washer k as shown in the drawing.
Instead of the screw mechanism a bayonet-joint may be employed for securing
the hose on the coupling device. By means of the arrangement herein described
and in the manner indicated the hose may in a very short time and without any
auxiliary device be secured to the coupling-piece without reduction of the size of
the hose in section and without any parts of the hose being damaged between two
screw-threads as frequently happens where other methods are adopted.
necessity of ripping open the hose at the end is also obviated so that it undergoes
no damage whatever. The junction is strong, tight and secure and requires no
special skill, and owing to its simplicity and the facility with which it is completed
may readily be carried out on the spot whenever required.
The
Neither the size (in any direction) nor the weight of the hose is increased, on
the contrary the size is somewhat reduced longitudinally, and the hose securing
device in no way affects the efficiency of the joint. Thus hose securing mechanism
is advantageously applicable not only to the coupling device herein described, but
to hose-couplings of other shape or construction.
Figure 10 shows a special arrangement for attaching hose to couplings in an
easy, rapid, strong and durable manner, and so that the inner diameter of the hose
is not reduced or contracted by the socket or nozzle or like projecting portion of
the coupling.
The nozzle or socket A' which is to receive the end of the hose should be as
short as possible, and provided with an inner screw-thread, while the socket or
sleeve on the hose is screw-threaded externally so that the latter may be readily
screwed into the former. The bottom-piece a¹ of the coupling is provided with a
recess into which fits the edge of the ring J. The sleeve or socket on the hose
may, as indicated in dotted lines, be recessed so as to reduce as much as possible
the weight of this part. On the other hand the said sleeve or socket h¹ at its free
end has a head or projecting portion which may be provided with perforations,
slots or the like, so that when the parts are screwed together the joint may be
tightened by means of a key wrench or other suitable tool adapted to grip this
expanded portion. The socket or tube A¹ which is to receive the end of the hose
is expanded or enlarged at a' so as to receive the screw-threaded end of h². The
insertion and attachment of the hose take place in the following manner-one en d
of the hose S is passed through the socket or sleeve h', and a short piece of it is
passed round the guard-ring J, and when the said socket is screwed into the socket
or tube A', that portion of the hose is nipped and retained between the said ring J
and the bottom a¹. The object of the guard-ring J is to counteract friction and
prevent any shifting of the hose during the screwing-in of the hose-socket into the
coupling. When once the screw-joint is tightened, it is prevented from becoming
loose by means of a set-screw fitted in the socket of the coupling, and adapted to
bear upon the hose-socket h¹ thereby retaining it in place. The bottom a¹ need not
necessarily be recessed, but may be flat. It is however preferred to give it the
shape shown in Figure 1 where the recessed portion presents a larger bearing
surface and besides offers the advantage, that, should the threads of the fabric of
which the hose is made become frayed out or loose, they will be still held together
at their outer periphery.
It is well-known that the usual hemp-fabric employed in making hose is wanting

page_text: in flexibility and may not be turned over at the edge. A well-known process is to
make a number of cuts in the end of the hose, it is however extremely objectionable,
as in the first place it makes the hose very liable to tear and secondly the slits
allow water to pass through them. Now a number of experiments have shown that
our method described above, consisting in pulling out some of the cross-threads at
the hose-end merits a decided preference. For the sake of greater safety and to
make the packing absolutely reliable, the hose may be impregnated with molten
wax. In forming a pipe-coupling care should be taken that the flange a should
grasp at least one, but preferably a greater number, of the cross threads. By such
a method and such means the hose is without difficulty securely and tightly
connected with the coupling and this connection will prove capable of resisting
comparatively high pressure, without any tear or leakage. From the drawing it
will readily be seen that this arrangement does not increase the size of the pipe-
coupling longitudinally. The whole device is rounded off and easy to grasp in
closing the coupling while it does not interfere with the movements of the hose as it
is dragged along. The mode of attachment is exceedingly simple and easy and
requires but little practice on the part of the operative. No special tools are
required in carrying it out, except an ordinary key or wrench for tightening the
screwed parts. This arrangement besides being applicable to the herein described
clamp couplings, is also advantageously applicable to couplings of other description
or type whether screwed or not.
In all arrangements for attaching hose, where the hose end is not to be reduced
in cross-section, the coupling-head or receiving socket should necessarily have a
correspondingly enlarged diameter. Where the hose is tied up on the sleeve or
socket of the coupling in the manner usual hitherto, it is necessary that the inner
diameter of the said sleeve should correspond to the inner diameter of the socket
or nozzle to be inserted into the hose; whence in the arrangement now proposed
the inner diameter of the said sleeve should correspond to the inner diameter of the
hose itself. Besides a device such as this, if it is to be quite reliable must in all
cases be somewhat heavier than the junction obtained by means of threads or wires
tied around the end of the hose. Consequently the weight of the whole of this
coupling is necessarily somewhat increased. To compensate this comparative
accession of weight (the quantity of material used in its construction not being
reducible beyond certain limits) all that can be done is to adopt a material being
naturally of less weight than any material hitherto employed in making pipe-
joints or couplings and on the other hand it is necessary that such material should
combine great strength with the desired lightness. These we have found to be the
combined properties of aluminium and its alloys, so that by making the socket or
sleeve for the hose end, of aluminium, the comparative increase of weight
resulting from the modified construction is compensated for.
Lightness is not the only property which renders aluminium valuable in the
construction of hose-couplings. All metals now used in constructing hose-couplings
such as brass, bronze and tombac, are liable, to much oxidation especially at the
parts which are in contact with india-rubber. This not only impairs the appearance
of the coupling, but in the case of certain liquids, especially beverages, is likely to
spoil the quality of these. This drawback is avoided by the use of aluminium.
Some of the aluminium alloys, moreover, are known for their particular firmness
and density, for example, aluminium brass and alloys of aluminium and bronze
which as regards firmness or resistance surpass even alloys of bronze with phosphorus
and manganese.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:
1. The herein described improvements in couplings mainly consisting in the
employment of a coupling-piece comprising a nipple or socket such as A widened at
the end into a conical or cylindrical contact head B provided externally with

page_text: projecting jaws or hooks such as C and internally with an elastic ring such as R
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a coupling such as described the employment of hooks or jaws such as C
having curved interlocking faces such as whereby the closing operation or
formation of joint is materially facilitated while the accidental opening of the joint
of its own accord is prevented substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. In a coupling such as described the combination of two or more curved or
undulating clamping faces such as substantially as described and illustrated in
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a coupling-piece such as described an elastic ring such as R provided with
a recess such as e on the part submitted to pressure or with two such recesses one
within and one without so that the said ring is enabled to display the required
amount of elasticity or resistance for keeping the joint closed substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a coupling such as described the insertion of packing-rings such as R
provided with grooves either externally or internally into which fit ribs or
projections such as provided for the purpose on the coupling-piece or on liners or
rings such as M for the purpose of stiffening and securing in place the flexible
rings R substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a coupling such as described the employment of a conical packing ring
such as R either in combination with a correspondingly tapering auxiliary liner or
ring such as M as in Figure 9 or without such ring as in Figure 5 substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The coupling piece grooved for the reception of the packing ring R substan-
tially as described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In a coupling for hose-pipes or the like with externally arranged closing
devices such as hooks or jaws the employment of a guard-ring such as m behind
the lock or coupling proper substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a coupling such as described the employment of a metal ring or liner such
as M adapted to be inserted into the coupling piece and to support the flexible
packing ring R for the purpose of preventing the latter from being driven in by
external pressure substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
10. The method of fastening hose to coupling-pieces without reducing the size of
the hose in section by opening the end of the hose by the withdrawal of a number of
threads placing it on the tapered part of a tube such as n and screwing home a nut
such as so that the said end of the hose will be securely retained with or without
the employment of a metal ring or washer j substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
11. Improvements in hose-couplings consisting in attaching the hose-end within
the tube or socket A of the coupling, for which purpose one or more of the cross
or weft threads are removed from the hose-end and this end is interposed between
the bottom part a' of the coupling and a liner or guard-ring such as J passed over
the sleeve or socket h¹ inserted into the hose whereupon the said sleeve or socket /¹
is screwed into the socket or length of tube A substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. As a new article of manufacture hose-couplings made of aluminium or alloys
of aluminium for the purpose of both decreasing the weight of the article and
avoiding oxidation substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of March 1892
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.