AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE COUPLING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolfo Cozza, of Orvietto, in the Kingdom of Italy, but
now residing at Queen Street Place, in the City of London, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE COUPLING."
Sealed the 9th November 1877, and dated the 6th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolfo Cozza at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1877.
ADOLFO COZZA, of Orvietto, in the Kingdom of Italy, but now residing at Queen
Street Place, in the City of London. "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE
COUPLING."
The object of this Invention is to produce a coupling chiefly for the tubes of
vacuum brakes that will admit of being coupled up without regard to the relative
positions of the carriages fitted with such apparatus. To provide for this the tube
ends to be coupled are made and fitted alike in all respects, their coupling attach-
ments being always retained by the tubes.
The tube ends are each formed with two or more lateral recesses, the walls of
which extend outwards to form tongues that will admit between them the tube end
to be coupled up.
The extremities of these tongues are bent over outwards and
constitute shoulders for the purpose to be presently explained. The tube ends are
also cast with an external flange at their extremities, and with an internal rib or
shallow flange to form abutting surfaces.
The outer flanges of the tube ends are slotted to allow of the tongues of the tube
ends that are to be coupled up being protruded through these slots.
Each tube end is provided with a loose ring, on the inner edge of which inclined
planes are formed, corresponding in number with the tongues of its tube end, and
these rings are recessed on their inner face to provide for the tongues of the tube
ends to be coupled, passing through the rings.
Packing rings of india-rubber are fitted to the faces of the tube ends, and when
the tongues of the tube ends to be coupled are passed respectively through the
slotted flanges and through the recessed rings the coupling is tightened up by

page_text: turning the rings in opposite directions, and making the inclines of the rings
bear tightly against the turned over lips or shoulders of the several tongues.
These tightening rings may be made of a strip of metal lapped round the coupling
pieces, the ends of the strip being bent outwards at right angles, and rivetted
together to form a handle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Adolfo Cozza in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th March
1878.
ADOLFO COZZA, of Orvietto, in the Kingdom of Italy, but now residing at Queen
Street Place, in the City of London. "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TUBE
COUPLING."
The chief object of this Invention is to produce a coupling for the tubes of vacuum
brakes that will admit of being coupled up without regard to the relative positions
of the carriages fitted with such apparatus. To provide for this the ends of tho
tubes to be coupled are made and fitted alike in all respects, their coupling attach-
ments being always retained by the tube ends.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shows in side view the metallic coupling
which I propose to use for connecting flexible tubes together, the same being shown
in the locked or coupled-up position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same;
Fig. 3 is a section of one of the tube ends detached, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of
the same.
A and B are the tube ends, formed each with one, or it may be two or more
tongues a, b. The number of these tongues for each tube end will depend upon the
diameter of the tube to be coupled, and the pressure of fluid they will have to
resist. The extremities of these tongues a, b, carry shoulders or flanges a³, b¹, for
the purpose to be presently explained.
The tube ends are each furnished with an external flange or lip a², b², which is cut
away at the part c for the purpose to be presently explained.
Each tube end is provided with a loose ring C similar to that shown detached at
Fig. 5.
On the inner edges of these rings an inclined plane is formed, and these
rings are recessed on their inner face as at c¹, Fig. 5, to provide for the tongues of
the tube ends to be coupled, passing through their respective rings. To retain these
rings in place they are fitted with screw pins which enter segment grooves formed
in the periphery of the tube ends. In the contact faces of the tube ends annular
recesses are turned to receive india-rubber washers D, which serve to make a close
air or water-tight joint.
In order to connect the tube ends together the tongues are passed respectively
through the openings formed by bringing the recess c¹ in the ring C into conjunction
with the recesses c in their respective tubes A, B. The rings are then turned in
opposite directions, whereby the inclines of the rings are caused to bear tightly
against the turned over lips or shoulders a', b¹, of the tongues a, b, and draw the
coupled ends together.
In the Drawing I have shown the coupling ends as each provided with one tongue;
but when the two or more such tongues are provided a corresponding number of

page_text: recesses must be made in the rings and flanges, and the rings must also be furnished
with a corresponding number of inclines to act respectively upon the interlocking
tongues with which the rings are brought into contact.
7
I would remark that my improved couplings are applicable not only for con-
necting flexible tubes together but also under a variety of circumstances as a
temporary or permanent coupling for steam and water pipes, and for cocks and taps
employed therewith. In these cases the tightening ring C instead of being cast
with a thumb piece or projection, as shown at Fig. 5, for the purpose of turning them,
may be cast with hexagonal sides, like a screw nut, which will admit of their being
turned by a spanner to tighten up the coupling.
As a modification of this coupling for union joints I propose to form tongues on
one coupling end only, and by means of a binding ring with inclines fitted to the
other coupling ends to secure the attachment of the parts.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Construction
of Tube Coupling," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,
forming the coupling ends of tubes with interlocking parts, and with a wedge-
shaped recessed ring or rings for drawing together, and securing by the axial
motion of such ring or rings the interlocking ends as above explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolfo Cozza, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, the Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
ADOL TA CAZZ
AD610 00ZZA (s)