Improvements in Flexible connections for Pipes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible connections for Pipes.
We, CHARLES WESLEY VAUGHAN and JOHN ROBERT SUTTON, both of Hills-
dale, in the County of Hillsdale and State of Michigan, United States of
America, 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:-
-
Our invention relates to a flexible connection for pipes adapted for use in
conveying steam, compressed air, or other fluid, either under compression, or
when subjected to the action of a partial vacuum; and the object in view is too
provide a simple and efficient flexible metallic connection, to avoid the use of
hose, or equivalent means, for conveying a fluid from a train-pipe section on
one car to the corresponding section on another car of a train, or for any
analogous purpose. It will be understood that by constructing the connection
of a material which will not deteriorate in use, and is not collapsible, it is adapted
for use with safety with either of the several forms of brake systems in com-
mon use.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a connection constructed in
accordance with our invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of connection showing
the same applied in the operative position to a car;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the same;
Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of one of the link-connections illustrated
in Figure 2 showing the swivels.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
of the drawings.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 1, the connection includes two longi-
tudinal link-members 1 and 2ª respectively adapted for attachment to a con-
tiguous pipe section 3ª indicated in dotted lines in the drawings, and for carry-
ing a coupling-member 4", which may be of the well known Westinghouse type
shown in the drawings or of any equivalent construction. Obviously, this
coupling-member is adapted for engagement with a complemental coupling-
member on a similar connection or other conveyor section.
The longitudinal link-members 1ª and 2ª are connected with curved or bent
link-members 5ª and 6ª, respectively, by means of interposed swivels 7 the
outer cups or shells of which form part of the curved members 5 and 6 and
which swivels are arranged with their axes longitudinal with the link mem-
bers 1 and 2, while said link-members 5 and 6 each terminate in a transverse
swivel 8 having its outer cup or shell formed as part of the respective member 5*
or 6 and arranged wth its axis transverse to the link members 1 and 2ª as
shown in the drawings, said swivels being duplicates in construction and hav-

page_text: ing an interposed elbow or connecting link-member 9ª, as, in order to obtain
the desired flexibility, we have deemed it advisable to employ duplicate trans-
verse swivels to give a bodily transverse movement to each of the link-mem-
bers 5 6.
"
The preferred construction of swivel (7" and 8") embodies a cup or shell 7ª
or 8ª carried by one of the link-members, a plug 11 carried by the connected
link-member, and threaded into the contiguous extremity thereof, or formed
integral therewith, as may be preferred, and an annular nut 12" threaded into
the cup or seat 10", and having a bevelled interior shoulder 13 to bear upon
a corresponding exterior shoulder 14" on the plug. The portion of the plug be-
tween said shoulder and its extremity within the cup or seat, is preferably
trunco-conical, and the bore of the nut is correspondingly shaped to snugly fit
the same.
All of the swivels, both longitudinal and transverse, are constructed
as above described, and hence it has been deemed sufficient to illustrate but
one of these swivels in section.
From the above description it will be seen that while the longitudinal link-
members 1 and 2ª and the connected curved or bent link-members 5 and 6
are capable of relative rotary movement by reason of the longitudinal swivels 7"
the transverse swivels 8 allow a transverse movement or flexibility which gives
to the connection a flexibility sufficient to allow independent movement of con-
nected pipe sections in any desired directions without in any way straining or
twisting said connected sections.
Furthermore, it will be seen that the link-members 5 and 6, which are of
elbow or quarter-bend construction, in connection with the approximately half-
bend or semi-circular. construction of the intermediate or connecting-link 9
form a single lateral curve, which provides for the introduction of the neces-
sary transverse swivels, without greatly increasing the length of the path, be-
tween the longitudinal link-members 1 and 2, over a straight connection.
In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, the con-
nection comprises separable members, as set forth in connection with the
description of Figure 1, adapted to be carried, respectively, by different cars,
when the device is used to connect brake-pipes, steam-heating pipes, or the
equivalents thereof, and having communication with the train-pipes, or other
pressure-conveyors 1 thereof, said pipes or pressure-conveyors being terminally
arranged contiguous to the draw-heads by which the cars are coupled. The free
ends of these connection-members are provided with suitable coupling-members 2,
as set forth herein before in the description of Figure 1, the same being of any
suitable or preferred construction.
Each member of the connection, illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, com-
prises a number of links, corresponding in construction, and being variable as
to number to suit the required length of the connection. Two of these links
are shown, each comprising link-members 3 and 4, of tubular construction,
which are longitudinally disposed, and are connected by a transverse swivel
joint A so arranged as to allow transverse or lateral relative movement of the
link members. The link-member 3 terminates in a transverse barrel or sleeve 6
in the extremities of which are fitted thimbles 7 for rotary movement, stuffing
boxes 8 being fitted upon the extremities of the barrel or sleeve to receive the
thimbles and prevent reduction of pressure at the joints. These thimbles, are
also preferably provided with collars 9.
The link-member 4 is provided with transverse branches 10, and the thimbles 7
are provided with double-elbows 11 of which the free arms will align with
the branches 10 of the link-member 4, unions 12 being employed to detachably
connect said arms (which are carried respectively by the thimbles 7) with the
branches 10 of the link-member 4 and it is obvious that by detaching, said parts
at the unions, the thimbles may be withdrawn from the barrel or sleeve 6. of
the link member 3, for the purpose of renewing the contents of the stuffing-
boxes, or for repair in other particulars. The link-member 4 terminates at the

page_text: other end in a transverse swivel B consisting of a longitudinal barrel or sleeve 14
in which is fitted a thimble 15 carried by the link member 3 (Figure 3) of the
adjoining member of the connection, or of a stem 16 (Figure 2) to which is
secured a coupling-member 2. This thimble is shouldered, at at 16%, to form
a bearing for the lower end of a sleeve 17 having an enlargement 18 which is
threaded in the barrel 14, said sleeve fitting in the bore of the thimble 15 and
the latter being provided with packing-nut 19.
The description of the modification illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive,
shows that the more complicated construction of connection is capable of a
rotary and transverse flexibility which have been described in connection with
the construction illustrated in Figure 1, and while the construction of Figure 1
is preferable, from the fact of its greater simplicity, consequent cheapness, and
evident lightness, it will be understood that the construction illustrated in
Figures 2 to 4 is desirable under conditions where the question of weight is
of less importance, and where the more extended path of the fluid is unobjec-
tionable.
It will be understood that in practice various other changes in the form,
proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. A connection for fluid-pressure brake-pipes having two longitudinal link-
members connected at their contiguous ends by an interposed transverse swivel,
and also having curved or bent longitudinal link-member's respectively connected
with the first-named longitudinal link-members by longitudinal swivels, one
of the terminal longitudinal link-members being provided with a coupling-
member for engagement with a corresponding coupling-member of a co-operating
connection, substantially as specified.
2. A pipe connection having longitudinal link-members connected with an
interposed link-member by means of transverse swivels, substantially as
specified.
3. A pipe connection having two elbowed link members, a curved inter-
mediate link-member, and transverse swivels connecting the first-named link-
members with opposite extremities of the intermediate link-member, substantially
as specified.
4. A pipe connection having two longitudinal link-members, an intermediate
link-member terminally connected by transverse swivels with the contiguous
extremities of said longitudinal link-members, and curved or bent longitudinal
link-members respectively connected with the first-named longitudinal link-
members by longitudinal swivels, substantially as specified.
5. A pipe connection having a number of link-members connected by an
interposed swivel comprising a cup or seat carried by one link-member, a plug
carried by the other link-member and arranged axially in said seat, and an
annular nut surrounding the plug and threaded in said cup, the nut. being pro-
vided with an interior bevelled shoulder, and the plug with an exterior bevelled
shoulder to receive the pressure of the shoulder in the nut, substantially as
specified.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.