Automatic Hose Leak Stops or Jackets, applicable also as Couplings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
Communicated from abroad by JAMES DROOKS COOPER, 01_10, 1.Ourth Street,
S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota, Manufacturer.]
Automatic Hose Leak Stops or Jackets, applicable also as
Couplings.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
Fel. I.I., practising as Phillips and Leigh, at No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent
Agent, 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:-
My invention relates primarily to means for stopping leaks in hose, particularly
fire-bose bursting or leaking while in use; and the object of my invention is to
provide a leak-stop device or jacket which may be readily and easily applied while
pressure is on the pipe or hose; one which may be used to connect or couple
pieces of hose of different diameter; one which will fit different sizes of hose;
one in which the pressure will be the same inside and outside of that part of the
hose surrounded by the sleeve or jacket; one which may be used over a leaky
coupling of the ordinary construction one which will be not only water but air
tight; and finally a device which will not be unlocked when the hose is drawn
along the ground.
With the above in view, my invention consists in general in the constructions
and combinations hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, forming part of this Specification, and in which;
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my device open.
Fig. 2 shows the same closed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the construction of the inside rubber lining
and lips.
Fig. 4 is a partial transverse section showing the longitudinal meeting edges of
the lining when open.
Fig. 5 is a partial transverse section showing the longitudinal meeting edges of
the lining when closed.
Fig. 6 is a partial transverse section showing the clasps when closed.
Fig. 7 is a partial transverse section showing the clasps when open.
As shown in the drawings, the jacket or sleeve proper is composed of the two
semi-cylindrical metal balves 3 and 4, connected by a suitable hinge 5 and when
closed presenting the appearance of a sleeve or barrel slightly expanded at the
middle and having countersunk end openings. The ends are given such appearance
by the inwardly extending annular flanges 6 formed in halves. The openings
within the flanges 6 are much smaller than the interior of the sleeve but are as
large or larger than the hose which the device is intended for use upon. The
side edges 8 of the two parts are preferably provided with the ribs 9 which catch
and hold the flexible rubber lining (see Figs. 4 to 7). This lining is made in two
parts, though it may be in one only, and each part just fits the inside of its half of
the barrel, the longitudinal edges being extended inwardly to form the thin
compression lips or flexible flanges 10, and also provided with the rabbets or grooves

page_text: to admit the ribs 9. When the two parts are closed together the lips 10 meet
firmly and present a V-shaped cross section. At the ends of the thin flexible
lining composed of the two halves are the thicker inwardly inclined and extended
flexible compression flanges or annular lips 11, which are retained behind the metal
flanges and have the packing surfaces 12. These are of course formed on the
halves of lining, and in order to ensure perfectly tight joints at the meeting lines
between the ends 13 of the inclined flanges 11, I preferably extend or elongate
the corners 14. The inner sides or surfaces of all the longitudinal and annular
flexible lips or flanges are inclined outwardly, the result being that when the sleeve
is closed about the leak in a hose or pipe, the pressure of air, gas or water which
flows into the sleeve will force the longitudinal or "split" surfaces together and
will force the annular lips firmly against and around the hose which is placed
therein, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3. Thus pressure and not the elasticity of
the lips is depended upon to clasp the same together and upon the metal or
flexible hose, and sufficient force thus applied to make perfectly water or air
tight joints between the several parts. The pressure within the sleeve and within
the hose will be quickly equalized, and this will prevent further tearing of the hose
or enlargement of the leak; a great advantage. The aggregate pressure upon
the interior surface of the device is very great when applied to a leaky fire-hose
for instance, and hence all the metal parts, which are simply retaining means for
the flexible casing or lining, must be strong. The hinge is so made that openings
are left between its several sections so that in closing the sleeve about a leaking
pipe or hose, part of the water or air will temporarily escape un both sides of the
sleeve and until almost entirely closed, thus greatly aiding the person who applies
the device, as there will be less of an out-flow between the free edges. One form
of strong lock which I employ consists in the hooked springs 15 having their
butts fastened between ribs 16 on the shoulders or raised parts 17 on the metal
sleeve. For greater strength the ends are bent or curled down over the ends of
the shoulders (see 18 Figs. 2, 6 and 7). The hooked ends are adapted to catch in
behind or below the shoulders 19 on the opposite half of the sleeve, and to prevent
their being accidentally unlatched by contact with any obstruction, I provide the
rotable wings or clasps 20 pivoted in the lugs 21 and joined by the loop handle 22.
When the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the wings will be down over
or across the ends of the spring hooks which are thus locked. For readily and
easily unlocking and unlatching the hooks and thus the hinged parts, I form the
cams 23 on the wings at an angle thereto, and so arranged that when the handle is
thrown out and the locking wings withdrawn, the cams will be raised beneath the
ends of the hooks and will lift the same off the shoulders. The ends extend some
distance over the cams so that the latter carry until the hooks are drawn beyond
the shoulders.
Further this arrangement is such that with the handle out the device may be
carried about thereby without completely unlatching the two parts, which, however,
will be loosed if the barrel be swung laterally by the handle. The cross bar of
the handle is preferably made to conform to the shape of the body or barrel and to
rest behind the shoulders and lugs when closed so as to be out of the way of
catching on anything. It will be observed further, that a hose or pipe of any
size less than the openings within the metal flanges 6 may be held in the jacket or
leak-stop and further, that the space within the jacket is sufficiently large to take
in an ordinary coupling used in joining sections of hose or pipe of different
diameters, the flexible lips contracting or being forced out to fit either. By the
employment of annular lips of good size 1 am enabled to insure water-tight joints
without danger of so expanding or stretching the flexible lips as to tear the same.
It is obvious that the lining itself may be made sufficiently stiff for use without a
separate sleeve or jacket; and further, that the metal parts of the lining may be
omitted, the flexible annular lips being alone employed with an independent jacket
and similarly formed lips provided at the sides, or any other form of packing used
for the longitudinal joints.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the longitudinally
divided sleeve or barrel, of the thin inclined flexible lips or flanges arranged on
opposite parts and adapted to be forced together by pressure from within the
sleeve, substantially as described.
2. The combination, in a hose or pipe-leak stop, of a retaining sleeve or barrel,
with the inwardly inclined flexible lips arranged to he acted upon by pressure
from within, substantially as described.
3. In a pipe or hose-leak stop, of the retaining parts, in combination with the
inwardly flared end lips adapted to be closed upon a pipe or hose by pressure
from within, substantially as described.
4. A leak-stop, consisting in a sleeve adapted to be closed about a pipe or hose
and considerably larger than the same, and said sleeve provided with the flexible
and inwardly flared lips or flanges adapted to be forced against and around the
hose or pipe by their own elasticity and by pressure of air or water within the
sleeve, substantially as described.
5. The sleeve or barrel divided longitudinally, in combination, with means for
securing the two parts about a hose or pipe, the ends of said sleeve being provided
with the inwardly flared flexible annular lips or flanges adapted to be forced
against and around the pipe or hose by pressure of air or water within the space
between the sleeve and the pipe or hose, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the metal sleeve or jacket provided with the inwardly
flared metal flanges, of the flexible packing flanges or rings held in place by the
metal flanges, and themselves being flared inwardly, whereby said rings are adapted
to be forced against a pipe or hose by pressure of air or water within the sleeve,
substantially as described.
7. The combination, with the flexible sleeve or jacket, having the inflexible
internal flanges, of the flexible lining provided with the inwardly extending and
inwardly flared bevelled lips or flanges, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
8. The combination, with the divided sleeve arranged to be locked upon a pipe
or hose, of the acute angled and inwardly flared flexible packing flanges, and the
longitudinal packing flanges adapted to close together, and all flanges adapted to
be compressed by pressure from within the sleeve, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with the metal sleeve composed of the hinged parts
arranged to be locked about a hose or pipe, and considerably larger than the same,
of the two-part flexible lining for said jacket, the edges of said lining being
substantially flush with those of the sleeve and in the form of flanges, whereby
the longitudinal edges of the lining are pressed together upon closing the jacket,
and said lining provided with the acute-angled inwardly-flared flexible Hanges or
lips to engage a pipe or hose, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with the divided sleeve, with the hooks or clasps extending
from one part and adapted to engage shoulders on the other part of the sleeve, the
rotable wings to lock the clasps, and the cams for unlatching the same as the
wings are withdrawn, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 94th day of April 1894.
HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH,
Chartered Patent Agent.