An Improved Device for Connecting or Uniting Rods or Tubes.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Connecting or Uniting Rods or Tubes.
We, HENRY BRITTEN, of 64 Leadenhall Street in the City of London Manufacturer,
and JOSEPH BIDDLECOMBE of 12 Craven Street, Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex
Engineer, 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 an improved device for connecting uniting or coupling
together rods or tubes forming parts of frame-work roofs, bridges, railings, fencing or
the like and for similar purposes.
The main object of our said invention is to provide for facilitating the erection of
frame-work for supporting signs or the like in elevated situations, as for instance upon
the top of a high building, or for connecting uniting, or coupling together the various
parts of roofs bridges, and similar structures in places not easy of access, and where
it is very difficult if not impossible to employ the ordinary screw-threaded sockets
tees crosses, bends elbows, or the like for connecting uniting or coupling together the
different parts of the said structures. In the accompanying drawing we have
shown how our said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into
practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan, and
Figure 3 is an end elevation showing one form of our improved connecting piece
or union and portions of the rods or tubes which it is desired to connect.
Figures 4 and 5 and 6 are side elevations showing other forms or modifications
thereof.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is our improved connecting-piece, union, or coupling, B, B, are the tubes rods,
or bars which it is desired to connect.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the connecting-piece, union or coupling A is provided with
arms, or extensions a and is in the form of a double T-piece or cross. The said
connecting-piece union or coupling is preferably constructed of cast iron but may
be formed of malleable iron, wrought iron, steel, brass, gun metal or other suitable
material. The central portion of the said connecting-piece, union, or coupling A is
preferably formed solid and the arms or extensions a thereof are recessed to receive
the extremities of the tubes, rods or bars which it is intended to connect or unite
together. Upon the extremities moreover of cach of the said arms or extensions a
we provide a suitable clip or clamp constructed in two halves or parts b, b', the part b
of which is firmly attached to or formed in one with the said arm or extension a, and
the part of which is separate or detached therefrom. cc are holes through which
are passed bolts d for securing together the two halves or parts bb' of the said clip
or clamp. The extremities of the tubes rods, or bars B which it is desired to connect
are placed in the recesses or sockets in the arms or extensions a (as shown in the
drawing) and are firmly secured or clamped in position therein by means of the
above described clips or clamps 6 6. ee are loops or eyes for convenience of securing
the extremities of guy ropes, or stays when the said connecting-piece or union A is
employed in frame-work for supporting letters or signs in elevated situations.
Figure 4 illustrates a modification of our improved device wherein the connecting-
piece, union or coupling A is constructed in the form of a single T piece. And
Figure 5 shows another modification in which the said device is in the form of an
ordinary elbow or bend.
It will be readily understood however that we do not confine ourselves to the
.

page_text: exact shapes or configurations shown, as it is obvious that our improved connecting-
piece, union, or coupling may be further modified to suit the requirements of the
various structures in which it is intended to be employed.
It is obvious, moreover, that our improved connecting-piece, union, or coupling
affords great advantages when employed for connecting, uniting, or coupling together
different parts of structures erected in elevated situations and with the aid of, but
little or no scaffolding, as for instance high frame-work upon the top of a root or
building for suspending large letters, signs or the like, or in roofs, bridges or other
structures, or in portions thereof difficult of access.
In Figure 6 we have shown a further modification wherein the connecting-piece,
union, or coupling A is formed hollow and is designed for connecting together pipes
intended for conveying steam water or the like. In this case the clamp is preferably
formed in the manner shown that is to say two removable halves or parts 6' are
provided instead of one to each of the said clamps and the part b is so constructed
that when the said parts & are in position thereon they will be placed at an angle to
each other thus obviating any possibility of leakage owing to the said movable parts 6¹
not fitting accurately in position upon the fixed parts b.
Although we have herein before described and illustrated our improved connecting-
piece or coupling as intended for circular tubes, rods, or bars, it is evident that it
is also applicable by obvious modifications for connecting or coupling together
tubes, rods or bars of square, flat, triangular hexagon, or other suitable form in
transverse section.
The hereinbefore described clips or clamps may be formed of any convenient
dimensions and may be secured together by means of two or other suitable number
of bolts, instead of four as shown in the drawing. In some instances the loops or
eyes e are dispensed with.
We sometimes moreover roughen, or provide teeth, or serrations upon the interior
surfaces of the said clips or clamps for securing the said tubes, rods, or bars more
firmly in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood that
we claim :-
The improved device comprising two or more arms or branches provided with
suitable recesses or sockets and clips or clamps substantially as, and for the purposes
set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.