Improvements in Flexible Pipe-couplings.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Pipe-couplings.
We, HENRY SHAW and EDWARD SHAW, hoth of No. 9 Central Arcade Sydney, in
the Colony of New South Wales, Australia, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLINGS," and in what
manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :--
Our invention relates to an improvement in the couplings used for connecting the
air pipes of fluid pressure brake mechanism, and serves to provide a means whereby
the operations of coupling and uncoupling can be performed in combination with the
simultaneous opening and closing of taps, so as to give a free passage for the fluid
when railway or tramway carriages have been connected, or to close the passage when
the carriages are disconnected.
Our improvements are also adaptable to such couplings when used for steam or
water pipes.
In the coupling of air pipes, more particularly those attached to the mechanism
of railway or tramway brakes, it has been ascertained that the attendant first con-
nects or locks the flexible pipe coupling situated at the ends of the vehicles, and
subsequently opens the taps which are placed in close proximity; and that in carrying
out these operations two distinct and separate actions are necessary which involve
special thought in their execution. Should the attendant, through forgetfulness or
carelessness, fail to open the taps after coupling the pipes, there would be no com-
munication or passage for the air to the brake mechanism, which would thus be
rendered inoperative.
To provide for such a contingency, and to ensure safe and certain action
immediately the coupling operation is performed, we construct a coupling and insert
on each side of the centre valve (if such valve is necessary) a taper or other suitable
tap, fitted on the outer end with a serrated sector or tooth quadrant, and upon the
boss of the valve chamber, or in any other convenient part of the interlocking
coupling, we attach a similar sector or tooth quadrant, both sectors or quadrants
being made to gear with each other as the coupling operation is being performed.
The manner of coupling the pipes and opening the taps, or shutting the taps and
uncoupling the pipes, is as follows.
The male and female coupling are joined in the usual manner by inserting the
tongues into the grooves provided for them, and as this is being done, but before the
locking is complete, or in other words before a full turn has been made, the teeth or
serrations on the coupling begin to gear with those on the tap and the tap is made
to open, and when the tongues are wholly in their places the taps are fully turned on
and a free passage provided for the air to circulate through the pipes.
The action of uncoupling reverses the operation and the taps are closed and the
exit of the air prevented.
Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters
used throughout the different views indicate similar parts, and in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of our improved coupling shewing the position of
the taps and the tooth quadrants for operating them, the part shewn in dotted lines
represents the commencement of the locking operation when the tongue is being
inserted, before the tooth quadrants begin to gear.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the left hand part of Figures 1 and 3 taken on
line, to shew the relative positions of air-ways, taps, and groove of coupling.
Figure 3 is a half sectional elevation and a half side elevation of Figure 1, and
serves to shew the positions of the centre valve and the air passages leading thereto
from one of the taps, the tongues and grooves, the tooth quadrants on the valve
chambers and also those on the taps.

page_text: Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3.
In the various figures-A is the main casing of one half of the coupling; B the
main casing of the other half; C valve chamber of A; C valve chamber of B;
D tooth quadrant on C; D¹ tooth quadrant on C¹; E tongue of A; F tongue of B;
G groove for F; H groove for E; I tap in A; J tooth quadrant on I; K tap
in B; L tooth quadrant on K; L' stop on L; L2 and L³ stops on B indicating taps
open and shut. Similar stops are provided upon J and A. M and M' Hexible pipes.
attached to A and B ; N passage leading to tap I; O passages leading to C; P self-
seating valve in C.
:
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 to state that we
do not claim the precise shape or form of the taps which are interposed on each side
of the centre valve, and that an equivalent means of carrying out the operations of
opening and closing the passages in the couplings simultaneously with the action of
coupling and uncoupling may be employed, by substituting for the taps, valves, which
may be made to seat and unseat themselves by a screw spindle, on the outer end of
which is placed the quadrants, in the same manner as is shewn on the ends of the
taps, we declare therefore that what we claim is
!
1. In air pipe couplings for joining flexible or other pipes, fitted with self seating
valves, the use of taps or valves placed on each side of said valves and operated by
tooth quadrants or equivalent mechanism, whereby the said taps or valves are made to
open as the couplings are being connected, and close when they are being dis-
connected, as described and shewn.
2. In air, steam, or other pipe couplings not fitted with centre or intermediate
valves, the use of taps or valves so placed on each side of the locking parts, that the
said taps or valves shall be opened or closed during the performance of the operations
of connecting or disconnecting the couplings, as shewn.
Dated at Sudnow this Eleventh day of Aincust igan
HENRY SHAW.
EDWARD SHAW.
Witness:
H. A. SMEDLEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.