IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES TO BE EMPLOYED FOR BUILDING AND ENGINEERING PURPOSES, AND ALSO AS CONDUITS FOR FLUIDS, AND SPEAKING TUBES; AND FURTHER FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JOINTS OR COUPLINGS FOR THE SAME.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Allison, of the Firm of Allison Brothers,
Patent Agents, 41, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
TUBES TO BE EMPLOYED FOR BUILDING AND ENGINEERING PURPOSES, AND
ALSO AS CONDUITS FOR FLUIDS, AND SPEAKING TUBES; AND FURTHER FOR
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JOINTS OR COUPLINGS FOR THE SAME.'
A com-
munication from abroad by Augustus Algoever, of Breslau, Prussia,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Allison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1879.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the Firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents,
41, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES TO BE EMPLOYED FOR BUILDING AND
ENGINEERING PURPOSES, AND ALSO AS CONDUITS FOR FLUIDS, AND SPEAKING
TUBES; AND FURTHER, FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JOINTS OR COUPLINGS FOR
THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Augustus Algoever, of Breslau,
Prussia.
This Invention relates, firstly, to the manufacture of tubes to be employed in the
construction of building frames, bridges, observation towers, and for building and
engineering purposes generally, and also as conduits for fluids, and speaking tubes.
It consists in the employment of two, three, or more longitudinal sections of wood,
each formed at one edge with a tongue of any suitable form, and at the other edge
with a correspondingly shaped recess to receive the tongue of the next abutting
section. The cross section of each longitudinal section forms a segment of a circle,
so that when fitted together the sections form a cylindrical tube; or should the tube
be oval in cross section, or of any other suitable form, the sections will be shaped
accordingly so as to produce the desired form when fitted together. The sections
are bound tightly together by one or more wires or lengths of metal wound round
them. The interior surface of the tubes may be lined with metal or other suitable
substance. The wood is rendered impervious to moisture and protected from

page_text: rotting by any well known means. In order to form a perfect union of the several
sections of the tube they are sometimes treated with concentrated sulphuric or
muriatic acid, or chloride of zinc, which softens the fibre and reduces if to a
gelatineous state, when the sections are joined together under pressure so as to form
one solid piece when dry. Care must be taken to remove all the acid before joining
the sections by washing them in a slightly alkaline bath. A tube of any required
length may be made by joining several lengths of sections together longitudinally,
but so arranging the lengths that the joints of no two abutting sections are in the
same line.
The second part of this Invention relates to the construction of a joint or coupling
for connecting the lengths of tube together, and which is made of metal, wood, or
other suitable material, either in a single piece or in two or more longitudinal sections
bolted together to facilitate the withdrawal of a length of tube by removing one of
the sections of the joint or coupling. The coupling consists of a casing having a
central bore corresponding to the circumference of the tubes to be joined together,
but somewhat larger, and between the ends of a coupling a flange or flanges project
inward so as to form a shoulder or shoulders against which the ends of the tubes
abut, a ring of felt or other suitable material being placed on the ends of the tubes to
ensure a perfect joint. Near each end of the coupling the bore is enlarged so as to form
annular recesses which are connected together by means of passages or channels
formed in the thickness of the casing. Holes are made in the casing communicating
with the enlarged recesses, and through which molten sulphur, asphalte, or other
suitable material in a liquid state is introduced, flowing round the ends of the tube
and filling up the space between the outside of the tube and the interior of the bore
of the casing, together with the enlarged recesses and the passages or channels
connecting the same, thus completing the joint and firmly securing the tube in
.position. Set screws pass through holes tapped in the casing, by means of which
the tube is centered and held in position.
In order to employ these tubes on sharp curves the desired curvature is effected
by forming the couplings to the required curve. These couplings may also be
employed as elbows, or T, or cross pieces, and are equally applicable to ordinary
earthenware, metallic, or wooden tubes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Allison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
September, 1879.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the Firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents,
41, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES TO BE EMPLOYED FOR BUILDING AND
ENGINEERING PURPOSES, AND ALSO AS CONDUITS FOR FLUIDS, AND SPEAKING
TUBES; AND FURTHER, FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JOINTS OR COUPLINGS FOR
THE SAME." (A communication from abroad by Augustus Algoever, of Breslau,
Prussia.)
This Invention relates, firstly, to the manufacture of tubes to be employed in the
construction of building frames, bridges, observation towers, and for building and
engineering purposes generally, and also as conduits for fluids, and speaking tubes.

page_text: It consists in the employment of two, three or more longitudinal sections of wood,
each formed at one edge with a tongue of any suitable form, and at the other
edge with a correspondingly shaped recess to receive the tongue of the next
abutting section. The cross section of each longitudinal section forms a segment
of a circle, so that when fitted together the sections form a cylindrical tube;
or should the tube be oval in cross section, or of any other suitable form, the
sections will be shaped accordingly so as to produce the desired form when fitted
together. The sections are bound tightly together by one or more wires or lengths
of metal wound round them. The interior surface of the tubes may be lined with
metal or other suitable substance. The wood is rendered impervious to moisture
and protected from rotting by any well known means. In order to form a perfect
union of the several sections of the tube they are sometimes treated with concentrated
sulphuric or muriatic acid, or chloride of zinc, which softens the fibre and reduces
it to a gelatinous state, when the sections are joined together under pressure so as
to form one solid piece when dry. Care must be taken to remove all the acid before
joining the sections, by washing them in a slightly alkaline bath.
A tube of any
required length may be made by joining several lengths of sections together
longitudinally, but so arranging the lengths that the joints of no two abutting
sections are in the same line.
The second part of this Invention relates to the construction of a joint or coupling
for connecting the lengths of tube together, and which is made of metal, wood, or
other suitable material, either in a single piece or in two or more longitudinal
sections bolted together to facilitate the withdrawal of a length of tube by removing
one of the sections of the joint or coupling. The coupling consists of a casing
having a central bore corresponding in shape to the circumference of the tubes to
be joined together, but somewhat larger, and between the ends of the coupling a flangé
or flanges project inwards so as to form a shoulder or shoulders against which the ends
of the tubes abut, a ring of felt or other suitable material being placed on the ends of
the tubes to ensure a perfect joint. Near each end of the coupling the bore is
enlarged so as to form annular recesses (one or more at each end) which are
connected together by means of passages or channels formed in the thickness of the
casing. Holes are made in the casing communicating with the enlarged recesses,
and through which molten sulphur, asphalte, or other suitable material in a liquid
state is introduced, flowing round the ends of the tubes and filling up the space
between the outside of the tubes and the interior of the bore of the casing, together
with the enlarged recesses and the passages or channels connecting the same, thus
completing the joint and firmly securing the tubes in position. Set screws pass
through holes tapped in the casing, by means of which the tube is centred and held
in position. These screws bear upon iron or other press blocks shaped according
to the tube, and roughed like a rasp on the side which comes in contact with the
tube.
In order to employ these tubes on sharp curves the desired curvature is effected
by forming the couplings to the required curve. These couplings may also be
employed as elbows, or T, or cross pieces, and are equally applicable to ordinary
earthenware, metallic, or wooden tubes.
But in order that this Invention may be more clearly understood I will proceed
to describe the same by the aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the tube, and Fig. 2 a cross section through A, B.
a, a, are the several longitudinal sections of wood, each of which is formed at
one edge with a tongue of suitable form, and at the other edge with a correspondingly
shaped recess to receive the tongue of the next abutting section, as shown at b, b,
in Fig. 2. The sections are bound tightly together by one or more wires or lengths
of metal c, c, wound round them. Fig. 3 shows a long length of tube made by
joining several lengths of sections a, a, together longitudinally in such a manner
that the ends of no two abutting sections are in the same line.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one half of a joint or coupling made in two pieces
bolted together, and showing the interior of same; Fig. 5 is a cross section

page_text: through C, D, showing the two halves bolted together. E, E, is the central bore of
the casing of the joint or coupling, corresponding in shape to the circumference of
the tubes to be joined together but somewhat larger; F, F, is a flange projecting
inwards so as to form a shoulder against which the ends of the tubes abut, a ring
of felt or other suitable material being placed on the ends of the tubes to ensure a
perfect joint. Near each end of the coupling the bore is enlarged so as to form
annular recesses G, G, (one or more at each end) which are connected together by
means of passages or channels H, H, formed in the thickness of the casing. Holes I, I,
are made in the casing communicating with the enlarged recesses G, G, and through
which molten sulphur, asphalte, or other suitable material in a liquid state is
introduced, flowing round the ends of the tubes and filling up the space between
the outside of the tubes and the interior of the bore of the casing, together with
the enlarged recesses G, G, and the passages or channels H, H, connecting the same,
thus completing the joint and firmly securing the tubes in position. J, J, are set
screws passing through holes tapped in the casing, by means of which the tubes
are centred and held in position.
Having now described the nature of this Invention as communicated to me, and
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim to be new is,―
Firstly. The manufacture or construction of tubes of a circular, oval, or any
other suitable cross section consisting of two or more longitudinal sections of wood,
each formed at one edge with a tongue of any suitable form, and at the other edge
with a correspondingly shaped recess to receive the tongue of the next abutting
section, and bound together by one or more wires or lengths of metal, substantially
as herein described and shown in the Drawings.
Secondly. The manufacture or construction of a joint or coupling for connecting
lengths of tubes together, consisting of a casing of metal, wood, or other suitable
material, made either in a single piece or in two or more longitudinal sections bolted
together, the bore of which, corresponds in shape to the circumference of the tubes,
and is provided with a flange or flanges projecting inwards so as to form a shoulder
or shoulders against which the ends of the tubes abut, enlarged recesses being
formed, one or more at each end, which are connected together by passages or
channels, and provided with holes for introducing any suitable material in a liquid
state for filling in and completing the joint, substantially as herein described and
shown in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Allison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
HERBERT J. ALLISON. (L.S.)