Improvements in Junctions or Connections between Service Pipes and the Mains for Supplying Gas or Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Junctions or Connections between Service Pipes
and the Mains for Supplying Gas or Water.
I, JOHN WOODWARD, of 4 St. Ann's Square, in the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
to be as follows:-
Junctions or connections between the service pipes and the mains for supplying
gas or water, are commonly made by an elbow pipe or a short length of pipe which
is screw threaded at each end, one end being screwed into a screw tapped hole in
the main, and the other end is connected by a screw coupling to the end of the
service pipe, and in cases of stoppage or obstruction of the service pipes (or for
other reasons) the obstruction cannot be removed without unscrewing the couplings
and breaking the joint, and this is difficult in many cases owing to the corrosion of
the screw threads, and the service pipes have also frequently to be disturbed or
re-laid in consequence, which involves the taking up of the ground or pavements to
some considerable extent, which have to be re-laid at much expense, and in many
cases in breaking joints, the threads are so corroded and damaged that new
connections and pipes and new screw tapping of the holes in the mains are
required.
The object of my invention is to construct junctions or connections between the
mains and service pipes for gas or water so that they can be readily probed for
obstructions by inserting a wire or rod through holes formed and closed in the
junctions by screw plugs, by simply unscrewing the screw plugs the junctions or
connections being also formed so as to be readily applied and removed without
damage to them or disturbing the connected pipes.
One modification of my invention consists in a short length of pipe one end of
which is screwed into the screw tapped hole in the main pipe, the other end has a
casting screwed upon it having flanges for two bolts. The end of the service pipe
has a similar flauged casting secured upon it.
Between the two castings having flanges, there is an intermediate casting having
two flanges at right angles which are screwed by bolts to the flanges of the other
castings and a tight joint is made by suitable packing placed between the flanges
before being bolted together.
The intermediate casting having two flanges has also two bosses one in a line
with the bore of the service pipe, the other in a line with the bore of the pipe
tapped into the main pipe and these bosses are screw tapped for screw plugs which
close them, and it is by removing these screw plugs that the rods or wires may be
inserted for removing obstructions.
When it is necessary to remove the intermediate or junction casting having the
two flanges, this is done by removing the bolts and the screw plugs in the casting
can be removed and can be inserted in the castings on the pipes connected with the
main and service pipe, thus closing them to prevent escape of gas from the main
and close the service pipe against dirt.
By another modification of my invention, castings having flanges are used as in
the first modification, that is, a casting having a flange on a short pipe is screw
tapped into the main and a similar casting is screwed on the end of the service
pipe, but there is a space between these two flanges for an intermediate casting
formed by a pipe having two flanges one at each end, but the flanges in this
modification are bevelled on their faces, so that the intermediate casting with two
flanges can be applied and removed laterally.

page_text: Another modification is similar to that last described as to the castings having a
flange on the short pipe connected with the main and on the end of the service
pipe, except that the flanges are square and not bevelled, and there are two castings
each with a flange each screwed upon the end of an elastic U shaped pipe, these
castings have each a screw plug which can be removed for inserting a rod or wire
to remove obstructions.
Another modification consists in forming a casting part to screw into the main
or to screw on a short pipe screwed into the main, this casting is or may be provided
with screw plugs as herein before explained, and it has a tubular extension forming
an elbow in a horizontal position, the end of which elbow has a flange to be bolted
to the flange on the end of the service pipe.
When the flanges between the elbow and service pipe are unbolted, the elbow
pipe or casting can be unscrewed, a part of a turn in the main or on the pipe in the
main, and this will withdraw from and turn on one side the flanged end of the
elbow pipe from that on the service pipe and leave it clear when required.
Another modification consists in an arrangement similar to that last described
except that the part or casting screwing into the main is about parallel to the elbow
pipe and it is by partly unscrewing the casting say a quarter turn that takes the
flanged end of the elbow pipe clear of the flanged end of the service pipe, when the
flanges are unbolted.
My invention may be modified say by forming the flange casting for the short
pipe screwed into the main pipe so that the pipe part is integral with the flanged
casting and is screw threaded to screw into the main, and in other ways without
departing from the peculiar features of my invention.
Dated this Thirteenth day of October 1893.
PETER J. LIVSEY,.
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Junctions or Connections between Service Pipes
and the Mains for Supplying Gas or Water.
I, JOHN WOODWARD, of 4 St. Ann's Square, in the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 :-
Junctions or connections between the service pipes and the mains for supplying
gas or water, are commonly made by an elbow pipe or a short length of pipe which
is screw threaded at each end, one end being screwed into a screw tapped hole in
the main, and the other end is connected by a screw coupling to the end of the
service pipe, and in cases of stoppage or obstruction of the service pipes (or for
other reasons) the obstruction cannot be removed without unscrewing the couplings
and breaking the joint, and this is difficult in many cases owing to the corrosion of
the screw threads, and the service pipes have also frequently to be disturbed or
re-laid in consequence, which involves the taking up of the ground or pavements
to some considerable extent, which have to be re-laid at much expense, and in
many cases in breaking joints, the threads are so corroded and damaged that new
connections and pipes and new screw tapping of the holes in the mains are required.
The object of my invention is to construct junctions or connections between the
mains and service pipes for gas or water so that they can be readily probed for
obstructions by inserting a wire or rod through holes formed and closed in the
junctions by screw plugs, by simply unscrewing the screw plugs the junctions or
connections being also formed so as to be readily applied and removed without
damage to them or disturbing the connected pipes.

page_text: One modification of my invention consists in a short length of pipe, one end of
which is screwed into the screw tapped hole in the main pipe, the other end has a
casting screwed upon it having flanges for two bolts. The end of the service pipe
has a similar flanged casting secured upon it.
Between the two castings having flanges, there is an intermediate casting having
two flanges at right angles which are screwed by bolts to the flanges of the other
castings and a tight joint is made by suitable packing placed between the flanges
before being bolted together.
The intermediate casting having two flanges has also two bosses one in a line
with the bore of the service pipe, the other in a line with the bore of the pipe
tapped into the main pipe and these bosses are screw tapped for screw plugs which
close them, and it is by removing these screw plugs that the rods or wires may be
inserted for removing obstructions.
When it is necessary to remove the intermediate or junction casting having the
two flanges, this is done by removing the bolts and the screw plugs in the casting
can be removed and can be inserted in the castings on the pipes connected with the
main and service pipe, thus closing them to prevent escape of gas or water from
the main and close the service pipe against dirt.
My invention may be modified say by forming the flange casting for the short
pipe screwed into the main pipe so that the pipe part is integral with the flanged
casting and is screw threaded to screw into the main, and in other ways, without
departing from the peculiar features of my invention.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation with a part of the main pipe shown in section.
Fig. 2, is a top plan view.
Fig. 3, is an end elevation of the casting or intermediate part connecting the
junction pipe from the main with the service pipe.
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section of the intermediate part shown by Fig. 3,
connected with the service pipe.
Fig. 5, is an elevation of the flanged junctions of the pipe on the main and the
service pipe, shown in Fig. 1, when the intermediate part shown by Fig. 3, is
removed and the ends of the flanged couplings are closed by screw plugs.
Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 7, an end elevation of a modification of junctions suitable when connection
is to be made horizontally from the side of the main.
Fig. 8, is a side elevation, and
Fig. 9, an end view of a modification of the junction shown by Figs. 6 and 7,
suitable when connection is to be made from the top of the main.
Fig. 10, is a side elevation with the main in section, and
Fig. 11, is a plan view with the lid (hereinafter referred to) removed, and with
closing screw plugs inserted, showing another modification which may be used, for
junctions with the side of the main.
The modification shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, is suitable for junctions with
the top side of the main.
a, is a part of the main; b, is a vertical pipe the lower end of which is screwed
into the main a, and the upper end into a flanged coupling b¹.
d, is a part of the horizontal service pipe the end of which screws into a flanged
coupling d¹, similar to b¹.
Suitable packing material is placed between the flanges before they are screwed
together by two or more bolts e, two by preference.
In the casting c, there are two screw plugs, one c³, is opposite the bore of the
pipe b, and the other c, opposite the bore of the pipe d.
When the parts are as shown in Fig. 1, the gas or water can pass from the main
pipe a, to the pipes b and d.
By removing the screw plugs c³ and c³, wires or rods can be inserted along the
bores of other pipes b, or d, to remove obstruction, and when removed the plugs c
and c, may be replaced and this is done without separating the flange connections.

page_text: When desired the intermediate casting or part c, can be removed and the screw
plugs and c, or similar screw plugs, may be inserted in the ends of the couplings b¹
and d, (which are screw tapped for this purpose) as shown in Fig. 5.
If desired the coupling 6, and pipe 6, may be made in one piece and the lower end
screwed and tapped into the main a.
Instead of removing the casting c, when the supply is to be stopped, the screw
plug e³, may be removed and a long screw plug may be substituted, inserted through
the screw tapped hole in the part c, for the screw plug c³, the inner end of this long
screw screwing into the coupling b¹, and a screw nut may be screwed upon the end
of the long screw where it projects above the boss on the casting c, for the screw
plug c³, the hole for which in such case is made a little larger to allow the long
screw plug to be inserted tightly in the coupling b¹, the screw nut upon the end of
the long screw plug acting to keep dirt from entering the part c.
In the modification shown by Figs. 6 and 7-b, is the pipe supposed to be
screwed horizontally into the side of the main (same as the pipe b, Figs. 10
and 11).
b, is the flanged coupling screwed upon the pipe b; c, is the intermediate part or
casting, having two flanges and two screw plugs and c³.
d is the service pipe screwed into a coupling d' having a lateral passage and flange
and a screw plug c
By removing the screw plugs c and c, the pipes 6 and d, can be probed, and
by removing the screw plug e, the passage in the part c, and coupling d', can be
cleared of obstruction.
In some cases the screw plug c, may be dispensed with as the passages in the
parts c, and d¹, may be cleared by a bent wire through the holes closed by the screw
plugs c³ and ct.
If the part c, is removed the coupling b¹, is closed by inserting a screw plug as
shown by 3, Fig. 5, and the pipe d, by inserting a screw plug c, in the part d³, as
shown in dotted line in Fig. 6.
But if the supply of gas or water is to be cut off without removing the part c,
this may be done by inserting a long screw plug in the end of the coupling 6', as
hereinbefore explained in reference to the modification illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5
or by using two screw plugs co, one as shown in full and the other in dotted line in
Fig. 6.
The inner screw plug c³, shown in dotted line is a little smaller than that for the
outer screw c³, so as to pass through the hole for the latter and may be screwed in
and out when required by a suitable box key passed through the hole in the part c,
for the outer screw plug co.
Figs. 8 and 9, show a similar coupling arrangement to that illustrated by Figs. 6
and 7, and is suitable where the pipe b, is screwed vertically in the top side of the
main, and the service pipe d, passes horizontally.
Another modification of my invention will be explained by reference to Figs. 6
and 7, and 8 and 9, in which the part c, and coupling 6, (or the part c, and
coupling d) is made to form one casting thus dispensing with the flange junction
between the parts b¹ or d³, and c.
The part c, in this last mentioned modification has a circular flange with four
concentrically slotted holes for the two bolts which are to unite the flange on the
part d', (or b¹, as the case may be) with the circular flange on the combined parts b¹
and c, (or d and c).
With this modification the pipe d, can be coupled with the part for the pipe b,
with the two pipes in the same line as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or with the said two
pipes at a right angle to each other as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and the
concentric slots for the two flange bolts admit of a variation in an angle from
either the parallel or right angular position of the pipes b, and d, in relation to
each other.
Figs. 10 and 11, illustrate a modification suitable for connections to be made with

page_text: the side of the main, which admits of the pipes band d, being probed for obstructions.
and also admits of the closing of the ends of either or both pipes, by a screw plug
or plugs c or c*.
The pipes b and d, in this case are screwed into the ends of a box casting f, the-
side of which is open, but can be closed by a lid f¹, and bolts f, as shown best in-
Fig. 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu--
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1. The construction, combination and arrangement of junctions or connections.
between mains and service pipes for supplying gas or water substantially in
the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. The combination of two flanged pipe couplings with a flanged intermediate.
part having screw plugs arranged in the intermediate part which screw plugs or
others can be inserted in the flanged pipe couplings prepared to receive them
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings and by Figs. 6 and 7, and Figs. 8 and 9, of the
drawings.
3. The combination of parts with screw plugs as and for the purpose described
when the part c, forms one part with the pipe coupling b¹, or d¹, substantially as
hereinbefore described by reference to Figs. 6 and 7 and Figs. 8 and 9, and also when
modified so that the same couplings will suit for either the top or side of the main.
4. The combination of a box having a lid, placed between the main and
service pipes, screw tapped for screw plugs as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
Baked this
יז
WARCY A LISTY U▬LUIG
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
Agent.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant..