IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPES, AND IN THE MEANS OF CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Somerville, of Dublin, Gas Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPES, AND IN THE MEANS OF
CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER.'
"
Sealed the 28th February 1871, and dated the 4th November 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Somerville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th November 1870.
I, JOHN SOMERVILLE, of Dublin, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPES AND IN THE
MEANS OF CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the joints of cast
iron and other mains and pipes for conveying fluids and liquids, and in
the manner of making such joints so as to secure a perfectly tight and
sound junction, the kind of pipes to which the first part of this Invention
is applicable being known as spigot-and-socket pipes.
For this purpose pipes are cast or made having a groove, hollow, or
indent formed round the outside of the spigot, and a groove, hollow, or

page_text: st
indent made or cast on the inside of the socket, corresponding in position
to the one in the spigot, so that when the spigot is thrust into the socket
a narrow hollow chamber or circumferential recess is formed between
them. In order to ensure the close contact of the spigot and socket at
such parts of the same as may be considered desirable, and to produce
the particular shape of the groove, hollow, or indent, the spigot may be
turned and the socket bored when found necessary. In the socket a
gate" or opening is formed communicating with the channel or recess
between the pipes. When the spigot is inserted in the socket melted
lead is poured in through the gate until the whole of the recess is filled.
Previous to running in the lead a piece of rosin, tallow, pitch, or other
suitable substance may be inserted in the gate to serve as a flux and
assist the melted lead in insinuating itself into the crevices. A mandril,
caulking iron, or other similar instrument is then driven into the gate
so as to compress the lead and cause it to fill up any interstice arising
from the contraction of the metal on cooling. By these means a per-
fectly sound joint may be produced and maintained without the necessity
of using yarn or the expenditure of time and labour in caulking as is
commonly practised.
The second part of the Invention relates to joining pipes together by
means of loose collars constructed upon the same principle as the socket
before mentioned, the pipes being made with spigots, as before described,
and the grooves, hollows, or indents so arranged that the melted lead
run into the recesses formed by them shall by its contraction on cooling
tend to tighten the joint.
Although only one groove is spoken of as being made in each spigot
and socket several may be constructed if found more desirable... The
form too of the groove, channel, or recess may be varied, but it is pre-
ferred to be more or less of a single or double wedge-shaped section.
Also the material used to fill up the recess has been described as lead,
but under some circumstances it may be found necessary to use an
admixture of lead and antimony or other suitable alloy.
Portland or other suitable cement may also be employed for the same
numosa

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Somerville in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd May 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SOMERVILLE, of Dublin, Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Somerville, Her special licence
that I, the said John Somerville, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Somerville, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PIPES AND IN THE MEANS OF CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Somerville, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Somerville, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:-
.
This Invention has for its object improvements in the joints of cast
iron and other mains and pipes for conveying fluids and liquids, and in
the manner of making such joints so as to secure a perfectly tight and
sound junction, the kind of pipes to which the first part of this Invention
is applicable being known as spigot-and-socket pipes.

page_text: For this purpose pipes are cast or made having a groove, hollow, or
indent formed round the outside of the spigot, and a groove, hollow, or
indent made or cast on the inside of the socket corresponding in position
to the one in the spigot, so that when the spigot is thrust into the
socket a narrow hollow chamber or circumferential recess is formed
between them. In order to ensure the close contact of the spigot and
socket at such parts of the same as may be considered desirable, and to
produce the particular shape of the groove, hollow, or indent, the spigot
may be turned and the socket bored when found necessary. In the
socket a "gate" or opening is formed communicating with the channel.
or recess between the pipes. When the spigot is inserted in the socket
melted lead or other suitable material is poured in through the gate
until the whole of the recess is filled. Previous to running in the lead
or metal, if metal is used for the filling, a piece of rosin, tallow, pitch,
or other suitable substance may be inserted in the gate to serve as a
flux and assist the melted metal in insinuating itself into the crevices.
A mandril, caulking iron, or other similar or suitable instrument is then
driven into the gate so as to compress the lead or other material, and
cause it to fill up any interstice not already filled. By these means a
perfectly sound joint may be produced and maintained without the
necessity of using yarn or the expenditure of time and labour in caulking
as is commonly practised.
The second part of this Invention relates to joining pipes together by
means of loose collars constructed upon the same principle as the socket
before mentioned, the pipes being made with spigots as before described,
and the grooves, hollows, or indents so arranged that the melted lead
or other suitable material run into the recesses formed by them shall
by its contraction on cooling or setting tend to tighten the joint.
Although only one groove is spoken of as being made in each spigot.
and socket several may be constructed if found more desirable. The
form too of the groove, channel, or recess may be varied, but it is pre-
ferred to be more or less of a single or double wedge-shaped section.
Also the material used to fill up the recess has been described as lead,
but under some circumstances it may be found necessary to use an
admixture of lead and antimony or other suitable alloy.
Portland or other suitable cement may also be employed for the same

page_text: In order that the foregoing may be more readily understood Drawings
are attached hereto, in which some of the forms of joints are illustrated,
and of which the following is a description :-
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are collar joints in section, A, A, being the ends of
two pipes; B, the collar; and C the circular recess filled with lead;
D is the gate for the introduction of the melted metal.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sections of pipes made with sockets E and
spigots F, but constructed with similar grooves to those of the collar
joints. In each of the Figures the same letters of referenco indicate
similar parts.
I am aware that the formation of joints by means of loose collars is
old. I am also aware that loose collars with projections on the interior,
and used with pipes having grooves on their exterior ends, have been
cmployed. But my Invention consists in the production of grooves or
recesses in the collars or sockets and on the ends of the spigots of
such form that the metal or other material with which they are filled
shall upon its cooling or setting, and by virtue of its contraction,
exert a force in such direction as to bind the two ends of the pipes
together.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same may be carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details which I have described or referred to, as
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principle
or main features of this Invention, but what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of pipes
and in jointing the same in the manner and by the means substantially
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Somerville, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Second day of May, in the year of