Improvements in Means for Coupling Soft Metal Pipes to One Another, and in Coupling such Pipes to Taps and other Fittings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Coupling Soft Metal Pipes to
One Another, and in Coupling such Pipes to Taps and other
Fittings.
1, WALTER MEYNELL, of the Firm of Meynell and Sons, of Montrose Street,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Brass Founders, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improved unions or couplings for joining together
soft metal pipes, whereby the use of a wiped joint is avoided, and also improved
unions or couplings for joining such pipes to taps and other fittings whereby the
usual tail-pieces and wiped joints are avoided.
A union constructed according to this invention, for coupling together two lengths
of soft metal pipe, consists of three portions, namely, of two portions which surround,
respectively, the ends of the pipes to be joined, and of a middle portion which has
a free passage way therethrough of the full bore of the pipes, and which is formed
at opposite ends thereof, or at opposite ends of a middle part thereof, with narrow
annular projections of a V or analogous shape in transverse section with the apex
preferably somewhat blunted, such projections being formed concentric with and
surrounding the bore of the part on the ends of which they are formed. The ends
of the pipes which are to be joined are tanned open with a tan-pin, or in other
convenient manner, to form them trumpet-shaped or bell-mouthed (and they may
be flanged out, if desired). The portions of the union described as surrounding the
ends of the pipes are placed around such ends previously to the ends being enlarged,
unless they can be slipped over from the other ends of the pipes; and the coupling
is made by screwing up the union so as to draw the opened out ends of the pipes
against the annular projections aforesaid, the comparatively sharp edges of which
cut, into the soft metal of the pipes and thus make a thoroughly tight joint. The
portions of the union described as surrounding the pipe ends may be formed with
the portions which come against the outer surfaces of the enlarged ends of the pipes
somewhat sharp or V-shaped in cross-section to cut or press into the exterior surface
of the soft metal.
The coupling described generally in the last preceding paragraph may be varied
considerably in carrying it out in practical detail. According to one method of
carrying out this portion of the invention, the two portions of the union described
as surrounding the ends of the pipes may each be formed with a male thread. The
middle portion of the coupling is in such case formed with internally screwed ends,
with an internal central flange or abutment having a hole therethrough of the full
bore of the pipes, and an annular projection formed at each face of such internal
flange immediately around the hole therethrough, the outer end of such projection
being formed as a somewhat blunted cutting edge. The inner end of each male
portion of the union is made to the shape, approximately, of the exterior surface of
the enlarged end of the pipe (or is made with a blunt cutting edge as described) and
thus, when the male portions of the union are screwed up into the middle or female
portion, the outer faces of the enlarged ends of the pipes are tightened up against
the blunt cutting edges of each face, respectively, of the interior flange of the
female portion of the coupling.

page_text: According to a modification of the appliance described in the last preceding
paragraph, the internal flange with its projections may be made as a loose ring, and
the female portion of the union may be formed with one end to fit around the
enlarged end of a pipe, such end of the union taking the place of one of the male
portions above described. The other end of the female portion is internally screw-
threaded, and the coupling is made by screwing up within the female portion a male
portion which surrounds the enlarged end of the other pipe to be coupled, the loose
ring being placed within the female portion so as to be in position between the ends
of the pipes as the coupling is screwed up.
According to another modification, the middle portion of the union is formed with
an externally screwed thread at each end, and the annular projections are formed at
each end of this male portion of the union. The other portions of the union consist
of internally screwed parts formed to fit around the ends of the pipes.
According to either modification above described, the parts which directly pull
up the ends of the pipes towards one another may be formed with blunt cutting
edges to cut or press into the exterior surface of the enlarged ends of the soft metal
pipes, as above described.
A union constructed according to this invention for joining a soft metal pipe with
a tap or other fitting, consists of an internally screwed or female part which
surrounds the enlarged end of the soft metal pipe, and has one end formed to bed up
against (or, if desired, to cut or press into) the exterior surface of the enlargement,
and of another or male part which is externally screwed and may consist of the
nose of the tap with which the attachment is to be made or of the nose of other
fitting. Such latter portion is provided at its outer end with an annular projection
formed to a somewhat blunt cutting edge which, when the parts are screwed together,
cuts or beds itself into the opened-out portion of the soft metal pipe, as in the case
of the corresponding projections above described; or, in lieu of forming the
annular projection on the end of the nosing, it may be formed at the outer face of a
loose ring which has a short tubular part which fits up within the nose of the tap,
or other fitting, and a flange around which a leather or other soft washer is placed
to ensure a tight joint between the ring and the face of the nose. The pipe is
coupled up to the tap, or other fitting, by screwing together the male and female
parts of the union, as will be understood.
Dated this 7th day of February 1895.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Coupling Soft Metal Pipes to
One Another, and in Coupling such Pipes to Taps and other
Fittings.
I, WALTER MEYNELL, of the Firm of Meynell and Sons, of Montrose Street,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Brass Founders, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improved unions or couplings for joining
together soft metal pipes, whereby the use of a wiped joint is avoided, and also
improved unions or couplings for joining such pipes to taps and other fittings
whereby the usual tail-pieces and wiped joints are avoided.
A union constructed according to this invention, for coupling together two
lengths of soft metal pipe consists of three portions, namely, of two portions which
surround, respectively, the ends of the pipes to be joined, and of a middle portion

page_text: which has a free passage-way therethrough of not less than the full bore of the
pipes, and which is formed at opposite ends or sides thereof, or at opposite ends or
sides of a middle part thereof, with narrow annular projections of a V or analogous
shape in transverse section, such projections being formed concentric with and
surrounding the bore of the part on the ends or sides of which they are forme 1.
The ends of the pipes which are to be joined are tanned open with a tan-pin, or in
other convenient manner, to form them trumpet-shaped or bell-mouthed.
The
portions of the union described as surrounding the ends of the pipes are placed
around such ends previously to the ends being enlarged, unless they can be slip ed
over from the other ends of the pipes; and the coupling is made by screwing up
the union so as to draw the opened-out ends of the pipes against the annular
projections aforesaid, the edges of which cut into the soft metal of the pipes and
thus make a thoroughly tight joint. The portions of the union described as
surrounding the pipe ends may be formed with the parts thereof which come
against the outer surfaces of the enlarged ends of the pipes somewhat sharp
or V-shaped in cross-section to cut or press into the exterior surface of the soft
metal.
The coupling described generally in the last preceding paragraph may be varied
considerably in carrying it out in practical detail.
One method of carrying out this portion of the invention is illustrated by
Figure 1 of the drawings herewith, which is a longitudinal section through the
middle of a union for coupling the ends of two soft metal pipes, and shews the end
of one of the pipes as coupled to the union and the end of the other in
position just being entered within the union for coupling up. Around the
end A of each pipe to be coupled is placed a portion B of the union which has its
forward end a externally screwed and its hinder end 6 formed of hexagonal or
other shape which readily adapts it to be turned by means of a spanner, and
the end of each pipe is expanded or flared out to a trumpet-shape or bell-mouth,
as shown. Each portion B of the union is formed at its forward end to bear
against the back of the flared out portion of the pipe around which it is placed.
The middle portion C of the coupling is formed with internally screwed ends, and
with an internal central flange or abutment e from each opposite face of which
projects an annular projection d formed with its outer edge sufficiently sharp to
cut, under pressure, into the soft metal of a pipe. The joint is made by inserting
the ends of the pipes to be coupled within the middle portion C of the union, and
then screwing up the male portions B of the union within the portion C, thus
firmly gripping the flared or enlarged ends of the pipes between the inner ends of
the portions B of the union and the edges of the projections d of the central
flange c. The edges of the projections d cut or bed themselves into the surfaces
of the flared ends of the pipes and thus make a thoroughly tight joint.
A modification of the appliance described in the last preceding paragraph is
illustrated by Figure 2, which is a corresponding view to that shewn by Figure 1.
According to this modification the portions of the male parts B of the union which
bed against the outer surfaces of the flared ends of the pipes to be coupled are
formed with edges d' which are sufficiently sharp to bed themselves into the outer
surfaces of the flared ends of the pipes. In this case the flared ends of the pipes
are gripped between the edges d of the female or middle portion of the union and
the edges d' of the male or end portions thereof.
A further modification of the appliance illustrated by Figure 1 is shewn by
Figure 3, which is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews the entire joint as
tightened up. One of the portions surrounding the end of a pipe (namely the
portion B¹) is formed in one piece with the female portion C, and a loose ring c¹,
having annular projections dat its opposite faces, is substituted for the flange c.
This joint is coupled up by passing the part C B' around the end of one of the
pipes, and the male portion B around the end of the other pipe, and putting the
loose ring e' into the open end of the female portion C, after such portion has been
passed over the end of the pipe, and finally screwing up the male portion B within

page_text: the female portion C and thus tightening the flared ends of the pipes against the
edges of the projections d of the ring c.
A still further modification of this part of the invention is illustrated by
Figure 4, which is a corresponding view to Figure 1. In this modification the
middle portion C of the union has its ends screwed externally, and at the outer face
of each end is formed a projection d corresponding to the projections & above
described. The portions B. which surround the flared ends of the pipes to be
coupled, have their back ends formed to bear against the exterior surfaces of the
flared ends of the pipes and their forward ends internally screwed. The joint is
made by screwing the female portions B upon the ends of the middle or male
portion C, and thus firmly gripping the flared ends of the pipes between the back
ends of the female portions B and the edges of the projections d on the ends of the
male portion C.
According to either modification above described the parts which directly pull
up the ends of the pipes towards one another may be formed with edges,
such as, Figure 2, to cut or bed themselves into the exterior surfaces of the
enlarged ends of the soft metal pipes in the manner shewn in the modification
illustrated by Figure 2. The formation of such an edge with a female portion B of
the union shewn by Figure 4 is illustrated by Figure 4.
A union constructed according to this invention for joining a soft metal pipe
with a tap or other fitting, has an internally screwed or female portion to surround
the end of the soft metal pipe which is enlarged or flared out to a trumpet-shape or
bell-mouth. This portion of the union has one end formed to bed up against (or,
if desired, to cut or press into) the exterior surface of the enlarged end of the pipe.
The union comprises, also, a male portion which is externally screwed, and consists
of the nose of the tap with which the attachment is to be made, or of the nose of
other fitting. Such latter portion is provided at its outer end with an annular
projection formed to an edge which, when the parts are screwed together, cuts or
beds itself into the opened-out portion of the soft metal pipe, as in the case of
the corresponding projections above described; or, in lieu of forming the annular
projection on the end of the nosing, it may be formed at the outer face of a loose
ring which has a short tubular part which fits within the nose of the tap, or other
fitting, and a shoulder around which a leather or other soft washer is placed to
ensure a tight joint between the ring and the face of the nose. The pipe is
coupled up to the tap, or other fitting, by screwing together the male and female
parts of the union, as will be understood.
Figure 5 illustrates in section a method, according to this invention, of coupling
a soft metal pipe to a tap. The nose D of the tap has an annular projection d,
corresponding to the projections d above described, formed on its end. The end A¹
of the pipe to be coupled is flared out, and a part B, corresponding to the parts
similarly lettered Figure 4, surrounds such end of the pipe. The nose D of the
tap is externally screwed, and the joint is effected by screwing up the female
part B upon the nose D and thus firmly gripping the flared end of the pipe A¹
between the back of the part B of the union and the projection d of the nose D.
The nose D, of course, forms in effect a portion of the union.
Figure 6 which is a corresponding view to Figure 5, illustrates a modification of
the joint shewn by such figure. According to this modification, the projection d
on the nose of the tap is dispensed with, and a loose ring e is formed with a short
tubular part to fit up within the nose D of the tap and with a portion of enlarged
exterior diameter which forms a shoulder or flange at the base of the tubular part,
and a projection, such as d is formed at the bottom of the ring. A washer g is
interposed between the shoulder of the ring and the nose of the tap to ensure a
tight joint between the ring and the nose of the tap. The flared end of the pipe A¹
is drawn up against the projection d by a part B screwed on to the nose D of the
tap, as in the modification shewn by Figure 5.
Soft metal pipes may be similarly coupled up, as will be obvious, to other
fittings besides taps..

page_text: Figure 7 shews in sectional view the adaptation of the coupling shewn by
Figure 5 when it is desired to couple a soft metal pipe A' to a hard metal pipe or
to a vessel otherwise than through the medium of a tap. This modification corre-
sponds with that shewn by Figure 5 except that a fitting D¹ formed with a
projection d (corresponding to the projection d shewn by Figure 5) takes the place
of the nozzle D of the tap, and is formed with a part h at its hinder end which is
screw-threaded or otherwise adapted for connection with a hard metal pipe, or with
a vessel. The enlarged end of the pipe A.' is drawn up against the edge of the
annular projection d by screwing the part B of the coupling which surrounds the
enlarged end of the soft metal pipe A¹ on to the end of the fitting D'.
The part B shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7 may, of course, be formed with an edge
corresponding to the edges d, to cut or embed itself into the outer surface of the
enlarged portion of the pipe A¹
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In unions for coupling soft metal pipes to one another, or for coupling such
pipes to taps or other fittings, the use of portions of a V or analogous shape in
transverse section which cut or embed themselves into the soft metal of enlarged or
bell-mouthed ends of the pipes, substantially as described.
2. A union for coupling soft metal pipes to one another, which comprises
portions which are adapted to surround enlarged or bell-mouthed ends of the pipes
to be joined, and a middle portion which has a free passage-way therethrough, and
is formed at opposite ends or sides thereof with narrow annular projections of a Vor
analogous shape in transverse section, with means by which the parts of the union
which surround the enlarged ends of the pipes to be joined may be drawn towards
one another and the edges of the annular projections aforesaid thereby caused to
cut or embed themselves into the soft metal of the enlarged or bell-mouthed ends
of the pipes, substantially as described.
3. A union for coupling soft metal pipes to one another, which comprises
portions which are adapted to surround enlarged or bell-mouthed ends of the pipes
to be joined, and are formed with narrow annular projections of a V or analogous
shape in transverse section, and a middle portion which has a free passage-way
therethrough, and is formed at opposite ends or sides thereof with narrow annular
projections of a V or analogous shape in transverse section, with means by which
the parts of the union which surround the enlarged ends of the pipes to be joined
may be drawn towards one another and the edges of the annular projections formed
therewith and with the middle portion thereby caused to cut or embed themselves
into the soft metal of the enlarged ends of the pipes, substantially as described.
4. The several forms of union for coupling together soft metal pipes, substan-
tially as described with reference to the drawings on Sheet 1 herewith, and
whether or not, in the case of the modifications illustrated by Figures 3 and 4,
annular projections such as d', Figure 2, are formed with the parts of the union
which surround the enlarged ends of the pipes.
5. A union for joining a soft metal pipe with a tap or other fitting, which
comprises a portion which is adapted to surround the enlarged end of the soft metal
pipe and which has its hinder end formed to bed up against (or, if desired, to cut
or press into) the exterior surface of the enlargement, and a portion (which consists
of the nose of the tap with which the attachment is to be inade, or of the nose of
other fitting) which has at its forward end an annular projection (or is fitted with
a ring which has at its outer face such a projection) which, as the parts of the
coupling are tightened up, cuts or embeds itself into the enlarged portion of the
soft metal pipe, with means by which the first mentioned portion may be drawn
towards the other portion, substantially as described.
6. The several forms of union for coupling a soft metal pipe with a tap or other
fitting, substantially as described with reference to the drawings on Sheet 2

page_text: herewith, and whether or not an annular projection such as d¹, Figure 2, is formed
with the part of the union which surrounds the enlarged end of the pipe..
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
STEPHEN
WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.