Improvements in or relating to the Covers, Doors, or Lids for Closing the Manholes, Handholes, Mudholes, and Cleaning Holes of Steam Boilers, Metal Tanks, Iron Ships, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Covers, Doors, or Lids for
Closing the Manholes, Handholes, Mudholes, and Cleaning Holes
of Steam Boilers, Metal Tanks, Iron Ships, and the like.
I. BENJAMIN HAIGH, of 65 Glengall Road, Isle of Dogs, London, E. Plumber, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a self contained simple, effective device for hermetically
closing the manholes, handholes, and cleaning holes of steam boilers, and other vessels,
by the employment of which the ordinary unsightly and cumbersome bridge pieces or
crossheads as at present in use are entirely dispensed with.
The device according to my invention comprises two metallic plates cither round,
oval, square, rectangular, or of other convenient shape.
The outer plate is formed with a flange which hears against the external
surface of the boiler or other vessel surrounding the entrance to the manhole, an
opening in the centre of same receiving an internally screw threaded adjusting nut,
which latter is retained and capable of rotary movement within such opening by two
rims or collars formed one on each end of said nut.
The inner movable plate is formed with a screw threaded bolt or stem which
engages with the internal screw thread of the adjusting nut. A ring or annulus of.
resilient substance such as india-rubber, incorporated with asbestos or other fireproof
or heat resisting material is adapted to the inner surface of the outer stationary plate
aforesaid. The inner portion of the rim of the movable plate is bevelled or chamfered
so that when the adjusting nut is rotated and the two plates drawn towards each other,
the bevelled or chamfered edge or rim of the movable plate expands the resilient
ring aforesaid thus hermetically sealing the opening to the manhole, handhole or
the like.
The head of the adjusting nut may be square, to permit of its being rotated by a
wrench, or, when round, is formed with a series of "tommy" holes.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of October 1889.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Covers, Doors, or Lids for
Closing the Manholes, Handholes, Mudholes, and Cleaning Holes
of Steam Boilers, Metal Tanks, Iron Ships, and the like.
I, BENJAMIN HAIGE, of 65 Glengall Road, Isle of Dogs, London, E., Plumber, 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 consists of a self contained simple effective device for hermetically
closing the manholes, bandholes, mudholes and cleaning holes of steam boilers, metal
tanks, iron ships and the like vessels by the employment of which the ordinary
unsightly and cumbersome bridge pieces or crossheads as at present in use are entirely
dispensed with. Said stoppering device may also be applied to purposes, other than
those specialized, in which a water and airtight joint or closure is desired.

page_text: In the accompanying explanatory drawing
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved device and
Figure 2 a plan shown partly in horizontal section taken along the line A. B
Figure 1.
In carrying, out my, invention I prefer to secure to the boiler, tank, or other
vessel a by studs c or like fastenings a circular or oval flanged plate to serve as a
hearing surface for the closing device. This latter comprises 'two metallic plates A, B,
either round, oval, square, rectangular or other shape to correspond with the form of
opening to be closed.
The outer plate A is formed with a flange a¹ which bears or rests against the
external surface of the boiler or other vessel surrounding the opening to be closed, or,
as, in the present case, against the flange of the bearing plate b. An opening in the
centre of the outer plate A serves to receive an internally screw threaded adjusting
nut C which is retained and is capable of rotary movement within such opening by a
rin or collar formed at one or both ends of said nut.
The inner moveable plate B is formed with a screw threaded bolt or stem d which
engages with the internal screw thread of the adjusting nut C. A ring or annulus D
of resilient substance such as dermatine, india rubber, or the like, incorporated with
asbestos or other fire proof or heat resisting material is added circumferentially to the
outer stationary plate A aforesaid.
comes in contact with the expansible ring D, is bevelled or chamfered as shown at e
The edge of the inner moveable plate B, which
so that when the adjusting nut C is rotated this bevelled or chamfered edge or rim of
the moveable plate B expands the resilient ring D aforesaid against the bearing plato b
thus hermetically sealing the opening which it is desired to close.
The head of the adjusting nut is either square or hexagonal to permit of its
being notated by a wrench or spanner; <
series of tommy" holes.
when round, it may be formed with a
፡፡
The ends of a bent rod E may be insert in holes formed for their reception in
enlargements of the nut C as at 1, this rod which when not in use is turned back
flush with the outer plate A, serving as a realy means to rotate the nut C.
to prevent the rotation of the plate B when screwing up the nut CI form it with a
In order
projecting pin gl sliding vertically within a groove or hole g in the plate A; and
further, to prevent the accidental separation of the parts I cut away a portion of the
thread of the nut C and "upset" the end of the bolt d as at d so that when once in
position the screwed stem d cannot be entirely unscrewed from the nut C.
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. The improvements in or relating to the covers, doors or lids for closing the
manholes, hand holes, mudholes and cleaning holes of steam boilers, metal tanks, iron
ships and the like substantially as herein set forth and shown.
2. The improved stoppering or closing device for the purposes specified com-
prising two plates A, B drawn together so as to expand the flexible ring or annulus D
by a nut or internally screw threaded sleeve C and screwed holt or stem D substantially
as described and shown.
Dated this 25th day of Jul. 1900
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.