Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Pipes or Tubes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HOLLANDER AND VINKEN, of 115, Leuvenhaven,
Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Pipes or Tubes.
[, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus which forms the subject of this invention comprises a body made of
cast metal and provided from one end to the other with a cylindrical hole or bore, the
axis of which is at an angle of from 10 to 20 degrees to the horizontal plane.
The middle portion of the hole or bore in the above-mentioned body is screw-
threaded and the outer portions of the same form chambers, one of which serves as a
stuffing box, whilst the other is designed to receive the water which is to be com-
pressed in the manner hereinafter described.
In the aforesaid body are formed two tapped holes one of which receives the screw
threaded extremity of a funnel provided with a cock, and the other the screw-threaded
end of a gauge serving to indicate the pressure obtained.
Into the apparatus thus constructed is introduced a rod having a screw threaded
part which engages with the screw-threaded portion of the aforesaid hole or bore, and
the rod is provided, at the end in the second outer chamber formed in the body, with a
nut which is made of a greater diameter than the middle portion of the hole or bore,
for the purpose of preventing the said rod being drawn through the rear extremity
of the body. The above mentioned rod, being moved to the rear through the medium
of a key or handle provided in its middle with a square hole corresponding to the
square end of the rod, into the stuffing box is introduced either tow or a ring of India
rubber or any other suitable packing material, which is then compressed through the
medium of a ring and an externally screw-threaded bronze tube provided with a head
for enabling the same to be turned.
After putting this tube in its place, upon the rear extremity of the said rod on the
right hand side of the square end is fixed a collar designed to prevent the disengage-
ment of the screw-threaded part of this rod from the screw threaded middle portion
of the body.
Upon the front end of this body is held by means of screws a disc presenting a
central opening and provided with a flange having holes for the passage of two draw
rods as hereinafter described.
The pipe or tube to be tested is retained and compressed between the extremity of
the said body and a flanged disc, two leather discs being arranged at the two ends of
the said pipe or tube so as to form a packing and prevent the escape of water.
The compression is effected by the above mentioned draw rods passing through
the holes in the flanges on the said dises through the medium of nuts fitted upon the
extremities of these draw rods.
With the improved apparatus herein before described pipes or tubes are tested by
water pressure in the following manner :-
The above mentioned rod in the cylindrical hole or bore is drawn backwards to the
end of its course, water is then introduced through the said funnel into the pipe or
tube to be tested the chamber communicating therewith and the free space of the
middle portion of the central hole in the body of the apparatus.
The pressure is obtained by causing the central rod to move towards the front.
In order to enable this movement to be effected in the screw threaded part of the
central rod is formed a small groove through which the water can pass slowly to the

page_text: other side of the said screw-threaded part into the middle portion of the cylindrical
hole.
By means of this improved apparatus pressures of 25 and 30 atmospheres can be
produced.
This apparatus is simple and strong and has neither piston nor valves.
When the pipes or tubes to be tested are of a shorter length than is compatible with
the length of the smallest amount of motion of the draw-rods at disposal, the difference
can be compensated for by placing upon the draw-rods between the nuts on the latter
and the outer disc a suitable length of gas pipe.
In order to remove the pipe or tube which has been subjected to the testing
operation it is sufficient to slacken the nuts after the central rod has been moved to
the rear.
Dated thin ofth day of oil 1980
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Pipes or Tubes.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton, Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to apparatus for testing gas, steam and other pipes or tubes
and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the figures of which are hereinafter
referred to.
The apparatus comprises a body A made of cast metal and provided from one end
to the other with a cylindrical hole or hore the axis of which is at an angle of from
10 to 20 degrees to the horizontal plane.
As shown in the drawing the aforesaid opening is composed of three successive
parts the first A2 of which serves as a stuffing box whilst the second part A³ is screw
threaded. The third part A forms a chamber designed to receive the water which is
to be compressed in the manner hereinafter described.
The aforesaid body A is provided with two tapped holes A³ and A communicating
with the interior of the chainber A* one of which holes A³ receives the screw-threaded
extremity of a funnel provided with a cock and the other A the screw-threaded end
of a gauge serving to indicate the pressure obtained.
Into the apparatus thus constructed is introduced a rod D having a screw threaded
part D' which engages with the screw-threaded portion A³ of the aforesaid hole or
bore, and the rod is provided at the end with a nut D3 which is made of a greater
diameter than the screw threaded portion A³ for the purpose of preventing the said
rod D from being drawn through the rear extremity of the body.
The above-mentioned rod is then moved to the rear through the medium of a handle
or lever K provided in its middle with a square hole corresponding to the square
end L of the rod. Into the stuffing box A is introduced either tow or a ring of
India-rubber or any other suitable packing material, which is then compressed
through the medium of a ring c and an externally screw-threaded bronze stuffing-box
gland B provided with a hexagonal or other shaped head for enabling the same to be
turned.
After putting this gland in its place, upon the rear extremity of the said rod Don
the right hand side of the square end L is fixed a collar D2 designed to prevent the
disengagement of the screw-threaded part D₁ of this rod from the screw-threaded
part A. Upon the front end of this body is provided a gland E held by means of
the screws and having a central opening A'. The said gland is provided with a
- flange having holes for the passage of two draw rods H as hereinafter described.

page_text: The pipe or tube G to be tested is retained and compressed between the extremity
of the said body and a disc or flange F, two leather discs G¹ being arranged at the
two ends of the said pipe or tube so as to form a packing and prevent the escape of
water.
The compression is effected by the above-mentioned draw rods H passing through
the holes in the said disc or flange, F and collar F' on the body through the medium
of nuts a fitted upon the extremities of the said draw rods.
With the improved apparatus herein before described pipes or tubes are tested by
water pressure in the following manner.
The rod D in the cylindrical hole or bore is drawn backwards to the end of its
course, water is then introduced through the said funnel and opening A³ into the pipe
or tube to be tested, the chamber A4 and also the free part of the hole A³
communicating therewith.
The pressure is obtained by causing the central rod D to move towards the front.
In order to enable this movement to be effected, in the screw-threaded part D¹ of the
central rod is formed a small groove J through which the water can pass slowly to
the other side of the said screw-threaded part into the middle portion of A³.
By means of this improved apparatus pressures of 25 and 30 atmospheres can be
produced.
This apparatus is simple and strong, and has neither piston nor valves.
When the pipes or tubes to be tested are of a shorter length than is compatible
with the length of the smallest amount of motion of the draw-rods H at disposal, the
difference can be compensated for by placing upon the draw-rods, between the nuts
on the latter and the outer disc F a suitable length of gas pipe.
In order to remove the pipe or tube which has been subjected to the testing
operation it is sufficient to slacken the nuts y after the central rod D has been moved
to the rear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign Correspondents 1 declare that what I claim is ;-
The improved apparatus for testing tubes or pipes by water pressure, as above
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of December 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.