Improvements in or relating to Pipe Stoppers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Pipe Stoppers.
We, FREDERICK TEMPLAR FARRER of 17 Flood Street, Chelsea in the
County of Middlesex, Sanitary Engineer, and WILLIAM WALTERS BROWN
of 2 Worfield Street, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Sanitary Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to stoppers for drains and other pipes and is particularly
useful in testing or flushing drains and other pipes. The following features are
comprised in this invention.
First a stopper which can be used for pipes of different sizes, a much greater
range being obtainable with this invention than has been possible before. Second
an arrangement by which the water in the drain which is generally employed in
testing it can be let out.without the necessity for the person who releases it coming
into close proximity to the 'drain, and 'thus becoming wet with the escaping water
as is at present.inevitable.
In carrying out this invention, with particular reference to the large range of
expansibility of the stopper, we may employ two plates or covers of a size to fit
easily into the smallest size of pipe to which the stopper is adapted and may draw
these plates together by any convenient arrangement of screw and nut. Conveniently
one plate may have a screwed spindle attached to it over which the second plate
fits and is forced towards the first plate by a nut. The spindle may be hollow if
necessary for the passage of the water into or from the drain.
...
The tightening of the stopper in the pipe is effected by compressing a rubber or
equivalent ring between the two plates. Hitherto this rubber ring has beep
specially moulded of particular shapes to cause or assist it to open outwardly so
as to fit tight against the interior of the pipe when the plates are forced together,
and the interior face or periphery is hollowed out or recessed inside. We find
that this is a mistaken construction and that the hollowing of the interior face of
the ring seriously restricts the range of size obtainable with any particular ring.
Consequently in making our rings we adopt a flat or approximately flat inner
surface which we find by experiment, providing as it does a larger bulk of rubber
inside, has the effect of forcing the outer portions of the ring further out than in
the hollow type, and we thus attain the greater range of expansibility to the ring.
Further we can have a flat exterior to the ring and a flat interior and can therefore
without the necessity for employing any special moulded ring cut it from a simple
piece of tube and obtain the results above specified. We may round the edges if
desired, but this does not seriously affect the operation of the ring. As showing
the great range of adaptability that we secure, we can make a stopper which will
fit a 34 inch soil pipe and will also fit à 4 inch drain, or a 5 inch soil pipe or draio
and a 64 inch drain, a range which has never been approached before with a stopper
of this description, without the use of auxiliary plates or bands.
Previously to our present invention where a hollow spindle has been employed
for the purpose of filling the drain or letting the water escape it has been closed
by a screw stopper which had to be released by hand, the man performing this
operation getting generally seriously wetted. To avoid this we may use an ordinary
a).

page_text: or special stopper provided with a cap and trigger or their equivalent so that by
operating the trigger which can be done from a distance through the medium of a
cord, chain or the like, the plug can be unclosed and the water allowed to escape
without the operator getting wet. Modifications of this device may be employed
without departing from the spirit of the invention and even a stop cock could be
used if means were provided for operating it from a safe distance the important.
feature of this portion of the invention being the safety provided for the
operating workmen.
To prevent the stopper from turning while the nut is being screwed up we may
provide a loop or equivalent upon one of the plates into which a rod or the like
can be inserted to hold the plate during the screwing operation or one or more lugs
or projections may be provided upon the plate with which the rod may engage or
the lug may be square or otherwise suitably shaped and a box spanner or the like
placed upon them and thus hold the stopper. Or the screwed spindle may be
squared or otherwise arranged upon the outside if solid but preferably upon the
inside if hollow so that the application of a correspondingly shaped rod or cap
would hold it and prevent it from turning.
Dated this 18th day of February 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants..
improvements in or relating to ripe Stoppers.
We FREDERICK TEMPLAR FARRER of 17 Flood Street, Chelsea, in the
County of Middlesex, Sanitary Engineer and WILLIAM WALTERS BROWN of
2 Worfield Street Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Sanitary 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 :-
This invention relates to stoppers for drains & other pipes and is particularly
useful in testing or flushing drains and other pipes. The following features are
comprised in this invention.
First a stopper which can be used for pipes of different sizes, a much greater
range being obtainable with this invention than has been possible before. Second,
an arrangement by which the water in the drain which is generally employed in
testing it can be let out without the necessity for the person who releases it coming
into close proximity to the drain, and thus becoming wet with the escaping water
as is at present inevitable.
In carrying out this invention with particular reference to the large range of
expansibility of the stopper we employ two plates or covers of a size to fit easily
into the smallest size of pipe to which the stopper is adapted, and we draw these
plates together preferably by means of a hollow spindle so arranged that neither
plate can turn independently of the other.
The tightening of the stopper in the pipe is effected by compressing a rubber or
other flexible ring between the two plates. Hitherto, this rubber ring has been
specially moulded of particular shapes to cause or assist it to be pressed outwardly
so as to fit tight against the interior of the pipe when the plates are forced together,
and the interior face or periphery is hollowed out or recessed inside. We find that
this is a mistaken construction and that the hollowing of the interior face of the
ring seriously restricts the range of size obtainable with any particular ring.
Consequently, in making our rings we adopt a flat or approximately flat inner
surface which, we find by experiment, providing as it does a larger bulk of rubber

page_text: inside, has the effect of forcing the outer portions of the ring further out than in
the hollow type, and we thus attain the greatest range of expansibility to the ring.
Further, we can have a flat exterior to the ring and can therefore without the
necessity of employing any special moulded ring cut it from a simple piece of tube
and obtain the results above specified. We may slightly round or bevel the edges
if desired, but this does not seriously affect the operation of the ring.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will proceed to describe
the manner in which it is to be carried into effect, reference being made to the
aunexed drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of our improved stoppering device shewing the
Hexible ring in its normal condition.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with the flexible ring distended.
Figure 3 is a section, on the line ae, of Figure 1.
Figure 4 illustrates on a larger scale our improved trigger cap.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a modification of our invention.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the same with the handle of the spindle turned one
quarter of a revolution, in order to shew the webs mm 1.
Figure 7 is a section, on the line ax, of Figure 5.
Figure 8 illustrates a further modified form of our invention.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the same, and
Figure 10 is a section, on the line, of Figure 8 with the flexible ring
removed.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
According to our invention we employ two plates or covers A AI Figures 1, 2
and 3, the rear plate A having a hollow spindle B attached, so arranged that it
telescopes with, but will not turn in the boss or socket a forming part of the front
plate A 1. For this purpose we make the rear part 6 of the said spindle preferably
hexagonal in order that it may engage with the boss or socket a, which must be of
corresponding form. The portion of this boss which projects beyond the front
plate at a we also make of hexagonal exterior so that it can be held by a spanner
or by other suitable means and thus be prevented from turning. We prefer
however that it be reduced or tapered at its outer extremity a 2 so that a better fit
may be secured around the spindle B.
We furnish this spindle, which may form part of the plate A and may con-
veniently be made of malleable cast iron, with a screw thread 61 in order that the
plates A, A1 may be drawn closely together by means of the fly nut or its
equivalent C, which we cause preferably to work or rotate on or against the
washer c.
We make the flexible ring D in the form of a short cylinder having uniform or
approximately uniform inner and outer diameters for the reasons and for the
purposes hereinbefore described. These rings may be cut in the usual manner of
cutting similar rings preferably from a length of india-rubber or other suitable
tubing, the walls of which are of the desired and of equal thickness throughout, and
we may cut the said rings so that their ends may be parallel to each other or we
may slightly bevel or curve the said ends, as for instance, by introducing the cutting
tool at a slight angle into the said tubing we cut from between each division of the
tubing an acutely wedge-shaped piece of rubber or other suitable material used.
In order to prevent the inward expansion of the ring D, and to keep the same in
position, we cast upon or otherwise affix to the plates A A 1 the circular flanges d, d 1,
and where a flexible ring with parallel ends is used we cause the outer margins of
the plates A A 1 to form a right angle with the said flanges as in Figure 1. In
cases where the ends of the flexible ring D are bevelled or slightly curved, we
preferably bevel or slightly curve the margins e, e l as in Figures 5 and 8. By this
eans the whole of the space between the outer circumferences of the flanges d, d 1
and the peripheries of the plates A, A1 is rendered available for the flexible
material constituting the ring D, no space is wasted, and moreover, immediately
the fly-out or its equivalent is turned in the proper direction, outward extension

page_text: of the ring commences and may be continued iintil the limit is reached for which
the particular.stopper is intended:
In lieu of the screw cap usually employed for closing the end of the hollow
spindle B, and in order to avoid the unpleasant consequences frequently arising.
therefrom when water is let out of the drain, we provide a special arrangement
such as the trigger cap illustrated in Figure 4. This cap consists of a short
socket E having an internal screw thread adapted to engage with and work freely
upon the screw thread 1 of the spindle B to which it is attached when the
stoppering device is in use. The central portion of the said socket we reduce in
diameter thus forming two raised rims 1 (which are preferably milled for the
convenience of turning the said socket) and a circumferential recess g, into and
around which we loosely fit the clamp F having two projecting lugs hh 1, which
carry the trigger G and bent arm H respectively by means of the pins i, 1. To
this bent arm we attach in some suitable manner a circular disc or cap, somewhat
larger in diameter than the hollow spindle B, and having a raised rim so arranged
that it forms a circular recess into which we insert or fit a disc of leather or other
suitable material wherewith to make a watertight joint with the end of the said
spindle which we face for the purpose. We preferably bend the upper extremity
of the bent arm slightly outwards and we so arrange the trigger that a catch or slot
with which it is provided shall engage with and lock the said bent arin when it is
desired to close the end of the spindle B.
We provide the trigger with a ring or its equivalent k, to which a cord or other
suitable contrivance can be attached so that the trigger may be raised and the cap
released from a distance. We do not however limit ourselves to this precise form
or arrangement of trigger cap, as for example, in lieu of making the socket E and
the clamp F in separate parts we may cast the lugs upon the socket or we
may affix them thereto in some other suitable manner. By the arrangement
illustrated however the socket E is arranged to turn independently of the other
parts of the cap, hence the trigger can be placed in any position desired, which
(having regard to the confined space in which it is sometimes necessary to insert
and operate the complete stopper) is of great advantage.
Again, the said trigger may be fitted with one or more supplementary arms
radiating from the pin i on which it works, and the straight and, lower portion of
the bent arm may be extended and arranged to carry a counterpoise, thus enabling
the cap or disc to be released by the pull of a cord attached to one of the supple-
mentary arms when the trigger is reversed or is below the hollow spindle B. In
soine cases we attach a spring or springs 'to the lug or to the trigger G, and so
arrange the said spring or springs that it or they shall bear against the trigger or
an extension thereof in such a manner that the said trigger has always a tendency
to bear against and lock the said bent arm.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7, we have illustrated a slight modification of our invention,
that is to Say,
in lieu of making the spindle B in one piece with the plate A as
shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, we make the said spindle independently thereof and
so arrange the same that it may be screwed into the boss or socket 6 by means of
the handle C1 which may form part of the said spindle or may be attached thereto
in any suitable manner. Beyond the screwed portion of the spindle B, we reduce
its diameter at so that it may work in and through the stuffing-box I provided
for the purpose of securing a water-tight joint therewith.
We preferably make the exterior of the boss or socket b attached to plate A,
and the interior of the boss or socket a attached to the plate A 1 hexagonal in
form, and in lieu of providing the boss or socket'a with a hexagonal exterior as in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 we may attach to the said boss or socket two or more webs m, m 1
for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of our invention more particularly
applicable to the larger sizes of stoppers, in which a correspondingly large central
spindle would cause excessive friction on the fly-nut or its equivalent when in the
act of closing the plates A A... t
:

page_text: In this case we substitute for the hollow spindle B Figures 1, 2, 3, 5; 6, and '7 a
solid spindle J having the collar n arranged to work on or against the boss o, and
the handle C1 by which the said spindle may be screwed into or unscrewed from-
the boss or socket P attached to the plate A. This boss or socket is provided with a
screw thread arranged to engage with the thread of the solid spindle, and may be.
closed at its outer end, or the said boss may be open throughout, in which case, a
screw plug or other suitable contrivance must be provided in order to hermetically
close the opening. To provide for the inlet or outlet of water we attach to the
plate A in any suitable manner, conveniently by means of a screw thread, and in
any convenient position two or more tubes r, r 1 (in this case only two are shewn).
and we furnish the plate A 1 with two or more openings s, & 1 through which the
said tubes pass and through which they project a sufficient distance to enable the
trigger cap to be screwed thereon when the flexible ring D is in its normal
position.
Among the advantages to be derived from the use of a stopper constructed
according to our invention are the great range of expansibility of the flexible
ring D, the locking of the plates A. A 1 so that neither can turn independently of
the other, and the ease with which an operator can release the water from the drain
without risk of getting an unpleasant wetting. With regard to the range of
expansibility of the stopper, we make a stopper that will fit, for instance, a 5 inch
drain pipe, which will also effectually close a 6 inch pipe, or a pipe of any inter-.
mediate diameter between these sizes, a range which has never within our
knowledge been approached before with a stopper of this description without the
use of auxiliary plates or bands. In short, we make one of our improved stoppers
do the work of any two stoppers with which we are acquainted and at the
same cost.
In carrying out our invention we wish it to be understood that, with the exception
of the flexible ring D, we do not confine ourselves to the precise form of the
several parts described and illustrated constituting our improved stoppering device,.
as they may be varied without departing from the nature of this invention, but we
distinctly disclain the use of a flexible ring having flanges or internal collars or
beaded or corrugated surfaces, or having any other form in which special moulding
is necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
I. In a stoppering device for pipes or drains the employment of the cylindrical
flexible ring D having uniform or approximately uniform internal and external
diameters and parallel or approximately parallel ends as and for the purposes
described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
II. The improved trigger cap T consisting of the socket E, the clamp F having
lugs h,1, the trigger G and the bent arm H having the disc or cap j attached
arranged substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated in
Figure 4.
III. In a stoppering device for pipes or drains the combination with the plate A
having the bollow spindle B attached and the plate A 1 having the boss or socket a
attached, of the flexible ring D and the trigger cap T substantially as and for the
purposes described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
IV. In a stoppering device for pipes or drains the combination with the plate A
having the boss or socket attached, and the plate A 1 having the boss or socket a
attached, of the flexible ring D, the trigger cap T, the hollow spindle B, and the
stuffing-box arranged substantially as and for the purposes described and
illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7.
V. In a stoppering device for pipes or drains the combination with the
plates A, A1, of the flexible ring D and the trigger cap T as and for the purposes.
described and illustrated in Figures 4, 8, 9 and 10.

page_text: VI. In a stoppering device the arrangements for hermetically closing pipes or
drains substantially as described and illustrated by reference to the annexed
drawings.
11. TEAL 1
1
1000
F. T. FARRER.
W. W. BROWN.