IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF CONSTRUCTING AND LAYING MAINS AND SERVICE PIPES FOR WATER, GAS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew O'Neill, of the City of Baltimore, and State of
Maryland, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MODES OF CONSTRUCTING AND LAYING MAINS AND SERVICE PIPES FOR
WATER, GAS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 11th November 1876.
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 11th November 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Andrew O'Neill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th November 1876.
ANDREW O'NEILL, of the City of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, in the United
States of America, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF CONSTRUCTING
AND LAYING MAINS AND SERVICE PIPES FOR WATER, GAS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES."
My improved pressure pipes are constructed with a chilled convex spigot end
with a fillet, on which are formed connecting lugs with convex faces fitting
corresponding concave faces, lugs, or flanges in the bell end of the next section, the
curvature of the working faces of the lugs affording play to the joint. The bell end
is constructed with an annular seat for the reception of a gasket of lead, soft rubber,
or other compressible material, which is formed on either face with a feather edge
or annular lip to adapt it to be more readily compressed to fit the seat in the bell
and the pipe end which presses it on said seat. The gasket is also formed with
radial lugs fitting in corresponding notches in the bell to prevent its rotation as the
spigot end of the pipe is twisted into position. The bell is also formed with an
internal flange and annular recess to adapt it for the reception and packing of a
cut or a common pipe, the end of which may be of plain cylindrical form, and not
furnished with my peculiar coupling lugs. The shoulder of the bell is formed with
radial flanges for the reception of a twisting jact, or of a jenny, by which the last
section is held while the new one is twisted in position. The inclined shape
necessary to give the action of a screw to the coupling lugs may be made on the
A suitable stop is
lugs of the spigot end, or the flanges of the bell end, or both.
provided to limit the turning of the spigot end within the bell.
coupling divices similar to those on the spigot end of the pipe, is
a terminal section.
A dead end, with
provided to close

page_text: The Invention further consists in the provision of a ferrule with a tapering spigot
end surrounded by a thimble of soft material to form a service connection by
driving said thimble into an opening which may be drilled in the main pipe.
The Invention further consists in providing a T or intersection with a gasket seat
and flanges analoguous to those of the pipe bell for the optional reception of an
annular cap, or a service T, or a plain service pipe.
The Invention further consists in the peculiar construction of a cap to close the
said outlet, and to either hold a tight gasket or to receive a pipe, which may be
screwed into said annular cap at will.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ends of a
pipe section illustrating my Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the bell end with a dead end inserted therein.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the spigot end.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of my peculiar concavo convex gasket for use in
connection with the conical spigot and bell end.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a service T, the main Ṭ being shown in plan
beneath it.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 7, 7, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of my improved annular cap.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the ferrule and thimble for service connection
to a main pipe.
1
1
The spigot end of a pipe a is cast in a chill mould with a'conical end, and with
lugs B projecting from a fillet b, and made convex on their working faces so as to
form a ball and socket or universal joint. The chilling extends both to the side and
end. The pipe bell L is constructed with a concave seat C and recesses c to receive
a lead gasket D and lugs d¹ thereon. E, E, represent the flanges with which the
lugs B engage. The recess in the interior of the bell is adapted for the reception
of a cold-lead packing (described in another application) in case of necessity to
connect with a common pipe, or with a cut section, which may lack the spigot end.
The notches e, e, in the bell flange E which permit the passage of the lugs B in
putting the parts together may be plugged with wood when a plain cylindrical pipe
is to be connected. J, J, represent lugs on the shoulder of the bell for the application
of a jenny and a jack, by which the last-placed section is held securely, and the
next screwed into it. K are stops to limit the turning of the spigot end A within
the bell L. D is a concavo-convex gasket of lead, soft rubber, or other compressible
material formed on its respective faces, with annular lips or feather edge flanges d,
and on its periphery with lugs d. The convex side of the gasket is placed in the
concave seat C within the base of the bell L, and the lugs d fitting in radial recesses
in said seat prevent the turning of the gasket as the spigot end a is screwed home
upon it, the lips d on either face causing a perfectly tight joint to be formed with
moderate pressure.
A dead end R, as shown in Figure 2, is provided with a chilled conical extremity b
and holding lugs B similar to those of the spigot ends of the pipe sections so as to
close the bell end of a terminal section by the aid of the gasket D already described.
To provide for the connection of service pipes without the costly operation of
drilling, I provide at each crossing an opening, cast by means of suitable cores in
the original manufacture of the pipes, with recesses e, flanges E, and gasket seats C,
similar to those of the main joints, and adapted to receive either a single pipe, such,
for example, as the supply pipe of a lamp post or a Tor cross pipe, Figures 5 and 6,
with connections M¹ which may lead to two lamp posts on opposite corners of the
street crossing.
N represents an annular cap or stopper formed with lugs B to engage with the
sectional screw flanges E of the intersection outlet O, and with an internal screw
thread n by which a service pipe may be attached, as, for example, the sup-
ply pipe of a lamp post. When this cap N is used simply to close the opening O

page_text: it is screwed down on a disk of metal or any impervious material to form a tight
stopper.
To provide for the ready tapping of mains at points where service openings are
not made at the time of manufacture, I employ a ferrule P, Figure 8, with a
tapered end, covered by a thimble p of copper or other metal sufficiently soft to
form a joint. Q represents a projection for driving.
My improved system of laying main and service pipes possesses many advantages
over the old mode. Hot lead being entirely dispensed with avoids the necessity
for wide excavations, and the time and labor usually occupied in making fire and
melting lead and running it into the joints.
My improved mains may be laid in trenches one half of the width of those
required to manipulate common pipe, thus greatly reducing the cost and labor
of excavating, refilling, and repaving, and especially effecting an enormous saving
in laying pipes in rock, which is a consideration of great importance in some cities.
Dispensing with the use of fire and hot lead in forming the joints adapts my
system for the laying of pipes in water without difficulty. Hydraulic cement
may be run around the joints for additional security.
With my system of joining pipes the strains applied being longitudinal instead of
radial or expansive much of the inetal required to re-enforce the bell with the old
style of coupling is dispensed with. The joint possesses great facility for taking
apart when necessary.
By reason of the construction of the convex lugs and corresponding concave seats
therefor the joint is not impared but rather tightened by a deflection of the pipe.
If great deflection of the pipe be necessary the face of one lug may be partially
cut away, as shown at b¹, Figure 5.
The lugs B are formed on a fillet b for additional strength, and made tapering to
discharge from the chill. The chill being larger than the body of. the mould
makes the spigot end of the pipe fully as strong as any other part.
Chilling is adopted as the most economical mode of producing a smooth surface;
but it is evident that the purpose may be accomplished by turning the pipe end.
The smooth surface imparted to the spigot end, either by chill casting or by turning,
adapts it to turn freely on the end gasket without rucking up.
Having thus described my Invention, the following is what I claim as new and
desire to secure by Letters Patent:-
1. The chilled convex pipe end constructed substantially as herein described,
with lateral lugs formed with faces convex in both directions in combination with
bearings within the bell, curved to correspond therewith, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2. The pipe bell, constructed with a recessed flange E for the reception of the
lugs B, and with a notched concavity C for the gasket D.
·
3. The lugs J on the external shoulder of the bell to receive a jenny by which
one section is held while the other is twisted by a jack.
4. The stop K to limit the turning of the pipe within the bell as explained.
5. The concavo convex gasket D, constructed on either side with an annular
ridge or feather edge, and with external lugs (, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
6. The combination of a conical pipe end, cast with holding lugs or their
equivalent B, a bell end flanged and recessed to receive said lugs, and a compressible
gasket, to form a tight flexible joint, substantially as herein set forth.
7. The chilled fillet b, formed on the spigot end of the pipe, with lugs projecting
therefrom as set forth.
8. The dead end R, constructed as herein described, with a conical bearing face b,
and convex lugs B, adapted to the bell end above described, and with lugs for the
application of a jack for twisting in the said dead end as explained.
9. The ferrul P, constructed with a tapering end surrounded by a thimble m of
softer metal, to form a close joint when driven into an aperture in the main as
explained.

page_text: 10. The outlet O at the T or intersection of the main, constructed with a gasket
seat and inclines, formed as described for the optional reception of a cap N or a
service T.
11. The annular cap n, employed to close the outlet O by means of a suitable
gasket or to receive a wrought iron or other service pipe.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew O'Neill, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of October, A.D. 1876.
ANDREW O'NEILL (70)
ANDREW O'NEILL (LS)