An Improved Device for Boring and Tapping Mains.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 24th Oct., 1292-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Boring and Tapping Mains.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Mark P. Madden,
of Coronado, California, U.S.A. Inventor,) to be as follows:-
This my invention has reference to an improved apparatus for tapping mains,
and the invention comprises a suitable water-tight chamber, which, by means of
suitable clamps, can be secured to the main over the part thereof which it is
desired to bore. In the upper part of the casing is an aperture adapted to receive
the spindle of a drilling and tapping machine.. This aperture is preferably
provided with a stuffing-box and gland. In the lower part of the spindle may be
In the lower part of
secured a drill, tap, or other tool which it is desired to use.
the casing is located a suitable valve which consists of two parts which are wedge-
shaped, and are adapted to be operated by a handle which projects horizontally
from the side of the casing. By means of this valve a water-tight joint may be
made between the lower part of the casing and the upper part thereof when it
is desired to replace a drill by a tap or other tool. The upper part of the casing
is made removable so that the tools being used can be readily removed and
replaced without the water escaping. When the upper part of the casing is again
secured in place the valve in the lower portion thereof is opened, and the work
can proceed.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Boring and Tapping Mains.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Mark P. Madden, of
Coronado, California, U.S.A. Inventor,) and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention is an improved device for drilling and tapping water-mains; and
its principal object is to provide means by which a hole may be drilled through the
main and threaded at the same time without requiring the cutting off of the water
from the main, and to enable the operator to insert into the opening thus made a
service-pipe without undue loss of water.
The invention consists in the devices and combination of devices hereinafter
more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents in section my device as applied to a main.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically across the main with a portion of my
device in place.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valve for closing the opening made in the main.
Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the manner of applying the service-pipe to
the main.

page_text: -
In the figures the main is shown at A and the saddle or support for the operating
parts of the device at B, this saddle being made in two parts, which separate on
the central longitudinal line, as shown at a, the two parts being held together by
angular clamps b. The under face of the saddle about its centre is made slightly
concave to fit the convex surface of the main. The angular clamps are provided
with central openings, which register with slots c in the ends of the saddle proper,
through which project bolts provided with nuts on their upper ends, their lower
ends terminating, respectively, in a hook and eye, which engage with a chain el or
other connection passing under the main, and by means of which the saddle is held
securely in place upon the main. On the upper face of the saddle a nipple 9 is
formed with an opening through the same, this opening being screw-threaded for a
part of its length, and into this opening is screwed a cylindrical casing 10, having
a stuffing-box at its upper end, through which passes the drilling-tool. This
drilling-tool is supported at its upper end by means of a pressure-screw, which
passes through an opening in the upper end of a bracket C, which is forked at its
lower end and adapted to fit within a recess formed between the nipple on the
saddle and the upper face of the same, so that this bracket is easily removed when
desired. The boring-tool is given any amount of pressure by the pressure-screw 12,
and it is rotated to penetrate the main by means of a ratchet-lever D, which is
fitted to the squared upper part of the tool.
In order to provide for the cutting off of the water through the opening made
by the tool, I have provided a valve, which is carried in a chamber secured to or
forming a part of the saddle. This chamber opens into the openings extending
through the nipple and the saddle, and the valve located within the chamber is
adapted to close the opening leading to the main and shut off the flow of water
into the casing after the drilling-tool has penetrated the main and been withdrawn
from the opening formed thereby. This valve is a compound valve and consists of
a lower part d, which has a perfectly plain lower face with an inclined upper face,
and a part e, which has an inclined lower face and a plain upper face. The
operating rod has its end swivelled in the part d and is threaded into the over-
hanging part of the upper valve, so that while in the horizontal movement of the
rod the two parts will slide together, by turning the rod a wedging action may be
secured and a very close fit effected. After the opening has been made in the main
the pressure-screw is removed from contact with the drilling-tool and this tool is
lifted, as it is permitted a limited vertical movement, and as this movement with-
draws the tool, as shown in Fig. 1, above the line of movement of the cut-off valve
the said valve is then pushed forward and the exit of water from the main
prevented. The cylindrical casing containing the drilling-tool is then removed
from the nipple, as is also the bracket, leaving the upper part of the saddle free
from obstructions. I then screw into the nipple a cap-plate 13, which is divided
centrally, the parts being held together by pins 14 upon one half entering openings
in the other half. This cap-plate has a central opening and the opening is reduced
near the bottom of the plate, and into the recess on the upper face I screw, a
washer 15, which holds in place a gasket 16, of rubber or like material, which is
provided with an opening conforming to the opening through the, washer and cap-
plate, but of slightly less diameter, so that the edges of the gasket project slightly
into the opening, which forms a packing. The washer is also divided centrally in
precisely the same way as the cap-plate. The cap-plate is screwed into place until
the division-line in the cap-plate and washer are in line with the division-lines of
the saddle. A short section of service-pipe 17, having a cock or valve connected
therewith, is then forced down past the rubber packing, which makes a tight fit.
The valve is then withdrawn and the service-pipe screwed into the threaded opening
in the main. The chain around the main is then loosened and withdrawn, the
clamps which hold the parts of the saddle together are removed, and the saddle,
cap-plate, and washer separated on a line of the their division, leaving the service-
pipe in the screw-threaded opening and permitting of the use of the tapping
devices in any other situation.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A tapping device for mains and other pipes, consisting of a supporting-saddle,
a boring-tool carried thereby, a ratchet for operating the boring-tool; and a valve
for closing the opening between the casing and the main, said valve being composed
of two parts adapted to move together horizontally and having a wedging action
in relation to each other, substantially as described.
2. In combination with a supporting-saddle, a cylindrical casing carried thereby,
a vertically-movable boring-tool in said casing, and a valve between said casing
and the main, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a supporting-saddle, suitable boring devices, and a valve
consisting of two parts, with a single rod or stem for imparting to said valve a
sliding movement and a wedging action in relation to each other, substantially as
described.
4. In combination with a supporting-saddle having a threaded nipple, and a cap-
plate adapted to replace the boring devices, said saddle and cap-plate being divided
centrally and adapted to be used in connection with a pipe inserted through the
cap-plate into the opening made in the main, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the divided saddle, a valve carried by one part thereof,
a divided cap-plate adapted to be secured to the saddle above the line of the valve,
and a gasket carried by the cap-plate and extending within the line of its central
opening, substantially as described.
6. In combination with a divided saddle, clamps for holding the divisions together,
an extension on one part carrying a valve, a divided cap-plate fitted to a nipple
forming a part of the saddle, a gasket, and a divided washer for securing the gasket
in place substantially as described.
Dated this 94th day of October 1892.