Improvements in Pipe Couplings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
Improvements in Pipe Couplings.
We, JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, of Oakhurst, Hampstead Heath, in the County
of London, Engineer, and JOHN CHARLES TAITE, of 63 Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in pipe couplings specially adapted
for connecting together the hose pipes at the adjacent ends of railway vehicles
provided with steam or hot water heating apparatus, and it has for object to enable
such couplings, which are formed with hard or metallic abutting or jointing surfaces,
to automatically compensate for wear of such surfaces and also to render one part
of the coupling interchangeable with one of the parts of existing pipe couplings
of the type constructed with interlocking jaws, such as in the Westinghouse
coupling.
For this purpose the two parts of a coupling according to this invention are
formed with bard or metallic jointing surfaces and with two interlocking jaws or
engaging parts having inclined or screw like surfaces and one of which is made
elastic or yielding, whilst the other is rigid, so that when the two parts of the
coupling are placed together and partly rotated they will be forced tightly together
and become interlocked, the spring jaw or part affording sufficient elasticity to
enable the two parts to be turned and at the same time effect a fluid tight joint
between their abutting or jointing surfaces without the use at these surfaces of
elastic or yielding material such as india rubber, which is unsuitable for use in pipe
The
couplings intended to convey a heating medium such as steam or hot water.
elasticity of the connection also compensates for wear of the abutting surfaces.
The two jaws may advantageously resemble in form and dimensions the two jaws
of an ordinary coupling of the type referred to, so that the one part coupling
having the spring or yielding jaw or part can be used with an existing part coupling
having a fixed jaw.
In one arrangement, that jaw of the coupling which is the inner one when the
two parts of the coupling are connected together, is carried by elastic or spring
arms that are bent over fixed pins or projections by the rigid jaw when the two
parts of the coupling are connected together.
In another construction it is the outer jaw that is made elastic or yielding for
which purpose it may be made as a spring plate secured to the part coupling of
which it forms part.

page_text: improve ripe Couplings.
We, JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, of Oakhurst, Hampstead Heath, in the County
of London, Engineer, and JOHN CHARLES TAITE, of 63 Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London, 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 has reference to improvements in pipe couplings specially adapted
for connecting together the hose pipes at the adjacent ends of railway vehicles
provided with steam or hot water heating apparatus, and it has for object to enable
such couplings, which are formed with hard or metallic abutting or jointing surfaces,
to automatically compensate for wear of such surfaces, and also, if desired, to
render one part of the coupling interchangeable with one of the parts of existing
pipe couplings of the type constructed with interlocking jaws, such as in the
Westinghouse coupling.
For this purpose the two parts of a coupling according to this invention are
formed with hard or metallic jointing surfaces and with two interlocking jaws or
engaging parts having inclined or screw like surfaces and one of which is made
elastic or yielding, whilst the other is rigid, so that when the two parts of the
coupling are placed together and partly rotated they will be forced tightly together
and become interlocked, the spring jaw or part affording sufficient elasticity to
enable the two parts to be turned and at the same time, effect a fluid tight joint
between their abutting or jointing surfaces without the use at these surfaces of
.elastic or yielding material such as india rubber, which is unsuitable for use in pipe
couplings intended to convey a heating medium such as steam or hot water. The
elasticity of the connection also compensates for wear of the abutting surfaces.
The two jaws may advantageously resemble in form and dimensions the two jaws
of an ordinary coupling of the type referred to, so that the one part coupling
having the spring or yielding jaw or part can be used with an existing part coupling
having a fixed jaw.
As will be evident pipe couplings according to this invention can be constructed
in various forms, and with more than one pair of interlocking jaws or parts of the
kind referred to.
And in order that this invention may be fully understood, we will now describe
with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings the best way known to us
of carrying it into practical effect.
In the said drawings :—
Figs. 1 and 2 show respectively in side elevation and plan, one construction of
pipe coupling according to this invention; and
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line a x of 'Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the halves of the coupling.
1, 1ª are the two halves of the coupling provided with hard or abutting annular
surfaces at 2 and with two pairs of interlocking jaws 3, 4 having inclined or screw-
like surfaces and resembling, in general form and arrangement, the interlocking
jaws of an ordinary Westinghouse pipe coupling. In the example shown that
jaw 3 of each pair of jaws that is the inner one when the two halves 1, 1° of the
coupling are connected together, is according to this invention, carried by a pair
of stiff elastic or spring arms 3ª that are secured by their bent ends 3b in recesses 5
in the corresponding half coupling, and are arranged to rest upon lugs or
projections 6 cast on opposite sides of the said half coupling and over which they
will be partly bent or sprung when the two parts of the coupling are placed
together and partly rotated, the arrangement being such that the jaws 3-4 of each

page_text: pair of jaws will be then pressed tightly against each other at 7 (Fig. 3) and cause
the hard abutting surfaces at 2 to be forced tightly against each other, with an
elastic or yielding pressure that will automatically compensate for wear of the
said surfaces. These abutting surfaces may conveniently be cach formed by a
detachable ring 2ª of material such as vulcanized asbestos which we term vulcabeston
that will withstand for a considerable period the action of steam and at the same
time afford a good jointing surface. Each ring' is formed with a flange 2b and is
held steam tight in the hole or passage in the wall 1" of the corresponding half
coupling, by a distance piece arranged between the said flange 2" and the removable
screw cap 9 and which may conveniently consist of a ring 8 with legs or
projections 8 so as not to interfere with the passage of steam through the
coupling.
If desired, the inner jaw 3 of one only of the two pairs of jaws 3 4 may be made
elastic or yielding, both jaws of the other pair being then rigid, as would be the
case if a half coupling of the kind herein described were used temporarily with an
ordinary half coupling of the Westinghouse type having an elastic abutting
surface, but we consider the arrangement shown preferable, as it will enable the
abutting rings 2 to be forced tighter together and will automatically compensate
for greater wear of such rings, than if one elastic or yielding jaw 3 only be
used.
As will be readily understood, a coupling constructed as described will pull apart
without injury to the hose pipes to which its parts are respectively connected,
should the adjacent vehicles to which the hose pipes and coupling are applied,
become accidentally detached whilst in motion.
Fig. 5 is a side view and Fig. 6 a partial horizontal section showing one half of
a modified construction of pipe coupling according to this invention in which it is
the outer jaw 4 of the pair of jaws 3-4 that is made elastic or yielding, for which
purpose such jaw may be made as a spring plate secured, it may be by screws 4ª as
shown, to the half coupling 1 of which it forms part, the other jaw 3 being in this
case fixed and formed in one piece with the half coupling by which it is carried,
though it may be a spring jaw if desired.
A pipe coupling constructed according to this invention, may if desired be
provided with a relief or drip valve adapted to open automatically and allow water
of condensation to escape from the coupling and connected lengths of hose pipe
when the pressure of steam therein is sufficiently reduced. A valve suitable for
this purpose, but which forms no part of the present invention, is shown combined
with the coupling represented in Fig. 3, and comprises a cone valve 10 having a
stem 11 surrounded by a spring 12 that is fitted in a chamber 13 in the removable
screw cap 9 and is adapted to force the valve from its seat 10° when the steam
pressure in the coupling falls sufficiently and allow water of condensation to then
escape through lateral openings 9" in the screw cap 9. The valve stem 11 may
advantageously be arranged to extend a short distance through the outer end of
the screw cap as shown so that it may be forced inward by hand to open the valve
and relieve the steam pressure in the coupling and connected pipes before
disconnecting the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the sai
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A pipe coupling constructed with hard or metallic jointing surfaces and with
interlocking jaws or engaging parts having inclined or screw-like surfaces and one
of which is made elastic or yielding whilst the other with which it engages is
rigid, the arrangement being such that when the two parts of the coupling are
placed together and partly rotated they will be forced tightly together and become
interlocked, the elastic or yielding jaw or part affording sufficient elasticity to
enable the two parts of the coupling to be turned and at the same time effect a
fluid tight joint between their abutting surfaces substantially as herein described.

page_text: 2. Pipe couplings constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the examples illustrated in the drawings annexed, whether with or
without the automatic drip valve.
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