Improvements in Stoppers or Bungs for Closing Pipes or other Containers.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers or Bungs for Closing Pipes or other
Containers.
We, JOHN JAMES PERROW, East Street, Chertsey, Surrey, Engineer; ARTHUR
JAMES NEWTON, Clifton Villa, Portmore Park, Weybridge, Builder; and
MATTHIAS KING, Thames Street, Weybridge, Journalist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
Our invention relates to stoppers or bungs for hermetically closing any orifice
desired, but is more especially designed to close a drain or other pipe for testing or
repairing purposes.
According to our invention, a screw is caused to act upon a cone in such manner
as to force the latter between a ring or sheave of a hard substance, made in sections,
and thus cause the sections of the said sheave to expand against a ring of a soft
yielding substance which it compresses against the inner periphery of the pipe
or other orifice to be closed.
Our improved stopper when employed for closing a drain pipe is constructed as
follows: Upon a substantially flat back-plate possessing a boss which is bored and
internally screw threaded, we place an annular tray or saucer, preferably of india
rubber or other yielding substance, formed with a flat bottom and raised rim, a
hole also being made in it to coincide with the boring in the back-plate. In this
annular tray we place a broad ring or sheave, preferably of metal or other hard
non-yielding substance, split or made in sections. The inner periphery of this
sheave forms a hole in which we place a hard cone, narrow end foremost. The
said cone is bored through the centre to receive a screw-ended key, which is passed
through the cone into the threaded hole in the back-plate, a shoulder on the said
key serving to force the cone between the split ring or sheave which in turn
expands the outer rim of rubber or other yielding substance firmly against the
inner periphery of the pipe.
Suitable provision is made for the use of a draw-off tap or vent to be inserted in
the stopper or plug, and, if desired, the employment of two or more expanding
rings of india rubber or other substance for use in closing orifices of relatively
much larger size than the stopper or bung employed.
Dated this 21st day of September 1896.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers or Bungs for Closing Pipes or other
Containers.,
We, JOHN JAMES PERROW, East Street, Chertsey, Engineer; ARTHUR JAMES
NEWTON, Clifton Villa, Portmore Park, Weybridge, Builder; and MATTHIAS
KING, "Torres Vedras" Weybridge, Journalist, 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:-
Our invention relates to Stoppers or Bungs for hermetically closing any orifice
desired, but is more especially intended for closing a drain, or other pipe, for
testing or repairing purposes.
According to our invention, a screw is caused to act upon a cone in such a
manner as to force the latter between a ring or sheave of a hard substance made
in sections, and thus cause the sections of the said sheave to expand a ring of a
soft yielding substance, which it compresses against the inner side of the pipe or
other orifice to be closed.
Our improved Stopper when employed for closing a drain pipe is constructed as
follows: Upon a substantially flat back plate possessing a boss which is bored
and internally screw threaded, we place an annular tray or saucer, preferably of
india rubber or other soft yielding substance, formed with a flat bottom and raised
rim, a hole also being made in it to coincide with the boring in the back plate.
In this annular tray or saucer we place a broad ring or sheave, preferably of metal
or other hard non-yielding substance, split or made in sections. The inner
periphery of this sheave forms a hole in which we place a hard cone, narrow end
foremost. The said cone is bored through the centre, so as to receive a screw
ended key, which is passed through the cone into the threaded hole in the back
plate, a shoulder on the said key serving to force the cone between the split ring
or sheave, which in turn expands the outer rim of rubber or other yielding
substance firmly against the inner periphery of the pipe. Suitable provision is
made for the use of a draw-off tap, or vent, to be inserted in the stopper or plug,
and, if desired, the employment of two or more expanding rings of india rubber
or other suitable substance, for use in closing orifices of relatively much larger
size than the stopper or bung employed.
In order to make clear the nature of our invention, and in what manner it is
to be performed, we will now describe the same by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1, is a vertical section of Fig. 2, on the line 1-1, of a stopper made
according to our invention.
Fig. 2, is a horizontal plan of Fig. 1 omitting the key A.
Fig. 3, is a vertical section of Fig. 4, on the line 2-2 and is a modified form
of stopper.
Fig. 4, is a horizontal plan of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5, is a horizontal section of Fig. 3, on the line 3-3.
Fig. 6, is a horizontal plan of back plate of Fig. 3.
Figs. 7 and 8, are specimens of shaped segments used to form the ring or sheave.
Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be observed that a tee shaped handle A passes
through the centre of a cone 13, into a screw-threaded boss C, of the back-plate D.
The said cone with its narrow end towards the said back plate, is surrounded by a
number of hollow-bodied segments E, so as to form a complete circle. This circle
of segments is contained in a rubber or other elastic material tray or saucer F,
which is here shewn, resting in its position on the back plate D. In a convenient

page_text: part of the said back plate, a draw-off pipe G is inserted with a cap H. When
the handle A is screwed into the boss C, of the back plate D, a shoulder I on the
said handle serves to force the cone B down a gradient hole J, in the centre of the
circle of segments E, thereby forcing the said segments apart. By this means
the tray or saucer F is expanded, causing it to make a uniform joint against the
inner side of the pipe K or other container. To relieve the pipe of its contents,
gradually, the cap H may be easily removed.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1' and exhibits the circle of hollow bodied
segments E forced open by the cone B. The handle A is removed as far as the
shou...er I, but the action of the cone is shewn as producing the separation of
the segments E and thus expanding the rubber or other elastic material tray or
saucer F.
In Fig. 3 the cone B, is provided with a shoulder I, which is here seen resting
upon a recessed face plate L. It (ie. the cone) is internally bored and screw
threaded, and screws upon a correspondingly threaded projection M, of the back
plate D when turned by a key. The cone B is topped with a cylindrical portion
as shewn in Fig. 3 to afford grip for a key, by which it may be screwed home or
unscrewed as required. For this purpose a flat face is provided as shewn in Fig. 4
on one side of the cylinder, and a hollow key not shewn in the drawings, but
having a socket suitably shaped to engage with the cylindrical head of the cone
and provided with any suitable handle, as will be easily understood, serves to fix
the stopper or release it for the purpose of removal as the case may be. The effect
produced by the action of the cone is the same as in Fig. 1, riz., the circle of
segments E, is forced open, causing the rubber or other elastic material tray or
saucer to expand against the inner side of hole or opening in cask or other con-
tainer. The segments are kept in position by means of a small pin N attached
to the recessed face plate L, the said face plate being supported by a projection O,
on the outside of cask or other container. In the stopper shewn in Fig. 3 the
segments are hollow and the pin is made of a length to dip into the cavity of one
of these hollow segments and engage with the side of same to prevent rotation of
the stopper. In some cases we may use solid segments and then a hole would be
provided in a suitable position in one or more of the segments, for the engagement
of this steadying pin. The rubber or other elastic material tray or saucer, is
protected from excessive pressure when expanded by a rebate E on the segment E.
In some cases a ring of rubber, or other elastic material, may be used as a substitute
for the said tray or saucer.
The said back plate may he dished or boxed to prevent the said tray, saucer
or ring, being in contact with the contents of cask or other container. The pro-
jection on this back plate, is internally hored and screw threaded, and provided
with a number of small holes at its base P. This projection, however, may be
hollow righs through, and the cavity may be occupied, either by a hollow plug Q
as shewn in the drawings, or a spiral spring. In the case of the hollow plug Q we
provide a number of small holes It, immediately below the shoulder of the hollow
plug. This shoulder has a very thin washer underneath, made of any suitable
material, which when serewed into the said projection makes the cavity perfectly
air-tight, and when released just a little gives the necessary vent to allow the
contents to be drawn from the cask or other container. If a spring is employed, a
small spindle is passed through the said cavity at its base P, and is screwed into a
hollow and internally threaded button at the top Q, so that by pressing this said
button a washer at the base of the said cavity and attached to the said spindle, is
released thereby giving the necessary vent as in the case of the hollow plug when
npscrewed. In all cases where a vent is required the cone It is countersunk to
allow the top portion of vent to travel to its resting place on the said projection,
freely, Imut where a vent is not required the said projection would be solid
and without any cavity. This, however, would not affect the countersunk portion
of the cone B, as we contrive to construct our stopper as lightly as is consistent
with sufficient strength.

page_text: Fig. 5 represents a circle of segments similar to Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the back plate D, of Fig. 3, showing the vent holes P,
at the base of the projection M.
Fig. 7 shows one of our segments in elevation and plan view. The segment in
this case is solid. J, is the gradient face upon which the cone B, acts. S, is the
nole into which the pin N enters for steadying the stopper during the screwing
home of the cone.
Fig. 8, is a corresponding diagram of a hollow segment.
The elastic material used in the construction of our Stopper or Bung, is pre-
ferably of india rubber, but the non-yielding parts may be of Metal, Glass, Terra
Cotta, Vulcanite or other suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. An expansible Stopper or Bung for closing the ends of pines or orifices in
containers and receptacles substantially as herein described and shewn.
2. In an expansible Stopper or Bung, the employment of a circle of segments,
sheave, or divided disc with or without a rebate or shoulder, operated by a cone for
expanding a flexible ring, the said ring effecting the hermetic closure.
3. In an expansible Stopper or Bung, such as that herein described and shewn,
the combination therewith, if desired, of a valve of vent such as herein letted C,
Fig. 1, and Q Fig. 3.
Dated this the 19th day of June 1897.
JOHN JAMES PERROW,
ARTHUR JAMES NEWTON,
MATTHIAS KING.