Improvements in or relating to Pipe Stoppers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
Improvements in or relating to Pipe Stoppers.
I, JOHN JONES of 40 Sydney Street, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Sanitary Specialist 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 which relates to pipe stoppers will be best understood by reference
to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of one form of the
stopper in its inoperative or normal condition.
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it applied to a pipe and
Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified form of the stopper.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A stopper constructed according to this invention comprises essentially two
discs or equivalent A B capable of being moved nearer to or farther from each
other. The faces of the discs A B which are presented towards each other may
be provided with circular grooves A B respectively, for receiving the edges of a
rubber ring C which, in its normal or uncompressed condition, is of preferably the
shape in section shown in Fig. 1. However I do not restrict myself in this respect
& may use any suitable discs and rubber or other resilient ring.
To the centre of the disc A is rigidly secured one end of a tube A 2 which may
be of any desired length and at or near its opposite end this tube is externally
screw-threaded for receiving a winged or other nut A 3. At its extreme end the
Lube A 2 may be provided with a fixed collar or equivalent A4 to prevent the
nut A 3 from being screwed off it.
To the centre of the disc B is rigidly secured one end of a tube B2 of somewhat
shorter length than the tube A 2 which passes through it; the other end of the
tube B2 may have a collar B3 to provide an efficient bearing surface for the
nut A 3, and wings B4 to enable it to be held while the nut is being turned.
The disc B may be provided with a hole B5 to admit of the air escaping from
the space enclosed by the discs A B and rubber ring C when the discs are moved
towards each other; or this hole may be made in the tube A2.
To plug a pipe by means of the stopper before described the operative end
thereof, while in the condition in which it is shown in Fig. 1, with the discs apart
& rubber not compressed is inserted into the pipe, say D Fig. 2 and while by
grasping the wings B 4 the device is prevented from turning the out A3 is
screwed farther on to the tube A 2 so as to force the two discs nearer together
and thereby press the rubber C outward into close contact with the wall of the
pipe D as shown in Fig. 2 and consequently prevent the passage of water between
the rubber C and pipe D.
Instead of providing the tube B2 with wings B41 may provide wings A 5
upon the fixed collar or equivalent A 4 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as
to prevent the tube A 2 from rotating along with the nut A 3.
I have herein described A 2 as a tube and this arrangement I prefer because when
the pipe D is plugged, as in Fig. 2, it may be emptied of its contents the air
necessary to replace the water thus withdrawn from the pipe passing in through
the tube A 2 which would not be the case if a solid rod were employed instead of
a tube, nevertheless I reserve to myself the right of using a solid rod should it be
preferred.

page_text: In the stopper shown in Fig. 3 the discs A and B and rubber-ring C are of
substantially the same construction as the corresponding parts of Figs. 1 and 2
in this arrangement however the nut A 3 is adjacent to the disc B instead of at a
distance from it. The tube A 2 for this purpose is provided with a screw thread
at the part at which it passes through the disc B and preferably extends for a
distance beyond this part, its end being provided with wings A 5 for preventing
the rotation of the screw when the nut A 3 is turned. The nut A 3 is mounted at
one end of a tube A 6 whose opposite end is provided with wings or equivalent A 7
these three elements, cic. ;-the nut. A 3, tube A 6 and wings A 7 constituting as it
were a winged mut elongated to such an extent that it may be turned from a part
at a distance from the operative end of the stopper.
If desired I may employ a solid rod instead of the tube A. 2 shown in Fig. 3
though, for the reason before explained, this is not so desirable, and if the rubber
ring C he of such size that in its normal or slightly compressed condition it
approximately fits the pipe to be plugged this last named solid rod may terminate
at or about the part marked A 8 in Fig. 3, the screw or rod A 2 in this arrange-
ment. being prevented from rotating with the nut A 3 by the friction between the
rubber ring C and the pipe surrounding it. In this last described arrangement
A 2 would require to be solid as otherwise the water above the plug would pass
through it. However I prefer the previously described arrangement.
The before described devices are specially suitable for plugging the outlet pipes
of cisterns for which application the length of the tubes A2 and B2 ur the
tube A. 6 is such that the upper ends of said tubes extend above the surface of
the water in the cistern by which arrangement the pipes may be plugged and
completely emptied of their contents.
By the use of this instrument the pipe can be plugged without the operator
having to get into the water or hammer in a solid plug-usually a broom handle
as is now commonly done when a pipe from a cistern leaks.
The stoppers may be made in different sizes to suit pipes of different
diameters.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is;-
1. In a pipe stopper the combination with two discs such as A B and a
rubber ring between them of a screw device operated at a distance from the
discs to adjust the distance between them substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. In a pipe stopper the combination with two discs such as A B and a rubber
ring between them of tubes or a tube and rod such as A 2 B 2 connected to and
extending to a distance from the discs and a nut engaging with a screw on one of
the tubes for adjusting the distance between the discs substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a pipe stopper placing the screw-operating devices or means by which the
discs are caused to approach each other at a distance from the discs for the
purpose described.
4. A complete pipe stopper substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A complete pipe stopper substantially as described and illustrated in
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.