IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPE AND OTHER JUNCTIONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PIPE AND OTHER JUNCTIONS." -A communication
from Messrs. Laforest and Boudeville, of Reims, in the Empire
of France.
Sealed the 27th August 1858, and dated the 23rd May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry John-
son at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd May 1858.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain; Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PIPE AND OTHER JUNCTIONS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of constructing or form-
ing the junctions of pipes, cylinder covers, steam chests; &c., and
consists in forming a conical groove or recess in the flanges of the
parts to be joined, such grooves corresponding exactly with each other.
In these grooves is fitted loosely a slightly conical ring or packing

page_text: piece of any suitable metal; and when the flanges are bolted tightly
together they squeeze the packing piece into the conical grooves, and
cause it to assume the exact shape of the grooves themselves. The
grooves may either be made in the flanges of the pipes, or, if necessary,
they may be made in separate loose rings or flanges on the ends of
the pipes to be joined. In place of a detached conical ring or packing
piece, as hercin-before described, the junction may be effected by
forming such packing piece in one piece with one of the flanges, the
corresponding flange being grooved or recessed to receive it. In bolt-
ing up the effect will be the same as before described, the projecting
packing piece being squeezed into the conical groove or recess on the
face of the other junction surface, and is thereby caused to adjust itself
to the exact form of the groove in which it is fitted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 23rd November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her
special license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, iny executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPE AND OTHER JUNCTIONS," a
communication from Messieurs Laforest and Bondville, of Reims, in

page_text: the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
The said Invention relates to an improved mode of constructing or
forming the junction of pipes, cylinder covers, steam chests, &c., and
consists in forming a conical groove or recess in the flanges of the
parts to be joined, such grooves corresponding exactly with each other.
In these grooves is fitted loosely a slightly conical ring or packing
piece of any suitable metal; and when the flanges are bolted tightly
together they squeeze the packing piece into the conical grooves, and
cause it to assume the exact shape of the grooves themselves. The
grooves may either be made in the flanges of the pipes, or, if necessary,
they may be made in separate loose rings or flanges on the ends of the
pipes to be joined. In place of a detached conical ring or packing
piece, as herein-before described, the junction may be effected by
forming such packing piece in one piece with one of the flanges, the
corresponding flange being grooved or recessed to receive it.
bolting up the effect will be the same as before described, the project-
ing packing piece being squeezed into the conical groove or recess on
the face of the other junction surface, and is thereby caused to adjust
itself to the exact form of the groove in which it is fitted.
In
Figure 1, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a lon-
gitudinal section of a pipe and joint of the improved construction;
Figure 2, is a detail of the packing ring; and Figure 3, is an end eleva-
tion. A, is the conical packing ring of copper or other soft metal, which

page_text: is let into the corresponding V grooves B, in the flanges C. The
wrought iron flanges D, are slipped loosely on to the pipe, and carry
the bolts for tightening up. Figure 4, is a section of a joint and pipe
with fixed flanges, and Figure 5, is an end elevation of the same. In
this case the grooves are cut in the iron flanges, which are brazed on
to the copper pipe, and the ring A, is let in as herein-before described,
and tightened up by the bolts B. Figure 6, is another modification of
joint, wherein the loose packing ring is dispensed with, and a conical
projecting ring A, is formed on one of the flanges, such projection
titting into an annular conical groove in the opposite flange. Figure 7,
represents another modification, wherein the annular projection fits
into a corresponding recess in place of a conical groove, as described
in reference to the last Figure.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of the said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of joints, as herein-
before described.
Second, the application and use of a conical packing ring of soft
metal, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, Lave, here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)