Improvements in Couplings for Pipes and Hose.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Pipes and Hose.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from Theodore Frelinghuysen Lees,
of 119, East 45th Street, in the City, County and State of New York, United
States of America, Gentleman,) and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to that class of couplings wherein each of the pipes or
sections of hose to be coupled carries one member of the coupling; the uniting
together being effected without the aid of screws.
The object of the invention is to provide a coupling which can be manipulated
quickly by any one, no matter how inexperienced he may be, and which is perfectly
tight under all ordinary conditions.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a hose-coupling embodying the present
improvements; the members of the coupling being separated.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding elevation of the coupling; the members of the coupling
being locked together.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the principal member of the coupling.
Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the application of the invention in coupling an ale or
beer faucet to a pipe.
Fig. 5 shews a modification.
The two applications of the coupling herein shown are given by way of example
only.
tube a.
Referring to the first three figures, A as a whole is the principal member of the
coupling. B is the other member. The member A contains a tube a, to which is
secured one section X of the hose. This tube extends through a casing a', which
is capable of rotating on the tube. The tube a is furnished with a collar a², which
fits the bore of the casing a¹ and supports the outer end of the tube. The collar is
provided on its outer face with a packing ring a³ of rubber or similar soft material.
The casing a' has at its rear end a bearing a for supporting the inner end of the
A coiled spring a surrounds the tube a, and abuts at one end against the
inner side of the bearing a and at the other against the collar a². This spring
forces the tube toward the open end or mouth of the casing; the travel being,
however, limited by the shoulder a' on the tube, which abuts against the outer side
of the bearing a'. The shoulder a" is preferably formed by securing to the tube a
a grooved or roughened nipple a', as shewn in Fig. 1, which serves for the attach-
ment of the hose X. In the open end of the casing a¹ is formed an L-shaped
slot as, the form of which is best seen in Fig. 2.
The member B is a short pipe, to which is secured the section X¹ of the hose.
The internal diameter of the member B corresponds with the external diameter
of the tube a; the external diameter of the said member corresponding with the
diameter of the bore in the casing a'. This member is slipped over the end of the
tube a which extends beyond the collar a' and projects from the open end of
the casing. On the member B is a stud or projection b.
To couple the sections of the hose, it is necessary to bring the two members
together, pushing the member B over the extremity of the tube a until its end
bears against the packing ring a³; the stud b entering the slot a³. The casing a¹ is
then pushed forward on the tube a until the end of the slot is in contact with the
stud 6; this movement compressing the spring a³. The casing is then turned until
the stud 6 engages in the lateral branch of the slot, as seen in Fig. 2. This locks

page_text: the members together. The spring a keeps the packing a pressed tightly up
against the member B; a tight joint being hereby formed. The members can be
instantly disengaged or uncoupled by turning the casing a' so that the stud b can
leave the slot .
The collar a is made wide enough to extend into the casing beyond the slot a³,
as seen in Fig. 1'; thus leaving no passage for the admission of dirt to the interior
of the casing by way of the slot.
In
In Fig. 4 is shown the application of the coupling to the nipple of a faucet.
this figue, C is an ordinary faucet, the outlet nipple of which forms the member B
of the coupling. X' is a metal pipe or tube. In other respects, the parts are the
same as those before described.
Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a slight modification. In this case, the hose X is
attached directly to the tube a, and the member B is reduced in size to receive the
hose X. By this construction, sections of hose of smaller diameter than, or
having an internal diameter nearly the same as that of, the tube a may be coupled
together. This view also serves to illustrate the position of the internal parts when
the two members are coupled or locked together.
The exterior of the casing a¹ is roughened in order to prevent the hand from
slipping. It may, however, have any convenient form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :—
1. In a coupling, the combination, with a tube a furnished with a collar a³ and
packing a³, of a member B adapted to fit over the tube a and abut against the
packing, a sliding casing on the tube a, a spring arranged between the collar a³ and
a part of the casing, and reciprocal fastenings on the casing and the member B,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a coupling, the combination, with a tube a furnished with a limiting
shoulder a, a collar a³ and packing a³, of a tubular member B adapted to fit over
the tube a and abut against the packing, a sliding casing on the tube a having a
bore in which the collar a fits, a spring a embracing the tube a and abutting at
one end against the collar a and at the other end against a part of the casing, and
reciprocal fastenings on the casing and the member B, the limiting shoulder aª
being outside the casing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
ST11001
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,