IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CONNECTIONS FOR PIPES, FAUCETS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CONNECTIONS FOR PIPES, FAUCETS, AND THE
LIKE." A communication from abroad by Edwin Adelbert Leland, of the
City and State of New York, United States of America, Plumber and Gas
Fitter
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CONNECTIONS
"
FOR PIPES, FAUCETS, AND THE LIKE.' A communication.
My Invention relates to the joining or coupling together of sections of pipes or
tubes, and to the coupling of sections of pipes or tubes to faucets designed to be
used in connection therewith. And the object of the said Invention is to obviate
the various difficulties and drawbacks hitherto incident to the practice of the
plumber's art, for example, it is the ordinary practice in fitting stop-cocks and
Tjoints to range boilers and other like apparatuses to "wipe" the T joints into the
pipe, and also to "wipe "the stop-cock on to the pipe in proper relation with
the Tjoint; three "wiped" joints being thereby rendered necessary in applying
the T joint and stop-cock to the boiler; an unsightly and cumbrous piece of work
being thus produced and the joints being liable to sweat where the Ṭ joint and
stop-cock are inserted. In order to avoid this particular difficulty and source of
inconvenience and loss this Invention comprises a new and complete combined
stop-cock and T joint, formed in one with a short section pipe and provided at each
end with a screw thread, by which means the insertion of the T joint and stop-cock
by the clumsy "wiped" joints is avoided, and provision is made for the insertion
of the device and of the pipe at a mere fraction of the cost involved in the practice
of the usual method of "wiping," as herein-before explained.
Moreover, in order to provide for those cases where for any reason the use of the
screw threads would be considered objectionable, my Invention comprises a modi-
fication of the feature just herein-before referred to, which modification consists in
Price 10d.l

page_text: a combined stop-cock and T joint formed in one with a short connecting section
of pipe and with its end made tapering and tinned or speltered, by which means I
provide a stop-cock and T joint always in the requisite relation with each other
and which will not sweat or leak, and which may be readily fitted in the pipe of
the range boiler or other apparatus, to which it may be applied by the insertion of
its ends in the sections of such pipe, and the soldering of such sections to the tinned
or speltered ends of the combined stop-cock and T joint instead of directly to each
other.
So also much difficulty has been experienced in forming T couplings, commonly
so termed, by soldering a pipe section at right angles to another pipe or pipe
section. In order to obviate this difficulty the said Invention comprises a novel
T coupling, composed of two separate and distinct sleeves or collars constructed
with a flange and combined with nuts, having internal shoulders with flaring
internal thimbles and a T shaped body, the whole so constructed and combined as
to provide a simple, strong, and durable T coupling, by which three separate pipes
or pipe sections may be as firmly connected as if soldered together and without
any of the inconvenience, liability to sweating, and derangement experienced with
the ordinary coupling. So also pipe couplings, as ordinarily constructed, are
liable to leak, and are more or less expensive, complicated, and deficient in
strength, and in order to provide a coupling in which these defects shall be obviated
this Invention comprises a doubly tapered packing sleeve of india-rubber or other
compressible material in combination with the internal thimble, the sleeve, the two
threaded sections of a pipe coupling, and the flared ends of the lengths or sections
of pipes to be joined; the packing sleeve aforesaid being in the use and operation
of this feature of my Invention compressed within the internal thimble, and the
flaring ends of the pipe lengths and pipe sections to be joined, which latter are held
in position through the agency of the external sleeve and threaded portions of the
coupling.
Moreover, in many cases, especially where the pipes are made of copper, brass,
or other like metal instead of lead, and used, for example, as steam pipes, in which
india-rubber would be liable to injury, it is frequently desirable that a compressed.
non-elastic material for packing should be used, and in order to provide for such
conditions of use a modification of the just herein-before mentioned feature of this
Invention comprises the combination of an internal hard metal bracing sleeve,
provided with a thickness or coating of lead or other soft metal and of doubly
tapering form with the flared ends of the pipe sections to be joined and the two
screw-threaded sections of the coupling, the parts being so constructed and arranged
that when the ends of the pipe sections are brought against each other by the
screwing together of the threaded sections of the coupling, the lead or soft metal
coating of the internal bracing thimble will be forced tightly against and be made
to closely conform to the flaring inner surface of the said ends of the pipe sections,
thereby rendering the joint impervious and tight. Moreover, it is frequently
desirable or necessary to couple together lengths of flexible pipe of various kinds,
for example, that made of soft or yielding material, and the fastenings or couplings
hitherto in use for this purpose have been more or less defective when subjected to
the tests of continued use.
To provide a durable and efficient coupling for such flexible pipes this Invention
comprises a screw threaded, or circumferential, corrugated, internal thimble, arranged
within the contiguous sections of flexible pipe to be joined and used in connection
with the two sections, an annular sleeve or washer of a pipe coupling, the parts,
being so constructed and arranged that the ends of the flexible pipe sections are
firmly gripped and compressed between the aforesaid thimble on the inner side
and the coupling sections and sleeve on the outer side; the threaded or corrugated
surface of the thimble effectually preventing the longitudinal slipping of the sections,,
and thereby insuring their firm retention of the joint.
So also much difficulty bas hitherto been experienced in connecting a number
of pipes diverging in different directions at a point of common junction, as for.
1

page_text: example, at the outlet of a sink or the like; and in order to avoid the slow,
expensive, and comparatively unreliable method hitherto commonly in use, this
Invention comprises a multifold coupling constructed with a suitable thread and
nut for attachment to the sink or other article in connection with which the device
is to be used, and with a number of tinned or speltered tapering coupling necks
radiating or projecting in various directions from the body of the coupling, whereby
provision is made for the ready soldering of the pipe to the aforesaid coupling necks
in order to make such pipes continuous with the bore of the body of the coupling
with all parts having communication with the said body.
Furthermore, in attaching pipe sections to a faucet by means of a screw coupling
it is desirable, in many cases, to dispense with the use of the internal detachable
thimble, which in certain other cases I find to be efficient and useful in practice. To
meet such case this Invention comprises a pipe and faucet coupling in which the
tubular or coupling piece is constructed with a fixed and permanent thimble of taper-
ing form provided upon the end thereof, and made in one therewith in combination
with an external sleeve arranged upon the end of the pipe section to be attached
a movable coupling nut and a screw thread formed on the tubular coupling piece
aforesaid, the whole so combined and arranged that the fixed thimble being snugly
fitted within the end of the pipe section (enlarged to flaring form for the purpose)
and the sleeve brought upon the external surface of said portion of the pipe section,
the screwing home of the coupling nut firmly combines the end of the pipe section
between the fixed thimble, and the sleeve, thereby not only firmly affixing the pipe
section to the coupling piece but also so firmly embedding the fixed thimble in the
soft metal of the pipe section as to form a rigid and tight joint without any inter-
mittent packing.
In order to give increased strength and firmness to this last-mentioned feature of
the said Invention, the same further comprises a novel combination of a flange pro-
vided on the flaring end of the pipe section with the flange of the external sleeve,
with the end surface of the coupling piece and with the locking nut; these several
parts being so constructed and arranged as to give the desired increased strength
and permanence to the last previously mentioned feature of the said Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
December 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CONNECTIONS
FOR PIPES, FAUCETS, AND THE LIKE." A communication from abroad by Edwin
Adelbert Leland, of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Plumber and Gas Fitter.
This Invention relates to the joining or coupling together of sections of pipes or
tubes, and to the coupling of sections of pipes or tubes to faucets designed to be
used in connection therewith. And the object of the said Invention is to obviate
the various difficulties and drawbacks hitherto incident to the practise of the
plumber's art; for example, it is the ordinary practice in fitting stop-cocks and
Tjoints to range boilers and other like apparatus to "wipe" the Tjoint into the pipe
and also to "wipo" the stop-cock on the pipe in proper relation with the T joint,
three "wiped" joints being thereby rendered necessary in applying the Tjoint and
stop-cock to the boiler; an unsightly and cumbrous piece of work being thus pro-
duced, and the joints being liable to "sweat" where the Ṭ joint and stop-cock are
inserted. In order to avoid this particular difficulty and source of inconvenience
and loss this Invention comprises a new and complete combined stop-cock and
T joint formed in one with a short section pipe, and provided at each end with a

page_text: screw thread, by which means the insertion of the T joint and stop-cock by the
clumsy "wiped" joints is avoided, and provision is made for the insertion of the
device and of the pipe at a mere fraction of the cost involved in the practise of the
usual method of "wiping," as herein-before explained.
Moreover in order to provide for those cases where for any reason the use of the
screw threads would be considered objectionable the Invention comprises a modi-
fication of the feature just herein-before referred to, which modification consists in
a combined stop-cock and T joint formed in one with a short connecting section of
pipe, and with its end made tapering and tinned or speltered, by which means I
provide a stop-cock and T joint always in the requisite relation with each other,
and which will not "sweat" or leak, and which may be readily applied in the pipe of
the range boiler or other apparatus, to which it may be applied by the insertion of
its ends in the sections of such pipe, and the soldering of such sections to the tinned
or speltered ends of the combined stop-cock and T joint instead of directly to each
other.
And much difficulty has been experienced in forming T couplings, commonly so
termed, by soldering a pipe section at right angles to another pipe or pipe section.
In order to obviate this difficulty I use a novel † coupling composed of two separate
and distinct sleeves or collars constructed with a flange and combined with nuts
having internal shoulders with flaring internal thimbles and a T shaped body, the
whole so constructed and combined as to provide a simple, strong, and durable
T coupling by which three separate pipes or pipe sections may be as firmly con-
nected as if soldered together, and without any of the inconvenience, liability of
"sweating,' and derangement experienced with the ordinary T coupling. Moreover
pipe couplings as ordinarily constructed are liable to leak, are more or less weak,
expensive, complicated, and deficient in strength; and in order to provide a
coupling in which these defects shall be obviated this Invention comprises a doubly
tapered packing sleeve of india-rubber or other compressible material in combina-
tion with the internal thimble, the sleeve, the two threaded sections of a pipe
coupling, and the flared ends of the lengths or sections of pipe to be joined. The
packing sleeve aforesaid being in the use and operation of this feature of this
Invention compressed within the internal thimble and the flaring ends of the pipe
lengths and pipe sections to be joined, which latter are held in position through the
agency of the external sleeve and threaded portions of the coupling.
Moreover in many cases, especially where the pipes are made of copper, brass, or
other metal instead of lead, and used, for example, as steam pipes in which india-
rubber would be liable to injury, it is frequently desirable that a compressed non-
elastic material for packing should be used; and in order to provide for such con-
ditions of use a modification of the above-named feature of this Invention comprises
the combination of an internal hard metal bracing sleeve provided with a thickness
or coating of lead or other soft metal, and of doubly tapering form, with the flared
ends of the pipe sections to be joined and the two screw threaded sections of the
coupling, the parts being so constructed and arranged that when the ends of the
pipe sections are brought against each other by the screwing together of the threaded
sections of the coupling the lead or soft metal coating of the internal bracing
thimble will be forced tightly against and be made to closely conform to the flaring
inner surface of the said ends of the pipe section, thereby rendering the joint
impervious and tight. It is frequently desirable or necessary to couple together
lengths of flexible pipe of various kinds; for example, that made of soft or yielding
material, and the fastenings or couplings hitherto in use for this purpose have been
more or less defective when subjected to the test of continued use.
To provide a durable and efficient coupling for such flexible pipes the Invention
comprises a screw threaded or circumferential corrugated internal thimble arranged
within the contiguous sections of flexible pipe to be joined and used in connection
with the two sections, an annular sleeve or washer of a pipe coupling the parts
being so constructed and arranged that the ends of the flexible pipe sections are
firmly gripped and compressed between the aforesaid thimble on the inner side, and

page_text: the coupling sections and sleeve on the outer side, the threaded or corrugated surface.
of the thimble effectually preventing the longitudinal slipping of the sections, aud.
thereby ensuring their firm retention at the joint.
Much difficulty has hitherto been experienced in connecting a number of pipes
diverging in different directions at a point of common junction, as for example, at
the outlet of a sink or the like, and in order to avoid the slow, expensive, and com-
paratively unreliable method hitherto commonly in use this Invention comprises a
multifold coupling constructed with a suitable thread and nut for attachment to the
sink or other article in connection with which the device is to be used, and with a
number of tinned or speltered tapering coupling necks, radiating or projecting in
various directions from the body of the coupling, whereby provision is made for
the ready soldering of the pipo to the aforesaid coupling necks, in order to make
such pipes continuous with the bore of the body of the coupling and with all parts
having communication with the said body.
Furthermore, in attaching pipe sections to a faucet by means of a screw coupling.
it is desirable in many cases to dispense with the use of the internal detachable
thimble, which in certain other cases I find efficient and useful in practise. To
meet such case this Invention comprises a pipe and faucet coupling, in which the.
tubular coupling piece is constructed with a fixed and permanent thimble of
tapering form provided upon the end thereof, and made in one therewith in combi-
nation with an external sleeve arranged upon the end of the pipe section to be
attached a movable coupling nut and screw thread formed on the tubular coupling
piece aforesaid, the whole so combined and arranged that the fixed thimble being.
snugly fitted within the end of the pipe section (enlarged to flaring form for the
purpose), and the sleeve brought upon the external surface of said portion of the.
pipe section, the screwing home of the coupling nut firmly combines the end of the
pipe section between the fixed thimble and the sleeve, thereby not only firmly
affixing the pipe section to the coupling pieco, but also so firmly embedding the.
fixed thimble in the soft metal of the pipe section as to form a rigid and tight joint
without any intermittent packing.
In order to add increased strength and firmness to the last-mentioned feature of
this Invention I employ a novel combination of a flange provided on the flaring end
of the pipe section with the flange of the external sleeve, with the end surface of
the coupling piece and with the locking nut, these several parts being constructed
and arranged to give the desired increased strength and permanence to the last
previously mentioned feature of the said Invention.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of one of the com-
bined T joints and stop-cocks made according to this Invention.
Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 a central vertical section representing a
stop-cock and T joint made according to a modification of this Invention.
Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of a T coupling made according to the-
said Invention, and Figure 6 is a side view of the same.
Figure 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a pipe coupling made according
to the said Invention; Figure 8 is a side view of the same.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 are central longitudinal sectional views showing various
modifications of the doubly tapered packing sleeve and the internal thimble used
in connection therewith.
Figure 12 is a central longitudinal sectional view of another pipe coupling made
according to this Invention; Figure 13 is a side view of the same.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 are central longitudinal sectional viwes showing various
modifications of the doubly tapered lead coated internal bracing thimble.
Figure 17 is a central longitudinal section of a coupling for flexible pipes made
according to this Invention.
Figure 18 is a side view of the same showing the parts detached.
Figure 19 is a side view of the same showing the parts connected.
Figure 20 is a detached view of the internal thimble as constructed with screw

page_text: threads; and Figure 21 is a like view of the said thimble as constructed with
simple circumferential corrugations.
Figure 22 is a side view of a multifold coupling made according to this Inven-
tion; Figure 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; Figure 24 is an end
view thereof taken in a plane at right angles to Figure 22.
Figure 25 is a side view representing the last herein-before indicated pipe and
faucet coupling; Figure 26 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Figure 27 is a side view representing the several parts thereof detached.
Having reference first to Figures 1 and 2,-
A is the stem of the T joint internally threaded, as shown at a, to receive any
pipe which it may be desired to attach thereto, and B is the T or head or body, as
it may be termed, of said joint. The head B is formed in one end of a short section
pipe C, wherein is formed the socket b, which receives the plug D of the stop-cock,
the latter being furnished with the usual handle c. Upon the two opposite ends F
of the device as thus constituted are formed screw threads f, upon which lengths or
sections of pipe may be screwed when the combined stop-cock and T are applied in
position with reference to the range, boiler, or similar apparatus. It will be observed
that the T joint A, B, the stop-cock D, C, the other adjuncts, and the screw threaded
ends f, are all formed in one, that is to say, taken together they constitute a single
device, which would fail to accomplish the intended purpose if any or either of these
parts were removed, and that the said device is to be fitted into its place by its
threaded ends f aforesaid, the troublesome, expensive, and clumsy "wiped " joint
ordinarily requisite in the attachment of a stop-cock and T joint to the pipe of a
range, boiler, or like apparatus being entirely superseded, and a much neater and
satisfactory as well as much cheaper piece of workmanship secured.
Having reference now to Figures 3 and 4,-
A is the stem, and B the T head or body of the T joint, the stem A being pro-
vided with an internal screw thread a, by which a suitable branch pipe or con-
nection may be attached; D is the plug of the stop-cock provided with the usual
handle c, said plug working in the ordinary manner through the socket b to the T
joint A, B, connected with the stop-cock D, b, c, by a short section pipe C. The
ends F of the device are extended as indicated in the Drawings, and made tapering
as shown at f*. The tapering portions f* aforesaid are externally tinned or
speltered in order that the ends of the pipe in which the device is to be used may
be readily soldered upon said parts f* in the attachment of the device in place.
It will seen that the T joint A, B, the short pipe section C, socket b, and taper
ends are all formed in one piece, these parts, together with the plug D and its
immediate adjuncts, constituting a combined stop-cock and T joint, in which the
connection of the stop-cock and T joint by means of "wiped" joints is avoided, and
the objections inherent to the "wiping" together of the stop-cock and T joint are
overcome. This device is capable of attachment in the pipe of the range boiler, or
the like, by the simple soldering of the ends of said pipe upon the tapering tinned
or speltered surfaces f* on the ends F, which are extended at such distance from
the stop-cock and the T joint respectively as to enable such soldering to be per-
formed with facility and dispatch.
Having reference now to Figures 5 and 6,-
-
The stem A and the T head or body B of the coupling have their several extremities
a¹ externally threaded to receive the coupling ends B*, the outer end of each of
said ends B* being provided with an internal shoulder m, which holds against the
flange provided circumferentially on the inner end of the sleeve or collar F*.
This sleeve or collar is made internally enlarged or flaring at its inner end, as indi-
cated at n; C indicates the ends of the lead pipes to be attached or joined to the
T of the coupling, the inner extremities of each pipe C¹ being enlarged or
flaring to fit into the enlarged interior of the inner end of its adjacent sleeve or
collar F; C are thin sheet-metal thimbles of flaring or tapering form, and inserted
in the enlarged or flaring inner ends of the pipe C₁, said inner ends of the pipe C
being held between the said thimble Ox and the enlarged or flaring internal
A

page_text: surfaces of the inner ends of the sleeve or collar FX, as shown more fully in
Figure 5; g are annular washers placed between the inner ends of the pipes C¹ and
the adjacent ends of the T to form a packing between the pipe C₁ and the T,
where they butt against each other. It will be observed that by tightening the
nuts B* upon the threaded ends a¹ of the Ṭ the shoulders m of the nuts B*, acting
upon the flanges r of the sleeves or collars Fx, force the same inward, thereby
compressing the flaring ends u of the pipes C¹ between the sleeves or collars F×
and internal bracing thimbles C, the flaring form of the ends of the pipes
causing the same to be firmly gripped, and held against withdrawal, and the
said ends butting against the ends of the T with a packing g interposed, as above
described, and forming a perfectly tight joint even against extremely high pressure.
It is to be expressly understood that the formation of this perfectly tight joint
adapted to stand very high pressure is due to the relation of the sleeves or collars
Fx to the other parts of the coupling, as herein-before explained. Inasmuch as
each of the said collars receives the frictional action of its nut B* when the
same is being turned up to tighten the aforesaid joint as the hard metal of the
collar Fx (which is made of brass or other comparatively hard material), together with
the comparatively small frictional surface between the said sleeve or collar and its
nut B*, reduce the friction to a very small fraction of that which would be exerted
upon the pipe C₁ if the sleeve or collar F* were formed in one with the nut B*,
and the said nut B* turned in direct contact with the pipe C¹.
Having reference now to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11,-
A¹ is the one section of a pipe or tube coupling, the bore of which is mado taper,
as plainly shown in Figure 7; B¹ is a sleeve or washer having a taper form corre-
sponding to that of the part A¹ aforesaid; C¹¹ is the remaining external part or
section of the pipe coupling, and is passed upon the sleeve B¹ in such manner
that its shoulder a¹¹ holds against the flanch b¹ of the said sleeve B¹; D¹, D¹, are
extremities of two lengths or sections of pipe to be joined. These extremities are
enlarged or made of flaring form, as represented in Figure 7, in such manner as to
fit one into the sleeve B¹, the other into the bore of the part A¹ of the coupling.
E is a metallic thimble, which may be either of circular or metallic form, as shown
in Figure 9, or with a plain surface tapering from the centre toward each end, as
shown in Figure 10, or circumferentially corrugated or grooved and tapering from
the centre toward each end, as indicated in Figures 7 and 11. In either case I
place upon this thimble a packing sleeve F¹ made of india-rubber, or other suitable
compressible material. This packing sleeve is made largest at the centre a¹¹¹, and
tapers toward each end 6, this being its external form. The thimble carrying the
packing sleeve F¹ is thrust one-half into the flared extremity of one of the pipe
sections D¹, and the other extremity into the correspondingly flared end of the
other pipe section D'. The external part C of the coupling is then screwed upon
its other part A¹, thereby bringing the two pipe sections D₁ together, with the
packing sleeve F compressed between the thimble E on the inner side of said
packing sleeve, and the flared extremities of the pipe sections D¹ on the outer side,
the packing being thereby firmly compressed, and effectually packing the joint
against the flow of liquids. It is to be understood that the flared extremities of
the pipe sections D¹ fitted into the correspondingly shaped interior of the part A¹,
and external sleeve B² of the coupling, prevents the two pipe sections from being
drawn apart, the external sleeve B' and the part A¹ of the coupling being firmly
locked or screwed together by the screwing of the part C upon the aforesaid
part A¹.
Having reference now to Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16,-
The construction of the coupling as represented in these last-named Figures is
the same as that set forth with reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, with this
exception, that the thimble E instead of being coated or covered with the india-
rubber or elastic packing sleeve F¹ is provided with a thickness or coating of lead
or like soft metal, this coating or thickness of soft metal being arranged upon the

page_text: thimble E in any of the slightly modified forms represented in Figures 12, 14, 15,
and 16. This lead or soft metal being non-elastic forms when fitted into the
flaring ends of the pipe sections D¹ a rigid unyielding packing of special utility
when the pipe sections D₁ are of copper or other hard metal, and used for conducting
steam or water, or other fluids which would injure or destroy the packing sleeve F¹,
represented in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, as herein-before set forth.
Having reference now to Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21,—
The links or sections D' instead of being metallic pipe, more or less rigid, are
flexible pipes made of india-rubber, leather, or any other suitable material, and the
thimble E has its circumference formed either with a system of screw threads
running in opposite directions upon its opposite end portions, as represented in
Figure 20, or with a series of circumferential alternating grooves and ridges, as
represented in Figure 21; said thimble having its largest diameter at the centre
and diminishing in diameter toward the ends, having therefore in general a doubly
tapered form. The parts A¹ and B¹ and nut C¹ being provided upon the adjoining
ends of the pipe section, substantially in the same manner as shown in Figures 7
and 12, the thimble is inserted one half in the end of one of the sections D¹ and
the other half in the end of the other section D¹, the doubly tapered form of the
thimble being such that the insertion of the latter, as just set forth, radially expands
or spreads the end of the sections D¹ (said sections being in the present instance:
made of flexible or yielding material, as herein-before indicated). The parts A¹, B¹,
and the nut C, are then brought into the position represented in Figures 17 and 19,
the nut C being screwed upon the part A¹. It will be observed that the part A¹
is brought clear to the end of one of the sections D₁ and the part or sleeve B¹ is
brought clear to the end of the other of said sections D¹, the part A¹ and the
sleeve B¹ being brought with their inner ends close to each other by the screwing of
the nut Cupon the part A¹; this compresses the ends of the sections D¹ between
the thimble E within, and the parts A¹, B₁, and nut C without, the threaded
corrugated surface of the thimble E being forced firmly into the compressed ends of
the sections D¹, so that the said sections D¹ are firmly joined and held together.
Having reference now to Figures 22, 23, and 24,-
A is the tubular stem of a multifold pipe coupling the lower portion A**, being
preferably bent into horizontal shape, as represented in Figures 22 and 23, and the
main portion of said stem being vertical when the device is used, as for example,
when it is attached to the horizontal bottom of a sink, or the like; this upper part
is formed with a screw thread, upon which is screwed one or more nuts B**,
whereby said part may be tightened fast to the bottom of the sink or other article
or place to which the coupling is to be attached. C**, D**, and E**, are coupling
necks, being taper tubular projections extending from the point of divergence A
more or less common to the said coupling necks, which latter project in various
directions, according to the directions in which the pipes to be attached to the
couplings are intended to extend. Each of these coupling necks is made of tapering
form, as represented in Figures 22, 23, and 24, and is externally tinned, galvanized,
or covered with soft metal capable of taking and holding solder. This coupling
may be made of any desired number of coupling necks, according to the number of
pipes or pipe sections it is desired to attach thereto. The pipes or pipe sections to
be attached to the coupling necks are enlarged to a taper form by any suitable
means in such manner that one of the coupling necks may be thrust into the
enlarged and correspondingly shaped end of the pipe or pipe section and fitted
snugly therein; this done the end of each pipe or pipe section is soldered direct to
the coupling neck inserted therein, as just explained, and is thereby firmly and
tightly attached to the coupling, the tinned or galvanized surface of the coupling
necks ensuring the speedy and effective soldering of the pipes to the necks. By
these means any desired number of pipes having a common junction and extending
in any desired direction may be readily attached to a sink or other article without
any of the trouble, expense, danger of accident, or liability of imperfect work-

page_text: manship, very commonly incurred in the practice of joining a number of pipes
direct to each other at a place of junction more or less common to all by soldering,
"wiping," and the like, as in the ordinary method.
Having reference now to Figures 25, 26, and 27,-
The tubular stem or short section pipe C may either be provided with the
plug D and form in connection therewith a faucet or cock, or it may have a simple
tubular section serving merely to connect the ends of two pipe sections by the
means herein-after explained. Upon the opposite ends of this short pipe section
are formed screw threads b*, and upon each of the said ends is screwed a nut C",
the shape of the said nut being substantially the same as that indicated by the
same reference letter, for example in Figure 7, although in a manner herein-after
made plain that portion of this Invention now immediately under consideration
differs materially from that represented in the aforesaid Figure 7. B₁ is a tapering
sleeve constructed at its larger end with a circumferential flange b₁; the shape of
this tapering sleeve is substantially the same as the part indicated by the same
reference letter B₁ in Figure 7. The extremity of the pipe section D¹ is enlarged to
a taper form and fitted within the flaring interior of the sleeve B¹; the end of the
pipe being upset outside of the flanch 6 of said sleeve B¹ to form a flanch c*,
which when the parts are in position, as presently heroin set forth, is situated
between the flanch 62 of the sleeve B¹ and the flat face or end of the short pipe
section C. Projecting from the end of the short pipe section C and formed in one
with the said section C is a taper semi-thimble h; this semi-thimble h is thrust
into the taper interior, of the extremity of the pipe section D¹, the nut C¹¹ being
screwed home upon the screw thread 6* of the short pipe section C; the flaring
end of the pipe section is gripped and firmly held between the semi-thimble h on
the inside and the sleeve BI on the outside. The soft metal of the lead or similar
pipe is thus pressed between the semi-thimble h and the sleeve B¹, and a perfectly
tight joint and one strong enough for all ordinary conditions is produced without
the use of any packing whatever; but the flanch c*, provided as herein-before
explained on the end of the pipe section D¹ being at the same time pressed between
the face and end of the short pipe section C and the flanch 6¹ of the sleeve B¹ an
additional or supplemental tight joint is formed and greater stiffness or rigidity is
given to the connection of the pipe section D' with the short pipe section or tubular
stem C. It will of course be understood that the short pipe section C being pro-
vided with the semi-thimble h and the circumferential screw thread b* at both ends
the coupling provided at one end of said short pipe section C is the duplicate of
that provided at the other.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The combined stop-cock and T joint comprising the T joint, short pipe
section, stop-cock, and the ends constructed with the screw thread, the whole
combined, constructed, and arranged as above described and for the purpose set
forth.
Second. The combined stop-cock and T joint comprising the T joint, the stop-
cock, and the extended ends tinned or speltered and made taper, the whole
constructed, combined, and arranged as above described and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. The coupling comprising the separate and distinct sleeves or collars,
constructed with the flanges, in combination with the nuts, with the internal
shoulders, the thin flaring, internal thimbles, and the T part or body, the whole
constructed as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The packing sleeve tapered from its middle towards its ends in combi-
nation with the internal thimble, the flared extremities of the pipe section, a taper
external sleeve, the nut, and the part with a tapering bore, the whole constructed
and arranged for operation as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The internal hard metal bracing sleeve provided with a thickness or
"
.
>

page_text: coating of lead or other soft metal, and of doubly tapering form, in combination
with the nut, and part with the tapering bore, and the flaring ends of the pipe
sections, the whole constructed and arranged for use as above described and for the
purpose set forth.
Sixth. An externally threaded or corrugated thimble in combination with the
nut, the part with the tapering bore, the sleeve, and the ends of the pipe sections
when said pipe sections are of flexible or yielding material, the whole constructed
and arranged for operation as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The multifold coupling for pipes constructed with the screw threaded
end or stem and the tapering tinned or galvanized coupling necks projecting in
different directions, the whole combined and arranged as above described and for
the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The coupling piece, tubular stem, or small pipe section constructed with
the fixed thimble or thimbles formed in one therewith in combination with a nut
or nuts, sleeve or sleeves, and the flaring end or ends of the pipe section or sections,
the whole constructed and arranged for operation as above described and for the
purpose set forth.
Ninth. The flange on the flaring end of the pipe section arranged in relation
with the flange of the sleeve and the adjacent face or end of the short pipe section,
the several parts being constructed, combined, and arranged with reference to each
other and with the nut, as above described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.