An Improved Tube or Pipe Coupling or Union.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
An Improved Tube or Pipe Coupling or Union.
I, WALTER HENRY SLINN, Works Manager, of The Flexible Metallic Tubing
Company, Limited, Port pool Lane, Grays Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to tube or pipe couplings or unions and is designed to improve
the construction of the same.
My improved tube or pipe coupling or union is intended more especially for use
with metallic tubing of that kind or class commonly known as "flexible metallic
tubing," but may also be advantageously employed for uniting or connecting together
any other suitable description of tubing or piping, or for connecting or coupling the
said tubing or piping to a tank or elsewhere.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I provide two sockets the extremities
of which have (when intended for use with the above mentioned flexible metallic
tubing) internal screw-threads adapted to engage with the convolutions of the said
tubing. One of these sockets is provided at its other extremity with external screw-
threads and with a square, hexagonal or other suitable portion or collar by means of
which it may be held firmly in position by means of a spanner, vice or other suitable
tool. Upon the other extremity of the other socket is provided a nut arranged to
turn freely thereon but prevented from leaving the said socket by means of a suitable
collar. This nut has internal screw-threads corresponding to the externally screw
threaded extremity of the other socket, and the exterior thereof is provided with
grooves, holes, flat surfaces, lugs or other suitable means for screwing it firmly in
position upon the said screw threaded extremity, in the usual manner. In each of the
said sockets I provide moreover an enlarged portion or recess into which the extremity
of the tube is arranged to project. Conical or other suitably shaped seatings are
provided moreover in the said recesses round the extremities of the said tubes which
are adapted to receive packing rings formed of india-rubber, asbestos or other suitable
material, each of the said sockets forming as it were a stuffing box into which the
extremity of the said tube extends. In order to press the said packing firmly in
position and cause it to bear evenly against the seatings and tubes so as to form
perfectly tight joints, I provide a short length of pipe, or tubular distance piece, the
extremities of which are formed conical or of other suitable shape, and which is
adapted to fit easily into the enlarged portion of the said sockets, and the extremities
of which bear, when in position, against the said packing round the projecting
extremities of the said tubes, so as to form as it were, a double gland extending into
each of the said stuffing boxes. By screwing the above-mentioned nut upon the screw-
threaded extremity of the other socket, the said double gland or distance piece is
caused to press the said packing firmly against the seatings and against the extremities
of the tubes and thus form perfectly tight joints.
It is obvious that the above described tube or pipe coupling or union will be
extremely advantageous for use with pipes or tubes intended for withstanding high
pressures.
Although I have herein before described my improved tube or pipe coupling or
union as intended more especially for uniting or connecting together the extremi-
ties of two tubes or pipes, it is obvious that it may be so constructed
adapted for uniting or connecting the extremity of a tube or pipe to a tank or
elsewhere.
as to be
It is obvious moreover that my improved tube or pipe coupling or union may b
provided with internally screw threaded sockets adapted to receive the extremities of
any other description of tubes or pipes; and that, although I have herein before

page_text: described a convenient and advantageous method of carrying my said invention into
practice I can somewhat further modify the construction of my improved tube or pipe
coupling, or union, without however departing in any way from the nature of my said
invention.
ས་ད
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tube or Pipe Coupling or Union.
I, WALTER HENRY SLINN, of The Flexible Tubing Company Portpool Lane, Grays
Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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:
-
My invention relates to tube or pipe couplings or unions and is designed to improve
the construction of the same.
My improved tube or pipe coupling or union is intended more especially for use
with metallic tubing of that kind or class commonly known as "flexible metallic
tubing," it may however, also be advantageously employed for uniting or connecting
together tubes or pipes of other suitable description.
The object of my said invention is to so construct a pipe-coupling or union that the
screwing of the parts thereof together will securely unite the pipes and at the same
time form a fluid-tight joint between each part of the coupling or union and the
corresponding pipe.
In applying my improved couplings or unions to flexible metallic tubing, I first
connect the tube or pipe to the corresponding part of the coupling or union by
' screwing it loosely therein, the said part of the coupling being provided internally
with a spiral groove corresponding to the spiral formation of the tube; I then place
one or more rings or coils of india-rubber or other suitable packing around the
tube within the coupling or union in such a manner that, when the two parts of the
latter are tightly connected, the said packing will be squeezed between suitable
shoulders or other surfaces provided in the coupling for the purpose, and a fluid-tight
joint will thus be formed around the tube by the same operation whereby the two
parts of the coupling are secured together.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and
Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal central section, showing one form of my improved
tube or pipe coupling or union.
Figures 3, 5, 7 and 9 are front elevations, and Figures 4, 6, 8 and 10 longitudinal
central sections, showing other forms or modifications thereof.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, A are the pieces of flexible metallic tubing which it is desired to unite or
connect together. B, B' are sockets provided with suitable internal screw-threads
or spiral grooves B corresponding with and adapted to receive the convolutions of
the said flexible metallic tubing. The socket B is provided with external screw-
threads B3 and with a square hexagonal or other suitably shaped portion or collar C.
D is a nut which is arranged to turn freely upon the socket B₁ but is prevented from
leaving the said socket by means of a collar B* provided upon the said socket. The
nut D has internal screw-threads D' corresponding with the external screw-threads B³
upon the socket B and is to be screwed firmly in position upon the said screw-
threads B³ the socket B being held or prevented from rotating by gripping the above
In each of the said
mentioned collar C in a spanner, vice or other suitable tool.
sockets I provide, moreover, an enlarged portion or recess B5 into which the extremity
of the tube A is arranged to project. B6, B6 are conical or other suitably shaped

page_text: seatings formed in the said enlarged portions or recesses B³. E, E are packing rings
formed of india-rubber, asbestos or other suitable material which are placed upon the
said seatings 136 and round the extremities of the tubes A. Each of the said sockets
thus forms as it were a stuffing-box, into which the extremity of the said tube A
extends.
In Figure 2, F is a short length of pipe, or a ring or tubular piece the extremities
of which are formed conical or of other suitable shape, and which is adapted to fit
easily into the enlarged portions or recesses 335 and over the extremities of the tubes A.
The extremities of the said ring or tubular piece bear, when in position, against
the said packing rings E forming as it were a double gland extending into each of the
said stuffing-boxes B. By screwing up or tightening the above mentioned nut D
upon the screw-threaded extremity of the socket B, the said double gland or tubular
piece is caused to press or squeeze the said packing rings E firmly and evenly
against the seatings B6 and against the exterior of the tubes A and thus form perfectly
tight joints adapted to withstand very high pressures.
Figures and 4 illustrate an arrangement intended for uniting or connecting a
piece of flexible metallic tubing A to a piece of ordinary piping A¹ or to a suitable
nozzle. In this instance, the stuffing-box or recess B in the socket B is dispensed
with, and the said socket is provided with internal screw-threads B adapted to screw
upon corresponding external screw-threads A2 provided upon the pipe or nozzle A¹.
The tubular piece or gland F, moreover, is formed on, or firmly secured to the said
socket B and only one packing ring E is employed, the joint between the said socket B
and the pipe or nozzle A' being made in the usual manner.
Figures 5 and 6 show an arrangement intended more especially for "flexible
metallic tubing "of small diameter. 138 is a socket having internal screw-threads or
spiral grooves B2 adapted to receive the extremities of the said flexible metallic
tubing A. B, B10 are enlargements or stuffing-boxes having conical or other suitably
shaped seatings, one of which is provided in each end of the said socket B. The said
stuffing-boxes B10 are adapted to receive india-rubber or other suitable packing rings E,
or they may be packed in any other convenient manner. G, G are glands arranged
to fit easily over the tubes A and provided with externally screw-threaded portions
adapted to screw into the said recesses or stuffing-boxes B10 which are provided with
corresponding internal screw-threads, and to compress the said india-rubber or other
packing rings E placed therein, so as to form perfectly tight joints between the
tubing A and the socket B8. B, B are collars formed on the socket BS and G¹, G₁
are collars formed on the glands G. The said collars B", G' are suitably roughened
or milled for convenience of manipulating the device.
"
**
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a slight modification of the above described arrangement.
wherein the glands G are provided with internal instead of external screw-threads and
are arranged to screw over correspondingly externally screw-threaded portions on the
extremities of the socket B8 instead of into the recesses 110 as above mentioned.
Figures 9 and 10 show an arrangement intended for coupling flexible metallic
tubing to an india-rubber or other tube or hose. In this case, the socket B³ is
provided at one extremity with an extension or nozzle B12 intended to receive the
said india-rubber or other tube or hose, and at the other end with a gland G sub-
stantially similar to those described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. The said gland
is provided, however, with internal screw-threads adapted to receive the flexible
tubing A.
The above described tube or pipe couplings or unions are extremely advantageous
for use with pipes or tubes intended for withstanding high-pressures.
6.
Although I have herein before described my improved tube or pipe coupling or
union as intended more especially for the said flexible metallic tubing" it is obvious
that it may be so constructed as to be adapted for uniting or connecting together the
extremities of any other suitable description of tubes or pipes, or for connecting the
said tubes or pipes to a tank or elsewhere. It is obvious, moreover, that my improved
tube or pipe coupling or union may be either provided with internally screw-threaded
ockets adapted to receive the correspondingly serew-threaded extremities of the said

page_text: tubes or pipes, or that it may be employed for connecting or coupling together the
latter without employing screw-threads and by merely clamping or securing the
extremities of the said tubes or pipes by means of packing rings in the hereinbefore
mentioned stuffing-boxes and glands.
I can, moreover, somewhat further modify the construction of my improved tube or
pipe coupling or union without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
1 claim:-
First. A pipe-coupling or union wherein one or more rings or coils of packing are
provided around the pipe or pipes, and which is so constructed that, in the act of firmly
connecting the parts of the coupling or union, the said packing will be squeezed
against the said pipe or pipes, for the purpose above specified.
Second. The combination, with the coupling or union adapted to receive the ends
of two pipes, of rings or coils of packing surrounding the said pipes and a metal ring
or tubular piece or gland whereby, when the pipes are connected by the union, the said
packing will be squeezed against the said pipes, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Third. The improved coupling or union constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
drawings for the purposes specified.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.