Improvements in Connecting Devices, specially adapted for Securing Tubes or Rods to Mains, Plates, or other Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Connecting Devices, specially adapted for Securing
Tubes or Rods to Mains, Plates, or other Articles.
I, FRIEDRICH ALBRECHT, of 441 Swanston Street, Melbourne, in the Colony
of Victoria, Metal Spinner, 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 is intended to enable connections to be rapidly, cheaply, strongly,
and easily made, and is generally useful for securing tubes and rods to mains, plates,
and other bases or articles in such manner that disconnection may also be easily
effected; for example, for securing a branch pipe to a main; an upright to a floor;
a bracket to a partition; a handle to a trunk; a tap stem or tube to a hollow
vessel. In connecting a tube to a main, or a tap stem to a can, it frequently
happens that only the exterior of the main or can is accessible to the operator, and
that the walls of the main or can are thin and weak. My invention is particularly
applicable in such cases, as will be apparent by referring to the accompanying
drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 shows a side view partly in vertical middle section of a tap stem
connected to a base as a can, main or plate.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of part of a tube connected to a curved base.
Figure 3 is an end view of those parts in Figures 1, 2, which become located on
the other side of the base to that from which the tube is inserted.
Figure 4 shows a side view, and Figure 5 a plan view of a rod having elbow
plates (hereafter described) in the same position as in Figure 1, other details of
Figure 1 being omitted.
Figure 6 shows in perspective the connecting devices in the position assumed on
beginning to make the connection, an end part A forming one side of a slot being
shown partly broken away to more clearly exhibit the elbow plates, of which two
are shown (as the number generally preferable) although there may be only one,
or three, four, or more, if desired.
Figure 7 is an end elevation, and Figure 8 a plan view of details of Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating my application of the invention for
drawing off kerosene or other liquid from a thin metal can, the interior of which is
inaccessible to the operator.
Figure 10 shows an upright inserted into a base with the parts for forming the
connection shown disconnected.
Various modes of connection of the elbow plates are obviously available.-Where
there are several such plates they may be pivoted to a ring of metal or other
material connected to the end A. The essential is that these plates shall be
pivotally connected to the end A, and a slot is shown in the drawings to illustrate
the most generally useful manner of providing the connection.
The end A of the tube which is to be inserted in, and secured to the can, main,
plate or other base B is slotted or given a saw cut to form a recess within which
are secured two elbow plates, D, E, pivotally secured together as by a rivet F
which passes through the tubing A and through the elbows of said plates. These
plates are approximately shape, and are so adjusted side by side that one arm of
each plate may lie entirely within the back part of the slot C at H (Figures 1
and 5), whilst the other arms d, e extend transversely outward from the saw cut,
one on each side of the latter, and with the edges N, n (which are intended to

page_text: press against the base B) in line with each other as shown in Figure 1. The
arms d, e may also be adjusted so as to extend along the end of the slot, or outward
from the tube or rod end in prolongation of the slot as in Figures 6 to 8, the other
arms of the elbow plates in that case extending transversely. The hole G in the
base B need not be circular, but may be roughly made in any convenient manner,
a device for rendering unobjectionable the presence of torn or jagged edges Y
(when there are any such), being indicated by the recess X, with which each elbow
plate is in such cases provided. The rough edges Y fall within the recesses ✗
allowing the smooth edges N, n to contact with smooth parts of the base outside
edges Y. The ends of the arms which, in one position, extend longitudinally
outward from the slot C, may, where conditions admit be pointed to act (when in
that position) as a hole cutter or borer, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6.
In tapping a kerosene can, the conditions would allow of this, as the metal is weak
and ample interior space exists. A point often suitable, formed by the elongation
of the end A, on one side of the slot, is shown by dotted lines in Figure 4. The
arms d, e need not be thin as shown, and may be of any suitable cross section; and
they may meet without sliding over one another. Both sides of the end A may be
brought forward to form a solid point-vide Figure 4, the arms d, e being made
short enough, and being pivoted near enough to the middle of the length of the
slot to lie within the same when longitudinal therewith, the slot in that case being
closed in at both ends by the substance of end A.
It is when the two arms d, e are together that those arms are inserted into the
base B, the tube or rod end A being then pushed or forced inward. The
transversely extending arms then strike against the base, and the elbow plates
consequently swing on their pivot, the arms in the positions d, e (Figure 6)
assuming the transverse positions d, e, Figure. 1, whilst the arms which were
transverse retire within the back of the slot C at H Figure 1. It will be clear
that the arms d, e are thus caused to locate themselves on the inside of the can,
main, or other base, whilst the tube or rod end A may be a tight fit for the hole G.
The plates D, E must, however, be made sufficiently narrow at their elbows to
allow them to swing on their pivot, when being connected or disconnected, without
taking up too much space to pass through the hole in the base, the thickness of the
latter being borne in mind. In the drawings, the elbows are shown properly
reduced, the diameter Z (Figure 1 and 6) being somewhat less than the diameter
of the hole G, and the pivoting F being at the middle of line Z.
Where a washer or packing J is desirable to prevent leakage, one of rubber,
asbestos, soft or hard metal or other suitable material may be used, closely fitting
against the surface of the base B around the hole G. The washer J may be first
placed outside the hole in the main, and the end A then pressed in; or said washer
may remain as in Figure 6 until after end A has been inserted. The arms in the
slot at H are then locked immovably within said slot and at the same time the
base is tightly gripped as seen in Figure 1 between edges N, n of the arms d, e,
and any suitable clamp as sleeve K. Sleeve K may be secured in place by a
nut L which engages a screw thread M provided upon the exterior of the tube or
rod, preferably on a portion of the latter, which is of larger diameter than the part
which enters hole G, there being thus provided a shoulder O which prevents the
tube or rod entering the base too far, and protects the thread M from injury. The
plain part between the slot and the thread is designated m. To prevent leakage
I employ a washer or packing P, which is suitably pressed home as by nut L, the
sleeve K being in such cases long enough to cover in the rear of slot C. The
sleeve K and washers J, P may be dispensed with when a fluid or gas tight joint is
not required, nut L or the like causing the base to be tightly gripped so that the
tube or rod A will be rigidly fixed, the smooth part between M and O being also
then unnecessary.
In Figure 10 is shown a sleeve L' having an internally projecting pin R
adapted to be advanced into slot S at the foot A of the upright, until the base B
becomes gripped between the contacting surfaces T of L' and N, n of the

page_text: arms d, e, the other arms of the elbow plates being within the slot C or in
parallelism with the end A. This figure demonstrates the fact that the spirit of
my invention may be preserved without adhering to the washers, sleeve and nut
illustrated in Figures 1 and 6; what is essential being a clamp of any known kind
which will grip the base, between said clamp and the arm or arms of the elbow
plate or plates on the other side of the base, and will also hold the other arm or
arms of the elbow plate or plates immovably.
When my device is to be disconnected, the exterior adjustable parts (as nut,
sleeve, and washers) are separated from the base, as in Figure 6 and the tube or
rod A is then simply pulled out of the hole G, no turning of A being required,
and the device remaining in good order ready for making another connection.
After inserting the arms d, e through base B, they may be turned round into
any position desired according to circumstances, such as the direction desired to be
assumed by the tap nozzle. But if the tap nozzle extends in the right direction
when the insertion is made, turning would be dispensed with. The latter
observations apply to plane bases; where the base is curved, as in Figure 2, then
by having arms d, e in such a position during insertion that when they swing
transversely they shall contact longitudinally along the base, the said arms make
contact practically as they would with a plane base. Sometimes the edges N, n
are made curved to correspond with a curved base, such as with the side of an oil
drum, when the latter is standing on end, gripping contact being then secured
whilst the arms extend horizontally, that is at right angles to their position in
Figure 2.
In Figure 9 the parts are to be understood as arranged as in Figure 1. It will
be observed that owing to the fact that the whole of the slot C does not lie within
the can B, said slot greatly facilitates the discharge of the entire contents of the
can, that is, when the connection is made to a bottom corner of the said can, the
latter furthermore being so little damaged as to be repeatedly usable (with a little
patching, if close sealing of the contents is required). Thus this invention is
calculated to result in enormous economies in those countries where large quantities
of liquids in tins are consumed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a connecting device, a tube or rod end having a slot C in combination with
elbow plates pivoted with their elbows within the slot substantially as and for the
purposes set forth."
2. In a connecting device, a tube or rod end having a slot C, a shoulder O, a
screw threaded portion M and a plain portion m between the screw thread and the
slot substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a connecting device, a pivoted elbow plate having its elbow recessed and
narrowed to less than the diameter of the hole in the base, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth and as illustrated by recess Y and diameter Z in the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In a connecting device, a tube or rod end having one or more elbow plates
pivoted thereto, one arm of the, or each, plate being adapted to pass through a base B,
and swing on its pivot to bear against one side of the base, the remaining arm
lying on the other side of said base, in combination with a clamp which locks the
elbow plate, or plates, immovably in relation to the tube or rod end and grips the
base between said clamp and the elbow plate arm or arms which bear against
the base substantially and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a connecting device, a tube or rod end having an elbow plate or elbow
plates pivoted thereto, said end and one arm of the, or each elbow plate being
adapted to enter a hole in a base, the other arm of the, or each elbow plate
extending transversely to the tube or rod end when the latter begins to enter the
hole, but swinging to a longitudinal position on striking the base, whereby the, or

page_text: each, arm within the hole is swung to bear against the base the, or each, said elbow
plate having a recess X whereby jagged edges Y around said hole may be avoided,
in combination with a leakage preventing washer or washers and a clamp for
immovably securing the washer or washers, elbow plate or plates, and the base
together substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a connecting device, the combination of a slotted tube or rod end A,
having one or more elbow plates pivoted thereto, a shoulder O, a smooth portion m,
and a screw threaded portion M, with a sleeve K, nut L, and washers to prevent
leakage, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a connecting device, a tube or rod end baving one or more elbow plates
pivoted thereto, and a point for making a hole in a base, the, or each plate having
a recess adapted to avoid the jagged edges of said hole when the tube or rod end
and part of the, or each elbow plate is inserted therein, in combination with a
clamp for rigidly holding the tube or rod end, the base, and the, or each elbow
plate rigidly together substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a connecting device, the combination with the bottom of a base B as in
Figure 9 of a tube end which is provided with a slot or aperture, said tube end
being so clamped to the base that the slot or aperture lies partly within and partly
without the base substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a connecting device, the general arrangement and combination of parts as
a whole substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 9 of the
drawings.
10. In a connecting device, the general arrangement and combination of parts as
a whole substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figure 10 of
the drawings.
Dated this 13th day of June 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.