AN IMPROVED COUPLING JOINT OR CON- NECTION FOR TUBING OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ezra Miles, of Stoke Hammond, Bucks, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COUPLING JOINT OR CON-
NECTION FOR TUBING OR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd June 1855, and dated the 12th January 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ezra Miles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
January 1855.
I, EZRA MILES, of Stoke Hammond, Bucks, Civil Engineer, do hereby
3 declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COUPLING JOINT OR
CONNECTION FOR TUBING OR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My improved coupling joint consists of two parts, one fitting within the
other, as shown by the accompanying Drawing. Fig. 1 shows the external
form of that part of the joint which fits within the outer cylinder; it is made
of a conical shape a, terminating in a ring or flange b. c is a thick ring of
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material; this part of the joint is
inserted within the outer cylinder d, Fig. 2, and retained in its place by a
pin e, or other suitable fastening.

page_text: by the said Ezra. Miles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th July 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EZRA
MILES, of Stoke Hammond, Bucks, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of January, in the. year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Ezra Miles, Her special licence that I, the said Ezra Miles, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ezra
Miles, 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 "AN IMPROVED COUPLING JOINT OR
CONNECTION FOR TUBING OR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Ezra Miles, 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 Ezra Miles, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be, per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and the Drawings accompanying the same, that is to say:--
My improvements consist principally in the introduction, of a moveable
or rolling packing in the construction of what are denominated "niale and
female joints," whereby they are rendered capable of bearing the pressure of
air, steam, gas, and of liquid bodies without leakage, and in the application
of such joints for general and particular purposes.
My coupling joint consists of the following parts (see Drawings):-First, the
male portion; secondly, the matrix receptacle or female portion; thirdly, the
moveable or rolling packing; fourthly, the apparatus for keeping the portions
together and in their proper places; fifthly, a mode of plugging the female
part of the joint.

page_text: First, the male portion. This in my improved joint a hollow or tubular
cone, whose internal diameter is regulated by that of the tubes, between which
the joint is to form a medium of connexion. The apex of the cone enters a
hollow cylinder or matrix, and the distance to which it can be pushed is
regulated or limited by a shoulder, which fits against a corresponding one in
the matrix, and which is the point where the cylinder becomes narrower, or it
may consist of a simple cone without a shoulder. The smaller end of the
cone is provided with a lip, nozzle, or flange, to prevent the packing from
slipping or rolling off, and at the base of the cone the joint assumes a regular
form adapted to the wider entrance to the matrix. The conical part enters
and occupies the narrower portion of the female joint.
Secondly, the matrix receptacle or female joint. This is a hollow cylinder,
the size or dimensions of which are regulated by that of the male portion.
This hollow cylinder differs generally, though not necessarily so, in its diameter.
Thus, at the entrance the diameter is greater than at the further extremity.
As this description of joint is particularly applicable for connecting tubes, I
may state that the narrow portion of the female, joint is that which is imme-
diately attached to one part of the tube which has to be connected, the
broader portion forming a terminal end, through which the male joint. is
made to pass. In some cases the male joint may be cast with a solid pillar
of metal passing from above, below, and through its tubular way or channel,
so that a fluid passing through it would be intercepted by; the position
of such pillar is generally in the middle of the broadest portion of the male
part, which occupies the widest part of the female joint, although I do not
confine myself to this position. The reason of this casting is, that upon
boring through the said pillar, a pin can be introduced, first through a cor-
responding opening in the wide part of the female joint, and then through
the pillar and out below through another opening in the female joint, thus
holding the parts together without risk of leakage..
I
Thirdly, the packing. The male portion of the joint being conical, I take
a ring of india-rubber- or of vulcanized india-rubber, and having stretched it,
pass
it over the lip, nozzle, or flange of the cone. The moment, therefore,
the male is introduced into the female joint, the ring.coming in contact with the
sides of the matrix is rolled up, towards the base of the cone until it becomes
jammed. It also follows as a matter of course, that when any fluid under
pressure is, admitted into the tube or joint, the, direction of the force being
from the apex to the base, the greater the force the greater the tendency
to drive the ring towards the base, and the tighter the joint will become.

page_text: Although I propose to use rings of india-rubber or of vulcanized india-rubber,
yet I do not confine myself to those materials, and in some cases where highly
heated fluids are employed, I use rings formed of flax, hemp, or of some
similar fibre, woven, twisted, or spun, either alone or impregnated with
chemical materials, for giving them a degree of mobility or elasticity. And I
especially use a method of tightening rings made of canvas or of any vegetable
fibre, woven, twisted, or spun, and preventing them from slipping or rolling
over the lip of the cone. Thus, while an india-rubber ring, when stretched over
the lip, contracts immediately and cannot escape, an ordinary fibrous ring,
if large enough to pass over the nozzle of the male joint, would slip off.
I, therefore, after fitting on the fibrous ring, dip it into a cold concentrated
solution of caustic soda or potash, by which means contraction takes place,
and it can no longer pass over the lip.
Fourthly, the apparatus for keeping the portions of the joint together and
in their proper places. I have already spoken of the mode of casting a solid
pillar through the water-way of the male joint, which being afterwards bored
through admits a fastening pin. Another method is to cast or make the joint
without the introduction of the solid pillar. Instead of the bored pillar, a
tube of copper, brass, or of some suitable material, is inserted in the same
position, and is properly soldered, brazed, screwed, or has its ends swelled
in the same manner as the tubes inserted in steam boilers. Into this tube
the fastening pin is dropped through a corresponding hole in the matrix.
Or the parts of the joint may be kept in opposition by means of lugs or
flanges, adapted to each other, and through which pins, bolts, or keys may be
made to pass in the ordinary way, or screws may be used, like the common
screw cap in a union joint, or the male joint may be cast with a hollow or
depression on its circumference, or a groove may be made by turning in the
lathe, in which case, there being openings on one or both sides or at the top
or bottom of the female joint, in which case pins, keys, bolts, or spring keys
may be inserted.
In any case where a tube terminates with the female portion of my joint,
and is required to be closed to prevent the escape of air, steam, gas, or any
liquid, I insert into the female portion a conical plug resembling the male
portion of the joint, with a ring of the same description that is used for the
said joint; I also employ the same means of fastening this plug as is employed
to fasten the male portion of the joint. This method I employ also for the
insertion of plugs under all ordinary circumstances when a tube requires
plugging. Should my moveable or rolling packing be used in suction pipes,

page_text: I propose that the female part should be made conical internally, the widest
portion being near the entrance; the male portion in this case must be parallel.
I also wish it to be understood that, if found requisite, I propose to intro-
duce a valve or cock in the female part of the joint, to close it when the male
is absent.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a section of female part of joint when separated; Figure 2 is a
section of male part of joint, also separated; Figure 3 is a section of male
and female part connected; Figure 4 is a plan of female part of joint
separated; Figure 5 is also a plan of male part of joint separated; Figure 6
is the pin for holding the male and female parts of joints together, when pins
are used; Figure 7 is a section of portion of the male part of joint, shewing
another view of pin-way through the enlarged part, when pins are used for
connection.
It will be easily understood by reference to the Drawings, that Figure 2
enters Figure 1, and that Figures 4 and 5 represent the same thing. The
part marked a is the moveable or rolling packing, and the part marked 6 is
the tube of metal or cast pillar in it to form the pin-way through male part,
as shewn in sections 2 and 3, also in Figure 7, which gives another view of
the same.
I claim, first, the employment of a rolling or moveable packing of india-
rubber, vulcanized india-rubber, or of any other suitable material.
Second, I. claim a method of fitting and tightening rings of canvass, hemp,
flax, or of any vegetable fibre, by immersion in caustic alkali.
Third, I claim my joint for all purposes where coupling joints are used, and
I specially claim its use for connecting tubes attached to railway carriages,
and holding or conveying any fluids (gaseous, aeriform, or liquid), and used.
for the purpose of applying brakes for stopping or retarding trains, or as a
means of communication between guard and driver, or between passengers
and guard.
Fourth, I claim the introduction of a copper, brass, or other tube into the
water-way or bored pillar of the male joint, so as to allow it to be pinned
or fastened; I also claim the casting of a solid pillar through the water-way
of the male joint, through which, when bored, the fastening pin or key can
be passed.
Fifth, I claim the method of closing tubes by means of a conical plug,
constructed of any suitable materials, and having a rolling or movcable
packing.

page_text: Sixth,.I.claim the employment of any suitable material in the manufacture
of my improved coupling joint; also to vary the said joint from cylindrical to
oval, if found requisite.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ezra Miles, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
EZRA MILES. (L.S.)