IMPROVED AUTOMATIC STOP-PLUGS FOR PIPES FOR CONVEYING GAS, OIL, AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDWARD GARDNER COLTON, of the firm of Popplewell, Colton, & Co., of
Victoria Chambers, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "
IMPROVED AUTOMATIC STOP-PLUGS FOR PIPES FOR CONVEYING GAS, OIL,
AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to an improved stop-plug for gas and oil and like
inflammable fluid or liquid conducting pipes, that closes automatically the main or
service-pipe when the temperature is raised above a certain point.; and the
Invention consists of a coupling having a conically-tapering seat, renovable top
and bottom-caps, and a stop-plug, the stem of which passes through the top-cap
and is supported above the same by a fusible button or key, that is insulated from
its support by a ring-shaped non-conductor of heat. A spiral spring is inserted
between the top-cap and a seat of the stop-plug, so that the latter is quickly
dropped whenever by the rise of the temperature the fusible button or key begins
to melt.
D L
.

page_text: I, EDWARD GARDNER COLTON, of the firm of Popplewell, Colton, & Co., of
Victoria Chambers, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED AUTOMATIC STOP-PLUGS FOR PIPES FOR CONVEYING GAS, OIL,
AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS," and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
•
This Invention has reference to an improved stop-plug for gas, and oil or like
inflammable fluid or liquid conducting pipes, that closes automatically the main or
service-pipe when the temperature is raised above a certain point; and the
Invention consists of a coupling having a conically tapering seat, removable top
and bottom caps, and a stop-plug, the stem of which passes through the top-cap
and is supported above the same by a fusible button or key, that is insulated from
its support by a ring-shaped non-conductor of heat. A spiral spring is inserted
between the top-cap and a seat of the top-plug, so that the latter is quickly
dropped whenever by the rise of the temperature the fusible button or key begins
to melt.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side-elevation.
Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section of my improved automatic stop-plug for gas
and oil-pipes, and
Figs. 3 and 4 are a sectional and a side view of a modified form of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A in the Drawings represents a coupling for gas and oil-pipes, which is provided
with a conically-tapering seat B, into which fits tightly a stop-plug C. The sides
of the seat B, as well as of the plug C are ground off so that one fits tightly
into the other. The coupling A has an opening below the seat B, which is closed
by a bottom-cap B¹. An upwardly-extending portion A' of the coupling A is closed
by a screw-cap D, through a central aperture of which extends the stem C, of the
stop-plug C. A yoke E rests upon the cap D and supports a fusible button or
key F, which is made of any suitable known alloy of metal, that melts at a com-
paratively low temperature. Between the yoke E and the fusible button or key F,
is interposed an insulating ring F of hard rubber or other suitable non-conducting
material, which insulator admits the melting of the disk or key when the tem-
perature around the same is raised to the fusing temperature, without having the
fusing retarded by the influence of the colder metal of the yoke upon the button
or key F.
Through a central hole of the fusible button or key F, the ring-shaped insulator F¹,
and the ring-shaped upper part of the yoke passes a screw f, the shank of which
screws into the stem C³, of the plug C. The head of the screw f rests on a button
or key F. At the moment when the temperature reaches the fusing point, the
button or key F melts and the plug is dropped, partly by its gravity and partly by
the action of a spiral spring C, that is interposed between a washer g of the top-
cap D and a seat of the hollow plug C, so that the latter closes the passage-way of
the coupling and prevents the passage of gas or oil, whereby the spreading of fire
by the escape of gas or oil is obviated. To replace the plug into its former raised
position, a new button F, has to be placed in position, which is accomplished by
removing the screw-cap B', at the lower end of the seat B, then returning the plug
into raised position by lifting it from below and making then the connection
between the fusible button and the stop-plug by the screw f.

page_text: A modified construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which in place of the
fusible button F, a fusible key F, is used, that is passed transversely through a
slot of the stem C, of the plug C, the key being retained by means of a set-screw f¹.
The key Frests on an insulating ring f*, of the cap D, as shown in Fig. 3. At the
moment when the key melts, the stop-plug is dropped and the escape of gas, oil, or
like inflammable fluid or liquid automatically controlled at the moment when the
temperature of the surrounding air rises above the fusing temperature of the key,
so that there is less danger from the rapid spread of fires, by the escaping of gas,
oil, or like inflammable medium.
The stop-plug is specially adapted for factories, shops and other large buildings
in which it forms a valuable safe-guard against the spreading of fires.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1 In a cock or valve for pipes for conveying gas, oil, or like inflammable fluid
or liquid, the combination with a suitable valve fitting a seat in a valve coupling,
of a fusible plug or key adapted to project outside the valve and rest on an insu-
lating medium so as to release the said valve and permit the same to close by the
action of a spring or by gravity when a rise in temperature melts such plug or key,
as and for the purposes described.
2nd The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the herein-
described automatic cock or valve substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 15th day of August 1884.