Improvements in Ladles Employed for Running Lead Joints in Cast Iron Pipes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ladles Employed for Running Lead Joints in
Cast Iron Pipes.
I HENRY NICHOLSON of 87 Stockton Street Moss Side Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The objects of this invention are to facilitate the running of the molten lead into
the single pocket joint, to prevent the admission therewith of scum or dross, to
dispense with the necessity for skimming, to prevent tilting of the ladle and to
minimise the danger to the operatives.
Also in joining double spigot pipes, with a collar, this invention enables the lead
joints to be run on both sides of the collar at one and the same time.
The invention consists principally in forming at the bottom of the ladle a raised
boss or lump which projects above the bottom, and is bored out with a conical or
cylindrical hole. This hole is closed by means of a taper fire-clay plug or other
suitable valve, the said plug or valve being connected by a rod to a lever, the fulcrum
of which is mounted on a bracket bolted or otherwise fixed to the upper side of the
ladle.
When the molten lead is required for making the joint the ladle is placed above the
socket with the plug or valve just above the opening into which the lead is to be run,
and upon raising the plug or valve by means of the lever the hottest portion of the
lead is run at once, into the joint without tilting the ladle, and without any necessity
for skimming the surface as the lead runs from beneath the scum.
And if any heavy dross should be present it falls into the bottom below the level of
the boss or lump in or on which the plug or valve works,

page_text: It will be evident that as the lever can be of any convenient length and as no
skimming is required, the operative can stand at a safe distance and in the event of a
"blow-up" from the joint being damp will not be liable to injury.
For making double joints with two spigot-ended pipes and a collar I make the ladle
larger and double, that is, with two plugs or valves and two levers the plugs or valves
being arranged at such a distance apart that the joints at each side of the collar can
be " run at the same time.
"
Dated the 20th day of November 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ladles Employed for Running Lead Joints in
Cast Iron Pipes.
I, HENRY NICHOLSON of 37 Stockton Street, Moss Side Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Mechanical 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:-
The objects of this Invention are:-
To facilitate the running of the molten lead into the joint; to prevent the admission
into the joint of scum or dross; to dispense with any necessity for skimming the
lead; to enable the lead to be run without tilting the ladle, and to minimise the danger
to the operatives. It has further for its object to enable the lead to be run
simultaneously on both sides of the collar when inaking a joint with two spigot pipes
and a collar.
On the appended sheet of Drawings there are six Figures illustrating the
construction of a ladle according to these improvements.
In each of the figures similar parts are denoted by similar letters, to which reference
is hereinafter made.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation.
Fig. 2. is a front view; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of
the valve, rod and lever.
Fig. 5 is a plan of fig. 4; and fig. 6 is an elevation of the bracket.
These improvements consist in forming upon or attaching to the bottom of the
ladle a raised boss or valve seating A within which is a conical or cylindrical hole for
the exit of the metal. Around or within the exit orifice a seating is formed, either by
the natural conformation of the orifice or by additional facing or the like operation so
that the orifice may be closed or opened at will by means of a plug or valve fitting
therein or thereon. The plug or valve employed for opening and closing the orifice may
be constructed of fire-clay, iron or other suitable material, and is attached by means of
a rod R to a lever L the fulcrum of which is mounted upon a bracket B rivetted or
otherwise secured to the rim of the ladle. I prefer in all cases to construct this
bracket with stops or other means for limiting the amount of angular motion of the
lever L so as to prevent the valve or plug being lifted beyond the range of the guides C.
To prevent the accidental escape of the molten lead by an inopportune or accidental
movement of the lever I insert between the lever L and the stop or bracket B a key
or wedge such as W, which may be removed when the joint has to be run.
The key
or wedge is secured by a chain to the bracket to prevent its being lost or mislaid.
A convenient and useful form and construction of the valve is illustrated in fig. 4
where Vis the body of cast iron in the face of which a recess is formed for the
reception of a disc of asbestos packing. This valve is secured to the rod R, the
screwed end of which passes through the valve, by means of a nut and washer.

page_text: All being ready to run the joint, the ladle containing the molten lead is suspended
or supported with its exit orifice immediately above the runner or opening to the
joint, when, by depressing the handle H on the lever L the valve or plug is raised and
the lower and hottest portion of the metal at once runs into the joint without any
necessity arising for tilting the ladle or for skimming the metal since this is drawn or
runs from below the scum. Should any heavy dross be present in the molten metal,
it falls into the annular space around the part A below the upper part of the exit
orifice and is therefore not carried into the joint.
For making double joints, that is to say joints between two spigot ended pipes with
the aid of a collar, a larger ladle provided with two exit orifices controlled by one or
two plugs or valves and by one or two levers may be used, the distances between the
exit orifices of the ladle being arranged and disposed to correspond with the distance
between the runners or openings of the double joint.
It is evident that since the lever L may be made of any convenient length, or be
lengthened temporarily by the aid of a piece of tube, and since no skimming is
required, the operator may stand at such a distance while running the joint as to be
safe from any risk of injury from a "blow up or explosion arising from a damp
joint or other cause.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
(1) A ladle for running lead joints in cast iron pipes having an outlet or outlets at
the bottom of the ladle, the outlet or outlets being controlled substantially as
hereinbefore described, and as illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings.
(2) In a ladle for running lead joints in cast iron pipes; one or two exit orifices at
the bottom of the ladle, in combination with a plug or valve, or plugs and valves and
devices for operating the same; substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated
by the accompanying sheet of drawings.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for Applicant.