IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPE JOINTS FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS, GASES, AND AIR, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO GAS AND WATER MAINS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London'
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPE JOINTS FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS,
GASES, AND AIR, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO GAS AND WATER
MAINS." A communication from abroad by William Painter, of Baltimore,
Maryland United States of North America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Benson at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1878.
MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London.
PIPE JOINTS FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS, GASES, AND AIR, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO GAS AND WATER MAINS." A communication from abroad by William
Painter, of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of North America.
This Invention is designed to furnish a means of rapidly and economically
forming a fluid-tight joint in pipes, and is especially adopted to gas and water
mains; various devices for effecting this end are in use, consisting essentially in
means for driving or calking a packing material into the pipe joint or connection,
or forcibly drawing the pipe section upon elastic or other gasket material.
From its property of resisting the action of corroding agents, lead is almost
universally used as a packing, and is most commonly applied to the joint by casting
it in place, and subsequently calking it. The usual calked joint however, aside
from being uncertain and expensive, is open to the objection, that the slightest de-
fection or sagging of the pipes or mains cause leakage.
By my Invention, all the advantages of lead packing are secured, and at the same
time danger of leakage from sagging or other ordinary change of position in the
mains is obviated. These desirable ends are attained by casting a lead gasket
within a groove in the interior of the bell or socket of the pipe, and after the

page_text: sections are in place forcing the gasket to its seat by means of fluid pressure, as
herein-after described.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved pipe joint.
Fig. 2 is a similar view, shewing the gasket forced to its seat.
Fig. 3 shows an application of the improved joint to a sleeve for connecting two
pipes.
In the accompanying Drawings, A, A¹, represent the male and female sections of
the mains. An annular groove having tapered sides as shewn, is cast in the interior
of the bell, and within the groove is cast a lead gasket a. A threaded opening b
communicates with it. The interior diameter of the bell or socket is enlarged at
either side of the annular groove, as shewn, to admit of the sections of pipes being
jointed at a considerable angle with each other, without requiring the bell to be
much larger at the groove than the male section of the pipe. In case of deflection
after the mains are laid, the gasket thus becomes as it were a fulcrum, and the
degree of change of form to which it is subjected is reduced to a minimum. This
construction is not really essential. The bell is made somewhat less in depth than
that required in the ordinary or socket-calked joint.
The process of forming my joint is as follows:-The lead gasket being first cast
in the groove as described, the sections are joined as in Fig. 1; a pipe is screwed
into the opening b, and a suitable semi-fluid material, such as tar, is forced there-
through, finding its way between the lead gasket and the bottom of the annular
groove.
A forcing device of any suitable form may be employed for the purpose, and
sufficient hydrostatic pressure is thereby communicated to the gasket to force or
compress it at all points into close contact with the male section, as shown in Fig. 2,
forming a perfect fluid-tight joint. Finally,' the inlet pipe is removed, and the
opening b filled with inoist clay or any other suitable known material, and a screw
plug c inserted and screwed home, thus sealing the outlet under pressure.
Any known suitable semi-fluid substance may be used in forcing the gasket to its
seat; coal or wood tar, boiled to a ropy consistency, is a cheap material, and is found
to answer well; by reason of its viscid nature, it will not readily escape from any
minute openings there may be between the lead gasket and the sides of the groove
in which it rests, before the bydrostatic pressure is sufficient to start the gasket
from its normal position in the groove. When this occurs, its inclined sides bind
firmly against the corresponding sides of the groove, thereby preventing the escape
of the tar. When the final pressure is reached, the lateral enlargement of the gasket
contributes to this result.
The inner surface of the gasket may be made slightly concave, as shewn in Fig. 1,
for the reception of a semi-fluid packing material, such as red lead and oil, of the
consistency of a stiff paste, to be applied to the gasket before joining the sections
for the purpose of assisting in forming a perfect joint, with less hydrostatic pressure
upon the gasket than would otherwise be required. In such cases, all the soft
material exhudes from between the contact surfaces, except that required to fill
minute spaces.
While the use of soft packing is advantageous, particularly in gas
mains where it is essential in forming a tight joint.
It is obvious that instead of using a lead ring adopted to a groove or channel
within the bell portion of the pipe as described, an annular tube of lead or other
suitable known material, wholly or partially collapsed, may be inserted between the
sections of the pipes as a packing, the same being then expanded or forced into
close contact with the pipes, by means of fluid pressure (either gaseous or liquid)
applied through an opening communicating with the interior of the tubular gasket ;
other material, such as rubber, may be substituted for the lead shewn, but such
mere modifications I consider wholly within the scope of my Invention, which con-
sists essentially in forcing a gasket or packing into fluid-tight contact with the
pipe sections, by means of hydrostatic pressure, applied externally or independently
of the pressure within the mains or pipes.
Fig. 3 shows an application of the improved joint to a sleeve B, to be used in

page_text: cases for replacing a pipe A', in a section laid by making the pipe A a bit shorter,
80 it may be placed between the ends of the two adjoining pipes A, A, and jointed
at one of its ends by the sleeve B, and at its opposite end by the socket joint as re-
presented.
As before stated, any known suitable device, such as a properly constructed force
pump or a single plunger, screwing into a cylinder, either attached directly to the
opening in the bell of the pipe, or connected therewith by a tube, may be used to
force the tar or other semi-fluid material into the groove.
I have not considered it necessary to describe in detail such device, since appro-
priate means will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Martin Benson in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 28th June
1878.
MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PIPE JOINTS FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS, GASES, AND AIR, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO GAS AND WATER MAINS." A communication from abroad by William
Painter, of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of North America.
This Invention is designed to furnish a means of rapidly and economically
forming a fluid-tight joint in pipes, and is especially adopted to gas and water
mains; various devices for effecting this end are in use, consisting essentially in
means for driving or calking a packing material into the pipe joint or connection,
or forcibly drawing the pipe section upon elastic or other gasket material.
From its property of resisting the action of corroding agents, lead is almost
universally used as a packing, and is most commonly applied to the joint by casting
it in place and subsequently calking it. The usual calked joint however, aside
from being uncertain and expensive, is open to the objection that the slightest
defection or sagging of the pipes or mains cause leakage.
By my Invention, all the advantages of lead packing are secured, and at the same
time danger of leakage from sagging or other ordinary change of position in the
mains is obviated. These desirable ends are attained by casting a lead gasket
within a groove in the interior of the bell or socket of the pipe, and after the
sections are in place, forcing the gasket to its seat by means of fluid pressure, as
herein-after described.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved pipe joint.
Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a similar view shewing the gasket forced to its seat.
Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a transverse section of the pipe through the gasket, showing a
portion of the apparatus screwed or attached to the pipe for forcing the liquid to
seat the gasket.
In the accompanying Drawings, A, A¹, represent the male and female sections of
the mains. An annular groove having tapered sides, as shown, is cast in the interior

page_text: of the bell, and within the groove is cast a lead gasket a; a threaded opening B
communicates with it. The interior diameter of the bell or socket is enlarged at
either side of the annular groove, as shewn, to admit of the sections of pipes being
jointed at a considerable angle with each other without requiring the bell to be
much larger at the groove than the male section of the pipe. In case of deflection
after the mains are laid, the gasket thus becomes as it were a fulcrum, and the
degree of change of form to which it is subjected is reduced to a minimum. This
construction is not really essential. The bell is made somewhat less in depth than
that required in the ordinary or socket calked joint.
The process of forming my joint is as follows:-The lead gasket being first cast
in the groove, as described, the sections are joined as in Fig. 1, a pipe is screwed
into the opening B, and a suitable semi-fluid material, such as tar, is forced there-
through, finding its way between the lead gasket and the bottom of the annular
groove.
A forcing device of any suitable form may be employed for the purpose, and
sufficient bydrostatic pressure is thereby communicated to the gasket to force or
compress it at all points into close contact with the male section, as shewn in Fig. 2,
forming a perfect fluid-tight joint. Finally the inlet pipe is removed and the
opening B filled with moist clay or any other suitable known material, and a screw
plug C inserted and screwed home, thus sealing the outlet under pressure.
Any known suitable semi-fluid substance may be used in forcing the gasket to
its seat; coal or wood tar, boiled to a ropy consistency, is a cheap material, and is
found to answer well by reason of its viscid nature; it will not readily escape from
any minute openings there may be between the lead gasket and the sides of the
groove in which it rests, before the hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to start the
gasket from its normal position in the groove. When this occurs, its inclined sides
bind firmly against the corresponding sides of the groove, thereby preventing the
escape of the tar.
When the final pressure is reached, the lateral enlargement of
the gasket contributes to this result.
The inner surface of the gasket may be made slightly concave, as shewn in Fig. 1,
for the reception of a semi-fluid packing material, such as red lead and oil, of the con-
sistency of a stiff paste, to be applied to the gasket before joining the sections for the
purpose of assisting in forming a perfect joint with less hydrostatic pressure upon the
gasket than would otherwise be required. In such cases, all the soft material
exhudes from between the contact surfaces except that required to fill minute spaces,
while the use of soft packing is advantageous, particularly in gas mains, where it is
essential in forming a tight joint.
It is obvious that instead of using a lead ring adopted to a groove or channel
within the bell portion of the pipe, as described, an annular tube of lead or other
suitable known material, wholly or partially collapsed, may be inserted between the
sections of the pipes as a packing, the same being then expanded or forced into close
contact with the pipes by means of fluid pressure (either liquid or gaseous) applied
through an opening communicating with the interior of the tubular gasket. Other
material, such as rubber, may be substituted for the lead shewn, but such mere
modifications I consider wholly within the scope of my Invention, which consists
essentially in forcing a gasket or packing into fluid-tight contact with the pipe
sections by means of hydrostatic pressure, applied externally or independently of
the pressure within the mains or pipes.
Economically considered, some of the important advantages of my Invention are
that it requires less than one-half the lead used in an ordinary calked joint, dispenses
entirely with the usual supplementary packing of tow or hemp, and can be applied
in less than one-fourth the time required to fit the usual calked joint. A further
saving of labor results from the fact that no necessity exists for the enlargement
of the trenches required for calking in laying mains as usually practised.
Mains constructed on this plan may be furnished with the lead gaskets cast in
place, and the usual melting appliances dispensed with, in the process of laying, nothing

page_text: being required but to join the sections and force the gasket to its seat by hydrostatio
pressure, as described."
My Invention furnishes, under all the varying conditions to which gas and water
mains are subjected, a perfectly fluid-tight joint, a most important object, especially
in gas mains where leakage is attended with great loss. Moreover the joint formed
by my process will stand any required pressure without possibility of the gasket being
driven from its seat, as frequently occurs in the ordinary joint, particularly in water
mains subjected to great and sudden pressure, as in the "Holly" system. This
security is attained by the enclosing of the gasket within the groove in the bell.
This construction also admits of the application of enormous and uniform pressure
upon the gasket at all points, resulting in a more certain and perfect joint than has
heretofore been produced, and without the employment of skilled labor.
By reason of the intimate and perfect contact of the gasket secured by this method,
and its firm hold upon the rough surface of the iron, any ordinary longitudinal motion
of the contact surfaces, by reason of contraction and expansion of the mains, or by
deflection after laying, produces no leakage in the joint.
With the ordinary calked joint the angles at which the sections can be joined is
necessarily restricted on account of the narrowing of the calking surfaces, while in
my method the angle may be more than double, while still producing a perfect
joint a manifest advantage. No small advantage attends the use of my Invention
when water is present in the trenches in which the mains are laid; manifestly
under such conditions, with my method of forming the joint, no difficulty whatever
is experienced.
The separation, when occasion requires, of the ordinary calked joint, is rendered
difficult, as well by the nature of the joint itself as by the presence of the bead on
the end of the male section. Inasmuch as this feature is dispensed with in my
joint, the separation of the parts when desired is readily effected, it being only
necessary to remove the screw plug C and strike either sections of the mains near
the joint; the lead gasket is thereby enlarged, the tar escaping from the
groove through the opening B, and the sections may then be drawn apart. The
joint so separated may obviously be secured or remade by applying hydrostatic
pressure, as in the first instance.
My Invention is well adopted for laying mains under water, or in difficultly
accessible places. In the former case it is usual to calk the lead into a ball-and-
socket joint, and lay the line of mains from a scow. To make such a joint tight it
is usual to turn the convex end of the male section true and smooth to allow of
its movement against the lead packing without producing leakage. This is attended
with considerable expense, and moreover to be perfectly tight the joint must be
necessarily quite rigid, whereas flexibility is desirable.
By the use of my Invention it is unnecessary that the end of the male section be
either true or smooth. The mains are simply joined, and the gasket forced to its
seat by moderate pressure, so as to hold the sections strongly together, and still
allow of a free movement of the joint while laying. When the mains are in
position in the bed of the stream, connection between the pump and joint (or other
forcing device) being maintained, the ultimate pressure is brought upon the gasket,
making the joint perfect. The opening in the bell is finally closed by a screw plug
or other convenient means. In practising my Invention in this connection, the
usual ball-and-socket form is employed. As before stated any known suitable
device, such as a properly constructed force pump, or a simple plunger screwing into
the cylinder, either attached directly to the opening in the bell of the pipe, or con-
nected therewith by a tube, may be used to force the tar or other semi-fluid
material into the groove. A suitable apparatus for this purpose in one form is
represented on Sheet 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the forcing
jack. D is the cylinder made of any suitable metal sufficiently strong to stand the
pressure, and in which the liquid or tar is first placed for forcing the gasket to its
seat. The cylinder D is supplied with liquid through the opening-e, while the

page_text: piston g is at the top of the cylinder, through the screw valve plug, as represented
in Fig. 5.
The piston g is made to act on the liquid in the cylinder by the screw lever or
wheel forcing it out of the cylinder with the required pressure through the opening
J at its lower end (see Fig. 3, Sheet 1) and at the back of the gasket in the male
pipe, as before described and illustrated.
Other forms of forcing devices will readily suggest themselves to persons practising
the art.
Having now described the construction and manner of working my said In-
vention, what I claim is,-
1st. The method or process herein described of forming the joints of gas and
water mains, the same consisting in interposing a gasket between the pipe sections,
and forcibly seating the same by means of hydrostatic pressure external to or in-
dependent of that within the mains, substantially as described.
2nd. A pipe joint having a gasket adopted to be forced to its seat by external
hydrostatic pressure, substantially as described.
3rd. In a pipe joint a bell having an annular gasket and an enlarged interior
diameter on one or both sides of said gasket to permit of the annular joining of the
mains, substantially as described.
4th. A pipe joint consisting of a male and female section having an interposed
gasket, the same being seated by external hydrostatic pressure, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 27th day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.