AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING TUBES IN TUBE PLATES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy, of Odin
Lodge, King's Road, Clapham Park, Surrey, Analytical Chemist, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING TUBES IN TUBE PLATES.""
Sealed the 30th May 1862, and dated the 10th January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse René Le Mire
de Normandy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th January 1862.
I, ALPHONSE RENÉ LE MIRE DE NORMANDY, of Odin Lodge, King's Road,
Clapham Park, Surrey, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING TUBES IN TUBE PLATES,"
to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in passing the extremity of the tubes through
plain flat plates perforated with holes, somewhat larger than the said tubes, in
such a way that the two extremities of each tube may protrude a short
distance through the said perforated plates. A ring (or more if need be) of
vulcanized india-rubber is then stretched round the ends of the tubes which
thus protrude beyond the perforated plates, so as to grip them tight, or else
gasket," smeared with red lead or some other material of an analogous
nature is wound round the ends of the said tubes, and a pressing plate, that is

page_text: to say, a flat plate perforated with holes, also somewhat larger than the tubes,
and corresponding with those of the perforated plates first mentioned, is put
over the vulcanized india-rubber rings, gasket, or other material just alluded
to, so that the said vulcanized india-rubber rings, gasket, or other material
round the said tubes being thus situated between the two flat surfaces of the
tube plates and pressing plates may, by bolting the said plates together in the
usual way, be tightly squeezed between them and thus prevent any leakage
round the extremities of the said tubes, thus obviating the necessity of using
glands, collars, or ferrules, or of forcibly expanding the tubes in the tube plate
as heretofore, so that when it is found necessary to replace one or more of the
said tubes it may be done simply by unbolting the two plates between which
the said tubes are grasped by the vulcanised india-rubber or gasket.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALPHONSE
RENÉ LE MIRE DE NORMANDY, of Odin Lodge, King's Road, Clapham Park,
Surrey, Analytical Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy, Her special licence that I, the said
Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy,
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 METHOD OF FIXING
TUBES IN TUBE PLATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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

page_text: 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 Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
These improvements consist in passing the extremity of the tubes through
plain flat plates perforated with holes, somewhat larger than the said tubes,
in such a way that the two extremities of each tube may protrude a short
distance through the said perforated plates. A ring (or more if need be) of
vulcanized india-rubber is then stretched round the ends of the tubes which
thus protrude beyond the perforated plates so as to grip them tightly, or else
"gasket" smeared with red lead or some other material of an analogous
nature is wound round the ends of the said tubes, and a pressing plate, that is
to say, a flat plate perforated with holes, also somewhat larger than the tubes,
and corresponding with those of the perforated plates first mentioned, is put
over the vulcanized indian-rubber rings, gasket, or other material just alluded
to, so that the said vulcanized india-rubber rings, gasket, or other material
round the said tubes being thus situated between the two flat surfaces of the
tube plates and pressing plates may, by bolting the said plates together in the
usual way, be tightly squeezed between them, and thus prevent any leakage
round the extremities of the said tubes, thus obviating the necessity of using
glands, collars, or "ferrules," or of forcibly expanding the tubes in the tube
plate as heretofore, so that when it is found necessary to replace one or more
of the said tubes it may be done simply by unbolting the two plates between
which the said tubes are grasped by the vulcanized indian-rubber or gasket.
The following Drawings illustrate the improved method in question :-A,
tube plate or plates perforated, that is to say, provided with the holes through
which the tubes B, B, B, are to be admitted, and which are intended to be
fixed thereto. These holes are made somewhat larger than the said tubes, so
that the latter may easily glide through the said holes; B, B, B, tubes which
are to be fixed to the tube plate or plates; C, C, C, holes which the tubes to
be fixed are engaged; D, D, D, rings of vulcanized indian-rubber round the
tubes B, so as to grip them tightly. These rings may be replaced, according
to circumstances, by gasket or other material or packing of an analogous
nature smeared with red lead or some analogously adhesive material wound
round the said tubes. E, E, E, E, pressing plates perforated, like the tube
plates, with holes somewhat larger than the tubes B, B, B, and corresponding

page_text: with those of the tube plates A, A, A, A; F, F, F, F, bolts and screws uniting
the tube plates A, A, A, A, and the pressing plates E, E, E, E, so that on
screwing the said bolts the soft material between the two plates is squeezed so
tightly as to prevent any leakage.
What I claim as my Invention is, fixing tubes in tube plates in a manner
substantially the same as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse René Le Mire de Normandy,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
A. NORMANDY. (L.S.)