CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF UNITING OR COMBINING PIPES, OR LENGTHS OF PIPES, TUBES, OR CHANNELS, FORMED OF GLASS, EARTHENWARE, OR OTHER SIMILAR MATERIAL
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROWE, of New Wharf, Whitefriars, in the City of London, Carpenter and
Joiner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eleventh day of January, in the twelfth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Rowe, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Rowe, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said William Rowe, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF UNITING OR COMBINING
PIPES, OR LENGTHS OF PIPES, TUBES, OR CHANNELS, FORMED OF GLASS, EARTHENWARE,
OR OTHER SIMILAR MATERIAL;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, obliging me; the said William Rowe, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and
to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Rowe, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description. thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of certain improvements in the mode of uniting or combining
pipes, or lengths of pipes, tubes, or channels, formed of glass, earthenware, or
other similar material, has for its object the formation and construction of
air and water-tight joints or junctions for such pipes or channels, which
joints or junctions are so made as to afford increased facility for alteration or
removal, when required. These joints or junctions are intended to be applied
to pipes or channels of various dimensions and employed in various uses, and
are therefore to be adapted in form and construction to suit the different
purposes for which they may be required; for instance, in pipes for conveying
water or gas through streets, the joint or junction required may be different
from that designed for ornamental or chemical purposes; and there are various
cases in which it may be advisable to modify the arrangement and construction
of the joint or junction for the sake of economy.
My Invention, for the attainment of the object thus stated, consists, in the
first place, in forming the joint or junction by drawing together the ends of the
pipes or lengths of pipes or channels by means of metal clips bolted together,
such metal clips being suitably shaped so as to fit into grooves cut or formed
round the external surface at the two ends of the pipes or channels to be
united or combined, and a piece of soft or elastic material being placed so as
to prevent injury to the said pipes or channels from the pressure of the metal
clips when firmly bolted together in order to secure a tight joint. Or, the
ends of the pipes may in some cases be formed so as to dispense with the
necessity for using the soft or elastic material.
My Invention consists, in the second place, in the use of metal clips for
the same purpose, shaped so as to be adapted for drawing together the two
ends of the pipes or channels to be united or combined, in which are formed
projections or flanges instead of grooves, the soft or elastic material being also
used for the same purpose as above stated. The ends of the pipes or channels
may also be formed so as to dispense with the necessity for using the soft or
elastic material, if preferred.

page_text: My Invention consists, in the third place, in the use of metal clips adapted
to the internal surface of the pipes to be united or combined, whether such
surface be formed with grooves or projections as the means of supplying a hold
for the clips. By this arrangement the outer surface of the pipe is even at the
-joint or junction.
My Invention consists, in the fourth place, in the particular formation of the
ends of earthenware pipes, by which they may be bolted or otherwise united or
combined without the aid of clips, the soft or elastic material being used as
above mentioned.
And my Invention consists, in the last place, in forming in moulds glass
junctions for pipes, and afterwards cutting grooves on their outer surface to
receive the clips which may be employed to unite or combine the pipes
required to be connected with the said junctions. By this arrangement facility
is given for uniting or combining branch pipes with main pipes without the
danger of leakage at the junction.
The metal clips used for the purpose of uniting or combining the pipes or
channels, as above stated, may be variously formed, as will be hereafter
described, and in some cases they may be preferred to be made of earthenware
or wood instead of metal. Also, the mode of combining the clips and the
particular formation of the ends of the pipes or channels, and the soft or elastic
material or (if preferred) cement, in order to form an air and water-tight joint
or junction, may be varied, as will be hereafter described. It will be seen
likewise, from the different applications shewn and described, that the Inven-
tion in its several features may be adapted to pipes or channels of other forms
and designed for other uses besides those hereafter referred to, inasmuch as the
Invention refers not to the manufacture of pipes or channels, but to the mode
of uniting or combining them by means of air and water-tight joints or
junctions formed and constructed upon the principles herein set forth.
In order, however, to render more evident the precise nature of my Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I will proceed to describe the
representations of different modes of uniting or combining pipes or channels
contained in the accompanying Drawings.
Figures 1 to 25 represent portions of pipes and channels united or combined
by means of the arrangements included in the first part of my Invention. Fig.
1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a transverse section
of two ends of pipes united or combined by means of the metal clips a, fitting
into the grooves b, and inclosing the collar of soft or elastic material c between
them, as shewn. It will be evident that the only preparation required on the

page_text: b
ends of the pipes is the formation of the grooves 6 to receive the corresponding
projections on the clips a, and thereby furnish a hold for the same. In this
instance the clips employed to form the joint or junction are in four pieces,
and the manner of applying them being obvious from the Drawing, no further
description is necessary. These clips may, if preferred, be fastened with a ring
instead of with bolts, as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 represent similar views to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of two ends
of pipes united or combined by means of two clips only. In this case the
grooves are made wider, and a short pipe of india-rubber or other flexible
material d is drawn over them, the clips being afterwards applied and bolted,
as shewn; there is also a collar of soft or elastic material c, previously placed.
between the ends of the pipes, to form a bed for them to pass against. It will
be observed that the grooves 6 are made wide enough to allow of some play for
the projections of the clips a therein, by which arrangement any probable
degree of expansion or contraction of the pipe is provided for. It may be here
observed that this provision is not requisite at every joint or junction, but may
be made at intervals, as is found desirable.
Fig. 9 represents two ends of pipes with the grooves b for the clips a, and
with other grooves e at the extreme ends or junction of the pipes, to receive a
ring of soft or elastic material c, or, if preferred, a filling in of cement to take
the pressure occasioned by the drawing of the clips when bolted together.
Figures 10 and 11 are longitudinal sections similar to Figs. 2 and 7, except
that in the present case the joint or junction is so formed as to admit of a
perforated glass or earthenware disc being inserted for the purpose of serving
as a guide for the wires of electric telegraphs. The soft or elastic material.c
is placed in the form of a ring or collar on each side of the disc. It is also to
be observed that the disc is made in two pieces, in order to admit of ready
access to the wires, when required.
Fig. 12 is a side view, and Fig. 13 a longitudinal section, shewing a mode
of uniting or combining two lengths of pipe applicable for submarine purposes.
In Fig. 13 is shewn the manner in which the joint or junction is adapted to
receive a disc for telegraphic wires. The joint or junction is formed in a
manner somewhat similar to that described in reference to Fig. 7, with a short
outer pipe of india-rubber covering the joint, but with differently shaped clips.
In the present case the clips are hinged, as shewn, in order that they may be
readily opened, and access afforded. to the joint or junction: this form of the
clips is shewn in the transverse section, Fig. 14. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal
section, shewing the junction. of two ends of pipe, which may be employed as

page_text: an external covering or case for that just described. The outer surfaces of the
pipes are grooved in a peculiar manner to receive the clips, under which is
placed a short pipe of india-rubber d; there are also grooves at the extreme
ends or junction of the pipes, to receive a ring of soft or elastic material c, or
cement, if preferred; or in the case of large pipes, this packing may consist of a
wooden core, surrounded by the soft or elastic material; this material is also
placed in grooves formed in the clips, as shewn at c*.
Figures 16 and 17 are a side view and longitudinal section shewing a mode
of uniting or combining pipes in such a manner as to form a kind of ver-
tebrated flexible joint or junction. The arrangement and construction of the
joint or junction in this case are likewise adapted for telegraphic and under-
ground or submarine purposes. The series of vertebræ or members of the
flexible joint f, f, are enclosed within an india-rubber pipe d, which is retained
in its place by the clips a, a, fitting into the grooves b, as before described,
but in the present instance more clips and an extra groove are required in
order to admit of the insertion of a pipe g in halves, which are kept together
in their place by being enclosed within an india-rubber pipe or covering a"..
By the removal of the upper half of this pipe g, the wires of the telegraph may
be easily got at, when required.
I would here remark, that in some other cases wherein it is desirable to
obtain ready access to the interior of the pipe at the junction, a short pipe
in halves, similar to that just described, might be inserted between the two
ends of pipes, with rings or collars of soft or elastic material between, the
metal or other clips in such cases being elongated to admit of the short pipe
being introduced.
Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section shewing a junction of two ends of pipe,
which may be used as an external covering or case for that just described.
In the present instance the outer surfaces of the pipes are peculiarly grooved
to receive the clips a, which are retained by other clips or clasps a". The
clips a are formed so as to be capable of allowing play to the vertebræ or
members of the flexible joint; this is effected by shaping the clips so that the
one is contained within the other, and is capable of working somewhat in the
manner of a ball and socket joint, as represented in the Drawing.
Fig. 19 shews in longitudinal section two ends of pipes with their grooves
adapted to receive the clips, but formed so as to dispense with the necessity
for soft or elastic material to take the pressure caused by drawing the ends
together by the clips. It will be seen that the conical or inclined form of the
outer surface of the one end of the pipe is made to slide along the corre-
sponding form of the internal surface of the other end; in this manner a tight

page_text: joint or junction is formed, while the pressure is distributed over the whole
of the surfaces brought into contact without danger to the pipes in uniting
their ends by means of the clips.
Figures 20, 21, 22, and 23 represent side views and longitudinal sections
of two forms of clips differing from those already described in that they
require no bolts to fasten them together, in the one case (see Figs. 20 and 21)
being clasped by a ring h, fitting against a stop i, and in the other being
united and fixed by a screw nut, as shewn at Figs. 22 and 23.
Figures 24 and 25 represent in longitudinal and transverse section a mode
of uniting or combining channels or half pipes to be used as gutters or for
similar purposes.
In this case the upper clips are dispensed with, and there
is a transverse tie-piece of metal employed as shewn to draw the clips a into
the grooves b, formed on the outer surface of the channel. The soft or elastic
material may be applied in the manner preferred.
I would here remark, that I have shewn only one application of my Inven-
tion to channels or half pipes, but I do not mean to confine myself thereto,
as various forms of clips and other arrangements may be adopted, as described
in reference to joints or junctions for pipes.
Figures 26 to 32 represent portions of pipes or channels united or combined
by means of the arrangements included in the second part of my Invention.
Fig. 26 is a side view, Fig. 27 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 28 a
transverse section, shewing two ends of pipes united or combined by means of
metal clips a, adapted to peculiarly formed projections or flanges b on the
pipes, the soft or elastic material c being applied at the junction as before.
Fig. 29 is a longitudinal section, shewing the previously described mode of
forming an air and water-tight joint or junction between two pipes by means
of conical ends to the pipes; but combined with the use of metal clips adapted
to the projections or flanges instead of grooves on the outer surface of the
pipes, as shewn. Fig. 30 is a side view, Fig. 31 a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 32 a transverse section, shewing the mode of uniting or combining
lengths of glass organ pipes, the clips a being peculiarly formed, as shewn at
Fig. 32, and adapted likewise to the projections or flanges b, and the soft or
elastic material c being placed between the clips only. I would here remark,
in reference to this second head of my Invention, that I have not considered
it necessary to multiply instances of various forms of clips, believing that from
the foregoing description it will be generally understood how far the same are
susceptible of variation while retaining the general combination just described;
neither have I thought it necessary to describe any applications thereof to
channels or balf pipes for the same reason.

page_text: Figures 33, 34, and 35 represent portions of pipes united or combined by
means of the arrangements included under the third head of my Invention.
Figs. 38 and 35 are longitudinal sections, and Fig. 34 a transverse section,
shewing two ends of pipe united or combined by means of metal clips adapted
to the suitably formed internal surface, whereby a joint or junction is effected
in such a manner as to allow of a smooth external surface at the point of
In this case the
union. This mode is applicable to ornamental purposes.
clip is formed in segments, and placed within the pipes, care being taken to
put them together in such a manner as to cover the spaces between the
segments. Fig. 33 shews clips adapted to and combined with projections on
the internal surface of the ends of pipe, and Fig. 35 shews the same adapted
to and combined with grooves. The clips may in this arrangement be varied
in form, and the soft or elastic material placed between them, if desired.
Figures 36 to 42 represent portions of pipes or channels united or combined
by means of the arrangements included under the fourth head of my Invention.
Fig. 36 is a side view, Fig. 37 is a longitudinal, and Fig. 38 a transverse
section, shewing the peculiar formation of two ends of earthenware pipe
It will be scen
adapted to be united or combined without the aid of clips.
that they are formed with projections, from which extend ears to receive
screw or wedge bolts, in order to draw them together, the soft or elastic
material or (if preferred) cement being placed between them at the junction.
Figures 39 and 40 shew two ends of an earthenware drain pipe or channel
united or combined by a joint or junction of this description. It will be herein
scen that the ends of the pipe have to be adapted in form to suit the different
applications it is intended to serve; but the particular feature of the Inven-
tion consists in forming them in a manner capable of bearing the drawing
together by bolts. In the cases shewn this is effected by means of the ears i,
combined with the projections or flanges and the soft or elastic material, as
represented in the Drawing, but in some cases it may be desirable to vary this
exact form of the parts.
Figures 41 and 42 are a vertical and horizontal section, shewing this
arrangement adapted to a water pipe, in which it will be seen that the soft or
elastic material being inserted between the ends of the pipe is, by its com-
bination with the particular form thereof, calculated to prevent the passage of
any liquid in a lateral direction.
Fig. 43 represents the last part of my Invention, consisting of a glass
junction for pipes formed in one piece in a mould, the grooves b being after-
wards cut, as shewn. In forming this junction the branch A is first blown,
sufficient glass being left on the lower end to constitute, when suitably formed,

page_text: the remaining portion B of the junction. The glass is then reheated and
flattened out into a T shape; it is afterwards put into the mould, (of the
description commonly called or known by the name of an "open and shut
mould,") and blown into the form required; the glass, after being annealed, is
ready to have the grooves b cut, as shewn in the Drawing. Ends of pipes
suitably prepared may be united or combined with the three outer ends of this
junction by means of clips, as described.
.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the mode of carrying
the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not mean or intend
to confine myself to the precise forms and arrangements of the parts shewn
and described, neither do I claim as of my Invention the use of clips otherwise
than as adapted to and combined with the ends of pipes and channels, as
described; but I claim as secured to me by the above in part recited Letters
Patent,―
First, the mode described of uniting or combining pipes or channels by
means of metal or other clips adapted to and combined with grooves formed on
the outer surface of the ends of the pipes or channels, and soft or elastic
material to take the pressure occasioned by drawing the clips together.
Secondly, the same, by means of metal or other clips adapted to and com-
bined with projections formed on the outer surface of the ends of the pipes
or channels, and soft or elastic material, for the same purpose.
Thirdly, the same, by means of metal or other clips adapted to and com-
bined with either grooves or projections on the ends of the pipes or channels,
and with those ends formed so as to dispense with the necessity for using soft
or elastic material, for the purpose described.
Fourthly, the same, by means of metal or other clips adapted to and com-
bined with either grooves or projections formed on the internal surface of the
pipes, and soft or elastic material, as described.
Fifthly, the same, by means of bolting the peculiarly formed ends of
earthenware pipes or channels, such ends being shaped with ears and flanges
or projections, and combined with soft or elastic material, as described, so as to
be capable of bearing the strain occasioned by the bolts.
And, lastly, the same, by means of glass junctions formed in moulds, in the
manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rowe, have hereunto set my s
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
WILLIAM (L.S.) ROWE.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eleventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid William Rowe came before our said Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-nine.