A NEW MODE OF CONSTRUCTING AND JOINING TUBES AND PIPES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Delperdange, Engineer, residing at Bruxelles,
in the Kingdom of Belgium, for the Invention of "A NEW MODE OF
CONSTRUCTING AND JOINING TUBES AND PIPES."
Sealed the 29th January 1856, and dated the 9th August 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Victor Delperdange at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th August 1855.
I, VICTOR DELPERDANGE, Civil Engineer, in Brussel, Belgium, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW MODE OF CONSTRUCTING
AND JOINING TUBES AND PIPES " to be as follows :-
Instead of a collar or coupling box, each tube is provided at its extremities
with a small enlargement or packing. The joint is effected by means of a ring
of vulcanised india-rubber (or any other flexible and unalterable material),
which encircles the packings of both the tubes in juxtaposition. An iron
collar (or a collar of any other suitable material) encircles the india-rubber, and
pressed it strongly against the packings. A small piece of slight iron plate is
placed between the india-rubbers and the collar at the pount where the two
ears present a solution of continuity..
And in order that iny Invention may be fully understood and readily put
into practice, I will proceed to describe the Figures of my. Drawing of it
hereto annexed.
:
Fig. 1, A shows a part of a tube with the packing a; Fig. 2, longitudinal

page_text: section through the axis of a pipe with the complete joining; A, A', are the
two tubes joined together; a, a', are the packings, which are placed at a
distance from each other, so much greater as the expanding power is expected
to be great, and the motions of the ground more considerable; B is a section
of the india-rubber ring which encircle the two packings a, a'; b, b, b, b, show
the points where the india-rubber is more closely pressed between the iron
collar and the packings. By that compression of the iron collar the india-
rubber ring assumes readily the form shown in the Drawing. C, C, is a
section of the collar which encircles the india-rubber; the ribs c, c, maintain
the whole system and prevent its breaking up. These ribs are so calculated as
to press but slightly the india-rubber upon the pipes, in order not to prevent
their motions in any direction. Fig. 3 is a transversal section of a pipe A, with
a view of the ring B, and of the collar C, with its two ears and screw bolt.
E is the piece of slight iron plate inserted between the india-rubber and the
collar at their point of discontinuity.
Fig. 4 is a view of the complete joint, which is shown in section in the the
Figure 3. A, A, are the tubes; B, the india-rubber ring; E is a small piece
of continuity; C is the collar; Fig. 5 shows the collar with its two ears and
screw bolt; Fig. 6 is a section of the collar, through the lines y, z, in Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is a section of the same, through the lines r, s, in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a
plan view of the small piece of continuity. In these Figures the views of
the pipes are tinted, and the sections hatched in black; those of the india-
rubber ring are in orange colour, those of the collar in blue, and those of
the small piece of continuity in red.
'
Fig. 9, when in any instance, either to follow the wavings of the ground,
either for any other cause, the tubes happen to remove from the straight line.
as shown at A, A', (Fig. 9,) the joining the above described may be used,
either by keeping an equal breadth to the ring through its entire circum-
ference, either by altering that breadth, according to the distention of the
packings to be encircled, as shown in Fig. 9, being a longitudinal section of
two tubes with their joints. A, A¹, are the tubes; B, B, B, the india-rubber
ring; C, the collar, with' one ear,in view; E is a section of the small piece, of
continuity; Fig. 10 is a view of the collar, shown in section, by the Fig. 9;
Fig. 11, section of a collar, with internal view of a rib C¹, more or less large,
which may be applied in case of need in order to prevent the two tubes coming
in to near conjunction.
Fig. 12 is a view of a tube with a levelled end, and in which the packing a
is in a slant with the axis of the tube. With such an arrangement the strongest
elbows may be constructed with straight pipes.

page_text: The taps and pipes may be made of any material, and also the collar, which
is to be laid with zine or galvanised, or prepared in any other way which may
render it unoxydable. That collar may be made of one or many pieces, united
togather by means of hinges or cranks, or ears or bolts. When the pipes are
of very large diameter they shall be strengthened with ribs applied on the
external circumference. The small piece of continuity which is to be placed
under the ears may be very slight, so as to be able of assuming the form,
required simply by the pression of the iron collar. By such an arrangement
it is not necessary to shape it in that form previously. In order to shut, in
case of need, the end of a tube, I apply to that end a disc of the same cir-
cumference as the packing to which it is to be joined, in the same manner like
would be joined two tubes. Fig. 13 shows a section of such a disc through-
its diameter. I think advisable also to use a part of a cylinder of the same
diameter as the tubes, and having a same packing, in order that the joint will
be in all the same conditions as if to join togather two tubes. Fig. 14 is a
section of such a piece through its diameter.
The principal advantages of the present system are as follows:-1st, a
notable saving of the material used for the construction of pipes, by the
substitution of a light packing instead of the collars and coupling boxes hereto.
before used. 2nd, the joining, although it provides a perfect and secure joint,
allows every part of the pipe to be lengthened or shortened by the force of
expansion, or to move in any directions, according to the wavings of the
ground, or any other cause, and so the injurious effects of the absolute rigidity
of all actual systems are avoided. By that unfixedness of the system it may
be applied to a great number of instances where the machines are in move-
ment, as, for instance, in the junction of the locomotives and tenders, in which
my improved mode of joining supplies with a great advantage the metallic
joints. 3rd, the joining itself presents a great advantage of saving in the
foundation, and facility of repairing and replacing of pipes.
Having such described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
putting the same into practice, references being had to the Figures of the
Drawings herto annexed, I wish it to be well understood that I do not
confine myself to any particular part of the system so long as the character
of my Invention is preserved; but what I claim is, a new mode of constructing
and joining tubes and pipes by means of a ring of vulcanized india-rubber
and iron collar, as above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Victor Delperdange in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VICTOR
DELPERDANGE, Engineer, residing at Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year. of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Victor Delperdange, Her special licence that I, the said Victor Delper-
dange, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Victor Delperdange, 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 "A NEW
MODE OF CONSTRUCTING AND JOINING TUBES AND PIPES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Victor Delperdange, my executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
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 be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
one of
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Victor Delperdange, 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:-
My said improvements consist in constructing each tube or pipe with an
enlargement or packing at each end instead of the usual collar or coupling box.
The connecting joint of tubes thus constructed is effected by means of a vul-
canized india-rubber ring, or other suitable flexible material, which encircles
the packings of tubes placed in juxtaposition. An iron or other suitable collar
encircles the india-rubber ring, pressing it strongly against the packings, and a
small piece of slight iron or other metal plate is placed between the india-
rubber ring and the collar at a point where the two cars present a break in
their continuity.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood and readily
put into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is part of a tube with its packing; Figure 2 is a longitudinal
section of a pipe through its axis with complete joining; Figure 3 is a trans¹
verse section of a pipe A, showing the ring, collar, ears, and screw bolt;
Figure 4 is a front view, and Figure 5 is a plan, of the collar with its cars and
screw bolt; Figure 6 is a section through y, z, Figure 3; Figure 7 is a section
through R, S, Figure 4; Figure 8 is a plan of the small piece of continuity;
Figure 9-is a longitudinal section of two tubes and their joints; Figure 10 is a
view of the collar, Figure 9; Figure 11 is a section of a collar with internal
view of a rib C; Figure 12 is a view of a tube with bevelled end; Figure 13
is a central section of the disc shown in Figure 12; and Figure 14 is a section
of the disc, Figures 12 and 13, through its diameter, with terminal part of
a tube.
A, A', are the tubes, with a, a', their packings, encircled by B, the vulcan-
ized india-rubber rings, shown closely pressed at the points B, B, B, between
the iron collars C; C, and the packings; and E is a small piece of continuity or
slight iron plate. I would here observe, that the packings a, a', are to be
placed at a distance from each other, regulated to accommodate the expanding
power and the motions of the ground. By the pressure of the iron collars at
the points B, B, B, the india-rubber ring assumes readily the form shown,
Figure 2. The ribs or collars C, C, maintain the whole system, and prevent
its breaking up; they are calculated so as to press but slightly the india-
rubber upon the pipes, in order not to prevent their motions in any direction.
The iron plate E is inserted between the india-rubber ring and the collar at
their point of discontinuity. Whenever the tubes have to be laid in an irrc-
gular line, as shown in Figure 9, the joinings described may be used either by
keeping an equal breadth to the ring through its entire circumference, or by
altering that breadth according to the distention of the packings to be encircled,
as shown in Figure 9. The ribs C will vary in size, and may be applied in
case of need to provent any two tubes from coming into too near conjunction.
In Figure 12 the bevelled end of the tube has its packing in a slant with the
tube, an arrangement by means of which strong elbows may be constructed
with straight pipes. The tubes, pipes, and collars may be made of various
materials. I recommend the collars to be galvanized, and they may be made
of one or many pieces united by hinges, cranks, or ears and bolts; and pipes of

page_text: large diameter should be strengthened by ribs on their external substance. The
small piece of continuity to be placed under the ears may be very slight, to be
capable of assuming the form required simply by the pressure of the iron collar.
In order to shut the end of a tube, if needful, I apply a disc, Figures 13 and 14,
of the same circumference as the packing to which it is to be joined, as in
joining two tubes; and I sometimes use also, part of a cylinder of the same
diameter and with the same packing, thus completing the joint, as if to join
two tubes, as shown in Figure 14.
Having thus described the nature and details of my said Invention, and the
manner of putting the same into practice, I wish it to be understood that I do
not. confine myself to materials or dimensions, or to any particular part of my
said improvements, so long as the character of the same is preserved; but
what I do claim as my Invention is, namely, the novel mode of constructing
tubes and pipes to be joined by means of flexible rings and metal collars, as
described..!
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Delperdange, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord 1856.
V. DELFERDANGE. (L.S.)