Improvements in Stoppers for Drains and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Drains and the like.
JOHN JONES 40 Sydney Street, Chelsea S.W. Builder and Contractor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1 provide two discs or plates of metal or other suitable material slightly smaller
than the pipe or drain for which they are to be used the inner corresponding edges
of these plates are bevilled and slightly hollowed so that when brought together form
a groove, in which I provide a thick olastic band of India rubber or other suitablo
material. I drill or form two holes in the inner disc or plate, also two slightly larger
holes to correspond in the outer disc or plate. I then provide and securely fix to the
two holes provided in inner plate, two metal rods, one of which is hollow and fitted
with a stop cock or plug the rods are passed through the two holes provided in the
outer plate and fit easily to form guides and on which the outer plate or disc slides,
thereby keeping the two plates or discs in a parallel plane to each other. These two
guides are suitably connected either by a crosshead, or by the rods being continued
round at the outer side of the outer disc or plate, and in the centre of which a screwed
boss is formed fitted with a screw which when operated forces the two plates or discs
together compressing the elastic band within the groove and beyond the edge of the
plates and filling up the whole drain space thus forming a watertight joint, and keeping
back the liquid which can be drawn off as required by the stop cock or plug through
the hollow guide rod as provided.
Dated this 14th day of November 1880.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Drains and the like.
1, JOHN JONES, of 40 Sydney Street, Chelsea, S.W., Builder and Contractor,
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 hud by the
and
following statement :-
This invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of a form particularly applicable to pipes of
large diameter and
Fig. 2 represents a modified form particularly useful for smaller sizes of pipes
though it may also be made in larger sizes if desired. It is shown unscrewed, that is
with the rubber nut compressed as it would be when first placed in the pipe.
Fig. 3 represents the same stopper as in Fig. 2.but in position in the pipe when
screwed up, both these views are in section.
Like letters represent similar parts throughout the drawings.
Describing first Fig. 1, A is a free disc and B is a plate or disc grooved at their
peripheries so as to form an approximately semi-circular groove or recess in which the
compressible ring C is carried, sufficient distance being left between the contiguous
faces of A and B when first placed together upon the ring to allow of the said ring
being compressed when the discs are forced together. D is a bridge or bracket
through which as a nut passes the screw E which carries the hand wheel For is
otherwise arranged so that the screw may be turned when required. The limbs D¹ of
the bridge D pass through holes A' in the disc or plate A and into recesses B¹ in the
disc B to which latter they may be secured by brazing or otherwise, but preferably by

page_text: having their ends screwed at D³ and nuts G screwed onto them. The screw E is
preferably reduced at E' where it enters a hole in the boss A² of the disc or plate A
though a similar result would be reached by merely pointing the end of the screw so
as to fit into a conical recess in the boss, or even by dispensing with the point and
letting the flat end of the screw press against the boss or fat portion of the disc. The
operation will be well understood from the figure:-The instrument, being in the
condition shown in Fig. 1 but with the two discs sufficiently far apart as already
explained, is inserted into the pipe or drain and the screw E turned by the hand
wheel For other means. This operating against the bridge D which as already
.explained is secured to the disc B causes the two discs to approach each other with
the result that their grooved peripheries press upon the rubber ring C and squeeze it
and force it out against the interior of the pipe or drain in which it is placed and
against which it thus makes a tight joint stopping the passage of water or other
fluid.
To remove the stopper all that is required is to unscrew the screw E which allows
the discs A and B to separate and the ring Cheing then no longer compressed or
forced against the wall of the chamber or vessel in which it is placed the whole
instrument can easily be withdrawn.
In Figs. 2 and 3 a slight modification is made in the shape of the discs and ring.
In this case instead of the bridge D with its two arms D₁and a separate screw a single
screw E is formed in part with or secured to the disc B and upon this screw is the
nut D which is shown provided with wings H for convenience in turning it but which
may be turned by other means if desired. The screw E passes through the centre of
the disc or plate A between which and the nut D is preferably placed a washer I; an
air hole A³ may also be provided if desired to prevent the air in the interior of the
instrument being so compressed as to obstruct the operation by preventing the approach
of the plates A and B. The elastic ring O is in this case made of a different shape to
that shown in Fig. 1 it being formed with a circular or as shown in dotted lines a
straight contour at Cupon that portion of it which is likely to come in contact with
the pipe when in operation and having two flanges or extensions C adapted to fit into
the grooves or recesses A* B' formed on the inner faces of the respective discs A and B.
By this arrangement great freedom in the extent of compression available is secured
while a tight joint is formed between the plate B and the edge of the ring C. This
latter is a very important feature since the plate B as shown is formed perfectly solid
and without any hole or opening through it and consequently as will be seen by
reference to Fig. 3 when this instrument is in place no water can possibly pass either
into the interior of the instrument or to the other side of the instrument. In the same
way in Fig. 1 it is necessary that tight joints should be made between the arms D₁
of the bridge D and the plate B as otherwise liquid might pass at those joints; and
for this purpose it is desirable either that these joints should be brazed preferably in
addition to the screws or that they should be tapered in as shown or otherwise arranged
so as to secure perfectly tight joints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I am aware that the mere squeezing out of a rubber ring between two plates for
the purpose of making a tight joint is no novelty and that no such claim is made in
this specification, but what I do claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete pipe or
drain stopper substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a pipe or drain stopper the combination with two discs or plates such as A
and B grooved or recessed as at A B of a rubber or similar ring extending at C¹
outwards beyond the peripheries of the said discs A and B and provided with flanges
or similarly arranged so as to fit into the said grooves A* B* substantially as described
and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. In a pipe or drain stopper the employment of a grooved plate such as A_Aª
or B B substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete pipe or
drain stopper substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In a pipe or drain stopper the employment of a solid plate such as B through
which there is no opening substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings.