Improvements in and relating to Pipe Couplings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pipe Couplings.
I, JOHN SYMINGTON of Union Tube Works, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in the
construction of pipe couplings for coupling the ends of pipes used for conveying
water, steam, gas or other fluids and which are connected together with or without
the interposition of packing material, but preferably with an india rubber ring as
the packing material between the adjacent ends, said improvements enabling the
pipes to be coupled together in a convenient manner, and also facilitating the
removing, and replacing of a broken coupling without having to remove any of
the lengths of pipe for that purpose. The improvements of this invention are
capable of considerable modification, and may be carried out in various ways.
According to one modification suitable for pipes, and tubes not furnished with
flanges at their ends for being compressed together, the ends of each pipe or tube
are fitted with a short collar, preferably welded to it outside so as to increase the
thickness of the pipes at the ends. These collars would be screwed externally, and
for connecting the pipes together an internally screwed loose collar would be
used preferably twice the length of one of the fixed collars on the pipe. The
thickness of the fixed collar would be sufficient to permit the loose collar, being
screwed on so as to pass completely over it on to the pipe behind the fixed collar so
that in applying this coupling arrangement the loose collar could, after the pipe
ends are adjusted, preferably with an india rubber ring or washer between them, be
screwed back first on to the screwed collar of the one pipe and then on to the other
when by suitable appliances, the two pipe ends could be screwed up into close
contact. By this means it would be practical to remove one pipe from a length of
pipes without removing any of the others from their positions."
In applying the improvements of this invention to pipes having fixed flanges on
their ends, and which are secured to one another by tightly bolting together loose
flanges or coupling rings placed on the pipes, according to one modification
the coupling ring or loose flange is formed in two parts or sections of steel, iron, or
other metal, each part with slight exceptions being alike and formed as a flat ring
with a central opening equal to the diameter of the pipe on which it is to be used,
but having a part cut away forming a parallel opening from the inner to the outer
circumference said opening being of a width sufficient to allow the ring to be
placed on the pipe. On the flat surface of each part of the ring on one side and
opposite the parallel opening, a parallel projecting piece would be formed equal in
width to the opening and in depth to the thickness of the section, so that when the
two parts were brought together on the pipe the parallel projection on the one
section of the ring would enter the parallel opening of the other section and so form
a combined solid ring. The usual bolt holes would be bored or formed through both
sections so as to coincide when they were superimposed or slipped on to each other.
The said parallel projections, and openings would preferably be bevelled or
checked at their sides to fit one another and in this case the two sections would be
put together by sliding them on to one another from opposite sides of the pipe.
By a second modification instead of making the loose coupling rings or flanges in
two sections or parts of equivalent shape, a section or part of the ring is formed or
cast seperately and which may be parallel, or slightly angled outwards and be
formed with edges bevelled on both sides to slide in bevelled grooves on the sides

page_text: of the opening left in the main portion of the ring which opening would be of
sufficient width to allow it to be placed on the pipe, when the other smaller section
of the ring being slipped into the grooves would complete the ring around the
pipe. By this and the previous arrangements à broken flange could be removed,
and replaced without disturbing the pipes in their position.
By a third modification the loose ring would be formed as a complete ring, but
having an opening approximately of a sector shape having its widest part near the
outer circumference. The opening would be large enough to allow the loose to be
passed over the flanged end of the pipe to be coupled, and would be checked or
bevelled along its outer circumference, and it might be at the sides also, to receive
and retain a similarly shaped, checked or bevelled piece, which on being put in
position in the opening would complete the ring as a solid hole around the pipe.
One of these combined rings of each pair of coupling flanges in their various
forms would be formed with an annular projective rim round the inner circumference
and which would be formed partly on cach section to rest on and press against the
fixed flange of the pipe when the coupling flanges are being screwed together.
The other combined ring would be formed with an annular recess round the inner
circumference of a depth sufficient to receive the fixed flanges of both pipes when
drawn together; this recess being also formed on both sections of the ring, which
arrangement would form a species of spigot and faucet joint. By another arrange-
ment however one of the combined rings of each pair of coupling rings would be
made without either projecting rim or annular recess, forming when put together a
plain flat ring and the other combined ring be formed with an annular rim around
the inner circumference but of an internal diameter sufficient to receive the fixed
spigots flange of the pipe, and of a depth sufficient to allow the fixed flanges of
both the pipes to be coupled to enter, the plain ring on one of the pipes forcing the
flange of that pipe within the said annular rim when the coupling rings are bolted
together.
One combined ring of each pair being placed on the adjacent ends of the pipes to
be coupled together, the rings would be brought as close, as possible and tightly
secured together by the usual screwed bolts and nuts thus compressing the flanged
ends of the pipes or tubes together which would preferably have a ring of india
rubber, asbestos, or other packing material placed between them to make a tight
joint for such pipes and tubes as are used for steam water, gas or other fluids.
Dated 17th February 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pipe Couplings.
1, JOHN SYMINGTON of Union Tube Works, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, that is to say :-
My invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in the
construction of pipe couplings for coupling the ends of pipes used for conveying
water, steam, gas, or other fluids, and which are connected together with or without
the interposition of packing material, but preferably with an india rubber ring as
the packing material between the adjacent ends, said improvements enabling the
pipes to be coupled together in a convenient manner, and also facilitating the
removing and replacing of a broken coupling without having to remove any of
the lengths of pipes for that purpose.
The improvements of this invention are capable of considerable modification

page_text: and may be carried out in various ways and in order that they may be properly
understood I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings reference
being had to the figures and letters thereon.
According to one modification as shown in Figure 1, of the drawings, suitable
for pipes and tubes not furnished with flanges at their ends for being compressed
together, both ends of each pipe or tube A and B are fitted with a short collar
as shown at a and b preferably welded to the pipes outside so as to increase
the thickness of the pipes at the ends. These collars a, b, are screwed externally,
and for connecting the pipes together an internally screwed loose collar or annular
coupling C is used preferably twice the length of one of the fixed collars a, b,
on the pipes. The thickness of each fixed collar a, b, is sufficient to permit the
loose coupling collar C being screwed on so as to pass completely over it on to
the pipe behind the fixed collar so that in applying this coupling arrangement
the loose collar C could, after the pipe ends are adjusted preferably with au
india rubber ring or other equivalent jointing washer D between them, be screwed
back first on to say the screwed collar a of the one pipe A. and then on to the
other 6 of the pipe B when by suitable gripping and turning appliances the two
pipe ends could be screwed up into close contact. By this means it would be
practical to remove one pipe from a length of pipes without removing any of the
others from their positions.
The improvements of this invention are applied to pipes having small fixed
flanges on their ends such as are indicated at a, b, in Figures 8, 10, and 13 of
the drawings, and which are secured to one another by tightly bolting together
loose flanges or coupling rings placed on the pipes, according to one modification
in the manner shown in Figures 2 to 8 of the drawings. Each coupling ring or
loose flange is formed in two parts or sections C Figures 2 and 4 and D Figures 3
and 5 respectively showing views of their opposite sides and Figures 6 and 7
showing sections as taken on the line 1-1 in Figures 2 and 3 all showing the
parts as detached or separated, and made of cast iron, steel; or other metal, each
part C, D, with slight exceptions alike and formed as a flat ring with a central
opening E equal to the diameter of the pipe A or B Figure 8 on which it is
to be used, but having a part cut away forming a parallel opening F from the
inner to the outer circumference, said opening F being of a width sufficient to
allow the ring to be placed on the pipe A or B. On the flat surface of each
sectional part C, D of the coupling ring on one side and opposite the parallel
opening F a parallel projecting piece G is formed equal in width to the opening F
and in depth to the thickness of the section or nearly so, so that when the two
parts C, D, are brought together on the pipe the parallel projection G on the one
section of the ring would enter the parallel opening F of the other section and
so form a combined solid ring. The usual bolt holes H are bored or formed
through the sections C, D, so as to coincide when they are superimposed or
slipped on to each other. The said parallel projections G and openings F would
preferably be bevelled or checked at their sides g, f to fit one another and in
this case the two sections C, D, would be put together by sliding them on to one
another from opposite sides of the pipe. Figure 8 shows a sectional view of
the ends of two pipes A, B, coupled together by two of these combined ring
flanges C, D.
By a second modification as illustrated by Figures 9-10 and 11 of the drawings
showing respectively the two parts of the combined ring flange and a sectional
and a perspective view of the complete coupling, instead of making each loose
coupling ring or flange in two sections or parts of equivalent shape, a section or
part C, Figure 9 of the ring is formed or cast separately and is parallel as shown
or it may be slightly angled outwards and is formed with edges c bevelled on
both sides to slide in bevelled grooves d in the sides of an opening Fleft in
the main portion D of the ring which opening is of sufficient width to allow it
to be placed on the pipe A, B, when the other small section C of the ring is
slipped into the grooves d to complete, the ring around the pipe. By this and

page_text: the previous arrangement a broken flange could be removed and replaced without
disturbing the pipes in their position.
By a third modification as illustrated by Figure 12 of the drawing showing the
two parts of this ring flange, the loose ring is formed as a complete ring D with
central opening E, but having an opening For part cut away approximately of
a sector shape having its widest part near the outer circumference. The opening
would be large enough to allow the loose ring flange to be passed over the flanged
end of the pipe to be coupled and is checked or bevelled along its outer circum-
ference and it might be at the sides also to receive and retain a similarly shaped
piece C checked or bevelled as at c, which on being put in position within the
opening F would complete the ring a a solid whole around the pipe.
One of these combined rings of each pair of coupling flanges in their various
forms, would be formed with an annular projecting rim Jround the inner
circumference as shown in the sectional views Figures 8 and 10 of the drawings,
and which would be formed partly on each section to rest on and press against
the fixed flange a orb of the pipe Figure 8 and 10, when the coupling flanges
are being screwed together. The other combined ring is formed with an annular
recess I round the inner circumference as shown particularly in the sectional
views Figures 8 and 10 of a depth sufficient to receive the fixed flanges a, b of
both pipes A, B, when drawn together; this recess being also formed on both
sections of the ring which arrangement forms a species of spigot and faucet joint.
By another arrangement as shown in the sectional view Figure 13 of the
drawings, one of the combined rings K of each pair of coupling rings would be
made without either projecting rim or annular recess forming when put together a
plain flat ring, and the other combined ring L be formed with an annular rim J
round the inner circumference but of an internal diameter sufficient to receive
the fixed flange of the pipe B, and of a depth sufficient to allow the fixed
flanges a, b of both of the pipes A, B to be coupled to enter, the plain ring on
one of the pipes forcing the flange of that pipe within the said annular rim J
when the coupling rings are bolted together.
One combined ring of each pair, formed in accordance with any of the arrange-
ments described in reference to Figures 2 to 13 being placed on the adjacent ends
of the pipes, fitted with small fixed flanges, to be coupled together, the rings would
be brought as close as possible and tightly secured together by the usual screwed
bolts and nuts thus compressing the flanged ends of the pipes or tubes together,
which would preferably have a ring of india-rubber, asbestos, or other packing
material placed between them to make a tight joint for such pipes and tubes as
are used for steam, water, gas or other fluids.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The manufacture and use of couplings for connecting pipes and tubes all
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The mode of and means for coupling pipes and tubes by an internally
screwed collar, substantially in the manner herein described in reference to and
shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Third. The manufacture and use of loose ring flange couplings, each formed in
two parts, for connecting pipes and tubes, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The manufacture and use of loose ring flange couplings each formed
in two parts for connecting pipes and tubes, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in Figures 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The manufacture and use of loose ring flange couplings each formed in
two parts for connecting pipes and tubes, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Sixth. The forming of one of each pair of loose ring coupling flanges con-
structed as herein described flat on both sides and the other with an annular
projecting rim forming a recess to receive the fixed flanges of the pipes or
tubes, substantially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to and
5 shown in Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated 18th November 1893,
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.