Improvements in Moveable Joints or Connections for Pipes or like Conduits.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1891-Accepted, 25th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moveable Joints or Connections for Pipes or
like Conduits.
I, BENJAMIN WILLCOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Paul Hébert of 6s Rue du 4 Septembre
Paris in the Republic of France, Engineer) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of moveable joint or connection
for pipes or like conduits employed for the purpose of conducting liquid or gas or
other matter capable of being passed through pipes or like conduits to an object
situated in any plane in relation to the place from which the supply is drawn
and generally wherever it is desirable to connect piping or like conduits in such a
manner that one part of such piping or conduits shall be moveable relatively to the
other part.
With this object the pipes are connected by a moveable joint or moveable joints
such as are hereinafter described which enables or enable the fluid or semi-fluid to be
conveyed to the point where it is required without waste from leakage and without
obstructing or throttling the passage at any point. As an example of the useful
purposes to which this invention is applicable may be mentioned conducting a
continuous supply of tallow or other lubricant from a forcing apparatus to the
moving parts of machinery which are thus enabled to be lubricated automatically
without any necessity for stopping the machine. This is only one of the many
useful purposes to which the invention is applicable and the numerous advantages
which it presents such as rigidity of the several individual parts which are at the
same time moveable relatively to one another, facility for quickly connecting and
disconnecting the parts, freedom from leakage and the ease and economy with
which the device can be kept in repair will be readily understood from the
following description.
The connecting apparatus is according to this invention constructed with a fork
or forked part the stem of which is connected by means of a gland or other ordinary
or suitable joint with one part of the tube cr pipe. This forked part may be
provided with a screw enabling it to be screwed to the frame of the machine or
other fixed support.
The other part of the connection is provided with a head or enlargement of
spherical form (or it may be conical or taper and partly cylindrical or curved) is
fitted in a seat or bearing of corresponding shape in the forked part of the
connection so as to be moveable thereon or therein. This part of the connection
is connected with the other part of the tube or pipe by means of a gland or other
ordinary or suitable joint.
A conical centre pin or cup is fitted so as to be capable of sliding in one branch
of the forked part at an angle to the stem and forms a centre of rotation bearing
with a certain amount of pressure regulated by means of a spring and screw upon
one side of the spherical head of the other part which works between the two
branches of the fork.
The other branch of the fork is hollow or perforated with a passage of the same
area or dimensions in transverse section as the pipes and at the part where it
connects with the spherical head is provided with a removeable seat or bushing
which may be secured by screwing into the end of the passage. The spherical head
is likewise hollow or provided with a passage which when the parts are put
together forms a continuation of the passage in the fork the two passages being so
arranged that their axes at the point of junction coincide or approximately coincide

page_text: with the axis of rotation which may be at right angles for example to the axis of
the main part of the pipe. With this arrangement the two parts of the connection
can be inclined or placed in any position relatively to each other without contracting
the passage through the connection or forming too abrupt changes of direction
which would be liable to cause reduction of pressure in the delivery end of the
pipe.
When the apparatus is used for fluids which do not attack or corrode metals,
the rubbing parts of the fork may be made of brass or gun-metal the spherical
part or head being preferably of phosphor bronze which is harder and not so
liable to wear as are the parts in contact therewith. This enables the joint to be
readily repaired when worn by simply renewing the rubbing parts of the fork
which are so constructed and fitted as to admit of being easily removed. In the case
of a spherical head for example working in a perforated seat or socket screwed
into one branch of the fork and on a conical centre pin fitted with adjustable spring
pressure in the other branch, the seat when worn can be renewed and replaced
by a new piece by simply unscrewing the cap of the spring on the centre pin and
pushing back the latter so as to enable the head to be removed from the fork when
the seat can be removed.
Or a spherical seat or bearing can be formed on both branches of the fork. A
universal joint is thereby obtained working on the ball and socket principle. In
this case the adjustable spring pressure on the back of the spherical head is
provided for by making the corresponding seat or bearing with a hollow stem
sliding in the branch of the fork in which it is guided and retained by a screw
engaging with a groove in the side of the said stem so as to prevent it from rotating
on its axis but allowing it to have lengthwise motion. A coiled or helical spring
is placed in the hollow sliding stem under a cap screwed on the branch of the fork
and presses upon the said stem with a pressure which can be regulated by adjusting
the cap.
When the connection is used for lubricants a passage or orifice may be made
from the internal passage for the lubricant through the head to the rubbing or
bearing surface of the centre pin or of the spherical spring socket or bearing at the
back of the head so that lubricating material passes there through to lubricate the
joint.
Where the pipes are employed for conveying sulphuric, nitric or other acid the
parts of the connection in contact with the acid can be made of ebonite, vulcanite,
indurated caoutchouc or other acid proof material. Any desired number of the
improved moveable joints may be employed in one conduit and the bends or turns
in the passages may be made at any suitable angles and the conduits or passages
which are attached to the parts of the connection may be simply branched off at a
right or other angle instead of being attached by a gland as described.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moveable Joints or Connections for Pipes or
like Conduits.
I BENJAMIN WILLCOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Paul Hébert of 6 Rue du 4 Septembre
Paris in the Republic of France Engineer and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to an improved construction of moveable joint or
connection for pipes or like conduits employed for the purpose of conducting liquid
or gas or other matter capable of being passed through pipes or like conduits to an

page_text: object situated in any plane in relation to the place from which the supply is drawn
and generally wherever it is desirable to connect piping or like conduits in such a
manner that one part of such piping or conduits shall be moveable relatively to
the other part.
With this object the pipes are connected by a moveable joint or moveable joints
such as are hereinafter described which enables or enable the fluid or semi-fluid to
be conveyed to the point where it is required without waste from leakage and without
obstructing or throttling the passage at any point. As an example of the useful
purposes to which this invention is applicable may be mentioned conducting a
continuous supply of tallow or other lubricant from a forcing apparatus to the
moving parts of machinery which are thus enabled to be lubricated automatically
without any necessity for stopping the machine. This is only one of the many
useful purposes to which the invention is applicable.
Among the numerous advantages derived by this invention are rigidity of the
several individual parts which are at the same time moveable relatively to one
another, facility for quickly connecting and disconnecting the parts, freedom from
leakage and the ease and economy with which the device can be kept in repair.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is á vertical section of a connecting device and Figure 2 is a modification
of the same.
The connecting device is according to this invention constructed with a fork or
forked part A the stem of which is connected by means of a union joint or gland B
or other ordinary or suitable joint with one part a of a conducting tube or pipe.
This forked part A may be provided with a screw a² enabling it to be screwed to a
suitable fixed support such as for example the frame of a machine.
Another part A¹ of the connecting device is provided with a head or enlarge-
ment C of spherical form as seen in Figure 1 (or it may be conical or taper and
partly cylindrical or curved) fitted in a seat or bearing of corresponding shape so
as to be moveable thereon or therein.
This part of the connection is connected with the other part a' of the conducting
tube or pipe by means of a union joint or gland D or other ordinary or suitable
joint.
A spring socket or bearing 4 for the part A' of the connecting device as in
Figure 1 or a conical centre pin E as in Figure 2 is fitted so as to be capable of
sliding in the branch 6 of the forked part A at an angle to the stem and forms a
centre of rotation bearing with a certain amount of pressure regulated by means
of a spring 9 and screw cap 10 upon one side of the spherical head C. which works
between the two branches of the fork.
The branch 2 of the fork A. is hollow or provided with a passage F. of the same
area or dimensions in transverse section as the conducting pipes and at the part
where it connects with the spherical head is provided with a removeable seat or
bushing 1, which may be secured by screwing into the end of the branch 2. of the
fork A. The spherical head C. is likewise hollow or provided with a passage F,
which when the parts are put together forms a continuation of the passage F. in
the fork A. the two passages being so arran red that their axes at the point of
junction coincide or approximately coincide with the axis of rotation which may be
at right angles for example to the axis of the main part of the conducting pipe.
With this arrangement the two parts A. and A' of the connection can be inclined
or placed in any position relatively to each other without contracting the passage
through the connection or forming too abrupt changes of direction which would be
liable to cause reduction of pressure in the delivery end of the pipe.
According to the arrangement shewn in Figure 1. the spherical seats or bearings 1
and 4 are carried on both branches on the fork A. A universal joint is thereby
obtained working on the ball and socket principle. In this case the adjustable
spring pressure on one side of the spherical head C. is provided for by making the

page_text: corresponding seat or bearing 4. with a hollow stem 5. sliding in the branch 6. of
the fork A. in which it is guided and retained by a screw 7 engaging with a groove 8
in the side of the said stem so as to prevent it from rotating on its axis but allowing
it to have lengthwise motion. A. coiled or helical spring 9 is placed in the hollow
sliding stem under a cap 10 screwed on the branch 6. of the fork A. and presses
upon the said spring with a pressure which can be regulated by adjusting the
cap 10.
In
In Figure II. the spherical head C. is shewn working at one side in the seat or
socket 1, screwed on to one branch 2. of the fork A, and on the opposite side on
the conical centre pin E. fitted with adjustable spring pressure in the branch 6.
both cases the seat 1. when worn can be removed and replaced by a new piece by
simply unscrewing the cap 10 of the spring 9. and withdrawing the spring socket
or bearing 4. Figure 1 or the centre pin E in Figure 2. so as to enable the head C.
to be removed from the fork, when the seat 1. can be removed.
The joint can thus be readily repaired when worn by simply renewing, the
rubbing parts of the fork which are so constructed and fitted as to admit of being
easily removed as hereinbefore described.
When the connection is used for lubricants a passage or orifice 11 may be made
from the internal passage F¹ for the lubricant through the head C. to the rubbing
or bearing surface of the centre pin E or of the spring socket or bearing 4. so that
lubricating material passes therethrough to lubricate the joint.
•
When the connection is used for fluids which do not attack or corrode metals, the
rubbing parts of the fork may be made of brass or gun-metal the spherical part or
head C. being preferably of phosphor bronze which is harder and not so liable to
wear as are the parts in contact therewith.
Where the pipes are employed for conveying sulphuric nitric or other acid the
parts of the connection in contact with the acid can be made of ebonite, vulcanite
indurated caoutchouc or other acid proof material. Any desired number of the
improved moveable joints may be employed in one conduit, and the bends or turns
in the passages may be made at any suitable angles, and the conduits or passages
which are attached to the parts of the connection may be simply branched off at
a right or other angle instead of being attached by a gland as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
First. In pipe connecting devices the combination of a forked part provided with
a passage for the fluid and retaining between its two branches a head of phosphor
bronze or other suitable material provided with a passage corresponding with the
passage in the fork, and moving between a stationary bearing surface and a spring,
bearing surface carried by the branches of the fork substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Secondly. In pipe connecting devices the combination of a forked part carrying
a fixed renewable bearing surface and an adjustable or removeable (or both
adjustable and removeable) bearing surface for the other part of the connection to
work between substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawing.
Thirdly. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a
universally jointed pipe connecting device substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figure 1. of the accompanying drawing.
Fourthly. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a pipe
connecting device substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 2.
of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 02rd day of Lune 1901