Improvements in Water-tight Connections for Speaking and other Tubes or Pipes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-tight Connections for Speaking and other
Tubes or Pipes.
I, HAHNEMANN ADOLPHUS CUTMORE, of 115, Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to water-tight fittings for speaking and other tubes
or pipes, where they extend through bulkheads or partitions, decks and the
like, and although I purpose describing the invention as applied to speaking tubes
or voice pipes, for use upon ships or vessels, I do not limit myself to its applica-
tion as it may be used with equal effect for steam pipes, and can be placed
in any position where a water-tight joint is required.
The ordinary type of water-tight bulkhead pipe fitting or connection usually
adopted consists practically of a double union or coupling secured, by a flange
and bolts, to the bulkhead or partition, so that one coupling is presented at each
side of the partition. Each of these couplings comprises a nut or collar which
screws on to the threaded end of the body of the coupling, and retains a liner
or tail-piece, to which the adjacent end of the pipe is soldered, it having been
necessary to divide the pipe at the part where it connects with the coupling.
Thus the continuity of the pipe is broken and a considerable amount of vibratory
or other sounds, which are inseparable from the bulkheads when the machinery is
in motion, are picked up in the pipe or tube, causing the voice sounds which
pass through the tube to be weakened or confused.
By the use of my invention this disadvantage is overcome by preventing all
extraneous sounds from being picked up or entering the voice pipe, at the same
time, the continuity of the pipe is preserved.
My present invention consists of an improved construction of water-tight fitting
or connection. It comprises a tubular body with a flange thereon by which
it is secured to the bulkhead, screw threaded collars or nuts, one for each end
of the body, and a combined insulating sleeve and packing rings for the pipe.
The said insulating sleeve is made in two parts; each part having a packing
ring thereon. These parts when used for voice pipes are made of india rubber
or other suitable non-metallic material, formed in such a shape and size that the
sleeve portion fits closely in the space between the pipe and the body and when
in position the ends of the two parts butt together. The packing rings extend
beyond the body and are forced by the nuts upon the pipe in such a manner that
a perfect water-tight joint is formed. This is effected by the tapered ends of
the body and the reverse tapered portions of the nuts, made so that when the
nuts are tightened up the rings are squeezed and caused to bind firmly upon
the pipe. The opening in each of the nuts is made larger than the external
diameter of the pipe so that said pipe may not come in contact with any metallic
substance.
Both parts of the sleeve and rings are split longitudinally so that they can be
easily opened out and placed upon the pipe at both sides of the bulkhead; the

page_text: insulation being forced into the body and the nuts tightened up when the pipe
is properly adjusted. It is obvious that as one part of the sleeve with its ring
is separated from the other part and both split as described, when it is necessary
to renew the insulation, one side of the bulkhead at a time can be done without
disturbing the position of the pipe at the same time maintaining the water-
tight connection.
Where the invention is used for steam pipes it will of course be understood that
any flexible substance not affected by heat such as asbestos can be substituted for
india rubber which would perish if used under these circumstances.
Dated the 25th day of August 1899
Improvements in Water-tight Connections for Speaking and other
Tubes or Pipes.
I, HAHNEMANN ADOLPHUS CUTMORE, of 115, Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to water-tight fittings for speaking and other tubes or
pipes where they extend through bulkheads, partitions, decks and the like, and
although the invention is specially applicable to speaking tubes or voice pipes
and steam pipes in ships or vessels, 1 do not limit the invention to this applica-
tion as it may be used with equal effect in any structure where a water-tight joint
is required.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a bulkhead pipe fitting with a portion of a
pipe in position and shewing the nut on one side screwed up tight as in making a
water-tight joint, and the nut on the other side in a position ready to be screwed
up, and
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one portion of the insulating sleeve of
the same.
My improved water-tight fitting or connection consists of a tubular body (A)
having a flange (B) formed thereon which is secured to the bulkhead by means
of bolts, screw-threaded collars or nuts (C) and (C) one for each end of the body,
and an insulating sleeve made in two halves (D) and (D) with packing rings (E)
and (E) formed on the ends thereof.
The said insulating sleeve when used for voice pipes is made of india rubber or
other suitable non-metallic material and fits closely in the space between the
pipe and the body with the butting ends in contact. The packing rings extend
beyond the body and are forced by the nuts upon the pipe in such a manner
that a perfect water-tight joint is formed. This being effected by the inclined
or tapered ends of the body and the reverse tapered or inclined portions of the
nuts which are so formed that when the nuts are tightened up the rings are
squeezed and caused to bind firmly upon the pipe. The opening in each of the
nuts is made larger than the external diameter of the pipe so that the pipe shall
not come in contact with any metallic substance.
Both halves of the sleeve and rings are split longitudinally so that they can

page_text: be opened out and placed upon the pipe at both sides of the bulkhead; the insula-
tion being forced into the body and the nuts tightened up when the pipe is
properly adjusted. It is obvious that as one part of the sleeve with its ring is
separate from the other part and both split as described, when it is necessary to
renew the insulation, one side of the bulkhead at a time can be done without dis-
turbing the position of the pipe, at the same time maintaining the water-tight
connection.
When the invention is used for steam pipes it will of course be understood that
the sleeve would be made of any flexible substance not affected by heat, such
as steam rubber.
By the use of this water-tight fitting the continuity of the pipe is maintained
at the bulkhead and the pipe moreover is supported in a non-metallic substance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
:
Firstly In water-tight connections or fittings for speaking and other tubes
or pipes the combination with the body (A) and nuts (C) and (C) of the combined
sleeve and packing rings formed in two parts and each split longitudinally sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Secondly: A water-tight connection or fitting for speaking and other tubes
or pipes constructed in the manner substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth and as illustrated.
T
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