AN IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING GAS, WATER, OR OTHER PIPES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Chris Anderson, of Leeds, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND
DISCONNECTING GAS, WATER, OR OTHER PIPES."
ealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 30th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Chris Anderson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1876.
CHRIS ANDERSON, of Leeds, in the County of York. "AN IMPROVED MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING GAS, WATER, OR OTHER PIPES."
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple apparatus whereby gas, water,
and other pipes may be brought together and held in position whilst the joints are
packed or run with metal, also to disconnect the joints after being made.
By my Invention the breaking of pipes for the purposes of disconnecting them is
avoided. For the purposes of connecting two pipes I bring the pipes in a line with
each other, and on each pipe I provide a clamp, as near as convenient to the part
forming the joint. These clamps may be tightened on to the pipes by means of
suitable wedges, screws, or their equivalents. Each clamp is provided with two
screws of suitable pitch, which are placed directly opposite each other, that is to
say, opposite each screw on one clamp is provided a screw on the other, and in order
to form a connection between the two clamps I provide nuts, into which the screws
are fitted so as to work freely. By giving a rotary motion to the nuts, right or
left, the screws are brought towards each other, or further separated, carrying with
them the clamps. By this means the pipes are drawn together ready for packing,
or drawn assunder and the joints separated. The nuts are caused to revolve by
means of any ordinary ratchet arrangement actuated by suitable lever or levers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Chris Anderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th December
1876.
«
CHRIS ANDERSON, of Leeds, in the County of York. AN IMPROVED MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING GAS, WATER, OR OTHER PIPES."
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple apparatus whereby gas, water,
and other pipes. may be brought together and held in position whilst joints are
packed or run with metal, also to disconnect the joints after being made.
[Price 6d.]

page_text: screws of suitable pitch, which are placed directly opposite each other, that is to
say, opposite cach screw on one clamp is provided a screw on the other, and in order
to form a connection between the two clamps I provide nuts, into which the screws
are fitted so as to work freely, By giving a rotary motion to the nuts, right or
left, the screws are brought towards each other, or further separated, carrying with
them the clamps. By this means the pipes are drawn together ready for packing,
or drawn asunder and the joints separated. The nuts are caused to revolve by
means of any ordinary ratchet arrangement actuated by suitable lever or levers.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood, reference is
given to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the apparatus attached to the pipes for the
purpose of disconnecting them. Figure 2 is a plan of the same looking at the top
of the same. Figure 3 shews an elevation of one end, and Figure 4 an elevation
of the other. Figure 5 is a side elevation shewing the same apparatus with modi-
fications for connecting pipes.
I will now proceed to described the various parts.
a is a clamp, which is placed in front of the socket of the pipe b, and supported
on the same. On the clamp a are provided the brackets c containing the screws d,
these are for the purpose of adjusting the clamp a and retaining it in position.
I provide another clamp e which I fix on the pipe f; this clamp e is provided with
the projections g for the purposes hereafter described. h is a socket or nut, at
each end of which, that is, within it, are provided threads, into which are screwed
the screws i and j; the threads of each screw may be of the same hand and of
different pitches or of different hands, that is, one right handed and the other left
handed. On the socket his keyed or otherwise fastened the ratchet wheels k, into
which is made to work a pawl 1, actuated by the lever m. n is a lever which acts
as a wedge during the operation of disconnecting, and when in operation so acts
upon the saddles o at their bearings p as to form them into additional clamps.
I will now proceed to describe the mode of operating.
The clamp a is placed in position, as shown, and adjusted by means of the set
screws d. The clamp e may be of ordinary construction having the projections g,
and is placed on the pipe f, after which the saddles o are placed on the pipe f, and
are kept in position by the wedge levers n being placed on their bearings or pro-
jecting bosses p on each side of the pipe f, the sockets h are next placed in position
containing the screws i and j. The ends of the screws are respectively supported in
a bearing or centre in the levers n, and the other in suitable bearings or centres in
the clamp a, when placed in position, as shewn on Drawings, the screws being
already tightened between the bearings or centres, are ready for operation. The
operators impart a reciprocating motion to the levers m, whereby a rotary motion
is imparted to the nuts or sockets h through the ratchet wheels k and pawls 7, by
which means the screw or screws are caused to move outwards or apart, which
movement has a tendency to tighten the saddles o on to the pipe f, by their moving
up the projecting parts g in a wedge-like manner. By this means the greater the
amount of pressure put on, the tighter the grip of the saddles o on the pipe f, so
that they cannot by any means slip. By continuing to cause the screws to move
outwards the resistance of the saddles o (which are really at this stage formed into
a clamp) refusing to give way, the joint in the socket of the pipe b yields, and the
pipe is withdrawn. When preferred only one screw may be employed in each
socket.

page_text: The following is my arrangement for connecting pipes, and shewn at Figure 5.
I employ two clamps, a and b, which may be of ordinary construction, and
secure them firmly to the pipes c and d by means of the bolts e and f; on each
side of these clamps are provided the bosses g and for the reception of the ends of
the screws i and j. These screws i and j, the barrel k, and other parts connected
therewith, are of the same construction as those described for disconnecting pipes,
with this exception, that the ends of the screws i and j are inserted in the bosses g
and h, and pinned or otherwise fastened therein, also the pawls in connection with
the ratchet wheels are made to work in the opposite direction to those for dis-
connecting pipes. A reciprocating motion having been given to the levers by the
attendant the sockets are caused to revolve, motion being transmitted through
the pawls and ratchet wheels in a similar manner to that herein-before described
for disconnecting pipes. By this movement the screws are drawn inwards or
together, thereby carrying the pipe c into the socket of the pipe d. When the
pipe c is passed sufficiently far into the socket of the pipe dit is there held until
the lead or other suitable packing is applied.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the exact details or configuration of the various parts I havo
explained and shewn, as the same may of course be varied or modified without in
any way departing from the nature of my Invention; but what I do claim and desire
to be secured to me by Letters Patent is-
First. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts forming
the means or apparatus for disconnecting pipes, substantially as and for purposes
herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts
forming the means or apparatus for connecting pipes, substantially as and for
purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Chris Anderson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
CHRIS ANDERSON. (L.S.)