IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BORING AND TAPPING GAS AND WATER MAINS OR OTHER VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE, AND FOR FITTING OR APPLYING COCKS OR NIPPLES THERETO, AND IN NIPPLES, COCKS, OR CONNECTIONS APPLICABLE TO SUCH MAINS OR VESSELS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Upward, of Queen Anne's Gate, in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR BORING AND TAPPING GAS AND WATER MAINS OR OTHER
VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE, AND FOR FITTING OR APPLYING COCKS OR
NIPPLES THERETO, AND IN NIPPLES, COCKS, OR CONNECTIONS APPLICABLE TO
SUCH MAINS OR VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Upward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1881.
ALFRED UPWARD, of Queen Anne's Gate, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BORING AND TAPping Gas and
WATER MAINS OR OTHER VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE, AND FOR FITTING OR
APPLYING COCKS OR NIPPLES THERETO, AND IN NIPPLES, COCKS, OR CON-
NECTIONS APPLICABLE TO SUCH MAINS OR VESSELS."
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in apparatus for boring and
tapping gas and water mains or other vessels under pressure, and for fitting or
applying cocks or nipples thereto, described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, A.D. 1867, No. 145, and has
for object the simplification and cheapening of the construction of such apparatus.
It relates, secondly, to improvements in nipples, cocks, or connections which may
be applied to such mains, either by incans of the apparatus first above referred to,
or by other ordinary means, the object of such latter improvements being the
production of a cheap and simple connection to replace the more expensive cocks
or screw plugs heretofore in use.
•
The first part of the Invention consists of the following arrangements :-A
malleable cast iron or other standard of suitable material is clamped to the pipe or

page_text: main it is desired to bore, a saddle piece more or less accurately adapted to fit the
contour of the pipe or main being interposed between the latter and the bottom of
the said standard, with india rubber, heinp, or other suitable packing between the
surfaces, for the purpose of making a gas or water tight joint round the spot where
the hole is to be bored. In the case of gas mains, this packing may consist simply
of clay. Through the base of the aforesaid standard is formed a hole, which when
the apparatus is in place on the pipe or main, is more or less accurately concentric
with the position of the hole to be formed therein. Into this hole in the base of
the standard is screwed, gas or water tight, a length of ordinary wrought iron or
other suitable tube, of sufficient diameter to admit of the insertion through it of
the drill or tap, or any other article it is desired to screw into the main; or instead
of screwing the said tube into the base of the standard, it may pass through the
said hole in the standard and be screwed into the aforesaid saddle piece. In this
length of tube is inserted an ordinary cock or a slide valve, so arranged as to close
the lower part of the tube from the upper when desired. When a cock is used the
hole in the plug is by preference adapted so as to be equal or larger in area than
the tube it is placed in, and it may be cut away at the side if desired the better to
facilitate the passage through it of any article intended to be screwed into the
main. Instead of a tubo with a separate cock or valve applied thereto, the tube
and cock or valve may be formed together.
The upper part of the aforesaid wrought iron or other tube is fitted with a screw
cap or a cap fixed thereon by a bayonet joint, or in any other convenient way.
This cap is fitted with a stuffing box through which the stem of the drill or tap, or
the bar used in the insertion of a cocks, nipple, or other fitting into the main, is
passed gas or water tight. Round the upper end of this drill or tap stem, and
externally to the tube through which it passes, is placed a spiral spring, so arranged
as to bear at one end against the upper side of the aforesaid cap, and at the other
against a collar, shoulder, or projection formed on or fixed to the upper end of the
said drill or tap stem, whereby the latter is raised when not pushed down by the
feed screw, so as to prevent the drill from being locked by the fins or burs which
are formed at the sides of the hole when drilling a cylindrical or curvod pipe or
vessel. The aforesaid feed screw is by preference carried in a nut adapted to drop
into a hole in the top of the standard, and to be locked therein by a bayonet joint,
a set screw, or otherwise, or it may be tapped direct into the top of the standard if
preferred. It will now be understood that the apparatus being secured in place,
and the cock or valve in the tube opened, the drilling and tapping of the main can
be carried on in the way well understood for apparatus of this kind. When these
operations are completed the drill and tap are withdrawn into the space above the
cock or valve, which is then shut, the cap removed from the top of the tube, and
the drill or tap withdrawn therefrom; the cock or nipple intended to be screwed
into the main is then placed with its appropriate stem or turning bar in the space
above the cock or valve, the cap replaced on the tube, the cock or valve in the tube
reopened, and the cock, nipple, or other fitting screwed into the main.
The second part of the Invention consists in forming the body or case of the
nipple intended to be screwed into the main or other vessel in one piece, and in
adapting thereto a valve seat below the branch to which the service pipe is
intended to be connected. A valve is adapted to close into this seat to prevent
escape of gas or water until it is desired to admit it to the service pipe above. Tho
stem of this valve has a screw thread cut thereon, which takes into a corresponding
thread tapped in a cross bar or diaphragm secured in the body or casing, so that by
turning the said valve round in one direction or other by means of a key, it may
be lowered on to its seat or raised therefrom at pleasure. The top of the nipple
is closed air and water tight by a screw cap, which is to be removed when it is
desired to close or open the valve, and is replaced after such closing or opening has
been effected.
According to a modification of this arrangement the said nipple case may be

page_text: formed as the shell of an ordinary plug cock with the inlet opening at the bottom
where it is screwed into the main, and an outlet at the side for the connection of
the service pipe, such shell containing a hollow parallel or tapered plug, also opened
at bottom and furnished with a side opening corresponding to that in the shell.
This plug is kept in position in the shell by a screw cap and washer or other
suitable means, so as to make a tight joint with such shell. When this nipple is
screwed into the main, and before the service pipe is connected thereto, the plug is
turned so that the opening in the side thereof shall not coincide with the opening
in the shell. When the service pipe is connected and it is desired to admit the
gas, water, or other liquid thereto, the plug is turned so that its side opening
corresponds with that in the shell, and there is then established a free passage
between the main and the service pipe. The turning of the plug in the shell may
be effected by a key passed through an opening in the cap and taking into a recess
or notch, or on to a square formed in or on the said plug for that purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Upward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th April
1882.
65
ALFRED UPWARD, of Queen Anne's Gate, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BORING AND TAPPING GAS AND
WATER MAINS OR OTHER VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE, AND FOR FITTING OR
APPLYING COCKS OR NIPPLES THERETO, AND IN NIPPLES, COCKS, OR CON-
NECTIONS APPLICABLE TO SUCH MAINS OR VESSELS."
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in apparatus for boring and
tapping gas and water mains or other vessels under pressure, and for fitting or
applying cocks or nipples thereto, described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me bearing date tho Nineteenth day of January, A.D. 1867, No. 145, and has for
object the simplification and cheapening of the construction of such apparatus. It
relates, secondly, to improvements in nipples, cocks, or connections which may be
applied to such mains either by means of the apparatus first above referred to, or
by other ordinary means; the object of such latter improvements being the
production of a cheap and simple connection to replace the more expensive cocks
or screw plugs heretofore in use.
The first part of the Invention consists of the following arrangements :-A
malleable cast iron or other standard of suitable materials is clamped to the pipe
or main it is desired to bore, a saddle piece more or less accurately adapted to fit
the contour of the pipe or main being in some cases interposed between the latter
and the bottom of the said standard, with indiarubber, hemp, or other suitable
packing between the surfaces for the purpose of making a gas or water tight joint
round the spot where the hole is to be bored. In the case of gas mains this
packing may consist simply of clay. Through the base of the aforesaid standard
is formed a hole, which when the apparatus is in place on the pipe or main is more
or less accurately concentric with the position of the hole to be formed therein.
Into this hole in the base of the standard is screwed or otherwise secured gas or
water tight a length of ordinary wrought iron or other suitable tube, of sufficient
diameter to admit of the insertion through it of the drill or tap, or any other
article it is desired to screw into the main; or instead of screwing or otherwise
securing the said tube directly into the base of the standard, it may pass through
the said hole and be screwed into or otherwise secured gas or water tight into the
aforesaid saddle piece.
In the aforesaid length of tube is inserted an ordinary or other suitable cock or
slide valve, so arranged as to close the lower part of the tube from the upper when
desired in a manner similar to that described in the Specification of my aforesaid
Patent of 1867. When a cock is used the hole in the plug may be adapted so as
to be equal to or larger in area than the tube it is placed in, and it may be cut
away at the side if desired, the better to facilitate the passage through it of any
article intended to be screwed into the main. lust end of a tube with a separate
cock or valve applied thereto the tube and cock or valve may be formed together.
The upper part of the aforesaid wrought iron or other tube is fitted with a screw
cap, or a cap fixed thereon by a bayonet joint, by nuts and bolts, or in any other
convenient way. This cap is fitted with a tube or stuffing box through which the
stem of the drill, or tap, or the bar used in the insertion of the cock, nipple, or other
fitting into the main is passed gas or water tight. Round the upper end of this
drill or tap stem and externally to the tube or stuffing box through which it passes
is placed a spring, so arranged as to bear at one end against the upper side of the

page_text: aforesaid cap, and at the other against a collar, shoulder, or projection fixed to tho
upper end of the said drill or tap stem, whereby the latter is pressed upwards
against the feed screw so as to prevent the drill from being locked by the fins or
burrs which are formed at the sides of the hole when drilling a cylindrical or
curved pipe or vessel. The aforesaid feed screw is by preference carried in a nut
adapted to drop into a hole in the top of the standard, and to be locked therein
by a bayonet joint, a set screw, or otherwise, or it may be tapped direct into the
top of the standard if preferred.
In the Drawings Figuro 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a plan partly in
section on line 1-2 of Figure 1, of an apparatus arranged in accordance with the
improvements forming the first part of the Invention, and adapted to drill and tap
holes in gas pipes or mains. A is the standard clamped by means of the chain B
and tightening screw C to the pipe or main D. This standard A is V-shaped on
its underside so as to take a firm bearing on the pipe or main D, a sufficiently gas
tight joint being made with clay packing E between the standard and the pipe, as
before explained; F is a tube, the lower end of which is secured gas tight by the
nut G and elastic washer H in the hole passing through the base of the
standard A. In the illustration this tube F is shown formed with and projecting
from the body of a cock or valve I, which cock or valve consists of a slide or
plate J turning round a centre K by the action of a handle L so as to cover or
uncover the passage N completely. This cock is of well known construction and
forms no part of my Invention, but I consider it well suited for the purpose in
view, although other arrangements may be employed if preferred; F' is a length of
tube extending up above the cock or valve I, and furnished at its upper end with
a cap N secured to it by a bayonet joint; O is the drill and tap spindle constructed
in the manner usual with this class of apparatus, and adapted to pass through a
hole bored in the cap N, leather or other packing P being placed in a groove in
the said hole, or otherwise arranged so as to make a sufficiently tight joint to
prevent the escape of gas round the spindle O; Q is a spring, the lower end of
which bears on the outside of the cap N, and the upper end against the lower
edge of the collar R which can be fixed to the spindle by the set screw S; T is
the feed screw for forcing forward the drill spindle when drilling the hole in the pipe,
and which feed screw passes through a nut U adapted to take into the hole V'in
the upper end of the standard A and to be locked therein by the bayonet joint.
Or the said feed screw may be tapped direct into the top of the standard A
without the intervention of the moveable nut U, but I prefer to employ the
latter.
It will now be understood that the apparatus being secured in place on the pipo
or main, and the cock or valve I opened, the drilling and tapping of the pipe or
main can be carried on by means of a ratchet brace or key applied to the square
on the upper end of the spindle O, in the way well understood for apparatus of
this kind, the spring Q acting on the collar R to prevent the drill from catching in
the fins or burrs, as before explained. When the drilling is finished the collar Ⓡ is
released from the spindle O, and the tapping of the thread in the hole- just drilled
is effected. When these operations are completed the drill and tap are drawn up
into the space Fabove the cock or valve I, which is then shut, the cap N is
removed from the top of the tube, and the drill or tap with its spindle O with-
drawn therefrom, the cap N', shown in Figure 3, with its india rubber diaphragın
N2, is then placed on the tube F', and secured thereon by its bayonet joint. One
end of the length of tube N³, intended to be screwed into the main, is then passed
through the hole in the said diaphragm N2 (one end of such length of tube being
closed with a wax wafer N* in the usual way) into the space above the cock or
valve I; the latter is then reopened and the length of tube is pushed down through
the diaphragm and screwed in to the main. When the apparatus is intended for the
drilling and tapping of water mains a cap with a stuffing box N³, and gland N,
similar to that shown in Figure 4, must be secured on the tube F' by screwing or

page_text: by bolts and nuts, as shown. A relief cock F' is also placed in the tube F' to
allow of relieving the pressure from that part of the tube before removing the cap.
A similar cap, stuffing box, and gland (see Figure 4a), must also be used for
screwing the cock or nipple W into the main. In this case also instead of the
tube F being secured directly into the base of the standard A, as shown in Figure 1,
it may be secured into the saddle piece X, shown in Figure 5. Such saddle piece
being more or less accurately adapted to fit the contour of the pipe or main, india-
rubber, hemp, or other suitable packing Y being interposed between the surfaces
of the pipe or main and the saddle piece for the purpose of making a watertight
joint round the spot where the hole is to be bored. By the arrangements above
described I am enabled to produce an apparatus for drilling and tapping of much
simpler and cheaper construction than that described in the Specification of my
beforementioned Patent of 1867. In some cases the tube F, F, with its cock or
valve I, cap N, and spring Q, may be clamped directly to the pipe without the
specially adapted standard A, an ordinary drill cramp being employed to force the
drill forward, but in that case the bottom of the tube F, F, must be adapted to
bear firmnly on the pipe or main with suitable packing intervening. The second
part of the Invention is illustrated in Figure 6, and consists in forming the body or
case A of the nipple intended to be secured into the main or other vessel in one
piece, and in adapting thereto a valve sent B, below the branch C, to which the
service pipe D is intended to be connected. A valve E is adapted to close into this
Beat B to prevent escape of gas or water until it is desired to admit it to the service
pipe D. The stem F of this valve E has a screw thread cut thereon which takes into
a corresponding thread tapped in a cross bar or diaphragm G, screwed into or other-
wise secured in the body or casing A, so that by turning the said valve E round in
one direction or other by means of a key it may be lowered on to its seat or raised
therefrom at pleasure. The top of the nipple is closed air and watertight by a
screw cap H, which is to be removed when it is desired to close or open the valve E,
and is replaced after such closing or opening has been effected. According to a
modification of this arrangement, shown in Figure 7, the said nipple case A may be
formed as the shell of an ordinary plug cock with the inlet opening at the bottom,
where it is screwed into the main, and an outlet C at the side for the connection of
the service pipe D, such shell A containing a hollow parallel or tapered plug E, also
open at bottom and furnished with a side opening C³, corresponding to that in the
shell. This plug E is kept in position in the shell A by a screw cap H, and
washer I, or other suitable means, so as to make a tight joint with such shell.
Before this nipple is screwed into the main the plug E is turned, so that the
opening C in the side thereof shall not coincide with the opening C in the shell.
When the service pipe D is connected and it is desired to admit the gas, water, or
other liquid thereto, the plug E is turned so that its side opening C corresponds
with the opening C in the shell, and there is then established a free passage
between the main and the service pipe D. The turning of the plug E in the
shell A may be effected by a key passed through an opening J in the cap H, and
taking into a recess or notch K, or on to a square formed in or on the said plug E,
for that purpose.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim is,-
Firstly. The improved apparatus consisting of a standard A, a tube F, F', with a
cock or valve therein, a cap N, with its gas or water tight packing arrangements,
and the external spring Q for acting on the drill or tap spindle O, the whole
arranged, combined, and applied as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, and 5 of the Drawings, and for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. The employment of the spring Q, outside the tube F, F, for the
purpose specified, whether the said tube be employed with or without the special
standard A, as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. The improved nipple or connection consisting of a shell or case with a
valve having a screwed stem, the whole arranged, adapted, and operating as
herein before described and illustrated in Figure 6 of the Drawings.
Fourthly. The improved nipple or connection consisting of a shell or case with a
hollow plug, arranged, adapted, and operating as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure 7 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Upward, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
A. UPWARD. (L.S.)
Patentee.