IMPROVEMENTS IN HOSE PIPE COUPLINGS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES GRESHAM of the firm of Gresham and Craven of Craven Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN HOSE PIPE COUPLINGS, to be as follows:-
My improvements are applicable where the end of each flexible hose pipe to be
coupled forms a descending curve when the couplings are connected together as in
hose pipes for brakes between railway vehicles.
Firstly. In hose pipe couplings for vacuum brakes, the lower part of each half
coupling has a finger and in connecting the couplings these fingers when properly
coupled are first made to take hold of or interlock with each other, and then the
two projections, one on each half of the upper part of the couplings are made,
the one to enter a recess on one half, the other a recess in the other half coupling.
The porters or men who connect the above mentioned couplings frequently
connect the hose pipes in the reverse way to that above mentioned, namely, by
bringing the projections at the upper part together first, and then by straining and
twisting the couplings sideways at the bottom they get the fingers at the bottom
connected.
This mode of coupling tends to displace the india rubber rings or washers thus
causing a bad and leaky joint which may produce an imperfect action or failure in
the brakes and consequent delay of the trains.
Those who disconnect these couplings also in like manner frequently do so by
twisting the hose pipes to first separate the fingers on the lower part of the
couplings, and in doing so often break the projections or horns on the upper part
of the couplings so that they have to be replaced.
The object of this part of my invention is to remedy the above mentioned
serious defects and disadvantages by preventing such couplings as those above
mentioned from being improperly connected or disconnected and consists in making
the fingers projecting from the lower halves of each coupling of greater length than
hitherto and curved of such shape that it will be impossible to twist the couplings
to get the fingers over each other so as to interlock if the upper halves of the
couplings are first brought together, and this arrangement will also prevent the
couplings from being disconnected by first separating the fingers on the lower side
of the couplings and thus the improvement in the lower fingers will make it
impossible to connect or disconnect the couplings improperly and cause the defects
and disadvantage before mentioned.

page_text: Secondly. The couplings above described for vacuum purposes or where the
greater pressure is on the exterior of the pipe or coupling have the india rubber
or elastic washers secured on the face of each half of each coupling, so that pressure
from the exterior will act upon and bring the exterior edges of the rings or washers
together and thus make a joint against the admission of fluid.
This part of my invention consists in making the couplings so as to form a joint
against pressure acting outwards from the interior of the hose pipe or coupling
where required, by arranging the ring or washer attached to the face of each half
coupling so that their inner edges will come together and the pressure will thus
come upon and press them together and make a tight joint against the escape of
fluid from the coupling.
The upper projections of each half coupling are each made with a hole across the
end through one of which holes a pin or hook can be passed to keep the couplings
more securely together when connected-The pin or hook is attached to the one
end of a chain, the other end of which is connected to some convenient part of the
coupling to prevent the pin or hook from being lost.

page_text: I JAMES GRESHAM of the firm of Gresham and Craven of Craven Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My improvements are applicable where the end of each flexible hose pipe to be
coupled forms a descending curve when the couplings are connected together as in
hose pipes for brakes between railway vehicles.
Firstly. In hose pipe couplings for vacuum brakes, the lower part of each half
coupling has a finger and in connecting the couplings these fingers when properly
coupled are first made to take hold of or interlock with each other, and then
the two projections, one on each half of the upper part of the couplings are
made the one to enter a recess on one half, the other a recess in the other half
coupling.
The porters or men who connect the above mentioned .couplings frequently
connect the hose pipes in the reverse way to that above mentioned, namely, by
bringing the projections at the upper part together first and then by straining and
twisting the couplings sideways at the bottom they get the fingers at the bottom
connected.
This mode of coupling tends to displace the india rubber rings or washers thus
causing a bad and leaky joint which may produce an imperfect action or failure in
the brakes and consequent delay of the trains.
Those who disconnect these couplings also in like manner frequently do so by
twisting the hose pipes to first separate the fingers on the lower part of the
couplings, and in doing so often break the projections or horns on the upper part
of the couplings so that they have to be replaced.
The object of this part of my invention is to remedy the above mentioned
serious defects and disadvantages by preventing such couplings as those above
mentioned from being improperly connected or disconnected and consists in making
the fingers projecting from the lower halves of each coupling of greater length than
hitherto and curved of such shape that it will be impossible to twist the couplings
to get the fingers over each other so as to interlock if the upper halves of the
couplings are first brought together and this arrangement will also prevent the
couplings from being disconnected by first separating the fingers on the lower side
of the couplings and thus the improvement in the lower fingers will make it
impossible to connect or disconnect the couplings improperly and cause the defects
and disadvantages before mentioned.
Secondly. The couplings above described for vacuum purposes or where the
greater pressure is on the exterior of the pipe or coupling have the india rubber
or elastic washers secured on the face of each half of each coupling so that; pressure
from the exterior will act upon and bring the exterior edges of the rings or washers
together and thus make a joint against the admission of fluid.
This part of my invention consists in making the couplings so as to form a joint
against pressure acting outwards from the interior of the hose pipe or coupling
where required by arranging the ring or washer attached to the face of each half
pling so that their inner edges will come together and the pressure will thus

page_text: come upon and press them together and make a tight joint against the escape of
fluid from the coupling.
The upper projections of each half coupling are cach made with a hole-across the
end through one of which holes a pin or hook can be passed to keep the couplings.
more securely together when connected.
The pin or hook is attached to the one end of a chain, the other end of which
is connected to some convenient part of the coupling to prevent the pin or hook
from being lost,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a pair of couplings when united, suitable for
vacuum, that is, for pressures greater on the outside than in the inside of the bore
of the coupling and fig. 2 is an end view thereof.
'
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a pair of couplings when united, suitable for
pressure greater in the interior of the bore than on the exterior of the coupling,
and fig. 4 is an end view thereof, a is the tubular part of each coupling to which
the flexible tubing is attached; b the flange face of each coupling having a recess
formed in it at an angle to the face of the flange, as shown, in which a ring c of
india rubber is inserted.
When the two flanges b of a pair of couplings are brought together the rings o
of india rubber are pressed against each other as shown in fig. 1, and so that any
external pressure of air will bring the edges of the rings more closely together and
make the joint more securely air tight.
Each coupling has a long finger & bent in the form and interlocking with each
other when properly brought together as shown in figs. 1 and 2 and figs. 3 and 4.
The upper part of each coupling has a projection (e), and the projection (e) of
one coupling overlaps the other, and enters and fits a notch e¹ for it in the flange
of the other coupling.
d
The form of the fingers & shown, makes it necessary to bring them first together
and so as to properly interlock with each other before bringing the projections e to
there respective notches e¹ for coupling and also makes it necessary to properly
separate the projections e from their respective notches e¹ before the fingers d can
be properly separated for uncoupling.
The couplings for pressure illustrated by figs. 3 and 4 have each a groove in the
face of the flange for india rubber rings c* the angle of the groove causes the 'inner
edges of the india rubber rings c* to come together as shown in fig. 3 so that the
internal pressure will keep the two inner edges of the rings together and make a
tight joint.
The projections e have each a hole for a hook e² to give further security, which
hook is attached to a chain e³ secured to the coupling as shown in figs. 3 and 4.
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
1. In couplings for vacuum or where the pressure on the exterior of the bore of
the coupling is the greatest, the combination of the parts forming the couplings
arranged as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In couplings for pressure or where the pressure is greatest in the interior
bore of the coupling the combination of the parts of the coupling together, as and
for the purpose herein before described.