IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIVEL JOINTS FOR PIPES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Reffitt, James Reffitt, and John William Reffitt,
all of Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SWIVEL JOINTS FOR PIPES."
Sealed the 13th June 1879, and dated the 18th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Reffitt, James Reffitt,
and John William Reffitt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
18th December 1878.
JOSEPH REFFITT, JAMES REFFITT, and JOHN WILLIAM REFFITT, all of Leeds, in
the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIVEL JOINTS FOR PIPES."
Our improvements are particularly applicable to the steam heated plates of
hydraulic and other presses for the purpose of supplying steam for heating and also
water for cooling the same; and the construction of the swivel joint admits of the
motion required for the plate, at the same time dispenses with the troublesome
operation of packing with hemp or like materials.
The swivel joint consists of box or chamber provided with suitable opening for
the supply pipes. The joint is formed as follows:-
We provide an elastic metallic medium within the box or chamber, and the box
or chamber, is provided with a gland which, being tightened down by ordinary
means, such adjustment regulates the pressure of a hollow swivel pin, spindle, or
tube on the interior face of the gland.
The arrangement of swivel joint is simple in construction and durable, is
perfectly steam and water tight, at the same time perfectly easy to work.
The above arrangement of swivel joints may be applied for conveying fluids for
other purposes.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation; Figs. 2 and 3 are sections through A, B, Fig. 1,
shewing two modes of applying our Invention; Fig. 4, a front elevation.
The swivel joint consists of a metal box a having an internal chamber b; to this
box a is attached the supply pipe at c.
The joint is formed as follows:-
We provide an elastic medium which may be either a spiral spring, as shewn at
d, Fig. 2, or hollow washers, as shewn at e, Fig. 3. The box a is provided with a
gland or cover f, and within the chamber b of the box a is applied a hollow swivel
pin, spindle, or tube, which is of a conical form at g. On the gland or cover f
(which fits onto this conical form) being screwed down the pressure of the metallic
medium dor e is brought to bear on the face of the cone at h, and by this means
the surface of the cone and the taper hole in the gland or cover ƒ are kept in such
close contact that no steam or any other fluid even under pressure can pass between
those surfaces; at the same time the swivel pin, spindle, or tube may be turned
with ease in any direction.
The parts i and j are merely attachments of ordinary construction.
It will be readily seen that by our arrangement of metallic packing dispenses
entirely with the use of hemp or other like packing, at the same time preserving a
perfectly tight joint. The wear of the conical surface is compensated for by the
automatic expansion of the elastic metallic medium.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and described by the aid
of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, we would have it under-
stood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details or configuration of the
parts we have expressed and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without
departing from the nature or principle of the same; but what we claim and desire
to be secured to us by Letters Patent is,-
The arrangement and application of the metallic mediums in combination with

page_text: swivel joints constructed as shewn and mere modifications of the same, substantially
as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Reffitt, for myself and on behalf of the
said James Reffitt and John William Reffitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
JOSEPH REFFITT. (L.S.)