IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND TAPPING GAS AND WATER MAINS AND PIPES, AND IN PRE VENTING LEAKAGE THEREFROM
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Somerville, of Maidstone, in the County of
Kent, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR DRILLING AND TAPPING GAS AND WATER MAINS AND PIPES, AND IN PRE
VENTING LEAKAGE THEREFROM."
Sealed the 18th February 1862, and dated the 20th August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Somerville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th August 1861.
I, JOHN SOMERVILLE, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Gas Engineer,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND TAPPING GAS AND WATER MAINS AND PIPES, AND IN
PREVENTING LEAKAGE THEREFROM," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an improved arrangement of apparatus for the
purpose of drilling and tapping gas and water mains and pipes, whereby the
leakage which takes place in performing those operations under ordinary
circumstances is altogether obviated.
The apparatus I propose to employ consists of a bow or bridge piece secured
to the main by two clips or straps, in the centre of which is a set screw for
applying pressure to a drill, which when applied to the main or pipe is actuated

page_text: in the usual manner. Immediately above and attached to the drill I place a
circular piece of metal, so as to keep the drill steady after it has entered the
main, and prevent it from breaking through too soon or until the hole is ready
to receive the tap, which tap is formed on the stem of the drill stock, and is
provided with two or more annular recesses, into each of which is fitted a
washer of india-rubber or other suitable material. The washers must be made
of slightly larger diameter than the tap, as the tap penetrates into the main the
washers will successively follow, and thus the escape of gas or water will be
prevented. When the thread is sufficiently cut, the tap is removed, and the
service pipe inserted in the usual manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Somerville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SOMERVILLE, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Gas Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Somerville, Her special license that I, the said John Somerville, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Somerville, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an. Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND TAPPING GAS AND WATER MAINS AND PIPES, AND IN
PREVENTING LEAKAGE THEREPROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Somerville, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Somerville, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be.
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-,
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of.
apparatus for drilling and tapping gas and water mains and pipes, whereby, the
leakage which takes place when performing these operations under ordinary
circumstances and by the usual means is entirely obviated.
According to my Invention I propose to employ for the purposes herein-
before mentioned a peculiar apparatus consisting of a bow or bridge piece or.
bracket secured to the main or pipe to be drilled by clips or straps, and having
fitted to it at its centre or in any other convenient position a set screw for. the
purpose of applying pressure to a combined drill and tap of a peculiar con-
struction, which is actuated by an ordinary ratchet brace or other suitable,
contrivance. Immediately above and attached to or forming part of the drill
or boring bit, there is a cylindrical piece of metal, of the same diameter as
the hole made by the drill, its object being to keep the drill steady after it has
entered the main, and prevent it from breaking through too soon or until the
hole is ready to receive the tap; it also serves to plug the hole whilst the drill
is breaking through, and so prevents the escape of gas or water at that time.
The tap is formed on the upper part of the stem of the drill, immediately above
the cylindrical part herein-before referred to, and has two or more annular
grooves or recesses made round it at proper intervals, into each of which is fitted
a circular washer or collar of india-rubber, leather, or other suitable material.
These washers or collars should be made of slightly larger diameter than the
hole to be tapped, so that as the tap penetrates into the main and the washers
or collars successively enter the hole, they will effectually plug the same and
prevent any escape of gas or water through the longitudinal grooves or slots
made in the tap. The intervals or spaces between the washers or collars
should not be less than the thickness of the metal being tapped, so that there
may always be at least one of such washers or collars in the hole. When the
screw thread. is sufficiently cut the tap is removed, and the service pipe is
inserted in the usual manner.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the Figures in the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both Figures.
:

page_text: Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a complete side elevation of my
improved apparatus in working order, and Figure 2 is a full-sized detail of the
drill and tap, showing the india-rubber washers or collars in their respective
places.
A represents the water or gas main to be drilled or perforated; B is the
bracket or cramp, which is clamped on to the top of the main by the clip C
and bolt and nut D, and having a hole centre-punched in it to receive the
pivot E of an ordinary ratchet brace F; G is the tap fitted into the brace,
and H is the drill which is fitted into the tap and secured therein by a pin or
otherwise; a, a, are two washers or collars of india-rubber or other suitable
material fitted into annular grooves or recesses made in the tap, and I is a
circular or short cylindrical piece forming the upper part of the drill, and
serving to partially plug the hole and steady the drill therein.
In using this apparatus the pipe is first centre-punched at the part to be
perforated and the drill is then applied and rotated in the ordinary manner by-
the ratchet brace F, or otherwise. A hole is thus drilled, and as the drill
proceeds the cylindrical part I enters therein, so as to effectually prevent any
leakage and keep the drill steady after its point has penetrated the main, at the
same time preventing it from breaking through too soon or until the hole is
perfect and ready to receive the tap. As soon as the drill has entirely passed
into the main the tap G follows up and commences to cut the thread. As the
cutting of the thread proceeds, and just before the part I has entered the
main, the first of the india-rubber or other washers or collars a enters the hole,
and being slightly larger than the hole, it effectually plugs it, and being com-.
pressed therein, prevents any escape of gas or water through the slots of the
tap. As the tap is turned the washer or collar is carried with it and passes
into the main, being immediately followed by the second washer or collar (as
shewn in Figure 2), one of such being always in the hole till the entire thread'
is properly cut, when the tap is withdrawn and the service pipe attached in
the usual manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of apparatus for drilling and
tapping gas or water mains, and preventing leakage during such operations,
as herein-before described.

page_text: Second, the application and use of the india-rubber or other suitable washers
or collars, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Somerville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 15th day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JOHN SOMERVILLE. (L.S.)