IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND IN THE SECURING OF TUBES, TAPS, AND PLUGS IN BOILERS, AND OTHER VESSELS; ALSO IN CERTAIN MODES OF REGULATING AND STOPPING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS, GASES, OR AIR INTO OR FROM SUCH VESSELS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Lungley, of Greenwich, in the County
of Kent, Hydraulic Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND IN THE SECURING OF TUBES, TAPS, AND PLUGS IN
BOILERS, AND OTHER VESSELS; ALSO IN CERTAIN MODES OF REGULATING AND
STOPPING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS, GASES, OR AIR INTO OR FROM SUCH
VESSELS."
Sealed the 21st October 1870, and dated the 22nd April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Lungley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd April 1870.
I, CHARLES LUNGLEY, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent,
Hydraulic Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND IN THE SECURING OF TUBES, TAPS,
AND FLUGS IN BOILERS AND OTHER VESSELS; ALSO IN CERTAIN MODES OF REGULATING

page_text: AND STOPPING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS, GASES, OR AIR INTO OR FROM SUCH VESSELS,"
'to be has follows:-
These improvements refer to the manufacture of tubes, pipes, and taps,
also to several modes of securing them in boilers, refrigerators, and other
vessels in or from which water or other liquid is to be placed or drawn.
In fitting tubes to boilers, refrigerators, and other vessels I make the
holes in the vessel's skin of larger diameter than the tubes to be placed
in them, and I fit over the ends of the tubes tapered or inclined rings
preferably in two or more sections; these rings I draw or force into place
by a tool which is passed through the tube so that it can act upon 'the
ring in the desired manner. The tool has an expanding end with wing
pieces, or an enlarged end to act upon the inner diameter of the end of
the tube to increase it and make it fill out to bite the ring at all parts
in a secure and firm manner. The wings may be wedge shaped, and be
caused to enter between the meeting ends of the rings to expand them.
In some cases when the tube is plain I make one end of greater
thickness, and the action of 'thic expanding tool causes it to spread
outwards and fill up the larger diameter of the aperture in which it is to
be fèd. In some cases I form a screw thread upon one end of the tube
both on the inside and on the outside, and by means of the tool I cause
the tube to turn and screw up one of the rings for the same purpose;
this screwing up causes the ring on the other end to fit accurately.
The rings may have flanges or projecting lips to bear against the skin if
necessary. The inside thread of the screw serves for the insertion of a
plug or stopper when it is required to shut or close up the tube. Some-
times the end of the tube projects beyond the skin, and this end may be
threaded or left plain for the reception of a collar or a cap as the case
may be. The plug or stopper may be made to terminate at any part of
the tube, and may be of such a shape that it shall act as a tap plug, and
allow for the passage of water or other liquid into or out of the vessel.
The stem or rod of the tool or plug may be hollow or have one or more
passages through it, and be in connection with a tank or reservoir so that
liquid gases or air can be drawn from it and let into the middle of the
boiler or other vessel at any moment. The plug may be made of any
material and left plain, or it may be covered with any acid proof or non-
corrosive material, such as ebonite, and the tube or the stem of the tool
may be lined or covered with the same material to prevent any injurious
action of the liquids upon them. The tap tubes before referred to are

page_text: intended for use chiefly in barrels or casks for containing malt and other
liquors. The portion of the tube within the cask is preferably of smaller
diameter than the portion at the outside so that a stopper can be passed
through the larger portion and find a lodgment in the smaller one and
thus retain the contents of the cask in a secure manner. The inside of
one or both the diameters are screw-threaded so that in the case of the
smaller the stopper can be screwed into place, and when it is necessary
to broach the cask the tap proper is screwed into the larger diameter
and takes against the face of the stopper, and on continuing the screwing
in the stopper is pushed forward into the inside of the cask and the
passage through the tap left. clear. The outer edge of the inner tube I
prefer to form with a flange so that it can be secured to the cask by
screws or otherwise. In some cases the outside of the inner portion may
be threaded for the reception of a nut to draw the flange tight to the
cask. It is not always necessary for the stopper to be pushed through
into the cask, as the fore end of the tap may be provided with talons or
claws which can be forced into the stopper when the tap is screwed a
certain distance, and on partially withdrawing the tap the stopper is
removed when the liquid would find a passage round the stopper to the
tap plug. In other cases the stopper is attached to the tap proper and
on screwing it in a fixed distance the stopper is pushed forward to close
the opening in the smaller portion of the tube, and again on partly
unscrewing it the stopper is moved clear. Sometimes when I require
the tubes, taps, or plugs of an elastic character I prefer to make them of
woven or plaited metallic wire or threads.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Lungley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
LUNGLEY, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Hydraulic Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said Charles Lungley, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Lungley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Lungley, my executors,
administrators, and 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
THE MANUFACTURE AND IN THE SECURING OF TUBES, TAPS, AND PLUGS IN BOILERS
AND OTHER VESSELS; ALSO IN CERTAIN MODES OF REGULATING AND STOPPING THE
FLOW OF LIQUIDS, GASES, OR AIR INTO OR FROM SUCH VESSELS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Lungley, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Lungley, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say :-
These improvements refer to the manufacture of tubes, pipes, or taps,
also to several modes of securing them in boilers, refrigerators, and
other vessels in or from which water or other liquid is to be placed or
drawn. In fitting tubes to boilers, refrigerators, and other vessels I
make the holes in the vessel's skin of larger diameter. than the tubes to
be placed in them, and I fit over the ends of the tubes tapered or
inclined rings preferably in two or more sections. These rings I draw
to force into place by a tool which is passed through the tube so that
it can act upon the ring in the desired manner. In some cases when
the tube is plain I make one end of greater thickness, and the action
of the expanding tool causes it to spread outwards and fill up the larger
diameter of the aperture in which it is to be fixed. In some cases I
form a screw thread upon one end of the tube, both on the inside and
on the outside, and by means of the tool I cause the tube to turn and
screw up one of the rings for the same purpose, this screwing up causes

page_text: the ring on the other end to fit accurately. The tool has an expanding
end with wing pieces or an enlarged end to act upon the inner diameter.
of the end of the tube to increase it and make it fill out to bite the ring
at all parts in a secure and firm manner.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect is represented
in the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 is a sectional view of
a boiler or refrigerator plate a with a hole of larger diameter than the
diameter of the tube to be placed or fitted in it. One end c of the
tube is thicker than the central portion and it is threaded on the outside
for the reception of a tapered collar or socket ring d, which can be
screwed thereon so as to draw the tube up into proper position in the
plato e at the opposite end of the boiler or refrigerator to the plate a.
The other end of the tube b is tapered externally and a ring or two,
half rings g. 9,
is or are arranged on it to fit the tapered or countersunk
hole in the plate a, in order that when the collar d is screwed on and
abuts against the plate e a tight seam or joint is made at each hole, thus
should a tube become leaky or faulty in any way the collar d can be
unscrewed and the tube removed when a new one can be fitted in in its
place in a similar manner. In some cases I expand one end of the tube,
as shown in Figure 2, and cause it to bear upon or against the ring g
which fills up the hole in the plate a. This ring or the two half rings
may be burred over on the inside of the plate to prevent it or them
shifting while the tube is being screwed in, and I make the central
passage parallel by fitting a tapered ring therein as shown, but this
ring is not essential and may be dispensed with in most cases. The
screw ring d may be provided with shoulders i, i, which would be flush
or nearly so with the plate e, or it may bear against an additional ring j
which would protect the end of the tube from the direct action of
the flame in its passage into the tube. The holes in the plates may be
cut or made straight through them, or they may be arranged at an
angle or diagonally, in which case I propose to make each line in
opposite directions so that the tubes cross one another and offer a slight
obstruction to the passage of the flame and products of combustion on
their way to the chimney or uptake. This will be easily understood
by referring to Figure 3, which represents two lines of tubes arranged in
the manner just mentioned. In order to provide sufficient bearing
surfaces for the rings or half rings to act against I form sockets on the
plates both on the inside and outside of each plate, and these can be

page_text: easily obtained by forming the plates of cast metal, such as gun metal,
which would be of sufficient strength to resist the strain put upon them
by the pressure of the steam if the vessel is a steam boiler, or the force of
the water if a refrigerator. This arrangement of tubes will be found of
service in many instances, such as cooling beer or worts, as the medium
would become more broken up and be caused to throw off all its
properties before it reached the outlet whether it is passed through the
tubes or outside of them. The rings or half rings may be plain on the
outside or of a fluted or serrated character, and if half rings or segments
are employed I prefer that the meeting edges should be serrated or
toothed so that one portion may enter the other and produce a tight
fitting seam, this will be understood on reference to Figure 4.
end or ends of the tube is or are expanded they can be done by any of
the well known methods or appliances, or by the apparatus shown
in Figures 5 and 6, here one end of the tube b is expanded to fit the
hole in the plate e by the tapered plug or mandril j, while the key or
spanner k is forcing the ring or collar d into position in the plate a, and
as great power is required to turn the spanner Ì case the labour by fitting
a saddle on the plug end of the rod m, which forms an abutment to
the nut or nuts n while the fitting is taking place. When the tube is
fitted the spanner or key k is removed by taking off the nut o and with-
drawing the plug and rod therefrom.
If the
In some cases when half rings or segments are employed, I use tools
or mandrils with wing pieces, which enter into the spaces or between the
meeting ends, and force them into position to fill out and bite the ring
or the tube at all parts. The wing pieces may be wedge-shaped or of
any form. As before mentioned the tubes may have an extra thickness
on the inner surface, and when the tool is forced into the tube which
it fits or nearly so, it acts upon the thick end and forces it outwards so as
to fill up the countersink or taper of the plate hole, while at the same time
the inner surface of the tube is made parallel throughout, and this is
clearly shown in Figure 7, where the tube is a short one, and inserted
into the bung hole of a cask or barrel so as to form a bush for receiving
the shive or bung of the common well-known shape.
in Figure 1. The bush may, however, be composed of two ferrules or
rings p, q, one of which p may be threaded on the inside, and one o̟ on
the outside to take over the first one, as shown in Figure S. By this
means the inner surface may be kept parallel as the threaded portions are
This is also, shown

page_text: thinner than the other parts, so as to make up the proper thickness of
the bush or tube b. In both these cases the rings may be fastened by
rivets or other appliances used for the purpose of preventing the tubes
turning or becoming loose from the shrinkage of the wood or from
rough usage. In some casos the tube b is so made that a portion
projects into the inside of the cask, and then a flat threaded washer or
collar is screwed on it, as shewn in Figure 9, the washer being made
of a rectangular shape so that its narrow end can be inserted into the
cask first, and held in position for the threaded end of the tube b to
engage itself with its threads and be screwed up to firmly fit the two
together. When the plugs is used to expand the thickened end of the
tube in the hole of a cask or barrel I propose to employ a brace t, of
the shape shown in Figure 10, this is composed of a band for embracing.
the cask and supporting a cross licad, through which the threaded end
of the plugs passes, so that a nut on the under side can be turned to
work the screw downwards, and consequently the plug. The plug or tool
may have plain taper sides, or it may be fluted or ribbed as in Figure 11,
so that on turning it it operates on a small portion of the tube
collar g at the time, and thus expands it by degrees. I wish it to be
understood, however, that this method of fitting and retaining the tubes
in place can be employed for boilers and all other vessels in which tubes
are placed with great facility.
or
If it should be necessary to plug or stop up one or more of the tubes,
I make use of a tapered or conical plug or shell, with a tube attached as
shown in Figure 12, and I force a plug along the inside of the cone
to expand it and make it fit the tube. The flange at the opposite end
of the tube forms an abutment, when by turning the rod by a spanner
on the square end the plug or tool is drawn into the cone.
I have before when speaking of my improved tubes referred to their
being used for the shive or bung holes of casks and barrels, as well
as for boilers and refrigerators, but they are equally suited for the tap
holes of all kinds of vessels, whether made of wood, metal, or of other
material.
And in order that this part of my Invention may be clearly understood,
I have in the annexed Drawings shown in detail how it may be carried
into effect.
In Figure 13 I have represented a portion of the head of a cask, with
the tube fixed in the tap hole; this tube is of tapered form and projects

page_text: some distance. into the cask, so as to form a long bearing surface for the
stem of the tap u to act upon and be held with a greater degree of
firmness than is done under the present system. The stem of the tap u
can be packed with paper as usual to make a liquid-tight joint, or it
may be provided with a channel into which an elastic or metallic ring v
can be shrunk, or any other device can be adopted as found convenient.
The tube in this Figure is plain and is kept in position by pins or rivets
which pass through its flange and the cask head, but it may be threaded
on the outside and screwed into the head; and the inner end can be
expanded by means of the tools as before explained, so as to expand
it outwards or to burr it over to prevent it getting loose from rough
usage or from the shrinkage of the wood or other causes. I also
sometimes thread the inside of the tube 6 for a fixed distance along its
length for the purpose of screwing a tap u therein, as will be seen on
reference to Figures 14 and 15; one of which shows the tap firmly
screwed up in place with its shoulder against the tube, while the other
shows the tap on the point of being inserted. The pressure and close fit
of the shoulder against the tube will make a tight joint, but a washer
can be employed between them if found necessary. In these Figures
I have shown the ordinary draw-off taps, but they may be connection
or other taps according to the purpose for which they are intended.
Figure 16 shows a novel construction of draw off vent tapu, which also
serves for bottling purposes. The plug or cone is provided with two ways
and when turned in one direction the passage is open through it to the
nozzle w, while if turned in the opposite direction the flow of the liquid
is down the bottling nozzle a, the plug being made with slits to
correspond with the vent, so that whichever direction it may be turned
for drawing off the vent is opened. Of course the vent is closed when the
flow is shut off entirely which happens when the plain portion of the
plug lays across the stem passage.
Figures 17 and 18 show two methods of fixing the vent pipe in a cask
or barrel, the tube y in each case is long enough to reach nearly to the
bottom of the liquid so that the air can pass to the bottom of the cask
and then percolate through the liquid as it rises. This tube will permit
of liquids being inserted into the cask or vessel
when the caps are
removed, and will be found of advantage when a separate or a mixing
liquid has to be introduced, as it will allow of the fresh liquid mixing
itself with the old.

page_text: It is not necessary in all cases to make the tube b of extra length
to form a bearing, as the head of the cask or that piece of the head only
which is bored for the tap is sufficient, as shown in Figure 19. This
Figure is represented with a tube, but the tube can be dispensed with
and the tap screwed directly into the wood, which would be of greater
thickness than usual at that part, and this extra thickness I propose to
be in the inside of the cask so as not to interfere with the exterior
appearance of the head. The vent hole in this tap is made in the stem
and neck, and the communication is formed by a slit in the cone being.
brought round to it when the flow of the liquid is required. Sometimes
the taps are fitted with cone valves which can be removed from their
seats on the inner ends of the stems by the screwing in of the stems
as will be seen in Figures 20 and 21, the valves in these Figures being
made to go into the vessel, while in Figure 22 the valve is moved into
the stem to open the passage. In these Figures the valve forms part
of the stem but a stopper can be employed to close the passage if
necessary, and I remove the stopper which is preferably made of cork
and metal by talons or claws which enter or clip the stopper by the
inward action of the stem. In Figure 23 I have shewn the stem as
fitted with spring talons which are compressed and enter holes provided
for them, the holes being of curved shape the talons become expanded
and exert sufficient power to force the cork or stopper round with them,
and their continued forward action carries it into the vessel and opens
the passage through the tube b and the tap u, the reverse action of the
stem draws the stopper back into the tube and then becomes disengaged.
By this means the tap can be removed after each draw off and yet lcavé
the vessel hermetically closed up. It may here be observed that the
plug or stopper may be made to terminate at any part of the tube, and
may be of such a shape that it shall act as a tap or plug and allow for
the passage of water or other liquid into or out of the vessel. The stem
or rod of the tool or plug may be made hollow and the passage through
it be in connection with a tank or reservoir, so that liquid gas or air
can be drawn from it and let into the vessel at any moment, this will
be understood by referring to Figure 24, where 6 is the tube and & the
plug or stopper which is in a piece with the rod m leading to a tank or
reservoir. The plug can be turned by the key or handle k to bring the
passage of the plug round to correspond with the hole in the tube, and
thus a communication is opened, the reverse action of course shutting
off the flow. The plug may be made of any material and left plain, or

page_text: it may be covered with any acid proof or non-corrosive material, such as
ebonite, and the tube or stem of the tool may be lined or covered with
the same material to prevent any injurious action of the liquids upon
them. The tap tubes before referred to are intended for usc chiefly
in barrels or casks for containing malt and other liquors. The portion
of the tube within the cask is preferably of smaller diameter than the
portion at the outside, so that the stopper can be passed through the
larger portion and find a lodgment in the smaller one, and thus retain
the contents of the cask in a secure manner. The inside of one or both
the diameters may be screw threaded so that in the case of the smaller
the stopper can be screwed into place, and when it is necessary to broach
the cask the tap proper is screwed into the larger diameter and takes
against the face of the stopper, and on continuing the screwing in, the
stopper is pushed forward into the inside of the cask and the passage
through the tap left clear. Sometimes the stopper is attached to the tap
proper and on screwing it in a fixed distance, the stopper is pushed
forward to close the opening in the smaller portion of the tube, and again
on partly unscrewing it the stopper is moved clear.
I have hitherto spoken of the tubes, taps, or plugs, being composed
of rigid material, but they may be of an elastic character and in that
case I prefer to make them of woven or plaited metallic wire or threads.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture and in the Securing
of Tubes, Taps, and Plugs in Boilers and other Vessels, also in certain
Modes of Regulating and Stopping the Flow of Liquids, Gases, or Air
into or from such Vessels,-
Firstly. The general construction and arrangement of tubes for boilers,
refrigerators, or other vessels of the form herein-before described and
shown in the Figures.
Secondly. Making and employing tubes with enlarged or thickened
ends in the manner and for the purposes before described and shown.
Thirdly. The employment of conical or tapered rings, ferrules, or
washers as filling pieces between the tube ends and the plates of the
vessels, whether such tubes are arranged in a parallel or a diagonal
manner as herein-before described and shown.

page_text: Fourthly. The construction and employment of a plug for expanding
the ends of tubes of the form shown in the Figures and as herein-before
described.
Fifthly. The employment of stoppers and the mode of fitting them in
place in the tubės substantially as described and shown with reference to
Figure 12.
Sixthly. The construction and employment of taps when used in
connection with the tubes as herein-before described and shown.
Seventhly. The mode or modes of opening and closing the passages
of taps and tubes substantially as described and shown in the several
Figures.
Eighthly. The employment of talons or claws on the inner ends
of tap stems for the purposes herein-before described and shown.
Ninthly. Forming the head or portion of the head of casks, barrels,
or other vessels of a greater thickness, for the purpose herein-before
described and shown.
Tenthly. The manufacture and employment of woven or. plaited
metallic taps, tubes, and plugs, as herein-before described.
And, Eleventhly. I claim the several modes of fitting tubes, pipes,
and taps in position in vessels as well as the various stoppers or valves,
and their mode of action substantially as herein-before described and
shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Lungley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
ADTC TINCT TY 1
(ST)
T