IMPROVE- MENTS IN JOINTS FOR CONNECTING METALS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clarke, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN JOINTS FOR CONNECTING METALS."
Sealed the 31st December 1852, and dated the 26th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clarke
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th October 1852.
I, WILLIAM CLARKE, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTS FOR CONNECTING METALS"
be as follows:-
I construct an improved joint of a block of metal, from which projects
a fin of metal having a notch or recess in its top and a socket at its side;
near the bottom another piece of metal is fitted so as to drop into both
the notch and the socket. This piece of metal is attached to or forms
part of one of the pieces of metal which is to be connected. The other
piece or pieces of metal are attached in a similar manner to other sides
of the block of metal, and thus the pieces of metal are connected by the
block or joint piece. I construct this joint, and also dovetail joints or
other similar joints of cast iron, and I anneal or convert them into

page_text: malleable cast iron by heating them in a crucible or furnace with
hematite or oxide of iron, or other substance having the required effect;
and I then fit the parts of the joint together by driving the loose picces
into the block, or by driving drifts or steel tools of the required form
into the block, by which micans the parts can be accurately fitted with-
out danger of breaking them. This cannot be done so advantageously
with cast iron joints made in the usual manner, on account of the brit-
tleness of such cast iron. I make a hole in the blocks of such joints to
receive a round or square rod when required for bedsteads and other
framing, and I core out this hole so that the rod may only touch at the
top and bottom, and not in the middle. A key way is formed to
receive a key for fixing it. The joints are so made as not to bear in
the centre of the joint, but only at the extremes, by which means
there is less danger of the joint working loose.
the joints first described of ordinary cast iron, or of brass or other
metal, but in general I prefer malleable cast iron, on account of its
combining strength and tenacity with cheapness. The loose pieces of
metal which fit into and are connected by the joint may be attached to
wooden framing, which may thus be fixed together.
I also construct
These joints are applicable to bedsteads, ships' berths, iron houses,
scaffolding, and to framing generally. They admit of being easily put
together and separated when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Clarke in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 26th of April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM CLARKE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, En-
gineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Clarke, Her special licence

page_text: that I, the said William Clarke, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Clarke, 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
JOINTS FOR CONNECTING METALS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Clarke, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 William Clarke, do hereby de-
clare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the saine is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
The Invention relates to certain improved constructions of joints by
means of which two or more pieces of metal may be firmly connected
together, but which joints are also capable of being readily separated
when required.
Figure 1, is a plan of a frame of angle iron connected together
by my improved joints, and adapted for the frame of a bedstead, or any
other purpose for which such a frame of angle iron may be required.
Figure 2, is a vertical section of the saine on the line a, a, in Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, shew the details of the joints on a larger
scale. The same letters refer to similar parts in all the Figures. A, A,
are the bars of angle iron; B, B, are the joint blocks; and C, C, are
upright posts or rods of iron, which may be square or round, or of any
other suitable form. Figure 3, is an elevation, and Figure 4, is a plan
of the joint block B. This block is perforated with a hole for the
reception of the rod C, and a small recess is made at one side of the
hole to receive a key D, for fixing the block to the post or rod C. The

page_text: hole in the block is either made of the same diameter throughout, or it
is made rather larger in the middle than at the two ends, so as to insure
its bearing firmly against the rod C, at the ends. The block B, carries
two projections or fins E, E, each of which has a notch in its top at a,
and a socket at its side b. Figure 5, is an elevation or side view of one
of the angle irons A; and Figure 6, is a plan of the under side of the
same. F, is a piece of metal fixed to the angle iron A, by two rivets.
The lower part c, of this piece of metal fits into one of the sockets b, of
the joint block, and the upper part of the piece F, has a narrow part d,
which fits into the notch a, of the joint block. The parts a, b, c, d, are
made tapering, so that when the piece F, is driven into its place it fits
tightly, and is thus connected to the fin E, and to whatever else may be
affixed thereto. Another angle iron is connected in a similar manner
to the other fin E. of the joint block, and the two angle irons are thus
-connected together and to the post or rod C. Figure 7, is a section of
the joint, shewing the positions of the various parts, and it will be found
that a very firm joint is thus made. The joint may be disconnected
with the greatest facility by giving a blow with a hammer to the lower
end c, of the piece F. All the joints of the frame shewn in Figures 1,
and 2, are made in a similar manner.
Figures 8, 10, and 12, are end views, and Figures 9, 11, and 13, respec-
tively are side views of various arrangements for connecting the angle
irons A, to the pieces F. In Figures 8, and 9, the piece F, has a pro-
jecting angle piece G, which is rivetted outside the angle iron; and in
Figures 10, and 11, it is. rivetted inside the angle iron. In Figures 12,
.and 13, the angle iron A, enters a socket G, on the piece F. In these
.Figures the upper part of the piece F, completely surrounds the
extremity e, of the fin E, in Figure 3.
Figure 14, is a plan of the under side of a joint block adapted for
being fixed upon a bar of angle iron C, in lieu of being fixed upon a
round or square rod as in Figures 1, and 2. A hole of the same form
as the angle iron is made through the block, and a recess is formed at
the angle to receive a key D, which is driven in to secure the angle
iron in its place.
In the preceding description I have nientioned a joint block having

page_text: two joints, but it is obvious that a block may be constructed with
a single joint or with several joints; and in Figure 15, I have shewn a
plan of a quadruple joint, and in Figure 16, a side view of the same.
B, is the block, which may be keyed upon a post C, by the key D, as
before. E, E, E, E, are the fins, which are similar to those already
described, except that they have small projections f, f, at their ex-
tremities, which fit the sides of the pieces F, F, so as to give still
greater firmness to the joints. The pieces F, are made with two pro-
jecting plates or horns G, G, with a small projection H, between then;
a T iron A, has a small notch cut in its end, and is driven on to the
projection H; and the two horns or plates G, G, are brought together
and fixed by a rivet passing through them and the Tirou. A small
pin may be passed through the lower end c, of the piece F', as shewni
in Figure 16, in order to prevent the joints from being detached.
.
Figure 17, is a plan, and Figure 18, is a side view, partly in elevation
and partly in section, of another of my improved joints. B, is the block
or piece of metal which carries the fin E, and which is here shewn with
two wings B', by means of which it may be rivetted to a flat bar or
plate of iron or other metal, or may be fixed by screws to a wooden
post or frame or other woodwork. A, is a flat bar of iron fitted into a
socket in the piece F, whose lower end c, fits into the socket b, as before.
d, is a projection on the side of the piece F, which forms a sort of
dovetail, and fits into the recess a, in the upper part of the fin E. This
joint is adapted for receiving two parallel bars A, only one of which is
shewn in the Figures.
Figure 19, is a plan, and Figure 20, is a side view of a joint which
is similar to that last described, excepting that the parts d, d, project
from each edge of the piece F, instead of from its side, so that the side
is flush. Two modes of fixing the bars A, A, to the pieces F, F, are
here shewn. In that on the right hand side, the piece F, is made with
three sides of a socket; and the bar A, is fixed by two rivets passing
through it and the piece F. In that on the left hand side the piece F,
is made in a similar manner, with the addition of a small cross piece at
9, which is also shewn in Figure 21, which is an end view, and in
Figure 22, which is a section of the bar A, and piece F. The upper

page_text: corner of the end of the bar is notched to receive the part g, and the
bar is driven into the piece F, and secured by a rivet.
Figure 23, is an elevation of a portion of framing shewing a mode of
applying my improved joints in the construction of portable houses,
partitions, and similar purposes. Figure 24, is a side view, and
Figure 25, is a plan of the same. The joints are constructed as already
described, and the corresponding parts are indicated by similar letters
to those on the preceding Figures. The hole in the joint block B, is
adapted to receive an angle iron C, and also a flat bar I, and both are
secured by the key D. K, is an iron plate which enters into the angle
formed by the bar I, and the angle iron C, and is kept in its place by a
bent piece of metal L, rivetted to it, and entering a notch in the angle
iron A, which is connected to the block B, by the joint. The plate K,
is notched at the corner where it comes in contact with the block B,
as shewn in Figure 26, which is a separate view of the plate. Another
block B, may be slipped upon the upright C, I, and brought down
upon the top of the plate and keyed fast, and the plate is thus secured.
The walls of a portable house may be constructed in this manner.
Uprights of T iron may be employed, and fixed in the joint blocks in a
similar manner, by employing two flat bars I, and two keys D.
Figure 27, is a plan shewing such an arrangement with two T irons
C, C, with four flat bars I, I, I, I, and secured by four keys D, D, D, D.
A double key M, consisting of two keys driven in opposite directions
may be placed between the two T irons; or this key may be dispensed
with, and the block B, may be strengthened by carrying the metal
across at M. Two plates K, K, are here shewn, forming a double wall
with the angle irons A, A, between them.
Figures 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35, represent pieces of metal
of various forms, jointed or connected together in manner herein-before
described, and adapted for being attached to other pieces of metal or to
pieces of wood, according to the purposes for which they may be required.
Thus, Figure 28, is a plan, and Figure 29, is an elevation of such an
arrangement having a flat plate B', attached to and carrying the fin E,
and another flat plate G, attached to the piece F. The construction of
the joint itself is similar to that of the joints shewn in Figures 15, and

page_text: 16. The flat plates B', and G, may be fixed by rivets, bolts, or screws
to metal plates or bars, or to boards or pieces of wood.
Figure 30, is a plan, and Figure 31, is an elevation of a similar
arrangement, in which the part G, G, is made of an angular form.
Figure 32, is a plan, and Figure 33, is an elevation of an arrange-
ment adapted for uniting the top of a table to its legs, or for any similar
purposes. The joint block or piece B, is fixed to the leg C, of the
table by means of the plates B', B'. It has two fius E, E, with
sockets b, and notches a, and projections f, as in the joints shewn in
Figures 15, and 16; and it is adapted for the reception of two pieces F,
with horizontal plates G, which are not shewn in Figure 33, and only
one of which is shewn in Figure 32.
Figure 34, is a plan of the under side of the table A, shewing the
pieces F, F, with their plates G, G, attached by screws to the table.
The parts d, and c, respectively enter the notches a, and sockets b, in
Figures 32, and 33; and the top of the table A, is thus connected to
the leg C. The other legs are united in a similar manner. The top of
the table may be lifted off the legs when required, with great facility.
My improved joints may be employed for uniting metal bars and
plates and wood work of a great variety of forms besides those shewn
in the Figures. The socket b, in the various joints herein-before
described, may be placed with its broadest side towards the fin E, as
shewn in the various Figures, or it may be placed with its narrowest
side or edge towards the fin, so as to stand out or project from the fin.
The lower part c, of the piece F, must then be made to correspond
with and fit into the socket so placed, while the upper part fits into a
notch or recess as in the other joints above mentioned. In every form
of my improved joints I employ both a socket and a notch or recess.
The various joints may be constructed by casting them of brass or
other suitable metal or alloy. For most purposes, however, where
economy and strength are required, I make them of malleable cast iron,
by first casting them of cast iron, and then annealing or converting them
into malleable cast iron by heating them in a crucible or furnace with
hematite or oxide of iron or other substance capable of producing the
required effect in the ordinary manner of rendering cast iron malleable.

page_text: I then fit the parts of the joint together by driving one part into the
other, or by driving a "drift" or steel tool of the required form into
one part of the joint, and driving the other part into another steel tool
or block of corresponding form. The joints may also be made of
ordinary cast iron, and may be filed, if required, to make the parts fit
together.
The two pieces which form the joint are made to bear against each
other at top and bottom, so as to produce a firm joint. They may bear
against each other throughout, but they are not to be made to bear in
the middle without bearing at the ends, as the joint would in such case
be less firm and rigid, and more likely to become loose.
These joints are applicable to the construction of bedsteads, ships'
berths, iron houses, scaffolding, and to framing generally; and they admit
of being easily put together and separated when required.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
what I claim as my Invention is, the constructing joints for connecting
metals with sockets in combination with notches or recesses, and suitable
pieces of metal fitted into the same, in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clarke, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
WILLIAM CLARKE. (L.S.).
Witness,
CHARLES COWPER,
20, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London.