Improvements in Connecting Together Wrought Iron or Steel Pipes or Tubes.
Year: 1889

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Connecting Together Wrought Iron or Steel Pipes
or Tubes.
I, GEORGE HERBERT LLOYD of Maney House Sutton Coldfield, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the types of lead joints at present used to connect together lengths of wrought
iron pipe or tube, the form of the socket resembles that which has been found most.
convenient for use with cast iron pipes. That is, the metal forming the socket is
shaped to produce a parallel annular space around the end of the pipe which is in-
serted in it and packing is first placed and then lead run into the space to firmly
hold the pipes together. This method is well adapted for cast iron but in its
application to wrought iron or steel pipes it has been found inconvenient in several
ways. In forming the annular chamber the wrought iron or steel is necessarily
somewhat drawn or strained at the portion where the metal expands from the ordinary
diameter of the pipe to the increased diameter required to form the annulus around
the inserted end. This tends to weaken the socket at that point. At the same time
a considerable quantity of lead and packing is required to fill in the annulus so that
the expenditure for lead alone is considerable in a long series of lead jointed pipes.
The object of my invention is to simplify the manufacture of lead jointed pipes
and pipes jointed with other packing materials by constructing the socket in a readily
made form so that it is easily and rapidly produced without unduly straining or
distressing the metal of the pipe while at the same time I produce a better joint able
to withstand high pressures with a much smaller quantity of lead than has hitherto
been required.
In carrying one part of my invention into effect I expand the end of the iron or
steel pipe in conical form so that the socketgraduallytapers from the greatest diameter
to the ordinary diameter of the pipe without a shoulder. I then rivet outside a ring to
thicken up
and strengthen the expanded edge of the pipe and I allow the heads of one
or more rivets to project into the interior of the conical end so formed.
I face the end of the pipe which is to be inserted and turn or cut or shape its
exterior to make one portion conical.
I then slip it into the expanded conical end of the pipe to which it is to be jointed
and into the conical annulus surrounding it I force the yarn or other packing and
after this I run in the lead to complete the joint.
The lead flows round the heads of the projecting rivets and takes a firm hold so that
the pipes cannot be easily forced apart.
When I desire to give the pipes an especially strong longitudinal hold of each other
I use rivets or screwed projections in the inserted portion of the pipe so that they also
are imbedded in the lead jointing, or I corrugate, groove or roughen the surfaces in-
ternal and external which contain the lead jointing.
I may dispense with the strengthening ring on the conical socket if we desire to
do so without departing from the essential features of my invention but in most
cases I prefer to use it, as the expanded end of the pipe is thereby stiffened to resist
the bursting effect caused by the action of the caulking tool upon the lead.
When a short cone is formed upon the inserted end of the pipe fitting the internal
cone upon the expanded end the joint so formed is somewhat rigid but is excellently
adapted for a long straight line. If it is desired to bend the line a little or give
greater flexibility to the connection, the inserted end may be rounded, projecting pins
or roughened surfaces are formed upon both internal and external surfaces where the

page_text: joint contains the lead and the length of the inserted pipe projecting in to the conical
socket is reduced somewhat.
It is still caused to butt against the metal of the conical socket but the cone is made
somewhat shorter. In this way I allow of slight angle or departure from a perfectly
straight line when required.
The expansion does not require to be truly conical but the essential point is that the
socket shall not be formed suddenly from the ordinary diameter of the pipe to the
greater diameter required for the socket but the diameter must be gradually increased
so as to avoid straining or thinning of the metal.
My invention is intended mainly for application to pipes or tubes of wrought iron
or steel but it may also be used for pipes or tubes of any other wrought metal.
Another part of my invention is applicable to pipe connections of a temporary
kind when it is desirable to connect securely but also to allow rapid disconnecting
when required. In this case I use my conical or approximately conical socket and I
shape or fit the inserted end as herein before described but I substitute rubber or
also construct a ring and slip it along the pipe behind the conical socket by which it
is stopped and use a second ring to press against the rubber or other packing inserted
in the conical annulus.
This ring is pressed home by bolts passing through holes in the first ring. The
second ring may be of sufficient diameter to allow of bolt holes opposite those in the
first or both rings may have projecting lugs.
Sometimes I prefer however to use hook bolts with the hook ends and that portion
of the second ring with which they come in contact so shaped as to cause them to
pull down when the nuts are screwed home.
By doing this when it is desired to disconnect the pipes, the nuts do not require to
be completely unscrewed and the bolts taken out.
Only sufficient unscrewing is required to liberate the hook ends from the shaped
portion of the second ring and then the hook may be lifted clear and the pipes un-
coupled. To give the pipes a greater longitudinal hold of each other I sometimes
thicken up the inserted end of the pipe and fit that end into the conical socket, the
packing then presses against this thickening from the exterior and so holds the lengths
together as well as makes the joint pressure tight.
This construction of inserted end may be also used with the lead jointing.
Dated this 9th day of Santanha, 1990
MARKS & CLERK.
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Connecting Together Wrought Iron or Steel Pipes
or Tubes.
I, GEORGE HERBERT LLOYD of Maney House, Sutton Coldfield, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, 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:-
In the types of lead joints at present used to connect together lengths of wrought
iron pipe or tube; the form of the socket resembles that which has been found
most convenient for use with cast iron pipes. That is, the metal forming the
socket is shaped to produce a parallel annular space around the end of the pipe
which is inserted in it, and packing is first placed and then lead run into the
space to firmly hold the pipes together. This method is well adapted for cast iron
but in its application to wrought iron or steel pipes it has been found inconvenient
in several ways.
In forming the annular chamber the wrought iron or steel is
necessarily somewhat drawn or strained at the portion where the metal expands
from the ordinary diameter of the pipe to the increased diameter required to

page_text: form the annulus around the inserted end. This tends to weaken the socket at
that point. At the same time a considerable quantity of lead and packing is
required to fill in the annulus so that the expenditure for lead alone is considerable in
a long series of lead jointed pipes.
The object of my invention is to simplify the manufacture of lead jointed pipes
and pipes jointed with other packing materials by constructing the socket in a readily
made form so that it is easily and rapidly produced without unduly straining or dis-
tressing the metal of the pipe, while at the same time we produce a better joint able to
withstand high pressures with a much smaller quantity of lead than has hitherto been
required.
In carrying one part of my invention into effect 1 expand the end of the iron
or steel pipe in conical form so that the socket gradually tapers from the greatest
diameter to the ordinary diameter of the pipe without a shoulder. I then rivet
outside, a ring to thicken up and strengthen the expanded edge of the pipe, and I
allow the heads of one or more rivets to project into the interior of the conical
end so formed.
I face the end of the pipe which is to be inserted and turn, or cut, or shape its
exterior, to make one portion conical; I then slip it into the expanded conical end of
the pipe to which it is to be jointed, and into the conical annulus surrounding it I
force the yarn or other packing, and after this run in the lead to complete the
joint.
The lead flows round the heads of the projecting rivets and takes a firm bold-so that
the pipes cannot be easily forced apart.
When I desire to give the pipes an especially strong longitudinal hold of each other,
I use rivets or screwed projections in the inserted portion of the pipe so that they also
are imbedded in the lead jointing, or I corrugate groove, or roughen the surfaces
internal and external which contain the lead jointing.
I may dispense with the strengthening ring on the conical socket if I desire to do
so without departing from the essential features of my invention but in most cases I
prefer to use it as the expandedend of the pipe isthereby stiffened to resist the bursting
effect caused by the action of the caulking tool upon the lead.
When a short cone is formed upon the inserted end of the pipe fitting the internal
cone upon the expanded end, the joint so formed is somewhat rigid but is excellently
adapted for a long straight line. If it is desired to bend the line a little or give
greater flexibility to the connection the inserted end may be rounded. It is still
caused to butt against the metal of the conical socket but the cone is made somewhat
shorter. In this way I allow of slight angle or departure from a perfectly straight
line when required.
The expansion does not require to be truly conical but the essential point is that the
socket shall not be formed suddenly from the ordinary diameter of the pipe to the
greater diameter required for the socket but the diameter must be gradually increased
so as to avoid straining or thinning of the material.
My invention is intended mainly for application to pipes or tubes of wrought
iron or steel but it may also be used for pipes or tubes of any other wrought
metal.
Another part of my invention is applicable to pipe connections of a temporary kind
when it is desirable to connect securely; but also to allow rapid disconnecting when
required. In this case I use my conical or approximately conical socket, and I
shape or fit the inserted end as hereinbefore described; but I substitute rubber or
other compressible packing for the lead.
I also construct a ring and slip it along the pipe behind the conical socket by which
it is stopped and use a second ring to press against the rubber or other packing
inserted in the conical annulus.
This ring is pressed home by bolts passing through holes in the first ring. The
second ring may be of sufficient diameter to allow of bolt holes opposite those in the.
first, or both rings, may have projecting lugs. Sometimes I prefer however to use

page_text: hook bolts with the hook ends and that portion of the second ring with which they
come in contact so shaped as to cause them to pull down when the nuts are screwed
home.
By doing this when it is desired to disconnect the pipes, the nuts do not require
to be completely unscrewed and the bolts taken out.
Only sufficient unscrewing is required to liberate the hook ends from the shaped
portion of the second ring and then the hook may be lifted clear and the pipes un-
coupled. To give the pipes a greater longitudinal hold of each other I sometimes
thicken up the inserted end of the pipe and fit that end into the conical socket, the
packing then presses against this thickening from the exterior and so holds the lengths
together as well as makes the joint pressure tight.
This construction of inserted end may also be used with the lead jointing.
In order that my invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly
understood and readily carried into effect, I append hereunto a sheet of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is a section of a joint made in accordance with my invention in which
lead and packing is utilized as I have first described.
Figure 2 is also a section of my joint in which rubber or elastic packing and flanges
with bolts are used.
Figure 3 shows the shape of the end hereinbefore referred to in which the end is
thickened to hold the elastic packing.
The steel, iron or metal tube A is enlarged from the position B to Cin conical or
approximately conical form, and the outer edge is strengthened by the ring D which
is rivetted to it, the heads of the rivets E being allowed to project within as shown.
The end of the pipe F is turned to fit the cone and suitable packing G is inserted, then
lead is run in as represented by H and caulked up. The heads of the rivets E give
the pipe A a firm hold upon the lead and the lead holds firmly the pipe F. If a
stronger hold is required however upon F the surface entering the conical socket may
be roughened where the lead H comes in contact with it or screwed or rivetted pro-
jections may be attached to it. For most purposes the hold given by the ordinary
roughness of the external surface of the pipe F is sufficient.
In Figure 2 the conical socket forming from the positions B, C, is more abrupt than
in Figure 1 to allow the flange I a good hold and the connection is made by inserting
elastic packing K around the end of the tube F, and compressing it by the flange L
and bolts as shown.
If a greater hold is required in a longitudinal direction the end of the inserted
tube F is raised or beaded as shown in Figure 3.
The ends of the inserted pipes may be rounded to allow of slight angling to meet
cases where the pipes are laid in curves. Corrugations may also be formed on the
socket and inserted end, and in some cases the rivetted ring Ď may be dispensed with,
but the exact arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2 are those preferably used by me.
The flange L, Figure 2, may be replaced by lugs projecting from the portion M which
thrusts in the packing K if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
I. In steel, iron or malleable metal pipes the use of a conical or approximately
conical socket in combination with a hot or molten lead joint substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
II. In steel, iron, or malleable metal pipes, the formation of an expanded conical or
approximately conical socket such as is shown in Figure 1 for the insertion of the end
of the adjoining length of pipe in such manner as to avoid straining or thinning the
expanded part of the pipe, and so as to use the minimum quantity of lead to form the
joint substantially as hereinbefore described.
III. In steel, iron or malleable metal pipes the use of a combination for jointing,

page_text: consisting of the expanded cone shown in Figure 1, and the rivets E with heads
projecting internally to hold the lead, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
IV. In steel, iron, or malleable metal pipes the use of a conical socket as B, C,
Figure 2, flanges I and L, and flexible packing as K with or without the expansion or
bead as shown in Figure 3 upon the inserted pipe substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this Oth dor of June 1890
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.