An Improved Plug or Stopper for Use in Testing the Efficiency of Drain and other Pipes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Plug or Stopper for Use in Testing the Efficiency of
Drain and other Pipes.
I, WILLIAM STANDING, of 10 Leinster Street, Dublin, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved plug or stopper for use in testing the
efficiency of drain and other pipes.
Considerable inconvenience has been experienced in the testing of drain pipes
owing to the fact that the means employed for closing the end of the section of
pipes under examination are not always reliable and it therefore oftentimes happens
that the leakage of the water or other fluid used in the testing operation has been
attributed to the inefficiency of the pipes when as a matter of fact such leakage is
due entirely to the incapability of the before mentioned means to produce a
hermetic seal.
Now according to my invention I overcome this inconvenience by providing a
pneumatic or expansible plug or stopper that will hermetically seal the end of the
pipe to which it is applied regardless of any irregularities of the shape or inequalities
of the interior surface thereof.
For this purpose I construct the plug or stopper of a solid central portion or
boss which may have a circumferential groove or channel in its periphery for the
reception of an annular flexible chamber or tube the diameter of these parts being
such as to permit of the ready insertion of the plug or stopper into the mouth of
the pipe that is to be closed. This annular chamber or tube is capable of being
inflated with air or other suitable fluid under pressure by means of a suitable pump
and a valve or valves are provided for enabling the compressed air to be retained
within said annular chamber or tube until it is desired to remove the said plug or
stopper from the pipe. The inflation of the annular tube or chamber can he
caused to exert a very considerable pressure upon the inner surface of the pipe
and upon the outer periphery of the boss which pressure while preventing the
stopper from becoming displaced will produce a reliable and hermetic seal.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Plug or Stopper for Use in Testing the Efficiency of
Drain and other Pipes.
1, WILLIAM STANDING, of 10 Leinster Street, Dublin, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved plug or stopper for use in testing the
efficiency of drain and other pipes.

page_text: Considerable inconvenience has been experienced in the testing of drain pipes
owing to the fact that the means employed for closing the end of the section of
pipes under examination are not always reliable and it therefore oftentimes happens
that the leakage of the water or other fluid used in the testing operation has been
attributed to the inefficiency of the pipe-joints when as a matter of fact such
leakage is due entirely to the incapability of the beforementioned means to produce
a fluid-tight closure.
a
Now according to my invention I overcome this inconvenience by providing
pneumatic or expansible plug or stopper that will effectually seal the end of the
pipe to which it is applied regardless of any deformity in the shape of the pipe or
irregularities of the interior surface thereof.
For this purpose I construct the plug or stopper of a rigid central portion or
boss having around its periphery a chamber or tube which is capable of being
expanded or inflated with air or other fluid.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is a face view of the plug, and
Figure 2 a vertical section thereof showing the plug in position in the end of
a pipe.
A is the central portion or boss of the plug which, in the example illustrated,
consists of a metal disc a having a circumferential flange a'. The outer face or
periphery of this flange a¹ is provided with a groove or channel for the reception
of the annular flexible chamber or inflatable tube B. The diameter of these parts
is such that prior to inflation of the tube B the plug is capable of being readily
inserted into the end of the pipe to be closed. C is a valve similar in construction
to an ordinary non-return valve used with the pneumatic tyres of relocipedes.
The cavity in the boss A produced by the circumferential flange a¹ serves as a
convenient recess to receive the said valve. The inflation is effected by forcing
air into the tube B by means of an ordinary air-pump, whereby this tube dilates
and presses tightly against the inner surface of the pipe and the periphery of the
boss A. In this manner a fluid-tight joint is produced which effectually prevents
the fluid employed in the testing of the pipes from escaping at this point, and also
securely retains the plug in place.
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
1. A plug or stopper for use in testing the efficiency of draiu and other pipes,
consisting of a rigid central portion or boss and a hollow flexible periphery which
is capable of expansion substantially as described.
2. The combination of the paris A, B and C substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.