IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION WITH PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morris, of Kent Water Works, Deptford, in the
County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS
FOR ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION WITH PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING
FLUID UNDER PRESSURE."
Sealed the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 18th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morris at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1876.
WILLIAM MORRIS, of Kent Water Works, Deptford, in the County of Kent,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION
WITH PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE."
My Invention relates to that description of apparatus for establishing a com-
mmunication with water and gas mains, for which Letters Patent were granted to
me the 14th May 1872, No. 1457, and it consists, 1st, of certain improved arrange-
ments of ferrules to be inserted in the mains, and 2ndly, of improved apparatus for
drilling and tapping the mains.
In carrying out the 1st part of my Invention according to one modification the
bottom of the ferrule is closed by a disc of metal or other rigid material fitted and
temporarily secured in a recess therein, and the supply pipe is provided with a
projecting tube or rod arranged so that by the act of screwing down the connecting
nut the disc is forced from its seat to allow of the passage of the fluid.
When a
tube is employed it may be perforated in order to facilitate the passage of the fluid.
A rolling ring of india-rubber may be employed in order to maintain a tight joint
and prevent the escape of the fluid while the connection is being established.
According to another modification the top of the ferrule is fitted with a T piece
and closed by a perforated screw plug, which latter is capable of being raised and
lowered from the exterior, so as to establish and cut off the communication as
required, or a solid screw plug may be employed operated in a similar manner. Or
a screw plug provided with annular grooves may be employed, the ferrule having
formed in it perforations adapted to the same. A further modification consists in
combining with the supply pipe a cap which screws over or into the ferrule, and
carries a valve for closing the outlet of the ferrule, the act of screwing or unscrewing
the cap having the effect of closing or opening the valve as the case may be. If
desired the valve may be placed at the inlet in lieu of at the outlet and connected
[Price 6d.]

page_text: to the cap by means of a.stem passing through the ferrule. When the valve is
opened by means of a projection from the supply pipe as before mentioned, the
valve may consist of a floating ball enclosed in a case so as to be capable of being
retained in contact with its seat by the pressure of the fluid, assisted, if required,
by screwing down the top of the case. When a projecting rod is employed for
forcing out the disc, the rod itself may be provided with a valve for closing the
outlet of the ferrule after the disc which closes the inlet has been removed.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention I arrange apparatus for drilling
and tapping the mains for the reception of the ferrules in the following manner :-
I provide a saddle piece which is maintained in position on the pipe at the part
where it is required to establish the communication by means of a chain encircling
such pipe. In the bottom of this saddle piece there is inserted a packing ring
adapted to the size of the pipe, a space being left between such saddle piece and
packing ring for the traverse of a slide which is employed to close the opening.
The saddle piece is tapped for the reception of a screw socket forming a guide for
the spindle of the drill and tap, and also carrying or containing a driver for
advancing the tool as the operation proceeds. The socket is screwed down tightly
so as to clamp the packing ring and packing against the pipe, thereby maintaining
a water tight joint. In lieu of screwing the socket into the saddle piece it may
be attached thereto by means of a bayonet joint, by separating which the drill
may be more readily removed. When it is required to tap into mains under very
high pressure I employ with a view to ensuring the accuracy of the thread to be
cut, a nut screwed on or into the socket and tapped with a thread corresponding
to that which is required to be formed in the main, and I form on the spindle of
the tap a corresponding male thread for engaging in the female thread of the nut,
so as to prevent all liability of the thread in the main being stripped. In the case
of mains for gas or other fluids at a low pressure I employ on the spindle of the
drill and tap an adjustable collar resting upon the driver and secured by a set
screw, which collar serves as a stop to prevent the tool from dropping through the
hole drilled before the operation is completed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Morris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th October 1876.
WILLIAM MORRIS, of Kent Water Works, Deptford, in the County of Kent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION
WITH PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE."
«
My said Invention relates to that description of apparatus for establishing a
communication with water and gas mains for which Letters Patent were granted to
me, the Fourteenth May One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, Number
1457, and it consists, first, of certain improved arrangements of ferrules to be
inserted in the mains, and secondly, of improved apparatus for drilling and tapping
the mains.
The nature of the said Invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect
.will be understood by the description herein-after given, reference being had to the
several Figures on the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, similar letters on
which indicate like parts in all the corresponding Figures.
According to one mode of carrying out the first part of my Invention, the bottom
of the ferrule is closed by a disc of metal or other rigid material fitted and tempo-
rarily secured in a recess therein, and the supply pipe is provided with a projecting
tube or rod arranged so that by the act of screwing down the pipe, or a connecting
nut, or a screw, the disc is forced from its seat to allow of the passage of the fluid.
Figures to 7 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings are vertical sections, illustrating respec-
tively seven modifications of this arrangement.
A is the ferrule, the bottom of which is closed by a disc B fitted and temporarily

page_text: secured in a recess therein. C is the supply pipe or an attachment thereto, which
is provided with a projecting or pendent tube or rod a, by the act of lowering which
the disc B is forced from its seat to admit of the passage of the fluid. In the
modification shewn in Figure 1, the depression of the tube a is effected by the act
of screwing down the connecting nut D, the same being made by preference of an
octagonal shape on its exterior, whilst the body of the ferrule at 6 is made of an
hexogonal shape. The Drawing shews the apparatus in its closed position. In the
modification, Figure 2, the tube a, which is represented as made in one piece with
the supply pipe C, is depressed by the act of turning the ferrule A, aback nut c being
employed to prevent any retrograde motion of the ferrule and to make a water-tight
joint with the pipe. This figure shews the apparatus applied to a pipe E, and in
its open position, the disc B being assumed to have been forced out. Figure 3
illustrates the employment of a rod a in substitution for a tube in combination with
the connection C to the supply pipe, the rod being depressed by the act of turning
a screw D¹; the disc B is shewn in its place closing the mouth of the ferrule A. In
the modification Figure 4, in which the pendent projection a forms a tube, and in
the modification Figure 5, in which the said pendent projection consists of a rod, the
descent of the same is effected by the act of screwing down the connecting nut D.
In the modification, Figure 6, the rod a is tapped at D¹ into the supply pipe C, and
is depressed by turning it by the aid of a head d with which it is provided. The
apparatus illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 are all assumed to be open. Figure 7
illustrates the application of a hollow screw D¹, the apparatus being shewn on the
left hand side in its open, and on the right hand side in its closed position; this
arrangement is more especially suitable for connecting wrought-iron tubing. When
the pendent projection a consists of a tube, it may be perforated as shewn at d,
Figure 1, in order to facilitate the passage of the fluid. A rolling ring e of india-
rubber may be employed as shewn also in that Figure in order to maintain a tight
joint and prevent the escape of the fluid while the connection is being established.
According to another modification, which is illustrated in Figure 8, the top of the
ferrule A is fitted with a T piece C and closed by a screw plug G, having perforations
at which plug is capable of being raised and lowered from the exterior by turning
it with the aid of any suitable tool accurately fitted so as to prevent the escape of
water through the top of the T piece; the communication is thus established and
cut off as required, the aperture for the passage of the tool being subsequently
closed by a cap f¹. Figure 9 shews the same arrangement, the two Figures illus-
trating respectively the open and closed positions of the apparatus. When the
apparatus is open, the top of the piece C is closed by the upper part of the plug G
being screwed up against a leather washer f³, the cap f¹ is simply intended to
exclude dirt and to make the joint secure the turning tool f" shewn in Figure 9 is
fitted accurately into the opening in the top of the T piece C, and the leather
washer being cut with a hole in the centre somewhat smaller than the tool forms
an additional security against the escape of the water during the operation of
screwing the plug G off its seat until its top bears against the leather washer fƒ³.
A solid screw plug G may be employed as shewn in the two positions in Figure 10.
The solid plug is operated in a somewhat similar manner to the hollow plug shewn
in Figures 8 and 9, but in lieu of the plug G being simply screwed up by a turning
tool, the tool is screwed and keyed on to the plug, by the act of turning the tool
the plug is unscrewed, after which it is pulled up until the top of the plug projects
above the T piece C, when the tool is unkeyed and taken away and a cap or thumb-
screw with a projecting male thread is screwed into the female thread of the
plug & drawing up the plug and jamming the rolling rubber ring e, thus forming
a water-tight joint. The roller rings e prevent the escape of water during the
operation of unscrewing the plug.
Figure 11 shews another modification in which the spindle fi of the plug G is
screwed into the T piece C, and is provided with a square head for the facility
of turning it, and is also made square at its lower extremity to fit into a recess in
the plug G.

page_text: According to another modification, a screw plug G provided with annular
-grooves-g-is-employed-as-shewn-in-Figure-12,-the-ferrule A-having-formed in it
at perforations adapted to the same. A further modification which is illustrated
in Figure 13 consists in combining with the supply pipe a collar H, which screws
over or into the ferrule A, and carries by means of a stem i, a valve I for closing
the outlet of the ferrule, the act of screwing or unscrewing the collar having the
effect of closing or opening the valve, as the case may be. Figures. 14 and 15 shew
.similar arrangements with some slight modifications in detail which will be obvious
without further description. In these figures the supply pipe C is shewn in its
place. The valve may be placed at the outlet as shewn in Figure 15ª in lieu of at
the inlet if desired. The valve I may be opend by means of a projection from the
supply pipe, in which case the valve may consist of a floating ball enclosed in a case
H, as shewn in Figures 16 and 17, so as to be capable of being retained in contact
with its seat by the pressure of the fluid, assisted if required by screwing down
the top of the case. In Figure 16 the valve is represented as closed, whilst in
Figure 17 it is assumed to be open, the arrangements shewn in the two figures
differing the one from the other slightly in detail.
When a projecting rod a is employed for forcing out the disć B, the rod itself
may be provided with a valve as shewn at I, Figure 3, for closing the outlet of the
ferrule after the disc which closes the inlet has been removed.
The second part of my Invention which relates to apparatus for drilling and
tapping the mains for the reception of the ferrules, is illustrated by Figures 17a, 18,.
19, 20, 21, and 22 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings. Figure 17a represents a vertical
section of an apparatus constructed and arranged according to one mode of carrying
out this part of my Invention, and Figure 18 is a plan of the same, Figures 19, 20,
21, and 22 are similar views to Figure 17a, shewing four other modifications of this
part of my Invention. I provide a saddle piece A which is maintained in position
on the pipe B at the part where it is required to establish the communication by
means of a chain Cencoiling such pipe. In the bottom of this saddle piece there
is inserted a packing ring D, adapted to the size of the pipe, a space being left
between such saddle piece and packing ring for the traverse of a slide E which is
employed to close the opening F. In Figures 17, 19, and 20 the saddle piece
is represented as tapped for the reception of a screw socket G, which forms a guide
for the spindle H of the drill and tap I, and also carries or contains a driver K for
advancing the tool as the operation proceeds, the driver in the arrangement shewn
in Figures 17 and 18 being screwed on to the socket G, whilst in the modifications
Figurès 19 and 20, it is screwed into the same, as is also the case in the modi-
fication Figure 21 herein-after more particularly referred to. The socket G
(Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20) is screwed down tightly so as to clamp the packing
ring D and packing D¹ against the pipe B, thereby maintaining a water-tight
joint, a washer E being also employed in the interior of the socket for preventing
the escape of the water when the hole is made in the pipe.
In operating with this apparatus the saddle piece A carrying the socket G, is
placed over the pipe B, and secured by the chains C, the slide E is then adjusted
so that the aperture which is formed therein corresponds with the interior of the
socket, after which the drill I is introduced into its place in the socket, and the
driver K is screwed on. The drill I is then turned by the aid of a handle attached
to the upper end of its spindle H, whereby a hole is cut in the pipe B, the requisite
feed being obtained by turning the driver K, and as the tapped. portion follows the
point of the drill, the hole in the pipe is tapped for the reception of the ferrule.
The driver K is then unscrewed to a sufficient distance to admit of the point of the
drill being raised above the slide E, the escape of water through a small hole
provided in the socket, forming an indication that the drill is sufficiently raised,
after which the slide is traversed by the act of turning the handle E', and the
drill is withdrawn, a ferrule is then attached to the spindle H in the place of the
drill, and inserted in the hole tapped in the pipe by the act of turning the handle
with which the upper part of the spindle H is provided, the slide E having been

page_text: previously retracted to admit of the passage of the tool, after which the chain C is
detached, and the apparatus removed, the spindle H however being left attached
to the ferrule. The spindle H may then be unscrewed, and the connection made
with the supply pipe. In lieu of screwing the socket into the saddle piece, it may
be attached thereto by means of a bayonet joint, as shewn at L, Figures 21 and 22,
by separating which the drill may be more readily removed. When it is required
to tap into mains under very high pressure, I employ, with a view to ensuring
the accuracy of the thread to be cut, a nut "M" (Figure 22) screwed into the
socket G (or if preferred it may be screwed on to the saine), and tapped with
a thread corresponding to that which is required to be formed in the main, and I
form on the spindle H of the drill and tap I, a corresponding male thread for
engaging in the female thread of the nut M, so as to prevent all liability of the
thread in the main being stripped. In the case of mains for gas or other fluids at a
low pressure, I employ on the spindle H of the drill and tap I am adjustable collar
(as shewn at N, Figure 17ª) resting upon the driver K, and secured by a set
screw O, which collar serves as a stop to prevent the tool from dropping through
the hole drilled before the operation is completed.
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. Arranging ferrules and combining parts therewith, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described, and as illustrated by Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, Arranging ferrules and combining parts therewith, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described, and as illustrated by Figures
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15, 16, and 17 of the Drawings.
Thirdly. The general araangement and combination of apparatus for drilling and
tapping pipes or vessels, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described, and as illustrated on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morris, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. MORRIS. (L.S.)