Improvements m vas imam Stoppers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements m vas imam Stoppers.
I, PATRICK GOODMAN, of 115 Street and East River, New York City, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Superintendent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in gas-main stoppers or devices intended
to temporarily stop a main and prevent the flow of gas therein. The device consists
essentially of spring bars connected at their ends covered by a yielding packing and
having a flexible diaphragm attached thereto and adapted to stretch across the pipe.
The device is inserted through a hole in the side of the pipe while its opposite sides
are pressed toward each other. After being inserted in the pipe it is expanded to a
circular shape extending at the time across the pipe and is held in place by friction
against the sides of the pipe exerted by the springs in the device. For operation in
such position it is supplied with rods or handles which are attached thereto from the
rear side and entirely clear the ring at the side.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts as will be fully
described hereinafter.
In working about gas-mains it is often necessary to attach pipes thereto or to do
other work which necessitates a stoppage of the flow of gas for greater or less periods
of time. This stoppage has previously been accomplished by various means which
are all of them more or less objectionable. The object of my invention is to
produce a device which will secure this result quickly and efficiently and at the same
time be simple and not liable to get out of order.
have eyes at their ends
each end to two rods the
The springs are slightly
The device is constructed of two flat steel springs which
adapted to receive a pivot pin. The springs are pivoted at
one being a tube receiving the other and thus telescoping.
bent or curved throughout their length but are capable of compression so that they
may be forced closely to the centre against the rods. Outside of the springs is
provided some form of yielding or elastic packing such as a rubber tube, although
any other material which will form a yielding packing may be used instead. Outside
of this tube and enclosing within it the springs is a casing to which is attached a
flexible diaphragin of cloth, leather, or any other suitable material treated, if necessary,
in such a manner as to make it, to all practical purposes, impervious to gas. This
diaphragm is made in the direction of the sliding rods larger than the diameter of
the pipe to which the device is to be applied. In the other direction it is made so
that it will be drawn tight when the sides are separated so as to fit against the
interior surface of the pipe. The sliding rods have handle bars jointed thereto just
inside of their outer ends, which handles are bent near their points of attachment so
that they will pass rearward and clear of the spring bars and their packing.
My device is used as follows:-A hole is made in the gas pipe or main and the
sides of the device are brought close together and inserted through the hole. The

page_text: device will, when first inserted, occupy an angular position and it is so inserted that
the ring will be next to the source of gas supply. This leaves the ring to fit against
the interior surface of the pipe entirely at one side of the entrance hole. While in
this position the one handle is held firmly while the ring is compressed by drawing
upon the other handle at the same time that the handle bars are brought to an
upright position whereby the springs are forced outward until the ring assumes a
circular form pressing closely against the interior surface of the pipe.
The device will be made of different sizes for different sized mains and will be
made of such a size that the springs will exert sufficient pressure against the inner
surface of the pipe to hold the ring securely in place against the pressure of the gas.
As the pressure of the gas is never very great, this will not require very strong
springs. The device will entirely close the flow of gas in the pipe making it possible
for the workmen to proceed with their work without the inconvenience of escaping
gas which in many cases is a very important consideration, as the location of gas pipes
frequently makes it impossible to ventilate about them in such a way as to carry off
the gas as fast as it would otherwise escape.
"
Dated th: 1 da of Ontahan 1007
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
I, PATRICK GOODMAN, of 115 Street and East River, New York City, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Superintendent, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
My invention relates to an improvement in gas main stoppers, or devices intended
to temporarily stop a main and prevent the flow of gas therein. The device consists
essentially of spring bars connected at their ends, covered by a yielding packing, and
having a flexible diaphragm attached thereto and adapted to stretch across the pipe.
The device is inserted through a hole in the side of a pipe, while its opposite sides
are pressed toward each other. After being inserted in the pipe it is expanded
to a circular shape, extending at the time across the pipe, and is held in place by
friction against the sides of the pipe exerted by the springs in the device. For
operation in such position it is supplied with rods or handles which are attached
thereto from the rear side and entirely clear the ring at the side.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as will be
fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the appended claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a pipe, showing my device as being applied
thereto;
Figure 2 is a cross section of a pipe, showing my device as being inserted through
a hole in the side;
Figure 3 is a similar view, showing my device in position;
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the ring or stopper proper, showing the casing
surrounding the tube or packing in section;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken through the ring at one side of the
sliding bars;

page_text: Figure 6 is a cross section upon the line 6-6 of Figure 4; and
Figure 7 is a perspective detail showing the end of one of the sliding bars
and the pivotal connection of the springs thereto.
In working about gas mains, it is often necessary to attach pipes thereto, or, to do
other work which necessitates a stoppage of the flow of gas for greater or less periods
of time. This stoppage has previously been accomplished by various means, which
are all of them more or less objectionable. The object of my invention is to produce
a device which will secure this result quickly and efficiently, and at the same time
be simple and not liable to get out of order.
Two flat steel springs B are provided, which have eyes at their ends adapted to
receive a pivot pin. The springs B are pivoted at each end to two rods F and G,
the latter being a tube receiving the former and thus telescoping. The rods F
and G are provided with heads F1, which have flanges F2, and two pivot pins f
entering eyes in the ends of the springs B. The springs B are slightly bent or
curved throughout their length, but are capable of compression so that they may be
forced closely to the centre against the rods F and G. Outside of the springs B is
provided some form of yielding or elastic packing. I have shewn a rubber tube C as
used for this purpose although any other material which will form a yielding packing
may be used instead. Outside of this tube C and enclosing within it the springs B
is a casing D. To this outer casing D is attached a flexible diaphragm E which is
formed of cloth leather or any other suitable material treated if necessary in such a
manner as to make it, to all practical purposes, impervious to gas. This diaphragm E
is made, in the direction of the sliding rods F and G, larger than the diameter of the
pipe to which the device is to be applied. In the other direction it is made so that
it will be drawn tight when the sides are separated so as to fit against the
interior surface of the pipe. The sliding rods F and G have handle bars jointed
thereto just inside of their outer ends. A bar or handle I is attached by a pin f to
the rod F and a bar or handle H is attached by a similar pin f to the outer end of the
rod G. These handle bars I and H are bent near their points of attachment to the
sliding rods so that they will pass rearwards and clear of the springs and their
packing. The handle bar I is made comparatively short and may be provided with
a cross bar to be grasped by the hand upon the outer end. The handle bar H is
considerably longer and may be similarly provided with a cross bar for a handle.
My device is used as follows:-A hole a is made in the gas pipe or main A and
it is desired to close the pipe at one side of this hole so that the gas will not escape.
When the hole is made the sides of the device are brought close together and
inserted through the hole in the pipe. The device will, when first inserted occupy
an angular position as shewn in full lines in Figure 1, and it is so inserted that the
ring D will be next to the source of gas supply. This leaves the ring to fit against
the interior surface of the pipe entirely at one side of the entrance hole a. This is
possible by reason of the rearward bend of the pivoted ends of the handle bars I and H.
While in this position the short handle I is held firmly while the ring is compressed
by drawing upon the longer handle H. At the same time that the handle bars are
brought to the upright position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1 whereby the
springs are forced outward until the ring assumes a circular form pressing closely
against the interior surface of the pipe. This position is shewn in Figure 3.
The device will be made of different sizes for different sized. mains and will be
made of such a size that the springs will exert sufficient pressure against the inner
surface of the pipe to hold the ring securely in place against the pressure of the gas.
As the pressure of the gas is never very great this will not require very strong
springs. The device will entirely close the flow of gas in the pipe making it possible
for the workmen to proceed with their work without the inconvenience of escaping
gas, which in many cases is a very important consideration as the location of gas
pipes frequently makes it impossible to ventilate about them in such a way as to
Unless this is done the work-
carry off the gas as fast as it would otherwise escape.
men will very quickly become overpowered with the gas and be unable to do any
work even if their lives are not endangered.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A gas-main stopper comprising two sliding rods two springs having one end
of each pivoted to one end of one sliding rod and their other ends pivoted to the
opposite end of the other sliding rod, a yielding packing outside the springs, a
sheet of flexible material attached to the outer packing and permitting the springs
to assume a circular position, and operating arms pivoted to the sliding rods
substantially as described.
2. A gas-main stopper comprising two sliding rods two springs pivoted at one end
to the outer end of one sliding rod and at their other end to the opposite end of
the other sliding rod, a yielding packing outside of the springs, a sheet of flexible
material attached to the outer packing, and au arm pivoted to each of the sliding rods
having offsets or bends near said pivots substantially as described.
3. A gas-main stopper comprising connected springs adapted to lie parallel or be
bent into a circle, a sheet of flexible fabric connecting the same, telescoping rods
to the opposite end of which the springs are pivoted, and arms connected to the
telescoping rods from the rear and inner sides and adapted to compress or extend
the springs substantially as described.
4. A gas-main stopper comprising two springs pivoted at their ends, packing on
the outer sides thereof a flexible diaphragm connected thereto, longitudinally sliding
rods pivoted to the ends of the springs, and bars pivoted to the sliding rods, said bars
being bent rearwardly or offset near said pivots substantially as described.
5. A gas-main stopper comprising an expansible and compressible ring, a flexible
diaphragm connected thereto, and bars pivotally attached at opposite points to said
ring and curved or offset uear said pivots so as to pass entirely to the rear of the
ring when placed parallel with the plane thereof substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of June 1898
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.