Improvements in and relating to Universal Joints for Steam Conveying and Vacuum Pipes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15.h Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Universal Joints for Steam
Conveying and Vacuum Pipes.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM MORAN, a Citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 2211 Third Avenue, in the City of Louisville, County of Jefferson
and State of Kentucky, one of the United States of America, Inventor, 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:-
The invention relates to universal joints for steam conveying and vacuum pipes,
and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as hereinafter
set forth.
The object of this invention is to provide a flexible, hollow ball joint, where the
bearing portions are designed to have a loose connection, so that they will be
comparatively without pressure or coaptation when steam is not applied, or a
vacuum is not formed, and will move upon each other without the grinding and
cutting action which causes wear; but which, nevertheless, when steam is being
carried, or a vacuum is formed, will be pressed closely against each other, so that
the joint will be perfectly steam tight.
This joint is designed for use especially in connection with the coupling pipes of
steam brakes for railway trains, as these pipes are not normally under steam
pressure, but when brought into action require that the joint shall be true and
perfect, as upon its character it may happen that the safety of the train will
depend.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 is an axial longitudinal section of my
improved coupler.
In said drawings the letter, A, designates the socket section of the joint; B, the
perforated ball section, and, C, the annular coupling bearing. And it is proper to
state that, broadly, the employment of a socket section, a ball section, and an
annular coupling bearing is not new, as such features have been used in forming
close fitting joints, which, on account of mechanical pressure, have a grinding or
cutting action in the bearings, which soon renders them useless for the purpose of
steam brakes.
The socket is formed with a deep or ellipsoidal chamber, a, at the marginal
portion of which is provided the annular spherically beveled bearing, a', which is
offset inward, in order to provide steam way around that portion of the ball which
extends into this chamber, and which carries the steam opening, b. Around the
exterior of the marginal portion of the socket section is provided a thread, as at a",
which terminates at a circumferential stop shoulder, a, which is ground true,
and is designed to engage the circular edge, c, of the ring coupling bearing in a
close and steam tight manner when said coupling bearing is screwed home.
A', is the threaded opening of the socket section, axially placed, and provided
with a wrench seat exteriorly, in order that it may be readily connected with the
piping. The ball section consists of the hollow sphere having the opening, b, and
the hollow neck, B', also threaded and provided with a wrench seat for pipe
connection.
The annular coupling bearing, C, is provided exteriorly with a wrench seat, and
interiorly it has within its converging lip portion, c', the annular spherically beveled
bearing, c, which is at its inner margin offset interiorly, as at c. From the
shoulder thus formed extends to the circular stop edge, c, of the ring, the interior
thread, m, which engages the threads, a", of the socket section.

page_text: While the spherically beveled bearings, a, and e¹¹, are turned upon the same
radius, they are eccentric with reference to each other, and the stop edge, c, of the
ring coupling, bearing when screwed home is caused to bear against the stop
shoulder,, of the socket section, whereby the joint is rendered steam tight, and
the bearing surface, a', is held away from the ball section when under steam
pressure, but, when pressure is removed the ball is allowed to rest loosely between
the spherically bevelled surfaces, a', and el, to permit the leakage of the water of
condensation.
The ball therefore, which has its equatorial portion located between these
bearings, not only has entire freedom of movement when the joint is not carrying
steam, but is also without any pressure.except that due to the gravity of the parts
against the annular coupling.
In this construction there is therefore no grinding or cutting action between the
parts to wear away the ball or bearings, and to destroy the steam tight character of
the joint. No packing is employed.
When steam is applied, the ball is automatically pressed up closely against the
bearing, c, by the steam, and the joint at once becomes, although flexible,
perfectly steam tight, all leakage by thread being prevented by the stop
shoulder, a¹¹
By this construction as above described, a perfectly tight joint will be provided
whenever a vacuum is formed in the pipes and the ball section is forced to the limit
of its inward movement, as well as when under direct pressure of steam, and said
ball section is at the limit of its outward movement.
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 :-
The metallic self-adjusting flexible joint, without packing, for steam pipes, con-
structed of a ball section and a socket section in combination with the annular
coupling bearing, C, substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of September 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.