IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES AND THE MODE OF JOINING THE SAME
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Seaville Truss, of Darlington, in the County
of Durham, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES AND THE MODE OF JOINING THE SAME."
Sealed the 19th October 1859, and dated the 21st April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Seaville Truss
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st April 1859.
I, THOMAS SEAVILLE TRUSS, of Darlington, in the County of Durham,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES AND THE MODE OF JOINING THE SAME," to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in forming cylindrical and oval pipes with a vor
half-round flange at each end, the joint being secured by a coupling strap
going round the same. The coupling strap is in two or more halves, so formed
as to cover the flanges of the pipes when brought together; the joints of the
coupling are secured by a recess in one end of the same, and a projection on
the other of a pyramid form which fits in the recess, by which the inner joint
of the coupling breaks edge with the outer joint of the same; in the centre
of the coupling there is a space left over the joint of the two pipes or between
the flanges of the two pipes, or between the ends of the pipes, or at all the
parts here mentioned for any substance known and used for making water,
steam, and air-tight joints; the coupling is drawn together by one or more.

page_text: bolts and nuts, or the weight of earth which covers the pipes when laid to act
in lieu of bolts and nuts when the coupling is in many pieces; several of its
lengths are united by he and she joints secured by pins of a suitable material,
by the said means a break edge flange joint is obtained. For some purposes
I modify the foregoing arrangement, and use cylindrical pipes with a flange
at each end, one of which has a thread worked upon it; to join the pipes
together I use a coupling in two or more halves, one having he and the other
she joints; the coupling being placed round, the pipes are made secure by
pins of a suitable material passing through the he and she joints; in the centre
of the coupling there is a space left over the joint of the two pipes, or between
the flanges of the pipes, or between the ends of the pipes, or at all the parts
here mentioned, for any substance known and used for making water, steam,
and air-tight joints; the coupling is screwed on as a nut and the joint is secured.
As my said Invention is capable of various modifications without departing
from the principle thereof, I do not limit myself to material dimensions, or
the precise form of any of the parts thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Seaville Truss in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SEAVILLE TRUSS, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Seaville Truss, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Seaville Truss, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES AND THE MODE OF
JOINING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Scaville Truss, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say), reference, being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed:-
My said improvements consist in certain adaptations and arrangement of
parts for forming the joint for pipes used for the transmission of gas, air, water,
steam and other fluids, whereby an elastic and expansive joint is made, which
allows for the end of any pipe so connected to be moved from a given level in
any direction, as also for the pipes to be deflected without breaking or other-
wise damaging the joint. I also provide for the longitudinal contraction and
expansion of pipes, which occur to pipes used for the transmission of steam,
gas, water, air, or other fluid. In order that the nature of my said improve-
ments, and in what manner the same are to be performed, may be more fully
understood, I will proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of portions of two pipes with a V form
flange at each end connected together by such an elastic and expansive joint
as I have mentioned.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken through the centre of
the joint.
Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 is an end view of the same.
A, A, are portions of two pipes, and a, a, are flanges, formed at the ends
thereof. B, B, are the parts of the coupling strap. The form of this strap in
section is clearly shewn at the lower part of Figure one (1). The groove is
continued of the same form all round the strap, at the upper part of Figure 1;
the end of one of the parts or portions of the strap is shewn with the recess f,
into which fits the projection e, e, of a pyramidal form, as shewn in Figure 2.
c, c, is the joint-making material, which in this case is applied upon the outer
edge of the flanges. In the transverse section, Figure 2, A is the pipe, a is
the flange on same. B, B, are the parts of the coupling strap; c is the
joint-making material; d, d, the securing bolts; e, e, projections; ff,
recesses; w, w, the inner joint of the coupling strap junctures; y, y, the level
surface or outer joint of the same.

page_text: Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, are longitudinal sections of arrangements, differing some-
what in form from that above described; the letters of reference with which
they are marked, correspond with the description already given.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of another arrangement, and Figure 10,
an end view of the same. c, c, are portions of two pipes, the one with a plain
flange g, and the other with a screw flange h. D is the coupling strap, here
shewn in two parts; each part is forked at one end m, m, and has a projection n
at its other end, and the projection n enters between the parts of the fork m, m,
thus forming what I call a he and she joint; the parts of the strap are held
together by pins p, p; the parts of straps constructed in the manner shewn in
the Figures from 1 to 8 may be held together by pins applied as here shewn, in
the place of and by bolts and nuts, if preferred; r, r, are lugs or ears on the
strap, between which instruments are introduced in order to turn the strap
when it is desired to screw it up on the screw flange h; s is the joint-making
material, which in this case is applied upon the outer edge of the plain
flange. To connect the pipes, according to the arrangement shewn in Figures
1 to 8, I proceed by bringing the pipes nearly together; I then apply the joint-
making material, and place the parts of the coupling strap around the pipes,
and then secure the whole with bolts and nuts. By the arrangement shewn
in Figures 9 and 10, I proceed in the same manner, placing the joint-making
material upon the plain flange, then placing the parts of the coupling strap
around the pipe with plain flange, I secure the parts together by the pins,
and screw the same up as a nut.
The packing material which I prefer is india-rubber for connecting pipes
used for the transmission of water, steam, or air; I prefer worsted packing
previously passed through an alkaline, for connecting pipes used for the trans-
mission of gas, but I do not confine myself to the exact materials for making
the packing. As my said Invention is capable of various modifications with-
out departing from the principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to material,
dimensions, or precise form of flanges, where flanges are used, or to the making
of the same solid with the pipes, nor to the precise form of the projections on the
coupling strap junctures, nor to the making of such projections solid with the
coupling strap inasmuch as a recess can be made where the projection is
shewn in the Drawings, and a loose die or block of suitable material may be
inserted.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my Invention,
the making of an expansive or contractile joint, by which pipes (for the trans-
mission of gas, water, steam, or other fluid,) are to be secured together by

page_text: means of a compressing or nut coupling strap, in two or more parts with
packing material, upon, between, or around the ends of the pipes embraced by
the strap; I also claim as my Invention, the making of the junctures of coup-
ling straps with recesses, and corresponding projections or loose blocks; I also
claim as my Invention the making of pipes with flanges at or adjoining their
ends, to be used with or operated upon by a compressing or nut coupling
strap, with packing material upon, between, or around the same, and embraced
by the strap; I wish it, however, to be distinctly understood that I do not
claim pipes with flanges at their ends, secured together by bolts, pins, or cotters
passing through the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of
5 Signed, sealed and delivered in the
presence of
JNO. BLYTHE ROBINSON,
Solicitor,
Beverley.
T. S. TRUSS. (L.S.)