An Improved Tube Stopper.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tube Stopper.
We, WILLIAM WARD, Superintendent Engineer, of 11, Bentinck Crescent,
in the City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and HENRY JAMES WATERSTON,
Manufacturing Engineer, of the Firm of H. J. Waterston & Co., Park Foundry,
Paley Street, Sunderland, in the County of Durham, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to tube stoppers or appliances for closing leaky tubes
in steam generators or other vessels subjected to pressure, and it has for its
object to provide a stopper of simple but efficient construction.
A stopper constructed according to one form of our invention, comprises a
pair of flexible or resilient convexo-concave, cupped or equivalently shaped
discs and a rod or support whereon the discs are arranged some distance apart
with their cavities or hollows opposite. The discs are of rubber or other
material capable of flattening or spreading on pressure being applied to their
insides and are retained in position by nuts and washers or otherwise appro-
priately.
For use, the appliance is inserted in the tube to be stopped until the leak
therein intervenes between the discs upon which the entering fluid acts to press,
and finally tightly forces, their peripheries or edges against the tube, thereby
effectually closing it.
We have described a stopper provided with two discs, which will be sufficient
for ordinary purposes, but, if desired, two or more pairs may be arranged upon
the same rod or support to meet particular requirements. Further, the sup-
port, instead of being rigid, may be flexible by composing it of sections hinged
together, or otherwise, while the discs may be of other shapes than circular.
Dated this 13th day of January 1899.
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents.
An Improved Tube Stopper.
We, WILLIAM WARD, Superintendent Engineer, of 11, Bentinck Crescent,
in the City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and HENRY JAMES WATERSTON,
Manufacturing Engineer, of the Firm of H. J. Waterston & Co., Park Foundry,
Paley Street, Sunderland, in the County of Durham, 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 tube stoppers or appliances for closing leaky tubes
in steam generators or other vessels subjected to pressure, and it has for its
object to provide a stopper of simple, but efficient construction.
A stopper constructed according to one form of our invention is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, whereof Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2
is a longitudinal central section representing the appliance fitted within a tube

page_text: shown in section in both figures. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of the reverse
and obverse faces of the discs hereafter described.
The stopper exemplified comprises a pair of flexible or resilient convexo-
concave, cupped or equivalently shaped discs A, A, and a rod or support B
whereon the discs A, A are arranged some distance apart with their cavities
or hollows opposite, a boss a being provided in one with each disc A for sur-
rounding and gripping the bar or support B. Fig. 3 shows the back, and
Fig. 4 the front, of a disc A.
The discs A, A are of rubber or other material capable of flattening or
spreading on pressure being applied to their insides; and they are retained in
position by appropriate means, such as nuts C, C, washers D, D, washers E, E,
and distance piece F, arranged as represented clearly in Fig. 2, each of the
washers E, E being formed with grooves or channels e, e communicating with
the interior of the adjoining disc A.
For use, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the appliance is inserted in the tube G
to be stopped until the leak or fracture therein, indicated at g, intervenes
between the discs A, A, whereupon the fluid entering through the fracture
passes the exterior of the washers E, E, and also through the grooves or chan-
nels e, e therein, into the inside of the discs A, A. and acts to press, and finally
tightly forces their peripheries or edges against the tube, the bosses a, a at the
same time being caused to grip the bar B. Thus the tube is effectually closed,
leakage at the peripheries of the discs, A, A being stopped by the spreading
or flattening thereof, and leakage at the junction of the discs and bar B being
prevented by the action of the bosses a, .
In fitting the stoppers, difficulty may be experienced in inserting the last
disc A, but this may be obviated by applying some medium or means which
will contract its periphery to admit of easy fitment, and, on this occurring, will
become inoperative to permit the disc fulfilling its normal function. This may
be conveniently accomplished by the use of some binding material servient to
heat; for example, the periphery of the disc may be treated with pitch which
will serve to obtain and retain the reduced diameter for fitment, but
which, under the influence of the heat, will lose its influence and so allow the
disc to assume the operative position.
By way of example, we have described a stopper provided with two discs A, A,
as this will be sufficient for ordinary purposes, but if desired, two or more
pairs may be arranged upon the same rod or support B to meet particular
requirements. Further, the support B, instead of being rigid, may be flexible
by composing it of sections hinged together, or otherwise, while the discs A, A,
may be of various shapes to suit different contours of pipes. All this will be
obvious without additional explanation or illustration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is: -
1. A tube stopper comprising flexible or resilient convexo-concave, cupped or
equivalently shaped discs, and a rod or support therefor, all arranged and adapted
for use, substantially as set forth and shown.
2. The combination of parts constituting our improved tube stopper, all
arranged, constructed and operating, substantially as described in reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1899
November 1899
For the Applicants,
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent.
3, St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.