Improvements in Unions for Joining or Coupling the Ends of Pipes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Unions for Joining or Coupling the Ends of Pipes.
I, JOSEPH SHAW, of Albert Brass Works, Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Brass Founder and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows: --
This invention relates to a new combination and construction of union for
joining together the adjoining ends of two pipes. According to my present
invention I make use of two flanges, one for the end of each pipe, such flanges
being drawn together by bolts and nuts. Hitherto plain india rubber rings or
washers have been placed between the washers and over the ends of the pipes
for forming a steam tight joint, but a steam tight joint could not be made by
these washers unless the flanges were parallel, which was not the case when
the pipes to be joined are not lineable.
In order to make a steam tight joint, is the object of my invention, and this
I accomplish by employing the two flanges above named, the inner sides of which
are made concave or hollow in a conical form. In these conical places I insert
a spigot and faucet nipple the meeting ends being formed concave and convex
(conically) so that if the meeting ends of two adjoining pipes are not lineable,
these conical shaped parts will tilt one way or the other to any angle to suit the
unlineable pipes, and this can be done whilst the coupling flanges are parallel.
In combination with these conical unions, I may use an india rubber flange
having a conical cup shaped ring for fitting into the concave union, and I then
insert the end of the conical nipples for making a steam tight joint, and this
can be effected, whilst the castings are in the rough state without smoothing the
parts by turning.
Tatal 16+1
T... 1000
Improvements in Unions for Joining or Coupling the Ends of Pipes.
I, JOSEPH SHAW, of Albert Brass Works, Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Brass Founder and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a new combination and construction of union for
joining or coupling together the opposing ends of steam, gas or water pipes, the
object of my improvements being to reduce the cost of producing said unions
Pace S11

page_text: and at the same time obtain a perfectly steam tight joint between the pipes what-
ever angle they may occupy with respect to each other.
According to my invention I, make use of two flanges, one for each pipe, such
flanges being drawn together by bolts and nuts. The inner sides or faces of these
flanges are dished or concaved to receive spigot and faucet nipples or a ball and
cup whose meeting ends are respectively convex and concave and work one
within the other so that if the pipes to be joined or coupled are not lineable these
conical shaped parts will turn one way or the other to any angle to suit the
unlineable pipes, this being done without affecting the parallel position of the
coupling flanges. In combination with the aforesaid union I employ a flange
or washer composed preferably of soft metal or other suitable soft substance, said
flange or washer having a conical cup shaped ring for fitting into or on one part
of the union so as to form a lining or jacket between said parts to make a steam
tight joint. By means of the said soft metal ring or washer the parts of the union
can be composed of plain castings or stampings in the rough state without the
surfaces being ground or smoothed by turning and thus considerably cheapen
their cost.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:-
Figs. 1 and 3 are similar part sectional elevations of my improved universal
union joint for coupling steam, gas and water pipes; and Fig. 2 is end elevation
of Fig. 1.
The body of the union comprises two parts A and B into which the pipes to
be coupled are screwed, the part A being provided with a ball, convex or conical
nipple Awhile the part B is cupped, concaved or dished at B' to receive said
nipple A The two said plates A, B, are also formed with shoulders A2, B2,
whose outer faces are made convex or conical to adapt them to fit into and engage
with corresponding opposing concaved or conical openings in the flanges C, D,
which are passed over the outer ends of parts A, B, and secured together by bolts
and nuts E, the screwing up of the nuts drawing the parts A, B, of the union
together at F to make the joint tight.
In combination with the union as above described I employ a ring or washer G
composed preferably of any suitable soft metal, such as lead, which is stamped
or otherwise formed to fit over the nipple A as shewn at Fig. 1, or to fit into
the concaved or dished recess 13 as shewn at Fig. 3.
In either case the said ring or washer forms the surface or seating against which
one or the other of the two parts A, B, bears and on which it is moveable
universally within the limits of the parts. The introduction of this ring or
washer G between the engaging surfaces A¹, B', ensures a perfectly tight joint
being made in all cases even though the surfaces A1, B1, are not ground smooth
or turned true and, this being so, I am enabled by such means to employ malleable
iron or like metal castings, or stampings to form the union, and to use them in
the rough state, i.e., without grinding or turning, whereby the cost of the union
is considerably reduced and at the same time a perfectly steam, gas or water
tight joint assured.
If the parts A, B, are made of brass or like metal and are turned true, it is
optional whether the ring or washer G be employed or not, so far as obtaining a
tight joint is concerned; but in applying the said washer, wear of the sur-
faces A, B, will be minimised while the washer can be renewed easily and at
slight cost.
The washer or ring G could he composed of india rubber if desired, but as
rubber quickly deteriorates and has only a short life I prefer in all cases to
employ a suitable soft metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
1st. In an universal union joint for coupling steam gas or water pipes, the

page_text: combination of parts A, B, comprising the body of the union, coupling flanges C, D,
and a ring or washer such as G, composed of a suitable soft metal or substance
and applied to form a tight joint between the surfaces A', B', substantially as and
for purposes set forth.
2nd. The combination, in an universal joint of rough cast or stamped metal
parts A B and a ring or washer such as G fitting the surfaces A or B sub-
stantially as set forth and for purposes described.
Dated this 17th day of April 1899.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicant.