IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PIPE SYSTEMS FOR DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR FOR MOTIVE POWER AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sturgeon and Carl Julius Tetens Hanssen both of
"
3 Westminster Chambers Victoria Street in the City of Westminster for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PIPE SYSTEMS
FOR DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR FOR MOTIVE POWER AND
OTHER PURPOSES" the result partly of. their own invention and partly of a
communication to them from abroad by Thomas Alfred English of Copenhagen
Denmark
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sturgeon and Carl
Julius Tetens Hanssen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
3rd November 1883.
JOHN STURGEON and CARL JULIUS TETENS HANSSEN both of 3 Westminster
Chambers, Victoria Street in the City of Westminster "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPERTAINING TO PIPE SYSTEMS FOR DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED
AIR FOR MOTIVE POWER AND OTHER PURPOSES "P
(the result partly of our own
invention and partly of a communication to us from abroad by Thomas Alfred
English of Copenhagen, Denmark)
In the Specification of the patent dated 10th November 1882 N° 5363 is
described a systein of motive power supply and distribution by means of compressed
air, and shown distributed to power users in a great many parts of a large town.
Now the object of this invention is to prevent as much as possible a breach by
the bursting, cracking or leaking of the pipes used in the system, and in case of a
breach, to minimize or localize the offect of it so that it shall be confined to the
part of the main in the immediate vicinity thereof without affecting other parts
of the system.
In cast iron pipes as now made it frequently happens that their thickness
especially in the case of smaller pipea although ample to resist the internal pressure
is not sufficient to bear the occasionally severe transverse strain brought upon them
by heavy road traffic or by subsidence of the soil. In order to counteract this and
in order also to ensure a sufficient number of whole screw threads for connecting

page_text: the service pipes to them we cast on the top and on the bottom side of the pipe
along its entire length a flat rib or bead of sufficient width and depth to take in
proper screw thread for large service pipes to be tapped into them; by this means
we also facilitate the tapping operation and enable connection to be made at any
part in the length of the pipe. In case of a service connection being unusually
large for the bend or rib we connect such service pipe with the main by means of
two or more smaller branch pipes tapped into the said bead. By this means we
also in many cases are enabled to do away with the necessity for cutting the mains
for making service connections. The pipes having such beads are also easily
distinguished from all other pipes in the ground such as gas and water mains and
we thus prevent mistakes in tapping.
We
The next part of our invention relates to, means for minimizing and localizing
the effect of a breach should such a one occur. For this purpose the pipes are at
all suitable places provided with valves which on the occurrence of a breach in
the pipe system between any such valves shall shut off such part from all the rest
of the system and so minimize or localize the inconvenience to power users.
may construct the valve casing with two valve faces opposite each other and in a
line of the main and with a suspended globular cylindrical or other valve held in
place by helical or other springs between them in such manner that the air in the
main can freely pass the valve but so that the rush of air occasioned by a broach
in the vicinity shall push the valve against one of the valves faces and thus close
the main in that direction. Means are provided for raising the valve away from
the scat, and a syphon box may in this construction and in others presently to be
described be bolted on to one side of the valvo case thus also affording facility for
inserting or removing the valve. A bye-pass with cock or valve is provided for
enabling the air pressure to be led past the valve when the breach has been
repaired and the valve is to resume its normal position between the two valve
faces. Or we may construct the valve case with two opposite valve seatings and
with an intermediate cradle or ribs or points for a ball valve to rest upon freely,
and the rush of air occasioned by a breach will roll the ball valve over against one
of the valve facings and effect a closing of the main in that direction. A cover is
provided for gotting access to the interior of the valve casing.
The valves may be constructed to act by the lowering of the air pressure
consoquent upon the rush caused by a breach and with this view may be mado
with a casing containing two weighted valves arranged side by side having their
seats in a horizontal cross partition with lower division wall or feather separating
one end of the case from the other. On lowering of the pressure at one end of the
valve casing the valve nearest thereto will be forced down on its seat thus closing
the main in that direction. The valve case is provided with a bye-pass. Or the
valve casing may be made with a guide for two horizontal sliding valves.
Or the valves may be constructed to act by the pressure of the atmosphere when
the pressure in the main is lowered by a breach, for this purpose the valve case
may be constructed with a hinged flap or other valve which is normally kept up
and by proference out of the line or bore of the main by a connection to a flexible
diaphragm covering a hole through the valve case. When the pressure in the
main is lowered tho pressure of the outer atmosphere forces the diaphragm inward
and releases the flap valve which then closes the main.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Sturgeon and Carl Julius Tetens Hanssen in the Patent Office
on the 3rd May 1884.
JOHN STURGEON and CARL JULIUS TETENS HANSSEN both of 3 Westminster
Chambers Victoria Street in the City of Westminster "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPERTAINING TO PIPE SYSTEMS FOR DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED
"3
AIR FOR MOTIVE POWER AND OTHER PURPOSES The result partly of our own
Invention and partly of a communication to us from abroad by Thomas Alfred
English of Copenhagen Denmark
In the Specification of the Patent dated 10th November 1882 N° 5363 is described
a system of motive power supply and distribution by means of compressed air and
shown distributed to power users in a great many parts of a large town. Now
the object of this invention is to prevent as much as possible a breach by the
bursting cracking or fracture of the pipes used in the system and in case of a
breach of any pipe or joint to minimize or localize the effect of it so that it shall
be confined to the part of the main in the immediate vicinity thereof without
affecting other parts of the system.
In pipes of cast iron or other material as now made it frequently happens that
their thickness especially in the case of smaller pipes although ample to resist the
internal pressure is not sufficient to bear the occasionally severe transverse strain
brought upon them by heavy road traffic or by subsidence of the soil. In order to
strengthen the pipe so as to counteract this and in order also to ensure a sufficient
number of whole screw threads for connecting the servico pipes to them we form
on the top and on the bottom side of the pipe along its entire length a flat rib or
bead of sufficient width and depth to take in proper screw thread for large service
pipes to be tapped into them; by this means we also facilitate the tapping operation
and enable connection to be made at any part in the length of the pipe. In case
of a service connection being unusually large for the bead or rib we connect such
service pipe with the main by means of two or more smallor branch pipes tapped
into the said bead. By this means we also in many cases are enabled to do away
with the necessity for cutting the mains for making service connections. The pipes
having such beads are also easily distinguished from all other pipes in the ground
such as gas and water mains and we thus prevent mistakes in tapping.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a cross section through such a
construction of pipe that is to say formed with a flat bead a all along the top and
bottom for the purposes stated and showing at the upper bead aa hole with a good
deep screw thread tapped through for a service connection.
The next part of our invention relates to means for minimizing and localizing
the effect of a breach or extensive leakago of a joint should such occur. For this
purpose the pipes are at suitable places provided with valves which on the
occurrence of a breach in the pipe system between any such valves shall shut off
such part from all the rest of the system and so minimize or localize the incon-
venience to power users. We may construct the valve casing with two valve faces
opposite each other and in a line of the main and with a suspended globular
cylindrical or other valve held in place by helical or other springs between thein in
such manner that the air in the main can freely pass the valve but so that the rush
of air occasioned by a breach in the vicinity shall push the valve against one of
the valve faces and thus close the main in that direction. Means are provided for
raising the valve away from the seat, and a syphon box may in this construction

page_text: and in others presently to be described be provided which may be bolted onto one
side of or otherwise connected to the valve case thus also affording facility for
inserting or removing the valve. A by-pass with cock or valvo is provided for
enabling the air pressure to be led past the valve when the breach has been
repaired and the valve is to resume its normal position between the two valve
faces.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section and Figure 3 a plan section through
such a valve. A is a ball valve, for instance of hollow cast iron or copper and
covered with india rubber and suspended by a spring from a screw S which by
means of the nut N formed with a square for a box spanner, can be raised or
lowered as required. B, C and T are helical springs which hold the ball valve A in
place between the two valve faces D and E in such manner that the air can freely
pass from the inlet I to the outlet O. The body or valve casing is provided with
a by-pass pipo P fitted with cocks F G and H (or valves) for letting the air
pressure pass the valve A when after a breach has been repaired the valve is to
bo dislodged from its seats D or E and to resume its normal position shown here.
K is a usual so called "syphon box" for the condensed water to collect in,
whence it can be withdrawn by opening the cock or valve L. The box K may if
desired bo bolted to one side of the valve casing but so that the water may freely
run down into it.
When a breach should occur say on the left side I of the valve there will be a
rush of air from the right towards the left whereby the valve A will be forced onto
its left hand seat D. When the breach has been repaired the valve A must be
taken off its seat, and in order for this purpose to establish equilibrium on both
sides of the valve the two cocks G and F are opened thus admitting air pressure
from O to I. If a repair is to be executed say on the left hand side I of the
valve, the screw S is lowered so as to slacken the springs B, C, and T and the
cocks G and H are opened a rush of air will thereby be produced sufficient to
throw the liberated ball over against the seat I. The cocks are then closed and
the pressure from O will bold the ball in place.
Figure 4 shows a valvo arrangement in which the valve proper A is made
cylindrical and to work freely in a guide. The valve is held by two springs B
and C and a by-pass is also provided but with one cock G In case of a breach
the valve will close as described with reference to Figure 2 For repairs the valvo
is closed by means of a bell-crank lever L the spindle of which passes out through
a shifting box. One arm of the lever works between two lugs L' L' in the valve
the other arm of the lever which is outside the valve case has a rod R which
can be raised or lowered from the street thus giving facility for closing the valve
during repairs. Or we may construct the valve case with two opposite valve
seatings and with an intermediate cradle or ribs or points for a ball valve to rest
upon freely and the rush of air occasioned by a breach will roll the ball valve over
against one of the valve facings and effect a closing of the main in that direction.
A cover is provided for getting access to the interior of the valve casing.
Figure 5 shows such an arrangement in which the ball valve normally rests on
the points of say four adjustable screws M The by-pass is provided as described
with reference to Figure 3.
The action of this valve arrangement In case of a leakage in some part of the
pipe system is the same as already described with referenco to the other valves.
In case of a repair the valve A must be lifted from its supports M which is done
by means of a screw S to which the ball is connected by means of a chain and
when the two cocks for instance G and H are opened see Figure 3 the valve will
be thrown against the face I in the same manner as with reference to Figure 2.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed Wo declare that We Claim
First:-Constructing the pipes used in pipe systems for distribution and supply
of compressed air with longitudinal beads or ribs substantially as and for tho

page_text: Second: The application in pipe systems for distribution and supply of
compressed air of self acting valves operating substantially as set forth.
Third―The construction of self acting valves substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Sturgeon for myself and on behalf of the
said Carl Julius Tetens Hanssen have hereunto set my hand and seal this Second
day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
TARK