IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING THE JOINTS OF IRON AND OTHER TUBES OR PIPES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Alexandre Fargon, of Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FORMING THE JOINTS OF IRON AND OTHER TUBES OR PIPES."
Sealed the 21st May 1867, and dated the 28th November. 1866
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Alexandre Fargon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th November 1866.
I, LOUIS ALEXANDRE FARGON, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FORMING THE JOINTS OF IRON AND OTHER TUBES OR PIPES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists of certain arrangements whereby metallic or other
tubes or pipes can be connected with each other with great simplicity and
economy. In the case of iron pipes which are to be connected together the
same have at their respective ends a part of the external circumference
thereof enlarged and another part hollowed out, the hollows or channels being
made sloping with regard to each other. A strip of rolled lead, one side of
which is flat and the other side of such a form as to fit into the hollows of the

page_text: pipes, is placed round the respective ends of the pipes, and is pressed into the
hollows or channels formed therein as before mentioned by a hinged collar,
the interior of which is formed conical with relation to the outline of the
joint, the collar being closed over the lead and drawn tightly around the same
by means of a screw which passes through ears or projections formed on the
collar. The lead having been thus forced into the hollows or channels the
collar is removed and a hoop of wrought iron, the interior of which is conical,
is slipped on and driven into the requisite position over the joint; the pro-
truding and superfluous portions of the lead are then punched up and con-
solidated in the manner usually practised in analogous cases. A simple and
inexpensive joint is thus formed, the same being not only hermetically tight
and capable of resisting a great amount of pressure, but one in which the
expansion and contraction of the pipes are provided for, as the lead is not
liable to break, but will yield to any force acting upon it in whatever
direction.
This Invention admits of various modifications, in which, however, its main
principles as before described are not departed from. Instead of making the
hollows or channels in which the lead is placed with a sloping section, as
before mentioned, the lead itself may have a conical section, and may form
the cone on which the hoop is placed. Caoutchouc may also be used instead
of lead, the same being placed over the joint and covered with a strip of thin
sheet iron to allow the hoop to slip over it and to protect it from friction whilst
being pressed. Instead of employing a hoop which is driven over the joint as
before mentioned a hinged collar similar to that used for the purposes of
pressure may be applied, the same being furnished with ears or projections to
receive a screw bolt. In forming joints in accordance with this Invention it
is not essential that the respective ends of the pipes to be connected should be
close together, as a sufficient space may be left between any two to adapt
them to any inequalities of the surface or deviations from a straight line
without impairing the efficiency of the joint.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Alexandre Fargon in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
ALEXANDRE FARGON, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, send
greeting.

page_text: .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred. and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said Louis Alexandre Fargon, Her special licence that I, the said Louis
Alexandre Fargon, my executors,. administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Louis Alexandre Fargon, 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 FORMING THE JOINTS OF IRON AND OTHER
TUBES OR PIPES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis
Alexandre Fargon, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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.
I NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Alexandre Fargon, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My said Invention consists of certain arrangements whereby metallic and
other tubes or pipes can be connected with each other with great simplicity
and economy.
In the case of iron pipes which are to be connected together
the same have at their respective ends a part of the external circumference
thereof enlarged, and another part hollowed out, the hollows or channels being
made sloping with regard to each other. A strip of rolled lead, one side of
which is flat and the other side of such a form as to fit into the hollows of
the pipe, is placed round the respective ends of the pipes, and is pressed into
the hollows or channels formed therein as before mentioned by a hinged
collar, the interior of which is formed conical with relation to the outline of
the joint, the collar being closed over the lead and drawn tightly around the
same by means of a screw which passes through ears or projections formed
on the collar. The lead having been thus forced into the hollows or channels
the collar is removed, and a hoop of wrought iron, the interior of which is

page_text: conical is slipped on and driven into the requisite position over the joint.
The protruding and superfluous portions of the lead are then punched up
and consolidated in the manner usually practised in analogous cases: A
simple and inexpensive joint is thus formed, the same being not only
hermetically tight and capable of resisting a great amount of pressure, but
one in which the expansion and contraction of the pipes are provided for, as
the lead is not liable to break, but will yield to any force acting upon it in
whatever direction.
My said Invention admits of various modifications in which, however, its
main principles, as before described, are not departed from. Instead of
making the hollows or channels in which the lead is placed with a sloping
section, as before mentioned, the lead itself may have a conical section, and
may form the cone on which the hoop is placed. Caoutchouc may also be used
instead of lead, the same being placed over the joint, and covered with a strip
of thin sheet'iron to allow the hoop to slip over it, and to protect it from
friction whilst being pressed. Instead of employing a hoop which is driven
over the joint, as before mentioned, a hinged collar similar to that used
for the purposes of pressure may be applied, the same being furnished with
ears or projections to receive a screw bolt.
In forming joints in accordance with my said Invention it is not essential
that the respective ends of the pipes to be connected should be close together,
as a sufficient space may be left between any two to adapt them to any
inequalities of the surface or deviations from a straight line without impairing
the efficiency of the joint.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings in which the
same letters of reference refer to similar parts, and from which the nature of
my said Invention will be clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a tube joint made with lead, at each end of the pipes are parts
enlarged and others hollowed out, as at J, into which fit a band of rolled lead
of a corresponding form B, which is laid round the pipe ends C, care is taken
to cut the lead so that it fits tightly; to press the lead into the hollowed out
parts of the pipe ends I use the iron collar shewn at Figures 19 and 20, by
means of which the lead is so forced into those parts as to become almost a
portion of the iron. The parts of the joint are of a conical form to allow the
hoop A to be placed on it, as shewn in section at Figure 24; this hoop is also
of rolled iron with parts hollowed out as at J; it is driven into its place as
à hoop is placed on a cask, and when there the protruding portions of the
lead band are punched back into the hollow portions J, and a joint is then

page_text: formed of extraordinary tightness and strength, and capable at the same time
of yielding to the contraction and expansion of the metal pipes, the lead-not
being liable to break but expanding and contracting under any force acting
on it; the joint also remains equally tight if the ground upon which the
pipe is laid sinks from under it. Figure 2 is a joint made with caoutchouc
and lead, and is shewn full size at Figure 25. The lead is pressed into its
position in the manner above described, the difference in the joint is in the
two rings of caoutchouc D which being compressed by the punching up of the
lead form a joint impervious alike to water or gases; Figure 3 is the same
joint with the strip of caoutchouc D differently placed; Figures 4 and 5 are
joints made with caoutchouc only. The pipes being placed end to end, a
strip of caoutchouc D with a strip of copper E is placed over the joint, the
copper allows the required pressure to be used, two iron hoops A, having two
sloped parts P for holding the clamps F, are driven on in the usual manner
and the joint is tight. It is sbewn full size at Figure 32 and Figure 31 is
a joint of the same kind with a slight variation; Figure 6 is a joint of india-
rubber and lead shewn full size in Figures 23 and 25, and the arrangement
of the caoutchouc and the lead before and after being punched; Figures 7
to 18 are various joints all made on the same principle; they are shewn full
size in Figures 23 to 38; Figures 29 and 30 shew an india-rubber joint.
The pipes C placed end to end are united by a strip of caoutchouc D
surmounted by one of thin iron a over which slides the conically shaped
hoop A. The joint after pressure has been applied to it is shewn at Figure 29,
the ends of the pipes are also conical to allow of the easy passage of the
hoop A. The strips of iron a may be replaced by bands of rolled iron of an
undulated form, the caoutchouc filling up the concave portions thereof when
pressed, thereby contributing to the strength of the joint. When required
any kind of ears or projections to hold the pipes together can be cast with
them. Figures 21 and 22 shew the collar apparatus G for pressing the
strip of iron a placed over the caoutchouc D to facilitate the passage of the
iron hoop; Figures 33 to 38 show different modifications of joints in
accordance with my said Invention.
Having thus fully declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion
that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein-before
mentioned, as variations may be made therefrom without departing from
the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured
to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent are, the

page_text: .methods of forming the joints of iron and other tubes or pipes substantially
herein-before set forth and described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Alexandre Fargon, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
LOUIS ALEXANDRE FARGON. (L.S.)