Improvements in or connected with the Jointing, Laying, and Testing of Drain and other similar Pipes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1895--Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Jointing, Laying, and
Testing of Drain and other similar Pipes.
I, EDWARD CHRISFIELD of Spring Gardens House Milton-next-Sittingbourne
in the County of Kent Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to an improved method of forming joints in the sockets and
with the spigots of ordinary or common earthenware or iron drain or other pipes;
my invention also relates to an improved method or system of jointing together in
a vertical position series or numbers of drain or other pipes; and afterwards laying,
coupling up together and jointing any number of these said series of pipes at any
required level or inclination in the trenches prepared for them; my invention also
relates to the necessary and proper materials and apparatus I employ in conveniently
carrying the foregoing operations into practice.
My invention also relates to an improved method, materials and apparatus for
applying the water test to my said earthenware drain or other pipe joints.
According to iny said invention 1 form my aforesaid joints in the following
manner vi. I commence by placing or standing an ordinary common earthenware
or iron drain or other socket and spigot pipe in a vertical position with its socket
upwards on a suitable level space of ground, or in some cases I employ a suitable
level wooden, stone or other platform, for the purpose of erecting and jointing my
said pipes upon; in the bottom of the aforesaid socket I place a soft tarred felt
joint ring of the material known as Messrs. F. McNeill & Co.'s Bituminous Hair
Felt, in the aforesaid socket and on the aforesaid felt ring I place the spigot end of
another or second pipe, the weight of this second pipe thus squeezing the aforesaid
felt ring so as to form a butt joint, sufficient to prevent the cement grout or hot
liquid pitch or other suitable jointing material (which at this stage of my operations
I pour into the annular joint space formed by the larger diameter of the socket of
the first pipe around the spigot of the second pipe) wasting or escaping into the
barrel of the pipes; when this cement grout, hot pitch or other suitable jointing
material is set, the jointing of these said two pipes is complete; I then joint up
together two more pipes in the manner before described and when the jointing
material is set place the spigot of the bottommost pipe of this second couple of
pipes on a felt ring in the socket of the uppermost pipe of the beforementioned
first couple of pipes, I then pour into the annular joint space of this socket either of
the beforementioned jointing materials, and when this said joint is set I then have
four pipes jointed together, I continue to add to the height of this column of four
pipes by placing on the top of them as before described one or more couple of pipes
until, any suitable number of pipes are jointed together, and so that they may be
conveniently lowered from a vertical to a horizontal position, and also so that they
may be conveniently carried, slung and adjusted at any required level or inclination
in the trenches prepared for them, either by hand or by means of pulley blocks
and ropes suspended from sheer legs, or any suitable apparatus, I then joint up
another series of pipes as before described and lower, carry, suspend and adjust in
the aforesaid trench, I then place the spigot end of this last series of pipes in the
socket of the last pipe of the first series of pipes, having already placed a felt ring
in this said socket, I now. proceed to draw up the two series of pipes together by
J

page_text: means of a set of bolts and clips (hereinafter fully described, and shewn on the
accompanying drawings) so that the last mentioned spigot end of the second series
of pipes, will squeeze the aforesaid butt joint felt ring sufficiently and to such a
degree, so as to prevent either of the beforementioned jointing materials wasting,
running or escaping into the barrel of the pipes; at this last mentioned joint
(connecting the two series of pipes together in situ in the trench in an almost
horizontal position) I have to place clay around the outer rim of the socket, in the
usual manner employed in making lead joints to socketed pipes, on gas water or
other mains, to prevent the jointing material wasting running or escaping out of
the beforementioned annular joint space of the socket into the trench. It will be
obvious from the foregoing description of my system or method of jointing and
laying pipes, that by this means long lines of drains may be quickly laid, and the
number of joints to be made in the trenches greatly reduced, thereby saving much
time and irksome labour.
According to my said invention, I also employ an improved method or system of
applying the water test to lines of drains jointed and laid by my before described
system, and the manner in which I perform this test, and the description of the
apparatus Iemploy for the same is as follows ci.: where changes of direction
occur in the lines of drains, I intersect such said drains at these points in the usual
way with brick chambers or manholes, and whether it may be the first or inlet pipe
or the last or outlet pipe of a line of drain commencing or terminating such said
line of drain, these first and last pipes I provide with flanged ends having bolt holes
therein, such said flanged pipes being built into the walls of and projecting into the
aforesaid manholes or inspection chambers, I then connect to these first and last
flanged pipes by means of bolts and nuts two flanged and socketed bends, in the
sockets of which I have previously erected, attached and jointed in a vertical
position (in the manner before described) two or any convenient number of ordinary
drain pipes after these flanged bends with their columns of pipes have been
properly bolted up and jointed by means of the aforesaid felt, india rubber or other
suitable material joint ring to the aforesaid flanged pipes at each end of a line of
drain, it will be obvious (provided all side tees, branches or junctions in such said
line of drain be securely and tightly plugged so as to prevent leakage at these
points, and also provided all the joints at all and every socket or flange along such
said line of drain be thoroughly free from leakage) that a head of water may be
maintained in the aforesaid columns of pipes, thereby ensuring a thorough test as to
the watertightness of any such section or branch or line of drain in a system of
drainage works that may be under examination, (independant of the before-
mentioned brick manholes) and individually and not collectively testing such said
system of drainage, thereby avoiding the liability of attributing leaks to the pipe
joints, that may be due to the ordinary and defective form of manholes constructed
of bricks rendered or plastered with cement. Sometimes instead of using earthen-
ware flanged bends and pipes for my water test columns, I use zinc, copper or any
other suitable metal or material in the manufacture of such said bends and pipes.
Another important feature in my invention is, that I provide to my improved
system of drains or drainage, manholes or inspection chambers of an improved form
of construction as follows viz.:-The bases or floors of my manholes are first
formed and shaped in the usual way and as shewn on the accompanying drawings
by a bed of concrete, when these concrete beds are properly set and dry, I cover
them with a finishing coat of asphalte or sometimes with a coat of a composition
commonly known as tar paving usually compounded of tar pitch and sand, or on
other occasions with any suitable asphalte or watertight material, it will be seen
from the aforesaid drawings that this said asphalte material is also continued up
and used to fill the cavity formed by building the walls of these said manholes or
inspection chambers of the section known as hollow walls, thereby ensuring a
sound and watertight construction thro' out.
In the accompanying drawings I have shewn how
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
invention
my
may
be

page_text: Figure 1 shews my method of erecting and jointing columns of pipes and also my
methods of slinging, lowering and drawing or bolting up together and jointing series
of my pipes in a drain trench, this sheet also shews (drawn to a larger scale) the
beforementioned iron clips and bolts used for drawing up and holding together my
said series of pipes during the running and setting of the trench-joint, or in other
words the joint that is made in the trench; after this joint is sufficiently set the
clips and bolts are removed.
Figure 2 shews my method of and apparatus for applying the water test to
drains laid on my principle; in this drawing the manholes are shewn in section of
the ordinary form of construction.
Figure 3 shews my method of constructing the walls and floors of manholes or
inspection chambers for drains or sewers.
A Figure 1 shews in sectional elevation a number of drain or other pipes being
jointed in a vertical position with any of the beforementioned jointing materials,
a is the felt butt joint ring and a¹ is the jointing material filling the annular joint-
spaces in the sockets and around the spigots of the next engaging pipes; a is a
ladel grasped in a human hand descriptive of the manner in which I pour either of
the aforesaid jointing materials into the aforesaid annular joint-spaces; a³ is an
ordinary rope sling and a is the bottom block of an ordinary tackle and fall or rope
and pulley lifting blocks used for erecting the pipes in the operation of jointing
them up in columns and for slinging and lowering them in any required position;
A is a horizontal elevation of one of my columns of pipes in the act of being
lowered into position in a trench; A2 A2 is an elevation of two of my columns
of jointed pipes after having been lowered adjusted and drawn up together in a
trench and in the act of being jointed with any of the aforesaid jointing materials,
a a are iron clips fastened around the barrels of the pipes and held together by
the bolts and nuts a a; when these said clips as a are properly fastened together,
one set of clips against the face of the socket of the end pipe of the uppermost
series of pipes, and the other set against the back of the socket of the first pipe of
the lowermost series of pipes, the two long drawing up bolts a' a' are then inserted
between the ends and at the sides of the aforesaid clips a' a' and by means of these
bolts a a' the two series of pipes may then be drawn up together so that the felt
ring a is squeezed sufficiently so as to prevent the jointing material a¹ entering the
interior of the pipes; a as is an ordinary fillet of clay placed around the outer face
of the socket and properly adhering to it and the barrel of engaging pipe so as to
prevent the jointing material running out of the socket into the trench; A³ is a
cross section thro' the barrel of a pipe (drawn to larger scale) surrounded by the
iron clips a a; A is a plan looking down upon these said iron clips also drawn to
a larger scale.
B Figure 2 is a cross section and B' a longitudinal section shewing my method
of applying the water test, bb is the line of sewer or drain pipes, ₁₁₁ are the
flange and socket or flange and spigot pipes commencing and terminating such said
line of sewer or drain and shewn built into the walls of manholes or inspection
chambers are the flange and socket bends, shewn in this view properly
attached bolted and jointed, to the aforesaid flauges of the beforedescribed flange
and socket or flange and spigot drain or sewer pipe; are the columns of
pipes erected in these said flange and socket bends for containing a head of
water.
C Figure 3 is a part cross section thro' the floor and walls of one of my improved
manholes or inspection chambers; c is the ordinary concrete floor or base shaped
and channelled as hereafter described; c is the asphalte watertight material
coating or paving for same, this asphalte material is also shewn in this view
continued up and filling the cavities of the hollow walls 2, this drawing is
intended to convey and explain that all cavities of the hollow walls of my manholes
or inspection chambers are filled with this asphalte watertight material; e shews
the end of a pipe built into the end wall of manhole, the floor of manhole is shewn
Eloped down to level of centre line of the bore of the drain and is also hollowed.

page_text: out to the shape of the bottom half of pipe, thus forming a channel in the
usual way.
Dated this 16th day of Anril 1894
EDWARD CHRISFIELD.
Improvements in or connected with the Jointing, Laying, and .
Testing of Drain and other similar Pipes.
I, EDWARD CHRISFIELD, of Spring Gardens House, Milton, near Sittingbourne,
in the County of Kent, Sanitary Engineer, 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 improvements in or connected with the jointing, laying,
and testing of drain and other similar pipes.
The first part of my invention consists essentially in forming continuous lengths
or columns of pipes from a number of ordinary drain, gas, or other similar
socketted pipes, by arranging them vertically one above the other, with a suitable
joint-ring between their abutting ends, and effecting the jointing or connecting
together of said pipes while they are in a vertical position and all the parts are
readily accessible. The continuous lengths or columns thus produced are afterwards
lowered into a horizontal position and conveyed to the trenches formed for their
reception wherein they are laid and the various lengths brought together by
suitable means, such as those hereinafter described, and afterwards jointed or
connected together as hereinafter specified.
The second part of my invention relates to the manner of testing the efficiency
of the pipe joints by means of the water-test.
According to the first part of my said invention I arrange upon any convenient
level space or upon a wooden, stone, or other platform situated in the locality of.
the trenches wherein the pipes are to be laid, a number of ordinary socketted
earthenware or other pipes each pipe having its socketted end uppermost. Into
each of the sockets I place a compressible joint ring advantageously composed of
bituminous hair felt which is a tarred soft material that is very suitable for my
purpose. I then place another pipe vertically above each of the beforementioned
pipes with its spigot end resting upon the said joint ring. Cement grout, hot
liquid pitch, or other suitable jointing material is then poured into the annular,
space existing between the sockets and spigots of the abutting ends of said
pipes to form the joint. The weight of the superposed pipe in each case causes
the joint ring to become squeezed and compressed between the abutting ends of.
said pipes with the requisite pressure to produce a butt joint that effectually
prevents the jointing material escaping into the barrel of the pipes and
detrimentally affecting the flow of the sewage by reason of its producing
excrescences within the barrel of the pipes.
A number of pipes having thus been connected together in pairs or in any
other convenient number and the jointing material having become set I next
proceed to superpose one set of pipes above another set so that the spigot end of
the upper set comes over the socket end of the lower set. A joint ring is inter-
posed between the abutting ends as before and the jointing material is then poured
in to make a tight joint. By repeatedly superposing sets of jointed pipes one
above the other in this manner I can produce continuous columns of jointed pipes
of any desired height which can be readily lowered into a horizontal position and
be conveyed bodily to the trenches wherein they can be laid at the requisite
level or inclination, and be connected together by jointing material as hereinafter
explained.

page_text: In order to facilitate the superposing of the sets or series of pipes, as above
stated and in the event of ordinary scaffolding being unavailable, I erect a light
scaffolding which serves to carry the tackle employed for elevating the various
pairs or sets of pipes and for lowering the pipe-columns, when completed, on to
the ground. I also provide a pair of vertically arranged rods or bars in connec-
tion with said scaffolding which rods or bars may be so situated as to enable
the sockets of the various superposed pipes to be brought up against them during
the building up of the pipe-columns so as to ensure that said pipes shall be
approximately in alignment with each other.
A suitable number of pipe-columns or series having been conveyed to the
trenches and laid in position therein I next proceed to bring the spigot end of one
series up to the socketted end of another, a joint ring having been previously
placed between the abutting ends. For this purpose I may employ clips adapted
to fit behind one of the sockets of each of the series of pipes about to be con-
nected, said clips being coupled together by means of long bolts furnished with
nuts. By turning these nuts, the clips gradually approach each other and thereby
draw the adjacent ends of the series of pipes firmly together against the interposed
joint ring. In some cases I may bring the ends of the series or columns of pipes
together by means of a rod or bar used as a lever and acting upon the end of the
series of pipes remote from the joint.
The pipe-columns or series having thus been brought together clay is affixed
around the outer rim of the socket, in the manner usually adopted when making
lead joints between horizontally arranged socketted iron pipes, and the jointing
material is then poured into the socket, the before mentioned joint ring preventing
the escape of the jointing material into the barrel of the pipe and the clay
preventing its escape into the trench. After the completion of the jointing
operation and when the joint has become set the said clips are removed and
another length or series of pipes are connected together in a similar manner.
It will be obvious that by jointing and laying pipes in the manner above
described long lines of drains can be quickly laid and the number of jointing
operations in the trenches be greatly reduced, thereby effecting much saving in
time and labour.
In some cases where lines of drains are required to be laid under water I
provide each of the series of pipes with flanged terminals whereby the said series
can be readily bolted together under water to produce a continuous line of drain
pipes, suitable butt rings being inserted between each of the said flanges to effect
a watertight joint at these parts.
According to the second part of my said invention I provide the terminal ends
of the pipes with flanges where they enter the inspection chambers or man-holes
which latter are as usual situated at suitable intervals along the line of drain
pipes, say one at each point where a change of direction in the line of drain pipes
occurs. When a testing operation is to be performed I employ flanged vertical
pipes which are hermetically.connected to the above mentioned flanged projecting
ends of the drain pipes by means of joint rings and bolts and nuts. The various
side trees, branches or junctions in said line of drain pipes having been securely
plugged I fill the drain pipes with water until the water level rises a suitable
distance within the said vertical pipes. By observing the water-level I can readily
ascertain whether there is a leakage in this particular line of pipes which will
be indicated by the gradual descent of the water-level, whereas if there be no
leakage the water level will remain unaltered. By these means I am able to test
the reliability of any particular line of drain pipes irrespective of the inspection
chamber or manhole thereby avoiding the liability of attributing leaks to the pipe
joints when said leaks may be due to the defective construction of the inspection
chambers or manholes.
According to this part of my invention I also so construct the above mentioned
inspection chambers or manholes that they are watertight. I effect this by forming
the bottom portion of the manholes of concrete which is, when dry, coated with

page_text: asphalte or with a composition known as "tar paving" consisting of a mixture of
tar, pitch, and sand.
may however employ any other water-proof material that
may be found suitable for my purpose. The walls of the manholes are made
hollow and are filled with the said asphalte or other coating composition so that
there is an intervening division of waterproof composition between the inner and
outer surfaces of the walls.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification I have illustrated a
convenient and advantageous manner of carrying my invention into effect.
A (Sheet 1) is a vertical section of a series of superposed pipes, jointed or
connected together to constitute a vertical column; A¹ is a longitudinal elevation
of one of such columns in the act of being lowered into a trench; A² is a longi-
tudinal elevation partly in section shewing the clips and bolts employed for
drawing together the columns of pipes after they have been laid in the trench
and also the manner of jointing them; A' is a cross section taken through the
pipes and shewing one of the before mentioned clips; and A' is a plan thereof.
Both of these last mentioned views are drawn to a larger scale.
B (Sheet 2) is a cross section and B' a longitudinal section shewing my method
of testing the efficiency of the pipe joints by means of the water-test.
C (Sheet 3) is a cross-section through the lower portion of one of the inspection
chambers or manholes shewing the manner in which I construct such chambers.
Referring first to Sheet 1 the vertical column of pipes shewn at A is composed
of a number of superposed drain pipes having a joint ring interposed between
their abutting ends at a. a¹ indicates the jointing material that is poured from a
ladle a into the aunular space existing between the socket and the spigot of the
pipes to join or connect them together. a³ is a rope sling passed below the socket
of the top pipe to enable the upper series of pipes to be elevated and superposed
upon the lower series by means of the ordinary rope tackle of which a is the
bottom block. By these means also, the said vertical column of pipes can be
lowered into a horizontal position when the joints are sufficiently set.
These
columns are conveyed to the trenches in any suitable manner and are deposited
therein with the socket end of one column in proximity to the spigot end of
another column.. Clips as a are then bolted by means of the bolts a on to each
of the said series or columns as indicated in the longitudinal elevation A² and said
clips are connected together by the long bolts a a. By turning the nuts on these
bolts as the two pipe sections become gradually drawn together against the joint
ring which is interposed between their ends at a. a is the clay fillet which is
placed around the outer face of the socket of the abutting pipes for preventing
the escape of the jointing material into the trench during the jointing operation.
Referring now to Sheet 2 indicates a line of drain or sewer pipes and 3
the vertical pipes which, when a test is to be performed, are arranged within the
inspection chambers situated at each end of the said line of drain pipes. These
vertical pipes 3 are provided with flanged bends at their lower extremities which
are hermetically connected to the flanged ends of the terminal pipes 6' of the line
of drain pipes by bolts and nuts, the said terminal pipes 6' projecting into the
inspection chambers a sufficient distance to permit of such connections being
conveniently effected. When water is conducted into the said drain pipes it rises
in the vertical pipes and by observing the water-level therein as already
explained the efficiency or inefficiency of the various joints can be readily
ascertained.
Referring now to Sheet 3 c is the concrete bottom portion of the inspection
chamber which is inclined towards the central part where it is formed with a semi-
circular channel extending between the terminal pipes of each line of drain pipes.
One of these terminal pipes is shewn in the drawing at c. c is the asphalte or
"tar paving" composition which is spread over the bottom portion of the inspection
chamber and likewise extends up and between the hollow side walls c² ² therof.
By constructing the inspection chambers in this manner they are rendered water-
tight and can thus be tested by the water-test independently of the draiu pipes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Connecting together drain or other similar socketted pipes by superposing
them end to end and forming their joints while said pipes are in a vertical position
whereby continuous lengths series or sections of pipes are produced for the purpose
specified.
2. The means for enabling the continuous lengths, series or sections of pipes to
be connected together after they have been laid in the trenches formed for their
reception substantially as described.
3. The use of butt-joint-rings of the kind hereinbefore indicated for insertion
between the abutting ends of the various pipes or pipe-sections and for the purpose
specified.
4. The construction of the inspection chambers or manholes whereby they are
rendered watertight, substantially as described with reference to Sheet 3 of he
accompanying drawings and for the purpose specified.
5. The manner of isolating any particular series or line of drain pipes from the
inspection chambers or manholes for the purpose of enabling such series to be
separately tested substantially as described with reference to Sheet 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. The manner of jointing and laying drain or other similar socketted pipes
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of January 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.