Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Sewers, Drains, Soil and other Pipes, and for Indicating the Pressure in the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Sewers, Drains, Soil and
other Pipes, and for Indicating the Pressure in the same.
I, WALTER SIMPSON of 29 Thistle Street in the City and County of Aberdeen,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to an improved apparatus for testing sewers, drains, soil,
waste and ventilating pipes, and for indicating extent of pressure or defects in same
by fumes generated by the burning of cotton waste or any other substance suitable
for that purpose.
The improved apparatus comprises a fume generator, and an air-pressure
generator, the former being placed immediately above the latter.
From the air-generator a vertical perforated tube passes through the fume
generator, and surrounding this tube there is a cylindrical cage to contain the
cotton waste which may be used in generating the fumes.
When a liquid is used instead of cotton waste the cage is removed and a tube
with a sealed end inverted over the perforated tube. The surface of the liquid
is kept below the perforations and the current of air through the perforated
tube is arrested by the inverted tube, and is compelled to pass through the liquid
carrying with it the fumes along the pipes or drains being tested.
The manipulation of the fume generator is extremely quick and easily effected;
a lid or cover being provided which is made air.tight by a cam or screw immediately
it is in position.
Attached to the fume generator is an outlet cock or valve to shut off communi-
cation between the fume generator and the pipes undergoing examination. This
cock or valve is of special construction to suit the application of an improved
and absolutely effective method of sealing the openings of the pipes under test.
The tube connecting the fume,generator with the pipes is attached to the above
outlet valve at one end, and has at the other end an india-rubber bladder .so
constructed that when it is inflated. by the air generator it effectively seals the end
of the pipe at the same time permitting free communication between the fume
generator and the pipes under examination.
Branch pipes may be connected while main pipes are sealed and vice-versa,
bladders being constructed in all forms necessary to suit the various dispositions of
pipes.met with in sanitary arrangements.
The apparatus having been connected to the drain by one or other of the flexible
pipe stoppers mentioned above and a suitable fume generating substance having
been kindled and sealed up in the fume generator the air pressure generator is
put into action by means of a lever handle the lower end of which is made in the
form.of.a.stirrup to embrace the bellows and operate it from both sides.
A mercury or water gauge attached indicates the pressure within the tube or
pipe under examination and if there be, any leaking its extent is indicated by the
falling mercury or water in the gauge.
During the examination all the openings are sealed up by india rubber bladders
which have been previously inflated' by means of the air pressure generator of the
apparatus.
All excess of pressure in the pipes is provided for by relief valves in the flexible
stoppers thus preventing the possibility of blowing these stoppers out.
Dated this 27th day of February 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing Sewers, Drains, Soil and
other Pipes, and for Indicating the Pressure in the same.
I WALTER SIMPSON of 29 Thistle Street in the City and County of Aberdeen,
Plumber, 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:-
Improvements in apparatus for testing sewers, drains, soil and other pipes, and
for indicating pressure in the same. This invention refers to an improved apparatus
for testing sewers, drains, soil and other pipes, and for indicating the extent of the
pressure in the same, by fumes generated by burning cotton waste or any other
substance suitable for that purpose.
In order that the full nature and the mode
of working my said invention may be properly understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, of which Fig. 1. is a vertical section showing the
cylindrical fume generator A, placed immediately over the air pressure generator B.
which is also cylindrical. A vertical perforated pipe C. sealed at the upper end
is attached to the top of the air pressure, generator B and into the fume generator A
and is also coaxial with cylindrical cage D which contains the fume generating
substance (which for example may be cotton waste).
The fume generator A. is effectively sealed by an asbestos ring E. let into a
circular grove formed on the lip of A.
The cover F. has a ring fitting the grove in which is placed the asbestos ring
and is held firmly down and air tight on it by means of a screw and arched bridge H.
the ends of which are let into notches in two projecting lugs I on the lip of the
fume generator A. An outlet cock or valve J. is attached to the fume generator A.
to which the pipes to be tested are connected.
The air pressure generator B. is of special construction and has an upper and
lower chamber a and respectively. The lower chamber has an india-rubber
diaphragm cc attached to the central pipe d' and also the dividing disc. The
central pipe has two perforations in chamber the air pressure generator B is
actuated by a stirrup lever K and handle L.
The complete apparatus is supported on four legs M.
The pipes to be tested are effectively stopped by means of the flexible stoppers
shown in Figures 2-3 and 4. Fig. 2 shows the stopper arranged to suit a straight
pipe. Fig. 3 shows a stopper arranged to suit a pipe having a branch at right
angles and when inflated by the air pressure generator they effectively seal the ends
of the pipes at the same time permitting free communication between the fume
generator and the pipes. Fig. 4 shows a stopper arranged to effectively seal an
open pipe under test.
These stoppers are placed in the pipes and inflated by the air pressure generator B
connection being made between them by a rubber pipe attached to the gauge
cock N, at one end and to the stoppers at O. Fig. 4 is fitted with a valve P.
which entirely prevents its displacement from the pipe should the pressure in the
pipe under test become excessive, the excess of pressure in the pipe over that in
the stopper only overcoming the valve and allowing the pressure to equalize.
Connection is made between the stopper at U. and the coupling T of the cock J
by a rubber tube.
The pressure in the pipes under examination is indicated by a mercury or other
pressure gauge F. 5 shows the application of a mercury gauge-; the tube to
contain the mercury is of glass and is attached at one end to a pipe R. communi-
cating with the cock J on the fume generator A. The pressure is indicated by the
difference in level of the mercury and is measured by the index rule. S.

page_text: 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 :-
1. The construction of an improved apparatus for testing sewers, drains, soil, and
other pipes, and for indicating the pressure in the same, and fittings connected there-
with, all substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The construction of the fume generator A directly. above the air pressure
generator B substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn in
the accompanying drawings.
3. The construction of a central perforated tube both in fume generator A and
air pressure generator B. substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. The construction of the flexible stoppers in various forms Fig. 2-3-4 for
effectively sealing the ends of the pipes undergoing examination, while permitting
free communication between the fume generator and the pipe, substantially as
and for the purpose herein described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
5. The construction of a pressure indicator Fig. 5 and fittings connected there-
with all as substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this the 28th day of November 1892.
WALTER SIMPSON.