Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
I, RODOLPHUS FREDERICK DERRICK, of Oroville, in the County of Butte, State of
California, United States of America, Engineer and Millwright, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of nozzles or hose-pipes which are adapted
to be reduced or expanded in diameter, and which are therefore known as "reducing"
variable" nozzles.
or
My invention consists in a novel expansible tube, segmental jaws embracing said
tube, and an adjustable or movable conical seat embracing the jaws, whereby they are
forced upon the tube to decrease its diameter, and relieved therefrom to allow it to
expand again.
My invention further consists in the details of construction of the nozzle, which I
shall hereinafter fully describe.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective nozzle, which is
adapted to have its diameter readily increased or decreased.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my
variable nozzle. Fig. 2 is a section of the pipe A. Fig. 3 is a section of exterior
pipe, G. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of expansible tube B. Fig. 5 is a view of one of
the jaws C. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of pipe A. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of
clutch-ring D.
A is a pipe in which is seated an expansible tube, B, made of springy sheet metal
curved and having its loose edges overlapping, so that said tube will yield to
external pressure whereby its diameter may be reduced and will expand again of its
own springy nature when relieved of the pressure. This expansible tube B is fixed
within the pipe A by means of a flange, b, on its inner end, engaging an internal
collar or flange, a, in the pipe A, and said tube B is held in such relation to the A
that its forward end projects therefrom.
C are the segmental jaws, by which the pressure is applied to the expansible tube.
The inner faces of the jaws are curved to conform to the periphery of the tube B, and
their outer faces are also curved, and are beveled to form arcs or curves of a truncated
cone. The shanks or stems c of the jaws pass backwardly through slots a², made in
the forward end of the pipe A, and are seated in grooves in the inner surface of said
pipe, their inner ends passing by the internal flange, a, of the pipe, which is slotted or
grooved for their passage, and are formed with hooks c', as shown. The jaws are held

page_text: in their seats in the pipe by means of a clutch-ring, D, which is fitted within the pipe,
and has a circumferential groove, d, around its inner end with short axial grooves d',
whereby it is enabled to fit over the ends of the shanks or stems of the jaws and
receive their hooks in the circumferential groove. A washer, d², is preferably placed
between the clutch-ring and the head of the expansible tube B. The clutch-ring is
held to its seat by means of a gland-nut, E, which screws into the pipe A and fits its
inner end into or against the adjacent end of the clutch-ring, whereby it is set up
firmly in its place.
The jaws C are operated by means of the exterior pipe, G, which is internally
threaded and screws upon the externally-threaded surface of the pipe A back to a
packing-seat, g. The forward end gl of the pipe G is made conical or tapering, and
encircles the jaws C, forming a seat therefor.
The operated of my nozzle is as follows:-
By screwing the exterior pipe, G, back as far as it will go the jaws C are forced by
the conical end of said pipe to press closely upon and around the expansible tube B,
and thus to reduce said tube in diameter to its smallest limit. Now, by unscrewing
the pipe G the pressure of its conical point is relieved from the jaws, which thereby
relieves the expansible tube B, whereby it increases its diameter as the pipe G is
unscrewed. This operation may be had while the stream is passing through the
nozzle, and there is therefore no loss of time in having to stop the flow of water while
the nozzle is manipulated. I am aware that it is not new in nozzles of this
class to force sectional tubes to smaller diameters, and I do not, therefore, claim, such
broadly.
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. In a variable nozzle, the expansible tube B, of springy sheet metal curved,
having its loose edges overlapping and provided with the collar b, in combination with
the segmental jaws C, encircling said tube and increasing or decreasing its diameter,
when pressure is withdrawn or applied, the hooks cl on said jaws, and the clutch-ring D,
engaging said hooks, substantially as herein described.
2. In a variable nozzle, the expansible tube formed of a piece of curved springy
sheet metal having its meeting edges overlapping, in combination with an exterior
pipe, the segmental jaws C, and a pipe, A, having slots a¹ in its forward end, within
which the jaws are seated, whereby they may be pressed upon the tube, substantially
as herein described.
3. In a variable nozzle, the pipe A, having the slots a¹ and the expansible tube, in
combination with the segmental jaws C, seated in said slots and embracing the tube,
and the exterior pipe, G, screwed upon the pipe A, and having a conical point,
whereby said jaws are pressed upon the tube, substantially as herein described.
4. In a variable nozzle, the pipe A, having an internal grooved or notched flange
or collar, a, and the expansible tube B, consisting of springy sheet metal, the loose
edges or ends of which overlap, said tube having a flange, b, at its inner end engaging
the flange or collar of the pipe A, in combination with the segmental jaws C, having
shanks c seated in the pipe A, and with hooks c¹ on their ends, the grooved clutch-
ring D, engaging said hooks, the gland-nut E, holding the clutch-ring to its place,
and the exterior pipe, G, screwed upon the pipe A, and having a conical point, g',
in which the segmental jaws C are seated, all arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as described.