Improvements in Coupling Apparatus Applicable as Couplings for Hose Pipes, Water Mains, and other Pipes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 16th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
Improvements in Coupling Apparatus Applicable as Couplings for
Hose Pipes, Water Mains, and other Pipes.
1, WILLIAM MULLAN of Marlborough Park, Belfast in the County of Antrim,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the speedy coupling up of pipes without screwing.
I form the pipes with a socket at one end having a ring of india rubber or its
equivalent therein, against which the end of the other pipe abuts. This end is
provided with n projecting pieces, preferably three, at equal angles from each other
round its circumference, and the socket is formed with n corresponding slots through
which these pieces project. Against the flange of the socket and formed with
grooves corresponding to the projecting pieces aforesaid, I place a ring, having on
its face n number of equally distanced offsets gradually lessening in breadth
(longitudinally to the pipe) to the next groove and the next offset immediately beyond
the groove.
The mode of coupling is as follows:-
The ring bing placed against the flange with its grooves opposite the slots in the
socket, the india rubber ring is inserted and the pipe end, the projections thus
passing through the slots in the socket and the grooves in the ring, and stopping a
trifle beyond the latter. The ring is now turned round till its increasing width is
wedged tight between the projections and the flange. It will be obvious that if the n
pieces of flange on the socket were gradually increased in thickness on the side next
the ring, and the ring gradually increased in thickness from minimum to maximum n
times at equal angles in the circle in a manner complementary to the flanges, the
same effect would be obtained; also that the inclines in one of the two can be in
skeleton, as two or more isolated projections of required heights, instead of a
continuous incline, and the effect would be the same. The principle being in all
cases the same, namely a bayonet joint with an independent ring between the two
members made movable on the two stationary members, instead of the one member
being rotated on the other the required angle, as in other bayonet joints.
Dated this 13th day of Anril 1887
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM MULLAN of Marlborough Park near Belfast in the County of Antrim
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 has for its object the speedy coupling up of pipes without
screwing.
I form one of the pipes with a socket at one end having a ring of india rubber or
its equivalent therein against which the end of the other pipe abuts. This spigot
end is provided with n projecting pieces preferably three, at equal angles from each
other round its circumference, and the socket is formed with n corresponding slots
through which these pieces project. Against the flange of the socket and formed
with grooves corresponding to the projecting pieces aforesaid on the spigot end I
place a ring having on its face n number of equally distanced offsets gradually
lessening in breadth (longitudinally to the pipe) to the next groove and the next
offset immediately beyond the groove.
It will be obvious that if the n pieces of flange on the socket were gradually
increased in thickness on the side next the ring and the ring gradually increased in
thickness from minimum to maximum n times at equal angular distances in the circle
in a manner complementary to the flanges, the same effect would be obtained, also
that the inclines in one of the two can be in skeleton, as two or more isolated
projections of required heights, instead of a continuous incline, and the effect would
be the same. The principle being in all cases the same, namely a bayonet joint with
an independent ring between the two members made movable on the two stationary
members instead of the one member being rotated on the other the required angle, as
in other bayonet joints.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an end view of the male or spigot end
of the coupling provided with the projecting pieces (in this case three in number),
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a complete hose coupling. Figure 3 is an end
view of the socket part of the coupling. Figure 4 is a section on line A B
Figure 3 of the ring which connects the male and female ends of the coupling.
Figure 5 is an end view of the male or spigot part of the coupling provided with
the projecting pieces (in this case there are two). Figure 6 is a longitudinal section
of the complete coupling.

page_text: Figure 7 is an end view of the female or socket end of the coupling and Figure 8
shows the connecting ring in section on line A B Figure 7. The offsetts ? in this
case are formed with two different angles beginning with an acute angle and finishing
off with one of less pitch thus giving an angle of rest and practically affording a
locking surface to the projections a.
Figure 9 is an end view similar to Figure 5, Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of
a coupling similar to that of Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 but with a swivelling arrangement
on the connecting ring for facilitating the unwinding of the hose when coiled up.
Figure 11 is an end view of the female end of coupling and Figure 12 is a cross
section of the said connecting ring on line A B Figure 11.
Figure 13 shows another modification of hose coupling, Figure 14 is an end view
of the male end of the coupling and Figure 15 a longitudinal section. Figure 16 is
a longitudinal section of a coupling constructed similarly to that shown by Figures 13,
14 and 15 out with a loose collar for the purpose of allowing the male part of the
coupling to revolve thereby preventing the hose from becoming twisted.
Like figures refer to like parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive it will be seen that I let in or otherwise apply
a ring of india rubber i to the socket B, against which the end of the other or spigot
part A of the coupling abuts. The end of this part A is provided with projecting
pieces a at equal angles or angular distances from each other round its circumference
and the socket B is formed with corresponding slots through which these pieces a
project radially when the two parts are put together as shown in Figures 2 and 6.
There are three projections a in the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 and two in that
shown in Figures 5 to 8. Against the flange of the socket B and formed with
grooves corresponding to the projecting pieces a aforesaid I place a ring R having
on its internal face the equally distanced off sets r gradually lessening in breadth
(longitudinally to the pipe) or in other words rising in height to the next
groove and the next offset immediately beyond the grooves 11. Figures 6 and 7
are recesses in the ring R for affording a grip to the hand. is a ring which
is rivetted or otherwise secured to the socket B in order to prevent the ring R from
slipping off.
The off sets in this case are formed with two different angles or inclines beginning
with an acute angle and finishing off at with one of very fine pitch thus giving an
angle of rest and practically affording a locking surface to the projections a.
Referring to Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 the construction is the same as in Figures 5,
6, 7 and 8 except that instead of having recesses in the outside of the ring R there
are outer projecting lugs which may be plain for a hose key or as here shown made
somewhat longer and provided with rollers or handles l' for facilitating the unwinding
of the coil of hose to which the coupling is connected as is well known in the trade.
The off sets are at their ends (as shown in Figure 12) somewhat recessed at r¹ so as
to prevent them from slipping off the projecting pieces a accidentally thus forming a
locking joint for the coupling.
Referring to Figures 13, 14 and 15 the ring R is kept in position on the female
end of the coupling by means of curved projections 2 and is prevented from slipping
off by means of the flange b' which may be fixed as before described; the sides of
the rings take onto the projections a on the male or spigot end A of the coupling.
Referring to Figure 16 the male end A of the coupling is provided with a collar a¹
for the purpose of allowing the pipe to turn round or swivel thereby preventing the
twisting of same. The projections a are in this case on the collar a instead of on
the male end A.
The mode of coupling is as follows
:-
The ring R being placed with its grooves opposite the slots in the socket B, the
spigot or male end A is inserted, the projections a thus passing through the slots in
the socket B and the grooves in the ring R and stopping a trifle beyond the latter.
The ring R is now turned round till its increasing width is wedged tight between the
projections a and the flange b.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First: A bayonet joint hose or pipe coupling in which the spigot end is provided
with lugs and the socket end with corresponding slots, the two parts being connected
by a movable ring provided with inclines operating against the lugs for the purpose
of closing or releasing the coupling substantially as set forth.
Second: The constructions of bayonet joint couplings with movable connecting
ring substantially as described and shown.