Improvements in Hose or Pipe Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hose or Pipe Couplings.
I, EDWARD ETHEL GOLD, of No. 107 West 95th Street, in the City, County.
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to couplings for uniting together sections of hose or
flexible or jointed pipe, such for example as the steam-heating or air-brake pipes
of railway cars.
Such couplings have heretofore been of two kinds; first, those in which the
seating faces are forced together to make a steam or airtight joint by the action
of reciprocal wedging faces on the locking provisions, and the second those in
which the locking together of the two heads is not wholly relied upon to make
a steam or airtight joint, but the internal pressure is utilized to exert a pressure
against the seats to force them into closer contact and prevent leakage when the
steam or other fluid pressure is turned on.
My invention relates to couplings of the second species thus indicated, and its
object is to produce a practical coupling for pipes sustaining an internal pressure,
adapted for the rough use to which couplings are subjected on railways, which
shall become tighter and less liable to leakage as the internal pressure is
increased.
To this end I provide the coupling with a diaphragm (or equivalent movable
part) on the opposite side of the coupling head from the seat, adapted to be
thrust outwardly by internal fluid pressure, and I provide means for communi-
cating this outward thrust from the diaphragm or movable part of each head to
the opposite head whereby to press the respective seats together. The outward
thrust of each diaphragm in direction away from its own seat is thereby exerted
against the opposite head to draw the latter bodily in direction toward the seat
of the head to which the diaphragm pertains. The means for communicating
this thrust to the opposite head may be any suitable projection or provision
thereon, or preferably a separate piece in the nature of a lever or movable arm,
on one or both ends of which are formed one or both of the respective locking
faces for coupling the two heads together.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of a pair of couplings
constructed according to my present invention in the coupled position;
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof in horizontal section through one of the coupling
heads;
Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the coupling heads;
Figs. 4 and 5 are front and side views of the lever-arm ;
Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the coupling heads;
Fig. 7 is a plan view showing my improved coupling intercoupled with a different
coupler ;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a modified construction of my improved coupler;
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the coupler shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is an end elevation of a pair of couplers involving a modified con-
struction of my invention, one of the coupling heads being shown in horizontal
section;
Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modification wherein my invention is applied to
a "straight port" coupling, Fig. 11 being a vertical midsection on the line
11-11 in Fig. 12, and the latter a horizontal section on the line 12-12 in
Fig. 11.
The couplings shown in the drawings are designed for attachment to the ends

page_text: of sections of flexible hose that are to be coupled together, these hose sections
being ordinarily the terminal sections of the steam-heating pipes or air-brake
pipes of railway cars.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, let A A designate the coupling heads, sections or
bodies, each of which is provided with a tubular neck or shank a, adapted for
attachment to the end of a hose section B in any suitable known manner, as
for example by a clamp b, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The heads A A are
adapted to be coupled together side by side by means of suitable locking pro-
jections or wedging surfaces which are interengaged by a relative movement of
the heads, preferably by an oscillatory movement thereof. These locking
provisions consist in the constructions shown of two diametrically opposite arms
or plates c and d on each head. The arm c projects directly outward from the
head at one side, while the arm d on the other side is formed as an angle-piece
or bracket to carry it beyond the plane of the other head, in order that the
arm d on each head shall engage the arm c on the other head, their contacting
faces being made slightly oblique or inclined relatively to the plane of the seating
faces in order that as they are put into engagement by an oscillatory movement,
these inclined faces may exert a wedging action to draw the two heads tightly
together. Other locking provisions may, however, be substituted for those shown,
many different means for interlocking twin coupling heads being known in the
art. The particular arrangement of locking arms c and d described, is adopted
in order to enable my improved coupler to intercouple with other similar couplers,
as for example as shown in Fig. 7, where A' designates the head of a coupling
known in the United States as the "Gibbs coupler with its locking arms c
and d¹. In the Gibbs coupler both these arms are made as rigid projections
from the head A'. My coupling may in similar manner be adapted to intercouple
with the Westinghouse and other couplings for pipes or hose.
"
The coupling heads A A are formed on their adjoining sides with communicating
openings or ports e e, and each head is provided with a seat C consisting of a ring
of suitable material encircling the port and presenting a seating face projecting
slightly beyond the side of the head. According to my invention this seat will
ordinarily be fixed rigidly, or unyieldingly to the head, in contradistinction to being
mounted on a diaphragm or piston, so as to be movable out and in relatively to the
head. The preferred construction is that clearly shown in Fig. 2, wherein the
seat C is placed in a groove in the side of the head so that it rests solidly against
the material thereof, and is confined therein by a fastening ring D having screw
threads engaging threads on the head, and having an internal flange which engages
an external flange on the seat C. Other means for clamping or binding the seat to
the head may however be substituted.
The opposite or outer side of the coupling head instead of being a closed wall of
solid metal as heretofore, is formed with an opening which in the preferred con-
struction is closed by a flexible diaphragm E, held in place by a ring g or other
fastening means, as shown in Fig. 2. As an equivalent of a diaphragm, a piston
might be used as shown at E' in Fig. 10, but the diaphragm is preferable. I prefer
to back the diaphragm with a disc of rigid metal-h, which nearly fills the opening
within the ring g and protects the diaphragm from any mechanical injury. The
middle of the disc h is preferably raised and comes against a lever arm F, which is
arranged across the outer side of the head, its construction being such that it is
adapted to receive the outward thrust of the diaphragm (transmitted to it through
the plate h) and transmit this thrust to the opposite coupling head in order to draw 5
the seats of the two heads into tighter contact. In the preferred construction the
lever F is fulcrummed at one end at i, and is formed on its other end with the
locking arm or plate c, so that this locking arm (instead of being a fixed part of
the head as heretofore) is made movable to a slight extent. The extent of move-
ment is limited by stops applied to the lever F. Preferably these stops are formed 5
in connection with means for supporting and retaining in place the lever at the end
thereof adjacent to the locking plate c as shown at j and 11.

page_text: My improved coupler has the advantage that the seat C is solidly seated against
the metal coupling head, so that any blow which it may receive is firmly resisted
and will not result in forcing its seating face out of the proper place. Where the
seat is mounted on a diaphragm as heretofore an accidental blow is liable to distort
the diaphragm so as to throw the seat out of the true plane, as well as to injure the
diaphragm or its connection and give rise to leakage. My invention of the solidly
supporting seat with an independent diaphragm arranged at the opposite or rear
side of the head, wholly avoids this difficulty. The diaphragm is thoroughly
protected from injury by reason of its being mounted deeply within an opening and
covered over by the protecting disc h.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a modified construction wherein both the locking arms or
plates c and d are mounted on the lever F instead of one of them, d, being fixed to
the coupling head as in the construction first described. This construction necessi-
tates that the lever F (here lettered F¹) shall be carried around three sides of the
coupling head, terminating at diametrically opposite points in the plates cd, (here
lettered cd) while its middle portion crosses the rear or outer side of the head to
receive the reaction of the diaphragm.
Fig. 10 shows a further modification wherein the levers are dispensed with, the
reactive thrust of the diaphragm or its equivalent being exerted against an arm F
formed rigidly on the opposite head, preferably by being cast integrally therewith.
The thrust of the diaphragm against this arm is exerted to draw the two heads
more tightly together, but instead of this pressure being communicated through the
locking faces cd (here lettered c³ d³) as before, it is transmitted independently of
them and in such manner as to tend to draw the locking faces out of contact.
At q in Figs. 2, 9 and 10, is shown a threaded opening in a boss adjoining the
coupling head, into which opening a steam trap or relief valve r is screwed as shown
in Figs. 1 and 2. This trap in its preferred construction consists of a simple gravity
check-valve, so mounted that by its own weight it stands normally open, but by
reason of being placed on the inner side of its seat it closes automatically when the
pressure is turned on.
My invention is not necessarily limited to a coupling in which the seating faces
are arranged laterally, but may be applied to oblique port or straight port couplings..
Figs. 11 and 12 show one manner in which it may be applied to a straight port
coupling. In these figures the port and seat C¹ are arranged at the outer end of
the coupling head as usual in such couplings, the coupling head being provided with
the nsual locking projections on one side and locking arm t projecting from the
other, and having the locking projection t'. At the opposite end of the coupling
head is arranged a diaphragm E2, which reacts outwardly against a sliding frame F
on which the locking projections are formed.
Although according to my present invention it is preferable that the seat shall
be unyieldingly mounted against the abutting side of the coupling head, yet it is not
essential that the seat be immovable, since a compensating seat movable to bring its
seating face into parallel contact with that of the opposite seat might be applied, as
for example by making the seat in the segment of a sphere. The use of a somewhat
elastic or yielding material for the seat is preferable, but a hard or unyielding
material might be used, and in such case a yielding cushion might be interposed
between the seat and the bottom of the groove in the coupling head in which the
seat is held. Such a cushion may be applied as shown at u in Fig. 10.
Dated this 7th day of January 1892.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hose or Pipe Couplings.
I, EDWARD ETHEL GOLD, of 107 West 95th Street, in the City, County and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 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 couplings for uniting together sections of hose or flexible
or jointed pipe, such for example as the steam-heating or air-brake pipes of railway
cars.
Such couplings have heretofore been of two kinds; first, those in which the
seating faces are forced together to make a steam or airtight joint by the action of
reciprocal wedging faces on the locking provisions, and the second those in which
the locking together of the two heads is not wholly relied upon to make a steam or
airtight joint, but the internal pressure is utilized to exert a pressure against the
seats to force them into closer contact and prevent leakage when the steam or other
fluid pressure is turned on.
My invention relates to couplings of the second species thus indicated, and its
object is to produce a practical coupling for pipes sustaining an internal pressure,
adapted for the rough use to which couplings are subjected on railways, which shall
become tighter and less liable to leakage as the internal pressure is increased.
To this end I provide the coupling with a diaphragm (or equivalent movable
part) on the opposite side of the coupling head from the seat, adapted to be thrust
outwardly by internal fluid pressure, and I provide means for communicating this
outward thrust from the diaphragmn or movable part of each head to the opposite
head whereby to press the respective seats together. The outward thrust of cach
diaphragm in direction away from its own seat is thereby exerted against the
opposite head to draw the latter bodily in direction toward the seat of the head to
which the diaphragm pertains. The means for communicating this thrust to the
opposite head may be any suitable projection or provision thereon, or preferably a
separate piece in the nature of a lever or movable arm, on one or both ends of which
are formed one or both of the respective locking faces for coupling the two heads
together.
Fig. 1 of the drawings left with my Provisional Specification is a side elevation
of a pair of couplings constructed according to my present invention in the coupled
position;
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof in horizontal section through one of the coupling heads;
Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the coupling heads;
Figs. 4 and 5 are front and side views of the lever-arm;
Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the coupling heads;
Fig. 7 is a plan view showing my improved coupling intercoupled with a different
coupler;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a modified construction of my improved coupler;
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the coupler shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is an end elevation of a pair of couplers involving a modified construction
of my invention, one of the coupling heads being shown in horizontal section ;
66
Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modification wherein my invention is applied to a
straight port" coupling, Fig. 11 being a vertical midsection on the line 11-11
in Fig. 12, and the latter a horizontal section on the line 12-12 in Fig. 11.
The couplings shown in the drawings are designed for attachment to the ends of sections
of flexible hose that are to be coupled together, these hose sections being ordinarily
the terminal sections of the steam-heating pipes or air-brake pipes of railway cars.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, let A A designate the coupling heads, sectious or bodies,
each of which is provided with a tubular neck or shank a, adapted for attachment
to the end of a hose section B in any suitable known manner, as for example by a
clamp b, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The heads A A are adapted to be coupled

page_text: together side by side by means of suitable locking projections or wedging surfaces
which are interengaged by a relative movement of the heads, preferably by an
oscillatory movement thereof. These locking provisions consist in the constructions
shown of two diametrically opposite arms or plates c and d on each head. The
arm c projects directly outward from the head at one side, while the arm d on the
other side is formed as an angle-piece or bracket to carry it beyond the plane of
the other head, in order that the arm d on each head shall engage the arm con
the other head, their contacting faces being made slightly oblique or inclined
relatively to the plane of the seating faces in order that as they are put into
engagement by an oscillatory movement, these inclined faces may exert a wedging
action to draw the two heads tightly together. Other locking provisions may,
however, be substituted for those shown, many different means for interlocking
twin coupling heads being known in the art. The particular arrangement of locking
arms c and d described, is adopted in order to enable my improved coupler to
intercouple with other similar couplers, as for example as shown in Fig. 7, where
A' designates the head of a coupling known in the United States as the "Gibbs
coupler" with its locking arms c¹ and d'. In the Gibbs coupler both these arms are
made as rigid projections from the head A'. My coupling may in similar manner
be adapted to intercouple with the Westinghouse and other couplings for pipes or
hose.
The coupling heads A A are formed on their adjoining sides with communicating
openings or ports e e, and each head is provided with a seat C consisting of a ring
of suitable material encircling the port and presenting a seating face projecting
slightly beyond the side of the head. According to my invention this seat will
ordinarily be fixed rigidly, or unyieldingly to the head, in contradistinction to being
mounted on a diaphragm or piston, so as to be movable out and in relatively to the
head. The preferred construction is that clearly shown in Fig. 2, wherein the
seat C is placed in a groove in the side of the head so that it rests solidly against
the material thereof, and is confined therein by a fastening ring D having screw-
threads engaging threads on the head, and having an internal flange which engages
an external flange on the seat C. Other means for clamping or binding the seat to
the head may however be substituted.
The opposite or outer side of the coupling head instead of being a closed wall of
solid metal as heretofore, is formed with an opening which in the preferred
construction is closed by a flexible diaphragm E, held in place by a ring g or other
fastening means, as shown in Fig. 2. As an equivalent of a diaphragm, a piston
might be used as shown at E' in Fig. 10, but the diaphragm is preferable. I prefer
to back the diaphragm with a disk of rigid metal h, which nearly fills the opening
within the ring 9 and protects the diaphragm from any mechanical injury. The
middle of the disk h is preferably raised and comes against a lever arm F, which is
arranged across the outer side of the head, its construction being such that it
is adapted to receive the outward thrust of the diaphragm (transmitted to it
through the plate h) and transmit this thrust to the opposite coupling head in
order to draw the seats of the two heads into tighter contact. In the preferred
construction the lever F is fulcrumed at one end at i, and is formed on its other
end with the locking arm or plate c, so that this locking arm (instead of being a
fixed part of the head as heretofore) is made movable to a slight extent. The
extent of movement is limited by stops applied to the lever F. Preferably these
stops are formed in connection with means for supporting and retaining in place
the lever at the end thereof adjacent to the locking plate c.
For this purpose I
provide preferably two projecting arms or lugs cast integrally with the head A
and loosely embracing the lever F on opposite sides, a pin j being arranged
between the lugs and rivetted to them in position just outside the lever, so that this
pin prevents the displacement of the lever in direction away from the head, while
the lugs j prevent its displacement upwardly or downwardly. The lever is formed
with notches kk on opposite sides as shown in Fig. 6, and the lugs enter these
notches, the notches being somewhat longer than the width of the lugs, so that the

page_text: lever has the requisite motion in direction toward or from the opposite head, while
the ends of the notches constitute shoulders abutting against the sides of the
lugs for forming stops to limit the movement of the lever in such direction. In
the act of locking the two heads together. in coupling, the locking plate cand
lever Fare drawn toward the opposite head until stopped by the ends of these
notches, whereby the two heads are enabled to be firmly joined or wedged together
by the locking projections cd. When steam is turned on, the outward thrust of
the diaphragm against the lever moves it outwardly a very slight distance, sufficient
only to bring the seats into sufficiently firm contact and thereby move the shoulders //
out of contact with the sides of the lugs. The opposite shoulders do not come
in contact with the lugs in this automatic tightening movement, but are designed
only for preventing the lever F being displaced too far outwardly to leave the
locking plate c in position for properly engaging the locking arm d of the opposite
head. As the angular movement of the lever is very slight, the fulcrum i is
preferably constructed by thrusting the end of the lever beneath an eye or stirrup
formed on the back or outer side of the coupling head so as to constitute a loose
rocking connection. When the pin j' is afterward put in place and rivetted
fast, it prevents the movement of the lever in such direction as would free its end
from this stirrup.
My improved coupler has the advantage that the seat C is solidly seated against
the metal coupling head, so that any blow which it may receive is firmly resisted
and will not result in forcing its seating face out of the proper place. Where the
seat is mounted on a diaphragm as heretofore (in the said Gibbs coupler for
example) an accidental blow is liable to distort the diaphragm so as to throw the
seat out of the true plane, as well as to injure the diaphragm or its connection and
give rise to leakage. My invention of the solidly supported seat with an inde-
pendent diaphragm arranged at the opposite or rear side of the head, wholly
avoids this difficulty. The diaphragm is thoroughly protected from injury by
reason of its being mounted deeply within an opening and covered over by the
protecting disk h.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a modified construction wherein both the locking arms or
plates c and d are mounted on the lever F instead of one of them, d, being fixed to
the coupling head as in the construction first described. This construction
necessitates that the lever F (here lettered F¹) shall be carried around three
sides of the coupling head, terminating at diametrically opposite points in the
plates cd, (here lettered c³ d³) while its middle portion crosses the rear or outer
side of the head to receive the reaction of the diaphragm. To hold the lever in
place, it is guided by suitable guides or projecting ears or pins engaging it as close
as is practicable to the respective plates and d, and at other points if necessary.
In the construction shown, the end of the lever adjacent to the plate is engaged
by projecting ears m m, while on the opposite side of the head it is confined
between the neck a and a projecting ear n, stops o o being formed on the lever to
rest against the outer side of the head and limit the extent to which the plates c³ ³
shall yield during the locking movement of the heads. Lateral guides pare
also preferably provided to engage the intermediate portion of the lever.
enable the levers to cross the heads diametrically, the necks or tubular shanks a a
may conveniently be carried downward from the heads, and then directed upward
in the manner shown in Fig. 9.
To
Fig. 10 shows a further modification wherein the levers are dispensed with,
the reactive thrust of the diaphragm or its equivalent being exerted against an
arm F formed rigidly on the opposite head, preferably by being cast integrally
therewith. The thrust of the diaphragm against this arm is exerted to draw the
two heads more tightly together, but instead of this pressure being communicated
through the locking faces, c d (here lettered ed³) as before, it is transmitted
independently of them and in such manner as to tend to draw the locking faces t
out of contact. The former construction, by forcing the locking faces more
tightly into contact when the internal pressure is turned on, is preferable to the

page_text: one shown in Fig. 10. In this figure is also shown the substitution of a
piston E for the diaphragm E, the mechanical effect being the same, but the
piston being inferior because of the difficulty of maintaining a tight packing.
At 7 in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, is shown a threaded opening in a boss adjoining
5 the coupling head, into which opening a steam trap or relief valve r is screwed
as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This trap in its preferred construction consists of a
simple gravity check-valve, so mounted that by its own weight it stands normally
open, but by reason of being placed on the inner side of its seat it closes auto-
matically when the pressure is turned on. This trap is fully illustrated and
claimed in my British Patent No. 17,139, dated October 8, 1891.
My invention is not necessarily limited to a coupling in which the seating faces
are arranged laterally, but may be applied to oblique port or straight port
couplings. Figs. 11 and 12 show one manner in which it may be applied to a
straight port coupling. In these figures the port e¹ and seat C₁ are arranged at
the outer end of the coupling head as usual in such couplings, the coupling head
being provided with the usual locking projections on one side and locking arm t
projecting from the other, and having the locking projection t'. At the opposite
end of the coupling head is arranged a diaphragm E, which reacts outwardly
against a sliding frame F3 on which the locking projections are formed.
of locking the two coupling heads together is the same as with other couplings of
this type, but when steam is turned on the outward pressure on the diaphragm of
one coupling is exerted against the frame F³ to retract the locking projections
and t, and thereby to draw the two couplings into closer contact at their seating
faces. It will be seen that this construction constitutes a mere modification of the
constructions shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
The act
3
Although according to my present invention it is preferable that the seat shall
be unyieldingly mounted against the abutting side of the coupling head, yet it is
not essential that the seat be immovable, since a compensating seat movable to bring
its seating face into parallel contact with that of the opposite seat might be applied,
as for example by making the seat in the segment of a sphere, as shown in my said
British Patent No. 17,139 of 1891.
The use of a somewhat elastic or yielding material for the seat is preferable,
but a hard or unyielding material might be used, and in such case a yielding
cushion might be interposed between the seat and the bottom of the groove in the
coupling head in which the seat is held. Such a cushion may be applied as shown
at u in Fig. 10.
It will be understood that where a diaphragm is referred to in the claims it
is my intention to cover equally any mechanical equivalent of a diaphragm, such
as a piston, where the substitution of such equivalent in place of a diaphragm is
admissible.
Having thus 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. In a pipe coupling, a coupling head having locking faces for coupling it to
a reciprocal head, a seat mounted on the abutting side of the head, a diaphragm
movable under fluid pressure, arranged at the opposite side of the head, and means
for transmitting the outward thrust of said diaphragm to the opposite head to
force the seats of the two heads firmly together during the maintenance of fluid
pressure within the coupling, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a pipe coupling of the character specified, a lever arm arranged to receive
the thrust of the diaphragm and transmit it through the locking faces to the opposite
head to force the seats of the two heads firmly together while fluid pressure exists
within the heads, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. Forming the lever arm specified in Claim 2 with a locking-face adapted
o engage a reciprocal locking face on the opposite head, substantially as
specified.

page_text: 4. Providing stops to limit the movement of the said lever arm relatively to
the coupling head, whereby in coupling it is drawn against said stops by the wedging
action of the locking faces, and upon the turning on of fluid pressure the thrust of
the diaphragm is transmitted through the lever and locking projections to the
opposite head, substantially as specified.
5. The combination of a coupling head A having a seat C and diaphragm E on
opposite sides, and formed with a locking projection d and guiding ears jj, with a
lever arm F arranged to receive the outward thrust of said diaphragm formed
with a locking projection c, said lever arm guided by said ears jj, and formed with
opposite stops abutting against said lugs to limit its movement, substantially as
specified.
6. In a pipe coupling, a coupling head A. having openings on opposite sides, a
seat C surrounding one opening, and a diaphragm E closing the other opening, a
reinforcing disk h covering the outer side of said diaphragm, and a part arranged to
receive the thrust of said diaphragm and transmit said thrust to a reciprocal
coupling head with which said head may be coupled, substantially as specified.
7. A coupling head having a seat on one face and a diaphragm or equivalent
movable part on the opposite side, and formed with a rigid arm adapted to engage
a like diaphragm on a reciprocal head, substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 10.
8. A straight port coupling the heads of which are formed with a diaphragm on
the opposite side to the seat, and a movable frame F³ for transmitting the thrust of
said diaphragm to the locking faces, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 11 and 12.
Dated this 30th day of Sentember 1892
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.