Improved Means for Jointing Tubes made of Ductile Metal.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Jointing Tubes made of Ductile Metal.
We, JULES GROUVELLE and HENRI ARQUEMBOURG, trading as La Société Jules
Grouvelle et H. Arquembourg, of 71, Rue du Moulin-Vert, Paris, in the French
Republic, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of our present application is to describe, with the assistance of the
accompanying drawings, and to claim various improvements, conceived by us,
relating to the method of jointing tubes made of ductile metal, the subject of our
Letters Patent dated the 13th May, 1897, No. 11,913.
Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings are sectional elevations of
flange-joints and Fig. 2 is a constructional diagram drawn to a larger scale.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are sectional elevations of union-joints, Fig. 10 being an end
view of Figs. 8 and 9, and Figs. 11 and 12 collective views drawn to a smaller
*cale.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a special arrangement which
does not differ from that represented in Fig. 1 of the drawing annexed to the
Specification of the above-mentioned prior Letters Patent except by the inter-.
position, between the lips a, b of the tubes A, B, of a separating washer, E, having
concave faces. The interposition of the washer E, which is supposed to be formed
of a metal or alloy that is harder than the ductile metal of the tubes A, B, is
intended to prevent the lips a, b from becoming flattened against each other, owing
to the act, more or less often repeated, of the formation of the joint; (that is to
say; by the act of tightening the bolts which, in bringing close to one another
the flanges C, D, furnished with annular grooves c, d, act on the said lips through
the medium of the rounded shoulders c, d). Consequently, as a result of the
hardness of the metal or alloy of which the washer E is formed, the lips a, b,
instead of being liable to affect one another detrimentally, are, on the contrary
and in a certain degree, given the form of the annular concavities of the said
washer E, at each fresh tightening of the blots. [Fig. 2 of the accompanying
drawings represents the form of the profiles of the lips, of the rounded shoulders
and of the annular concavity of the washer, in the case where the revolving surfaces
generated by the said profiles are, as in the example selected, portions of the
exterior surface or interior surface of a torus; the profiles of the lips and the
profiles of the rounded shoulders, I-I, II-II, comprise elements of two circum-
ferences of which a is the common centre, whilst the profile corresponding with
the annular concavity of the washer, III-III, comprises an element of a circum-
ference of which ẞ is the centre, the centres «, B (always very near to one another)
being situated on a line drawn parallel with the common axis of the tubes A, B,
and the circumferences of larger radius having a point of tangence at y to
which it is well to add that the profile, III-III, is also that which should be
presented, at the desired points, by the peculiar pieces or apparatus to be inserted
in the systems of pipes.] In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the flanges are
of great thickness and the bolts of strong pattern, the latter affording an accurate
.

page_text: :
guide for the said flanges, which are thus maintained in correct relative position
during the formation of the joint. Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings illus-
trates an arrangement which only differs from. the preceding one in that separate
rings, c, d, are employed whereon are formed the rounded shoulders, and which
are lodged in corresponding recesses formed in the flanges which can thus assume
a very simplified form. Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings represent
special arrangements in which the flanges F, G are formed with annular
edges f, g, rounded shoulders being either formed in the substance of the said
flanges (Fig. 4) or formed on separate rings (Fig. 5). In those arrangements, the
flanges, which are of but slight thickness in the centre, come into contact with
one another at their edges, during the formation, of, the joint, and the bolts are
yet of strong pattern, in view of the vigorous screwing to which they must be
subjected for the purpose of procuring, towards the end of the..said. formation of
the joint, a flexion of the said central part of the flanges. The formation of the
joint is thus still. effected, without its being, possible, for the flanges to. incline in
relation to one another, and, further, in order to avoid any, relative displacement
of the said flanges in the horizontal plane, the edges may be formed with a
register," same consisting of an annular depression in the one edge and of an
annular projection on the other edge, as indicated in the drawings by semicircles
in broken lines. It is also obvious that the arrangements of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are
susceptible of being modified by the interposition of a separating washer like that
referred to in connection with Fig. 1.
13
Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings represents a special arrangement in which
the jointing of the tubes H, I is effected by means of shouldered sockets, h, i,
having an external screw-thread and terminating in a hexagon, the said sockets
being screwed into a sleeve J, having an internal screw-thread. The sleeve J,
supposed to be formed of a metal or alloy that is harder than the ductile metal
of the tubes H, I, assumes in the centre the form of a washer j; with two annular
concavities, against which the lips of the tubes H, I are firmly pressed by the
action of the rounded shoulders of the sockets h, i, and the addition of the said
washer, forming part of the sleeve J, has the same object as the interposition
of a disunited separating washer like that referred to in connection with Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings represents an arrangement which does not
differ from the preceding one except by the employment of separate rings, h,,
whereon are formed the rounded shoulders. As the formation of the joint effected
by means of unions differs from the formation of the joint effected with the aid
of flanges in the fact that the extremities of the tubes may be subjected to a
certain degree of torsional strain which, having regard to the ductile nature of
the metal of which the said tubes are made, would not always be without incon-
venience, the employment of the separate rings, h, ¹, is here intended to permit
the surface of each of the said rings, h¹, , which is in contact with the flat bearing
surface of each of the corresponding sockets, to be covered with lubricating
material; in this manner, the extremities of the tubes have to submit to but very
slight torsional strain towards the end of the said formation of the joint. Figs. 8
and 10 of the accompanying drawings represent a special arrangement in which
the jointing of the tubes K, L is effected by means of a sleeve M. the interior of
which is provided with a right- and a left-hand screw-thread and with an hexagonal
exterior central portion, so that it can be operated by an ordinary key, with the
object of bringing together, in view of the said formation of the joint, the
shouldered sockets, k, l, screw-threaded externally, not' terminating in a hexagon
as in the preceding case but each presenting two flats ,, upon their sides.
Figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings represent an arrangement differing
only from the preceding one by the interposition of a separating washer N, like
that referred to in connection with Fig. 1. The flats, herein before mentioned
are intended, as we are about to explain with the aid of Figs. 11 and 12 of the
accompanying drawings, to prevent the extremities of the tubes K, L from being
subjected to any torsional strain. In Figs. 11 and 12 are shown an end view and

page_text: a plan of a kind of socket key, M, which is placed across the joint in the manner
shown in the drawings, that is to say: in such a way that the inner surfaces of
the jaws of the said key, M³, fit against the flats on the sockets k,l. The key M*
is then held firmly in position by the handle with which it is furnished, and, at
the same time, the sleeve M is operated with the aid of an ordinary key in order
to complete the formation of the joint. Thus it is easy to understand that, in
these conditions, the sockets k,l will approach each other, being displaced in a
longitudinal direction, parallel to themselves, without rotating. (The key M³,
moreover, could easily be made adjustable, so as to be rendered capable of employ-
ment in the formation of all the joints of a more or less numerous series of tubes
of different diameters.)
We will conclude the present specification with this general observation, viz.,
that, if the increase in the number of pieces necessary for the formation of a
joint cause any inconvenience, such inconvenience, in the case in question, is
more than compensated for by the very varied choice which this increase allows
amongst the metals and alloys which it may be convenient (or suitable) to employ
in each particular application, equally from the points of view of the ductility as
of the hardness of the said metals and alloys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
1. In jointing ductile metal pipes by expanding the extremities of the pipes and
applying flanges or unions having rounded shoulders which abut against the
backs of the said expanded extremities, or lips, inserting between the latter an
annular body or "washer," of hard metal or alloy, formed with concave faces which
respectively receive the rounded lips of the expanded tube-ends.
2. For use in connection with pipe joints of the character referred to in the
preceding claiming clause and wherein a union is employed, the improved con-
struction of duplex key adapted to engage and hold both the male members of the
union whilst the female member is turned, substantially as described with refer-
ence to Figs. 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
1
For the Applicants,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.