Improvements in the Means of Jointing Mains, Pipes and other Conduits for Water Gas and other Fluids and Vapours.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
0
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Jointing Mains, Pipes and other
Conduits for Water Gas and other Fluids and Vapours.
I DAVID JOHN RUSSELL DUNCAN of 28 Victoria Street, in the County of London,
Civil 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 relates to the jointing of steel, iron and other pipes, particularly
water and gas mains of large diameter.
The pipes to be jointed together may be in any lengths, and their ends may be
either plain, so as to simply butt together, or the end of one pipe may be enlarged,
so that the ends overlap, or the ends may be provided with bands, hoops, ridges
or grooves either cast, cut shrunk or otherwise formed on or attached to them.
In carrying out this invention I employ a device consisting of two or more
parts viz.
1. A packing strip.
2. A circumferential tapering wedge and
3. A sleeve or compression ring.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, Figs. 1 to 11, all of which (except Fig. 11) show in sections, taken
parallel with the axis of the pipes, various forms of my jointing device, the
sections being taken through one side only of the pipes.
In all the drawings A and A¹ are the pipes, B the packing strip, C the taper
wedge and D the compression ring.
1. The packing strip (B), formed of any suitable compressible material, such
for example, as lead or india rubber, is laid circumferentially round the joint of
the pipes. It may be of any width considered desirable, and of rectangular,
5 curvilinear, corrugated or other section, and its edges or ends may overlap or
may butt together, either parallel with, or diagonal to the axis of the pipes. It
may be in one or more pieces, and though generally a loose piece it may, if
preferred, be fastened either to the taper wedge, which is placed over it, or to one
of the pipe ends. Or it may be run into place after the pipes are put together.
2. The taper wedge (C) consists of a band or ring, preferably of steel or other
metal, formed in one piece, in which case it is split, or of two or more segments,
which may have the ends or edges butting or overlapping, parallel with or
diagonal to the axis of the pipes. Packing may be used at the divisions to make
them tight if necessary. The wedge may be of any desired length or thickness
5 and may be plain or may have ribs or grooved recesses internally or externally
or both. Internally it is usually of equal diameter at both ends, but it may be
formed with a taper, as shown for example in Fig. 5 externally it is conical or
tapering, thus forming a circumferentially tapering compressible wedge, or ring,
which contracts in diameter under the pressure of the compression ring or
0 sleeve D, which is forced over it in making the joint.
3. The compression ring (D) consists of a rigid hoop or sleeve, preferably of

page_text: steel or other metal, of any suitable length or thickness, having its inner surface
tapered to correspond with the external taper of the wedge C. The inner surface
of 1 may be grooved or recessed to reduce the area of its bearing surfaces on the
outside of C.
The joint is made by forcing the compression ring D, over the split wedge, C,
thus contracting it, and compressing the packing strip B, around the ends of the
pipes A A. Conversely the joint may be loosened or taken apart by withdrawing
the compression ring D.
Any suitable means may be employed for forcing the compression ring upon
the wedge, such for example as hammering it on, or using screw, hydraulic or
other power. Clamps or bands may be used placed temporarily round the pipes,
and drawn together by screw bolts, two or more hydraulic presses suitably
mounted in a suspended cradle may be employed for closing the joint. After the
joint has been made, the packing strip may if desired, be caulked into an annular
space between the pipes and the ends of the taper wedge.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows a joint in which the ends of the pipes are butted one against the
other. The wedge C; is provided with four projections C¹, internally, so as to
put pressure on the packing strip B at those points.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11, represent similar butt joints in which modifications
are shown in the shape of the wedge C.
Fig. 5 shows a joint formed by two pipes of unequal size, so that one pipe (A¹)
overlaps the other (A). The wedge C is tapered internally as well as externally
and puts pressure on the packing strip B, with curved projections_C¹.
Fig. 6 shows a form of overlapping joint, in which the end of the pipe A, is
enlarged.
Fig. 7 shows a joint where the pipes A A¹ are provided with hoops or
flanges A2 A3 and the wedge C is recessed or provided with grooves C2 externally.
Fig. 8 shows a joint in which the pipes A A¹, have grooves A* round them,
near their ends, the wedge C being provided with projections C¹, so as to press 3
the packing strip B, into the grooves.
Fig. 9 shows a joint with the compression ring D, wedge C and packing strip B
in position ready to make the joint, which is completed by forcing the ring D
upon the wedge C in the direction of the arrow as far as may be necessary.
Fig. 10 shows a joint in which the wedge C is provided with a projection C3 at 3
each end, so constructed as to confine the packing strip B between them. The
compression ring D is shown with a set screw E locking it with wedge C. One
or more set screws may be used.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view partly broken away of the joint shown in Fig. 1.
It is evident that many modifications may be made without departing from the 4
spirit of this invention and in carrying it out I do not confine myself to the forms
and details shown in the drawings accompanying this Specification. For instance
although I prefer to use the packing C I may dispense with that by turning the
pipe ends and interior of the wedge so that they are true fits. Or the ring C may
be made of soft metal which when compressed upon the pipes will make a tight 45
joint without separate packing.
Having now 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. Making a pipe joint by forcing an internally tapered sleeve or compression 50
ring such as D onto a compressible wedge such as C both D and C forming parts
of the permanent joint substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a pipe joint the employment of an external compression ring forming part
of the permanent joint substantially as described.
3. In a pipe joint the employment of a compressible wedge such as C forming 55
part of the permanent joint substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In a pipe joint a circumferentially tapered wedge which is also the packing
substantially as described.
5. In a pipe joint the combination of a sleeve or compression ring a circum-
ferentially tapered wedge and a packing strip all forming parts of the permanent
joint substantially as described.
6. In a pipe joint the combination of a sleeve or compression ring and a cir-
cumferentially tapered wedge having a packing istrip attached to it and all
forming parts of the permanent joint substantially as described.
7. In a pipe joint a sleeve or compression ring a circumferentially tapered
wedge and a packing strip attached to the end of one of the pipes and all forming
parts of the permanent joint substantially as described.
8. In a pipe joint the combination of parts substantially as described and illus-
trated respectively in any of the Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings
all the parts of any Figure forming parts of the permanent joint.
D
11.
1
D. J. RUSSELL DUNCAN.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.