Iм- PROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING THE ENDS OF PIPES AND TUBES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St.
John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING THE ENDS OF PIPES AND TUBES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th March 1867.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING THE ENDS OF PIPES AND TUBES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in connecting the ends of
pipes and tubes. For this purpose a flange or flat surface is fixed or formed
around the extremity of each of two pipes or tubes to be connected, and by
pressing these flanges or surfaces towards each other, an elastic ring or washer
being inserted between them, the required joint or connection is made. A rim
is formed in connection with the flange or flat surface at the end of each pipe
or tube; it passes about half round its outer edge, and when the pipes or tubes
are put together the rims serve to support the elastic ring or washer all round
and prevent it being forced outwards by the pressure of the contents of the
pipes or tubes. The two flanges or flat surfaces are pressed the one towards
the other by two cams or eccentrics carried by lugs on opposite ends of the rim

page_text: of one of the flanges. The cams or eccentrics turn upon studs fixed in the
lugs, and they are connected with one handle by means of which they may be
moved simultaneously. The arrangement is such that when the handle lies
along close against one of the pipes or tubes, and parallel to it, the cams or
eccentrics carried by this pipe or tube are so turned as to bear firmly on the
back of the flange or flat surface in connection with the other pipe or tube
entering small hollows or recesses therein, and the elastic ring or washer
between the two flanges or flat surfaces is then strongly compressed, and so
the joint or connection is made. When, however, the handle is turned down
so as to project at right handles to the pipes or tubes the cams or eccentrics
are so placed as to relieve the pressure on the flanges or flat surfaces, and the
pipes or tubes may then be separated the one from the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Nathan Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Nathan Thompson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathan
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONNECTING THE ENDS OF PIPES AND TUBES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Nathan Thompson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathan Thompson, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in connecting pipes and
tubes. For this purpose a flange or surface is fixed or formed around the
extremity of each of two pipes or tubes to be connected, and by pressing these
flanges or surfaces towards each other, an elastic ring or washer being inserted
between them, the required joint or connection is made. A rim is formed in
connection with the flange or surface at the end of each pipe or tube; it
passes about half round its outer edge, and when the pipes or tubes are put
together the rims may support the elastic ring or washer all round; and prevent
it being forced outwards by the pressure of the contents of the pipes or tubes;
or the elastic ring or washer may be fitted into a groove. The two flanges or
surfaces are pressed the one towards the other by two cams or eccentrics
carried by lugs on opposite ends of the rim of one of the flanges. The cams
or eccentrics turn upon studs fixed in the lugs, and they are connected with
one handle, by means of which they may be moved simultaneously. The
arrangement is such that when the handle lies along close against one of the
pipes or tubes, and parallel to it, the cams or eccentrics carried by this pipe or
tube are so turned as to bear firmly on the back of the flange or surface in
connection with the other pipe or tube, and they may enter small hollows or
recesses therein, and the elastic ring or washer between the two flanges or
surfaces is then strongly compressed, and so the joint or connection is made.
When, however, the handle is turned down so as to project at right angles to
the pipes or tubes the cams or eccentrics are so placed as to relieve the pressure
on the flanges or surfaces, and the pipes or tubes may then be separated the
one from the other.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.

page_text: a is the end of one of the pipes, and 6 that of the other; a¹ and 6¹ are their
respective flanges or surfaces, and a and b are the rims thereon; as, a³, are
lugs formed on one of the rims; and c, c, are cams. or eccentrics turning on
studs fixed in the lugs; d is a handle in one piece with the cams or eccentrics;
in the Figures 1 and 2 it is shown in the position it occupies when the two
pipes or tubes are connected.
In Figure 3 the handle d is shown in the position it occupies when the
parts are unlocked. e is the elastic washer or ring; d' is a notch underneath
the handle d to allow of a hook or tool being inserted to raise the handle; b³
is a projecting flange on the piece b to prevent the handle d being accidentally
shifted should the pipes twist or roll on the ground; and 6 is a ring flange to
allow the joint to roll more freely.
In witness whereof; I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)