AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONNECTING THE FEED PIPES OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES TENDERS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Fenton, of Low Moor, near Bradford, in
the County of York, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONNECTING THE FEED PIPES OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
TENDERS."
Sealed the 7th August 1857, and dated the 25th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Fenton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th February
1857.
I, JAMES FENTON, of Low Moor, near Bradford, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF CONNECTING THE FEED PIPES OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND
TENDERS," to be as follows:-
Instead of packing the pipes and sockets as hitherto adopted, I uso a tube
of any suitable metal or material to work in a larger tubo or cylinder with a
flexible or elastic ring rolling on or over a parallel and conical plane, the said
flexible or elastic ring having a rolling motion instead of a rubbing or sliding
motion, so that when an extra pressure is applied, either of steam or water,
the ring rolls or slides, or partially rolls or partially slides off the parallel part
of the internal pipo and up the cone, thus effectually preventing leakage, and

page_text: avoiding excessive wear and tear caused by friction, as at present. I also
place flanges either upon the pipe or socket to regulate the length of motion.
This Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
outline Drawings, in which Fig. 1 shews the feed pipe with the flanges on the
socket; and Fig. 2 shows the flanges in the pipe. a represents the socket;
b, the pipe; c, the packing ring; d, the flanges; and e, the chain to connect
the pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Fenton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FENTON, of Low Moor, near Bradford, in the County of York, Civil Engineer,
sond greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One, thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Fenton, Her special license that I, the said James Fenton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Fenton, 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 "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
CONNECTING THE FEED PIPES OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND TENDERS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Fenton, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should. particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what maniier 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, 'the said James Fenton, 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 (that is to say):
Instead of using the ball and socket pipes or the hose pipes liitlierto adoptod,

page_text: I use a tube or connecting pipe made of any suitable metal or material, the
ends of which are placed within larger tubes or sockets. Over the said con-
necting pipe and within the sockets I place a flexible or clastic ring, the cross
section of which is circular, so that it may have a rolling motion when the
pipe moves to and fro in the sockets, or the sockets upon the pipe. I also
place flanges or collars either upon the pipe or sockets in order to regulate the
length of motion of the ring; a part of each end of the connecting pipe
between the flanges or collars is coned, and the collar or flange adjoining the.
conc is curved, so that when an extra pressure is applied, either of steam or
water, tho ring rolls or slides, or partially rolls or partially slides off the
parallel part of the pipe or sockets to or upon the aforesaid curved and conical
part, thereby tightening the ring and effectually preventing leakage. The
rolling motion of the ring gives it greater durability, as well as avoiding.
the excessive wear and tear caused by the friction of the sliding parts, as
heretofore adopted.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference
thereon, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the connecting pipo and
sockets, the flanges or collars and coned and curved parts being placed upon
the sockets. Fig. 2 is a section of the connecting pipe and sockets, with.
the flanges or collars and cones and curves placed upon the pipe; and Fig. 3,
a detached view of the flexible or elastic ring.
In Fig. 1, a represents the connecting pipe or tube; b, the sockets, which
are attached by other pipes to the engine and tender; c, the flanges or collars
upon the sockets, having their curved and coned parts at d over the connecting
tube, and in each socket is the rolling elastic ring e. In Fig. 2, 9 represents
the connecting pipo or tube, upon which the flanges or collars h, and curved
and coned parts i, are placed instead of being on the sockets; the elastic ring
in each socket is shewn at k.
The connecting tube is kept in its proper position by two light chairs
attached to it and the sockets, at the parts m, n, and o in both Figures.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention; and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth, as such may be
varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof; but I claim
as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge and belief has not
been hitherto used within the realm,-
First, the use and application of elastic rings with a rolling motion for
connecting feed pipes of locomotive engines and tenders, as herein described.

page_text: And, secondly, the use and application of the cones and curved flanges or
collars, as herein also described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Fenton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
JOHN LISTER CLOUGH,
Low Moor, Aug. 22, 1857.
JAMES FENTON. (L.S.)