US1730612A - Sectional cast-iron culvert - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, 1929.- w. s. HOTCHKISS 1,730,612

' I SECTIONAL CAST IRON GULVERT Filed Apfil 18, 1925 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES WILLIAM s. I-IOTCHKISS, OFANNISTON, AtAB'A'MA SECTIONAL CAST-IRON CULVERT Application filed April 18,1925,- Serial No. 24,298.-

My invention relates to a sectional cast iron culvert pipe and has for its object to design a pipe which will have the maximum strength for its weight per unit of length, and which shall have novel and improved means both for reinforcing pipe and for interlocking the sections thereof, to the end that the pipe can be laid with facility and, after being laid, can be readily removed for repair or replacement. 7

My invention contemplates the casting of the pipe with a smooth bore and reinforcing it with longitudinal and transverse external ribs, the transverse ribs having their depth 15 increased over the center of the pipe and this center or arched section of the pipe being thickened to provide a cantilever brace which will give it the maximum strength for its weight.

My invention further contemplates interlocking the sections by the provision of male and female elements which overlap and which are adapted to interlock only at the side adjacent to the horizontal side joints in the 2 assembled pipe. This will provide short interlocking taper lugs which will not tend to break and which will, as stated, provide greater freedom for joint flexing. By causing the lugs to taper both radially and axially of the pipe an interlock will be provided which will hold the pipe lengths positively assembled against a longitudinal displacement, and which, due to the fact that the engagement of the interlocking elements does not extend to the top and bottom portions of the pipe joint, will permit these joints to flex and follow the settling of the ground as far as is now possible for plain joint pipes. I thus provide for the maximum standard flexibility in a vertical plane, and at the same time I interlock the lengths positively against separation.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of an assembled and interlocked section of pipe.

Figures 2 and-3 represent fragmental perspective views of the bell and spigot ends of a half pipe section showing the interlocking elements. 7

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout. the drawings.

My improved type of culvert pipe is cast in longitudinal half sections which are duplicates, each section comprising a bodyportion 1 having longitudinal side flangesQ which eX-' tend to and'join end transverse flanges? ex tending over the exterior convex surface of the pipe and serving to reinforce the same. The end flanges at one end stop at the spigot twhic h at each side adjacent in spacedrela tio'nto the flange 2 is provided withan inte'rlocking lug 5 which tapers from its end-lying in the plane of the flanges 2 towards and merges into the cylindrical face of the spigot 41., the taper being symmetrical and both radially and axially of the pipe. At the other end the flanges 2 join the hell 6 which is left plain in the center 7 of its concave inner surface, and which at its ends is gradually and deeply grooved to form the recesses 8' which are complementary to the lugs 5 and are adaptedv to receive and interlock with them. The side flangesQ of each half section are connected by a series of intermediate transversereinforcing ribs 9, and the end flange 3 and the bell 6 are connected by-longitudinal reinforcing ribs 10, which intersect the ribs 9 and give the pipe in plan view a grid appearance; c

It will be observed from Figure' 4 that the interior of the pipe follows the true are of a circle, but between the side ribs 10 the pipe is thickened, as indicated, at 11, to afford a reinforcement that will greatly increase the strength of the pipe without materially increasing its weight. It will also be observed, by reference to this view, that the ribs 3 and 9, where they pass over the thickened portion 11, maintain their thickness, thus preserving the strength of the reinforcement.

The longitudinal meeting faces of the side flange 2 are provided on one side with a raised tongue 12, and on the opposite side with a complementary groove 13, and on their center faces the flanges carry, if desired, taper lugs 14 which are adapted to receive clamps 15 which, when driven in place, will positively interlock the assembled upper and lower half sections.

The pipe is assembled by laying lower half sections with the bell and spigot ends interlocked, and then superimposing upper half sections and interlocking their ends and then, if desired, connecting the upper and lower sections by the clamps .15. The interior of the assembled pipe gives a smooth uninterrupted bore and the longitudinal sections of both upper and lower halves of the pipe are positively interlocked by the lugs 5 and grooves or sockets 8. The bell and hub ends, being left plain except at the sides, will have the same amount of freedom as the ordinary bell and spigot joints to flex in a vertical plane and yet they 'will be interlocked as positively against endwise displacement as it the lugs 5 extended about the entire circumfere cc of the joint. The advantages of this interlock are obviously available for integral, as well as sectional lengths of pipe.

Though I have described with great particularity the details of the embodiment and practice of the invention herein shown, it is not to be construed that I am limited thereto, as changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claim.

'What I claim is 2 A cast iron pipe formed in semicylindrical lengths, the lengths comprising bell and spigot joint elements, the bell element of a joint having two diametrically opposite tapering recesses beginning at the side edges of the lengths, the sides of the recesses being spaced apart their greatest distance at the side edges of the lengths, said recesses merging into the standard inner circumference of the bell, and the spigot element 01 a joint having similarly disposed opposite tapering side lugs, said recesses and said lugs subtending each an are substantially less than degrees, said lugs, at their centers, being adapted to fit the center of the spigot recesses to interlock the joint members.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

WVILLIAM S. HOTCHKISS.

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