USRE18296E - William s - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1931. w s, MERGE Re. 18,296

PIPE COUPLING Original Filed Feb: 20, 1915 Reisaued Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED SV'IJATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM S. PIERCE, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BARGO BRASS & I JOINT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLDTOIS PIPE COUPLING Originat No. 1,153,824, dated September 14, 1915. Serial No. 9,741, filed. February 20, 1915. Application for reissue filed September 4, 1917. Serial No. 189,685.

The present invention relates .to pipe couplings, and consists more particularly in an improved pipe coupling especially designed for connecting the flexible metallic conduits between the locomotive and tender, and between railway cars for conveying air, steam,

I water, or fluids, although I do not wish to be understood as restricting the invention to this application alone.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a pipe coupling of this character wherein is provided an improved packing expansible under the automatic action of the fluid pressure, and arranged with its base in communication with the atmosphere to prevent the accumulation of pressur'etherebe neath, so asto render the packing ineffective.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing an improved pipe coupling wherein the parts will be few and simple and arranged for ready assembly to permit of quick repairs, as it is essential to avoid parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an improved pipe coupling constructed in accordance with the'present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the washer employed under packing 10; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plug used in connection with the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates an elbow constructed at either end with an externalshoulder 2, and threaded to receive coupling nuts 3. Following the usual manner, the coupling nuts 3 are provided with inturned flanges 4, coopcrating with complemental flanges 5 for connecting swivel sections 6, the same being enparatus.

larged and internally threaded to receive the train pipe, as will be understood. Interposed between the flanges 4 and 5 are rings 7 of Babbitt metal or other material suitable for furnishing bearings upon which the flanges 5 of theswivel section 6 may freely revolve, and also furnishing secondary packings to prevent the escape of fluid should the primary gaskets become disrupted, as her.e-,

inafter described. The inner ends of the swivel sections 6, above the flanges 5; are reduced, as advantageously shown in Figure 1, and are received at their inner ends in recesses formed in abutments 8 cast or otherwise produced in the elbow 1. In the annular chambers 9, formed between the reduced inner portions of the swivel sections 6 and outer walls of the elbow 1 are fitted expansible gaskets 10 of any suitable construction, preferably of the type set forth more specifically in my co-pending application, Serial Number 870,650, filed November 6th, 1914, and entitled Improvements in washing ap- Figure 1 such gasket 10 is constructed of suitable expansible material and formed with a V-shaped groove 11, providing concentric divided walls 12 and 13 arranged to receive and be expanded by the internal pressure of the conduits.

The annular chamber" 9 is placed in com municationwith the interior of the elbow 1 and conduits through series of perforations 14 and 15, provided respectively in the abutments and reduced inner portions of the swivel member 6. Such perforations 14 and 15 aflord free admittance of the fluid pressure into the chambers 9, wherein is located the expansible gaskets 10; and the pressure is received into the V-shaped grooves 11 thereof and'operates to expand the concentric divided walls 12 and 13 to provide a tight joint between the swivel sections and elbow walls, as will be apparent. Said perforations also form drains to prevent water from freezing in said chamber.

Beneath the expansible gaskets 10, in. the annular chambers 9, are placed washers 16 supported on the flanges 5 of the swivel members 6, and illustrated more particularly in As advantageously disclosed in Figure3 to be provided with bevelled inner and outer lower edges 17' and'18, and traversed by radial channels 19 shown to be arranged in diametrically opposed pairs, although the same may be produced in any other desired manner. 19 in the washers 16 are fitted opposite grooves 20 formed in the outer ends of the elbow 1; the same being connected by an annular channel, preferably constituted by the screw threads 21,which, as shown in Figure 1, are extended beneath the flanges 5 in the swivel member 6. Thecoupling nuts 3 are provided with openings 22 for placing the annular channel 21 in direct communication with the atmosphere, and the openings may be threaded, as indicated, for receiving plugs 23, as shown in Figure 4, when the gasket 10 has been disrupted, as hereinafter described.

It will be understood that the arrangement of radial channels 19 in the washer 16, grooves 20, and screw threads 2l place the base of the gasket 10 in direct communication with the atmosphere through the openings 22 in the coupling nuts 3, and relieve all leakage of pressure about said gaskets, and

prevent the accumulation of pressure beneath the same, so as to render the gaskets inefi'ective. It will thus be appreciated that the full effect of the pressure in the train pipe will be utilized to expand the walls 12 and 13 of the gasket 10, and provide a tight joint between the members of the coupling.

Provided the gaskets 10 give way, or become disrupted, during operation, so as to place the interior of the conduit in direct communication with the atmosphere the pings '23 may be inserted in the threaded opemngs 22 and prevent the escape of the fluid until such time as repairs may be made.

It is to be understood that the gasket 10 is normally effective to provide a tight joint, and the secondary packing 7' is inoperative. In case of emergency, when the gasket 10 .is

disrupted or springs a leak, the plug 23, or

other suitable device, will be arranged to close the communication with the atmosphere, and the secondary packing will thereupon become effective andprevent leakage.

It is obvious that'those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features explacing said passage in communication with i The radial channels.

the atmosphere, an expansible gasket located in said coupling and arranged with its base in communication with said grooves, and a plug for insertion in the opening in said coupling collar to close communication with the atmosphere, substantially as described.

2. In a pipe coupling, the combination of pipe sections providing a chamber adapted to be arranged in communication with the atmosphere, a gasket located in said chamber, and a washer arranged beneath said gasket and provided with transverse channels for conducting away leakage about said gasket to the atmosphere, substantially as described.

mosphere, a gasket mounted in said chamber,

a Washer located beneath said gasket and provided with a plurality of transverse openings leading to said passage for conveying away leakage, and means for closing atmospheric communication, substantially as described.

5. In a pipe coupling, the combination of a pair of pipe sections formed one with transverse grooves therein, means for connecting said sections together, and provided with a passage connecting said grooves,.and an opening for placing said passage in communication with the atmosphere, a plug for closing said opening, a gasket mounted between said pipe sections, and a washer located beneath said gasket and provided with a plurality of tra sverse channels registering with the grooves in said pipe section for conveying away leakage, substantially as described.

6. In a pipe coupling, the combination of a pair of pipe sections providing a chamber therebetween in communication with the interior thereof, and formed one With a plurality of transverse grooves in communication with said chamber, an expansible gasket mounted in said chamber, a washer located beneath said gasketand provided with a plu- IQO rality of transverse channels registering with the grooves in said pipe section, a coupling nut provided with a passage connecting said grooves and an opening placing said passage in communication with the atmosphere, and a-removable plug adapted to be inserted in the opening in said coupling nut for closing atmospheric communication, substantially as described.

7. In a pipe coupling, the combination of an elbow provided with transversely grooved ends, a perforated end shouldered abutment in said elbow, a swivel pipe section received into said elbow and fitted against the shoulder provided by said abutment, a flange on said swivel section for engaging the grooved end of said elbow, an expansible gasket arranged between said elbow and swivel section with its base in communication with said grooves, a coupling nut provided with a passage connecting said grooves and an opening placing said passa e in communicationwith the atmosphere, a ange on said coupling nut, a secondary packing mounted between said flanges, and means for closing the opening in said coupling nut when said gasket is disrupted to prevent leakage and bring said secondary packing into action, substantially as described.

8. In a pipe coupling, the combination of an elbow provided with transversely grooved 4 abutments and providin ends, perforated and shouldered abutments in said elbow, swivel pipe sections provided with reduced and perforated inner portions fitted to revolve against the shoulders of said with the ends of said elbow annular cham rs in communication with the'fluid through said perforations,

flanges formed on said swivel sections engaging the grooved ends of said elbow and pro-'' viding bases for said chambers, expansible gaskets mounted in said chambers, annular washers mounted to rest on said flanges and supporting said expansible gaskets, said washers being provided with transverse under channels registering with the grooves in said elbow ends, coupling nuts for connectin said elbow and swivel sections and provi ed with annular passages connecting the said grooves and openings incommunication with the atmosphere, flanges on said coupling nuts, secondary packings located between said flanges, and plugs forclosing the openings in said coupling nuts,'substantially as described.

9. In a pipe coupling,

adjacent pipe sections providing therebe-' tween a chamber in communication with the atmosphere, an expansible gasket located in said chamber, a coupling collar, a secondary packing mounted between said coupling collar and one of said pipe sections, and means for closing communication from said chamber to the atmosphere when the gasket becomes disrupted to prevent leakage andbring said secondary packing into play, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a pipe couplingythe combination of a pair of pipe sections, an expansiblepacking locate freely exposed to pressure within the .cou-

pling and its outer end in free communication with the atmosphere, and means for closing communication between the outer end of the packing and the atmosphere.

the combination of 11. In a pipe coupling, the combination of a pair of pipe sections, an expansible packing located therebetween with its inner end free ly exposed to pressure within the coupling and its outer end in free communication with the atmosphere, means for closing communication between the outer end of said packing and the atmosphere, and a second packing between the pipe section spaced from the first packing and constituting a barrier to leaktherebetween with its inner end III

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