A METALLIC PIPE-JOINT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7776, 7 May 1886, Page 4

A METALLIC PIPE-JOINT.

A now joint for water and gas mains and ether pipes was recently tried at the works of the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company at Battersea. The joint is made by placing a flat ring or band of lead around the end of the two pipes to be united, the ends of the pipes being formed with external grooves. The pipes are placed J inch apart and the band of lead is pressed by a special tool into the grooves. Two iron collars, which' have been previously slipped one on to each pipe, are then placed over the lead, and drawn together by sorewbolts and nuts, thus 'holding the lead firmly. The iron collars We not brought quite close together, a short Space being left between them so that the lead can be seen from the outside. The lead is also exposed on the interior of the pipe in the space between the two ends. In order to give this joint a practical teat thirty-two lengths of 4-inch pipe, each three metres long, were laid in the form of the letter L, the whole giving a total length of 316 feet. A portion

of this length was laid on an incline and on the curve, while another portion was laid slightly in zigzag fashion so as to present unfavorable conditions* There were in all thirty-four Kuypera’ joints, the two end, pipes being fitted with blanks. Water was admitted to the pipes from the Water Company’s supply, and was taken from a point close to the putripiiig engines, the recorded pressure vdfyitlg at ev£ry stroke of tne pfifflp from 2?5 to 350 of head. This pressure was kept on for a long time, but without producing any effect whatever on the joifits. Two short lengths of pipe Iter# a).£d iitiitiid oy a Kuypera* joint and the outer ends stopped. Water, under the pressure , named, was admitted into the pipes, and the boljbs were removed from the iron collars; but without producing any effect whatever on the stability of the joint The experiments, were carried out by Mr N. Frere, C.E;, in the presence of Mr j. W, Kestlkr thp bpgihefer.bf thfe Company, Wild expressed his satisfaction with the results The Company has already a trial length of 60 feet bf 4-ioch mains laid with this joint.on their system of mains in Camberwell. The invention which is in the hands of Messrs Beck & Co., of Suffolk Street, London, possesses many advantages, including expedition in laying, economy in jointing material, and permanency.