A Practical Treatise on Gas-light / Exhibiting a Summary Description of the Apparatus and Machinery Best Calculated for Illuminating Streets, Houses, and Manufactories, with Carburetted Hydrogen, or Coal-Gas, with Remarks on the Utility, Safety, and General Nature of this new Branch of Civil Economy.

by Friedrich Christian Accum

[Fig. 5.] Profile view of the same kind of pipes connected together, A and B, the pipes; C and D, the flanches; E and F, the bolts.

[Fig. 6.] Represents the method of joining spigot and faucet pipes when they are to have a turn or angle. This method is convenient when the place where the turn required to be made is previously known, and the pipes cast accordingly.

[Fig. 7.] Exhibits the method of connecting spigot and faucet pipes when they have a round turn. A and B, the junctures of the pipes.

[Fig. 8.] Represents a longitudinal section of the mode of joining pipes by means of what is called a thimble joint. The junctures of the pipes to be connected, are made air tight, as mentioned already, by iron cement. A, the thimble or small cylinder, with projecting edges, which unites the pipes B, C.

[Fig. 9.] A thimble joint made in two parts, which is sometimes convenient to join pipes. The parts are joined together by screw bolts, and nuts, in the usual manner.

[Fig. 10.] Section of the same.

[Fig. 11.] Represents a profile view of what is called the saddle joint. It is employed for taking off a branch-pipe. The branch has a piece A B, formed on its end, and fits round one-half of the outside of the pipe from which it is to proceed. C, is called the saddle, which fits round the other half of the pipe. The parts are secured together by screw bolts, and iron cement. By this method a branch may be formed on any part of a gas-pipe, by cutting a hole there, and applying the branch to that place. Where there is much risk of the inequality of expansion, the joints at certain places, should be secured by a soft stuffing of hemp and tallow; but in most cases the joints may be made with iron cement. Lead is frequently used for making the joints of gas pipes instead of iron cement, though cheaper and more easy of repair. The galvanic action which takes place between the lead and iron, soon renders the joints leaky, and the danger is increased by the unequal expansion of the two metals.

[Fig. 12.] Section of the saddle-joint.

Before the gas is suffered to enter into the pipe, they should be proved to be sound, by the usual process of forcing water into them: The pipes serving as mains, are placed perfectly solid, so that they cannot give way; their course should be rectilinear, having a descent of about 1 inch in 9 or 10 feet, to allow the water of condensation which may be deposited from the gas by a change of temperature to collect readily at the lowermost part.

[Fig. 13.] Shows a reservoir for collecting the water of condensation which might accumulate in the pipes. It consists of a receptacle, A, in which the water may pass; B, a branch-pipe closed at the top, by means of which the water may be removed, by drawing it out with a syringe. This receptacle is placed in those situations where pipes incline towards each other.