Improvements in Machines for Making Seamless Metallic Tubes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE JOSEPH CAPEWELL of 40 Governor Street
Hartford Connecticut United States of America Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Machines for Making Seamless Metallic Tubes.
1, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the firm of D. Young & Co., of 11 & 12
Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to the class of machines built to form light and strong
seamless metallic tubes. It more particularly relates to machines for forming
steel tubes; the machines embodying the invention are, however, also applicable
to the forming of tubes from other metals, including bronze.
The object of the said invention is to produce a machine which will in an
inexpensive manner form tubes quickly, accurately and uniformly of (for example)
the finest and highest grades of steel, thereby producing tubes that are light and
strong and that can be accurately tempered, which tubes are specially applicable
and desirable for use in the construction of the frames of bicycles and similar
vehicles of the best grades.
To this end the invention resides in a machine having swaging-dies, mechanism
for giving the swaging-dies an opening and closing movement of exceedingly
short interval, and mechanisms for feeding the tube-blank, perforated billet br
skelp between the dies where it receives a large number of rapid vibratory blows
upon all sides, which action of the dies on the blank squeezes, compacts and
reduces the metal in such manner as to form a tube with its texture in an
exceedingly desirable and useful condition.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein a machine embodying the
invention is illustrated.
Figure 1 is a plan of such machine.
Figure 2 is a side elevation.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section en a plane passing through the mandrel, dies
and percussive wheel.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on a
percussive wheel.
plane passing through the dies and the
Figure 5 is a vertical section on a plane denoted by the dotted line a―a,
Figure 1, and
Figure 6 is a vertical section on a plane denoted by the dotted line b-b,
Figure 1.
The main frame 1, of the machine is preferably iron cast to a strong and sub-
stantial shape and mounted on legs of any suitable design. Upon the surface of
the bed of this frame are dies 2 and 3. These dies have exceedingly hard working
faces that are cut to the necessary outline to properly swage the surfaces of the
blanks and shape the tubes to be formed. In order to keep the working faces of
the dies from softening, particularly when operating upon heated blanks, openings 4
may be made in the dies, and these openings can be connected with water-pipes
[Paine 877

page_text: whereby cold water may circulate through the openings, this will keep the tem-
perature of the dies low so that their faces will retain the correct shape and
remain in the necessary condition to accomplish accurate work for a long period.
The dies are loosely fitted into a slide-way that is between walls 5, Figure 3,
which rise from the bed, and plates 6, are secured preferably by bolts to the tops
of these walls for holding the dies down.
Back of these dies are located hardened blocks or shoes 7, 8. These shoes loosely
fit the walls of the slide-way and are held down to the bed by the same cover-
plates that hold the dies. Between the dies and the shoes are the recoil plates,
gates or wedges 9, 10. These wedges are held in position in, such manner that
they may be removed from between the dies and shoes when desired, and a
spring 11, Figure 4, is provided for thrusting the dies away from each other
and back against the shoes when the wedges are removed. These wedges extend
down through the bed, and beneath the frame they may be joined by a rod 12,
that is connected with the rocker-arms 13, that project from an arbor 14, which is
supported by bearings beneath the frame and is adapted to be oscillated by a
lever 15. When the lever is in the position shown in Figure 6, the pull of the
spring 16, on one of the rocker-arms holds the wedges up between the dies and
shoes, but when the lever is thrown toward the frame, the rocker-arms draw the
wedges from between the dies and the shoes, allowing the spring 11 to thrust
the dies back against the shoes.
With the dies in this open position a blank may be readily located between
them to be operated upon, then, when the lever is drawn away from the frame,
the wedges are again forced between the dies and shoes, crowding the dies toward
each other ready to operate upon the blank.
Projecting through a part of the frame against the shoe 8, is a thrust-screw 17,
which may be turned in or out to adjust the block 8, and the die 3. The opening
through the bed for the passage of the wedge 10, as shown in Figure 4, is made
sufficiently large to allow the necessary adjustment of these, and the upper edge
of the wedge is beveled off in order that it may readily work itself between the
die and the shoe. A nut 18, may be set on this adjusting thrust-screw to clamp
it in position when the desired adjustment is attained. The opening through the
bed for the wedge 9, is enlarged so that the die 2, and block 7, may be adjusted
and may be permitted to vibrate, and the upper edge of this wedge is beveled so
that it will easily work its way between the die and shoe.
This wheel bears a
Adjacent to the block 7, is located a wheel or drum 19.
number of rolls 20, and these rolls are arranged about the periphery in such
manner that, when the wheel is rotated, the revolving rolls make percussive contact
with the end of the shoe 7. The journal that bears this wheel is held by bearings
of any suitable form, and upon this journal is a driving pulley 21, which may
be connected by a belt with any suitable source of power.
The bearings for this journal are shown as formed in a block or carriage 22,
which is adapted to be moved along the bed of the frame. This carriage is held
to the bed by bolts 23, which pass through slots in the carriage into the bed.
When these holding bolts are loosened, the carriage may be adjusted along the
bed by turning the thrust-screw 24, in or out. When the proper adjustment is
attained, the thrust-screw may be held by its clamp-nut 25, and the carriage
further secured by tightening the holding bolts.
The carriage preferably moves along the bed between flanges, 26, which flanges,
besides providing a guiding way for the carriage, may also be shaped to strengthen
the frame, and particularly those parts at the ends which support the thrust-
screws, 17 and 24.
With the proper adjustment, when the wheel is rotated, the rolls give the shoe 7,
a large number of blows, which blows are transmitted through the wedge 9, to
the die 2, and imparted to the metal of the blank between it and its complemen-
tary die 3. The spring 11, as stated, throws the die 2, back or tends to press it
in such manner against the wedge 9, that the shoe is continually crowded back

page_text: into the path of the rolls as they revolve. The motion imparted to the die 2, by
the blows of the rolls is very slight, but the blows are so frequent and strong
that the die 2, is given a powerful vibration of very short interval, that is, its
mevement is very short, but it is moved powerfully a great many times a minute.
With this construction a large number of blows are struck upon the blank in such
a rapid manner as to practically produce a squeezing effect between the two dies.
A supplementary frame 27, is connected with the main frame about opposite
the dies. This frame near one end is provided with hearings in which is sup-
ported a hollow shaft or spindle, 28, and this hollow spindle is provided with a
pulley 29, by means of which it may be rotated. Connected so as to rotate with
this hollow spindle is a mandrel 30, which mandrel is preferably a hollow tube.
Water may be conducted into this mandrel through the hollow spindle by any
common pipe and allowed to flow out into any suitable escape so that the mandrel
may be kept cool. The mandrel projects forward between the dies, and the blank
being formed into a tube is compressed upon it by the action of the dies.
The blank 31, which is to be formed into a tube. is passed between the dies
onto the mandrel, the opening in the blank being preferably slightly larger than
the diameter of the mandrel, in order that the blank may be easily slipped onto
the mandrel.
Rolls 32, supported by bearings in brackets 33, mounted on the frame 27, are
provided for feeding the blank between the dies. The bearing-brackets are
adjustably connected with the frame and the rolls are grooved so that they will
properly grip the part to be fed. These feed-rolls may be set so as to work
against the outer surface of the blank, if desired, in order to feed it forward
between the dies, but it is preferred to place a sleeve 34, back of the blank on
the mandrel and to cause the feed-rolls to grip and push forward the said sleeve which
by butting against the blank, will force the blank between the dies as it is reduced.
The shafts 35, of the feed-rolls may be provided with worm-wheels 36, geared with
a worm 37, on the shaft 38, as shown in Figure 5, and the shaft 38, may be pro-
vided with a pulley which can be belted to the pulley 39, on the spindle 28.
When the dies have operated upon the blank sufficiently to compress it against
the mandrel, the blank will be rotated with the mandrel so that the dies operate
upon all sides. In order to rotate the blank at the commencement of the swaging
operation, before it has been sufficiently reduced to grasp the mandrel and rotate
with it, and also to aid the mandel in rotating the blank, a pair of rollers 40,
may be mounted in suitable bearings on the frame with their peripheries engaging
the surface of the blank near the dies. The shafts of these rollers may be
provided with sprocket-wheels 41, and a chain may be run to a sprocket-wheel 42,
mbunted upon the shaft 38, below.
When the lever 15 is thrown upward so that the wedges are drawn from between
the shoes and the dies, the dies are thrown apart so that a 1-lank, perforated billet
or skelp may be quickly thrust between them upon the mandrel. When the
lever is thrown back, the wedges are forced between the shoes and the dies so that
the faces of the dies bear against the surface of the blank, then, when power is
applied, the percussive wheel is rotated rapidly and the rollers caused to give the
shoe 7, a large number of blows per minute, which blows are transmitted to the
die 2, so that the said die has a very rapid and forcible vibration against the surface
of the blank. At the same time the mandrel and the rollers, 40, are being rotated
so that the blank is rotated between the dies. Simultaneously the feed-rolls are
caused to feed the blank forward, but as they do not feed positively, the blank
is only forced forward when the dies have reduced the metal sufficiently to allow
it to pass between them. By the operation of these sets of mechanism, the blank
is rapidly rotated and at the same time is given an exceedingly large number of
minute blows, which reduces it, and as fast as it is reduced the blank is fed forward.
A hot or a cold blank may be operated on, as desired, for the dies and the mandrel
may always be kept cool by a flow of water through them.
To facilitate the feeding of the blank between the dies and also aid its rotation,

page_text: particularly when the end of the blank has reached the dies, a pair of rollers 43,
may be arranged diagonally in bearings 44, connected with the frame opposite
the dies. The shafts of these rollers may be provided with pulleys, 45, which can
be belted to any source of power. When the tube reaches these rollers, it is
gripped by them and their action tends to pull the blank forward and to rotate
it at the same time.
A blank, which may be a perforated billet or a skelp, can be quickly inserted
onto the mandrel of this machine in position to be acted upon by the dies, which
by their rapid successive short but powerful vibratory blows compact and squeeze
the metal so as to elongate it into a strong tube. The effect of each blow is slight
and the forward feed is almost infinitesimal after each blow, and this causes the
metal to flow in such manner that the fibres are not stretched or the texture
strained. Of course, the large number of blows that can be administered by the
dies under the percussive blows of the rollers on the wheel, ensures a comparatively
fast travel of the blank between the dies. This action of the dies compacts the
metal to a certain extent and pushes the rest back.
The effect of the operation of the dies in this manner permits the use of high
carbon steel of the best grude, for the hard metal is not torn apart as is hard
metal when drawn into tubes by the usual drawing-roll or whirtle-and-mandrel
processes. The former of these processes gives only a superficial hardening to the
surface of the tube, leaving the inside stretched and comparatively weak, while
the latter stretches and tears the metal, leaving an undesirable surface that is
not particularly strong. Furthermore, with the whirtle drawing process the gauge
cannot be kept accurate when hard metal is used, for such metal grits and wears
the whirtle and oftentimes so grooves it that the tubes which emerge have long
scratches on their surfaces.
There is no tearing apart of the texture of the metal by the action of the dies
of this machine, nor are the dies subjected to such wear that they require a frequent
adjustment to keep the gauge accurate. These dies will not so wear as tb scratch
and mar the tubing. The tubing which issues will be tough, for hard metal can
be used without any particular amount of wear to the face of the dies, and the
mode of operation compacts the metal clear through, leaving a smooth and polished
surface.
Tubes of fine steel, as can be formed by this machine, can be made very hard
and accurately tempered to meet the specific requirements of the positions in
which they are to be used.
The tubes made by this machine consequently are light and strong and are
exceedingly desirable for use in the construction of bicycle frames and frames of
a similar nature.
Blanks of other metals besides steel can be formed into tubes by this machine,
such, for instance, as hard bronzes and other compositions, which, on account of
their hardness, cannot be successfully drawn by the rolling or whirtle processes
with any degree of accuracy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
First. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably supported
by a suitable frame, a rotary device adapted by percussive contact to violently
drive forward one of the dies, means for opening the dies to permit the hollow
blank to be fed between them, a mandrel held against longitudinal movement and
extending between the dies for supporting the hollow blank, means for feeding
the hollow blank along the mandrel between and through the opening and closing
dies, and means for rotating the hollow blank as it is fed between the dies, sub-
stantially as specified.
Second. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of chambered dies sup-
ported by a suitable frame, the chambers in the said dies being adapted to be

page_text: connected with a source of water-supply, means for rapidly opening and violently
closing the said dies, a chambered mandrel extending between the dies, the cham-
ber in the said mandrel being adapted to be connected with a source of water-
supply, and means for feeding the hollow blank between and through the opening
and closing chambered dies, substantially as specified.
Third. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies supported by a
suitable frame, a percussive wheel for rapidly and violently closing and means
for rapidly opening the said dies, a rotary mandrel extending between the dies
for supporting and rotating the hollow blank, and feed-rolls for advancing the
rotating hollow blank between and through the opening and closing dies, sub-
stantially as specified.
Fourth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably supported
by a suitable frame, means for rapidly opening and closing the said dies, a
mandrel extending between the dies for supporting the hollow blank, feed-rolls
for advancing the blank between and through the opening and closing dies, and
means for rotating the blank as it is fed between the dies, substantially as
specified.
Fifth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably supported
by a suitable frame, mechanism for rapidly opening and closing the dies, means
for feeding the hollow blank between and through the opening and closing dies,
a mandrel extending between the dies for supporting the blank and having a
chamber for the circulation of water, and means for rotating the said mandrel,
substantially as specified.
Sixth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies supported by a
suitable frame, mechanism for rapidly opening and closing the dies, means for
feeding the hollow blank between and through the opening and closing dies, a
mandrel for supporting the blank, and rolls for rotating the said blank before it
is compressed upon the mandrel, substantially as specified.
Seventh. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably sup-
ported by a suitable frame, mechanism for rapidly opening and closing the dies,
a mandrel extending between the dies for supporting the hollow blank, means for
feeding the blank between and through the opening and closing dies, means for
rotating the blank as it is fed between the dies, and cylindrical rolls supported
in front of the dies and arranged at an an angle with each other and with the
blank, for advancing and aiding the rotation of the blank, substantially as
specified.
Eighth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably sup-
ported by a suitable frame, mechanism for rapidly opening and closing the dies,
a mandrel extending between the dies for supporting the hollow blank, a sleeve
supported by and movable independently of the mandrel for forcing the blank
between and through the opening and closing dies, feed-rolls for advancing the
sleeve, and means for rotating the blank as it is fed between the dies, substantially
as specified.
Ninth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably supported
by a suitable frame, backing shoes supported by the frame behind the dies,
mechanism for rapidly opening and closing the dies, a mandrel extending between
the dies for supporting the hollow blank, means for feeding the blank between
and through the opening and closing dies, and means for rotating the blank as it
is fed between the dies, substantially as specified.
Tenth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies supported by a
suitable frame, backing shoes supported by the frame behind the dies, removable
wedges located between the said dies and backing shoes, mechanism for rapidly
opening and closing the dies, a mandrel extending between the dies for sup-
porting the hollow blank, means for feeding the blank between and through the
opening and closing dies, and means for rotating the blank as it is fed between
the dies, substantaally as specified.
Eleventh. In a tube forming machine, the combination of dies supported by

page_text: a suitable frame, a percussive wheel adapted to drive one of the dies forward, means
for opening the said dies, a mandrel extending between the dies for supporting
the hollow blank, and means for feeding the hollow blank between and through
the opening and closing dies, substantially as specified.
Twelfth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies supported by a
suitable frame, a percussive wheel mounted in bearings on an adjustable block
or carriage and adapted to percussively drive one of the dies forward, means for
adjusting the said block or carriage, a mandrel extending between the dies for
supporting the hollow blank, and means for feeding the hollow blank between
and through the openings and closing dies, substantially as specified.
Thirteenth. In a tube-forming machine, the combination of dies movably sup-
ported by a suitable frame, a spring for opening the said dies, wedges held back
of the dies, levers and arms connected with the wedges whereby they may be
removed from behind the dies to allow the spring to throw the dies open, a
percussive wheel adapted to drive one of the dies forward, a mandrel extending
between the dies for supporting the hollow blank, means for feeding the hollow
blank between and through the opening and closing dies, and means for rotating
the hollow blank as it is fed between the dies, substantially as specified.
Fourteenth. The improved tube-forming machine constructed substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and
for the purposes, above specified.
Dated the 7th day of September 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.