Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubing and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890-4ccepted, 17th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubing and
to Apparatus therefor.
We, EDWIN NORTON residing in Maywood in the County of Cook in the State of
Illinois United States of America Manufacturer and EDMUND ADCOCK residing in
Chicago in said County and State, Attorney at Law, 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 :—
Our invention relates to apparatus for making tubes of iron or steel, or other metal
or alloys.
Herotofore such tubes have either been cast in a tubular mould, or else formed by
welding, brazing or otherwise uniting the side edges of a strip formed to the desired
shape.
The cast pipe so produced is liable to be defective from imperfections in the casting,
may be easily broken and can only be produced in comparatively short lengths, and
cannot be economically made of small diameter. The welded or brazed pipe produced
by the old method can also only be made of comparatively short lengths, cannot be
made economically of large sizes, and is frequently liable to part at the weld or joint.
The object of our invention is to provide a method or process and apparatus by which
seamless metal tubing may be made of a strong, homogeneous and perfect character
throughout, and whereby it may be cheaply and rapidly produced of any size or length
desired.
In our invention a tubular stream of molten metal is poured continuously between
and in contact with continuously moving chilling surfaces, preferably hollow revolving
rolls filled with water, which surround the stream on all sides, and set and shape the
molten metal and convert it into a metal tube, while the interior of the metal tube is guided
and shaped by an internal mandril or core. The internal mandril or core in connection
with the pouring vessel causes the molten metal issuing therefrom to flow in a hollow
or tubular shaped stream. The chilling rolls are furnished with peripheral grooves
corresponding in cross section to the form of the tube or pipe produced. Two or more
rolls may be made to revolve together. Two rolls provided with peripheral grooves
will surround the stream of molten metal on all sides and set, chill and shape it.
A greater number of rolls may, however, be made to revolve together for this
purpose.
To this end our invention consists in pouring or passing a tubular stream of molten
metal in contact with continuously moving chilling surfaces which surround the tubular
stream on all sides, and set and shape the tubular molten stream and convert it into a
metal tube as it passes the continually moving chilling surfaces.
It further consists in simultaneously compressing the tubular stream of molten metil
against an internal support while it is in the molten or setting state, to give the tube
produced a strong, dense and homogenous structure and free it from blow holes or
imperfections which might otherwise arise from air or gas confined in the molten
metal.
Our invention also consists in the combination with a pouring vessel and a core or
mandril whereby the metal may be made to flow in a tubular-shaped stream, of
chilling rolls between which the metal stream flows and by which it is converted into
a metal tube.
The invention further consists in combination with such core, pouring vessel and
rolls of a cutter, which may be either stationary or rotary, and ei her in the nature of
knives or grinders for removing thin fins or webs which may be formed upon the
metal tube at the point or points where the revolving chilling rolls meet.
It further consists in the combination with the core, pouring vessel and chilling

page_text: rells of a second pair or set of rolls for further rolling or compressing the metal tuhe
while it is still at a high temperature as it issues from the chilling rolls.
It further consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of pirts and devices
herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, and in which
similar letters of reference indicate like parts,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a partial central vertical longitudinal section;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a detail view of the shearing wheels or cutters;
Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section on line 5 of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 6 shows a modified form of the annular orifice of the pouring nozzle or vessel.
in the drawing A represents the frame of the machine, which may be of any suitable
form to give the requisite strength and afford bearing for the different parts of the
machine. B B are a pair of revolving wheels or rolls, having half-grooves bb in their
peripheries, conformning to the exterior shape of the tube desired to be produced. As
shown in the drawing the annular grooves are semi-circular in cross section, as the
machine is designed to produce a pipe or tube in the form of a hollow cylinder. The
grooves b may, however, be made of any desired form, according to the form of the tube
desired to he made. The rolls Bare made hollow, and have hollow shafts B' through which
water or other cooling fluid is admitted into the rolls B from the supply pipe Cand
discharged through the exit pipe C. The water entering at the centre of the rolls
flows out through the branch pipes c which connect with the interior of the rolls near
their periphery, so that the water will circulate to the periphery of the rolls.
D is a pouring vessel or howl mounted directly above and between the rolls B B,
and have a discharge orifice d through which the stream of molten metal a flows
directly down between and in contact with the walls of the groove b in the
periphery of the rolls B. The stream of molten metal flows in a direction tangential
to both rolls.
F is a core or mandril conforming in cross section to the bore of the tube designed
to be produced. The purpose of the core or mandril is to give the stream of molten
metal as it passes from the vessel Da tubular or hollow shape. The lower end of this
core or mandril F may, preferably, project down to or beyond the meeting line of the
roll B B, that is to say, to the line joining the axes of the rolls. The core or mandril F
in connection with the pouring vessel D, thus serves to give the pouring vessel an
annular orifice d, so that the stream of molten metal issuing therefrom will be of a
tubular shape.
To protect the core F from injury by the heat of the molten metal, we make, or
pruler to make, the core hollow and provide it with a central web, dividing it into
two compartments or passages f₁₁, so that water, air, or other cooling fluid, may be
forced entirely through it from the supply pipe G and out through the discharge
pipe G. To prevent the hollow core F from injury from the heat of the molten metal
in the bowl D, as well as to prevent the chilling of the molten metal therein by the
mandril, we surround or cont the mandril F with a refractory envelope or casing F.
This may be made of any suitable material known to those skilled in the art, according
to the particular kind of metal of which the metal tube is being manufactured. The
portion of the core F, adjacent to the orifice d in the vessel D, should be made of a
tapering or conical form, so that by raising or lowering the core F the size or capacity
of the annular orifice d may be regulated or entirely closed. The threaded nut F
serves to raise or lower the core F.
A second pair of rolls B 13* may he employed below the rolls B B, the same being
of a similar construction, to further chill or cool the metal tube as it issues and further
roll and compress it.
The rolls B B, as well as the rolls B2 B2, revolve in the same direction that the
stream of metal flows, and preferably at an equal surface speed with the velocity of
the issuing stream of molten metal, so that the molten metal will not dam up between
the rolls.

page_text: A pair of cutters H H, preferably rotary cutters, though stationary ones may be
used, serve to remove any fin which may be left or produced on the metal tube at the
meeting point of the rolls. The rolls B B and B B2, as well as the rotary cutters HH,
are driven from the driving shaft K through suitable connecting gears K'. As the
tube issues from the rolls B B. B B2, it is curved from a vertical to a horizontal
direction by a suitable guide N, consisting, preferably, of a series of rolls arranged
in a curve. As the tube issues in a horizontal direction it is carried by a conveyor P
consisting, preferably, of a series of rolls, some of which may be used to straighten
or further roll the tube.
As the tubular stream of molten metal a flows or passes between the chilling
rolls B B, the stream of molten metal is shaped and set and compressed against the
core or mandril F and converted into a metal tube 1 of sound, strong, perfect and
homogeneous character, having the qualities of forged or compressed metal. And a
tube may be made in this way very rapidly and cheaply, and of any length or size.
desired.
The vessel D is furnished with guides or wings d', corresponding to the curvature
of the rolls B B, and extending down to near the meeting line of the rolls, as
indicated in Figure 5, and which fit said rolls snugly and serve to direct the molten
inetal in the channel formed by the annular grooves b, and thus prevent the
formation of fins or webs upon the tube at the meeting line of the rolls B B.
By our process apparatus metal tubes may be made of any desired shape or cross
section, whether smooth or corrugated, round or square, and with a round or other
form of bore, by simply changing the form of the grooves bb, of the core F, and
pouring orifice & of the vessel D, or by changing the shape of the one or more of
these parts as may be necessary to produce the particular outline of tube desired.
The curved wedged-shaped wings or extensions d', which fit down between the
cbilling rolls B B at each side of the annular groove therein may conveniently be
made integral with the vessel D; but it is obvious that these wings or blocks d'
which fit between the rolls may be attached or supported by any other suitable portion
of the machine, and be made separate from the vessel D.
The annular or ring-shaped orifice d of the vessel D may of course be circular, as
shown in the drawing, or of other form according as the tube is to be made,
cylindrical, square or of other form. It should also be understood that the annular
orifice d need not necessarily be a complete ring or annulus, but may be divided by
webs or bridges, as the inolten metal will reunite into a tubular stream after passing
such webs or bridges which break or divide the annular orifice into two or more
segments. This form of the annular orifice is indicated ai. Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1st. The process of making metal tubing consisting in pouring or passing a tubular
stream of molten metal in contact with continuously moving chilling surfaces,
substantially as specified.
2nd. The process of making seamless metal tubing consisting in pouring a tubular
stream of molten metal in contact with continuously moving chilling surfaces traveling
in the direction of the moving stream of molten metal, and at an equal or greater
surface speed that the velocity of the flowing stream to prevent the molten metal from
co'lecting or damming up between the chilling surfaces, substantially as specified.
3rd. The process of making metal tubing consisting in pouring a tubular stream of
molten metal in contact with continuously moving chilling surfaces which surround
the tubular stream on all sides, and simultaneously compressing the metal while in a
liquid or setting state against an internal support, and thereby converting the tubular
molten stream into a metal tube as it passes the continuous moving chilling surfaces,
substantially as specified.
4th. The process of making continuous metal tubing, consisting in passing a tubular

page_text: stream of molten metal in contact with continuously revolving chilling rol a
surrounding the tubular metal stream, substantially as specified.
5th. The process of making continuous metal tubing consisting in passing a tubular
stream of molten metal in contact with continuously revolving chilling rolls and with
an interior mandril, and then further rolling and compressing the tube as it issues
from such chilling rolls and while still at a bigh temperature, substantially as
specified.
6th. In an apparatus for making metal tubing by rolling fluid metal, the com-
bination with the chilling rolls of a pouring vessel and a mandril or core for
directing a tubular stream of metal between the rolls, substantially as specified.
7th. The combination with a pouring vessel D of a hollow mandril F, and chilling
rolls, substantially as specified.
Sth. The combination of pouring vessel D, hollow mandril F having separate supply
and discharge passages f¹f so that the cooling fluid may be able to circulate
continuously through it, and chilling rolls, substantially as specified.
9th. The combination with chilling rolls having grooved peripheries, of a pouring
vessel furnished with a device for causing a tubular stream of metal to flow therefrom
between said chilling rolls, substantially as specified.
10. The combination with a pouring vessel having an annular orifice of chilling
rolls, substantially as specified.
11th. The combination with chilling rolls having grooved peripheries of a pouring
vessel having an annular orifice, substantially as specified.
12th. The combination with a pouring vessel of a core or mandril and chilling
rolls, said mandril extending down to the meeting line of said rolls, substantially as
specified.
13th. The combination with a pouring vessel of a mandril, chilling rolls, and a
second pair or set of rolls for further rolling and compressing the metal tube as it
issues, substantially as specified.
14th. The combination with a pouring vessel, a mandril, chilling rolls, a curved
guide and a horizontul conveyor, consisting of a series of rolls arranged horizontally,
substantially as specified.
15th. The combination with a pouring vessel, of chilling rolls revolving together,
between which the stream of metal is poured from said vessel, and a cutter for
removing fins, substantially as specified.
16th. The combination with a pouring vessel and a mandril, of revolving chilling
rolls between which the molten metal is poured, and curved wings or blocks d' fitting
between said rolls, substantially as specified.
17th. The combination with pouring vessel D, vertically adjustable core or
mandril F having a tapering portion for regulating or stopping the flow of the
molten metal, and revolving chilling rolls, substantially as specified.
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., October 19th 1900.
www
EDWIN NORTON.
EDMUND ADCOCK.
Witnesses:
H. M. MUNDAY,
EDWARD S. EVARTS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.