Improvements in the Manufacture of Metal Tubes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metal Tubes.
1, WILLIAM BROWNHILL of Bentley Grange Walsall in the County of
Stafford Ironmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in taking the metal strip whilst hot direct from the
rolling mill before it is allowed to cool and passing it through a machine
constructed, thus-
The main parts of the machine, are a pair of preparatory rolls, a shaping die,
and a pair of finishing rolls, all actuated by the same motion and forming with the
various wheels, guides chucks bed, and holster, one machine.
The preparatory rolls which receive the strip are made with a projection on one
of the rolls which projection works in a groove or cavity in the other roll, the
formation of the groove or cavity is of a similar shape to the projection on the
before named roll, the strip is thus bent or shaped into a semi-circular or U form
and is then passed by the action of the rolls through the shaping die, which still
further shapes the strip into the form of a tube which as it passes from the shaping
die is caught by a pair of finishing rolls, one of which has a semi-circular or
similar shaped groove and the other has a semi-circular or similar shaped groove
with a projection in the middle, which projection by keeping the edges of the
strip apart forms a groove or channel from end to end of the skelp or partly
formed tube.
By this invention I am enabled to produce direct from the metal rolling mill,
much better shaped skelps or partly formed tubes than are now used in the
manufacture of gas and other tubes.
This machine may be placed in front of a strip heating furnace instead of a
rolling mill if so desired.
EDWARD J. PAYNE & SON,
104, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metal Tubes.
I, WILLIAM BROWNHILL of Bentley Grange, Walsall, in the County of
Stafford Ironmaster, 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, reference being had to the drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is to say :-
The first part of my invention consists in a novel construction of machine for
the manufacture of metal tubes.
The second part of my invention consists in taking the metal strip whilst it is
hot & pliable and from which the tube is to be made, direct from the rolling mill,
or strip heating furnace and passing the said metal strip into the machine whence
it issues a well formed skelp which is then welded into a tube.
Fig. 1. Sheet 1 is a top view of the machine.
Fig. 2. Sheet 2 is an end elevation shewing where the metal strip is passed into
the machine.
Fig. 3. Sheet 2 shews to a smaller scale the arrangement of the train of cog
wheels, for actuating the machine.

page_text: Fig. 4. Sheet 2 is a top and side view of the shaping die.
Fig. 5 Sheet 3 is a view (in outline) of the preparatory receiving or cupping
rolls, arranged in the position they take when built up in the machine.
Fig. 6. Sheet 3 is a view (in outline) of the finishing rolls in position.
Fig. 7. Sheet 3 shews a portion of a skelp as turned out by my machine.
Similar letters of reference relate to similar parts throughout the drawings.
The main parts of the machine consist of the pair of preparatory receiving or
cupping rolls A. A¹ seen in the figures, a shaping die B, Figs. 1 and 4 a pair of
finishing rolls C, C₁_Figs. 1 & 6 the holsters or standards D. rising upon the bed E.
the friction roller F. the guide box G. made in two parts and capable of being.
expanded or contracted, by means of the moveable guides G', the chucks and brass
journals H, fitting over the main bearings or journals 1, of the spindles J, which
carry the rolls, the adjusting screw pins and nuts K, for keeping the brass
journals H, in place up to the rolls, the screw pin K¹, for keeping the die B, in
position, the channel guides L. L', in connection with the machine, the train of cog
wheels M. M', M' seen in the several figures forming part of the necessary gearing
for actuating the machine. N. N' are couplings or straps.
All these parts of machinery combined constitute the machine, which is driven
or actuated by one and the same motive power, imparted by an engine, a fly wheel,
speed wheels, driving shaft, and cog wheels, the latter are shewn at M. M¹ M² as
they are immediately connected to the machine, but inasmuch as the driving power
and auxiliary parts thereof have no special novelty, they are not shewn as they
may be of the ordinary kind, I may however mention that the driving power is
transmitted to the cog wheels M, M³, at M2, (the driving cog-wheel) by means of a
driving shaft in connection therewith, as above described and operated as set forth,
or the driving power may be imparted direct from an engine or other suitable
means.
My improvements relate chiefly to the introduction and use of the pair of
preparatory receiving or cupping rolls A A' the shaping die B. and the pair of
finishing rolls C. C₁ all in combination with each other and with the other working
parts of the machine.
Firstly, I will describe the formation of the preparatory receiving, or cupping
rolls A, A', these pair of rolls which work the one over the other in the machine
are made the one with a deep convex bead or projection O on its face encircling
the centre of its circumference, which bead or projection works into a groove or
concave centre P. in the face of its neighbouring roll see Figs. 2 and 5. The
shaping die B. is of the formation seen in Fig. 4, top and side views, and is placed
in position in the machine as seen in Fig. 1.
The finishing rolls C, C', which also work the one over the other are constructed
thus, one of the rolls has encircling its circumference on its face a concave centre
or groove Q. and having an annular nib or projection R. rising round the centre of
same see Figs. 1. and 6. for the purpose hereinafter named, the corresponding roll
having a concave centre or groove S. as shewn.
The machine being built up in the manner and the rolls occupying the positions
seen the process of the manufacture of the metal tubes is as follows.
I take the metal strip whilst it is hot and pliable (and from which the tube is to
be formed) direct from the rolling mill or strip heating furnace and I pass the
said metal strip along the channel guide L, over the friction roller F, and into the
mouth of the guide box G, in the end of the machine see Figs. 1. and 2. this places
the strip between the preparatory rolls A A', which strip is then by the action of
the rolls drawn into and carried through the machine, these preparatory or cupping
rolls A A', first dealing with the strip, bend it into a semicircular, or U-form which
in its onward passage through the shaping die B, is still further developed, the
skelp or partly formed tube is then caught by the pair of finishing rolls C. C¹,
which complete the skelp, the before named annular nib or projection R. upon one
of these rolls being for the purpose of keeping the two edges of the skelp apart,
as the rolls develope the same, thereby forming an opening or channel, from end to

page_text: end of the skelp or partly formed tube, thus a perfectly uniform skelp is turned
out of the shape seen in Fig. 7, the effect and advantage of the two edges of the
skelp being kept apart, is that in the after process of welding, the flames
can much more effectually play upon the edges of the skelp a much better and
truer weld being thereby obtainable.
The skelp as it emerges from the machine is carried down the channel guide L',
and thence placed on one side to cool.
As an alternative I can form the shaping die with a nib or projection in it for
the purpose of keeping the edges of the skelp apart in which case the rolls upon
which is the annular nib or projection will not be required, but by preference I use
these rolls as a much better skelp is made, moreover by their use the shaping die is
absolutely cleared as the skelp is completely drawn out of the die.
The skelp or partly formed tube having reached this stage is then passed through
the next process of welding (which may be effected in an ordinary welding furnace
as now employed) thus the gas tube or other tube is produced and ready to be
handed to the "screwers."
As a further alternative I may when desired dispense with the before named pair
of preparatory or cupping rolls A, A1, but in this case the metal strip will be
required to be cupped and pointed before being passed into the machine by
preference, however I adopt the preparatory or cupping rolls A, A', in connection
with my improved machine as being by far the best method.
By this my invention 1 am enabled to produce direct from the metal rolling mill
or strip heating furnace much better shaped skelps, or partly formed tubes, than has
hitherto been possible.
The machine may if desired be placed immediately in front of a strip heating
furnace instead of a rolling mill.
Numerous advantages will be found to exist in the use of my improvements that
it has been found impossible to obtain by other known methods heretofore.
A great saving of fuel is effected by reason of no skelping furnace being required,
also a great saving in the weight of iron, as by my improved method the iron
skelp does not "scale off" or waste in the process of manufacture, this being a
very important feature, moreover the tube in its finished state is turned out of a
uniform thickness throughout and considerable advantage in this fact exists
inasmuch as the skelp being better and truer made than by the old process, viz., by
means of furnaces, draw benches, &c. better finished and uniform tubes are handed
to the "screwers a far less percentage of wasters being the result.
"
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise nature of
the details herein set forth as I may sometimes vary certain parts of the machine
as occasion may demand if so desired without materially departing from the general
principle of this my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion for Improvements in the manufacture of metal tubes, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a machine for the manufacture of metal tubes of all kinds the
combination of a pair of preparatory receiving or cupping rolls A, A', the shaping
die B, and the pair of finishing rolls C. Cand the manner in which they work in
conjunction with each other, and in combination with the other parts of the
machine, the rolls, die, driving gearing, and machinery generally being constructed
and arranged in manner as shewn in the annexed drawings, or any mere equivalents
thereof substantially as and for the purposes as herein set forth.
Second. I claim the particular formation or any mere equivalent thereof of the
finishing rolls C. C' consisting of the pair of rolls as shewn the one having a
concave centre or groove Q on its face and an annular nib or projection R. therein,
surrounding the same, and the corresponding roll having a concave centre or
groove S. on its face, either alone or in combination with the other working parts
of the machine all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth,

page_text: And generally I claim the herein described improvements or any mere
equivalents thereof in the manufacture of metal tubes, of all kinds, whereby a
great saving of metal fuel and labour is effected and whereby I am enabled to
produce direct from the rolling mill or strip heating furnace, skelps or partly
formed tubes that shall be of a uniform thickness throughout and straighter and
better finished than it has hitherto been possible to produce them by other methods
for the purposes, and in manner substantially as set forth and described.
Dated this 8th day of April A.D. 1891.
EDWARD J. PAYNE & SON,
104, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.