IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND PIPES AND FOR SHAPING TUBULAR AND CIRCULAR METAL ARTICLES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Selby, of Smethwick, in the County
of Warwick, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND PIPES AND FOR SHAPING TUBULAR AND
CIRCULAR METAL ARTICLES"
Sealed the 12th May 1854, and dated the 9th March 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Selby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
March 1854.
I, GEORGE THOMAS SELBY, of Smethwick, in the County of Warwick, Gen-
tleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND PIPES AND FOR SHAPING
TUBULAR AND CIRCULAR METAL ARTICLES " to be as follows:―
My Invention consists in constructing tubes and pipes by first casting a
short length in the usual manner, and then in forming it into a tube or pipe of
the required diameter, by drawing it over or upon or forcing it over or upon
a mandril, made to revolve or not, between revolving rolls so arranged as to
form a die for the outer surface. Tubular or circular metal articles are
shaped or made smooth and even by passing them between revolving rolls,
the articles being also made to revolve if found necessary. The revolving
rolls
may be made to advance to or recede from a. central point, should such
be necessary, to impart shape to the article to be passed between them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by
the said George Thomas Selby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
THOMAS SELBY, of Smethwick, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Thomas Selby, Her special licence that I, the said George
Thomas Selby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said George Thomas Selby, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND PIPES AND FOR
SHAPING TUBULAR AND CIRCULAR METAL ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Thomas Selby, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Thomas Selby, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed
(that is to say) :-
My Invention consists in constructing tubes and pipes, and similar circular
metallic articles, by first casting or otherwise forming a short cylinder or tube
of copper, spelter, brass, lead, or other metal, and of the form represented in
section in Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, and of the required
dimensions. These lengths of tubes, after being thoroughly cleaned and if
composed of a metal that will roll hot, are placed in a muffle and heated
uniformly but previously to placing them in the muffle I prefer that they
should be dipped in a thin paste of marl, or other suitable earthy material,
whereby the tube will be covered externally and internally with a thin coating

page_text: that will give way when pressure is applied, and facilitate the extension of the
tube along the mandril during its passage between the rolls herein-after
described. But if the metal is passed through the rolls cold, then I use oil,
Russian tallow, or other suitable greasy substance. The short length of tube,
after being thus prepared, is placed upon a mandril (either hot or cold,
according to the metal of which it is composed,) similar to that represented in
Figure 2, the end a of which is inserted into a tube connected with a
machine herein-after described, whereby the tube is forced through between a
set of rolls, which are caused to revolve, and are so arranged as to act in a
manner somewhat similar to a die upon the outer surface of the tube; but
the pressure applied to the surface of the tube (for the purpose of elongating
it), instead of being by means of a continuous circle, as in case of a die, is
applied by means of the peripheries of rollers, acting upon the surface of the
tube as it is forced through between them, the rollers and tube continually
revolving in the same direction. The mandril should be slightly warmed and
dipped in a thin paste of clay or charcoal blacking, mixed with oil, in order to
facilitate the removal of the tube from the mandril. In the accompanying
Drawings I have shewn Figures of machinery constructed with my improve-
ments. Figures 3 and 4 represent respectively a side elevation of a rolling
machine, and a machine for forcing the tube through the rolls in the relative
position which they occupy with regard to each other. Figures 5 and 6 are
plans of the same. Figure 7 is a front view of the rolling machine; and
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section on the line a, b, of Figure 3. Figure 9 repre-
sents a front view of the machine represented in Figures 4 and 6. The same
letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the corresponding Figures.
A, A, represent the framework of the rolling machine, which is cast in a piece
with the base plate B, and further strengthened by the rib C. D¹, D2, D³,
are three rolls mounted upon the shafts E', E, E³, supported and turning in
plummer blocks in the framework A. These rolls are so mounted in respect to
each other that the periphery of each of them shall always be at an equal distance
apart, or nearly so, from the centre of the orifice through which the tube is to
be forced. F, F, are screws which are tapped through the boxes G¹, G³,
bolted to the framework. The lower ends of these screws bear upon the
brasses of the shafts of the rollers D', D2, whereby their distance apart can be
regulated and adjusted to the diameter of the tube, or the extent to which it
may be intended to compress it. H, H, are counterbalance weights upon the
levers H', H, the opposite ends of each of which bear against the shafts of
the rolls D1, D2, and serve to keep them always in contact with the screws
F', F. Figure 10 represents a detached view of one of the rolls, and repre-

page_text: senting also the form which I prefer to make them of, though other shapes
may be used, as shewn in Figures 11 and 12, the roll in Figure 12 being cut
with one or more threads of a spiral form to give a forward motion to the
tube. In the machine represented in Figure 3, I have shewn the shafts of
the rolls as being parallel; but they may be inclined at an angle, and instead
of three rolls, four, or any combination of rolls similarly disposed, with or
without guides, may be used. I, I, I, are pinions upon the shafts of the
rolls, and geared into by the spur wheels K, K', the wheel K' being driven
by the toothed wheel L upon the shaft L', turning in plummer blocks bolted
to the brackets L2 projecting from the framework A. M is another toothed
wheel upon the shaft L', which is geared into and caused to revolve by means
of a pinion set in motion by a steam engine or other prime mover, whereby
the rolls are caused rapidly to revolve and to operate, upon the tube, which is
caused to pass between them by the machine represented at Figures 4, 6,
and 9. N, N, is a base plate on which are bolted the frames 0, 0, 0. P, P,
are two screws mounted in plummer blocks on the frames O. These screw's
are caused to revolve by the pinions P', P', keyed upon their ends, and the
intermediate wheel P' set in motion by the spur wheel P³, upon the top]
shaft Q, driven by the conical drum Q¹, set in motion by a strap from a
similar conical drum driven by the steam engine or other prime mover. R is
a cross head, the ends of which are formed into bosses, the interiors of which
are cut with a thread corresponding to the thread of the screws P, P. S is a
tube or rod, one end of which is secured to the cross head R, but at the same
time is free to revolve; this tube or rod is passed through a hollow spindle
in the plummer block T on the frame 0. U is a pinion upon the hollow
spindle, which is geared into by the toothed wheel U₁ upon the shaft Q,
whereby the tube or rod is caused to revolve at the same time that it is
propelled forward by the action of the screws, the tube or rod being provided
with a feather c, c, running the whole of its length, and working in a groove
the hollow spindle carrying the pinion U. I find in some cases that it is not
necessary to impart a revolving motion to the tube or rod S by gearing, the
friction consequent upon the pressure of the rolls being generally sufficient to
cause the tube or rod S to revolve, carrying with it the tube, to be reduced in
proportion to the speed at which the rolls are driven. The action of these
machines is as follows:-The cross head R being drawn to the back end of
the machine by reversing the action of the screws P, P, the mandril, Figure 2,
is attached to the tube or rod. S by a bolt and nut, and the short length or
cylinder Figure 1 is passed over the end of the mandril. The rolls are then
set in motion and the screws again caused to revolve in the opposite direc-
in

page_text: tion, which brings the cross head forward, and with it the tube or rod S, also
the mandril and the tube to be operated upon, whereby the last mentioned
tube is forced between the rolls, which by their continuous action upon it"
compress and also elongate it, according to the manner in which they may
have been set for that purpose. The tube is thus passed and repassed
between the rolls several times' (the rollers being each time brought nearer
together), until it assumes the desired length and thickness. When the
operation is performed upon a heated tube it is removed from off the mandril
to re-heat, &c. as often as found necessary. If the tube is required to be"
parallel in its thickness the mandril must be parallel, but if the interior of
the tube is required to be taper, then the tube should be cast slightly taper
internally; and the mandril also made taper in proportion; but if the tube is
required to be taper on its exterior; then I apply to the heads of each of the
screws F¹, F³, in pairs, worm wheels, into which gear endless "screws revolving.
in brackets upon the framework A, and driven by means of spur gearing from
the shafts of the wheels K, K¹. These worm wheels must be so adapted to the
heads of the screws that though revolving with them they must admit of the
heads of the screws sliding up and down' within their bosses, so as to allow of
the adjustment of the screws. The screws may at the completion of one tube
be again re-adjusted or set by hand, (the worm wheels being thrown out
of gear,) or by reversing the action of the endless screws in order to adapt the
machine for the commencement of a fresh tube.. Or I place steam cylinders
in place of the screws, and apply sufficient pressure to reduce the thickness,
and consequently the diameter of the tube, without reducing the diameter of
the mandril. Steam cylinders may also be applied in place of the screws
P, P, Figure 4, for forcing the tube between the rolls. To remove the tube
from the mandril the screws P, P, are reversed, and a pair of suitable tongs
clip the end of the tube and allow of the mandril being withdrawn, leaving
the tube upon the bench ready to be again heated or not as the case may be.
When the tube has been thus reduced to the desired dimensions it may (if not
tapered externally) be drawn through a die, to impart to it a better finish, in
the usual way for finishing brass tubes. If, instead of rolling the tube on the
mandril as herein-before described, it should be desired to roll it over the
mandril, then I fix the mandril at the back end of the machine, Figures 4
and 6, the rod of the mandril passing into and through the interior of the tube
S. The short length of tube is then placed over the mandril and the head of
it placed between the rolls, when upon the forward motion of the tube S it
advances against the end of the tube upon the mandril, and thereby forces it
through the rolls.

page_text: Having thus described the manner of manufacturing tubes and pipes,
these rolls may be also used for shaping other tubular and circular metal
articles, such, for instance, as hollow or solid iron axles, which may be passed
through the rolls and considerably compressed. Rods of iron or other metals
may be also greatly compressed, elongated, and if required tapered, by passing
them through the rolls in manner above described. Hollow or solid stair
rods, bedposts, &c. may also be thus formed or shaped.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim as of my
said Invention any of the elements or parts of which my improved machinery
is composed apart from the combination and application thereof, in manner
above described. And that what I do claim as of my Invention is,―
The construction of machinery for the manufacture or shaping of tubes,
pipes, and circular metallic articles by means of rollers mounted, and applying
a rolling pressure thereto, whilst they are forced through between such rollers,
as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Selby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
GEORGE THOMAS SELBY. (LS.)