Improvements in Tools for Expanding Boiler and other Tubes, and for Effecting analogous Operations.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Tools for Expanding Boiler and other Tubes, and
for Effecting analogous Operations.
We, JOHN MCKAY, Engineer of Victoria Avenue, Whitley, in the County of
Northumberland, ARTHUR HARDY, Tailor and Outfitter, 48 New Bridge Street,
and ANDREW YOUNG, Linen Draper, Royal Arcade, both in the City and County
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
"
The invention relates to tools for expanding tubes and for making truly circular
and of exact diameters the bores of tubes, bolt or gudgeon holes, holes in tube
plates and other apertures and consolidating and smoothing the surfaces thereof,
with two rollers set out by the action of a wedge key upon a parallel "mandril
and consists in so connecting the tapered wedge key and parallel "mandril" that
when the latter is revolved it will self-feed forward, the wedge key forcing the
"mandril" between the rollers and causing them to expand the tube end in the
tube plate, or to effect the other required operations with gradually increasing
power as they are simultaneously set out by the action of the wedge and travel
round by the revolving of the "mandril."
The self-feeding action of the "mandril" will be preferably effected by setting
the two expanding rollers at a slight angle with the axis of the stock and of the
mandril whereby a very gradual and steady feed can be obtained and the
tapered wedge key, being attached to the "mandril" forces it between
the expanding rollers with gradually increasing leverage. When the operation
of the tool is completed the "mandril" being revolved in the opposite direction
feeds outward, withdrawing the wedge key when the rollers recede and the tool
can be readily withdrawn. When the tool is operated by power the rollers may
have their axes coincident with the axis of the "mandril" instead of at a slight
angle therewith, the feed being given upon the spindle of the machine which
revolves the "mandril."
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Our invention is shewn in the form of an expander for tubes in their tube
plates but it is practically the same in construction and operation when applied to
other purposes.
The expander as shewn by Fig. 1 which is the form we prefer, consists of the
stock, two rollers, the "gauge-cap,” parallel “mandril," and wedge key.with a
"bridle" or "shackle" connecting it with the "mandril" and the stop collar on
inner end of the "maudril" or in all eight pieces.
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section of the expander on a line at right angles
with the rollers..
Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line ab of Fig. 1, Fig. 24 is a similar section
of a smaller tool, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of the invention by which the "mandril" and
wedge key may be made to operate simultaneously upon rollers with their axes
coincident with the axis of the "mandril," and
Figs. 5 and 6 an adjustable gauge fitting by which the whole of the tube ends
may be expanded to exactly the same extent which is very important when they
are afterwards to be "ferruled."
The same letters refer to corresponding parts on all the figs. where such parts

page_text: S is the hollow stock through which pass the "mandril" M and the tapered
wedge W, connected together by the collar C, on the "mandril" engaging in a.
groove in the head of the wedge and kept together by the "bridle" B. The two
expanding rollers R are confined in cavities in the stock either (as shewn by Figs. 1
and 2) by the edge of the gauge cap G which rests against the tube plate, or
preferably for small tools (as shewn by Fig. 2A) by the rollers being put in from
inside the stock before the "mandril" is inserted and retained by the inturned lips
of the cavities. It is necessary to prevent the "mandril" being forced by the
tapered wedge beyond the central line of the rollers and this is provided for as
shewn on Figs. 2 and 2ª. The "mandril" M has on its inner end a washer fixed
by a pin to prevent it and the wedge W coming entirely out of the stock when
the expander is withdrawn from the tube end. The "gauge-cap" G slips over the
inner end of the stock S until it abuts against a collar at outer end and is then
secured from sliding off by a bayonet joint.
The expanding rollers R being set at a very slight angle with the axis of the
*" mandril M (see Fig. 1) give a very gradual self-feed to the latter when it is
turned by a spanner applied to the square part on outer end and as it feeds in it
takes with it the wedge W which forces it between the rollers with gradually
increasing leverage until the axis of the "mandril" is nearly on a line with the
axes of the rollers which are then operated to nearly their extreme extent (as
shewn by Figs. 1, 2, and 3) and a little further action of the wedge will force the
"mandril" against the stop provided in the stock S (see Figs. 2 and 24) and
prevent it passing to the wrong side of the rollers. The "mandril" being
now turned in the opposite direction will feed outward and withdraw the wedge
when the rollers will fall inward and the tool will come readily out of the
tube end.
When tube ends are to be afterwards ferruled, and in order to ensure that
each shall be expanded to exactly the same diameter, we propose to use a
gauge fitting round the neck of the wedge and "mandril as indicated by strong
dotted lines on Figs. 1 and 3 and the gauge may be supplemented in depth by
liners of the same shape so as to adjust the point at which the wedge action
will be arrested to any extent. A plan and section of this gauge is shewn by
Figs. 5 and 6.
Referring to Fig. 4 the outer end of the "mandril" M has a left hand screw
cut upon it and the head of the wedge W is tapped, the "mandril," being inserted
from the inner end of the stock, has a solid collar C formed upon it fitting into a
recess R at the inner end of the stock S and kept in position by a keep plate P.
The "mandril " being turned from left to right the wedge will feed inward the
collar C forming the fulcrum against the inner end of the stock and being turned
the opposite way will withdraw the wedge the keep plate P forming the fulcrum.
In another modification, not shewn, the inner end of the "mandril" may be
screwed and work through a tapped nut so inserted in a cavity formed in the inner
end of the stock that the "mandril" travels inward or outward the wedge being
connected with it as shewn on Figs. 1 and 3 the nut forming the fulcrum in both
feeding in the wedge and withdrawing it. In both these modifications the
expanding rollers are set with their axes parallel with the "mandril."
The tool in any of the forms described may be advantageously applied to the
holes in tube plates to make them truly circular and all of an exact diameter
operating as an expander to a fractional degree by consolidating and smoothing the
material round the hole, also to holes to receive accurately fitting bolts as in
couplings or in the cross-heads of piston and connecting rods and the like.
In modified forms of construction it may be applied to long tubes, as the tubes
of guns, the parallel “mandril,” the stock carrying the rollers, and the tapered
wedge extending beyond the full length of the tube and the rollers being set at a
.slight angle with the "mandril" to give the self feeding action, or with their axes
coincident with the axis of the "mandril" the feed being given by the machine
which revolves the "mandril."

page_text: In another form the stock, wedge key, and rollers may be of ordinary length,
the "mandril" being sufficiently long to operate the rollers throughout the full
length of the tube, the wedge key connected to the "mandril" being inserted by
the revolving of the "mandril" at the commencement of operation so as to set out
the rollers to the required extent and no "gauge-cap” will be fitted.
The tool in this application will generally be operated by power and the effect is
infinitesimally to increase the inside diameter of the tube and in so doing to
consolidate the material and produce a hard smooth surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
--
"
1st. The improvements in tools for expanding tubes and for analogous purposes
consisting in attaching a tapered wedge key to a parallel "mandril in such
connection that the "mandril," being revolved in one direction, will travel forward
carrying with it the tapered key which, by its wedge action, will gradually force
the "mandril" between two rollers revolving them round the tube end or round
the surface of circular holes or apertures until the required expansion or
analogous operation is effected when the "mandril" being revolved in the
opposite direction will be withdrawn, the tapered key and the rollers receding,
the tool will come freely out of the tube or aperture, substantially as described..
2nd. The construction of such tools whereby the self feeding action is effected
by setting the axes of the rollers at a slight angle with the axis of the parallel
"mandril" which being revolved will revolve the rollers, and simultaneously
advance taking with it the tapered key which by its wedge action will force the
"mandril" between the rollers to effect the required operations as described and
shewn by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or the modified construction shewn by Fig. 4 and
special construction described with reference to operating throughout the bore of
tubes, such as for guns.
3rd. In combination with such tools the application of an adjustable gauge to
adjust the amount of the expanding and to ensure exactly the same diameter in
tube holes or other apertures and to tube ends substantially as described and
shewn by Figs. 5 and 6.
Dated this 19th day of May 18947.
Dated this 19th 08Y OF May 1894.
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P.A.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Agent for Applicants.