CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR ORNAMENTING, FLOATING, BURNISHING, AND POLISHING METALLIC TUBES, PART OF WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MNMATTO CHERR " PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ferdinand Potts, Tube Manufacturer, of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, and Thomas Vann, Wire Worker, of Cheap-
side, Birmingham, in the same County, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
MACHINERY FOR ORNAMENTING, FLOATING, BURNISHING, AND POLISHING
METALLIC TUBES, PART OF WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
MNMATTO CHERR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ferdinand Potts and
Thomas Vann, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th May 1856.
We, FERDINAND POTTS, Tube Manufacturer, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, and THOMAS VANN, Wire Worker, of Cheapside, Bir-
mingham, in the same County, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention
for "CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR ORNAMENTING, FLOATING, BURNISHING, AND
POLISHING METALLIC TUBES, PART OF WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
PERFORMING THE LIKE OPERATION UPON OTHER METALLIC SURFACES," to be as
follows (that is to say):-
The first part of our Invention consists in ornamenting tubes by double
twisting them, the second or reverse twist being a second operation done
after the first, and in performing this operation on brass tubes, an iron, or
other metal tube is inserted, fitting tightly the interior.. circumference of.the

page_text: angle of the first twisting process, as it affords a support not only to the
original twist, but also acts as a gauge to regulate the depth of the second
twisting process; when the tube to be double twisted is parallel, we propose
to do only one at a time, using the ordinary machinery now used for forming
single twisted tubes, the double twist being effected by the same machine by
simply reversing the twist in the hole or collar through which the tube is
pulled as well as the action of the machine.
Secondly, our Invention consists in ornamenting tubes by placing on an
ordinary brass tube- an outer tube made of any other color or mixture of
metal, and perforated regularly on its surface with holes of a lozenge or other
form, and of a suitable size, as, for instance, that when the two tubes
tubes are put
together and double twisted the projections of the inner tube, formed by the
double twist, shall be forced through the perforations of the outer one.
The single and double twisting process of ornamentation on taper tubes we
propose to do by the aid of a machine somewhat analagous to Jordan's Patent
machinery for cutting, carving, engraving, etc., by which means several tubes
may be done simultaneously from a given pattern by pressure only, by the
aid of which we propose to 'ornament such tubes by the application of the
fouter perforated tube, as before described, as applied to parallel double twisted
tubes. And our improvements in floating, burnishing, and polishing tubes,
applies only to plain and not twisted tubes, and consists of a frame into which
the tube to be polished is placed; and 'at the sides of the frames are guide
bearings, or rods, between which a float, burnisher, or polisher is fixed, which
being put in motion by a connecting rod, crank, and driving wheel, a portion
of the tube will be operated upon according to the throw of the crank and
the number of floats, burnishers; or polishers that are put in motion, cach
additional tool being placed, from the first, a little less than the length of
the throw of the crank; as, for instance, if the throw of the crank is two
feet, the floats, burnishers, or polishers must be placed. a little less than two
-feet asunder, so that by using six.floats (all being "connected in rotation, and
placed a little less than two feet apart) a tube cleven and a half feet long,
after making one revolution, would have been floated; burnished, or
polished: from end to end; and in connection with the driving wheel, suitable
gearing and ratchet wheel is fixed,. which will cause the tube to revolve
a certain portion with each revolution, or half revolution, or stroke of the
crank; and in the case of burnishing, that. by.means of a stop and a ratchet
placed on the side of the traverser that carries the burnisher,. the burnişlier.or
burnishers may be made to revolve, and move laterally, so :as. to present a
different surface to the tube (intended to be burnished) at each stroke.the

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ferdinand Potts. and Thomas Vann in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, FER-
DINAND POTTS, Tube Manufacturer, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and THOMAS VANN, Wire Worker, of Birmingham, in the same
County, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Ferdinand Potts and Thomas Vann, Her special license that we, the said
Ferdinand Potts and Thomas Vann, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Ferdinand Potts and Thomas Vann,
our executors, administrators, or 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 "CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR
ORNAMENTING, FLOATING, BURNISHING, AND POLISHING, METALLIC TUBES, PART OF
WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR PERFORMING THE LIKE OPERATION
UPON OTHER METALLIC SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Ferdinand Potts and Thomas Vann, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 we, the said Ferdinand Potts and Thomas
Vann, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say

page_text: The first part of our Invention relates to the mode of ornamenting tubes, by
double twisting them, as exhibited. at Figure 1, Sheet One, which represents'
a tube, with five reeds running spirally in opposite directions along its surface;
and before proceeding with our description, we wish to observe that single
twisted tubes have been. made, and in use for some time, the machinery
somewhat varying with each manufacture; but the plan we believe to be best
'will be understood by the following description:-A circular collar is prepared,
with a concentric taper hole formed through it; the internal form of the
hole defining the shape and size of the tube we desire to twist. This collar
is set up and fixed in connection with suitable gearing on a common draw-
bench, and a piece of metal tube, sufficiently large to receive the true form
of the spiral reeds, formed on the inside of the hole. This tube must be made
small at one end for the purpose of readily passing through the hole, to be
scized by the pliers, appertaining to the bench. The draw-chain being set
in motion, as well as the gearing before described; the tube will be pulled
through the twisted hole or collar in a direct line, while the collar is being
made by the gearing to revolve, while the tube is passing through it; thus it
is evident that the tube will take the form as represented at Figure 2,
assuming that the internal form of the contracted end of the revolving collar
is the exact size and shape of the outward form as here given.
Having thus described the mode of producing single twisted tubing, we
will now describe how this operation may be reversed to produce the result as
exhibited at Figure 1. To effect this we simply remove the collar before referred
to, the hole through which, having its spiral inclination in the direction for
producing the tube exhibited at Figure 2, and substitute one inclined in the
reverse direction; but before passing the single twisted tube through the
hole for receiving the double twist, we prefer to pass the single twisted tube
over an iron tube, the diameter of which will be equal to the internal size of
the tube at the parts contracted by the angle of the spiral grooves. The use
of this internal tube is for the purpose of supporting the tube; and keeping it
in form during the process of its going through the collar to receive the
reverse or double twisting process. As a substitute for the internal tube or-
mandrel for support, we may, in some instances, prefer filling the tube to be
operated upon with sand or soft metal, such as 'lead, which may be a more
preferable mode, when the metál composing the tube intended to be twisted
is very thin; and in some instances we propose to strengthen the outer brass
tube by drawing it tightly over an inner tube made of thin sheet iron, and the
cased tubing thus formed may be double twisted, in the manner herein-before
described; and in some instances the sheet metal of which the outer tube

page_text: may be composed may be of brass, or other suitable metal perforated, as
exhibited at Figure, 3; the form of such perforations being diversified as
may be desired. Such sheet of perforated metal may be cut into strips of the
desired size, and bent up and soldered into a tube, and afterwards drawn over
a tube composed of a metal of an opposite or different color, say of white metal,'
zine, or metal composed of tin; German silver, silver plated, or other suitable
metals. The two tubes thus combined may be double twisted, producing, a
tube as exhibited at Figure 4. We do not consider size of any importance,
because tubes thus made will admit of their being large enough for the pillars
of metallic bedsteads, or so small that they may be made for the barrels or
cases for pencils or ever-points, the combination of gold and silver suiting
well for a contrast. For twisting either single or double, or otherwise orna-
menting taper tubes, we propose to use a machine named in our Provisional'
Specification, as being somewhat on the principle of a machine patented by
Jordan for wood and other carving; but, although we use a pattern which
regulates and defines the form of the work we produce, (as he does), never-
theless the operations of our machine widely differs from his, as will be
hereafter seen or understood by the following description;-
.
Figures 5 and 6, Sheet One, are a side and top view of a machine con-
structed for this purpose, the same parts being lettered with the same letter
of reference as they appear in each view. The frame or sides of the machine
are represented as made of cast iron marked A, A, united to each other
by six cross pieces, four only of which can be seen in the top view;
Figure 6, marked B, B, B, B; these cross pieces are united to the sides by
the screw bolts exhibited at C, C, &c., Figure 5. The sides are so formed
as to receive the axis of the cog wheel D, which is put in motion by the
pinion E and handle F; G, G, is a bed fitted with rollers underneath, that
work along in grooves on the inside of the side pieces A, A, which grooves
are exhibited in the top view, Figure 6, marked a, a. Underneath the
sides of the frame G, G, is secured a rack, shewn partly in dotted lines
at Figure 5; this rack is geared into the cog wheel D, of which we propose
putting one on each side, to which an additional pinion and handle may
be applied if required; thus it is evident that by turning round the handle,
the bed G, G, is made to move forwards or backwards as required alang
between the sides or frame. The bed is fitted with a series of centres,
geared into each other by cog wheels, and held down on the end of the
end piece of the bed by the glands marked b, c, b, c, &c., the centre one
being fitted with a small wheel marked H, the use of which will be here-
after explained. On the inner end of these axes or centres are fitted the taper'

page_text: angular pieces marked d, d, &c. .J, J. is an adjustable end, held down by the
screws marked KK, which works along, in the slots f, f, ff, for the purpose.
of adjusting it for receiving short or long, tubes, as will be hereafter seen;
this moveable end piece is fitted with, screw centres capable of being elevated.
or depressed, so that the part of the taper tube that may be fixed in the
machine shall always maintain a perfectly horizontal position. L, L, is a
bridge, which works up and down in slots formed on the top of the side pieces
A, A; this bridge we prefer to rest on suitable springs or an elastic packing,
as here exhibited at M, Figure 5. N,, N, are levers working on the fulcrum
or centres. O; these levers are made to. depress the bridge by means of strong
india-rubber bands, which are hooked on to the end of the levers, and pulled
down and 'passed over projections formed on the ends or sides for that purpose;
The bridge is fitted with pieces of round, steel, say, of about an inch in
diameter; these pieces of steel are put up from, 'the bottom, and retained by.
the screws marked g, g, &c, and prevented from rising in their sockets by the.
screws h, h, &c; the use of these pieces of, steel will be hereafter described;
this bridge with the screws:g and h, as well as the steel tracers secured in
their sockets by them, is exhibited in a detached front view at Figure 7. P is
a taper mandrel, which we recommend to be made of steel, and which accord-
ing to the scale of our Drawing (namely an inch to the foot) would be 7 feet
9 inches long, 5 inches in diameter. at the largest end, and 2 inches at the
smallest end. Along this mandrel are formed two spiral grooves, making
about seven and three-quarter turns from the large to the small end;, this
steel mandrel being secured between the centres in such a way that its upper
side shall be perfectly horizontal. The steel tracer that fits in the centre
socket of the bridge is forged or flattened down on two sides, so as to give to
it an oblong shape in'its transverse section, in such a way that, its narrowest
thickness shall fit freely into the groove of the mandrel, and its bottom
surface must be curved obliquely, that when it is allowed to drop into the
groove of the mandrel; its bottom side should be of the shape of the surface
of the bottom of the groove. Suppose this steel tracer to be secured-in its
socket by its corresponding front screw,, and prevented from rising out of
the groove, by the top screw, it is, evident that by turning the-handle in the
direction of the arrow, the bed G. will be made to move slowly to the right,
and at the same time the mandrel, P will be made to revolve according to the
inclination of the groove into which the steel-guide or tracer before-described
may have been placed, and, it, is also evident that the mandrel P will give
motion to the cog, wheel k, which motion will be communicated to the three
other wheels geared in rotation with it on each side; thus we get a motion.

page_text: that would produce spiral lines or indented grooves (according to the pressure.
put on the tracers), diverging and meeting in opposite directions along the.
surfaces of six tubes at one operation; but in this case we have only exhibited.
two taper tubes, marked Q, Q, and R, R, and these tubes are being twisted
or reeded in opposite directions simply by shaping the two steel tracers that..
are placed in the corresponding sockets over these tubes. in a kind of blunt
chisel form, the lower edges of which will by the action of the machine form.
the angular spiral-indentations intended to be made. These steel tracers being
kept down by their respective screws, a spiral indentation will be formed from
end to end of the tube, making the same number of revolutions around the,
tube that the sunken grooves make around the mandrel, according to the
number of angular:grooves we wish to make, so as to divide the surface of the.
tube into the desired number of reeds. To effect this, the tubes must be
shifted so as to bring a fresh part under the action of the steel tracers fixed:
in the bridge, the depth of such indentation being regulated by the screws,
1, h, as well as by the increased or. decreased amount of contracting power
given to the elastic bands applied to the ends of the levers. The wheel H.
applied to the centre cog wheel -is for the purpose of enabling the operator
to assist the action of the machine when unusual power is required in indenting
or twisting a full quantity of tubes, such tubes being made of stout metal.
The angular centres marked-d, d,; are-here represented as square at their base,
and are made with a square hole through them, which fits over a square. part.
formed on the spindle to which they are respectively applied, and are so con-
trived that they may be easily-removed and replaced by others with 'more or
less number of sides, preferring to use centres that are divided into as many
cqui-distant angles as we may-intend-to-make reeds or other shaped mouldings.
around the tubes. And the mode of twisting or ornamenting taper tubes.
composed of two kinds of-metal or -metallic alloys, as exhibited in the parallel.
specimen, Figure 4, may also be made upon this plan small enough for cases.
for pencils or ever-points, or sufficiently-large-for lamp or bedstead: pillars, or
any other purpose for which such tubes-may be applicable, observing that the:
obliquity or angle of the thread forming the reeds or ornament is at all times:
regulated by the-groove formed-around the centre, mandrel; 'and it may be.
also necessary in this, as in that case, to use an, internal support; either by.
inserting a tube after the tube has been reeded in one direction and before,
the reversed reeding is commenced, or by filling up the tube with soft metal,.
sand, or other suitable material; nor is it necessary that taper tubes should
be ornamented in a spiral form, as reeds or-other-shaped-mouldings may be
formed from end to end in a straight line, the mouldings tapering in .pro=

page_text: portion. to the taper of the tube, the character and nature of which we prefer
to be given from the mandrelor. pattern placed in the middle of the
machine.
.
The last part of our Invention relates to certain machinery to be worked by
steam, water, hand, or other power, for floating, burnishing, or polishing tubes,
and which machine we have exhibited on Sheet Two, drawn to a scale of one.
inch to the foot.
Figures 8 and 9 are top and side views, and Figures 10 and 11 end views,
of our machine for effecting this object, fitted with fast and loose pulleys for
receiving a driving band, by which it may be put to work; and we will first
describe this machine as being applicable or arranged for floating a tube from
end to end during the time of the tube making one revolution.
.
A, A, is the frame or stand, here represented as made of cast iron, cast in
two parts on each side (on account of its great length) and connected by the
plate and screws B, B, and at the ends. by pieces in the form of an X, united
to angles formed on the side pieces A, A, by screws marked c, c. D, D, is a
top, which we prefer being made of cast iron, bolted down to the stand or
frame A, and E, E, &c., are supports for carrying the guide rods marked F, F,
which we prefer being made of T iron, as shewn by the same letter of
reference in the end views, and which are secured by bolts passing through
the outer. flanges of the T iron, and down through the hollow standards E,
and secured by nuts on the under side. Resting on the bed between the
supports E; Eis a bridge, which may be formed of cast iron, extending
nearly, the length of the guide rods, and marked G, G, 'shewn distinctly
in an end view at Figure 11, marked with the same letter. This bridge is
lowered or elevated by means of the set screws a, a, a; and by referring
to the end view of this bridge at Figure 11, it will be seen that it branches off
on each side for the purpose of receiving an angular piece of wood for the
tube marked, under operation, to rest on during the the time it is being
floated: The tube is secured to a square or other shaped rod, marked b, b;
this rod passes through the-bevel, wheel d, which gear into one secured to
the same axis. that carries the ratchet wheel I. J, J, &c., are plates, which
slide between the guide rods F, F; to these plates are fitted four sockets
for four pins to work up through, which pins are attached to the plates
marked f. f,&c., on the under side of which the floats are secured, marked g.
Between the plates f and J'any suitable spring or springs may be applied, in
order that the lower plate with the float may be pressed down on the tube.
In the centre of each of the plates marked f, a strong vertical pin is attached,
which pin passes up through a corresponding hole in the plate J, terminating
.

page_text: with an enlarged head,.seen in the top view, Figure 8, marked h, h, h.. On the
front side of the plates marked J are projecting ears, shewn clearly on the top;
front, and end views marked k; through those ears the rod L, L, is placed, to
which is attached the vertical lever M, and between the ears k, k, &c., before
described, are arms marked p, also firmly secured to the rod L,.the inner ends
of these arms are slotted, in order that they may pass under the heads of the
pins marked h, h, &c.; thus it is evident, that if the lever M is pulled down;
the pins h, h, will be lifted up by the arms p, p, &c., and "the plates f, fi
carrying the floats, being attached to the pins, the whole series of floats may
be simultaneously lifted off the tube. The plates J, J, J, &c., are united to
each other by connecting rods, marked m, m, and the extreme one to the left
is attached by the guide rod n.to the vertical arm N, which works on a fulcrum
at o. This vertical arm is composed of two plates, in order that the rod.b,
attached to the tube H, may work between them. The lower end of the arm N!.
is attached to the connecting rod Q, and which rod is united at the other end.
to the crank formed on the main shaft of the machine, shewn best.in the end
view, marked R, R,. on which shaft the fly wheel S, and fast and loose pullies.
T and U are fixed; thus it is evident, that with each revolution of the crank
or shaft, the centres of the pins connecting the rods to the arm N¹ will pass
through the area, shewn in dotted lines in Figure 9, and that during the time.
this arm is moving in the direction of the arrow all the floats will be pulled
forward ready for the reverse: action to commence a fresh stroke on the tube,
a new surface being presented to them for that purpose in the following way:
During the time the lower end of the arm N¹ is moving to the right, the top
end of the auxiliary arm V is moving to the left, and by means of the pall q; the
ratchet wheel I is moved around in the direction of the arrow just one tooth,
and by means of the bevel wheel connected with it being. geared into the
bevel wheel d, a fresh surface is presented to the action of the floats with.each
successive stroke; this is repeated until the tube has made a complete revolu-
tion, which may be done with great convenience in about one minute of time,
which, as a matter of course, gives the time necessary for floating a thirteen
feet tube from end to end, and from the certainty and steadiness of the action,
the quality of the work will be found far superior to that done by hand labour.
An open slot is formed along the bed of the machine underneath the bridge
for supporting the tube, the use of which is for allowing the small shavings of
metal taken off by the floats to fall through into the trough W, W, shewn in
Figure 9, partly in dotted lines. This trough runs along. upon rollers, the axes
of which are -shewn at X, X, &e., so that the trough may be readily pulled.
out and emptied of its contents. When this machine is. used for polishing

page_text: tubes, the floats are removed or covered with buff leather, and the. necessary
amount of rubbing may be given to the, tube by lifting the pall out of the
ratchet wheel, returning it when the tube may require to be turned; and
again, for burnishing, we remove the floats and add suitable pieces of steel,
highly polished and dressed on their surfaces, in the ordinary way in which
hand burnishers are treated, and which burnishers we propose to be round' and
so fitted, that they may revolve slightly by means of a screw action, so as to be
constantly presenting a fresh .part to the surface of the tube, with each stroke
or half stroke of the machine.
Having thus described the nature of. our Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect, we wish it understood that we
do not propose to confine ourselves to the form, dimensions, or particular
arrangement of the parts, as herein described and exhibited, as the
mechanical arrangement both for twisting as well as for floating and
burnishing tubes; is capable of considerable modification; as, for instance,
the machinery described on Sheet One, for twisting, or otherwise orna-
menting taper tubes, may be made or arranged for operating on one or two
tubes only at one time, instead of six, as there exhibited; and instead of the
machine being worked with one handle, it may be worked with one on each
side. And, again, there would be no difficulty in applying steam or water
power to the working of such machine, but we have not thought it necessary
to exhibit such means, because the demand for such kind of tubes may be
somewhat limited, and may be easily supplied by hand labour. The machine
exhibited on Sheet Two may be made in a very different way to the plan
there shewn, but we believe we have exhibited its general features in a way
that may be readily understood, and conveniently and economically con-
structed for use, and capable of doing at one revolution a tube thirteen feet
long, which is beyond the average length, but if short tubes are required, we
may disconnect one, two, or more of the plates to which the floats or burnishers
are attached, so as to be using no more than will extend to the length of the
tube we may desire to float or burnish; or in fact, we may use only one of
such sliding plates, and so move the tube forward or backward for every fresh
part we may desire to operate on, until the whole length may be done'; and if
at any time it may be desirable to work such machine by hand instead of
steam' or other power, the driving shaft, fly wheel, &c., may be raised up so
that it may be convenient (by means of a handle) for a man to work it.
With these general remarks, we wish it distinctly understool that what we
claim as our Invention, and desire to secure under the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,

page_text: Firstly, the mode of double twisting tubes, as herein-before described,
without any reference to the shape, number, or obliquity of the reeds or
mouldings thereby formed.
Secondly, the making of ornamental tubes, by putting one metal tube over
the other, the outer one being perforated, as exhibited at Figures 3 and 4,
without any regard to the shape of such perforations or angular order in which
they range, or to the size of such tubes when finished.
Thirdly, we claim the mode of single and double twist reeding and other-
wise ornamenting taper tubes, as exhibited at Figures 5 and 6, without con-
fining ourselves to any particular shape or character of ornament given, or to
the number of tubes that may be done at one time in such machine.
And, lastly, we claim the reciprocating action and general arrangement for
floating, burnishing, and polishing tubes by steam, water, or other power, in
contradistinction to hand labour, as herein-before described and exhibited on
Sheet Two.
In witness whereof, we, the said Ferdinando Potts and Thomas Vann,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
0
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
FERDINAND POTTS. (L.S.)
THOMAS VANN.
(L.S.)