Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of Flanged Flues for Boilers.
Year: 1899

page_text: FRO
"
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for use in the Manufacture
of Flanged Flues for Boilers.
We, FRANCIS LAWRENCE LANE, Engineer, and the LEEDS FORGE COMPANY,
LIMITED, both of Leeds Forge, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for use in flanging
boiler flues of the kind having a tube plate flange whose direction is at right
angles to the axis of the flue, and reverse flanges at the two opposite edges of
the tube plate flange, these reverse flanges merging into the wall of the circular
or approximately circular portion of the flue.
The improved machinery or apparatus is intended to be used after the tube
plate flange has been produced in order to form the reverse flanges (whilst the
metal in a sufficiently heated condition) by and between a bed, table or
former," and suitable flanging tools or dies, means being provided for holding
the tube plate flange whilst the reverse flanges are being formed. For tuis
purpose according to one construction of apparatus there are three levers each
having connected to it by a suitable joint such as a pin, block and slot arrange-
ment the plunger of a hydraulic ram or equivalent in such wise as to be thereby
actuated; one of these levers carries a flange holder or presser that can be caused
by actuating the lever to assume a position in which it will tightly grip between
itself and the bed, table or former "the tube plate flange of a flue and so hold it
securely whilst the reverse flanges are being formed by the flanging tools or dies
which are carried and actuated one by each of the other levers above referred to.
The levers may resemble bell crank levers, mounted on pins or pivots in brackets
carried by a suitable base or by a frame; each lever can be operated independently
by its respective hydraulic ram. The hydraulic cylinders can be fixed in certain
positions relative to one another or might if desired be made capable of adjust-
ment to admit of producing diverging or other reverse flanges. A central block
or retainer or equivalent device for retaining or aiding to retain the flue end in
Hanging position is or may be provided.
"
In a modified construction the presser or flange holder is carried by a lever
actuated by hydraulic or other power and the flanging tools or dies are carried by
blocks or carriages able to travel on inclined ways and operated simultaneously
by means of a hydraulic ram connected to a crosshead to which each block or
carriage is linked by means of connecting rods the length of which can be
adjusted.
In another construction the presser or flange holder and the flanging tools or
dies are all carried by a kind of crosshead or frame connected to a hydraulic
ram or equivalent whereby it can be moved towards and from the bed, table or
former" the direction of motion being parallel with the axis of the flue. In
a modification the bed, table or former and the central block or retainer are

page_text: arranged to be moved with the flue towards the presser or flange holder and the
flanging tools or dies.
In another construction the arrangement is such that the reverse flanges are
formed by and between male and female dies the male die being actuated by
hydraulic or other power so as to force the tube plate flange into the female die
and thereby to produce the reverse flanges. In a vertical arrangement of this
kind the female die takes the place of the bed, table or " former and the male
die the places of the flange holder or presser and movable flanging tools or dies
before described and there is or niay be a bed or support on which the plain end
of the flue will come to rest after the reverse flanges have been formed.
The flue is or may be retained in position by a central block or retainer
carried by the lower end of a hydraulic ram which also carries the holding
device and the flanging dies or formers.
In some cases apparatus according to this invention is constructed and
arranged to produce the reverse flanges whilst the flue is in a horizontal attitude
or approximately so.
In one construction of this kind there is provision for holding the flue with
its tube plate flange opposite a kind of female die but so that the flue can be
moved longitudinally and a male die arrangement is actuated by a hydraulic ram
or equivalent so that by pressure against the tube plate flange the flue is moved
lengthwise and a part of the tube plate flange enters the female die between
which and the male die the reverse flanges are simultaneously formed.
In the several constructions above indicated the details may be more or less
varied to suit circumstances,
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for use in the Manufacture
of Flanged Flues for Boilers.
We, FRANCIS LAWRENCE LANE, Engineer, and the LEEDS FORGE COMPANY,
LIMITED, both of Leeds Forge, Leeds, in the County of York, 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:-
This invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for use in flanging
boiler flues of the kind having a tube-plate flange whose direction is at right
angles to the axis of the flue, and reverse Hanges at the two opposite edges of the
tube-plate flange, these reverse flanges merging into the wall of the circular or
approximately circular portion of the flue.
The improved machinery or apparatus is intended to be used after the tube-
plate flange has been produced in order to form the reverse flanges (whilst the
metal is in a sufficiently heated condition) by and between a table or "former"
and suitable flanging tools or dies, means being provided for holding the tube-
plate flange whilst the reverse flanges are being formed.
For this purpose apparatus according to this invention is constructed as will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illus-

page_text: trates the back end of a corrugated flue having a tube-plate flange a formed
with reverse flanges b.
"
According to one construction, an example of which is represented in plan by
Fig. 2, in sectional front elevation by Fig. 3, and in cross section by Fig. 4,
there are three levers 1, 2, and 3 each having connected to it by a suitable joint 4,
as a pin, block, and slot arrangement, the plunger 5 of a hydraulic ram 6 or
equivalent in such wise as to be thereby actuated; one (1) of these levers carries
a flange holder or presser 7 that can be caused by actuating the lever 1 to assume
a position in which it will tightly grip between itself and the table or former S
the tube-plate of a flue c and so hold it securely whilst the reverse flanges
are being formed by the flanging tools or dies 9 and 10 which are carried and
actuated one by each of the levers 2 and 3 and bend the lateral portions of the
tube plate flange down to form the reverse flanges. The levers may, as shown,
resemble bell-crank levers, mounted on pins or pivots 11 in brackets 11ª carried
by a suitable base 12 or by a frame; each lever can be operated independently by
its respective hydraulic ram 6; in Fig. 3 one (2) of the flanging dies is shown in
the position that it occupies when the flanging stroke has been completed whilst
the other (3) is shown returned to its upper position. The hydraulic cylinders
can be fixed in certain positions relative to one another or might if desired be
made capable of adjustment to admit of producing reverse flanges having other
positions. A central block or retainer 13 or equivalent device for retaining or
aiding to retain the flue end in flanging position may be provided.
In a modified construction, of which Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views corresponding
to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 respectively, the presser or flange holder is carried by a
lever 1 actuated by hydraulic or other power as hereinbefore described, and
the flanging tools or dies 9 and 10 are carried by blocks or carriages 14 and 15
able to travel on inclined ways 16 and 17 and operated simultaneously by means
of a hydraulic ram 18 whose plunger 19 connected to a crosshead 20 to which
each block or carriage 14 or 15 is linked by means of connecting rods 21 the
effective length of which can be adjusted, as by changing their coupling pieces 22.
In both these arrangements, the flanging dies or tools and the flange presser
or holder during their downward movement approach the flue and
during their return movement recede therefrom, thus leaving the
flue free to be easily removed from the apparatus and another put in position to
be operated upon, but in some cases for instance, where plain flues are to be
operated upon, the flanging dies may be arranged to move parallel or approxi-
mately so to the axis of the flue.
According to another construction, an example of which is represented in
plan by Fig. 8, in front elevation by Fig. 9, and in cross section by Fig. 10, the
flange presser and the flanging tools or dies 9 and 10 are all carried by a cross-
head or frame 23 connected as by rods 24 and a crosshead 25 to the plunger 26 of
a hydraulic ram 27 or equivalent whereby it can be moved towards and from the
table or
"former 8 mounted on a suitable bed 12, the direction of motion
being parallel to the axis of the flue. The flanging dies 9 and 10 and the flange
presser 7 are so arranged that the dies 9 and 10 will, during their descent, come
into contact with lateral portions of the tube-plate flange of the flue which pro-
jeet beyond the sides of the former 8, over which the dies will bend and press
the said lateral portions so as to form the reverse flanges. The flange presser
during the completion of the descent of the crosshead 17 presses upon and grips
between itself and the top surface of the former 8 the tube-plate flange and thus
prevents buckling of the plate or flattens out any buckling caused by forming
the reverse flange.
According to a modification, an example of which is represented by Figs. 11, 12
and 13, which are views corresponding to Figs. 8, 9, and 10 respectively, the
table or former 8 and the central block or retainer 13 are carried by the plunger 26
of a ram 27 so to be moved with the flue towards the presser 7 and the flanging
tools or dies 9 and 10; in the example the frame 23 carrying the dies 9 and 10

page_text: and the flange presser 7 is made in one with a support 23" which is bolted to
the base 12.
In another vertical construction, an example of which is represented in
horizontal section in Fig. 14, in front elevation in Fig. 15, and in vertical section
in Fig. 16, and in which the reverse flanges are also formed by and between male
and female dies, the male die being actuated by hydraulic or other power as
in the case of the construction last described, so as to force the tube-plate flange
into the female die and thereby to produce the reverse flanges, the female die 28
of somewhat horseshoe shape takes the place of the table or former" in sup-
porting the tube-plate flange and the male die 29 the places of the flange presser
and movable flanging tools or dies before described in acting downwardly thereon;
in the example the male die 29, which is provided with a central block or
retainer 13, is secured to the plunger 26 of the hydraulic ram 27 and is guided
by means of a crosshead 30 and rods 31 which support the ram 27; the bed 12 is
provided with a support 12" on which the plain end of the flue will come to rest
after the reverse flanges have been formed; 12b are blocks used for supporting
the flue with its back-end tube-plate flange upmost and resting on the female
die 28 in a suitable position until the male die 29 engage therewith.
In some cases apparatus according to this invention is constructed and arranged
to produce the reverse flanges whilst the flue is in a horizontal attitude or
approximately so.
According to one construction of this kind, an example of which is represented
in plan by Fig. 17, in sectional longitudinal elevation by Fig. 18, and in end
elevation (the ram and male die being removed) by Fig. 19, there is provision
(in the example, a support 32 secured to the base 12) for holding the flue with
its tube-plate flange opposite to a female die 28 but so that the flue can be moved
longitudinally, and a male die 29 actuated by a hydraulic ram 27 or equivalent
so that by pressure against the tube-plate flange the flue is moved lengthwise and
a part of the tube-plate flange enters the female die between which and the male
die the reverse flanges are simultaneously formed; in the example the plunger 20
of the ram 27 is provided with a crosshead 30 guided by rods 31 passing through
eyes in lugs 27" projecting from the cylinder of the arm 27, the female die 28 is
fixed to the support 32, and the male die 30 carries a central block or retainer 13.
In the several constructions hereinbefore indicated the details may be more or
less varied to suit circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. For producing reverse flanges on a flue already formed with a tube-plate
flange, an apparatus wherein the flue is placed upon a former between which
and a presser or holder its tube-plate flange is gripped whilst a pair of flanging
dies or tools operate upon the lateral portions of the said tube-plate flange, the
flange presser or holder being carried by a lever that is actuated by hydraulic or
other power and the flanging dies or tools being carried by similarly arranged
and actuated levers, or by blocks or carriages travelling on inclined ways, whereby
the presser or holder and the dies or tools are caused during their active strokes
to approach the flue, and vice versa, substantially as described.
2. For producing reverse flanges on a flue already formed with a tube-plate
flange, an apparatus comprising a former and a tube-plate flange presser and
reverse flanging dies by and between which the tube-plate flange is, at its lateral
portions, bent so as to form reverse flanges and, at its intermediate portion,
gripped so as to obviate or take out buckling, the flange presser and the flanging
dies being rigidly connected together (so as to act as a female die), and relative
movement of such connected parts and the former (which acts as a male die)
lengthwise of or parallel with the axis of the flue being obtained by means of a
hydraulic ram or the like, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. Apparatus for producing reverse flanges on a flue already formed with a
tube-plate flange constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4; in Figs. 5, 6,
and 7; in Figs. 8, 9, and 10; in Figs. 11, 12, and 13; in Figs. 14, 15, and 16; and
in Figs. 17, 18, and 19 respectively of the accompanying drawings.
ated this 4th day of December 1899.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.