Improvements in Tube Manufacture.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube Manufacture.
I, WILLIAM HOLLAND, of 45 Rupert Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the treatment of billets intended for the manufacture of
solid drawn steel and other metal tube and its object is to avoid the expense and
loss of metal incurred in many processes of tube manufacture at present used due
to drilling a large hole in the steel billet before drawing down. My invention
consists in a process of treating the billet comprising-drilling a small hole in the
said billet; rolling the billet while hot between rolls which rotate the billet between
them; and enlarging the hole in the billet while the said rolls operate on it by
forcing into the billet a rotating mandril.
In carrying the invention into effect according to one method I arrange three
rolls in strong housings with their axes parallel, and I preferably arrange two of
the rolls above the third roll. These two rolls I mount in horizontal guides or
slides and arrange with powerful screw adjustment, so that the rolls may be forced
nearer to each other or pulled further apart. The lower or third roll I rotate
in fixed bearings.
One end of each of the three rolls carries a strong flange.
Suitable gearing is arranged to drive the rolls and the mill frame or housing is
so constructed that a free passage is allowed end ways to place the billet between
the rolls, entering the billet at that end of the rolls which is free from the
flange.
Opposite the open end of the rolls I arrange a strong frame carrying a rotating
spindle dispensed in line with the centre of the space between the rolls, the said
spindle being rotated at a high speed by friction or other gearing and having a
screw slide arrangement to advance the spindle as it rotates.
The axis of the spindle is parallel with the axis of the rolls and it is furnished
with a suitable socket at the end nearest the rolls which socket carries a rotating
mandril with a conoidal or bulbous head.
I first drill a small hole in the steel or metal billet then heat the billet and
introduce it endways between the three rolls and I rotate the rolls screwing them
together while rotating. At the same time I introduce the end of the mandril into
the small hole in the billet, and force it through, rapidly rotating it meanwhile.
The rotating mandril thus passes through the hot billet while it is at the same time
being rolled round between the three rolls. The mandril thus enlarges the hole to
a sufficient extent while the rolls reduce the external diameter of the billet and
increase its length.
.
The external diameter of the billet is thus reduced while the internal diameter of
the hole is increased and the billet is thus fitted to produce solid drawn tube.
The flanges at the ends of the rolls prevent the billet from being pushed through
the rolls by the action of the rotating mandril. When the billet has been rolled
sufficiently the upper rolls are opened and the billet withdrawn endways.
Dated this 17th day of Jul, 1902
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMI LIPIE DI DULCIATION.
Improvements in Tube Manufacture.
I, WILLIAM HOLLAND, of 45 Rupert Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to the treatment of billets intended for the manufacture of
solid drawn steel and other metal tube and its object is to avoid the expense and
loss of metal incurred in many processes of tube manufacture at present used due to
drilling a large hole in the steel billet before drawing down. My invention
consists in a process of treating the billet comprising-drilling or forcing a small
hole in the said billet; rolling the billet while hot between rolls which rotate the
said billet between them; and enlarging the hole in the billet while the said rolls
operate on it by forcing into the billet a rotating mandril.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings,
Figure 1 is an end elevation of my mill with the rolls mounted therein, and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the drill or mandril bench.
Figure 4 is a front elevation, and Figure 5 is plan of the same.
Figure 6 is a detail end elevation of the mandril sliding carriage.
In carrying the invention into effect according to one method, I arrange three
rolls A B C in strong housings D, D₁ with their axes a, b, c, parallel, and I
preferably arrange two of the rolls A, B, above the third roll C. These two
rolls A, B, I mount in horizontal guides or slides E E¹ and arrange with powerful
screw adjustment F F¹, so that the rolls may be forced nearer to each other or
pulled further apart. The lower or third roll I rotate in fixed bearings G.
One end of each of the three rolls carries a strong flange A, B, C¹.
Suitable gearing H H1 H2 is arranged to drive the rolls, and the mill frame or
housing D, D' is so constructed that a free passage is allowed end ways to place
the billet K between the rolls, the billet entering at that end of the rolls which is
free from the flange as shown in Figure 1.
Opposite the open end of the rolls I arrange a strong frame L L' carrying a
rotating spindle M dispensed in line with the centre of the space between the rolls,
the said spindle M, being rotated at a high speed by friction or other
gearing N N N² and having a screw slide arrangement 01 0² to advance the
spindle as it rotates.
The axis of the spindle is parallel with the axis of the rolls, and it is furnished
with a suitable socket m, at the end nearest the rolls, which socket carries a
rotating mandril J with a conoidal or bulbous head J¹.
I first drill or force a small hole in the steel or metal billet, then heat the
billet K and introduce it endways between the three rolls A B C, and I rotate the
rolls screwing them together while rotating. At the same time I introduce the end
of the mandril J J¹ into the small hole in the billet, and force it through, rapidly
rotating it meanwhile. The rotating mandril J, J₁ thus passes through the hot
billet while it is at the same time being rolled round between the three rolls. The
mandril thus enlarges the hole to a sufficient extent while the rolls reduce the
external diameter of the billet and increase its length.
Sometimes as an alternative arrangement of manipulating the billet, it may be
solid throughout and the revolving mandril with additional pressure may be made
to either pierce or expand the billet.
The external diameter of the billet may remain stationary or may be reduced
while the internal diameter of the hole is increased and the billet is thus fitted to
produce solid drawn tube.

page_text: The flanges A'B'C' at the ends of the rolls prevent the billet from being pushed
through the rolls by the action of the rotating mandril M. When the billet has
been rolled sufficiently the upper rolls are opened and the billet withdrawn
endways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The combination and arrangement of a mill or machine, having three rolls
mounted therein for the reception of a metal billet, with a mandril bench or
apparatus for feeding and revolving a mandril through the centre of the billet
while such billet is between the rolls, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a roll headstock, or frame employed for carrying three rolls for operating
on a metal billet, the arrangement of a sliding bearing or sliding bearings for
adjusting the position of the rolls so as to cause the billet to be drawn out and
reduced in diameter while a revolving mandril is passing through the centre of the
billet to form or to enlarge a hole therein, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The construction and arrangement of rolls having end retaining flanges for
receiving the end thrust of a billet introduced between the surfaces of the rolls,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
4. The construction and arrangement of machines and appliances for reducing
metal billets for use in the manufacture of tubes, in which a revolving mandril is
forced through a billet, while such billet is revolving between the reducing and
drawing out rolls, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated Outs on day of Apr 1932.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.