IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS FOR STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Sonnenthal of 85 Queen Victoria Street City
of London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS FOR
STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication to him from abroad.
by Pierre Revollon of Moulins France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Sonnenthal at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1882.
"
GEORGE SONNENTHAL of 85 Queen Victoria Street City of London " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS FOR STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES [A
communication to him from abroad by Pierre Revollon of Moulins France.]
This Invention of improvements in tube expanders is an improvement of an
invention applied for in 1880 N° 1754. In that invention there were taper rollers
grouped round a central spindle all isolated and disconnected from each other
except so far as a loose collar outside of them was used for purposes of packing
and carriage.
The expansion of the tube to be operated on was accomplished by placing
suitable sizes and suitable numbers of these taper rollers in the tube to be expanded
and then placing down the centre or middle of them the longer tapered spindle
which the workman turned by a wrench or handle applying pressure to force the
rollers into close contact the rotary motion of the long spindle expanding the ends
of the tubes or ferrules when applied to them.
Although this apparatus worked perfectly there were certain difficulties in using
it which the present Invention is intended to obviate and it consists in connecting
the short taper rollers or connections together by any convenient articulations
so that whilst held together in their 'length between parallel planes they may
expand radially from the central taper bar and act freely on the inner faces of
the tubes or ferrules.
One of the methods I employ is to couple the superior or larger ends of the
rollers whatever number may be employed in a series thus-not less than three-
number one to number two, two to three, three to four, four to five, five to six,
1

page_text: six to one, such couplings taking the form of flat links with slotted holes in them
and being parts of a flat ring or collar through the slots is passed into each roller
a screw with flat shoulders and preferably rounded heads the rounded head
retaining the flat ring segments against the superior or larger end of the rollers
the slots enabling the taper rollers to expand radially in the tube. In this way
more even pressure and a more accurate application of the tool can be made
the rollers thus being retained their superior or larger and inferior or smaller ends
between parallel planes and the workman is not distracted to keep the rollers
equally inserted into the tube.
The roller connecting links can be made in different shapes and forms either as
oval rings or a ring working in a groove cut into the steel roller or as knife joints
between the rollers.
Or a circular plate with radial slots corresponding to the number of the rollers
may be employed the previously described screw and head retaining the plate
against the superior ends of the tubes.
The connecting links may be applied to the inferior or smaller ends of the
rollers or even to both the superior or larger and inferior or smaller ends but
in practice it will be found I think sufficient to attach them to the larger and
superior ends.
Although I have described the short rollers and the long roller as all tapered
it is obvious that the short rollers might be parallel and the internal long roller
taper though the form described is I believe the best.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Sonnenthal in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st February 1883.
GEORGE SONNENTHAL of 85 Queen Victoria Street City of London "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS FOR STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER PURPOSES
communication to me from abroad by Pierre Revollon of Moulins. France
"
A
This Invention of improvements in tube expanders is an improvement of an
invention applied for in 1880 N° 1754. In that Invention there were taper
rollers grouped round a central spindle all isolated and disconnected from each
other except so far as a loose collar outside of them was used for purposes of
packing and carriage.
The expansion of the tube to be operated on was accomplished by placing
suitable sizes and suitable numbers of these taper rollers in the tube to be expanded
and then placing down the centre or middle of them the longer tapered spindle
which the workman turned by a wrench or handle applying pressure to force the
rollers into close contact the rotary motion of the long spindle expanding the ends
of the tubes or ferrules when applied to them.
'
Although this apparatus worked perfectly there were certain difficulties in using
it which this present Invention is intended to obviate and it consists in connecting
the short taper rollers or connections together by any convenient articulations
so that whilst held together in their length between parallel planes they may
expand radially from the central taper bar and act freely on the inner faces of the
tubes or ferrules. .
One of the methods I employ is to couple the superior or larger ends of the
rollers whatever number may be employed in a series thus, not less than three,
number one to number two, two to three, three to four, four to five, five to six,
six to one, such couplings taking the form of flat links with slotted holes in them
and being parts of a flat ring or collar, through the slots are passed into each
roller screws with flat shoulders and preferably rounded heads the rounded head
retaining the flat ring segments against the superior or larger end of the rollers
the slots enabling the taper rollers to expand radially in the tube. In this way
more even pressure and a more accurate application of the tool can be made-the
rollers thus being retained their superior or larger and inferior or smaller ends
between parallel planes and the workman is not distracted to keep the rollers
equally inserted into the tube.
The roller connecting links can be made in different shapes and forms either.
as oval rings or as curved plates with radial slots as shown in the drawings
corresponding to the number of the rollers may be employed the previously
described screw and head retaining the plate against the superior ends of the
tubes.
The connecting links may be applied to the inferior or smaller ends of the
rollers, or even to both the superior or larger, and inferior or smaller ends, but
in practice it will be found I think sufficient to attach them to the larger ends or
superior ends.
Although I have described the short rollers and the long rollers as all tapered
it is obvious that the short rollers might be parallel and the internal long rollers
taper though the form described is I believe the best.
In the drawings forming part of this Specification Figure 1 is a general view
of the apparatus. Figure 2 the long taper roller. Figure 3 one of the small
rollers. Figure 4 the screw holding the connecting links to the roller ends.
Figure 5 one of the connecting links articulating the rollers together.

page_text: The ring a Figure 1 is merely intended for convenience of packing or carriage
but supposing that to be the end of a boiler tube it will be seen that by pressing
and turning round the long taper roller how forcibly the edge of the tube would
be expanded.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that
I claim in tube expanders the set of short rollers articulated together in the manner
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said George Sonnenthal have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
GEORGE SONNENTHAL (L.S.)