Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubes, and in Machinery therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1.91
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubes,
and in Machinery therefor.
1, WILLIAM BROWNHILL of Bentley Grange Walsall in the County of
Stafford Iron Master do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in welding the skelps or partly formed metal tubes by a
special process after they have been produced in the manner and by means of the
machine described in my Specification No. 20478 of 1890 for Improvements in the
Manufacture of Metal Tubes.
Immediately the red hot skelp or partly formed tube leaves the skelping machine
described in the above named Specification it is passed in front of or exposed to
the influence of a powerful current of electricity which thus raises the skelp to a
welding heat instead of its remaining at the red hot temperature at which it leaves
the skelping machine.
The skelp having been thus raised by the action of the electric current to a
welding heat is passed into a welding machine constructed thus.
I place in front of a pair of rolls, a die which I will call a welding die (or
welding tongs may be used instead of a die) and as the skelp or partly formed tube
is projected from the skelping machine, through the electric current and into the
welding die, the edges of the skelp are thereby forced together and wholly or
partially welded, the wholly or partially welded skelp is then caught by a pair of
rolls which have a semi-circular groove in the centre of the circumference of each,
the welding of the skelp is completed by these rolls if not already completely
welded in the welding die, or by the welding tongs. The above named rolls also
act as friction rolls as well as welding rolls, inasmuch as they impel forward the
welded tube and carry it into and through a guide box and then onward
between a second pair of rolls which are the finishing rolls and are of a similar
formation to the welding rolls, these finishing rolls serve the purpose of helping
to draw the tube through the machine and also give a finish to the welded
tube.
The tube is thus made without the necessity of employing any skelp welding
furnace, much cost being thus avoided.
Or instead of using the welding machine herein described, the ordinary method
of welding (as now commonly practised) may be used by means of welling tongs
and draw benches etc. in this case the novelty will consist in the combination of the
skelping muchine described in my previous Specification No. 20478 of 1890 and
the welding apparatus with a powerful current of electricity intervening to raise
the red hot skelp to a welding heat.
Dated this 13th dor of Marab A D 1801
EDWARD J. PAYNE & SON,
104, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubes,
and in Machinery therefor.
1, WILLIAM BROWNHILL, of Bentley Grange Walsall in the County of Stafford
Iron Master 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, reference being had to the drawings hereunto annexed
and to the figures and letters shown thereon:-
My invention relates to a method of welding the skelps or partly formed
metal tubes by a special process through which the said skelps have to pass
after they have been produced in the manner and by means of the machine
described and illustrated in my Specification of Patent No. 20478 of 1890 and
in order to understand the various processes before the tube is completed by the
method described in this Specification which may be called the welding and
finishing stage reference is given firstly to Specification 20478 of 1890 which
describes the skelping machine, which machine is in connection with the subject of
this invention.
Immediately the red hot skelp or partly formed tube leaves the skelping
machine described in the above named Specification it is passed in front of or
exposed to the direct influence of a powerful current of electricity generated
by any known means which thus raises the skelp to a welding heat instead of
its remaining at the red hot temperature at which it leaves the skelping machine.
According to the ordinary method of welding it would be necessary to reheat the
skelp or partly formed tube after leaving the skelping machine and then to weld
the skelp in the ordinary way,
By my improvements the skelp having been raised by the action of the electric
current to a welding heat is then passed into a welding machine constructed in
accordance with the following Specification.
I will now describe my invention with the assistance of the accompanying sheets
of drawings, in which,
Figure 1, is a top view of the machine,
Figure 2, an end view of the same.
Figure 3, outline view of position of one pair of rolls.
(The second pair of rolls are precisely similar.)
Figure 4, interior view of welding die,
Figure 5, front and side view of same.
Figure 6, side view shewing diagram of gearing for driving the machine.
Similar letters of reference relate to similar parts on all the figures.
The machine is built up in the following manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
A is a die which will call a welding die, B first pair of rolls with a semi-
circular groove or channel B' cut in face of and encircling each roll centrally, C is
a guide box, D a second pair of rolls with a similar groove or channel D' as in
first pair E, are holsters or standards rising on bed F, G, various studs or screw
pins for retaining the different parts in position such as the welding die A the
journals El fitting over the main bearings of the spindles I carrying rolls, G are
screw studs for retaining other parts of the machine in position, J, straps or
couplings for same purpose K, K, gear wheels having peripheral teeth, for trans-
mitting motion to the machine in connection with main gear wheel K, L friction
roller over which the skelp passes to welding die.
These parts combined constitute the welding machine the driving power is
transmitted to the gear wheels K, K by K' which is in connection with a driving

page_text: реси meets and by wheels all of which are driven by any suitable motive
power imparted from an engine or other means.
I place the welding die A which may be made of either cast or wrought
iron or steel in position in front of the first pair of rolls B this welding die A is
retained in its place by the screw studs G, or other suitable means such as
wedges ete, may be used on each side and above and below it it required, the guide
box C is placed between the first pair of roll, B and the second pair of rolls Das
shewn in the figures.
OPERATION.
By my improvements the skelp or partly formed tube having as stated been
raised to a welding heat by the action of the electric current after leaving the
skelping machine before referred to is projected into the welding die A assisted
by the friction rollers L the edges of the skelp are thereby forced together and
wholly or partially welded the wholly or partially welded skelp is then caught by
the pair of rolls B the skelp passing between the semi-circular grooves B' of same,
the welding of the skelp is then completed by these rolls B if not already completely
welded in its passage through the welding die A.
The rolls also act as friction rolls as well as welding rolls in-as-much as they
impel forward the welded tube and carry it into and through the guide box C
onward when the welded tube passes between the second pair of grooved rolls D
which act as finishing rolls these finishing rolls D serve the purpose of helping to
draw the tube in its passage through the machine and also gives a finish to the
welded tube.
Thus the tube is complete, a perfect weld being obtained without the necessity
of employing any skelp welding furnace much cost being thus avoided.
may if I prefer at times dispense with the welding die and substitute therefor
the use of welding tongs.
Or as an alternative method instead of using the welding machine as herein
described the ordinary method of welding as now commonly practised may be
employed by means of welding tongs and draw benches etc. in which case the
novelty will consist in the combination of the skelping machine described in my
Specification of Patent No. 20478 of 1890 and the welding apparatus with a
powerful current of electricity intervening in order to raise the red hot skelp to
the desired welding heat by preference however I employ the two machines in
connection with the electrical current for producing the tubes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details as herein specified
and illustrated as I may vary the same to suit the several requirements without
departing from the general principle of this my invention, but, I declare that what
I claim is,
Firstly. In a machine for the manufacture of metal tubes of all kinds the
arrangement and combination of the several parts (or the parts in themselves)
ris. the welding die A the grooved rolls B, the guide box C, and the grooved
rolls D, or any mere equivalents thereof all for the purpose described and the
manner in which they work in conjunction with each other and with the other
working parts of the machine constructed substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Secondly. I claim, in a machine for the manufacture of metal tubes of all kinds
the manner in which the skelps or partly formed metal tubes are welded by means
of the machinery herein described after the said skelps have been exposed to the
influence of or passed through a powerful current of electricity generated by any
suitable method whereby the skelp is raised to a welding heat all in connection with
the arrangement and combination constituting my improved machine for welding
substantially as herein described.

page_text: Thirdly. I claim, the method of producing metal tubes as herein set forth in
conjunction with the machine described in my former Specification No. 20478
of 1890 and also with the intervening process of heating the skelps by the electric
current, substantially and in manner as described.
Dated this 15th day of December A.D. 1891.
EDWARD J. PAYNE & SON,
104, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.