Improved Apparatus and Means for Actuating Tube Expanders.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus and Means for Actuating Tube Expanders.
We, JOHN SLATER, Boilermaker, and R. and W. HAWTHORN, LESLIE & Co.,
LIMITED, Marine Engineers, both of Forth Banks Engine Works, Newcastle on
Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved apparatus and means for actuating tube
expanders in positions and situations inaccessible by the ordinary method such as
in water tube boilers and the like where a large number of small tubes is fixed
into a comparatively large tube and access to the ends of the small tubes can only
be obtained through the large tube from one or both ends.
A hollow shaft or tube of suitable length and provided with a handle on its outer
end for enabling it to be turned on its axis has a bevelled toothed pinion fixed
to its inner end. This pinion gears into a bevel wheel carried on a spindle, on
one end of which is fixed the tube expander, the axes of the spindle and expander
being in the same alignment. The spindle is screwed preferably with a left hand
thread and the wheel with a corresponding thread so that under certain circum-
stanees the wheel is free to move on the spindle. A suitable carriage is provided
for supporting the wheel & pinion spindles, and provision made for keeping the
wheels in place. The mandril for the expander is carried through the screwed
spindle and squared to turn with the spindle. This mandril is lifted into its
working position in the expander by means of a lever or levers actuated from
the outer end of the hollow shaft by a cord or the like. A rod extends through
the hollow shaft. It has an elongated head on its inner end and a knob or the like
on its outer end for actuating the rod longitudinally to a certain extent. The
lower end of the screwed spindle has a collar to prevent the bevel wheel coming
off the spindle. The head of the rod through the hollow spindle fits into a slot
in the collar of the screwed spindle shaft under certain conditions. When the
bevel wheel has been screwed to its lowest position, that is against the collar on
the spindle, a key or pin through the wheel actuated by a spring or other means
drops into the slot in the collar and relieves the strain on the thread. In tubes
open at both ends the carriage is carried by and can be moved along two rails or
guides running the whole length of the tube and supported at the ends. Suitable
means are provided for moving the rails concentrically in the tube into any
position to suit the small tubes. In cases where only one end of the large tube
is open, the loose ends of the guide rails may be supported by and connected to a
suitably formed bearing which rests in the tube.
The apparatus is worked in the following manner. After the carriage has been
put into a suitable position for the expander entering a small tube, the elongated
head on the rod in the hollow shaft is made to enter the lot in th collar on the

page_text: screwed spindle by pressing the knob on the outer end of the rod. The handle on
the outer end of the hollow shaft is then turned and revolves the bevel wheel
by means of the level pinion. As the spindle is kept from turning the wheel
acts as a nut. The spindle will thus be raised and with it the expander, until
the collar on the spindle comes against the wheel. The rod head is next with-
drawn then the key or pin in the wheel falls into the collar slot and leaves the
screwed spindle free to revolve. The expanding mandril is raised into its working
position by means of the cord. The handle on the outer end of the hollow shaft
being now turned, the expander mandril will be revolved and the expansion of
the tube takes place in the usual manner.
Dated this 10th day of Sontombor 1808
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
We, JOHN SLATER, Boilermaker, and R. and W. HAWTHORN, LESLIE & Co.,
LTD., Marine Engineers, both of Forth Banks Engine Works, Newcastle-on-
Tyne, 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 relates to
improved apparatus and means for actuating tube
expanders" in positions and situations inaccessible by the ordinary method such
as in water tube boilers and the like where a large number of small tubes are fixed
into a comparatively large tube and access to the ends of the small tubes can only
be obtained through the large tube from one or both ends.
A hollow shaft or tube of suitable length and provided with a handle on its outer
end for enabling it to be turned on its axis has a bevelled toothed pinion fixed to
its inner end. This pinion gears into a bevelled wheel carried on a spindle, on one
end of which is fixed the tube expander, the axes of the spindle and expander
being in the same alignment. The spindle is screwed preferably with a left
hand thread and the wheel with a corresponding thread so that under certain cir-
cumstances the wheel is free to revolve on the spindle. A suitable carriage is
provided for supporting the wheel and pinion spindles, and provision is made for
keeping the wheels in place. The mandril for the expander is carried through
the screwed spindle, and squared to turn with the spindle. This mandril is lifted
into its working position in the expander by means of a lever or levers actuated
from near the outer end of the hollow shaft by a cord or the like. A rod extends
through the hollow shaft. It has a transverse bead on its inner end and a knob or
the like on its outer end for shifting the rod longitudinally to a certain extent.
The lower end of the screwed spindle has a collar to prevent the bevelled
wheel coming off the spindle. The transverse bead on the end of the rod which
passes through the hollow spindle is adapted to engage a slot in the collar of the
screwed spindle shaft, when the rod is pushed inwards and thus locks the spindle
against revolution. The revolution of the bevelled wheel then causes the spindle
to ascend or descend. When the spindle has been screwed to its highest position,
that is, with its collar against the bevelled wheel, a key or pin through the wheel
actuated by a spring or other means drops into the slot in the collar and relieves
the strain on the thread, or the further revolution of the bevelled wheel, which,
(on the spindle being released by drawing back the rod so as to withdraw its
transverse bead from the slot in the collar of the spindle) now revolve the spindle

page_text: and expander. In tubes open at both ends, the carriage is carried by and can
be moved along two rails or guides running the whole length of the tube and
supported at the ends. Suitable means are provided for moving the rails con-
centrically in the tube into any position to suit the small tubes. In cases where
only one end of the large tube is open, the loose ends of the guide rails may be
supported by and connected to a suitably formed bearing which rests in the
tube.
The apparatus is worked in the following manner,-After the carriage has
been put into a suitable position for the expander to enter a small tube, the bead
on the rod in the hollow shaft is made to enter the slot in the collar on a screwed
spindle by pressing the knob on the outer end of the rod. The handle
on the outer end of the hollow shaft is then turned and revolves
the bevelled wheel by means of the bevelled pinion. As the spindle
is kept from turning the wheel acts as a nut. The spindle will thus be raised and
with it the expander, until the collar on the spindle comes against the wheel.
The rod bead is next withdrawn, then the pin or key in the wheel falls into the
collar slot, and the screwed spindle is free to revolve. The expanding mandril is
raised into its working position by means of the cord. The handle on the outer
end of the hollow shaft being now turned, the expander mandril will be revolved
and the expansion of the tube take place in the usual manner.
This improved apparatus is shown in the annexed drawings in which Figure 1
is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 a transverse section and Figure 3 a part plan
view.
A is the hollow shaft with handle B on one end and bevelled pinion Con the
other end. I bevelled wheel carried on spindle E screwed with left hand
thread. Fis the tube expander secured to spindle E by collar G. H is the
mandril of the expander, H¹ being the squared part of mandril. J is a cranked
lever pivoted at L. K a lever pivoted at M. N is rope or cord led to near the
handle B for actuating lever which again actuates lever K for lifting the
mandril H from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 into the expander
as shown in full lines P is the locking rod movable longitudinally and rotarily
in hollow shaft A. Q is the transverse bead on the end of rod P which fits
in a slot Qin the collar E' of spindle E. R is a knob on end of rod P. S a
locking pin and S₁ a spring for pressing down locking pin. T shows the main
portion of the carriage and T¹ a moveable piece thereof. Uindicate channels
in the carriage for reception of guide rails. Vis a capping plate for retaining in
place the wheel D. W indicates bolts and X shows the tube to be expanded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
wo claim is:
1. A tube expander comprising a carriage movable longitudinally within a
tube and having in it a laterally protrudable spindle carrying a tube expander
said spindle adapted to be protruded and withdrawn and to be revolved by the
action of bevelled gear or equivalent means operated by a rotary shaft extending
to said carriage from the exterior of the end of the tube in which the carriage is
situated, means being also provided to be operated from the exterior of the end
of said tube for locking said spindle against revolution and lifting the tube
expander mandril into position.
2. The construction of tube expander substantially as herein described wherein
a carriage carries a rotary wheel D prevented from moving in direction of its
axis transverse to the said carriage, said wheel D being screw threaded and
engaging a screw threaded spindle E carrying the tube expander, said spindle
adapted to be locked against revolution by a bead Q carried by the head of a rod P
and also adapted to be locked to the wheel 1) in order to be revolved thereby,
means being provided, such as bevelled teeth on wheel 1), and bevelled pinion C
revolved by shaft A for the operation of the wheel D in the manner set forth.

page_text: 3. The construction of the tube expander and the several parts thereof sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 17th day of June 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.