NoVEL MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SEAMLESS METAL PIPES OR TUBES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Quadling, of Number 139, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "NoVEL MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING SEAMLESS METAL PIPES OR TUBES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Quadling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1878.
EDWIN QUADLING, of Number 139, Cannon Street, in the City of London.
"NOVEL MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SEAMLESS METAL PIPES OR
TUBES."
The Invention consists,-
Firstly. Of means and appliances for casting pipes or tubes or hollow cylinders
free from air holes or other like defects in lengths and conditions suitable for
application to many purposes as a cast metal pipe or tube, but which for some
other purposes may require to be subjected to the processes of rolling or drawing,
or both.
And, Secondly. In certain arrangements and combinations of apparatus for
effecting the aforesaid rolling or drawng of the said pipes or tubes or hollow
cylinders into pipes or tubes of greater length and solidity.
With regard to the first part of my Invention I employ a mould constructed of
suitable materials, for example, metal, such as iron or steel, or infusible earthy
matter, or a combination of such materials, the mould being so constructed that
with proper cores it forms any convenient number of annular spaces, say, from three
to ten or more feet in length, in which the pipes or hollow cylinders may be cast.
The moulds are provided with closely fitting covering plates both at top and
bottom, which carry the cores and maintain them truly in place. They are also
arranged so as to close either the top or bottom, or both, of the mould as may be
required.

page_text: The mould, with the cores in place (the parts being previously wholly or partially
coated with suitable infusible matter to prevent the inolten metal from adhering),
is heated to a degree sufficient to prevent the molten metal from being chilled by
it, and the bottom covering plate being closed so as to prevent the entrance of the
molten metal into the mould, and the top plate being open or other suitable pro-
vision being made for the escape of the heated air, the whole is plunged bodily into
an upright, inclined, or horizontal vessel, containing the fluid metal intended to
form the future pipes or tubes. The body of the mould displaces the fluid metal,
and causes it to rise outside the mould towards the top of the containing vessel.
When the mould has been plunged into the metal to a sufficient depth the
bottom or one end plate is opened, and the metal immediately flows into and up or
through the annular spaces in the mould. The metal being taken from below the
surface of the molten metal must necessarily be homogeneous and entirely free
from air holes, slag, and other like defects. When the mould is thus filled the
bottom or other end plate is closed, and the mould with its annular spaces filled
with fluid metal is withdrawn from the aforesaid containing vessel, and when the
metal is sufficiently set the mould is opened, the pipes or tubes detached, and the
cores either withdrawn therefrom or left in for the further process herein-after
referred to.
Usually, but not always, the cast metal forming the pipe or hollow cylinder is
both larger and thicker than the finished work or pipe is intended to be.
The cast pipe or hollow cylinder is now for some purposes (after being cut to
length) ready for use as it is, but for other purposes is only ready to undergo the
finishing processes which may conveniently be the following:-It may first be
passed, without any mandril inside, through suitable rolls similar to those of an
ordinary iron rolling mill. This reduces the diameter and at the same time com-
presses the metal, but does not materially increase the length of the pipo.
By the usual method of reducing an ingot to the desired thickness, and at the
same time obtaining the desired length, the metal is often elongated from five to
ten times the length of the original ingot, thereby putting a severe, permanent, and
injurious strain on the fibres of the metal which can only be remedied by annealing.
In order to prevent this injurious strain I prefer to arrange so that the reduction of
the metal of the pipe to the desired thickness, and its extension to the desired
length shall not necessitate the extension of the said metal to more than about
double the original length of the cast pipe or hollow cylinder.
In order to complete the finishing process I place a proper mandril inside the
pipe and pass it through finishing rolls, reciprocating dies, or through one roll and
one reciprocating die, until it is almost or quite the required diameter, and I then
by preference withdraw the mandril; and in order to ensure the pipe being of an
exact cylindrical form and exact to size I pass it once or more times by forcing or
drawing through ordinary draw plates, or through the peculiar jointed draw or die
plates, or through tho peculiar compound friction roller dies to be next herein-after
described.
With regard to the second part of my Invention the object is to facilitate the
work of drawing (with or without a mandril inside), by enabling the pipe or tube
to be operated upon to be put readily and quickly into the draw plate or dies; and
in order to effect this I employ for the said draw plate or dies two plates, of steel,
of suitable size and thickness, curved or straight, and jointed and hinged together
at their adjacent edges, in such manner that the said edges of the said plates may be
folded together or separated parallel to each other; the draw hole is formed half in
one plate and half in the other. The arrangement is such that as the plates open
outwards the draw hole or die presents a larger orifice for the introduction of the
end of the tube without tapering it, so that the draw tongs may be readily attached,
whilst when the drawing action is commenced the plates close upon the tube and
the draw hole resumes its normal size. The plates are supported firmly by suitable
posts during the drawing action.
My compound friction roller dies may be in all material respects similar to the

page_text: jointed dies above described, but with the addition of friction rollers placed on that
side of the dic plate from which the pipe or tube enters.
The die plato may be made in two or more parts, or may be made in one piece,
and the bearings for the friction rollers cut out of the solid metal or cast with or
fixed to the said plate or plates. These friction rollers are placed immediately in
front of the dic, so as to grip, and if needful, assist in shaping the pipe or tube before
it reaches the solid unyielding metal of the die, the action of which on the pipe or
tube I prefer to be merely that of ensuring the cylindrical shape, the size and
length of the pipe or tube being by preference effected and regulated almost wholly
by the rolls or reciprocating dies, as herein-before described.
The friction rollers may be arranged so as to revolve loosely in their bearings, or
their axes or spindles may be of sufficient length to carry on one side two toothed
wheels geared into each other, one of the spindles being by preference lengthened
out sufficiently to carry a crank handle or hand wheel, by which means the pipe
or tube may be carried and forced quickly into and through the dio sufficiently far
for the draw tongs to be readily attached.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Quadling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th November
1878.
EDWIN QUADLING, of Number 139, Cannon Street, in the City of London.
NOVEL MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SEAMLESS METAL PIPES OR
TUBES."
The Invention consists,―
Firstly. Of means and appliances for casting pipes or tubes or hollow cylinders
free from air holes and other like defects, in lengths and condition suitable for
application to many purposes as cast metal pipes, tubes, or cylinders, but which for
some purposes may require to be subjected to the processes of rolling, drawing,
hammering, or pressing.
And, Secondly. In certain arrangements and combinations of apparatus for
effecting the aforesaid rolling, drawing, hammering, or pressing of the said pipes,
tubes, or hollow cylinders into pipes or tubes of greater length and solidity.
With regard to the first part of my Invention I employ a mould, illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an
clevation of the said mould and a vertical section of the vessel intended to contain
the molten metal, the mould being shewn raised out of the said vessel; Figure 2,
a sectional plan, and Figure 3, a vertical section of mould and vessel when the
former is placed in the latter.
The mould A is constructed of suitable materials, for example, metal, such as
iron, or steel, or infusible earthy matter, or a combination of such materials, the

page_text: mould being so constructed that with proper cores B, B, it forms any convenient
number of annular spaces C, C, which may range up to, say, ten feet or even more
in length, in which spaces the pipes or hollow cylinders may be cast. The mould
is provided with closely fitting covering plates D, D', both at top and bottom, these
plates are guided in position by the steady pins E, E, and carry the cores B, B, and
maintain them truly in place. They are also arranged so as to close either the top
or bottom of the mould, as may be required, by means of the screwed spindle F.
The mould, with the cores in place (the parts being first wholly or partially
coated with suitable infusible matter, such as, for example, fire-clay or plumbago,
to prevent the molten metal from adhering), is heated to a degree sufficient to
prevent the molten metal from being chilled by it, and the bottom covering plate D¹
being closed, as shown in Figure 1, so as to prevent the entrance of the molten
metal into the mould, and the top plato D being open, or other suitable provision
being made for the escape of the heated air, the whole is plunged bodily into a
vessel G containing the fluid metal intended to form the future pipes, tubes, or
cylinders, as shewn in Figure 3. The body of the mould displaces the fluid
metal H, and causes it to rise outside the mould towards the upper part thereof
and of the containing vessel G with all the scum at the top.
When the mould has been plunged into the metal to a sufficient depth the bottom
or one end plate is opened, as seen in Figure 3, and the metal immediately flows
into and up or through the annular spaces in the mould. The metal being thus
taken from below, the surface of the molten mass must necessarily be homo-
geneous and entirely free from air holes, slag, and other like defects. The
mould may be plunged into the vessol in an upright, inclined, or horizontal
position, the containing vessel being shaped and adapted accordingly. When the
mould is thus filled the bottom or other end plate is closed, and the mould with its
annular spaces thus filled with the fluid metal is withdrawn from the aforesaid con-
taining vessel, and when the metal is sufficiently set the mould is opened and
separated at the junctions I, I, (which are fitted with dowels J, J, see Figure 2)
and the pipes or tubes C¹, C₁, detached, and the cores B, B, either withdrawn
therefrom or left in for the further processes herein-after referred to.
Usually, but not always, the cast metal forming the pipe or hollow cylinder is
both larger and thicker than the finished work or pipe is intended to be.
After being cut to length the cast pipe or hollow cylinder is now for some
purposes ready for use as it is, but for other purposes is only ready to undergo the
finishing processes which may conveniently be the following:-It may first be passed,
without any mandril inside, through suitable rolls similar to those of an ordinary
iron rolling mill. This reduces the diameter and at the same time compresses the
metal, but does not materially increase the length of the pipe.
By the usual method of reducing an ingot to the desired thickness, and at the
same time obtaining the desired length, the metal is often elongated from five to
ten times the length of the original ingot, thereby putting a severe permanent and
injurious strain on the fibres of the metal which can only be remedied by annealing.
In order to prevent this injurious strain I prefer to arrange so that the reduction,
if any, of the metal of the pipe to the desired thickness and its extension to the
desired length shall not necessitate the extension of the said metal to more than
about double the original length of the cast pipe or hollow cylinder.
In order to complete the finishing process I either retain the core or place a
proper mandril inside the pipe, and pass it through finishing rolls, reciprocating
dies, or through one roll and one reciprocating die, until it is almost or quite the
required diameter, and I then by preference withdraw the mandril; and in order
to ensure the pipe being of an exact cylindrical form and exact to size I pass
once or more times by forcing or drawing through ordinary draw plates, or through
the peculiar jointed draw or die plates, or through the peculiar compound friction
roller dies to be herein-after described.
it
When after the process of rolling, drawing, hammering, or pressing the pipe or
tube, the latter is found to grasp the mandril so tightly that it is difficult or

page_text: impossible to withdraw it otherwise, I employ a rolling machine, such as that
shewn in Figure 4, by which means the pipe or tube C¹ is caused to revolve
between rollers K, K, and L, L, whereby the circumference is slightly enlarged,
and thus loosened from the mandril B, which can then be easily withdrawn.
With regard to the second part of my Invention the object is to facilitate the
work of drawing the pipe or tube (with or without a mandril inside) by enabling
the said pipe or tube to be put readily and quickly into the draw plate or dies,
and in order to effect this I employ the arrangement shewn in Figures 5 to 7 and
8 to 10, Sheet 2, in which the draw plate or dies are composed of two plates of
steel M, M, of similar size and thickness, either curved, as in Figure 5, or straight,
as in Figure 8, and jointed and hinged together at their adjacent edges N, N, in
such manner that the said edges of the said plates may be folded together or
separated parallel to each other; the draw hole O is formed half in one plate and
half in the other. This arrangement is such that as the plates open outwards the
draw hole or die O presents a larger orifice, soc dotted lines in Figures 5 and 7, for
the introduction of the end of the pipe or tube P without tapering the latter, so
that the draw tongs may be readily attached; but when the drawing action is
commenced in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5 the plates M, M, close upon
the pipe or tube P, as shewn in full lines in Figures 5 and 7, and the draw hole or
die resumes its normal size. The plates M, M, are supported firmly by suitable
posts QQ, during the drawing action.
My compound friction roller dies are illustrated in Figures 8 to 13, Sheet 2; they
may be in all material respects similar to the jointed dies above described, see
Figures 5 to 10, Sheet 2, or they may be of the ordinary kind, as illustrated in
Figures 11, 12, and 13, Sheet 2, but with the addition in either case of friction
rollers R, R, preferably of steel, placed on that side of the die plate from which tho
pipe or tube enters it.
*The die plate may be made in two or more parts or in one piece, and the
bearings S, S, for the friction rollers R, R, may be cut out of the solid metal, or
cast with or fixed to the said plate or plates. These friction rollers are placed
immediately in front of the die, so as to grip, and if needful, assist in shaping the
pipe or tube before it reaches the solid unyielding metal of the die, the action of
which on the pipe or tube I prefer to be merely that of ensuring the cylindrical or
other required shape and exact size, the length being by preference effected and
regulated almost wholly by the rolls or reciprocating dies, as herein-before
described.
The friction rollers may be arranged so as to revolve loosely on their pins, as in
Figures 11 to 13, or loosely in bearings, or their axes or spindles may be of sufficient
length to carry on one side toothed wheels T, T, see Figures 8 and 10, such wheels
being geared into each other, and one of the spindles being by preference lengthened
out sufficiently to carry a crank handle or hand wheel U, by which means the pipe
or tube may be carried and forced quickly into and through the die sufficiently far
for the draw tongs to be readily attached.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be performed, I would have it understood that what I claim
as my Invention is,-
First. In the manufacture of seamless pipes, tubes, or hollow cylinders made from
castings, the construction and use of moulds, adapted with cover plates, for the
purpose of excluding the molten metal from any part of the interior of such moulds
until after their immersion to the required depth in such molten metal, substantially
as hercin-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Second. The method of casting pipes, tubes, or hollow cylinders, whether such
pipes, tubes, or hollow cylinders are subsequently treated by rolling, drawing,
hammering, or pressing, or not, by immersing the closed mould into the mass of the
molten metal, and then opening the said mould below the surface and scum of the
said molten metal, whereby the mould is filled with metal taken from near the
bottom of the containing vessel and therefore free from air holes, slag, or other

page_text: defects or impurities, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings.
Third. The construction and use of hinged draw or die plates, substantially as
herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 and 8 to 10 of the
Drawings, and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. In connection with draw or die plates, either hinged in the manner
described in reference to the above third claim or not, the combination therewith
of friction rollers, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures
8 to 13 of the Drawings, and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Quadling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDWIN QUADLING. (LS.)
Patentec.