IM- PROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORRUGATED TUBES AND PLATES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samson Fox, of the Leeds Forge Company, Limited, Leeds,
in the County of York, Engineer and Ironmaster, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
CORRUGATED TUBES AND PLATES."
Sealed the 22nd September 1877, and dated the 30th June 18
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samson Fox at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1877.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge Company, Limited, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORRUGATED TUBES AND PLATES."
In a Provisional Specification filed by me on the 19th March 1877 (No. 1097)
are described certain improvements in the construction or formation of tubes and
plates to be used for the internal flues and fire-boxes of steam boilers, and my
present Invention has reference to improved machinery or apparatus for the
inanufacture of such tubes and plates, which tubes and plates may be used for
various purposes.
The improved tubes and plates in question are formed with corrugations or
undulations, which in the case of the tubes represent annular ridges and grooves.
In the manufacture of the improved tubes I first form in the ordinary way plain
cylindrical tubes, which I weld at the joints, and I then form the corrugations or
annular ridges and grooves by rolling or other pressure as herein-after described.
For. rolling such tubes to the desired form I use an improved system of rolls,
wherein the top and bottom rolls (one or both of which is or are suitably driven)
both have corrugating annular grooves and projections formed on their peripheries,
and are so relatively arranged that the projections of the one roll take into the
grooves of the other, and in order that the tubes to be operated upon may be readily
got into position over the one roll, which has to operate upon the inner surface of
the tubes, that roll is provided with three (or more) bearings, one of which bearings
at the one end of the said roll is made in parts capable of being moved away from

page_text: the axis of the roll. By this arrangement, when a tube is to be placed into position
for being operated upon, the said bearing is removed so as to leave the one end of
the roll free, the roll being meanwhile retained by the other bearings in its normal
position; the tube is placed on the said roll, which it surrounds, one lateral portion
of the tube being situate between the two rolls, so that it will be in a position to be
operated upon (when the machine is started), on its inner surface by the one roll,
and on its outer surface by the other roll; the tube having been thus passed over
the free end of the one roil the bearing of that end is replaced so as to properly
support the roll, and the rolling operation may be commenced. One of the rolls is
made adjustable by a system of levers arranged to be operated by steam, hydraulic,
or other power, for bringing the said adjustable roll into position for operating upon
the tube placed as aforesaid. The said rolls may each be made in one piece, but, by
preference, they are compound rolls, that is, made of sections or rings; the whole
or a portion of the sections or rings composing each roll may be either fixed on a
common axle or may run loosely on the axle, as may be preferred.
In order to better support the tube while undergoing the corrugating operation,
and that it may assume or retain a comparatively true circular form a second or
additional pair of rolls is arranged in combination with the main rolls above
described; one of these additional rolls is arranged on each side of the bight of the
main rolls, and the two additional rolls are so mounted as to be capable of being
caused by suitable gearing provided for the purpose to approach to or recede from.
the first named rolls, either simultaneously or separately, as may be required. The
rolls may be arranged with their axes in a vertical or angular position, as may be
most convenient. This improved apparatus may be used for corrugating plates.
In some cases the one set of grooves and projections forming the dies for corru-
gating the tubes as described may be formed cross wise on the face of a strong
fixed vertical column or post, the said face being made more or less circular-to suit
the diameter of the tubes to be operated upon, and having arranged in front of it a
horizontal slide provided with a vertical corrugated face to correspond with that of
the column, so that the tube to be corrugated may be suspended so as to surround
the column as herein-before described with -reference to the one roll in the arrange-
ment first explained with a lateral portion of the tube between the column and the
vertical face of the said horizontal slide. The tube being made to revolve, and
the horizontal slide having a reciprocating motion imparted to it by suitable means,
the corrugated faces of the column and slide will be caused to act respectively on
the inner and outer surfaces of the tube simultaneously, thus by a process of
swaging or squeezing, producing corresponding corrugations on the tube itself. The
corrugated faces on the column and the slide are so made as to be changeable to
suit the various diameters and sections of tubes to be operated upon.
According to another modification of my present Invention the alternate grooves
and projections for shaping the tubes are formed, the one set on the interior of a
hollow box or cylinder made in sections capable of being taken apart, and the other
set on the exterior, of a compound blocking piece, whose parts are also capable of
being separated. The hollow box or cylinder is of a configuration appropriate to
the section of tube to be operated upon, which is placed within the said box or
cylinder, whilst its parts are fastened together; then the compound blocking piece
is inserted into the tube, and the parts of the compound blocking piece are caused
by a conical wedge or other suitable means to move outwards, and thus to press or
squeeze the tube between the corrugated surfaces of the box or cylinder, and
blocking piece, and thus to corrugate the tube, after which the parts of the com-
pound blocking piece are caused to again approach one another, and the box or
cylinder to open; the tube may then be removed, and the box or cylinder again
closed in readiness for another operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samson Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th December
1877.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge Company, Limited, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORRUGATED TUBES AND PLATES."
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me the 19th day of March
1877, No. 1097, are described certain improvements in the construction or formation
of tubes and plates to be used for the internal flues and fire-boxes of steam boilers,
and my present Invention has reference to improved machinery or apparatus for
the manufacture of such tubes and plates, which tubes and plates may be used for
various purposes.
The improved tubes and plates in question are formed with corrugations or
undulations, which, in the case of the tubes represent annular ridges and grooves.
In the manufacture of the improved tubes I first form in the ordinary way plain
cylindrical tubes, which I weld at the joints, and I then form the corrugations or
annular ridges and grooves by rolling or other pressure as herein-after described.
For rolling such tubes to the desired formn I use an improved system of rolls,
wherein the two main rolls (which are suitably driven), both have corrugating
annular grooves and projections formed on their peripheries, and are so relatively
arranged that the projections of the one roll take into or are opposite to the grooves
of the other, and in order that the tubes to be operated upon may be readily got
into position over the one roll, which has to operate upon the inner surface of the
tubes, that roll is provided with three (or more) bearings, one of which bearings at
the one end of the said roll is made capable of being moved away from the axis of
the roll. By this arrangement when a tube is to be placed into position for being
operated upon the said bearing is removed so as to leave the one end of the roll free,
the roll being meanwhile retained by the other bearings in its normal position; the
tube is placed on the said roll, which it surrounds, one portion of the tube being
situate between the two rolls, so that it will be in a position to be operated upon
(when the machine is started), on its inner surface by the one roll, and on its outer
surface by the other roll; the tube having been thus passed over the free end of the
one roll the bearing of that end is replaced so as to properly support the roll, and
the rolling operation may be commenced. One of the rolls is made adjustable by a
system of levers arranged to be operated by steam, hydraulic, or other power, for
bringing the said adjustable roll into position for operating upon the tube placed as.
aforesaid.
.
In order better to support the tube while undergoing the corrugating operation,
and that it may assume and retain a comparatively true circular form; a second or
additional pair of rolls is arranged in combination with the main rolls above
described.
I now proceed to describe a rolling machine embodying my improvements.
Of this rolling machine, Fig. 1 of the Drawings is a plan; Fig. 2, a side elevation;
and Fig. 3, an end elevation; Fig. 4 is a detached longitudinal section of one of the
rolls (both being alike); Fig. 4* and Fig. 4** are cross sections thereof. The top
roll A is suitably mounted in the bearings B, C, D, and is capable of revolving
freely therein; the bottom roll A' is also suitably mounted in the bearings E and F,
revolving freely in the same, the said bearings having a vertical movement in the
housings C and C. Both the top roll A and the bottom roll A¹ have corrugating
annular grooves and projections formed on their peripheries, which are so relatively
arranged that the projections of the one roll take into or are opposite to the grooves
of the other; one or both of the said rolls is or are suitably driven from the motive
power by the gearing G, G¹, and G2, and the connecting spindle G. It will generally
be necessary to drive both rolls, but if at any time it be required to drive only one
roll the said connecting spindle G³ must be removed,

page_text: "
In order that the tubes to be operated upon may be readily got into position over
the one roll A which has to operate upon the inner surface of the tubes, the end.
bearing D of that roller is constructed in parts, as shewn, which parts are capable
of being moved away from the axis of the said roll A by means of the band
wheels K, K', and screws K and K³. By this arrangement when a tube is to be
placed in position to be operated upon, the said bearing D, D, is moved back, as
shewn in the end elevation, Fig. 3, so as to leave the one end of the said roll A free,
the roll being meanwhile retained in its normal or horizontal position by the other
bearings B and C (or it may be by one long bearing in lieu of B and C, the
pinions G1, G2, being arranged at the outer end between the bearing and wheel G).-
The tube to be operated upon (Z) is placed, whilst at a good red heat (such as is
usual for flanging), on the said roll A which it surrounds, a portion of the tube.
being, throughout its length, situated between the two rolls A-and A¹, so that it
will be in a position to be operated upon (when the machine is started) on its inner
surface by the said roll A, and on its outer surface by the said roll A¹. The tube
having been passed over the free end of the said roll A, the bearing D,.D, is then.
closed so as to properly support the roll, the rolls are caused to revolve, and the
rolling operation may be commenced. To this end the roll A¹ with its previously
described vertical movement is now, for operating upon the tube, brought gently.
into contact therewith by means of a system of levers L, L, (having their fulcra at
L*) and links L1 and L2 (whose upper ends enter recesses in the bearings E and F
respectively) so arranged as to be actuated by steam, hydraulic, or other power in
connection with the part M. The said rolls A and A' may each be made in one'
piece, but, by preference, they are compound rolls, that is, made in sections or rings
of chilled cold blast iron, either as shewn at N, Figs. 4, 4*, or as shewn at N¹,
Figs. 4, 4**; the whole of the said sections or rings composing each roll are fixed
upon a common axle, as shewn.
In order to better support and guide the tubes while undergoing the corrugating
operation, and that they may assume and retain a comparatively true circular form,
a second or additional pair of rolls 0, 0¹, formed with grooves and projections
alternating so as not to injure the corrugations formed in the tubes by the main
corrugating rolls A, A1, is arranged in combination with the said rolls A and A¹;
one of these said additional rolls O, O¹, is arranged on each side of but above the
'bight" of the main rolls A and A' (see Fig. 3), and the said additional rolls O, O¹;
are mounted on slides P, P1, P2, and Ps, and are capable of being caused by the
gearing Q, Q, Q, Q, Q, Q, and its connecting shafts R, R, R, and hand wheels S, S,
to approach or recede from the rolls A and A' simultaneously, as may be required.
These rolls O, O', are moved simultaneously up to the tube after the rolls A, A¹,
have made about two or three revolutions, and as the corrugating proceeds the
main roll A is to be gradually pressed further towards the main roll A, and the
rolls 0, 0, are to be kept up against the surface of the tube. The plain tube to be
corrugated must be made slightly longer than its intended length after corrugation,
because the two free ends of the tube will be drawn in slightly in the formation of
the two last or outside grooves, say, about five-eighths of an inch at each end when
the depth of corrugation is two inches, and the distance from centre to centre of the
grooves is six inches, but these dimensions will vary with circumstances. The
general arrangement of the above rolls may be such that their axes are in a vertical
or an angular position, as may be most convenient. I prefer the horizontal arrange-
ment. When the arrangement is not horizontal (or approximately so) it will be
necessary to put a slight flange on the end of the tube before placing it in the
machine to be corrugated, and to provide suitable means, such as a groove in the
roll A, to receive the said flange, and support the tube endwise whilst being
corrugated. From the description herein-above contained it will be evident that
the object of this part of my Invention is by the use of suitable rolls to corrugate
tubes by drawing the corrugations out of the sectional thickness of the metal
composing such tubes, and that inasmuch as after withdrawal from the furnace the
highly heated tube presents to the cooling action of the surrounding atmosphere a

page_text: surface of great extent in proportion to its thickness, it is essential, in order to get
it properly corrugated and truly circular, that the entire operation should be rapidly.
performed. Such being the object of my Invention it will be obvious the arrange-
inent of rolling apparatus, shewn in the Drawings, may be modified in detail so
long as the following essential features be retained (that is to say):-According to my
Invention the one main or corrugating roll (A) must be efficiently supported during.
the corrugating process, but so that its one end may be readily set free to enable a
tube to be quickly placed upon that roll; the same roll must be kept in situ during
the temporary withdrawal of its end support; the moveable end support must be
arranged to be rapidly returned into position to support the end of the roll on
which the tube has been placed; the other main or corrugating roll (A¹) must be
capable of being readily moved towards and from the stationary revolving roll (A)
as required; and in conjunction with the main rolls additional rolls must be used
to aid in supporting the tube whilst under operation.
It is to be remarked that the main rolls are kept revolving at a surface speed of,
say about 150 feet per minute, until the tube under operation assumes a black heat,
and is sufficiently set to permit of removal without distortion. .
My improved apparatus may be used for corrugating plates before they are
formed into tubes, such as boiler shells. For corrugating plates, however, the
moveable end bearing is not essential, and in lieu of the two supporting or guiding
rolls O, O, arranged above the "bight" of the main rolls, I may use only one such
roll arranged somewhat lower relatively to the main rolls than is shewn in the
Drawings. If the plate when corrugated is to be formed into a tube, or otherwise
joined at its edges, I do not carry the corrugations quite to the edges, but at each
pass of the plate between the rolls I arrest and reverse the rolls just before the edge
of the plate arrives between them, thus leaving a plain. edge for the purpose of
making any required joint.
According to another part of my Invention, the one set of grooves and projections
forming the dies for corrugating the tubes as described is formed crosswise on the
face of a strong fixed vertical column or post, as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein U
is the column or post, and T, the grooved face which is made more or less circular
to suit the diameter of the tubes to be operated upon, and has arranged in front of
it a horizontal slide V provided with a vertical corrugated face W to correspond
with that on the column at T, so that the tubes to be corrugated (represented by
Z, Z,) may be suspended so as to surround the column U (as lierein-before described
with reference to the one roll in the arrangement first described) with a portion of
the tube between the column U and the vertical face of the said horizontal, slide.V.
The tube is made to revolve intermittently, and the horizontal slide V. has a
The horizontal
reciprocating motion imparted to it by suitable means as shewn.
slide V works in and is guided by the column X (Figs. 5, 6, and 7). The tube to
be operated upon and the slide V being actuated as described, the corrugated faces
of the column and slide will be caused to act respectively on the inner and outer
surfaces of the tube simultaneously, and thus by a swaging or squeezing process,
will produce corresponding corrugations on the tube itself. The corrugated faces
T and W on the column U and slide V are so made as to be changeable to suit the
various diameters and sections of tubes to be operated 'upon. It will be evident
this apparatus may be also used for corrugating plates.
According to another part of my present Invention, the alternate grooves and
projections for shaping the tubes are formed, the one set on the interior of a
hollow box or cylinder Y (Figs. 8 and 9) made in sections, and capable of being
taken apart or opened, as shewn by the dotted lines at Y2 and Y³, and the other set
of grooves and projections on the exterior of a compound blocking piece a, whose
parts are also capable of being separated. The hollow box or cylinder Y is of a
configuration appropriate to the section of tube to be operated upon, which is placed
within the said box or cylinder Y, whilst its parts are closed and fastened together,
then the compound blocking piece a is inserted into the tube, and the parts of the
said blocking piece are caused by a conical wedge b or other suitable means to

page_text: move outward, and thus to press or squeeze the tube between the corrugated
surfaces of the box or cylinder Y, and blocking piece a, and thus to corrugate the
tube, after which the parts of the compound blocking piece a are caused to again
approach one another, and the box or cylinder Y to open; the tube may then be
removed and the box or cylinder Y again closed in readiness for another operation.
The compound blocking piece a may be in its place and always remain in, but
when the tube is lowered into position, the blocking piece must be contracted or
closed up.
It will be evident the details of the apparatus, whereby the metal of the tube is
pressed into the grooves of my improved corrugating box or cylinder Y may be
more or less modified without departing from the distinctive character of this part
of my Invention. It will also be evident this apparatus may be used for corru-
gating curved plates.
I would remark that in practice when making iron plates to be corrugated,
whether such plates have been intended to be first made into tubes or not, I have
for making such plates used fagotted bars of refined best Yorkshire iron. It is
necessary that the metal employed should have fibre in the direction of the width
and length of the plate, or of the circumference and length of the tube, as the case
may be, because there is very considerable draw upon the metal in those directions
during the corrugating process, whichever of my improved machines be used. Some
metal, for example, copper, may be corrugated cold..
Having described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of carrying it
into practical effect, I desire to have it understood that I do not claim generally as
of this Invention the rolling or swaging of metals, and save and except as herein-
after mentioned, I do not intend to claim any of the mechanical parts of the
apparatus herein-before shewn and described when taken separately and apart from
the combination or application thereof in manner and for the purposes herein
described, but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me under the Letters Patent herein-before first in part recited
is as follows:
1. The method of corrugating metallic tubes by submitting the same whilst
highly heated to the action of a pair of driven corrugating rolls having corrugating
annular grooves and projections as described, and arranged with the annular pro-
jections of the one roll opposite the annular grooves of the other roll, and an
undulating opening or space between the adjacent peripheries of the two rolls so as
to draw the corrugations out of the thickness of the metal composing such tubes,
substantially as described.
2. The use for the purpose of corrugating metallic tubes of a roll having corru-
gating annular grooves and projections, and supported in bearings as described, one
of such bearings being removeable for the purpose of enabling a tube to be placed
upon the roll, and the other bearings (or bearing) being arranged to meanwhile
retain the said roll in position as herein-before described with reference to the
roll A.
3. The use in combination for the purpose of corrugating metallic tubes of a
corrugating roll having concentric annular projections and grooves, stationary and
moveable bearings, a second corrugating roll with similar projections and grooves,
its projections being opposite the grooves of the first-named roll, means for causing
the second corrugating roll to approach the first-named roll, and adjustable sup-
plementary rolls for supporting and guiding the tubes whilst under operation, all
substantially as described.
4. The combination of parts constituting the improved corrugating machine,
constructed, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 4*, and 4**, inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
5. The use in combination for the purpose of corrugating metallic plates of a top
roll A formed as described, á bottom roll A¹ formed, as described, and mounted in
bearings E, F, having vertical movement in housings C1, C2, the system of levers
and links L, L, L², arranged to-be actuated by steam, hydraulic, or other power

page_text: connected to the part M, and a supplementary supporting or guiding roll, all sub-
tantially as described.
6. The combination of parts constituting the improved corrugating machine, con-
structed, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to Figs.
5, 6, and 7, inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
7. The method of corrugating metallic tubes by the use of a box or hollow
cylinder constructed as herein-before described and shewn in Figs. 8 and 9 in con-
junction with means for pressing the metal of the tubo against and causing it to
conform to the undulating surface of the interior of the said box or cylinder, sub-
stantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samson Fox, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
SAMSON FOX. (L.S.)