Improvements in the Manufacture of Wire, Rods, Bars, or Tubes from Various Copper Alloys, and in Apparatus therefor, which Apparatus can be Used for Making Wires, Rods, Bars, or Tubes from other Alloys or Metals.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1894-Accented, 18th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Wire, Rods, Bars, or Tubes
from Various Copper Alloys, and in Apparatus therefor, which
Apparatus can be Used for Making Wires, Rods, Bars, or Tubes
from other Alloys or Metals.
I, George AlexANDER DICK, of No. 110, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of wire, rods, bars
or tubes from such copper alloys as require a temperature of at least 800° or
900° Fahrenheit to heat them to redness, and which, when so heated, become
plastic and malleable, and, upon cooling, possess the necessary degree of bardness
for the article to be produced therefrom.
For example, alloys of copper and zinc, copper and aluminium or of copper and
zine combined with small quantities of other metals, such as, iron, aluminium,
nickel or manganese, in or in about the proportions given in the following formulæ
will answer the purposes of this invention :--
This invention further relates to improvements in apparatus to be employed
primarily in the manufacture above referred to.
In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a cylindrical pressure chamber or
container which is open at both ends and is reversible, that is to say, capable of
being turned end for end, if required.
This pressure chamber or container is formed of steel or other suitable metal
which will withstand the high temperature required to maintain the metal or alloy,
which is introduced therein, in a plastic state, and which will, when so heated,
resist the pressure exercised by a hydraulic ram which forces, squeezes or squirts
the metal through the die or dies, as hereinafter described.
The pressure chamber or container is placed within or surrounded by 'a suitable
coke or gas furnace preferably arranged from end to end thereof, the office of
which is to maintain the contents of the pressure chamber or container in the
necessary plastic condition, during the squeezing operation.
".
The apparatus is surrounded by a suitable frame of sufficient strength 'to
withstand the strain exercised by the hydraulic power employed, and, at one end
of the frame, is arranged a strong crossbead or beam which supports a die inserted
in this end of the pressure chamber or container.
.
Carried by the crosshead, which centrally is formed with an opening therethrough

page_text: or indentation therein, two jaws are employed which are pivotally or otherwise
mounted upon the crosshead and adapted to be brought together or separated by a
screw or other suitable means, the office of these jaws being to facilitate the placing
- in position and removal of the die.
The die plate is formed of steel or other suitable metal, and with one or more
openings, as the case may be, which have the form of the section to be given to the
rod, wire, bar or tube to be produced, and the die around the said aperture or
apertures is bevelled on both faces so as to give free access to the metal or alloy
during the squeezing process hereinafter reforred to, to more perfectly condense
the metal and to avoid unnecessary friction after the rod, wire, bar or tube is
formed.
In connection with the pressure chamber or container is employed a hydraulic
ram which acts upon an iron or steel block which latter, enters the pressure
chamber or container at the end opposite to the die and this block or piston is
minde separate or detachable from the ram so that it may be heated when required.
In order to produce a wire, bar or rod, the pressure chamber or container is
heated to near the temperature of the plastic alloy and the metal, which is to be
squeezed, is then introduced into the pressure chamber or container the heat of the
furnace maintaining the metal in the container at the proper heat during the
squeezing operation.
In some cases, the pressure chamber may be previously heated by the intro-
duction of a heated block or cylinder of iron or steel which is removed before the
pressure chamber is charged.
In order to centre and hold the pressure chamber or container in position and
also to prevent any movement thereof on the return stroke of the ram, set screws,
passing through the crosshead and through a transverse bar of the frame, are
employed to impinge upon the ends of the pressure chamber or container and thus
to centre and hold it securely in position.
A suitable quantity of the metal having been introduced into the pressure
chamber or container, the ram or plunger is gradually caused to advance when the
metal will be gradually forced, squirted or squeezed through the die or dies in the
desired form.
In order to prevent the plastic metal in the advance of the ram or plunger being
forced between the same and the walls of the pressure chamber or container,
place between the piston of the latter and the plastic. fetal a dished, bevelled or
corrugated metal plate or disc which loosely fits the bore of the pressure chamber
or container, so that under the pressure of the ram or plunger the disc or plate
will to some extent spread, and thereby closely fit the pressure chamber or
container and constitute an efficient check against the passage of the metal under
pressure past the same.
This plate, disc or check is formed of a metal or alloy that is less plastic and
more rigid at the temperature at which the squeezing takes place than the metal
or alloy to be operated upon in the pressure chamber or container, and such as
copper, iron or steel nickelsilver or the like.
When the plastic metal has been squeezed out of the pressure chamber or
container, the clips or jaws of the crosshead are caused to be opened and the die
forced out by the continued movement of the ram after which the latter is retracted,
the pressure chamber or container is again charged with plastic metal, the die is
replaced in position and the above described operation is repeated.
In order to produce tubes, by the means herein before described, I fix, within the
pressure chamber.or container, a mandril (or there might be more than one) of
steel or other suitable material corresponding with each aperture of the die, which
mandril passes through the die and is of a suitable diameter to enable the metal to
pass around it and through the die in sufficient quantity to produce a tube of the
required thickness.
In making tubes in this manner the metal must be provided with a hole or holes
.

page_text: In some cases, the mandril is formed hollow and means are provided for blowing
air or steam therethrough so as to retain it in a comparatively cool state and to
cool the tube after it is formed.
Instead of mounting the die in the end of the pressure chamber or container
opposite to the ram, that end of the pressure chamber or container may be closed
by a plug or other suitable means, and in this case, the ram would be formed
hollow or tubular and the die arranged in connection with it and the squeezed or
squirted metal would pass therethrough, the check plate and the block being of
course provided with corresponding apertures.
I sometimes introduce into the bore of the ram, a tube smaller than the bore so
as to form a casing though which air, gas or water may be caused to circulate for
cooling evenly the squirted rods or tubes.
When employing a cylinder closed at the end as lastly hereinbefore described I
sometimes before introducing the metal into the pressure chamber or container
place in the bottom thereof a small quantity of metal or alloy having a lower
melting point than the alloy which is to be operated upon, and such as, lead or tin,
and as such soft metal is melted and retained in a molten state by the heat it acts
as a cushion and facilitates the removal from the pressure chamber and from the
die of the whole of the metal or alloy. In this case, the apparatus must be arranged
iu a vertical position.
In lieu of the die or dies being arranged at the end of the chamber opposite to
the ram or being pushed by the ram or steel block in front thereof they may be
arranged in suitable openings formed in the side walls of the pressure chamber or
container in which case the pressure chamber or container would of course be
closed at the lower end during the squeezing operation.
In lieu of causing the pressure chamber or container to be held stationary and
the ram to advance the pressure chamber or container may be caused to advance
against the die but the arrangements hereinbefore described are preferable to this.
By the means herein before described, I am enabled expeditiously and
economically to produce lengths of wire, rod, bar or tube from copper alloys, of the
nature above stated in various forms and sections.
Dated this 18th day of January 1894.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Wire, Rods, Bars, or Tubes
from Various Copper Alloys, and in Apparatus therefor, which
Apparatus can be Used for Making Wires, Rods, Bars, or Tubes
from other Alloys or Metals.
17.
I, GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK, of No. 110, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Engineer, 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 :-
My said invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of wire, rods, bars
or tubes from such copper alloys as require a temperature of at least 800° or
900° Fahrenheit to beat them to redness, and which, when so heated become
plastic and malleable, and, upon cooling possess the necessary degree of hardness
for the article to be produced therefrom.
For example, alloys of copper and zinc, copper and aluminium or of copper and
zinc, combined with small quantities of other metals, such as, iron, aluminium,

page_text: nickel or manganese, in or in about the proportions given in the following formulæ
will answer the purposes of this invention :-
This invention further relates to improvements in apparatus to be employed
primarily in the manufacture above referred to.
And, in order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a sectional plan of an apparatus having my invention applied thereto.
Figure 2. is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 3. is a similar view to Figure 1. of part of the apparatus but showing
more clearly the arrangement of the die and the issuing rod.
Figure 4. is a sectional view of the die separately.
Figure 5. is a transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1. but showing
the die removed.
Figure 6 is an opposite end elevation thereof.
Figure 7. represents a plan of the check disc.
Figure 8. is a transverse section thereof.
Figures 9. and 10. are similar views representing slight modifications in the form
thereof, and,
·
Figure 11. is a plan of Figure 10.
Figure 12. is a portion of Figure 1. but showing the application of the heated
bar, and,
Figure 13. is a transverse section thereof.
Figure 14 is a vertical section of a modified form of apparatus adapted to
produce hollow bars or tubes, and,
Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of a mass of metal apertured to produce a
hollow bar.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 4, and 7 to 11, and 14. and 15, are drawn to an increased scale
with respect to Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, and 13.
Referring to Figures 1. to 11, a. represents a cylindrical pressure chamber or
container which is open at both ends and is reversible, that is to say, capable of
being turned end for end, if required.
This pressure chamber or container is formed of steel or other suitable metal
which will withstand the high temperature required to maintain in a plastic state
the metal or alloy, which is introduced therein, and which will, when so heated,
resist the pressure exercised by a hydraulic ram e. which forces, squeezes or squirts
the metal through the die or dies, as hereinafter described.
The pressure chamber or container a. is placed within or surrounded by a suitable
coke or gas furnace b. (preferably arranged from end to end thereof) the office of
which is to maintain the contents of the pressure chamber or container a. in the
'necessary plastic condition, during the squeezing operation.
The apparatus is surrounded by a suitable frame c. c' c* of sufficient strength to
withstand the strain exercised by the hydraulic power employed, and, at one end
of the frame c. and forming part thereof is arranged a strong crosshead or beam c¹

page_text: which supports a die a. inserted in or arranged at this end of the pressure chamber
or container a.
.
Carried by the crosshead c¹ which centrally is formed with an opening c¹* therein,
two jaws care employed which are pivotally or they might be otherwise mounted
upon the crosshead c' and adapted to be brought together or separated by a screw c³
or other suitable means, the office of these jaws being to facilitate the holding in
position and removal of the die d.
The die plate or block d. is formed of steel or other suitable metal, and with one
or more openings, as the case may be, which openings have the form of the section
to be given to the wire, rod or bar to be produced, and the die d. around the said
aperture or apertures is bevelled on both faces so as to give free access to the
metal or alloy a" during the squeezing process hereinafter referred to, to more
perfectly condense the metal and to avoid unnecessary friction after the wire, rod,
bar or tube is formed.
In connection with the pressure chamber or container a. is employed a hydraulic
ram e. with an extension f. which enters the pressure chamber or container a. at the
end opposite to the die d.
In order to produce a wire, rod, bar or tube, the pressure chamber or container a.
is heated to near the temperature of the plastic alloy, and the metal, which is to be
squeezed, is then introduced in a plastic state into the pressure chamber or
container a. the heat of the furnace b. maintaining the metal in the container a. at
the proper heat during the squeezing operation.
In some cases, the pressure chamber a. may as represented at Figures 12. and 13.
be previously heated by the introduction of a heated block or cylinder of iron or
steel a' which is removed before the pressure chamber a. is charged.
In order to centre and hold the pressure chamber or container a. in position and
also to prevent any movement thereof on the return stroke of the ram e, set screws c
passing through the crosshead c, and through a transverse bar c' of the frame, are
employed to impinge upon the ends of the pressure chamber or container a. and
thus to centre and hold it securely in position.
A suitable quantity of metal having been introduced into the pressure chamber
or container a, and the required consistency having been attained, the ram or
plunger e. is gradually caused to advance, when the metal a* will be gradually
forced, squirted or squeezed through the die or dies d. in the desired form.
In order to prevent the plastic metal in the advance of the ram or plunger e.
being forced between the same and the walls of the pressure chamber or container a,
1 place between the extension f. of the ram or plunger e. and the plastic metal, a
dished, bevelled or corrugated metal plate or disc g. such as I have represented at
Figures 7. to 11. which loosely fits the bore of the pressure chamber or container a.
so that, under the pressure of the ram or plunger e, the disc or plate g. will to some
extent spread and thereby closely fit the pressure chamber or container a. and
constitute an efficient check against the passage of the metal under pressure past
'the same.
This plate, disc or check g. is formed of a metal or alloy, such as iron, steel,
nickelsilver, or the like, that is less plastic and more rigid at the temperature at
which the squeezing takes place than the metal or alloy to be operated upon in the
pressure chamber or container a.
When the plastic metal has been squeezed out of the pressure chamber or
container a. the clips or jaws c³ of the crosshead c¹ are caused to be opened and the
die d. forced out of position by the continued movement of the ram after which the
latter is retracted, the pressure chamber or container a. is again charged with
plastic metal, the die d. is replaced in position and the above described operation. is
repeated.
In the example given at Figure 14. I have shown a means of producing tubes.or
hollow bars according to my invention.
For this purpose, I arrange within the pressure chamber or container a. a
mandril h. (or there might be more than one) of steel or other suitable material

page_text: corresponding with the (or each) aperture of the die d, which mandril is fixed with
the ram or plunger e. and passes through the die d. and is of a suitable diameter to
enable the metal a* to pass around it and through the die d. in sufficient quantity
to produce a hollow bar of the required thickness, as represented in the drawing
at a**.
In making hollow bars in this manner the metal must be provided with a hole or
holes corresponding with the mandril or mandrils h. as represented at Figure 15.
In some cases, and as represented in the drawings (Figure 14) the mandril h. is
formed hollow, or with a passage therethrough and air or steam may during the
squeezing operation be forced through such passage to retain the mandril h. in a
comparatively cool state and to cool the hollow bar a** after it is formed.
I sometimes introduce into the bore of the ram e. a tube e¹ smaller than the bore
so as to form a casing provided with an inlet e and outlet e through which air, gas
or water may be caused to circulate for cooling evenly the squirted wire, rods,
or bars.
This arrangement is shown for convenience in connection with Figure 1.
In lieu of causing the pressure chamber or container a. to be held stationary_and
the ram e. to advance, the pressure chamber or container a. may be caused to
advance against the die d. and ram e. but the arrangements hereinbefore described
are preferable to this.
By the means hereinbefore described, I am enabled expeditiously and economically
to produce lengths of wire, rods, bars or tubes from copper alloys of the nature
above stated in various forms and sections.
It will be readily understood by persons conversant with the manufacture of
wire, rods, bars or tubes that the apparatus herein before described for effecting
such manufacture from various copper alloys, can also be advantageously employed
in the manufacture of such articles from other alloys or metals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of making wire, rods, bars or tubes from such copper alloys as
become plastic at a temperature of about 800 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit by squirting
or squeezing such alloys in a plastic condition through a suitable die, substantially
as herein described.
2. The manufacture of wire, rods, bars or tubes from such copper alloys as
become plastic at a temperature of about 800 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit by squirting
or squeezing such alloys in a plastic condition through a suitable die, substantially
as herein described.
3. In an apparatus for the manufacture of wire, rods bars or tubes from copper
alloys or the like, brought to a plastic condition by heat, the combination of an
open ended removeable and reversible pressure chamber, a remoreable die and a
suitable press, substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In an apparatus for the manufacture of wire, rods, bars or tubes from copper
alloys or the like, brought to a plastic condition by heat, the combination of an
open ended pressure chamber, removeable die, a crosshead, clips or jaws carried by
the crosshead for holding the die in position and releasing it when required and a
suitable press for acting upon the plastic alloy, and, when desired, forcing out the
released die, substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In an apparatus for the manufacture of wire, rods, bars or tubes from copper
alloys or the like, brought to a plastic condition by heat, the combination of a
pressure chamber, a die, a furnace for heating the pressure chamber, a suitable
press and ram or plunger for acting upon the plastic material, substantially as herein
shown and desoribed.
6. In an apparatus for the manufacture of wire, rods, bars or tubes from copper
alloys or the like, brought to a plastic condition by heat, the combination of a
pressure chamber, a die, a suitable press and a bevelled, corrugated or dished disc

page_text: or check of suitable material interposed between the acting plunger or piston and
the plastic material, substantially as herein shown and described.
7. In an apparatus of the character herein before described, the method of clearing
out the chamber by opening the clips or jaws holding the die and removing the
die by forcing the ram or plunger right through the chamber, substantially as herein
shown and described.
8. In an apparatus for the manufacture of hollow bars or tubes from copper
alloys or the like, brought a plastic condition by heat, the combination of a pressure
chamber, a die, a suitable press, a hollow mandril and means for passing a
cooling medium therethrough, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of November 1894.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.