Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture and Production of Ribbed or Corrugated Tubes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture and
Production of Ribbed or Corrugated Tubes.
I, SALOMON FRANK, of 21, Friedbergerlandstrasse, Frankfurt-on-Maine, in the
Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to means by which tubes can be provided with straight,
longitudinal, angular or spiral ribs or corrugations extending over the whole or
part of the tube.
According to this invention the tube to be ribbed or corrugated is forced along
between a matrix and a mandrel, in which balls are arranged at each side of the
tube to produce the desired shape as hereinafter described.
In cases where the tubes are to be longitudinally ribbed throughout their length.
The device employed consists of an exterior matrix and an interior mandrel, the
matrix having therein two circular annular series of balls. Behind these balls are
screws by which the balls can be forced out to a greater or lesser extent.
The mandrel is furnished with similarly arranged balls. The mandrel is inserted
concentrically into the matrix in such a manner that the balls in the matrix are in
the same planes as the balls in the mandrel but the balls in the matrix are situated
opposite the spaces between the balls in the mandrel.
The screws then are so turned as to force the one series of balls in the matrix
slightly more toward the centre than the balls of the other series. The mandrel is
so shaped that the balls thereof will project according to the inner diameter of the
tube.
If now the tube be forced along between the matrix and the mandrel, the balls
of the matrix are pressed into it, during which operation the balls of the mandrel
act as abutments. The balls of the one series in both the matrix and mandrel
serve as the preliminary, and the balls of the other series as the finishing balls.
For producing ribs which do not extend throughout the length of the tube and
which project inwards the matrix and the mandrel are each furnished with but one
annular series of balls. In commencing the operation the screws of the matrix are
so adjusted that the balls allow the tube to be inserted so that the part where the
ribs or corrugations are to be commenced is between the series of balls in the
matrix and the mandrel and the screws are so turned that the balls force their way
into the wall of the tube, thus producing inwardly projecting bulges thereon. The
tube is drawn along between the matrix and the mandrel to an extent corresponding
to the length of the ribs to be made on the said tube, and finally the screws are
relaxed and the tube withdrawn.
If the balls of the mandrel are required to bulge the wall of the tube outwards,
so that tubes with outwardly projecting ribs or corrugations are formed, the
matrix can be as hereinbefore described but the mandrel be made of two parts,
namely a hollow cylinder in openings in the sides of which the balls are situated
and a mandrel proper, having one of its ends made conical.

page_text: The screws are so adjusted that the tube can be inserted and the mandrel proper
is concentrically inserted into the tube and so connected with it as to be compelled
to participate in the movement thereof along the matrix. When the tube has been
inserted to the requisite extent the conical portion of the mandrel proper comes in
contact with the balls of the mandrel and forces them outwards so that outwardly
projecting ribs are formed upon the tube. The balls of the matrix in this case
serve as abutments.
Zig-zag ribs or corrugations are formed by turning the tube to and fro whilst it
is moved through the matrix.
Spiral or helical ribs or corrugations are formed if the tube receives a rotary
movement in one direction, whilst it is moved longitudinally through the matrix.
By properly shaping the aforesaid mandrel proper non-coutinuous ribs may be
formed.
Tubes made as described with ribs or corrugations extending only partly
throughout their length are especially suitable for seat-pillars and handle bars of
velocipedes as such seat-pillars and handle bars
are inserted into their
correspondingly shaped sockets, in which they are thus prevented from displacement
relatively to said sockets and they are suitable to be employed in the construction
of frames with the object of increasing the resistance, and for this purpose the
ends may be reinforced by strengthening sleeves.
Dated this 5th day of January 1898.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX.
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture and
Production of Ribbed or Corrugated Tubes.
I, SALOMON FRANK, of 21, Friedbergerlandstrasse, Frankfort-on-Maine, in
the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, 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 invention relates to means by which tubes can be provided with straight,
longitudinal, angular or spiral ribs or corrugations extending over the whole or
part of the tube.
Various kinds of ribs or corrugations that may be applied to the tubes, are
represented in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawing, whilst the method and the
apparatus are illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, each of the latter figures representing
three different views.
According to this invention the tube to be ribbed or corrugated is forced
along between a matrix and a mandrel, in which balls are arranged at each side
of the tube to produce the desired shape as hereinafter described.
In cases where the tubes are to be longitudinally ribbed throughout their length,
as represented in longitudinal and transverse sections in Figure 1, the device shewn
in Figures 9A 9B 9c is employed.
This device consists of an exterior matrix a and an interior mandrel b.
In the matrix a two circular superposed rows or annular series of balls c c¹ are
arranged. Behind these balls, screws e are provided, by means of which the balls
can be forced out to a greater or lesser extent as required.
The mandrel b is furnished with similarly arranged balls d, d¹. The method
of corrugating a tube is as follows. The mandrel b is inserted concentrically into

page_text: the matrix in such a manner that the balls d in the mandrel are situated in
the same horizontal planes as the balls c c¹ in the matrix, but the balls in the
matrix are situated opposite the spaces between the balls in the mandrel, as shewn
in Figure 9c.
The screws e are turned so as to force one series c' of the balls in the matrix
slightly further toward the centre than the other series of balls c. The mandrel b
is so shaped that the balls d and will project according to the inner diameter of
the tubes.
If now the tube a be forced along between the matrix and the mandrel, the
balls c c of the matrix will press the metal of the tube inwards, during which
operation the balls d d¹ of the mandrel act as abutments. The balls c of the
matrix aud the balls d of the mandrel serve as the preliminary and the balls e¹ d¹
as the finishing balls.
For producing ribs which do not extend throughout the length of the tube
as illustrated for example in Figure 2, the device, shewn in Figures 8, 8, 8° is
employed.
In this device the matrix a and the mandrel b are each furnished with only one
annular series or row of balls c and d, respectively. In commencing the operation
the screws e of the matrix are so adjusted that the balls c allow the tube to
be inserted so that the part where the ribs or corrugations are to be commenced
is between the series of balls c in the matrix and the balls d in the mandrel
(Figure 8). The screws e are then so turned that the balls c press inwards the
wall of the tube, thus producing inwardly projecting bulges thereon. Thereupon
the tube A is drawn along between the matrix and the mandrel to an extent
corresponding to the length of the ribs to be made on the said tube, and finally the
screws e are turned outwards to admit of the tube being withdrawn.
If the balls d in the mandrel are required to buige the wall of the tube
outwards, so that tubes with outwardly projecting ribs or corrugations
are formed as shewn in Figure 3, the device shewn in Figures 10A 10B 10°
is employed.
In this device the matrix a can be like that last described, but the mandrel b
is surrounded by a hollow sleeve or cylinder 61 having openings therein
through which the balls d project, and the mandrel b proper has a conical or
tapered part b².
The screws e are so adjusted that the balls callow tube A to be inserted between
the balls c and d.
The mandrel b proper is concentrically inserted into the tube A and so
connected with it as to be compelled to participate in the movement thereof along the
matrix. When the tube has been inserted to the requisite extent, the conical portion ²
of the mandrel comes into contact with the balls d in the sleeve and forces
these balls outwards, so that outwardly projecting ribs are formed upon the
tube A.
The balls c of the matrix in this case serve as abutments.
Zig-zag ribs or corrugations as represented in Figure 5 can be formed by
turning the tube axially to and fro whilst it is being moved longitudinally in the
matrix.
Spiral or helical ribs or corrugations can be formed if the tube receives
a rotary movement in one direction, whilst it is being moved longitudinally in the
matrix.
By properly shaping the mandrel b non-continuous ribs may be formed on the
tube as shewn in Figure 7.
Tubes made with ribs or corrugations extending only partly throughout their
length as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings are especially suitable for
seat pillars and handle-bars of velocipedes, as such seat pillars and handle-bars are
inserted into their correspondingly shaped sockets, in which they are thus prevented
from displacement relatively to said sockets. The form of tube shewn by Figure 3
is suitable to be employed in the construction of frames with the object of increasing

page_text: the resistance, and for this purpose the ends may be reinforced by strengthening
sleeves as represented in Figure 4.
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. In apparatus for the manufacture of ribbed or corrugated tubes, the combina-
tion of a matrix and a mandrel between which the tubes to be ribbed or corrugated
are caused to move; balls carried by the matrix and the mandrel and caused to press
respectively on exterior and interior surfaces of the tube whilst the said tube is
moving between the matrix and the mandrel substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
2. In apparatus for the production or manufacture of ribbed or corrugated
tubes the combination of a matrix and a mandrel between which the tube
to be ribbed or corrugated is caused to move; balls carried by the matrix
and the mandrel bearing respectively on the exterior surface and the interior
surface of the tube; and screws acting on the balls carried by the matrix
so as to press the metal of the tube into the spaces between the balls carried
by the mandrel so as to form corrugations or ribs on the tube substantially as herein-
before described.
3. In apparatus for the production or manufacture of ribbed or corrugated tubes
the combination of a matrix and a mandrel between which a tube to be ribbed or
corrugated is caused to pass; a cylindrical sleeve or ring arranged between the
mandrel and the internal surface of the tube, openings in the sleeve or ring and
balls placed in the said openings; a conical or taper part on the mandrels for
pressing the balls through the openings in the sleeve or ring so as to force
the metal of the tube into the spaces between the balls carried by the mandrel
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
4. The combinations of parts constituting means for the production or manu-
facture of ribbed or corrugated tubes substantially as herein before described and
illustrated respectively by Figures 8ª, 8B, 80, Figures 9ª, 9B, 9°, and Figures 10ª, 10",
and 10c of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of October 1898
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.