Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel and other Metal Tubes and in the Apparatus or Machinery for the same.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel and other Metal Tubes
and in the Apparatus or Machinery for the same.
We, THOMAS BUDWORTH SHARP, of County Chambers A, Martineau Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, and FREDERICK BILLING,
of Livery Street, Birmingham, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
-
Our invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of steel and
other metal tubes and in the apparatus or machinery for the same and is intended
to deal with solid or hollow billets by a series of pressures, blows or impacts in the
following manner and we expect will be capable of dealing with inferior metal
which will be improved by our new process, in addition to metal of the best quality.
In carrying our invention into practice we take a hot billet of malleable steel
and insert it in a strong hollow cylinder, which we call the "billet cylinder." This
billet cylinder is preferably slightly taper in its bore so as to prevent undue friction
and the larger end is opened out by having its edges rounded off or made trumpet
shaped or bell mouthed. Opposite the opened out end of this billet cylinder and
in close proximity thereto, is the pointed end of a strong steel rod which we call
the
piercer" working in suitable guides, a rapid reciprocating motion being
imparted thereto preferably by an eccentric or a system of toggle joints. The rear
end of the hot billet is operated upon by a ram preferably propelled forward inter-
mittently by a powerful screw which causes the ram to advance. when the piercer
is retiring from the billet, and remain stationary when the piercer is advancing
towards the billet, but although the advance of the ram and screw is simultaneous
with the retiring of the piercer the distance advanced by the former is not neces-
varily the same as the distance traversed by the retiring of the latter.
16
The remaining action of the apparatus is as follows:
Starting with the piercer in its nearest position to the billet cylinder and the
billet in contact with or close to the piercer.
Simultaneously the piercer recedes and the billet advances; then the billet
remains stationary and the piercer rapidly advances and partially buries itself
centrally in the end of the billet; at the same time the outside of the end of the
billet is expanded but is not allowed to expand, as much as it otherwise would
owing to the proximity of the trumpet shaped end of the cylinder; the result is
that, the wall of the incipient tube is nipped between the end of the piercer and the
trumpet shaped end of the billet cylinder; again the billet advances and the
piercer retires at the same time; again the billet stands still; again the piercer
advances, and again the wall of the incipient tube is nipped and thinned down,
and this operation is performed until the billet has been forced on to and over the
piercer and so been converted into a shell or rough tube.
guiding cylinder" pre-
Surrounding the piercer is a cylinder which we call a
ferably about the same size as the outside of the shell or rough tube and provided
internally with a series of washers or discs which fit over the piercer for keeping

page_text: it central in the guiding cylinder and to prevent it from bucking. One of these
washers or discs is preferably placed as near the end of the piercer as practicable
and they are pushed forward by the advancing tube.
When dealing with hollow billets we may dispense with the billet cylinder and
support the billet internally by forming the end of the piercer so that it enters and
extends down the centre of the billet into the end of the ram, the operation being
the same as hereinbefore described.
In some cases the hollow billet or roughened tube may be reduced in diameter
externally by forming the piercer so as to fit the bore of the hollow billet or rough-
ened tube. In this case the tube advances in the direction of the point of the
piercer and is forced into the trumpet shaped mouth of a hollow metal die and
the piercer forced down the tube in a similar manner as herein before described,
thus reducing the external diameter of the tube as it passes through the hollow die.
Under this operation the bore of the tube may be reduced in diameter, but in no
case can it be increased. By this process we can reduce the thickness of the wall
of the tube more rapidly than by any other ordinary process.
We have spoken of one end of the billet cylinder as being rounded or trumpet
shaped, but as this rounded or trumpet shaped end will first wear out we may if
desired have a loose die pressing against the end of the said billet cylinder. This
die, which is itself rounded or trumpet shaped on its outer edge receives the hard
wear and can readily be replaced when necessary.
When dealing with solid billets as described in the first part of this specification,
we may either force the ram so far that the point of the piercer goes right through
the billet or only partly through in which case we have a tube closed at one end
after the manner of a thimble or test tube. In this case in order to save metal when
the partially finished tube is nearly punched through we arrange between the ram
and the bottom of the billet cylinder two hollow cylinders fitting inside, one
another, the inner one being shorter than the outer and supported by a taper cotter
pin passing through the walls of the outer tube. Fitting inside the inner tube is
a solid rod or core slightly shorter than the inner tube and this core rests upon a
cotter pin passing through the walls of the outer and inner tubes.
The action is as follows:-
-
When the piercer has nearly pierced the bottom of the tube or ingot the inner
core is released by withdrawing or driving back the cotter which supports it, thus
allowing the point of the piercer to partially enter the inner cylinder; then the
other cotter is withdrawn or driven back and the inner cylinder released, thus
allowing the piercer to partially or wholly enter. By this arrangement we main-
tain a solid resistance to the flow back of the hot billet till the piercer has nearly
accomplished its work. This part of our invention saves metal and is applicable
to certain other processes for manufacturing steel tubes, and may also be used in
place of the solid bottom generally found in such processes as those at present
known as 66
Ehrhardts" Patent No. 3116 of 1891. In these cases we may lengthen
the moulds employed in such processes and in their bottoms insert this pusher
arrangement, firmly attaching directly or indirectly the outer tube of our pusher
arrangement to the mould or moulds in which it or they is or are inserted. Its
action is then the same as just described.
We may if we desire place at any point between the end of the hydraulic ram
and the hot billet a strong spring or buffer with a short stroke, and the action of
this part of our apparatus is to reduce the power necessary to thin down the wall
of the shell by allowing the metal under treatment to flow both outwards and
inwards instead of outwards only.
The spring is strong enough to cause the billet to follow up the receding piercer
and to force the billet on to the piercer but is not strong enough to resist the flow
back during the nipping action of the piercer. This part of our invention is not
essential, but it eases the strains on the apparatus generally.
We have hitherto alluded to our process as applied to hot steel billets, but it

page_text: must be understood that we can with equal advantages apply our process to other
metals either in a hot or cold state according to the nature of the metal dealt with.
Dated this 15th day of June 1897.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel and other Metal Tubes
and in the Apparatus or Machinery for the same.
We, THOMAS BUDWORTH SHARP, of County Chambers A, Martineau Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, and FREDERICK BILLING,
of Livery Street, Birmingham, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of steel and
other metal tubes, and in the apparatus or machinery for the same and is intended
to deal with solid or hollow billets by a series of pressures, blows or impacts in the
following manner and we expect will be capable of dealing with inferior metal
which will be improved by our new process, in addition to metal of the best quality.
In carrying our invention into practice we take a hot billet of malleable steel
and insert it in a strong hollow cylinder, which we call the "billet cylinder." This
billet cylinder is preferably slightly taper in its bore so as to prevent undue friction
and the larger end is opened out by having its edges rounded off or made trumpet
shaped or bell mouthed. Opposite the opened out end of this billet cylinder and
in close proximity thereto, is the pointed end of a strong steel rod which we call
the "piercer" working in suitable guides, a, rapid reciprocating motion being
imparted thereto preferably by an eccentric or a system of toggle joints. The rear
end of the hot billet is operated upon by a ram preferably propelled forward inter-
mittantly either by a powerful screw or by hydraulic power which causes the ram
to advance when the piercer is retiring from the billet and remain stationary when
the piercer is advancing towards the billet, but although the advance of the ram
and, screw is simultaneous with the retiring of the piercer the distance advanced
by the former is not necessarily the same as the distance traversed by the retiring
of the latter.
The remaining action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Starting with the piercer in its nearest position to the billet cylinder and the
billet in contact with or close to the piercer.
Simultaneously the piercer recedes and the billet advances then the billet
remains stationary and the piercer rapidly advances and partially buries itself
centrally in the end of the billet, at the same time the outside of the end of the
billet is expanded but is not allowed to expand as much as it otherwise would
owing to the proximity of the trumpet shaped end of the cylinder the result is
that the wall of the incipient tube is nipped between the end of the piercer and the
trumpet shaped end of the billet cylinder; again the billet advances and the
piercer retires at the same time again the billet stands still again the piercer
advances, and again the wall of the incipient tube is nipped and thinned down,
and this operation is performed until the billet has been forced onto and over the
piercer and so been converted into a shell or rough tube.
"
Surrounding the piercer is a cylinder which we call a guiding cylinder" pre-
ferably about the same size as the outside of the shell or rough tube and provided

page_text: .
internally with a series of washers or discs which fit over the piercer for keeping
it central in the guiding cylinder and to prevent it from buckling. One of these
washers or discs is preferably placed as near the end of the piercer as practicable
and they are pushed forward by the advancing tube.
When dealing with hollow billets we may dispense with the billet cylinder and
support the billet internally by forming the end, of the piercer so that it enters and
extends down the centre of the billet into the end of the ram the operation being
the same as herein before described.
In some cases the hollow billet or rough tube may be reduced in diameter
externally by forming the piercer so as to fit the bore of the hollow billet or rough-
tube. In this case the tube advances in the direction of the point of the
piercer and is forced into the trumpet shaped mouth of a hollow metal die and
the piercer forced down the tube in a similar manner as herein before described
thus reducing the external diameter of the tube as it passes through the hollow die.
Under this operation the bore of the tube may be reduced in diameter but in no
case can it be increased. By this process we can reduce the thickness of the wall
of the tube more rapidly than by any other ordinary process.
We have spoken of one end of the billet cylinder as being rounded or trumpet
shaped, but as this rounded or trumpet shaped end will first wear out we may if
desired have a loose die pressing against the end of the said billet cylinder. This
die which is itself rounded or trumpet shaped on its outer edge receives the hard
wear and can readily be replaced when necessary.
When dealing with solid billets as described in the first part of this specification,
we may either force the ram so far that the point of the piercer goes right through
the billet or only partly through in which case we have a tube closed at one end
after the manner of a thimble or test tube. In this case in order to save metal when
the partially finished tube is nearly punched through we arrange between the ram
and the bottom of the billet cylinder two hollow cylinders fitting inside one
another, the inner one being shorter than the outer and supported by a taper cotter
pin passing through the wall of the outer tube. Fitting inside the inner tube is
a solid rod or core slightly shorter than the inner tube and this core rests upon a
cotter pin passing through the walls of the outer and inner tubes.
The action is as follows:-
1
When the piercer has nearly pierced the bottom of the tube or ingot the inner
core is released by withdrawing or driving back the cotter which supports it, thus
allowing the point of the piercer to partially enter the inner cylinder, then the
other cotter is withdrawn or driven back and the inner cylinder released, thus
allowing the piercer to partially or wholly enter. By this arrangement we main-
tain a solid resistance, to the flow back of the hot billet till the piercer has nearly
accomplished its work. This part of our invention saves metal.
We may if we desire place at any point between the end of the hydraulic ram
and the hot billet a strong spring or buffer with a short stroke, and the action of
this part of our apparatus is to reduce the power necessary to thin down the wall
of the shell by allowing the metal under treatment to flow both outwards and
inwards instead of outwards only.
The spring is strong enough to cause the billet to follow up the receding piercer
and to force the billet onto the piercer but is not strong enough to resist the flow
back during the nipping action of the piercer. This part of our invention is not
essential, but it eases the strain on the apparatus generally.
We have hitherto alluded to our process as applied to hot steel billets, but it
must be understood that we can with equal advantages apply our process to other
metals either in a hot or cold state according to the nature of the metal dealt with.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will make reference
to the accompanying drawings which are given as examples of the mode we pursue
in the said manufacture and from which as an example others will have no diffi-
culty in applying our invention to general practice and in the substitution of

page_text: various mechanical inca
herein set forth.
Figure 1 is a part sectional plan view of our improved apparatus or machine
for the manufacture of steel tubes.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 shewing the hollow billet or shell
advanced.
Figure 3 is a part sectional plan view of another form of our apparatus shewing
the hollow billet or shell supported internally by the piercer.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 shewing the hollow billet or shell in
progress.
Figure 5 is a part sectional plan view of our apparatus for reducing the external
diameter of the tube without increasing the internal diameter.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 shewing the tube further advanced and
the piercer in the act of receeding.
Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 shewing the piercer withdrawn ready
for advancing again.
Figure 8 is a part sectional plan view of our arrangement for saving metal when
dealing with solid billets.
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of Figure 8 taken on the line xy.
Figure 10 is a part sectional plan view shewing our arrangement for saving metal
when dealing with solid billets.
Figure 11 is a similar view to Figure 10 shewing our automatic arrangement for
saving metal when dealing with solid billets..
In carrying our invention into practice we take the hot hollow billet B of malle-
able steel and insert it in the strong hollow cylinder A which we call the billet
cylinder. This billet cylinder is preferably slightly taper in its bore so as to
prevent undue friction and the larger end is recessed to receive the hollow die I)
having its inner edge rounded off or made trumpet shaped or bell mouthed.
Or we may dispense with the die D and the larger end of the billet cylinder may
be opened out by having its edges rounded off or made trumpet shaped or bell
mouthed. Opposite this end of the billet cylinder and in close proximity thereto
is the pointed end 2 of the strong steel rod P which we call the piercer working
in the cylinder C which we call the guiding cylinder and which is secured to the
cylinder A by nuts rods and bolts passing through the holes formed in the lugs or
flanges and c¹. The internal diameter of this guiding cylinder is preferably
about the same size as the outside diameter of the shell or rough tube which is
being formed and is provided internally with the washers or discs and c³ which
fit over the piercer for keeping it central in the guiding cylinder and to prevent it
from buckling. The disc or washer is preferably placed as near the end of the
piercer as practicable and is pushed forward by the advancing tube as clearly shewn
at Figure 2. I however lay no special claim to these discs as other means may be
employed for the same purpose. This piercer has a rapid reciprocatory motion
imparted to it preferably by an eccentric or a system of toggle joints. The end bl
of the hot billet is operated upon by the ram or pusher R preferably propelled
forward intermittently either by a powerful screw or by hydraulic power which it
is unnecessary to show which causes this ram to advance when the piercer is
retiring from the billet and remain stationary when the piercer is advancing.
towards the billet but although the advance of the ram and screw is simultaneous
with the retiring of the piercer the distance advanced by the former is not neces-
sarily the same as the distance traversed by the retiring of the latter.
The remaining action of the apparatus is as follows
Starting with the piercer and billet in the position as shewn at Figure 1.
Simultaneously the piercer recedes and the billet advances when the billet
remains stationary and the piercer rapidly advances and partially buries itself
centrally in the end of the billet thus expanding its outer and inner diameters but
is not allowed to expand the outer diameter as much as it otherwise would owing

page_text: to the proximity of the trumpet shaped end of the die D the result is that the wall
of the incipient tube is nipped between the end of the piercer and the mouth of
the die as clearly shewn at Figure 2. Again the billet advances and the piercer
retires at the same time; again the billet remains stationary again the piercer
advances and again the wall of the incipient tube is nipped and thinned down and
these series of operations are performed until the billet has been forced onto and
over the piercer and so converted into a shell or rough tube.
Although we have shewn hollow billets it must be distinctly understood that we
may deal with solid billets in a similar manner as hereinbefore described.
At Figures 3 and 4 we have shewn another method of dealing with hollow billets.
In this case we may dispense with the billet cylinder and support the billet inter-
nally by forming the end 72 of the piercer or plunger P so that it enters and extends
down the centre of the billet into the end of the ram or pusher as clearly shewn.
Figure 3 shews the piercer ready to make its first plunge and Figure 4 shews the
tube advanced by the ram after the piercer has made several plunges, the said
piercer is then withdrawn and the operation continues in the manner as herein-
before described.
At Figures 5, 6 and 7. we have shewn our apparatus for reducing the external
diameter of hollow billets or rough tubes. In this case we form the piercer so as
to fit the bore of the hollow billet or rough tube and this tube is made to advance
by the pusher F by an intermittent motion in the direction of the point of the
piercer and is forced into the trumpet shaped mouth of the hollow metal die H as
clearly shewn at Figure 5. The piercer is then forced down the tube in the manner
as herein before described thus reducing the external diameter of the tube as it
passes through the hollow die as clearly shewn at Figure 6. The piercer is then
withdrawn and the pusher F suddenly advances the tube further into the die in the
manner as shewn at Figure 7 ready for the next plunge of the piercer.
this operation the bore of the tube may be reduced in diameter.
Under
By this process we can reduce the thickness of the wall of the tube more rapidly
than by any other ordinary process. When dealing with solid billets we may either
force the ram so far that the point of the piercer goes right through the billet or
only partly through in which case we have a tube closed at one end after the
manner of a thimble or test tube. At Figure we have shewn our method for
saving metal when the partially finished tube is nearly pierced through. Between
the ram and the bottom of the billet cylinder we arrange the two hollow cylinders .J
and K fitting inside one another, the inner cylinder K is shorter than the outer
cylinder J and is supported by the taper cotter pin which passes through the wall
of the outer tube. Fitted inside this inner tube is the solid rod or core L slightly
shorter than the inner tube and resting upon the cotter pin which passes through
the walls of the outer and inner tubes.
The action is as follows..
When the piercer has pierced or nearly pierced the bottom of the tube or ingot
the core or rod L is released by driving back the cotter pin 1 thus allowing the
point of the piercer to partially enter the inner cylinder K then the cotter ¹ is
driven back and the inner cylinder K released thus allowing the piercer to partially
or wholly enter the cylinder J.
By this arrangement we maintain a solid resistance to the flow back of the hot
billet till the piercer has nearly accomplished its work. This part of our invention
saves metal.
At Figures 10 & 11 we have shewn our arrangements for reducing the power
necessary to thin down the wall of the ingot or shell. In the method as shewn at
Figure 10 we place between the ingot bottom and the ram the spring or buffer
arrangement which consists of the outer casing M provided with the recessed lug m¹
for the end of the ram or pusher to fit into and the inner casing N which fits inside
the outer casing and is provided with the recessed lug n¹ for the ingot bottom to
rest in. Placed between these inner and outer casings is the partially compressed

page_text: spring S and this spring is held in position by the collar m² which is bolted or
otherwise secured to the flange m³ formed on this end of the outer casing. By this
arrangement when the piercer has pierced the ingot the power behind the piercer
overcomes the tension of the spring and acts bodily on the ingot bottom thus allow-
ing the metal under treatment to flow both outwards and inwards instead of
outwards only.
In the method as shewn at Figure 11 on the collar m² we fix the hollow cylinder T
in which the solid rod t fits. One end of this rod rests upon the inner casing N
so that when the piercer has pierced the ingot it comes in contact with the end of
the rod and the power behind the piercer causes this rod to overcome the tension
of the spring thus forming an automatic arrangement which prevents the end of
the piercer from being damaged. When using this arrangement in other cases
it is employed as a mould or ingot bottom which will automatically give way before
the piercer. The apparatus shewn at Figures 10 and 11 may be used by itself
only or in connection with the apparatus shewn at Figures 8 and 9. When we use
the apparatus shewn at Figures 10 and 11 in connection with the apparatus shewn
at Figures 8 and 9 we place the apparatus shewn at Figures 8 & 9 between the
billet under operation and the apparatus shewn at Figures 10 and 11. This part
of our invention is not essential but it eases the strain on the apparatus generally.
We have hitherto alluded to our process as applied to hot steel billets but it
must be understood that we can with equal advantage apply our processes to other
metals either in a hot or cold state according to the nature of the metal dealt with.
The tubes may or may not be afterwards drawn on a draw bench.
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
we claim is:
:
CLAIMS.
First Forming metal tubes from a hollow billet contained in a cylinder such
as A by imparting an intermittant motion to a piercer such as P which nips and
thereby squeezes the billet against the mouth of the die D or billet cylinder the said
billet being advanced by an intermittant or steady motion after the piercer has
been withdrawn in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described and as shewn
upon the accompanying drawings at Figures 1 and 2.
Second: Forming tubes from solid billets of metal by advancing the billet
against a piercer by an intermittant or steady motion the piercer advancing and
receeding by a jumping or intermittant motion substantially as explained for and
by the first claiming clause.
Third: Forming metal tubes from a hollow billet or partially formed tube
supported internally by the prolonged end of a piercer or plunger such as P by
imparting an intermittant motion to the said piercer which nips and thereby
reduces the thickness of the wall of the billet or partially formed tube by squeezing
it against the mouth of the die such as D or its equivalent the said billet being
advanced by an intermittant or steady motion after the piercer has been with drawn
in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described and as shewn on the accom-
panying drawings at Figures 3 and 4.
Fourth Forming metal tubes from a hollow billet or partially formed tube
by forcing the said hollow billet or partially formed tube preferably by an inter-
mittant motion into the trumpet shaped mouth of a die the said tube being then
further forced through the die by the plunge of a piercer or plunger which nips
and thins down the wall of the tube by squeezing it against the mouth of the die
or its equivalent in the manner substantially as herein before described and as
shewn on the accompanying drawings at Figures 5 6 and 7.
1
Fifth In machines for forming metal tubes the arrangement for saving metal
when the partially finished tube is nearly pierced consisting essentially of one.
two or more hollow cylinders, the inner cylinder or cylinders being held in position

page_text: by a cotter or cotters or equivalents and a solid rod or core fitted in the inner
cylinder when only one is used or in the innermost cylinder when more than one is
used and held in position by a cotter pin or its equivalent in the manner substan-
tially as herein before described and as shewn upon the accompanying drawings at
Figures 8 and 9.
Sixth-In machines for forming metal tubes the arrangement for reducing the
power necessary for thinning down the wall of the ingot or partially formed tube
and also for acting as a buffer for preventing breakages consisting essentially of a
spring under partial compression which spring is suitably held contained and inter-
posed between the pusher which is caused to urge the tube forward and the
hydraulic ram, or screw arrangement or other suitable source of power which is
the means of causing the pusher to urge the tube forward substantially as herein-
before described and as shewn upon the drawings at Figure 10.
Seventh-In machines for forming metal tubes the arrangement as shewn by
Figure 11 consisting essentially of a spring under partial compression which spring
acts only on the inner part of the pusher and which allows the said inner part of
the pusher to automatically yield before the advance of the piercer in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described.
•
Eighth The improvements in tubes manufactured by compressing the billet
into a hollow condition by the intermittant action of a piercer to be followed or
not by afterwards drawing the same on a draw bench to further finish it in the
manner substantially as herein before described and as shewn upon the accompany-
ing sheets of drawings.