Improvements in Making Parts of Pipe Couplings and Similar Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Parts of Pipe Couplings and Similar Articles.
We, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, and ROBERT BURNSIDE, of the same place, Foreman Brass-
finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows, that is
to say:
Our said Invention relates to parts of pipe couplings and similar articles such as
have hitherto generally been of cast brass or like alloy, and it has for its object to
improve the articles, to make them expeditiously, and to lessen their cost.
The Invention consists in making the articles of drawn brass or other suitable
tubing, and in forming required flanges, projections, or specially shaped parts on
them, by means of metal-spinning or analogous operations. In carrying out the
Invention, a turning lathe is employed, having a tubular mandril, through which the
tube to be formed into parts of couplings, such as "coupling tails," is passed. The
lathe chuck or inandril is fitted with a gripping device which holds the tube with a
portion projecting sufficiently for one coupling tail. On the lathe slide rest there is
arranged a tool or a turret or capstan head, provided with the succession of tools
required for the complete formation of the article. For one form of coupling tail
which has an external flange or annular projection near one end, the first operation is
by means of a conoidal tool acting on the inside of the tube end whilst made to rotate
rapidly, to impart a flared form. The flared part is next bended back on the tube by
an externally acting tool, and is subsequently shaped by suitable tools into the
required flange or annular projection.
According to another modification a similar form of article is produced by employ-
ing a movable tool having a central part which enters the tube, and an outer flange
with a groove between it and the central part. The extreme end of the tube enters
the groove; and at a suitable distance along the tube there is an external ring which
is fixed. The movable tool is pressed forcibly towards the lathe head, with the result.
that the metal of the tube between the fixed and movable rings or flanges is forced
outwards to form the required projection. The part of the tube to be thus forced
outwards may be a little expanded by a suitable tool prior to being acted on by the
parts hereinbefore described.
In some cases when extra power is required the tool or former may be pressed
towards the rotating piece or blank by means of an hydraulic cylinder or equivalent
apparatus. The machine may be arranged with the axis of rotation horizontal,
vertical, or inclined; and instead of forming the articles out of a tube, it may in some
cases be convenient to operate on short blanks.
Dated this First day of September 1896.

page_text: Improvements in Making Parts of Pipe Couplings and Similar Articles.
We, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, and ROBERT BURNSIDE, of the same place, Foreman Brass-
finisher, 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, that is to say:
Our said Invention relates to parts of pipe couplings and similar articles such as
have hitherto generally been of cast brass or like alloy, and it has for its object to
improve the articles, to make them expeditionsly and to lessen their cost.
The Invention consists in making parts of pipe couplings and similar articles of
drawn metal tubing and forming thereon flanges, projections, or other specially
shaped parts, by means of metal-spinning or analogous operations effected by
appliances, hereinafter described.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to be
hereinafter referred to, and showing some articles as made according to our Invention,
and also such portions of the appliances for producing them as are necessary to
explain them.
Figures, 1, 2, and 3, are sectional views of part of one example of a pipe coupling in
three stages of its production. Figures, 4, and 5, are sectional views of part of a
second example of pipe coupling in two stages of its production. Figures, 6, and 7,
are sectional views of a third and fourth example of pipe couplings as made according
to our Invention. Figure, 8, is a sectional elevation of special apparatus, adapted for
carrying out the Invention when great power is required. In these drawings the
same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated.
In carrying out the Invention a turning lathe is employed, having a tubular
mandril, through which the tube to be formed into parts of couplings, such as
"coupling tails" is passed. The lathe chuck or mandril is fitted with a gripping
device which holds the tube with a portion projecting sufficiently for one coupling
tail. On the lathe rest there is arranged a tool or a turret or capstan head, provided
with the succession of tools required for the complete formation of the article. For
one form of coupling tail, A, (shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3,) which has an external
flange or annular projection near one end, the first operation is by means of a conoidal
tool, B, (Figure 1,) acting on the inside of the tube end whilst made to rotate rapidly
to impart a flared form. The flared part is next bended back on the tube by an
externally acting tool, C, (Figure, 2) and is subsequently shaped by a suitable tool, D,
Figure, 3, into the required flange or annular projection, E.
According to another modification a similar form of article is produced by employ-
ing a movable tool, G, (Figures, 4, and 5) having a central part, H, which enters the
tube, A, and an outer flange, J, with a groove, K, between it and the central part.
The extreme end of the tube, A, enters the groove, K; and at a suitable distance
along the tube, A, there is an external ring, L, which is fixed. The movable tool, G,
is pressed forcibly towards the lathe head, with the result that the metal of the tube, A,
between the fixed ring, L, and the ring or flange, J, of the movable tool is forced
outwards to form the required projection. The part of the tube to be thus forced
outwards may be a little expanded by a suitable tool prior to being acted on by the
parts herein before described.
Figures, 6, and 7, show examples of pipe couplings which amongst others may be
manufactured by our improved process,

page_text: In some cases when extra power is required the tool or former, H, may as shown
in Figure, 8, be pressed towards the rotating piece or blank, A, by means of an
hydraulic cylinder M, or equivalent apparatus. The machine is arranged with the
axis of rotation vertical but it might be horizontal or inclined; and the shaft, N, to
which the tube is fixed is driven through bevel wheels, P, and a shaft, Q. by belting.
Instead of forming the articles out of drawn tubing it may in some cases be con-
venient to operate on short blanks in the form of short tubes of cast brass or like
alloy.
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:-
Making parts of pipe couplings and similar articles of drawn metal tubing or
short blanks and forming thereon flanges, projections or other specially shaped parts,
by means of metal-spinning or analogous operations effected by appliances
substantially such as are herein before described.
007
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.