Process and Apparatus for the Construction of Seamless Connecting Sockets for Tubes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
Process and Apparatus for the Construction of Seamless Connecting
Sockets for Tubes.
We, RICHARD BERTHOLD, and SALOMAN LOWENSTEIN, both of 117 Zwickauer-
strasse, Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire, Manufacturers,
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:
The object of the present invention consists of a process and apparatus for
the construction of connecting sockets for tubes of all kinds and especially for the
frame tubes of cycles from a single piece of sheet metal, and in such a manner that
there is no seam at any point of the connections thus formed. These connecting
pieces can moreover be constructed according to our process of any desired
angle.
In the accompanying drawing is shown such a piece in its progressive stages
of construction from a circular piece of metal up to the completed form ready
for use and partly in elevation, partly in section, and partly in perspectiva
view.
In addition to these illustrations the same drawing shows moreover the
necessary tools partly in elevation and partly in section, and special parts thereof
for greater clearness also in side view or as seen from above.
The first step of the process consists in stamping by means of the stamp S and
the matrix M a circular disc 1 out of a sheet of metal of suitable strength and
composition. This disc 1 is then drawn out by means of a drawing press the
stamp of which possesses the shape shown at S and its matric the shape M.
Thereby is formed the short cap 2. This piece 2 next receives by means of the
apparatus M3 $3 the second form and is converted into a longer cap 4 with a
hemispherical bottom. The said piece 4 is then placed over a matrix M' which
is secured interchangeably in the horizontal position by means of the screws and
adjustable in the longitudinal direction upon the plate P. Between the said plate
and the matrix is inserted a piece which is suitably provided with an adjusting
slot in order that it may serve in the case of caps 4 of different lengths as the
support for the matrix M placed nearest to the pressure point.
The matrix M is provided with a perforation o corresponding to the spike of
the stamp S, so that a hole i can be perforated in the cap 4 (see cap 5). This
cap 5 is then placed over the bent up part of the matrix M5 specially shaped to
correspond to the angle desired to be formed and which matrix is secured inter-
changeably and adjustably upon a base plate P in a similar manner to the
matrix M
The bent up portion of the matrix M5 terminates in a boss K which entirely
fills the bottom of the cap 5, whilst the matrix itself is of somewhat smaller
diameter, so that the cap 5 when placed over the same takes the position shown
in the drawing.
By means of the stamp $5 shown in section, in elevation and in top view in the
drawing, the cap 5 has imparted to it whilst in a heated state such pressure that
it assumes the shane 6.

page_text: The connecting socket is now constructed by the pressing and is subjected to
a further series of operations.
✓
A shaping mould is then made use of which consists of two equal parts G G¹,
and is provided with the holes g¹ corresponding to the diameter of the cap 6,
and which holes are exactly at the requisite angle the one to the other which is
required by the tubes to be connected.
The cap 6 is now placed in the heated state in the space g in such a manner
that its enlargement comes to lie in the space g and the hole is directed towards
the opening of this hole. The expanding tool or swage A, of which a indicates
the broad side and the profile is now inserted in the hole g and the hole i is
thereby enlarged by hand labour or mechanical means in such a manner that the
cap receives the shape 7. By means of the tool. B whereof e indicates the broad
side and d the profile the hole i is further enlarged in the same manner, (see
-shape 8). In this angle 8 there is then bored a hole h, for the case in which
instead of uniting only two tube ends, a single tube end at a given point is to be
connected to a second tube (see socket 9)..
L.
The said socket 9 is again heated and inserted in the shaping mould-G-G¹ and
the hole is expanded by means of the tool A from the opposite opening of the
hole g in such a manner that the socket receives the shape 10. Thereupon. the
same is further expanded or equalised by means of two tools the boring breadth
of which corresponds to the desired internal diameter of the said connecting
'socket.
The three openings of the tube socket thus produced are then carefully filed off
and the socket is ready for the screwing (see number 11). These sockets can
however also be used for cycles and the like without a screw thread and be caused
to hold the ends of the tubes by friction. It is moreover unimportant whether
the process described be carried out by means of hand tools or by mechanical
'means by special machinery; in each case the above described and herein
illustrated means form the essential elements of these tools. It is moreover un-
important whether the shaping mould G G¹ be held together by means of screws,
whether it be compressed mechanically, or whether its two parts G G¹ form the
jaws of the pincers.
This process has the advantage that tube connecting sockets with connecting
points at any desired angle the one to the other can be constructed upon the same
principle. Tube sockets so constructed have the advantage over all other sockets
that they consist of a single piece without any seam whatever.
These sockets are consequently firstly much stronger than the tube socket
connections at present usually in use for cycles, of which a specimen is shown in
Figure 12 of the accompanying drawing, and which complicate the construction
of the cycle considerably because of their seams and because they must be brazed
together with the frame. As the brazing is obviated by the use of tube sockets
constructed as above a great saving in cost is effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. Process and apparatus for the production of seamless tube connecting sockets
from a single piece of metal, characterised by the conversion of a stamped out
circular metal blank by the successive application of several consecutive shaping
presses into a corresponding wide socket with hemispherical bottom, in which the
elongated slot is cut by means of a corresponding tool, the surrounding part of
which is then pressed out by means of especially shaped matrices and stamps
whilst the socket is in a heated state, and is widened to the shape of a tube socket
of the requisite diameter between suitable moulds consecutively by means of
swages or tools of suitable size, whereupon a hole may be bored upon the opposite
side of the socket and the surrounding part thereof be shaped in similar or the
like manner to an opposite connecting socket hole and finally the tubular angle

page_text: socket thus formed can be rendered uniform inside by means of tools of precision
and the openings thereof filed smooth whilst the same is held firmly by the
clamps or moulds, pressed into the desired angle, and rendered uniform in shape
on the outside.
2. The improved tubular sockets for cycles and the like constructed substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dal 11:01 1
c
1
1007
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicants.