Flexible Tubing.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Flexible Tubing.
I ARTHUR FRENCH ST. GEORGE of Redhill in the County of Surrey, Electrician
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the construction of a flexible tube of metal or other
material for the purposes of conveyance of air gas water and other liquids and fluids
through it and which shall be capable of containing and retaining the same under
considerable pressure of the liquid or gas within it and of resisting external
atmospheric or other pressure from without.
In order to accomplish my invention I take a sufficient number of rings of suitable
material and as hereinafter described I make them of such shape and I group and
couple them together with intermediate washers so as to form of a whole a tube of
great flexibility and resiliency and of considerable strength and not liable to leak or
to become deranged whilst in use for instance as water or gas flexible tubing.
According to my invention I provide each alternate ring of the series at each side
with a flange of sufficient width to lay against it an elastic or pliant washer of rubber
or other material each flange being at a right angle or lesser or greater angle to the
horizontal axis of a length of the completely manufactured tubing (composed of many
rings in a series) laid on a horizontal plane. Both flanges of each alternate ring
turn outwards at an angle as described.
Between each couple of these alternate rings I arrange a ring of different shape
such ring having a flange on each side turned inwards at such an angle to the axis
before named that it envelopes the flange on one side of one of the alternate rings
hereinbefore described. Within this intermediate ring I place a suitable annular
washer and by means of a pressing or shaping or spinning or other device I press or
shape one flange of this ring all-around so as to forin and place it of or at an angle
corresponding to the angle of the flange of the alternate ring which it envelopes and=
retains beside it the flanges of the two rings respectively so arranged and united being
laid flat against or nearly so against each other. The other flange of the intermediato
ring I treat and arrange in respect and relation to the other alternate ring the same as
the first flange as described and so on I arrange in a continuous series rings of same
shape alternating with intermediate rings of the other shape as described. The whole
series of rings thus combined form a tube with a flexible joint at each junction of the
rings the intervening washer within each intermediate ring and laid against and
between the flanges of the alternate rings forming a luting or packing of each joint
and rendering the joint elastic and pliable.
In order to accomplish the shaping to and fitting together of the rings as described
I prefer to employ a revolving axle or mandrel. Upon this mandrel I arrange the
rings and washers in the order and manner herein before described and I shape the
intermediate ring to and over the alternate ring as described by pressing against its
flange a suitable tool such as is ordinarily well understood and used in the art termed
"métal spinning" in such manner as to shape it to the required angle and make it
lap over and lie against the neighbouring flange of the alternate ring next to it as and
for the purposes described.
In order according to my invention to construct flexible tubing for resisting
especially external pressure or rough usage I employ rings of outward curved section
and for resisting internal pressure especially the reverse curved section both for the
purpose of affording extra strength in the required direction.
According to my invention 1 do not confine myself to the use of flat flanges upon
the rings forming the tubing as curved bent finted or corrugated flanges may be used
neither do I confine myself to the turning either inwards or outwards of the respective

page_text: different ring flanges and sometimes I combine in a series more than two descriptions
of different rings.
Sometimes employ an extra ring arranged within around or beside the elastic
washer.
Sometimes I employ split rings combined and held in proper position and shape by
means of enveloping rings or sleeves or other suitable devices rendering them secure
at the points of dissection.
Dated this 5th day of March 1889.
ARTHUR FRENCH ST. GEORGE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Flexible Tubing.
I ARTHUR FRENCH ST. GEORGE of Redhill in the County of Surrey Electrician
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 has for its object the construction of a flexible tube of metal or other
material for the purposes of conveyance of air gas water and other liquids and fluids
through it and capable of containing and retaining the same under considerable
pressure of the liquid or gas within it and of resisting external atmospheric or other
pressure from without. In order to accomplish my invention 1 take a sufficient
number of rings of metal or other suitable material as as hereinafter described I make
them of such shape and group and so couple them together with intermediate washers
as to form of a whole a tube of great flexibility and resiliency and of considerable
strength and not liable to leak or to become deranged whilst in use for instance as
water or gas tubing or hose. According to my invention I provide each alternate
ring of the series at each side with a flange of sufficient width to lay against it an
elastic or pliant washer of rubber or other material each flange being at a right angle
(or lesser or greater angle) to the horizontal axis of a length of the completely manu-
factured tube (composed of many rings in a series) laid on a horizontal plano. Both
flanges of each alternate ring (a, a' in Fig. 1) turn outwards at an angle as described
(and shewn in Fig. 1. at a right angle). Between each couple of these alternate rings
arrange a ring of different shape see Fig. 1. at b. The ring b I slip over the
adjacent flanges of a, a¹ having an elastic washer C placed between them and while
the ring is in the position shewn in Fig. 1 I press over or shape its edges (by
means of a pressing, shaping, spinning or other device) in such manner as to cause
it to envelope and retain the flanges of a, a¹ and the annular washer c within it, see
Figs. 2 and 3. In this manner I arrange a continuous series of rings to form a
length of tubing. In order to accomplish the shaping or pressing over and fitting
together of the rings as described I prefer to employ a revolving axle or mandrel.
Upon this mandrel I arrange the rings and washers as described and I shape and
press the intermediate or enveloping ring (c in Figs. 1, 2, 3) to and over the alternate
rings as described by pressing against its edges a suitable tool (such for instance as
is ordinarily well understood and used in the art termed "metal spinning") in such
manner as to shape its edges to the required angle and make them lap over and press
against the flanges of a, a as described. According to my invention I do not confine
myself to any particular method of laying the edges or flanges of the rings over each
other but in all cases 1 shape or press them over while in the proper position for com-
bining them into a tube.
And I do not confine myself to the use of flat flanges or edges upon the rings
forming a tube as various shapes such as curved, bent, fluted or corrugated flanges
within and without may according to my invention be used. Neither do I confine
myself to the turning either inwards or outwards of the respective ring flanges or
edges and sometimes according to my invention I employ only rings of similar shape
which I place in proper position and then press shape or lay their respective flanges

page_text: or edges over each other with or without an elastic washer within the overlapping
parts. Figs. 4, 5, 8 are in illustration of different forms of rings and tubing con-
structed according to my invention the edges or flanges 61 61 61 &c. in each figure
being laid over to the shape and angle shewn after placing the rings in position.
Sometimes I combine in a series more than two descriptions of rings and sometimes I
employ extra rings or washers of metal or other material arranged within around or
beside the elastic washer. In order according to my invention to construct flexible
tubing for resisting especially external pressure (or rough usage) I employ rings
of an outward curved section and for resisting internal pressure especially the
reverse curved section both for the purpose of affording extra strength in the required
direction.
Sometimes I employ split rings combined and held in proper position and shape
by means of an enveloping ring or sleeve pressed shaped or laid over at its edges
while the rings within are in proper position to be thereby enveloped and retained in
position by the process of pressing or shaping or laying over of the edges of the
sleeve or ring. Heat may be employed to soften such materials as zinc, ebonite,
gutta percha, solidified oil, compounds &c. to assist in the process of shaping, pressing
spinning or laying over of the rings or flanges or edges according to my invention
as described.
Elliptic rings and washers may be employed to construct an elliptic tube according
to my invention or any other shape may be adopted as desired.
According to my invention I sometimes press the flanges or edges over by means
of metal jaws caused to close over the ring with increasing tightness and so forming
the flange or edge as to enable it to completely envelope and grasp the parts
enclosed substantially as hereinbefore described.
And I sometimes hammer the flanges or edges over to the required shape and
position. Washers of rubber or solidified oil elastic composition or other similar
inaterial or of metal or numerous inetallic wires or of gut or cord may according to my
invention be employed to form a luting to the joints of the tubing or to impart the
required degree of flexibility and resiliency or stiffness.
Figure 6 represents a hand tool provided with a hard flanged roller of steel or other
material which being pressed upon the ring in Fig. 3 imparts a finish to the laying
over process and ensures regularity of the joints when there are many in series
forming a considerable length of tubing. Figure 7 represents a roller for treating one
side only of the ring b at once as described.
Figure 8 represents a length of tubing constructed according to my invention by
laying the edges of the rings a, a, a, a, a, a, a, over while in position at such an
angle as to each other and enclose the elastic washers c, c &c. I prefer to employ
grip
stamped or spun" metal rings.
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 a flexible tube of metal or other material the combination of rings of similar
or dissimilar shape or of rings with washers of elastic material by shaping forming
spinning or laying the flanges or edges over or against each other substantially as
described.
Dated this 6th day of January 1890.