IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR AND IN THE METHOD OF MAKING AS ALSO IN THE MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CYLINDERS, TUBES, AND OTHER VESSELS. FROM PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS OR FABRICS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Rhodes, of Old Ford Road, Bow, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MACHINERY FOR AND IN THE METHOD OF MAKING AS ALSO IN THE MATERIALS TO
BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CYLINDERS, TUBES, AND OTHER VESSELS.
FROM PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS OR FABRICS."
Sealed the 17th October 1862, and dated the 19th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Rhodes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th April 1862.
I, BENJAMIN RHODES, of Old Ford Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex,-
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MACHINERY FOR AND IN THE METHOD OF MAKING AS ALSO. IN. THE. MATERIALS TO
BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CYLINDERS, TUBES, AND OTHER VESSELS FROM.
PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS OR FABRICS," to be as follows:-
For the purpose of making cylinders or tubes of the ordinary diameters in.
common use, I mount within a frame two carriages, each. of which is formed
by two beams or arms fixed upon the ends of an axis or shaft.; the shaft of one.
of the carriages may either work in bearing pulleys and be worked back and
forward by means of a pinion or pinions taking into a rack or racks, or it
may otherwise be moved or caused to travel. back and. forward on the main
standards or framing of the machine. The other. carriage may be so arranged

page_text: as to vibrate up and down on its central axis or bearing shaft. Each carriage
has at the outer end of each side beam or arm a curved rack or other means
of raising and depressing it, whilst at the inner ends of the said beams a "gab"
or open bearing is provided for receiving the spindle or shaft of the mandril
or mould upon which the cylinder or tube is formed. When the paper
or other material is being wound around the core or mandril it may be sup-
ported in the "gabs" or bearings of the vibrating carriage only, or in the
"gabs" or bearings of both sets of carriages, at the same time and whilst the
process of winding-up or forming is progressing the cylinder or tube runs in
contact with a cylinder beneath as well as a cylinder above, and where the
machine is employed for making bitumenized paper pipes the lower cylinder
revolves in a bath of hot bitumen, and the upper roller is made hollow and
capable of rising with the increase of diameter, and by means of a cir-
culation of cold water within such roller the cooling of each layer may be
effected as the tube or cylinder is formed after the required diameter or
thickness has been attained; the moving or travelling carriage is caused to
withdraw the mandril or core with the cylinder or tube formed thereon, and
bring it under a second cooling and polishing cylinder or roller, the first
carriage being set free and ready for the formation of another tube or cylinder.
Instead of the sheet of paper or other fabric passing from the reel or roll into
the bitumen pan around a roller or guide, and so on to the mandril or core,
I mount two rollers or cylinders within the bitumen pan and regulate their
distance apart, as a means of governing the quantity of bitumen taken up by
the sheet, and also by increasing the diameter of the cylinders increase the
distance through which the paper must pass. These two cylinders or rollers
may be formed of fine wire gauze, so as to ensure the liquid bitumen coming
in contact with both sides of the paper that it may thoroughly penetrate and
fill the pores thereof. For the purpose of hardening the surface or surfaces,
..and also in some cases for increasing the adhesion, finely powered. sulphur
may be delivered on to the surface of the sheet either as it enters or passes
out from the bath. For making cylinders of large diameter, whether the same
are to be employed for tubes or other purposes, I mount two cylinders upon
the main framing of the machine, and the core or mandril is supported in
a carriage capable of sliding or traversing as the paper or fabric is wound
thereon. The surface of the paper or other fabric running against the
surface of one of the cylinders working in bearings mounted upon the
main framing, and this may be kept cool by the circulation of cold water.
When the cylinder or tube is completed the mandril or core upon which it is
formed is lifted out of the carriage or bearing into a corresponding pair of

page_text: bearings at the other end of the frame, where it may be polished and finished
by being caused to work in contact with the surface of the second revolving roller-
or cylinder, but if it be preferred to employ only one revolving cylinder instead
of two in the machine then the paper or other cylinder or tube may be polished
and finished on the opposite side of the revolving cylinder to that upon
which it was made or wound-up, the carriage supporting the core or mandril
being maintained in contact to give the required pressure by means of springs
or counterweights. Instead of the paper or fabric being passed into and
through one bitumen pan or through a bath of bitumen of one density or
consistency, I prefer for the purpose of more thoroughly saturating the
sheet to be wound up or formed into a cylinder or tube to pass it first through
a bath of very thin or fluid bitumen or solution, and again before it is wound
on to the mandril passing it over a cylinder within a bath of bitumen of greater
consistency. A convenient mode of effecting this in connection with the
machinery or apparatus for making cylinders or tubes of large diameter, is by
constructing a large bath above the level of the machine, and mounting within
it two rollers of the same or different diameters, and passing the sheet from the
roll under the first cylinder half round it and up to and over the second
cylinder, from whence it may pass on a level on to the core or mandril; a
smaller bath being mounted beneath the mandril, and a "ductor" (or
doctor) roller, revolving freely therein, by which the thicker bitumen or mastic
is applied to the under side of the paper or other cylinder in course of
making. Instead however of the second bitumen bath being so placed it
may be in the same line or level as the first bath, or a single bath or vessel
may be formed with a partition between for holding the two qualities of
bitumen, and a cooling and pressing roller may be applied on the under side of
the mandril or core. For the purpose of cutting the sheet at the proper
time when the cylinder or tube has been formed, I mount a series of curved
blades upon a bar and connect them together, so that by one stroke the whole
of the knives which extend across the width of the sheet are caused to cut
simultaneously, leaving the edge of the sheet ready for again commencing work;
the cutting apparatus being mounted as close to the mandril or core as
practicable. For the purpose of squaring the ends of finished tubes, as also
for the purpose of forming collars or "muffle-pieces," I mount upon a rocking
bar a series of holders or carriages into which knives or cutters are fitted and
secured by means of screws or keys, the distance between the holders or
carriages being also capable of adjustment upon the rocking bar, so that the
position of the knife or cutter is regulated and their listance apart capable of
adjustment. For the purpose of joining or securing the ends of pipes or

page_text: tubes formed as herein described, I open out or "bell mouth "the ends, having
first warmed them and either fit in a double cone thimble piece having coated
the ends with hot bitumen and then draw over it a "muffle" filling the
interstices with liquid bitumen, or after the ends have been lipped over or bell-
shaped, I put on round wire rings or collars and behind these bring up plates
or flat collars having bolts and nuts passing through them, by which the two
ends are brought together; thus the joints may be made, and an uniform
pressure applied thereto, and by suitable adjustment any variation in the angle
of the joint may be produced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Rhodes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
RHODES, of Old Ford Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Benjamin Rhodes, Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin
Rhodes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Benjamin Rhodes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR AND IN THE METHOD OF MAKING AS ALSO IN THE
MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CYLINDERS, TUBES, AND OTHER
VESSELS FROM PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS OR FABRICS," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said Benjamin Rhodes, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Rhodes, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
For the purpose of making cylinders or tubes of the ordinary diameters
in common use, I mount within a frame two carriages, each of which, is formed
by two beams or arms fixed upon the ends of an axis or shaft. The shaft of
one of the carriages may either work in bearing pulleys, and be worked back
and forward by means of a pinion or pinions taking into a rack or racks, or it
may otherwise be moved or caused to travel back and forward in the main
standards or framing of the machine; the other carriage may be so arranged
as to vibrate up and down on its central axis or bearing shaft. Each carriage.
has at the outer end of each side beam or arm, a curved rack or other means
of raising and depressing it, whilst at the inner ends of the said beams a "gab"
or open bearing is provided for receiving the spindle or shaft of the mandril
or mould upon which the cylinder or tube is formed. When the paper or
other material is being wound around the core or mandril it may be supported
in the "gabs" or bearings of the vibrating carriage only, or in the "gabs" or,
bearings of both sets of carriages at the same time, and whilst the process of
winding up or forming is progressing the cylinder or tube runs in contact,
with a cylinder beneath as well as a cylinder above; and where the machine is
employed for making bitumenized paper pipes, the lower cylinder revolves in a
bath of hot bitumen, and the upper roller is made hollow and capable of rising.
with the increase of diameter, and by means of a circulation of cold water
within such roller the cooling of each layer inay be effected as the tube or.
cylinder is formed. After the required diameter or thickness has been attained
the moving or travelling carriage is caused to withdraw the mandril or core.
with the cylinder or tube formed thereon, and bring it against a second
cooling and polishing cylinder or roller, the first carriage being set free and;
ready for the formation of another tube or cylinder. Instead of the sheet of
paper or other fabric passing from the reel or roll into the bitumen pan around.
a roller or guide, and so on to the mandril or core, I mount two rollers or
cylinders within the bitumen pan, and regulate their distance apart as a means;
of governing the quantity of bitumen taken up by the sheet, and also by
increasing the diameter of the cylinders, increase the distance through which.
the paper must pass. These two cylinders or rollers may be formed of fine.
wire gauze, so as to ensure the liquid bitumen coming in contact with both
sides of the paper, that it may thoroughly penetrate and fill the pores thereof.
For the purpose of hardening the surface or surfaces, and also in some cases for
increasing the adhesion, finely powdered sulphur may be delivered on to the
surface of the sheet, either as it enters or passes out from the bath. . For

page_text: making cylinders of large diameter, whether the same are to be employed for
tubes or other purposes, I mount two cylinders upon the main framing of the
machine, and the core or mandril is supported in a carriage capable of sliding
or traversing as the paper or fabric is wound thereon. The surface of the
paper or other fabric running against the surface of one of the cylinders
working in bearings mounted upon the main framing, and this may be kept
When the cylinder or tube is completed,
formed is allowed to pass out of the
cool by the circulation of cold water.
the mandril or core upon which it is
carriage or bearing into a corresponding pair of bearings at the other end of
the frame, where it may be polished and finished by being caused to work.in
contact with the surface of the second revolving roller or cylinder, but if it be
preferred to employ only one revolving cylinder instead of two in the front
part of the machine, then the paper or other cylinder or tube may be polished
and finished on the opposite side of the revolving cylinder to that upon which
it was made or wound up, the carriage supporting the core or mandril being
maintained in contact to give the required pressure by means of springs or
counterweights. Instead of the paper or fabric being passed into and through
one bitumen pan, or through a bath of bitumen of one density or consistency,
I prefer for the purpose of more thoroughly saturating the sheet to be wound
up or formed into a cylinder or tube, to pass it- first through a bath of very
thin or fluid bitumen or solution, and again before it is wound on to the
mandril I prefer to pass it over a cylinder within a bath of bitumen of greater
consistency. A convenient mode of effecting this in connection with the
machinery or apparatus for making cylinders or tubes of large diameter is by
constructing a large bath above the level of the machine, and mounting within.
it two rollers of the same or different diameters, and passing the sheet from
the roll under the first cylinder, half round it, and up to and over the second
cylinder from whence it may pass on a level on to the core or mandril. A.
smaller bath being mounted beneath the mandril, and a "ductor" (or doctor)
roller revolving freely therein, by which the thicker bitumen or mastic is
applied to the under side of the paper or other cylinder in course of making.
Instead, however, of the second bitumen bath being so placed it may be in the
same line or level as the first bath, or a single bath or vessel may be formed
with a partition between for holding the two qualities of bitumen, and a cooling
and pressing roller may be applied on the under side of the mandril or core.
For the purpose of cutting the sheet at the proper time when the cylinder or
tube has been formed, I mount a series of curved blades upon a bar and
connect them together, so that by one stroke the whole of the knives which
extend across the width of the sheet, are caused to cut simultaneously, leaving

page_text: the edge of the sheet ready for again commencing work, the cutting apparatus
being mounted as close to the mandril or core as practicable. For the
purpose of squaring the ends of finished tubes as also for the purpose of forming
collars or "muffle" pieces from long pipes, I mount upon a rocking bar a
series of holders or carriages, into which knives or cutters are fitted and
secured by means of screws or keys, the distance between the holders or
carriages being also capable of adjustment upon the rocking bar, so that the
position of the knife or cutter is regulated and their distances apart capable
of adjustment. For the purpose of jointing or securing the ends of pipes or
tubes formed as herein described, I open out or "bell-mouth" the ends,
having first warmed them, and either fit in a double cone thimble piece,.
having coated the ends with hot bitumen, and then draw over it a "muffle,"
filling the interstices with liquid bitumen; or after the ends have been lipped
over or bell-shaped, I put on round wire rings or collars, and behind these
bring up plates or flat collars, having bolts and nuts passing through them, by
which the two ends are brought together; thus the joints may be made and
a uniform pressure applied thereto, and by suitable adjustment any variation
in the angle of the joint may be produced. Instead of mounting two carriages
distinct and separate in the manner herein-before previously described, I
prefer to mount one of the vibrating frames with its roller above the main
cylinder at the one end (the front end) of the main framing, and instead of a
rack or travelling frame for transporting the tube and its mandril from the.
one end of the machine to the other, I connect the front and back parts of the.
machine by means of rails or bars inclined downward from the front part to
the back part of the machine, and by means of compound "jaws" the
mandril may be released from the vibrating frame at one end, allowed to roll
down to the back part of the machine, and there be held or secured, so that
it may revolve in contact with the finishing roller; and instead of the travelling.
carriage herein-before previously referred to, the incline rails reaching from
the front to the back part of the machine may be substituted therefor.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn an arrangement of machinery
according to my present Invention, which is capable of being applied to the.
manufacture of cylinders, tubes, or pipes from the smallest to the largest size,
by an adjustment or re-adjustment of the parts of such machinery. A is an.
octagonal roller upon which the sheet of paper or other fabric is wound.
is a wrought-iron pan having furnaces underneath, with flues arranged so as
to distribute the heat to every part of the bottom and sides of the pan; the
parts immediately over the fires are protected with fire tiles to prevent the
plates from burning. B is an iron cylinder or roller so fixed as to be about
a

page_text: one-half its diameter within the pan; this cylinder is open at the ends and is
perforated in its surface to admit of the bitumen passing through it, and so
come in contact with the side of the sheet of paper next its surface. b, b, a
pair of arms working on axles & attached to the main framing of the machine
and capable of being adjusted by means of set screws; these arms are made
with jaws at the ends immediately over the centre of bitumen roller B and
made to open and shut by means of small levers and eccentrics, c, the
opposite ends of the arms have curved racks d, which are set out or struck
from the working centre. A pair of pinions e, keyed on a shaft or bar running
through from side to side of the machine, are inade to gear into the racks,
and by means of a pair of hand wheels f, f, the arms b, b, are raised or lowered
at pleasure. C is the mandril or core upon which the pipe is to be made;
the size of the mandril may be varied according to the diameter of pipe
required to be made; each mandril may, when required, be provided with a
moveable conical collar as marked g, of larger diameter than the mandril, for
the purpose of making pipes with taper or conical sockets or faucetts. The
large cylinder B may also be fitted with a moveable piece at the end, of a
corresponding shape to the coñical piece on the mandril; this is made in
sections so as to be easily removeable. Dis a hollow cylinder or roller held
in position at each end by means of lever bearings, and is raised and lowered
by means of chains attached, and passing round the shaft g as shewn. The
cylinder, or roller D, has hollow axles, and by means of a flexible tube a
current of cold water may be passed through it to keep it cool; this is the
pressure roller before referred to, and is intended to be used in the manu-
facture of small pipes or tubes to prevent the mandrils from springing, by
E is what I call
resting thereon while the pipe is being wound or coiled up.
a gauging roller, it is supported by a rocking bark and arms or levers 1, and
is made to press against the large cylinder B by means of springs or their
equivalents; the workman, by placing his foot upon a lever m communicating
with the rocking bar supporting the roller, can put it out of contact while
the end of the sheet is being brought up to the upper surface of the large
cylinder B, on starting to coil the pipes. F is a polished hollow cylinder
mounted in bearings on the main framing; it is provided with an occasional
supply of cold water passing through the inside of the same, and is made to
revolve at a slow speed by means of bevil wheels communicating with the
main shaft G, upon which similar gear is fitted for setting in motion the large
cylinder B, the shaft of which is fitted with a clutch wheel n at the end
nearest the main shaft, and is thrown in and out by means of a lever having a
stud working in a groove in the said clutch. The opposite end of the shaft

page_text: G has also a spur wheel o of the same diameter as the large cylinder, but
keyed on and geared into wheels partly supported by the said shaft, and partly
by the main framing of the machine by means of links p, and an axle which
can be moved up and down in a slot q, so as to gear into and set in motion
the spur wheel on the end of each mandril irrespective of the size of same;
and by this means the increase of diameter is compensated for, while the pipe
is being coiled or wound around the mandrils. His a rocking bar supported
by the main framing of the machine; it has a number of arms r, r, so fitted
as to slide upon it, and which are capable of adjustment by means of set
screws; each arm has a slot at the end, in which a knife is held by means of
set screws, so that they can be readily removed for the purpose of sharpening;
the uses of these knives being to square or cut off the irregular ends of the
pipes as they revolve against the cooling cylinder F, and by adjustment to cut
pipes into short lengths or collars if required. The bar H is so arranged that
the workman at the machine by placing his foot upon a levers can bring up
the knives in contact with the revolving pipe. I, I, are two bars set, slightly
on the incline, and are capable of adjustment by nuts and screws according to
the size of pipes, being made so that the mandril C being released from the
jaws b, b, will revolve by its own weight until it arrives at the cooling and
polishing cylinder F; two small bearings J, J, are fixed on the inclined
planes I, I, and by means of studs or axles can be turned up and held by
springs, thus keeping the mandril firmly held against the cooling and polishing
cylinder F. K is a small cooling roller or cylinder supported on two jaws u, u,
keyed on the rocking bar t and supported in the main framing. It is only
required to be used in the manufacture of cylinders of very large diameter.
Immediately under the paper roll is placed an apparatus containing a number
of steel cutters or knives v, fixed on a straight bar, and by means of a rod
having studs inserted which drop into small slots at right angles with the
knives, the whole series of them are thrown in and out by a stroke of the
sliding rod, either backwards or forwards, and coming in contact shearwise
with a straight bar having a sharp cutting edge placed immediately behind
the paper, or sheet of material, which is then readily cut.
Mode of working the machine shown in the accompanying Drawing.-In
commencing to make a pipe, a mandril is coated with soap or grease to
prevent the bitumen sticking; it is then placed in the jaws B, B, and the
sheet of paper or other material is brought down from the roll A, the end
passing between the cutting bars L, is then stuck to the large cylinder B,
which being gently turned by the workman brings up the end of the sheet
through the bath of melted bitumen, and presents it on the upper surface

page_text: immediately under the mandril, which being pressed upon it catches up the
paper, and the rollers being set in motion the process of coiling goes on. If
the pipe being made is a small one, the top pressure roller or cylinder is
brought down upon it, and by its weight the mandril is kept from springing,
and each coil is pressed close until a sufficient length of material is wound
thereon, which may be measured by a counter or apparatus fixed on the
paper roller. The workmen then puts the knives into operation, and so cuts
off the sheet from the paper roll, leaving the end ready to renew the operation
as before; the mandril is allowed to revolve a few moments and then the
jaws are opened, which liberates the mandril and allows it to run down the
inclines I, I, until it comes in contact with the cooling and polishing cylinder
F. Sand or fine gravel may then be scattered or sifted on to the surface of
the pipe and pressed into the soft bitumenous coating. The small lever
bearings J, J, are then turned up against the spindle of the mandril, and by
means of springs are held so as to press it against the cooling and polishing
cylinders. The mandril is then lifted by means of a crane and taken hold of
by a crab placed immediately over a well of cold water into which it is
lowered, and when sufficiently cool is then raised, the upper end being guided
between a pair of iron brackets, having slots for adjustment for the different
sized mandrils; the end of the pipe coming in contact with the brackets, the
mandril is withdrawn; while this is being done, the operation of winding is
being renewed at the front of the machine, and thus the process is almost
continuous. The pipes are then washed to cleanse them from the grease.
In the accompanying Drawing of the machinery, I have shown the rollers
and cylinders with conical additions at their ends for forming the ends of the
-pipes corresponding thereto, but for making plain or parallel tubes those
would not be used, and they may be removed.
In making pipes taper, or of different thicknesses, the paper or sheet of
material is gradually or proportionately reduced in width before it is wound
on.
Instead of bitumen being employed alone in the bath or pan for coating
and saturating the paper or other material, I employ the distilled gas tar in
combination therewith, or I form a mastic with bitumen and any convenient
liquid capable of resisting the action of water and air, and I thicken it or
give it the requisite consistency by adding argillaceous matter.
Having described my Invention, I claim,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of parts of the machinery
or apparatus herein described, and also as shown in the accompanying
Drawing and as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Second, the use or employment of one or more perforated cylinders or
rollers, or a cylinder composed of wire gauze covering, revolving in a bath of
bitumen or its equivalent, for the purpose of ensuring the more thorough
saturation and coating of the material employed for forming pipes, tubes, or
cylinders.
Third, the employment of inclined planes for conveying the mandrils from
one part of the machine to another, by which the pipe is kept revolving, and
which entirely prevents the hot bitumen from draining down or sagging to
one side of the pipe or tube.
Fourth, the use or employment of cold water circulating through the top
pressure roller, and the cooling and polishing cylinder of pipe making
machines.
Fifth, the use and application of knives of the description and in the
manner shown, for cutting off the sheet of paper or other material employed
for making pipes or tubes.
Sixth, the use or employment of the guaging roller E in the said machine,
by which all the superfluous bitumen is pressed off the sheet of paper or
other fabric, thus giving a uniform thickness notwithstanding any variation in
the temperature of the bitumen.
Seventh, the arrangement of knives or cutters for squaring the ends of
pipes, and also for cutting pipes into short lengths for making collars and for
other purposes, within the machine in which the pipe has been made as herein
described and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Rhodes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
T. E. GURNEY GORE.
BENJAMIN RHODES. (L.S.)