Year: 1886

page_text: and owner Tube8.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E. of the firm of Cruikshank and Fairweather,
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Fellows of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
(as communicated to me from abroad by The Babcock and Wilcox Company, of
New York City in the United States of America, Steam Boiler Manufacturers),
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the punching of holes in the sides of tubes and
imparting thereto a. polygonal or other form in cross section to adapt the tubes
for use mainly as headers for sectional steam generators,.and it consists of improve-
ments in machines for simultaneously effecting these operations.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate several modifications of the
improved machines figures 1 and 3, on sheet 1 are end elevations and figures 2
and 4 side views of one form of machine for forming and punching polygonal
tubes. On sheet 2 figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and end views of a
modified form of machine, figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the mandrel used in
the combined operations of forming and punching the tubes, and figure 4 is a
longitudinal section of the same and a pair of formers and punches. On sheet 3,
figure 1 is a side view partly in section and figure 2 an end elevation of a machine
suitably modified to adapt it for punching holes at intervals apart in opposite sides
of a cylindrical or other form of tube.
Referring to the machine shown on sheet 1 of the drawings A represents four
rollers journalled in a frame work, with their axis at right angles to each other,
each roller being fitted with meshing mitre gearing for producing a simultaneous
motion, (shown in Figure 2).
The working faces of the respective rollers are parallel with their axes and their
size and diameter conformed to the intermediate space shown at a, Figure 1, for
the reception and formation of the size of tube.desired.
24

page_text: Around the periphery of the working faces of the rollers a series of projecting
punches c, are fixed at such distances apart as required to produce holes through
the flattened sides of the blank as it is passed between them.
A square mandrel is provided, constructed with dies upon each of its sides for
the reception of the punches as they pass through the blank.
In Figs. 3 and 4, of sheet 1, a modification of my invention is shown, consisting
of four segments A¹, pivoted to a frame work as shown at b, and arranged at right
angles to each other, their working faces being provided with projecting punches c,
and the mandrel carrying the blank provided with corresponding dies, the same as
referred to in reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
In operation, a cylindrical tube blank is slipped over the mandrel which is fed
between the rollers or segments as shown in Fig. 4, which produces a polygonal
shape of the blank in cross-section, and holes are subsequently punched through
its flattened sides as the mandrel is advanced.
The application of power, for operating the mandrel, may consist of a connected
rack and pinion, as shown for example, in Fig. 2, or other well known means, and
a sectional mandrel may also be employed as hereinafter described in connection
with another machine for accomplishing the same purpose.
Referring to the machine shown in sheet 2, of the drawings A, represents four
pressure beams or formers arranged in the present instance in opposite parts at
right angles and adapted to form, in conjunction with a suitable mandrel, a
rectangular tube from a cylindrical blank.
The formers A, may be constructed in substantially the form shown in Fig. 1,
and provided with trusses a, or other means, to prevent springing under extra-
ordinary pressure.
Each former is suspended by toggles C, pivotted thereto, and to the frame
work b, of the machine, the relative position of the toggles when the formers are
open radiating from a centre line drawn parallel with the formers between them,
as shown in Fig. 1.
D, represents a follower fitted in guide-ways, and capable of a reciprocating
movement by any suitably applied power.
The face of the follower D, is connected with the four pressure formers A, so
that, when moved forward in the direction indicated by the arrow, it gives a
corresponding longitudinal movement to the formers.
The latter being suspended to the toggles C, are also moved radially, and
thereby closed upon the mandrel.
The outer ends of the toggles C, are pivotted on the four sides of square rings d,
as shown in Fig. 2, the rings d, being made round in cross-section, so that the
toggles may swing thereon.
In the operation of squaring a cylindrical blank a mandrel of the desired size is
placed therein, and the two between the pressure formers, so that, by a forward
movement of the follower D, and resutant radial movement of the formers A, the
blank will be flattened on its four sides, a return movement of the follower
causing the formers to open and relieve the pressure on the blank. The mandrel
may now be removed and a sectional mandrel E, substituted, as shown in section
in Fig. 3.
This mandrel E, is composed of bevelled parts h, arranged around a central
core &, and made capable of a longitudinal movement on said core.
The sections or parts h, are constructed with recesses k, on their inner surfaces,
and the core i, with corresponding projections m, that mesh therein, each being
formed with an inclined side as shown in Fig. 4, so that by a longitudinal movement
of the sections h, the projections m, may be disengaged.
'
For the purpose offecting a longitudinal movement of the sections h, I pivot a
cam lever n, upon the core i, as shown in Fig. 1, and introduce a sleeve
0, in
contact with the working face of the cam lever, and also connect the sleeve with
the sections or parts h, of the mandril, so that, by operating the cam lever the
recesses k, in the sections of parts.h, are brought over the projections im, on- the

page_text: core i, which allows the sections k, to collapse, when the mandrel may be
withdrawn from the blank.
For the purpose of punching holes in the flat sides of the blank, the sections or
parts h, are provided with holes 8, in their outer sides, to receive the punches w,
arranged upon the faces of the formers A, as shown in the several figures.
The machine represented in sheet 3 of the drawings is designed to punch holes
in opposite sides of long tubes or pipes for the reception of branch pipes and to
form hand holes on the opposite side of the tube, directly in front of the openings
to which the branch pipes are connected.
The frame-work of the machine is composed of a base A, standards a, and
cross-beam b, the operative parts of the machine consisting of a driving shaft B
upon which is journaled a punch carrier d, and eccentrics e e. c c¹ represent the
punches, the lower one c, being connected with the driving shaft B, by means of
the carrier d, and strap o, that engages with an eccentric or cam upon the shaft B,
and by means of which the punch c, is operated.
The punch c¹ is connected to the cross-bar b, and derives its movement through
the eccentrics e, e, and connected cross-bar .b, that is adapted to slide vertically
within the standards a, a.
The mandrel is composed of the parts g, g, that form the dies and the inter-
mediate wedge blocks k, k, and is carried and adjusted upon the rod h, the latter
being connected to the frame of the machine and operated by the hand-wheel &.
The parts g, g, of the mandrel that form the dies, are constructed with inclined
surfaces converging toward the centre and corresponding with the opposite acting
faces of the interposed wedge blocks k, k, as shown in Fig. 1.
These wedge blocks are designed to spread the dies laterally in contact with the
interior of the pipe, and are operated by revolving the rod h, the wedge blocks
being respectively connected therewith by a right and left screw thread that
causes the blocks to advance toward each other in the operation of spreading the
dies, or by a reverse motion of the rod h to separate the same, when the mandrel
is relaxed.
In operation, the tube or pipe x, is placed over the mandrel, as shown in dotted
lines Fig. 1, and the dies g, g, are then forced firmly against the interior surface
by turning the rod h, when by a single revolution of the driving shaft E, the
punches c, c, are advanced and simultaneously punch holes in opposite sides of the
pipe, and return to their normal or starting point.
The mandrel dies may now be relaxed and the pipe adjusted to be punched at
other desired places.
It is obvious that the machine described may be modified so as to punch through
one side only of the pipe by making the cross-bar b, stationary and disconnecting
the eccentrics e, e, or in the present organization by substituting a resisting block
in place of either of the punches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me I declare that what I claim is :-
(1.) In a machine for forming and punching polygonal tubes, the combination
with a series of rollers or equivalent devices, mounted with their working faces
parallel with their axes, and at right angles to each other; of a mandrel for carrying
the blank, the working faces of the rollers being provided with punches, and the
mandrel with corresponding dies, as set forth.
(2.) In a machine for forming polygonal tubes the combination of a mandrel and
a series of pressure beams or formers, suspended upon vibrating arms or toggles,
pivotted to a suitable framework, with a connected power follower for producing
a longitudinal and resultant radial movement of said formers, for the purpose
specified.
(3.) In a machine for forming and punching polygonal tubes the combination of
a sectional mandrel having a relaxing core and depressions upon the external faces

page_text: of the respective sections thereof, with a series of pressure beams suspended upon
vibrating arms or toggles, and provided with punches and a power follower for
producing a longitudinal and resultant radial movement of said pressure beam, for
the purpose specified.
(4.) A machine, for punching holes in tubes, consisting of punches arranged to
operate upon opposite sides of the tube blank, in combination with a pair of
internal dies, arranged within the tube and a wedging device arranged between
said dies to press them against the interior surfaces of the tubes.