IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES AND PIPES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE ROLLING OF RODS AND BARS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES AND PIPES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE
ROLLING OF RODS AND BARS."--A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th May 1856.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES AND PIPES, APPLICABLE
ALSO TO THE ROLLING OF RODS AND BARS," (communicated to me by a foreigner
residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
This Invention refers to improvements in seamless tube and pipe making
machinery, and the principal.novelty or peculiarity thereof consists in the
manner of constructing and operating the dies, whereby the reduction of the
ingot to the finished tube is effected by a series of motions, and in portions, as
distinguished from continuous rolling or drawing through dies. This Invention
many advantages over the latter systems, in that it enables a variety of
metals and alloys, either hot or cold, to be worked with a facility not possessed.
by those systems, while it is- believed that a stronger and more perfect pipe is
has

page_text: :
produced. In the old modes a mandrel must be employed which shall be as
long as it is intended that the tube or pipe is to be, but in this only a short
one is required, reaching merely such distance along the tube as the dies will
finish at one vibration, being then withdrawn to feed along the next length or
portion; thus, all the difficulty and loss of time in stripping the mandrel is
avoided. To get a clear perception of the principle, the dies may be considered
ns sectors, the edges of which are hollowed out with a tapering curve. Four
of these may conveniently form a set, the hollows being brought together at
the centre, making a hole, and because of the taper the hole will be of differing
sizes in different sections as the edges of the sectors roll together, that is to
say, if laid out in a straight line the hole would be conical. In operating, the
sectors at starting are in such position that the hole formed within them is at
its greatest size; the end of the ingot on its mandrel is then thrust in a short
distance, when the faces of the sectors are made to roll upon it towards its
end, to the full extent of their motion, the central hole gradually contracting
all the while, and of course squeezing the end of the ingot down into less size,
the metal extending itself, or rather that portion of it subjected to pressure; for
the main body or part of the ingot not yet acted upon remains stationary.
The sectors now rock back to their former position, when a feed takes place
and another portion is reduced, and so on.
The hollows in the sectors may
also be so worked out as to have a differently shaped hole at one position than
at another, that is to say, a hole of which the sectional figure will vary as the
edges roll from one end to the other. The hole may also be made to contract
more rapidly in one place than in another, all which variations will be dictated
by experience, and in accordance with the different kinds of metals to be
worked. This machinery is also applicable to the purpose of rolling metal
into solid rods, either round or polygonal, as may be preferred, and to some
kinds of forging.
I intend to claim so forming a groove upon each sector that the breadth
and depth thereof shall gradually diminish from one end to the other, whereby
the size of the central hole formed by a set of the said sectors when arranged
for operating shall increase or diminish as the sectors vibrate or rotate.
Also, the combination of a short mandrel with sector dies, whereby so much
of the pipe as has been finished by each vibration of the dies will be regularly
delivered off.
And the general arrangement of the several parts for withdrawing the
mandrel, for effecting the feed of the ingot, and for rotating the same, or the
mechanical equivalents of those parts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES AND PIPES, APPLICABLE
ALSO TO THE ROLLING OF RODS AND BARS," communicated to me by a foreigner
residing abroad, upon. the condition (amongst others) that I, the said, Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly 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 Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention refers to improvements in seamless tube and pipe making
machinery, also applicable to the rolling of rods and bars; and the principal
novelty or peculiarity thereof consists in the manner of constructing and
operating the dies, whereby the reduction of the ingot to the finished tube is
effected by a series of motions, and in sections or portions, as distinguished
from continuous rolling or drawing through dies. This Invention has many
advantages over the latter systems, as by means of these improvements, a

page_text: variety of metals and alloys, either hot or cold, may be worked with a facility
not possessed by those systems, while it is believed that a stronger and more
perfect pipe is produced. In the old modes a mandril must be employed
which is as long as it is intended that the tube or pipe is to be, but in this only
a short one is required; reaching merely such distance along the tube as the
dies will finish at one vibration, being then withdrawn to feed along the next
length or portion; thus, all the difficulty and loss of time in stripping the
mandril are avoided. To get a clear perception of the principle, the dies may
be considered as sectors, the edges of which are hollowed out with a tapering
curve. Four of these may conveniently form a set, the hollows being brought
together at the centre, making a hole, and because of the taper the hole will
differ in size in different sections as the edges of the sectors roll together, that
is to say, if laid out in a straight line the hole would be conical. In operating,
the sectors at starting-are in such position that the hole formed within them is
at its greatest size, the end of the ingot on its mandril is then thrust in a short
distance, when the faces of the sectors are made to roll upon it towards its
end to the full extent of their motion, the central hole gradually contracting
all the while and of course squeezing the end of the ingot down into less
size, the metal extending itself, or rather that portion of it subjected to
pressure, for the main body or part of the ingot not yet acted upon remains
stationary. The sectors now rock back to their former position, when a feed
takes place and another portion is reduced, and so on.
Figures 5 and 6 represent a portion of the sector dies illustrating this action
upon a piece of pipe. a is the sector, with its edge curved and grooved; at a
the groove is deepest, tapering gradually to the other edge from the groove on
each side; the edges of the sectors are bevelled off to a right-angled mitre, if
four, for example, are to form a set, but if a greater or less number are to form
a set, the angle would have to be different. The arrangement of the sectors
is represented (in their proper position in the frame) in Figure 1 at a. When
the edges of the sectors have rolled over each other, so that their ends a¹
coincide, their central aperture is at its largest size, and will then receive the
end of the ingot of metal to be worked into a pipe. This is to be fed in to a
certain distance and then comes to a stand. The sectors now. move towards a";
their central hole beginning immediately to diminish in diameter, of course
crushes down the metal of the ingot b; the mandril c upon the inside supporting
and forming the interior in conformity therewith. A slight ridge or wave is
formed before the sectors, from the escape of the portion which is thus as it
were squeezed out, and causes it to advance forward, thereby rolling out the
pipe. The metal is not broken down suddenly but gradually, as shewn by the

page_text: sloping shape of the ingot in the Figure. The sectors now return to their
former position, during which time the ingot receives two motions; the first
being a slight turn on or rather with the mandril as an axis, and the other a
forward motion for a feed of another portion; the mandril remains, however,
in position, the metal being pushed along upon it, as seen at b', Figure 3,
where the finished pipe is shewn delivered off the end. Various contrivances
or means may be adopted for effecting these operations. That now to be
described and represented in the Drawings is satisfactory in its performance.
The sectors in crushing down the metal of course meet with a great resistance,
and are set therefore in a powerful framework, shaped like an X, shewn at A,
Figure 1. The sectors are set so that they may vibrate with as little friction
as possible, and for that purpose, instead of vibrating upon an axis, the opposite,
edge is curved, and rolls upon a vibrating railway d. This edge of the sector,
die is cogged, and fits in a proper rack upon the edges of the rail in order, to.
keep it always in position. The inner edges of the sectors are kept in place
by means of the rods e, Figures 1, 2, and 3, which extend out and are secured.
to projecting blocks in front of the frame. These rods are hinged at their
ends in order that they may rotate with the sectors. The railways d do not,
slide against the frame, but are supported by rollers d', the whole, forming a
sort of carriage. Each railway d is fastened to an X-shaped cross head B,
which plays in guides parallel with the mandril, as at f, Figure 4, and is made
to vibrate by two connecting rods f, f, terminating in cranks on the main
shaft C. In order that the rollers d' may not become displaced, they are con-.
nected to a pinion d" working between two racks; one of which is stationary,
and the other moving with the railway d, arranged as seen in Figure 3.. The
operation of the sectors is that of rolling along a surface. Thus, the ingot
remains stationary while being acted upon, as in Figure 5, where the starting.
point is a upon b, terminating with a", at the point 6, just at the end, of the
mandril, the vibrations of the cross head B causing them to rock back and
forth that distance. The mandril c is attached to a rod which passes, through
a cylinder D, and which cylinder, has its interior cut with a screw. Upon the
mandril rod a screw follower g plays, the said rod having a feather along it,
which compels the follower to turn when the mandril turns, and thus a motion,
through the cylinder D is secured; this feeds, the ingot along. The
mandril is of less size than the rod, thus the ingot which must fit upon the
rod will be larger than the mandril on which it is formed into a pipe. This
is found to be advantageous in effecting the operation, affording, an easier,
working of the metal. The rotary motion of the mandril is given by a ratchet
wheel, into which a paul h is worked by a cam and lever upon the main

page_text: shaft hu, Figure 4, in any common and convenient manner. A lengthwise
motion is also given to the mandril by a lever i, the forked end of which
embraces the rod c¹ at the end and behind the ratchet wheel. Upon the main
shaft there are two cams i, Figures 2 and 4, which strike the lever i at the
proper time and give the motion required to the mandril.
In the machine here represented the cylinder D also revolves, and in the
same direction as the mandril. The use of this is to render the feed slower,
for this reason, the ratchet h has but eight teeth, so that it will revolve the
whole mandril and ingot in as many vibrations of the sectors, the reason for
which will be subsequently explained. This speed would cause the feed to
be too rapid, therefore turning the cylinder D each time a short distance in
the direction of the motion of the mandril reduces the travel of the nut g
accordingly. This movement is produced by a ratchet wheel and pawl, made
to vibrate from some convenient part of the machine. The same effect would
be produced by cutting the screw threads on the interior of D finer; or the
cylinder might be dispensed with entirely, and the follower g carried along by
a rack motion or by long parallel screws at its sides. The operation is as
follows: The follower g is to be run back in the feeding cylinder D until
room be left between it and the sectors to take on the ingot; this latter may
be slipped on at the end through the sectors, these being at such time drawn
back so that the edges a¹ are together, in which position the central hole is
large enough to pass the ingot. The main shaft is now set in motion, while
the reciprocating motion of the cross head B causes the four sectors to rock
backward and forward, the inner surfaces rolling over each other from a¹ to a".
When the sectors are at a', Figures 2 and 5, the feed of the ingot and the
withdrawal of the mandril take place, as also its rotation, because at this
time the ingot is in the largest part of the rolling hole, and consequently free.
As the sectors approach this position the cams strike the lover 2, which
presses against the fixed head or ratchet wheel h and pulls out the mandril by
its rod c. Now, as the follower g is kept firmly in place by the screw D, the
ingot is held while the mandril is pulled out to the extent of the throw of the
cams. A cam on the end of the main shaft strikes the lever ", Figure 4,
and through that turns the mandril rod by one notch of the ratchet h; this
effects both the feed and the turning of the ingot. The follower g being
moved by the screw in D pushes the ingot towards the sectors. The object of
turning the ingot is to bring round that part which came along the joints of
the sectors, so that the ribs on the tube formed by the creases would come
between or in the smooth part of the concaves of each. It must be understood
that the feed, is small at each-vibration, so that the metal in the time of

page_text: passing through receives many actions of the sectors, whereby it becomes
reduced very gradually and with great ease, as shewn by the tapering shape
in the Diagram, Figure 5; thus at each throw of the sector dies (after the end
of the ingot has worked through) a portion of finished tube is pushed off the
mandril by the withdrawal of the latter, as shewn in Figure 3.
As repre-
sented in the present machine, a complete revolution of the mandril at eight
blows of the cams would make the follower g feed too fast. The onward
motion is reduced by turning the cylinder a short distance in the same
direction, and is practically nothing more than cutting the screw in D with a
finer pitch. The giving of different speeds to the rotation of the cylinder D
also affords the means of varying the feed as required in forming various sizes
of pipes, and also according to the character of the metal used; thus, for. a
rapid feed, the cylinder may be allowed to remain stationary; for a little slower
feed, the pawl may engage one notch of the ratchet wheel at a time, and
reducing gradually by taking more teeth, until finally the cylinder and mandril
may rotate with equal speed, at which time the feeding would cease altogether,
The sector dies have been described as vibrating, but there are other positions
in which they will work advantageously, as, for example, by placing several
on an axis and making them revolve. This plan is useful in making short
lengths of tube from hot metal; pistol and gun barrels may be made in this way.
Figure 7 is a Diagram of the sectors so arranged, there being three on an axis.
When this plan is used, the mandril with its ingot must vibrate a distance
sufficient for the sectors to roll from a¹ to a", so that before the next sector
approaches the mandril must recede, and rotate to the distance necessary for
carrying the bead formed on the surface by the joints to the inner part of the
hollow, as before described for the other plan, and the feed also must be given
in time for the ingot to enter while the sectors are at a¹, where the central hole
is largest. I have described the central hole formed by the sectors as being
a true circle in whatever position they may be in. In operating upon some
kinds of metal it will be advisable to vary the shape of the hole at different
positions of the sectors, as, for instance, when in the position a¹ the hole
should approach somewhat a square, as shewn in the end view, Figure 8.
The ingot, which is shewn in section within, will not be pressed at the com-
mencement upon all its circumference, and this renders it easier to break
down the metal in the first instance. As the sectors roll on, the hole gradually
becomes more nearly round, terminating finally in a circle. The hollows in
the sectors may also be so worked out as to have a differently shaped hole at
one position than at another, that is to say, a hole of which the sectional figure
will vary as the edges roll from one end to the other. The hole may also be

page_text: made to contract. more rapidly in one place than in another; all which
variations will be dictated by experience, and. in accordance with the different
kinds of metals to be worked. This machinery is also applicable to the
purpose of rolling metál into solid rods, either round or polygonal, as may be
preferred, and to.some kinds of forging.
And having now described the. nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, so forming á groove upon each sector that the breadth and depth
thereof shall gradually diminish from one end to the other, whereby the size
of the central: hole formed by a set of the said sectors when arranged for
operating shall increase or 'diminish as the sectors vibrate or rotate, in the
manner and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Second, the combination of a short mandril with sector dies, in the manner
set forth, whereby so much of the pipe as has been finished by each vibration
of the: dies will be regularly delivered off.
And, third, the general. arrangement of the several parts for withdrawing
the mandril, for effecting the feed of the ingot, and for rotating the same, or
the mechanical equivalents of those parts, the same being constructed sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.