Apparatus for the Manufacture of Tubes with Continuous or Discontinuous Taper.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by THE DEUTSCHE METALLPATRONENFabrik,
of Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany.]
Apparatus for the Manufacture of Tubes with Continuous or
Discontinuous Taper.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for converting a cylindrical métal tube into
a conical or other tapering form. The tube is for this purpose fixed in a bench
and has a rapid rotation imparted to it.
The tool for effecting the coning or tapering action consists of a disc having an
opening through which the tube passes, and which has a number of radially
arranged adjustable pressing bars. The operation is effected in such manner that
the disc is slid with its central opening longitudinally over the tube to the one end
thereof, and is then moved slowly back while at the same time the pressing bars
are moved gradually inwards and thus in approaching each other at the inner ends
gradually reduce the opening through which the tube has to pass, so that the tube
is reduced in diameter and drawn out in length to a corresponding extent.
The mechanism for actuating the radial bars is as follows:
The radial bars are provided with studs entering cam grooves on a second disc
rotatably carried by the first one, so that when the second disc is turned partly
round in one direction, the cam grooves cause the bars to advance towards the
centre and thus to reduce the size of the opening through which the tube passes,
while when the cam disc is turned in the contrary direction, the bars are made to
recede.
The tube being mounted in the bench and receiving rapid rotary motion in any
suitable manner, a sliding support on which the discs are mounted is made to
travel slowly from the one end to the other while at the same time the cam disc is
turned in the direction for advancing the radial bars, causing them to press upon
the tube and thus to gradually reduce its diameter so as to impart a taper to it
from one end to the other.
:
The gradual turning of the cam-disc during the travel of the slide is effected by
connecting to its periphery a lever arm, the end of which bears with an adjustable
pin upon an inclined bar fixed to the side of the bench, so that as the slide travels,
the lever arm, in sliding along the inclined bar, is raised thereby and effects the
turning of the cam-disc to a corresponding extent.
j
It will be seen that the configuration imparted to the tube will depend upon the
configuration imparted to the surface of the inclined bar along which the lever
slides; thus if it is straight, the tube will be formed conical, if curved, the tube
will have a curved taper; if the bar is formed with a series of inclines and drops
the tube will be formed into a corresponding number of cones connected together
by intermediate portions of the full diameter of the tube. The guide bar is made
adjustable so as to vary the angle of its inclination, and consequently the degree
of taper of the tube.

page_text: The advance of the slide carrying the pressing disc can be effected either
automatically by suitable gearing, or by hand; if effected automatically, the slide
may be connected by a pull to a trigger which, on the required stroke being
completed, acts on the clutch of the driving gear so as to throw this out of
action.
Dated this 2nd day of Annil 1005
Apparatus for the Manufacture of Tubes with Continuous or
Discontinuous Taper.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent
Agent, 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:
:-
This invention relates to apparatus for converting a cylindrical metal tube into
a conical or other tapering forin. The tube is for this purpose fixed in a bench
and has a rapid rotation imparted to it.
The tool for effecting the coning or tapering action consists of a disc having an
opening through which the tube paeses, and which has a number of radially
arranged adjustable pressing bars. The operation is effected in such manner that
the disc is slid with its central opening longitudinally over the tube to the one end
thereof, and is then moved slowly back while at the same time the pressing bars
are moved gradually inwards and thus, in approaching each other at the inner
ends, gradually reduce the opening through which the tube has to pass, so that
the tube is reduced in diameter and drawn out in length to a corresponding
extent.
The accompanying drawing shews the construction of the machine for effecting
this operation; Fig. 1 shews a side view, Fig. 2 a plan, Fig. 3 an end view, and
Figs. 4 and shew an enlarged view and section of the operative parts.
I will only describe those parts of the machine that relate to the present
invention, the other parts being of well known construction.
The operative parts consist of two discs c and d connected together and having
both a central opening for the passage of the tube.
The two discs are so connected that they can be turned round relatively to each
other, the disc d being guided on the periphery of the disc c by the ring o fixed to
the former. Between the two discs are situated the pressing bars a sliding in
radial grooves c¹ in the disc c.
The bars have studs b which pass through cam slots or grooves d¹ in the
.disc d.
The cam slots or grooves d' are of such a form that when the two discs are
turned in one direction relatively to each other, the slots cause the studs band
consequently the bars a to move radially inwards towards the centre, and when the
discs are turned in the contrary direction, the studs and bars are made to travel in
an outward direction.
In the arrangement shewn, the disc c is fixed to the bracket f carried by the
supporting slide A, while the disc d can be rotated by means of the lever D.
If the taper of the tube is to be produced in a uniform manner, it is necessary.
that the turning of the cam disc should be effected in proper relation to and
consequently dependent upon the travel of the slide.

page_text: For this purpose, in the arrangement shewn the weighted lever D rests with a
pin D¹ in the guide groove of an inclined bar e fixed to the side of the bench.
When the slide moves to the right hand in Figs. 1 and 2, the lever D will be
gradually raised by the bar, whereby the pressing bars a will be gradually
moved inwards, so that an accurately taper or conical tube is produced. The
degree of taper is determined by the degree of inclination of the bar e, which is
arranged to be adjustable to a varying degree of inclination at 9 for producing
tubes with correspondingly different degrees of taper. In addition, the pin D¹ is
also made adjustable, in order, at starting, to adjust the opening formed by the
inner ends of the pressing bars a accurately to the diameter of the tube to be
tapered.
The construction of machine shewn is so arranged that the motion of the slide A
can be effected either automatically by means of the shaft h or on the stopping of
the latter, by means of the hand-wheel i.
When the advance of the slide is effected automatically there is advantageously
combined with the slide a pulling device whereby the coupling
and con-
sequently the driving of the shaft are thrown out of gear, as soon as the slide
has completed its motion to the right hand.
If the guide bar e had a different form imparted to it, the tube r could be made
with a taper of correspondingly different form, either of a regular or irregular.
nature, and either continuous or with interruptions. Thus if, for example, the
guide bar were made with three rises and three falls in the length of the stretched
tube, the latter would also be formed with three distinct coned parts. At the
intermediate points the tube might remain of the original diameter if the pressing -
bars are moved sufficiently outward for that purpose.
Although in the arrangement shewn the cam disc with pressing bars are made to
travel over the tube, it will be evident that the reverse arrangement may be
employed, the discs being stationary and the tube moved through them; the
guide bar e would in that case also have to travel with the tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Apparatus for the manufacture of tubes with continuous or discontinuous taper,
consisting of a pressing disc cd, with a central opening for the passage of the
tube, such passage being formed by the inner ends of radially sliding pressing
bars a, the part of the disc being during the passage of the tube, moved
relatively to the part c and pressing bars a by means of a guide bar in such
manner as to move the pressing bars inwards or outwards and thus reduce or
enlarge the hole through which the tube passes, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.