Improvements in the Manufacture of Aluminium and other Metal Sleeves or Skelps for Drawing, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Aluminium and other Metal
Sleeves or Skelps for Drawing, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, ALPHA FRANCIS COTHIAS of 9 Rue Victor Hugo, Ivry-sur-Seine in the
Department of Seine in the Republic of France, Manufacturer, 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 :-
Thi invention relates to the manufacture of aluminium sleeves or skelps cast
either under pressure or without pressure.
At present in order to obtain a skelp or sleeve intended to be drawn the
following process is employed. The metal is first run into ingot moulds in the
form of plates capable of being rolled and these plates are then rolled. The metal
is afterwards cut into strips and bent up with the marginal edges in contact and
the lapping edges are cut and welded in order to form a cylinder, or sleeve which
is then drawn to the desired thickness. These operations are costly, lengthy and
complex.
I arrive at the same result in a more simple manner and by means of the
moulding apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings,
. Figure 1 being a vertical section, and,
Figure 2 a horizontal section.
My apparatus is composed of a frame A on which is mounted a reservoir or
mould R containing a hollow internal part B, forming the mould for the casting,
and two side chambers C. A slightly tapering rod or spindle M, the lower end V
of which is threaded serves as a core, and is mounted in the frame and adapted to
have a rapid vertical movement imparted to it by means of a fly wheel T.
In order to make aluminium sleeves or skelps with this apparatus the following
process is employed;-The spindle or core M is slightly coated with plumbago and
brought into its highest position as shown in the drawing. The mould B is then
filled with molten aluminium, the metal being run into one of the side chambers
or jets C from whence it finds its way into the mould B through slots in the
wall. The second chamber C or counter jet having similar slots communicating
with the mould B allows of the air being expelled and prevents cracks and fissures
and too rapid a shrinkage. The metal fills up the mould B and the two
chambers C.
By means of the fly wheel T to which a rotary motion is now imparted, the
screw V and consequently the spindle or core M which forms the hollow part of
the sleeves or skelps is caused to rapidly descend. This spindle being somewhat
tapered only requires to be started and then the screw will itself descend. The
complete mould which consists of two parts is then parted on the line xx, Fig. 2,
and the sleeve or skelp is then taken out and cut off from the jets formed by the
chambers C, and is immediately ready for drawing.
Instead of imparting to the spindle M a downward vertical movement, I can
impart to it an upward vertical movement; in this case the diameter of the
threaded part may be inferior to that of the spindle. The spindle may also be
composed of several parts of different diameters.
The method herein before described of manufacturing sleeves or skelps intended
to be drawn, is applicable not only to aluminium, but also to any other metals or
allovs.

page_text: By my improved process skelps, sleeves or tubes are obtained which can be
drawn directly from the casting.
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-
The improved machine and process for making skelps, sleeves or tubes intended
to be drawn, of aluminium, or any other metals or alloys, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of June 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.