IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND ADJUSTING METALLIC TUBES, RINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF WELDING, HAMMERING, AND FORGING."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samson Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds,
in the County of York, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND ADJUSTING METALLIC TUBES, RINGS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF WELDING, HAMMERING,
AND FORGING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samson Fox at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1881.
44
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND ADJUSTING
METALLIC TUBES, RINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
WELDING, HAMMERING, AND FORGING."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for heating metallic tubes,
rings, and other similar articles, and adjusting the same in various required
positions for the purpose of welding the joints of the same, and for hammering and
forging, and has for its object the production of a better quality of work at a less
cost than hitherto usually attained in the manufacture of such articles, dispensing
with a considerable amount of labour. I provide a carriage mounted upon rails or
tramway on the upper part of this carriage I place a suitable beam or gauntry in
such wise as to be capable of being swivelled horizontally thereon; at each end of
this beam or gauntry, which overhangs the said carriage at both ends, I form or
provide a hearth or open furnace having the usual tuyères or blast pipes. One of
these furnaces remains inactive whilst the other is in operation, and when the
furnace in operation is so far worn out as to require repairs, the aforesaid beam or
gauntry is swivelled half way round so as to bring the inactive furnace into
operation, the worn out one in the meantime undergoes repairs, and in this way
without loss of time these furnaces are brought into alternate use, thus the
welding, hammering, and forging operations may practically go on continually. A
flexible blast pipe passes up the carriage at the centre of motion of said beam or

page_text: gauntry, and accommodates the various required positions of the said carriage upon
the rails. In addition to the above I provide another carriage, also upon rails,
running in the same direction as the one before mentioned, and which I provide
with suitable mechanism for receiving and manipulating the tube or other article
under operation, as may be desired. By means of this carriage and its mechanism
the tube or other article is placed on one of the furnaces above referred to, and
which it surrounds (the heat acting on its inside), and by the combined movements
of the two said carriages and the mechanism connected therewith, the tube or
other article when heated is brought close to the pike of the anvil, and quickly
placed thereon, and the welding and hammering or forging proceeded with by
means of a moveable steam or other hammer over the same, as fully described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me the Twelfth day of March
1878, and numbered 994.
Another part of my Invention has reference to apparatus for "necking" or
reducing, and also enlarging the diameter of the ends of corrugated or other tubes,
rings, or other similar articles, these operations effect by suitably formed anvils
provided with rollers for guiding and facilitating the movements of the object
under operation, in a circular or other required direction, the amount of projection
of said rollers above the face of the anvil represents the radial increment or decre-
ment required to be produced. To prevent "backing" of plain tubes or other
articles under operation, I use other guiding and supporting rollers where
necessary. The faces of the hammer and anvil are suitably shaped according to the
form required to be produced. In addition to the above, and after the corrugating
of the tubes has taken place, I use a portable apparatus for bringing the welded
joint to a more perfectly finished state where necessary.
This is constructed with
a carriage, the wheels of which are placed at a convenient distance apart for taking
into the internal hollows of the corrugations, and will roll round therein to accom-
modate itself to any required position. On this carriage is mounted a hand lever
having an adjustable fulcrum; on the short end of this lever is an anvil, the face
of which corresponds with and adapts itself to the corrugations, and is pressed up
and bears against the inner surface thereof by the action of an attendant on the
long end of said lever, after the part under operation has been brought to a proper
heat in the usual way, when the finish hammering of said part is completed
by hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samson Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th April
1882.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND ADJUSTING
METALLIC TUBES, RINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
WELDING, HAMMERING, AND FORGING."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for heating metallic tubes,
rings, and other similar articles, such for example, as the cylindrical or other shaped
parts of boiler shells, metallic masts and yards of ships, and adjusting the same in
various required positions for the purpose of welding the joints of the same, and
for hammering and forging, and has for its object the production of a better quality
of work at a less cost than hitherto usually attained in the manufacture of such
articles, dispensing with a considerable amount of labour.
I provide a carriage mounted upon rails or tramway. On the upper part of this
carriage I place a suitable beam or gauntry in suchwise as to be capable of being
swivelled horizontally thereon. At each end of this beam or gauntry, which over-
hangs the said carriage at both ends, I form or provide a hearth or open furnace
having the usual tuyeres or blast pipes. One of these furnaces remains inactive
whilst the other is in operation, and when the furnace in operation is so far worn
out as to require repairs the aforesaid beam or gauntry is swivelled halfway round,
so as to bring the inactive furnace into operation. The worn out one in the mean-
time undergoes repairs, and in this way without loss of time these furnaces are
brought into alternate use; thus the welding and hammering and forging operations
may practically go on continually. A flexible tube or blast pipe passes up (and is
attached to) the carriage at the centre of motion of said beam or gauntry, and
accommodates the various required positions of the said carriage upon the rails.
In addition to the above I provide another carriage, also upon rails, running in the
same direction as the one beforementioned, and which I provide with suitable
mechanism for receiving and manipulating the tube or other article under operation,
as may be desired.
By means of this carriage and its mechanism the tube or other article is placed
on one of the furnaces above referred to, and which it surrounds (the heat acting
on its inside), and by the combined movements of the two said carriages and the
mechanism connected therewith the tube or other article when heated is brought
close to the pike of the anvil and quickly placed thereon, and the welding and
hammering or forging proceeded with by means of a moveable steam or other
hammer over the same, as fully described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me the Twelfth day of March 1878, and Numbered 994.
Another part of my Invention has reference to apparatus for "necking" or
reducing, and also for enlarging the diameter of the ends of corrugated or other
tubes, rings, or other similar articles. These operations I effect by suitably formed
anvils provided with rollers for guiding and facilitating the movements of the
object under operation in a circular or other required direction, the amount of pro-
jection of said rollers above the face of the anvil representing the radial increment
or decrement required to be produced. To prevent the "backing" of plain tubes or
other articles under operation, I use other guiding and supporting rollers where
necessary. The faces of the hammer and anvil are suitably shaped according to the
form required to be produced. In addition to the above, and after the corrugating

page_text: of the tubes has taken place, I use a portable apparatus for bringing the welded
This is constructed with
joint to a more perfectly finished state where necessary.
a carriage, the wheels of which are placed at a convenient distance apart for taking
into the internal hollows of the corrugations. This carriage can roll round within
the tube to accommodate itself to any required position.
On this carriage is mounted a hand lever having an adjustable fulcrum. On
the short end of this lever is an anvil, the face of which corresponds with and
adapts itself to the corrugations, and is pressed up and bears against the inner
surface thereof by the action of an attendant on the long end of the said lever after
the part under operation has been brought to a proper heat in the usual way, when
the finishing hammering of said part is completed by hand.
In the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings similar letters refer to similar parts
wherever they occur. Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a plan of the apparatus for heating,
welding, hammering, and forging; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is
an end elevation; Fig. 4 is an end view of a tube as placed on the anvil ready for
welding and hammering. a are the rails, upon which is mounted the carriage b,
and which is capable of being moved along thereon by the hand wheel c and
gearing d and e. In the centre of said carriage is mounted the beam or gauntry f,
capable of being swivelled on the centre g. h is a flexible blast pipe for the
furnaces, and which accommodates the various required positions of said carriage
upon the rails. The beam or gauntry fis fitted with hearths or open furnaces i
and k. Pipes l, l', in connection with the central blast pipe h communicate with
the furnaces i and k, the latter of which is shewn in section. While the furnace i
is in operation the furnace k may be undergoing repairs or preparation, in order to
be ready for use when i becomes worn out, the blast in the meantime being shut
off from k. When it is desired to change the furnaces the beam or gauntry ƒ is
swivelled half round until the two have changed positions. In this way the work
may proceed without interruption, as previously explained. m is the overhanging
horn or pike fitted with an anvil n, the face of which is of a configuration suitable
for the tube or article to be operated upon; o is a carriage moveable on the rails p
by the hand wheel q and gearing r. This carriage has a moveable table a capable
of being adjusted in an upward and downward direction by means of the hand
wheel t, worm u, toothed segment v, and levers w. Upon these levers is carried
the table 8, upon which are mounted four rollers or plain pulleys a capable of being
rotated by means of the hand wheel y and gearing z.
The tube A, shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and partly in section, Fig. 2, rests
upon the said pulleys x, and is adjustable thereon to bring the joint to be welded
into a proper position for the purpose. B is a chain passing around the tube A,
each end being fixed to the table S, and in suchwise that it is slack when the tube
is resting upon the rollers x. By moving the carriage o on the rails p the tube is
placed with the inside of the lap-joint over the furnace i or k, as the case may be,
which it then surrounds, and by which it is brought to a welding heat, when by
the reverse motion of the carriage o on the rails p it is immediately placed on the
anvil n.
The table 8 is now lowered so as to free the supporting rollers from the
tube, which action has the effect of tightening the chain B around the tube, and
pressing it firmly upon the anvil n.
The heated part of the tube is then hammered along the line of the joint to a
compact and solid state, and the operation is repeated till the whole length of the
joint is welded and finished to the proper thickness. C is the piston rod and "tup"
of the overbead travelling steam hammer described in the Specification of Letters
Patent previously referred to. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent a modification of the
carriage o. Fig. 5 shews the carriage in plan with the rising and falling table & in
position; Fig. 6 shews the lower part o also in plan; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of
the whole with a tube A in position for being operated upon, as previously described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, the same letters referring to the same or
similar parts as before. The carriage is moved on the rails p by the hand wheel q
and the gearing r; the rollers are rotated by the hand wheel y and gearing z. The

page_text: tables in this instance moves vertically, having parts 81 at each corner projecting
downwards, which take into and are guided by the internal corners of the lower
part o at 82; the vertical movement is effected by means of the hand wheel t, bevil
gear t 1, worms u, toothed segments u, v, on the shafts v1 and v2, the levers and
rollers w acting on the underside of projections 83 of the table s. Fig. 9 is a cross
section to an enlarged scale on line 1, 1, of Figs. 5 and 6 of the modification of the
carriage o with a tube in position, as in Fig. 8. Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a side elevation,
and Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the apparatus for enlarging the ends of corrugated
tubes. A is a tube under operation (shewn in section in Fig. 10); J is the anvil
furnished with rollers K, K, which take into the external hollows of the corrugations,
the projection of the peripheries of these rollers above the face L of the anvil
representing the amount of the radial enlargement required. The tube after being
heated is placed on these rollers, and the tup or head M of an ordinary steam
hammer, having its face made to the proper configuration, is then caused to operate
on the inside of the tube, the said tube being intermittently turned round until the
whole circumference has been treated.
"
Fig. 12 is a side elevation, and Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the apparatus for
reducing the ends of corrugated tubes. A is the tube under operation, shewn in
section in Fig. 12; N is the anvil furnished with rollers O, O, as in Figs. 10 and 11.
These rollers take into the internal hollows of the corrugations, and their projection
above the face P of the anvil represents the amount of radial reduction required.
The ends of the tube being heated, as in the last described operation, the "
"tup or
head of the hammer, having its face of the required configuration, is caused to
operate on the outside of the tube, the tube being turned round as the hammering
proceeds until the whole circumference has been operated upon and the end reduced
to the required diameter. Fig. 14 is a side elevation, and Fig. 15 an end elevation
of apparatus for diminishing the ends of plain tubes. A, Fig. 14, is a tube in
longitudinal section, the faces of the hammer Q and the anvil Ŕ having the con-
figuration of the reduced part of the tube. The process of reduction is the same as
that before described with respect to corrugated tubes, but in order to prevent the
tube from "backing" during the operation, I use rollers S and T for the rear end
to bear against, whilst the supporting rollers U, U, are for carrying the weight of
said tube during the turning round of the same. The enlarging operation of a plain
tube is similarly performed to that of a corrugated one, the hammer and anvil
having the configuration required, and the latter being without rollers.
Fig. 16 is an end elevation, and Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a portable apparatus
for bringing the welded joint of a corrugated tube to a more perfectly finished state
when necessary.
A is a tube in longitudinal section; D is the carriage mounted
upon wheels E, which take into the internal hollows of the corrugations of the
tube so as to bring the anvil F, which is a counterpart of the corrugations, into the
position required. This anvil is attached to one end of the lever G, which turns on
the adjustable fulcrum H, and is actuated by an attendant (at the other end of said
lever), by whom the anvil F is pressed or held up against the inner surface of the
tube at that part which may require to have some slight imperfection made good,
and which occasionally and unavoidably occur at the welded joint during the
corrugating process. This finishing operation is performed by hand. The part to
be operated upon is first brought to a welding beat, and if necessary a piece of
metal added to the imperfect part; the anvil F is then caused to bear against the
inside, and the outside is finished by hammering and swaging.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore c'aim as secured to me under the Letters
Patent herein before first in part recited is,-
1. The combined apparatus for heating metallic tubes, rings, and other similar
articles, consisting of a carriage moveable on rails, and carrying a swivelling beam
or gauntry furnished with an open hearth or furnace at each end for alternate

page_text: use, and the necessary tuyeres and blast pipes, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The use in conjunction with apparatus for heating and welding, hammering,
or forging metallic tubes, rings, and other similar articles, of an apparatus comprising
a carriage moveable on rails, an adjustable table upon which to mount the articles
to be operated on, and mechanism for actuating the said table, substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described and illustrated.
3. The use in combination with a power hammer and a suitable tup for the
purpose of enlarging the diameter of the ends of corrugated tubes, rings, or other
similar articles, of an anvil fitted with guiding rollers, the whole arranged, applied,
and operating substantially as described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11 of the
Drawings.
4. The use in combination with a power hammer and a suitable tup for the
purpose of reducing the diameter of the ends of corrugated tubes, rings, and other
similar articles, of an anvil fitted with guiding rollers, the whole arranged, applied,
and operating substantially as described with reference to Figs. 12 and 13 of the
Drawings.
5. The use in combination with a power hammer for the purpose of "necking"
or reducing and also for enlarging the diameter of the ends of plain tubes and rings,
of apparatus constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 14 and 15 of the Drawings.
6. The use for bringing a welded joint to a more perfectly finished state, where
necessary, of the combined portable apparatus, consisting of a carriage on wheels,
an adjustable fulcrum, and a lever and anvil, the whole constructed, arranged,
applied, and operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samson Fox, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness to the signature of the
said Samson Fox,
THOS. E. CRAVEN, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
24, Victoria Chambers,
South Parade,
Leeds.
SAMSON FOX. (L.S.)