Improvements in the Manufacture of Tubes suitable for Heating and Cooling Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Tubes suitable for Heating and
Cooling Purposes.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS and THOMAS LOWTHER, both of Hughesoffka,
Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved manufacture of tubes suitable for
heating and cooling liquids the object being to enable tubes to be produced that
will be more efficient when used for the purposes mentioned than those hitherto
made.
According thereto a tube for example of iron or mild steel and of cylindrical
shape is compressed transversely to any desired extent, it may be by passing it
through suitable rolls or by means of dies-so as to reduce its cross sectional area;
the tube when thus compressed may have its wider sides either flat and parallel or
outwardly convex. The ends of the tube may either be compressed so as to have the
same cross section as the remainder of the tube or any other desired cross section
or be allowed to retain their original circular cross section. After being thus com-
pressed and flattened the tube is twisted to any desired pitch by rotating the ends
of the tube relatively to each other by means of suitable mechanism, the ends of the
tube being held in clutches that are permitted to move relatively towards each other.
during the operation so as to allow for the shortening of the tube resulting from
the twisting. As will be obvious, the two ends of the tube may be rotated simul-
taneously in contrary senses, or one end only may be rotated and the other end
prevented from rotating.
Tubes according to this invention will possess a large external heating or cooling
surface in a comparatively small space, and also great strength, especially when the
sides of the compressed tube are of slightly convex shape.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Tubes suitable for Heating and
Cooling Purposes.
We, HENKY CHARLES PLATTS, and THOMAS LOWTHER, both of Hughesoffka,
Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, Engineers, 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 has reference to an improved manufacture of tubes suitable for
heating and cooling liquids or other fluids, the object being to enable tubes to be
produced that will be more efficient when used for the purposes mentioned than those
hitherto made.
According thereto a tube of any suitable material and cross section for example

page_text: of iron or mild steel and of cylindrical shape, is compressed transversely to any
desired extent it may be by passing it through suitable rolls or by means of dies
actuated by hydraulic or other machinery-so as to reduce its cross sectional area.
The tube or any part of it when thus flattened or compressed may have its wider
sides either flat and parallel or outwardly convex. The ends of the tube may be
compressed so as to have the same cross section as the compressed part of the tube,
or any other desired cross section may be given to them, or they may be allowed to
retain their original cross section. After being thus compressed and more or less
flattened, the tube is twisted one or more times to any desired pitch by rotating the
ends or other parts thereof relatively to each other by means of suitable mechanism.
As will be obvious the two ends or parts of the tube may be rotated simultaneously
in contrary directions, or one end only may be rotated and the other end prevented
from rotating.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show in side elevation, two tubes
constructed according to this invention, that shown in Fig. I having its ends left of
circular form and that shown in Fig. 2 having its ends flattened like the remainder
of the tube.
Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of the two tubes shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.
Fig. 5 shows in side elevation one arrangement of rolls suitable for flattening a tube
of circular or other section.
Fig. 6 shows in front elevation a modified arrangement of rolls.
Figs. 7 and 8 show two tubes after they have boon flattened but before being
twisted.
Figs. 9 and 10 show in longitudinal vertical section and cross section respectively,
a machine suitable for twisting a flattened tube.
One way of making tabes of the kind referred to, suitable for tubes the ends
of which are not to be flattened, is as follows:-
A plain straight tube 1 (Fig. 5) of suitable length and diameter and of suitable
material, for example mild steel, is flattened by passing hetween a pair of suitably
driven and mounted plain rollers 2 and 3, the distance apart of which can be varied
from time to time as the flattening procreds.
When the ends of the tube are to be flattened as well as the intermediate portion,
the tube may be passed between rollers 2 and 3 of the kind shown in Fig. 6 formed
with a number of grooves eacb succeeding one of which is made flatter than the
preceding one as shown, so that by passing the tube through the successive pairs of
adjacent grooves it will be gradually reduced to a more or less flattened form.
This flattening of the tubes can also be advantageously done between dies in
a press.
In this way a tube can be converted into the form shown in Fig. 7, or in Fig. 8,
according as its ends 1 are to be left of their original form (Figs. 1, 3 and 7), or
are to be flattened (Figs. 2, 4 and 8), the tube in the former case being passed for
part only of its length between the rolls 2, 3 (Fig. 5) or equivalent devices.
The tube to which an oblong or flattened section has thus been imparted is then
twisted about its axis by any suitable means. Figs. 8 and 9 show a machine suitable
for the purpose. It comprises a bed 4 carrying a toothed wheel 5 and a clutch or
holder 6. The boss 5 of the wheel is tubular and mounted to rotate but not to
inove endways in the standard 7 and carries a clutch or part 8 that may be in one
with or attached to the boss 5" and in which one end of the flattened tube 1 can be
securely fixed. The clutch or holder 6 is mounted to travel endways on the bed 4
but not to rotate, and in it the other end of the tube can be fixed in any suitable
manner, as for example by the taper key or wedge 9. The ends of the tube may be
fitted with short mandrils or cores to prevent them being damaged when fixing them
in the clutches or holders. The wheel 5 is rotated by a pinion 10 fixed upon a driving
shaft 11 one end of which is journalled in the standard 7.
With the arrangement described by fixing the ends or other parts of a tube in the
clutches or holders 6 and 8 and rotating the wheel 5 to a suitable extent a twisted,
spiral or screw like formation can be imparted to the compressed or flattened part of

page_text: the tube between the clutches or holders, one of which viz. 6, is free to move towards
the other to allow for the shortening resulting from the twisting of the tube. The
pitch of the twist can be varied by suitably varying the number of revolutions of the
wheel 5 and the length or extent of the tube so twisted can be varied by clutching
the tube at different parts of its length in the travelling holder 6.
.The clutches or holders 6 and 8 may be fitted with bushes of different sections to.
suit different sections and sizes of tubes.
As will be obvious a tube may be provided with two or more twisted portions
separated by a plain portion or portions.
Instead of compressing tubes of circular section it will, when it is not desired that
the ends of the tubes should be circular, be more advantageous to manufacture the
tubes in the ordinary way but of the required flattened section, or of a section.
approaching it, in the latter case pressing them finally to shape by rollers or dies, as
by this means all danger of damaging the tubes which is liable to occur when round
welded tubes are flattened, is obviated.
When the tubes are of iron or steel they may advantageously be heated to a red.
heat just before being flattened and twisted. For tubes of a more ductile material,
the tubes may be operated upon at a lower temperature-it may be at ordinary
atmospheric temperatures-depending upon the particular material used.
Tubes according to this invention possess a large external heating or cooling
surface in a comparatively small space, and also great strength, especially if the-
sides of the compressed or flattened tube are of slightly convex shape. The
formation of the tubes will also improve the circulation of liquid through the
tubes.
Fluid to be heated or cooled can be caused to flow through or around the tube,.
the heating or cooling medium being applied to the exterior or interior thereof
respectively.
Such tubes may advantageously be used in the construction of water tube steam
generators, superheaters, condensers and water heating apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
.
1. A tube which for a part or parts or the whole of its length is made twisted or
screw-like longitudinally and of an oblong or more or less flattened form in cross.
section substantially as described.
2. The manufacture of a tube such as referred to in the preceding claim by
subjecting a tube having an oblong or more or less flattened form in cross section,
to a twisting operation whereby a twisted or screw like formation is imparted
to a portion or portions or the whole of the length of the tube, substantially as
described.
3. The manufacture of a tube such as referred to in Claim 1 by subjecting a tube of
circular or other cross sectional shape to first a compressing operation whereby the
cross sectional form of the tube or of a portion or portions thereof is converted to an
oblong or more or less flattened shape and afterwards to a twisting operation whereby
a twisted or screw like formation is imparted to a portion or portions or the whole of
the length of the tube, substantially as described.
4. The improved tubes herein before described with reference respectively to and
shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing annexed and suitable.
for heating and cooling purposes.
Dad: 14L
11007