IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, STEAM, AND WATER FITTINGS, SUCH AS TEES, ELBOWS AND CROSSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Silas Duffield, of Willenhall Street, Darlaston, in the
County of Stafford, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, STEAM, AND WATER FITTINGS, SUCH AS TEES,
ELBOWS AND CROSSES"
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 16th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Silas Duffield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1879.
SILAS DUFFIELD, of Willenhall Street, Darlaston, in the County of Stafford,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, STEAM, AND
WATER FITTINGS, SUCH AS TEES, ELBOWS, AND CROSSES."
This Invention has for its object the manufacture of iron elbows, tees, and crosses,
and is accomplished by the pressure of a stamp (by preference), whilst hot, whereby
one portion is by the first process formed complete or cylindrical, the other part or
parts as a deep gutter, say, for instance in making a T, the top part being left as a
gutter from the stamp, is, whilst hot, placed in a press or stamp, and the concave
or gutter part is pressed to the form of a cylinder, and before cooling, it is heated
to a winding state, and being placed under a stamp, hammer, or oliver is welded
and shaped at the same time; the L or + is made in the same manner, the shape
of the top and bottom dies being suitable; the tapping or screwing is done by the
usual process.
The section of the iron and the heat required is soon ascertained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Silas Duffield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th July
1879.
SILAS DUFFIELD, of Willenhall Street, Darlaston, in the County of Stafford,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, STEAM, AND WATER
FITTINGS, SUCH AS TEES, ELBOWS, AND CROSSES."
This Invention has for its object the manufacture of iron elbows, tees, and
crosses, and is accomplished by the pressure of a stamp (by preference) whilst hot,
whereby one portion is by the first process formed complete or cylindrical, the other
part or parts as a deep gutter, say, for instance in making a T, the top part being
left as a gutter from the stamp, is, whilst hot, placed in a press or stainp, and the
concave or gutter part is pressed to the form of a cylinder, and before cooling, it is
heated to a welding state, and being placed under a stamp, hammer, or oliver is
welded and shaped at the same time. The L or + is made in the same manner,
the shape of the top and bottom dies being suitable, the tapping or screwing is
done by the usual process; the section of the iron and the heat required is soon
ascertained.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention I next proceed to describe it
with reference to the Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a top and bottom die for forming a T fitting,
and Figure 2 is a cross section of the same; Figure 5 is a cross section of a T,
partly formed, shewing the branch or outlet made by my first process, and the ears
or flanges, which may be either curved, as shewn in this Figure, or flat, as shewn in
Figure 3, which relates to the manufacture of a cross; Figure 6 is also a cross
section of a T, but with the flanges or ears rounded to form the top part of the T;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of top and bottom dies for forming a cross fitting;
Figure 4 is a plan view shewing the studs or cores marked d; Figure 6 is a cross
section of a T with the ears or flanges turned over readily for welding.
I will now describe my process for making a T. The top die a of Figure 1 is
raised from the bottom die b, and the end of a heated bar of iron is laid upon the
stud b by means of quick and heavy blows from a stamp or steam hammer, or of
pressure from a screw or steam press or other suitable appliance. The heated end
of the iron bar is made to fill up the spaces or appertures c, c, c, c, thus forming a
socket or cylinder projecting from a flat or curved base, which I have called, so that
I may the more easily be understood, ears or flanges.
The T which is now repre-
sented by Figure 5, is at once detached from the end of the bar of iron, and the waste
iron between a and b, and on the ends of c, c, is now removed by properly constructed
tools;
the ears or flanges are now, whilst still hot, bent round so as to form a cylinder
at right angles to the branch or outlet by means of another stamp or press upon a
mandril, thus forming the partly finished T, as shewn in Figure 6. The T is now
heated to a suitable degree of heat, and being placed under a stamp, steam hammer,
or oliver, the two ends, which have been brought together, are welded, and the T is
so far finished that it is ready for screwing. The elbow (L) is formed similarly to
the T, excepting that the dies are so adapted as to leave sufficient iron on one side
of the branch as will allow of the saine being soundly welded to form the outer
angle of the elbow. The welding, dressing, and screwing are performed similar to
the manner already described in making the fitting usually termed a cross, to which
any number of outlets or branches may be made at one process by means of dies
suitably constructed on the plan of the one shewn in Figure 3. The iron is com-
pressed into the spaces f, f, f, f, or as many other spaces as will form the required
number of branches or cylinders upon the flat base; the ends or ears of the base
are then treated in the same manner as previously described, and the cross fitting
is then ready for screwing.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
carrying it into effect, I declare that I do not confine myself to the exact form of
the dies shewn or to the number or length of cores or studs on the same, nor to
any section of iron to be used, but what I claim as my Invention is such improve-
ments in the manufacture of that part or those parts of gas, steam, water, or other
tube fittings called outlets or branches, that all but two, and in some cases all but
one of the said branches or outlets are made at one process and heat out of the solid
iron, and are so far weldless (thus avoiding the joints which usually prove the
weakest and most faulty parts of hand and other made fittings), substantially in the
manner described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Silas Duffield, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
JOHN J. BOWATER, JB.
SILAS DUFFIELD. (L.S.)