Improvements in Apparatus for Making Flexible Metallic Tubes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Flexible Metallic Tubes.
I, FREDERICK WALTON of Sunbury on Thames in the County of Middlesex
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to as be follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for making the known flexible metallic tubes con-
sisting of a strip of metal wound helically, this strip being corrugated in such a manner
that the lips of the successive convolutions lock with each other, having between them a
strip of caoutchouc or other suitable packing material to make the jointing sound as
well as elastic. On a lathe head, having a revolving mandril, I fix a face plate having
on its beds for three roller frames, these beds being at such an angle as to suit the
pitch of the helical tube, and being of different heights from the face of the plate to
suit different parts of the circumference of the helix. On each of these beds I mount
a sliding frame carrying a pressing roller, and I provide adjusting screws by which
these rollers can be set more or less forwards towards the axis of the mandril. The
axis of each roller has a pinion gearing with a pinion on the mandril, the gearing
being so proportioned that the circumferences of the rollers have the same speed as the
circumference of the formed tube.
The mandril and rollers being caused to revolve, the strip of metal after passing
between corrugating rollers and a strip of the packing material are brought at the
angle suitable to the helix up to the mandril and are made to revolve with it under-
going the pressure of the three oblique rollers by which the convolutions are pressed
into shape and caused to interlock with each other having the packing strip engaged
in each lock. As the tube becomes forined on the mandril, it is caused by the oblique
action of the pressing rollers to be pushed continuously off the mandril, but, the better
to ensure this movement, I fix on the face plate a helically shaped collar against
which the last formed convolution of the tube bears so as to be always inclined.
forwards.
In order to support the formed tube which has passed off from the mandril and
which is revolving, I provide a supporting tube or band which is free to revolve or
which is driven at a speed suitable to that of the tube, so that the tube can travel
along this support while it continues to revolve. In some cases I apply driving
rollers to the part of the tube already formed on the mandril, and in this case the
gearing for driving the pressing rollers may be dispensed with, allowing them to revolve
by frictional contact.
3000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Flexible Metallic Tubes.
I, FREDERICK WALTON of Sunbury on Thames in the County of Middlesex,
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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for making the known flexible metallic tubes
consisting of a strip of metal wound helically, this strip being corrugated in such a
manner that the lips of the successive convolutions lock with each other having
between them a strip of caoutchouc or other suitable packing material to make the
jointing sound as well as elastic. On a lathe head, having a revolving mandril, I fix a
face plate having on it beds for three roller frames, these beds being at such an angle

page_text: as to suit the pitch of the helical tube, and being of different heights from the face of
the plate to suit different parts of the circumference of the helix. On each of these
beds I mount a sliding fraine carrying a pressing roller, and I provide adjusting
screws by which these rollers can be set more or less forwards towards the axis of the
mandril. The axis of each roller has a pinion gearing with a pinion on the mandril,
the gearing being so proportioned that the circumferences of the rollers have the same
speed as the circumference of the formed tube.
The mandril and rollers being caused to revolve, the strip of metal after passing
between corrugating rollers and a strip of the packing material are brought, at the
angle suitable to the helix, up to the mandril and are made to revolve with it under-.
going the pressure af the three oblique rollers by which the convolutions are pressed
into shape and caused to interlock with each other having the packing strip 'engaged
in each lock. As the tube becomes formed on the mandril, it is caused by the oblique
action of the pressing rollers to be pushed continuously off the mandril, but, the
better to ensure this movement, I fix on the face plate a hellically shaped 'collar
. against which the last formed convolution of the tube bears so as to be always inclined
'forwards.
In order to support the formed tube which has passed off from the mandril, and
which is revolving I provide a supporting tube or band which is free to revolve or
which is driven at a speed suitable to that of the tube so that the tube can travel
along this support while it continues to revolve. In some cases I apply driving
rollers to the part of the tube already formed on the mandril, and in this case the
gearing for driving the pressing rollers may be dispensed with, allowing them to
revolve by frictional contact.
Fig. 1. of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation.
Fig. 3 is a plan, of a machine according to my invention. Fig. 4 is a section to an
enlarged scale of the head and face plate. Fig. 5 is an elevation and Fig. 6 is a
transverse section of the corrugating machine. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sections
of the corrugated inetal strips at different stages of the process.
On a lathe bed is fastened the head A which is sunk to receive the face plate or
chuck O. On the chuck O are fixed three beds or boxes N in which slide bearings
for milling or pressing rollers c having their axes inclined at an angle to suit the pitch
of the helical tube. By adjusting screws the rollers c can be pressed more or less
against the mandril K.
The axis of each pressing roller c extends backwards and has on it a pinion b gearing
with a pinion a on the mandril K. On the face plate C is fixed the helically shaped
collar & surrounding the mandril K. On the head A is mounted a reel M on which
is wound the packing material, which is led from the reel through eyelets e into
the corrugated metal strips as they pass between the lower pressing roller c and
the mandril K. The corrugated metal strips are themselves led by rollers'P,
they may pass directly from the corrugating machine Figs. 5 'and '6.
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The mandril K is made with its end tapered and inserted into a socket of the shaft C
where it is held by a 'cotter L.
The shaft C turns in two bearings B and is free to move a little longitudinally
towards the head A or to be pushed backwards by the fork lever D. The forward
notion of C is determined by nuts E screwed on it. Fitted with a feather J on the
shaft C is a wheel F gearing with a shrouded pinion G on the driving shaft Q, on
which are the fast and loose pulleys H. At starting work, the shaft C is retracted
bringing back the front end of the mandril K in which is cut a notch to receive the
end of the metal strip. The shaft C being then set in motion, the strip is. wound
round the mandril which gradually advances a little till its advance is stopped, after
which the winding of the strip 'continues forming a tube which gradually leaves the
inandril.
In the corrugating machine Figs. 5 and 6 a frame R carries the two shafts T of the
corrugating rollers S, which shafts T are geared together by the pinions Y, and are
driven through the wheel and pinion W from the shaft carrying the fast and loose
pulleys X. Set screws U adjust the pressure of the rollers S.

page_text: The flat metal strip is led along a guide slot in a plate between the rollers S, by
which it receives the shape shewn in Fig. VII. After passing the rollers, the strip is
pushed through a drawing die tool g which gradually brings it to the shape shewn in
Fig. VIII. the edges h bent somewhat inwards. In this shape the strip passes to the
tube making machine by which it is farther bent so as to interlock its successive
convolutions with a strip of packing material engaged in each as shewn by
Fig. IX.
.
The tube as it passes from the mandril K. Fig. I, revolving at the same
time as it advances is conveniently supported by leading it along inside a pipe Z
Fig. X which is driven at a speed suited to that of the tube which rolls
within it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perfórmed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for making flexible metallic tubes, the combination of a revolving
mandril, a face plate carrying three adjustable pressing rollers inclined to and driven
by the mandril, a reel with guide eyes for the packing strip and obliquely set guide
rollers for the corrugated metal strip, substantially as herein described.
2. For corrugating the metallic strip above referred to, the combination of a plate
slotted to guide the flat strip, a pair of corrugating rollers, and a die plate formed to
turn in the edges of the corrugated strip, substantially as described.
3. For supporting the formed flexible tube as it travels and revolves, a revolving
pipe through which the tube passes and in which it freely rolls, substantially as
described.
Dated this 11th day of March 1890.