CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF WELDING TUBES, PIPES, OR HOLLOW RODS OF MALLEABLE IRON BY MACHINERY
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HARDY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, humbly represent unto Her present most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that I had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PROCESS OF WELDING TUBES, PIPES, OR HOLLOW RODS OF MALLEABLE IRON
BY MACHINERY;" and Her said Majesty, being willing to give encouragement
to all arts and inventions which may be for the public good, was graciously
pleased, by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the
Twenty-eighth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four, in
the seventh year of Her reign, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, to give
and grant unto me, the said James Hardy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I
or they, by myself or themselves, or by my or their deputies, servants, or
agents, or such others as I or they should agree with, and no others, during
the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention within
that part of Her said Majesty's Dominions called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, in such manner as to me, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, shall seem meet, and as that I or they shall enjoy
the whole profit and advantage arising by reason of the said Invention during
A

page_text: the said term of fourteen years; and for that end Her said Majesty requires and
strictly commands all Her subjects whatsoever, within England, Wales, and
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands and Colonies and Plantations aforesaid,
that they shall not, neither directly nor indirectly, make, use, or put in practice
my said Invention or any part thereof, nor in anywise counterfeit, imitate, or
resemble the same, nor make any addition thereto or subtraction therefrom,
whereby to pretend himself or themselves to be the 'inventor or inventors
thereof: And whereas the said Letters Patent contain a proviso obliging me,
the said James Hardy, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by
the same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Hardy, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following, and by the aid of the Sheet of Drawing
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My said improvements relate to the process of welding tubes, pipes, or
hollow rods of malleable iron by machinery of the kind or description com-
monly called revolving grooved rollers, which process was invented by Henry
Osborn, who obtained a Patent for the same on or about the First day of
March, One thousand eight hundred and seventeen, and who brought the said
process into use for the welding of short and thick iron tubes for making gun
barrels at his manufactory called the Bordsley Works, Birmingham, and which
process has since become common in Birmingham; and in the said process,
as hitherto practised, two revolving grooved rollers are used, one such being
placed above another like roller, so that the two rollers constitute a pair, which
are turned round by means of wheelwork, with equal and corresponding
motions; and the heated skelp or piece of prepared iron which is to be welded
into a short and thick tube is passed through between such pair of revolving
grooved rollers in such manner as to effect the welding of the edges of the
iron skelp together, a mandril being used for keeping open the interior hollow
through the tube. According to my said improvements, at least three revolving
grooved rollers are to be used, such rollers being disposed one above another
so as to constitute in effect and operation at least two pairs of revolving
grooved rollers, the middle roller of the three being common to both pairs, the
said three (or more) rollers being mounted one above the other with their
axis or central lines horizontal and parallel one to another in a suitable

page_text: framing for retaining them all securely in their respective places, with their
circumferences in contact one with the other, and the grooves around the
middlemost roller corresponding to the grooves around the uppermost and
lowermost rollers, and all three rollers are turned round in proper directions
by means of toothed wheelwork connected with a water wheel or steam engine,
so that the adjacent surfaces of the rollers which are respectively in contact
will all move in the same direction and with the same velocity, the con-
struction of the grooved rollers and their said framing and toothed wheelwork
being very similar to the like parts of ordinary revolving grooved rollers, such
as are used in Henry Osborn's process, except as to the addition of a third
roller herein-before mentioned, and the adaptation of the framing for receiving
and sustaining such third roller, and the toothed wheelwork for turning the
same round. The skelp (as the piece of iron is called) which is to be welded
into a tube, pipe, or hollow rod, is in the first instance a flat plate or strip of
malleable iron, which has been prepared by rolling the iron when red hot
between pairs of revolving rollers, so as to flatten the iron to an uniform thick-
ness and breadth, the said thickness and breadth being exactly suited to the
kind of tube, pipe, or hollow rod which is to be welded. Such flat plate or
strip is then further prepared by being turned up, that is, bended or curled up
into the form of a hollow cylinder, or of an irregular form approaching to the
form of a cylinder, with the edges of the strip of iron meeting edge to edge,
or nearly so, or those edges overlapping each other, as may be preferred. All
which preparation of the iron into a skelp, and the turning up of such skelp
to a cylindrical (or nearly cylindrical) form, is to be (or may be) performed in
the usual and well-known manner, as commonly practised in manufacturing of
welded iron tubes or pipes; and the same may be said of the heating of the
prepared iron skelp to a welding heat in a suitable furnace, either in what is
called an air furnace or in what is called a blast furnace, all which may be
performed as usual; and immediately that the prepared iron skelp is with-
drawn from the furnace at a welding heat, it is passed through between the
middlemost and the lowermost of the three revolving rollers in two correspond-
ing grooves of those rollers, which by their motion draw in and pass the heated
iron through between them, and by their squeezing pressure the welding of
the edges of the prepared iron is effected whilst so passing, and what is called a
mandril may be used (in manner herein-after explained) for keeping open the
interior hollow or passage, through the tube, pipe, or hollow rod, to a proper size
during the passage of the heated iron through between the revolving rollers;
and immediately after the heated iron has so passed through, and its edges
have become welded, then it is raised upwards as much as the diameter of

page_text: the middlemost of the three revolving rollers, and the iron, retaining its hori-
zontal position in being so raised, is then repassed without any delay through
between the middlemost and the uppermost of the said three revolving rollers
in two corresponding grooves of those rollers, which by their motion draw in
and pass the heated iron through between them a second time, and by their
squeezing pressure render the welding more complete; and a mandril may be
used (in manner herein-after explained) at the said second time of passing the
iron for keeping open the interior hollow or passage through the tube, pipe,
or hollow rod, in the same (or in a similar) manner as the first time. The
endway motion of the iron during the said second time of passing between the
revolving grooved rollers will be in a contrary direction to that of the endway
motion during the first time of passing, so that if the iron moved in a direction
away from the furnace (wherein it had been heated) during the first time of
passing, it would return again in a direction towards the said furnace during
the said second time of passing. The interval of time between the first and
second time of passing the iron through between the revolving grooved rollers
will be so short that the iron will retain a sufficient welding heat during the
second time of passing for completing the welding of any part which may have
escaped complete welding during the first time of passing. The heated iron
is to be turned one fourth round about the axis or central line of the hollow
through the tube or pipe, after it has been passed through the first time,
and before repassing it or passing it through the second time as aforesaid, so
that different parts of the circumference of the tube will be operated upon
by the squeezing pressure of the rollers at the second time from those
which were operated upon at the first time of passing as aforesaid, because
the pressure of the revolving grooved rollers is principally operative at the
upper and under part of the circumference of the iron of the tube or pipe
when it is passing through between the rollers, and by turning the tube or
pipe partly round in manner aforesaid all the parts of the circumference of
the tube or pipe become properly operated upon and squeezed in their turn.
The grooves around the lowermost of the three revolving rollers are to be a
very little deeper than the corresponding grooves around the middlemost roller;
but the corresponding grooves around the uppermost roller are to be a very
little shallower than the aforesaid grooves around the middlemost roller, in
order that the apertures which are left between the corresponding grooves of
the lowermost and middlemost rollers may be rather larger than the apertures
which are left between the corresponding grooves of the uppermost and the
middlemost rollers, so that the iron, after having passed the first time through
a larger aperture between the corresponding grooves of the lowermost and

page_text: middlemost rollers will afterwards be very slightly reduced to a somewhat smaller
size in passing the second time through a smaller aperture between the upper-
most and middlemost rollers, and therefore the iron will be properly squeezed
at each time of passing. And note, although the apertures left between the
corresponding grooves of three revolving rollers cannot be exactly circular,
they will be near enough to a circular form for the purpose. The turning of
the heated iron partly round about the axis or central line of the hollow
through the tube, in manner aforesaid, after it has passed through the first
time, and before passing it through the second time, will have the effect of
compensating for the very small inexactness of the apertures from a truly
circular form. Note, the arrangement of three revolving rollers one above
another, with suitable framing for sustaining them, and wheelwork for turning
them round, and the passing of heated iron through between the lowermost
and middlemost rollers, and then repassing it immediately in a contrary direc-
tion between the uppermost and middlemost rollers, is not a new invention as
applied to the rolling of iron bars; but such rollers have not been hitherto
used in the process of welding tubes, pipes, or hollow rods of malleable iron;
and as to the use and application of a mandril, as herein-before mentioned,
for keeping open the interior hollow of the tube whilst it is passing through
between the rollers, and when the edges of the iron are in the act of being
welded together, the mandril used by Henry Osborn, and brought into use
by him, is an iron rod with a handle at one end for the workman to hold it by,
and an enlargement or bulb at the other end, the diameter of that bulb being
nearly of the size that the interior hollow through the tube is intended to be
left open in the act of welding the iron, and the bulb end of such mandril is
inserted into and thrust quite through the interior hollow of the prepared iron
skelp whilst the same is lying in the furnace, and after the iron has required
a proper welding heat therein, the rod or stem of the mandril, when so
inserted, enabling the workman, by means of the handle of the mandril, to lift
and remove the heated iron conveniently from the furnace, and to transport
the same quickly to the revolving grooved rollers, and there to present
one end of the heated iron to the corresponding grooves of the two
rollers which constitute the pair of rollers, so as that they may, by
their motion, take in the iron, and pass it through between them;
but when the said end of the iron is first entered in between the rollers, the
bulb end of the mandril is within the interior hollow of the iron at that said
end thereof which is so first entered, and the bulb gives internal support to
the iron, to prevent it from being closed in by the squeezing pressure that is
exerted by the rollers on the iron during the act of welding; but when the

page_text: heated iron is carried forwards by the motion of the rollers so as to be passed
through between them, the mandril is detained from accompanying the iron
in its said motion by means of a fixed stop (which stands opposite to the
front of the rollers) catching and detaining an enlargement or projecting
shield on the handle of the mandril, so that the bulb end of the mandril
will be detained motionless opposite to the place of the gripe between
the rollers, but that bulb end being within the hollow through the
heated iron whilst that iron is passed forwards and carried through between
the rollers by their motion, so that the heated iron will be passed over the
said motionless bulb, which will consequently act in succession within every
part of the length of the interior hollow through the heated iron, to give
internal support, and prevent the iron from being closed in by the squeezing
pressure that is exerted by the rollers on the exterior surface of the iron
during the act of welding. And Henry Osborn's said mode of using a
mandril is in effect that the bulb at the end thereof shall be detained
motionless within the hollow through the heated iron whilst it is. passing
through between the rollers, but that bulb being so detained opposite to
the place where the gripe between the rollers is operating on the outside of
the heated iron, the said bulb being so detained at the said place for the
purpose of giving internal support to the iron in the act of welding the edges.
thereof, and for keeping open the internal hollow to its full intended size.
And Henry Osborn's said mode of using a mandril is now commonly used
for the welding cf short and thick iron tubes for making gun barrels, in very
nearly the same manner as he himself practised at Bordesley Works aforesaid.
And of late years a modification of Henry Osborn's said mode of using a
mandril has been brought into use for welding tubes or pipes of malleable
iron of greater length than are usually made by Henry Osborn's own mode
aforesaid. In such modification the stem or long rod of the mandril is
disposed at the back of the rollers in a horizontal direction, with the bulb
at the end of the mandril lodged in one of the apertures left between the
grooves around the rollers, the other end of the stem of the mandril being
sustained by a firm stop, which stands opposite to the back of the rollers,
and which will prevent the mandril from moving endways away from the
rollers, and will thereby detain the bulb motionless opposite to the place of
the gripe between the rollers. The size of the bulb is nearly the same as
the size to which the interior hollow through the iron is intended to be kept
open during the act of welding. The heated iron skelp, when it is withdrawn
from the furnace, is presented with one end of it to the pointed end of the
bulb of the mandril (which end protrudes the said aperture), and the iron is

page_text: thrust with its hollow upon that pointed end until the said end of the heated
iron comes in contact with the aperture formed by the grooves of the revolving
rollers, so as to be caught and taken in between them by their motion, and
thereby the iron is carried through between; but the bulb of the mandril
remains motionless within the hollow of the iron at the same time whilst the
iron is thus carried forwards between the rollers, so that the heated iron will
be passed over the said motionless bulb, which will consequently act in
succession within every part of the length of the interior hollow through the
heated iron, to give internal support, and prevent the iron from being closed
in by the squeezing pressure that is exerted by the rollers on the exterior
surface of the iron during the act of welding. Wherefore the said action of
the bulb end of the mandril is the same as in Henry Osborn's own mode
above described of using the mandril, the only difference being as to the
direction in which the stem of the mandril is placed for the purpose of
keeping the said bulb motionless in its intended place within the hollow of
the iron whilst the same is passing through between the revolving rollers. In
Henry Osborn's own mode the stem of the mandril is: used in front of the
rollers, and the said stem (which is short) is inserted into the hollow through
the heated iron previously to that iron being presented to the revolving rollers.
The end of the heated iron with the bulb of the mandril in that end are pre-
sented at the same time to the action of the rollers, and by that action the iron
is drawn off from the stem of the mandril over the bulb of the mandril, leaving
the stem by itself in front of the rollers. In the modification of that mode the
stem of the mandril (which is usually a long stem) is behind the rollers, and it
is lodged in its place with its bulb end in the aperture left between the grooves
of the revolving rollers previously to the heated iron being presented to them.
And when the heated iron is presented to the revolving rollers, the end of it is
first thrust with its hollow upon the protruding pointed end of the bulb of the
mandril, and the said end of the heated iron is thereupon caught and taken in
between the revolving rollers, and carried through between them, and in so doing
the heated iron is passed over the bulb of the mandril and on to the stem thereof
which is behind the rollers, and hence the said stem requires to be afterwards
withdrawn by the workman from out of the interior hollow of the iron.
The nature of the said two modes of applying a mandril to revolving
grooved rollers for the welding of iron tubes, and the distinction between
the two, being understood, I will proceed to explain the manner in which I
apply and use a mandril in conjunction with three revolving rollers, according
to my improvements.
The same mandril is made to serve for the first and for the second time of

page_text: passing the heated iron through between the revolving rollers, and the stem
of that mandril is behind the rollers in both cases. The bulb end of the
mandril is pointed at the extremity, in the same manner as in the modifica-
tion of Henry Osborn's mode, and the bulb conjoins to the stem of the man-
dril with an easy tapering curve in the same manner as in Henry Osborn's
own mode. The stem of the mandril is somewhat longer than the length of
the iron which is to be welded into a tube, the diameter of that stem being
much smaller than the diameter of the bulb, which latter must be nearly
of the size to which the hollow through the iron is intended to be kept open
during the act of welding. The extremity of the stem of the mandril has two
circular disks, screwed or otherwise fastened) upon it, so as to project all round
in a suitable manner for catching against suitable fixed stops, which are pro-
vided at an adequate distance behind the rollers, for retaining the mandril
motionless, and preventing it from being moved endways by action of the
heated iron when the same is in the act of being carried through between the
revolving rollers and passed over the bulb at the other end of the stem of the
mandril. At the first time of passing the heated iron through between the
lowermost and the middlemost of the three revolving rollers (as herein-before
mentioned), the mandril is to be placed with its bulb in the aperture formed
between two corresponding grooves of the lowermost and middlemost rollers,
and with the stem of the mandril in a horizontal position behind the said
rollers, one of the prominent disks at the extremity of the stem of the mandril
being lodged in due contact with one of the fixed stops which are provided
as aforesaid at a suitable distance behind the rollers, for the purpose of
preventing the mandril from being moved endways, in all which circum-
stances the mandril is applied nearly in the same manner as in what has
been herein-before described as the modification of Henry Osborn's mode,
and likewise the mandril is to be used nearly in the same manner, for
when the prepared iron skelp has been heated in the furnace to a welding
heat, it is withdrawn by a workman from the furnace with tongs, and without
delay one end of the heated iron is presented to the pointed end of the bulb
of the mandril, which is lodged in the aperture formed by two corresponding
grooves of the lowermost and middlemost revolving rollers, as already stated,
and the iron is thrust with its hollow upon the said pointed end (which end
protrudes forwards through the said aperture) until the said end of the heated
iron comes in contact with the aperture formed by the said grooves of the
revolving rollers, so as to be caught and taken in between them by their
motion, and thereby the iron is carried through between the revolving rollers;
but the bulb of the mandril remains motionless within the hollow of the iron

page_text: at the same time whilst the iron is thus carried forward between the rollers,
so that the heated iron will be passed over the said motionless bulb, which
will consequently act in succession within every part of the length of the interior
hollow through the heated iron, to give internal support, and prevent the iron
from being closed in by the squeezing pressure that is exerted by the rollers
on the exterior surface of the iron during the act of welding. And as soon
as the heated iron has been carried in manner aforesaid all its length through
between the lowermost and middlemost of the revolving rollers, and has been
thereby carried all its length over the stem of the mandril behind the rollers,
then without any delay the heated iron (which is now become a welded tube,
but is still at a welding heat), together with the mandril within it, is to be
quickly lifted upwards, both ends alike, (or with a motion parallel to itself,) as
much as the diameter of the middlemost roller, the heated iron tube, and the
mandril within it, retaining its horizontal position in being so raised, and it is
then repassed between the revolving rollers a second time, as already men-
tioned, but in so repassing the mandril is applied and used nearly in a similar
manner to Henry Osborn's own mode aforesaid, for the end of the heated
iron tube, with the bulb of the mandril within that end, is presented to the
aperture formed by two corresponding grooves of the uppermost and the
middlemost of the three revolving rollers, which by their motion catch and draw
in the said end of the heated ircn tube, and also at the same instant the
other of the two prominent discs before mentioned, at the extremity of the
stem of the mandril, is lodged in due contact with the other of the fixed stops
which are provided for it at a suitable distance behind the rollers, as already
mentioned, and which stop will detain the mandril so as to prevent it from
moving any farther endways along with the heated iron tube than just so
much as to carry the bulb end of the mandril as far as the place of the gripe
between the rollers (that bulb end being within the hollow of the heated iron
tube, and there the mandril is detained motionless whilst the heated iron tube
is passed onwards and carried through between the rollers by their motion, so
that the heated iron tube will be passed over the said motionless bulb, which
will consequently act in succession within every part of the length of the
interior hollow of the heated iron tube, to give internal support, and prevent
the iron from being closed in by the squeezing pressure that is exerted by the
rollers on the exterior surface of the iron during the said second time of
passing through between the rollers, and during which second time, as
already explained, the welding of any part which may have escaped complete
welding at the first time becomes completely welded, and during which
second time the iron tube is drawn off from the stem of the mandril, leaving

page_text: the same by itself behind the rollers. And whereas the iron, which is now
become a completely welded tube, moves in a direction towards the furnace
during its said second time of passing through between the rollers, it may be
returned into the furnace for reheating, if that is required, but in general
that will not be requisite. And the welded tube may, if it is required to be
elongated, be passed (without any mandril in it) through an aperture formed
by two corresponding grooves of the lowermost and middlemost revolving
rollers, and immediately after coming through from between them the tube
may be lifted upwards, and repassed through an aperture fornied two
corresponding grooves of the uppermost and middlemost revolving rollers,
and such passing and repassing may be repeated as often as is desirable for
elongating the tube, the aperture through which the same is passed or repassed
at each succeeding time being smaller than the aperture through which it was
passed or repassed at the preceding time; and the iron being reheated in
the furnace, if necessary, during such repetitions of passing and repassing
for elongation, which operation does not require a welding heat, but only
a bright red heat; and in case of so passing and repassing the tube several
times between the rollers for the purpose of elongation, the iron of the skelp
must be of suitable thickness in the first instance, in order to provide suffi-
cient metal for the intended elongation. That is the ordinary practice in
making gun barrels, which are begun in the form of short thick tubes, which
are welded twice or more times between a pair of revolving grooved rollers,
with the aid of a mandril, by Henry Osborn's process, and are afterwards
elongated by repeatedly passing the welded tube at a red heat through between
a pair of revolving grooved rollers; and that mode of proceeding may be
adopted in manufacturing tubes, pipes, or hollow rods, according to my im-
provements, using three (or more) revolving rollers for such elongation of the
welded tubes, by passing and repassing them in manner herein-before stated
between such three (or more) revolving rollers, without any mandril, in a similar
manner (except as to the absence of the mandril) to that herein-before described
for the welding of the said tubes in the first instance with a mandril; and in case
of the tubes being elongated considerably in manner aforesaid, it will be best
to finish them at the last with a mandril of suitable size of bulb and length
of stem, applied and used in the manner as herein-before described for the
welding, and with the iron reheated so as to be sufficiently soft (but not heated
to a welding heat), in order that such mandril may clear out and open the
interior hollow of the elongated tubes to the full intended size, and render the
same true and smooth withinside; and such finishing with a mandril may be
done by passing only once, or it may be repeated by passing and repassing the

page_text: elongated tubes with the mandril in the same manner as already described
for repeating the welding, passing and repassing the heated iron with the
mandril, first between the lowermost and middlemost of the three revolving
rollers, and then between the uppermost and middlemost of those rollers.
And note, the apertures formed between the corresponding grooves in the
uppermost and middlemost of the three revolving rollers must (as already
mentioned) be somewhat smaller than the apertures formed between the
corresponding grooves in the lowermost and middlemost of the three re-
volving rollers. And to accomplish that condition more completely, the
middlemost roller may have twice as many grooves around it as the lowermost
and uppermost rollers have respectively around each of them; in which case
there may be one set of grooves around the middlemost roller, which corre-
spond to the grooves around the lowermost roller in width as well as in depth
of the grooves, and another distinct set of grooves around the middlemost
roller, which correspond to the grooves around the uppermost roller in width
as well as in depth of the grooves, and then the grooves, in the lowermost and
niiddlemost rollers which correspond one to another, and, consequently, the
apertures formed by those corresponding grooves may be rather larger than
the grooves in the uppermost and middlemost rollers which correspond one
to another, and, consequently, rather larger than the apertures formed by those
corresponding grooves. And a suitable guide or mouthpiece (which may be
formed like the mouth of a trumpet) should be fixed up exactly opposite to
the first of those apertures through which the heated iron is to be passed for
effecting the welding, in order to conduct the heated iron truly into the said
aperture, without risk of varying to one side or the other. The three revolving
rollers should by their corresponding grooves form a series of apertures dimi-
nishing in size by small degrees of diminution, the largest aperture being at one
end of the rollers, and formed between the lowermost and middlemost rollers,
for the first passing and welding of the heated iron; then the next aperture in
succession, which is only a very little smaller in size, being over or nearly over
the said largest aperture, and formed between the uppermost and middlemost
rollers, for the repassing and second welding of the same heated iron; then the
next smallest aperture in succession being by the side of the first-mentioned
largest aperture, and between the lowermost and middlemost rollers, which
aperture may be decidedly smaller than the preceding one, to qualify it for the
first passing of the welded tube, without any mandril therein for the purpose of
elongation, as already explained; then the next smallest aperture in succession,
being over or nearly over the aperture last mentioned, and between the uppermost
and middlemost rollers, may be used for repassing the iron a second time for

page_text: elongation, without any mandril being by the side of the aforesaid aperture,
which is for repassing and second welding, and so on for as many apertures as
may be required for the elongation of the welded tubes, all those apertures
diminishing in size by proper degrees of difference. But note, in case it is
preferred that the tubes should be welded from skelps of thick iron and in
short lengths, and afterwards to undergo a great extent of elongation, then a
more extensive series of diminishing apertures will be required for repeatedly
passing and repassing the tubes between the three revolving rollers without
any mandril, in order to produce the required extent of elongation; and the
iron will require to be reheated during the progress of such repeatedly passing
and repassing for elongation. In such case it may be more convenient to
employ an additional set of three revolving grooved rollers for performing so
much of the said passing and repassing for elongation as must be performed
after the reheating aforesaid, the said additional set of three revolving
grooved rollers being provided with the means of using a mandril, as already
mentioned, for the purpose of clearing out and smooth-finishing of the interior
hollow of the tubes at the last time or times of passing or repassing them
through the smallest-sized apertures of the series, after the intended elongation
has been produced, wherefore in such case two sets of three revolving rollers
will be used, the first set being that which has been herein-before firstly de-
scribed, and that first set having a series of apertures beginning with the largest
size, and then another aperture only a very little smaller in size, suitably for the
first passing and then repassing the heated iron for the two weldings thereof
over a mandril, and the other succeeding apertures being smaller and smaller
by regular degrees of diminution, and there being at least two more apertures
in the said first set of three revolving rollers than the number of times that a
tube will admit of being passed and repassed through for elongation without
any mandril, with the heat retained by it from the original welding heat, before
the iron becomes so much cooled as to require reheating; and the other or
second set of three revolving grooved rollers being similar to the aforesaid first
set, except as to the sizes of the apertures, which form a regular continuation
of the series of diminishing apertures from the aforesaid first set; the aper-
tures in the second set being adapted for the passing and repassing of the
tubes for elongation without any mandril after the iron has been reheated,
those tubes having been previously passed and repassed for elongation without
any mandril (as already mentioned) as many times through the apertures of
the first set as the iron would admit of with the heat it retained from its
original welding heat without reheating the iron; and the said second set
having as many diminishing apertures as may be required for continuing the

page_text: passing and repassing of the reheated tubes for elongation without any mandril
as many times as will produce the required extent of elongation; or, instead
of having two sets of three revolving rollers as aforesaid, the rollers of the
aforesaid first set thereof may be long enough to contain a complete series
of grooves for performing the elongation without a mandril, as well as the
welding upon a mandril, and also the smooth-finishing of the interior hollow
of the elongated tubes upon a mandril, after the passing and repassing for elon-
gation without any mandril has been performed. And note, in any case the
aperture or apertures through which the elongated tube is to be passed over a
mandril for the said smooth-finishing of the interior hollow will be the smallest
sized aperture in the series of diminishing apertures which has been used for
welding and elongating such tube; but respecting the size of the said aper-
ture or apertures through which the elongated tubes are so to be passed over a
mandril at the last time of passing or times of passing and repassing for
smooth-finishing of the interior hollow, the said aperture or apertures shall be
of very nearly the same size as (and not much smaller than) the last aperture
through which the same tubes were passed or repassed for elongation without
a mandril at the preceding time to that last time or times when a mandril is
to be used as aforesaid for smooth-finishing the interior hollow, because it is
not required at that time to exert much squeezing compressure such as is
absolutely necessary for producing elongation); but it is sufficient if the
external surface of the iron of the tube is firmly retained to its previous size
without permitting any enlargement of that size whilst the mandril is acting
withinside of the tube.
Fig. 1 of the Drawing hereunto annexed is a front elevation, Fig. 2, a side
clevation, and Fig. 3, a back elevation of a set of three revolving rollers
of the kind herein-before described, the representation in the said Figures
being by way of example and illustration, as the construction of such rollers,
with their framing and wheelwork, may be greatly varied, without affecting
their operation herein-before described. A is the middlemost of the three
revolving rollers, B, the lowermost, and C, the uppermost of those rollers.
D. D, the cast-iron standards of the framing containing brass bearings, in
which the several necks or pivots of the rollers are sustained. a, a, are setting
screws at the upper parts of the framing D, D, for holding down the said brass
bearings, and the screws a, a, are set or adjusted so as that the three rollers
will be kept with the surfaces of their circumferences in easy contact one with
the other, but will be firmly retained from separating one from the other when
the rollers are revolving and the heated iron is passing through between them.
E, F, G, are three toothed pinions fastened on the ends of the pivots or axes of

page_text: the three roners A, D, V. Ine three pinions are all alike as to size and
number of teeth, and their teeth act together in order to cause all the three
rollers to turn round with equal velocities, and each roller in the proper
direction, so that the circumferences of the three rollers will accompany cach
other at the places where they are respectively in contact one with the other;
viz, the highest part of the surface of the circumference of the lowermost
roller B is in contact with the lowest part of the surface of the circumference
of the middlemost roller A, and the highest part of the surface of the circum-
ference of the middlemost roller A is in contact with the lowest part of the
surface of the circumference of the uppermost roller C. The power of the
water wheel or steam engine by which the rollers are to be turned round may
be communicated to the axis of the lowermost roller B, or to the axis of the
middlemost roller A, by means of any suitable connecting axis such as II.
The parts
above described are much the same as those of revolving rollers in
common use for rolling iron, except as to the three rollers instead of two, and
the increased height of the standards D, D, for containing three rollers; but,
as already stated, sets of three rollers have been and are used for rolling iron
bars; and there is no new Invention in the construction of the rollers repre-
sented in the Drawing, or their framing or wheelwork. The grooves around
the circumferences of the three rollers A, B, C, appear in the front view,
Figure 1, and those grooves, by their correspondence, leave apertures between
them for the heated iron to be passed through, which apertures are very nearly
of a circular form, as already mentioned. Each roller is represented with four
grooves around its circumferences (see Figure 1); and the correspondences
of the several grooves leave eight nearly circular apertures which form a
series diminishing in size by suitable differences, as already explained; the
two largest of the apertures, which are nearly alike in size, are to be
used for welding with a mandril, and the other apertures are to be used
for elongation without a mandril; but the number of grooves in the
rollers, and, consequently, the number of apertures, may be varied at pleasure.
I and K, Figures 2 and 3, are the fixed stops, which are set up at a suitable
distance behind the rollers, as already mentioned, for the purpose of catching
the projecting circular disks at the end of the stem of the mandril, so as to
retain the mandril motionless whilst the heated iron is carried over the bulb end
of the mandril, when the heated iron is in the act of passing through between
the revolving rollers, as herein-before explained. The stops I and K are flat
plates of iron fixed at suitable distances behind the rollers, the said plates
being supported on a standard L, L, which stands up from the floor, and is
held firm by a long horizontal bolt M, extending, as is seen in Figure 2, from

page_text: one of the standards D, D, of the framing, to the upper end of the standard L.
The distance between the stop plates I, K, and the vertical centre line of the
axis of the rollers, must suit the length of the mandril, and that must exceed
the length of the longest tube, pipe, or hollow rod that is required to be
welded by action of the rollers, and the length of the stem of the mandril (see
N, n, o, p, Figure 4.) is sufficient to reach from the said stop plates I or K to
the rollers, so that when the bulb n at the end of the mandril is lodged in
either of the apertures between the rollers, the other end of the stem of the
mandril will at the same time be lodged in the notch of one or other of the
stop plates I or K (shewn in Figure 3), which notches correspond to the two
largest apertures left between the corresponding grooves around the rollers
shewn in Figure 1, so that there is one notch for each of those apertures,
and exactly in the horizontal centre line or continuation thereof. The
mandril itself is shewn at N, n, o, p, in Figure 4, N being its long rod or
stem, and n the bulb at one end of it, and o, p, the two circular disks, which
are screwed (or otherwise fastened) on the stem N, near to the other end
thereof, as herein-before mentioned, and by the prominence of the disks o and
p from the stem N the flat surface of one or other of the disks o or p catches
against the sides of one or other of the notches in either of the top plates I or
K, when the end of the stem is lodged in such notch, which is done at the
same time when the bulb n at the end of the mandril is lodged within that
aperture between the rollers which corresponds to the said notch wherein the
end of the stem of the mandril is at the time lodged, and by the said catching
of the disks o or p against the sides of one or other of the said notches the
mandril is held motionless, and prevented from being moved endways. The
tendency of the action of the revolving rollers is to push the mandril endways
backwards when it is used in any of the apertures between the middlemost
and lowermost rollers A and B, and when heated iron is passed through
between those rollers from the front to the back, so as to be carried in that
direction over the bulb n at the end of the mandril. Therefore, when the
end of the stem of the mandril is lodged in the corresponding notch in
the lower stop plate I, then the disk o of the mandril, which disk is placed
before the said plate I (or at that side thereof which is nearest the
rollers) will be operative before or in front of the stop plate I, and
thereby the mandril will be prevented from moving endways in a back-
ward direction; but, on the contrary, the tendency of the action of the
revolving rollers is to pull the mandril endways forwards, when it is used
in any of the apertures between the middlemost and uppermost rollers
A and C, and when heated iron is repassed through between those rollers from

page_text: the back to the front, so as to be carried in that direction over the bulb n at
the end of the mandril. Therefore, when the end of the stem of the mandril
is lodged in the corresponding notch in the upper stop plate K, then the disk
p, which is placed behind the said plate K (or at that side thereof which is
farthest from the rollers), will be operative behind or at the back of the stop
plate K, and thereby the mandril will be prevented from moving endways in a
forward direction. And note, the distance at which the stop plates I and K
are fixed from the rollers, and the places of the disks o and p respectively on
the stem N of the mandril, must be such as will suit the conditions already
mentioned, videlicet, that the disc o is to be operative before or in front of the
lower stop plate I, and that the disk p is to be operative behind or at the
back of the upper stop plate K, and so as that the bulb n of the mandril will
be lodged in a proper manner in the aperture between the rollers in each case
(that is to say,) the principal portion of the length of the largest part of the
bulb n of the mandril should be before the gripe of the rollers A and B, (or,
in other words, before the vertical plane in which the axis of the rollers A
and B are situated,) whenever the bulb n is lodged in an aperture between the
middlemost and lowermost rollers A and B; but, on the contrary, the
principal portion of the length of the largest part of the bulb n of the mandril
should be behind the gripe of the rollers A and C, (or, in other words, behind
the vertical plane in which the axis of the rollers A and C are situated,)
whenever the bulb n is lodged in an aperture between the middlemost and
uppermost rollers A and C. The disks o and p at the end of the stem N of the
mandril may be each composed of two nuts, screwed in the manner of double or
.binding nuts on a screw thread, which is formed on the end of the stem N, and
by that mode each of the disks o and p can be adjusted as to its own proper
place on the stem N, so as to place the bulb n properly in each of the
apertures respectively, as aforesaid. The notch in the lower stop plate I is
open at the upper side, as shewn in Figure 3, because the end of the stem N
of the mandril is to be let down into that notch when it is lodged therein; but,
on the contrary, the notch in the upper stop plate K is open at the under side,
because the end of the stem N of the mandril is to be lifted up into that notch
when it is lodged therein. The following means are to be used for facilitating
the lifting up of the tube of heated iron with the mandril in it (in the
manner herein-before mentioned), after the said tube has been passed
through between the middlemost and lowermost A and B of the three rollers,
such lifting up being in preparation for repassing the same tube through
between the middlemost and uppermost of those rollers A and C whilst the
welding heat continues. A long horizontal axis of iron R, Figure 3, is

page_text: disposed.behind the rollers at the same level with the axis of the middlemost A,
of the three revolving rollers, the direction of the axis R being at right,
angles to the direction of the said axis of the roller.. The ends of the axis R
are supported in bearings at the lower ends of the suspending bearers S
(herein-after to be explained). The axis. R may be rather shorter than the
Longest tube that it is intended to weld by means of the rollers. The axis R
has two or more lever arms r, r, affixed to it, and projecting out from it at
right angles to it, but inclining downwards when they are at rest and are at
their lowest position; and at the lowest ends of those arms a long semi-
cylindrical trough T. or gutter of iron plate is fastened in a horizontal direction,
and parallel to the axis R, and so as that the horizontal centre .line of the
semi-cylinder T will be in exact correspondence of the central line of the,
largest aperture between two corresponding grooves of the middlemost and
lowermost rollers A and B, through which the heated iron is to be passed, 'in
manner already described, for welding the first time. When the mandril is
lodged in its place, as herein-before explained, in preparation for receiving the
heated iron which is to be welded (the bulb end of the mandril being lodged in;
the said aperture), and the end of its stem N lodged in a corresponding notch.in
the lower stop-plate I), then the semi-cylindrical trough T, being at its lowest.
position, will be concentric with the stem of the mandril, so that when the
heated iron is passed through between the revolving rollers over and upon the
stem N of the mandril, for the first time of welding, in the manner herein-before
described, then the heated iron will be received within the hollow of the semi-
cylindrical trough T, but without touching the same. The size of the semi-
cylindrical trough T should be no larger than requisite for so receiving the
heated iron without touching. And the instant after the heated iron has passed.
all its length through between the revolving rollers, then the end of the stem
N of the mandril is first lifted up. by a man taking hold of a handle att that
end of it, and lifting it sufficiently high to enable its disk o to pass over the
lower stop plate I, and then the mandril, with the heated iron tube upon it.
is drawn endways so far backwards as to withdraw the bulb n of the mandrik
from out of the said aperture between the rollers, and so far that the pointed
end of the bulb of the mandril will be quite behind the rollers, and at the same
time the semi-cylindrical trough T is, raised upwards, with a motion about its
axis R by effort of a man pressing down the end of a lever handle V, which is
fastened upon the.axis R, in order that the trough T may rise up beneath the
heated iron tube so as to receive and sustain the weight thereof (and of the
mandril that is within it), and then to carry the same upwards with a motion;
parallel to itself by the said man continuing to press the lever handle V lower

page_text: down until the trough T, with the heated iron tube and the mandril withinside
of it, are brought to correspond with the aperture between two corresponding
grooves of the middlemost and uppermost rollers A and C; and in the act of
being so raised by the effort of one man, as aforesaid, the other man, who
holds the handle at the end of the stem N of the mandril, and who at first
drew back the mandril with the heated tube upon it, as already mentioned,
that man afterwards pushes the mandril and the heated tube forward again, just
as he finds it requisite to do for causing the pointed end of the bulb of the
mandril to keep clear of the middlemost roller A when the mandril is descend-
ing, and in that way the end of the stem N of the mandril is guided so as to
pass upwards into the corresponding notch in the upper stop plate K, with the
disk p behind that stop plate K, and the said man lifts the end of the stem N
upwards into that notch in the proper manner (as herein-before explained), in
preparation for presenting the end of the heated iron tube to the revolving.
rollers, in order to be repassed between them then for repetition of the
welding. The said lifting up by motion of the semi-cylindrical trough T
about its axis R by aid of the lever V can be performed almost in an instant,
the proper extent of the ascending motion being regulated by suitable stops g.
which are fixed so as to intercept the lever V (or any other lever arm on the
axis R), and thereby limit the motion thereof, and consequently to determine
when the trough T has been raised high enough to be in exact correspondence
with the aperture between the middlemost and the uppermost rollers A and C,
between which the heated iron tube is about to be repassed. And after that
preparation (which may be performed almost in an instant), then the man
who holds the handle at the end of the stem N of the mandril thrusts the
same endways towards the revolving rollers as far as the disk p will permit it
to go, whereby the bulb » of the mandril becomes properly introduced into
the aperture between the rollers A and C, and almost at the same time he
pushes the heated iron tube endways towards the revolving rollers A and C,
so that it will be caught and drawn in between them in consequence of their
motion, and will be carried over the bulb of the mandril, which is kept
motionless in consequence of the disk p catching behind the stop plate K, and
detaining the mandril from moving endways towards the revolving rollers;
and after the heated iron tube has been thus repassed through between the
middlemost and uppermost rollers A and C, leaving the mandril by itself
behind the rollers, then the man who holds the handle at the end of the
stem N of the mandril (and which handle he has been holding upwards into
the notch in the stop plate K during all the time whilst the heated iron tube.
was repassing through between the revolving rollers), that man then lowers

page_text: the said handle down, and the other -man at the same time allows the lever
handle V to rise, and consequently the trough T to descend, whereby the
disk.o of the stem of the mandril becomes at liberty to pass below the upper
stop plate K, and then the said man withdraws the mandril endways, so as to
remove it entirely, and it is put into a trough of water, to cool it, in >readiness
for being used again; but another duplicate mandril, exactly similar, .is.used
for welding the succeeding tube or pipe. The trough T is lowered down by
the other man allowing the lever handle V to ascend as high as its stop W
will allow it to go, and that brings the trough T to rest in its lowest position,
when it is in correspondence with the aperture between the middlemost: and
lowermost rollers A and B, as before explained, and the ascent of the heated
iron tube, when it is lifted up in the trough T, in manner. aforesaid, being
performed with motion in a circular arch about the axis R, the effect of that
kind of motion is to cause the heated iron tube to become turned nearly one
fourth round about the central line of its cylindrical form, in the interval
between being passed between the revolving rollers for the first time of
welding, and being repassed for the second time or repetition of the welding.
The lever handle V, or some other lever arm affixed to the axis R, may have
a balance weight applied to it, for assisting the effort of the man to lift up the
trough T, with the heated iron tube and the mandril therein, in manner. afore-
said. Note, the notches in the stop plates I and K for the reception of the
stem N of the mandril are cut conformably, to the aforesaid motion, in a cir-
cular arch. When the heated iron is about to be passed between the revolving
rollers for welding the edges of that iron a first time, the mandril is previously
laid horizontally behind the rollers, with its bulb n lodged within the largest
of the apertures between the middlemost and lowermost rollers A and B, and
with the end of the stem N of the mandril lodged in the corresponding
notch in the lower stop plate I, with the prominent disk o in contact
with the front surface of that plate, as already mentioned. The bulb n
of the mandril, when so lodged in the said aperture, will protrude with
its pointed end through that aperture, and also the principal portion of the
length of the largest part of the bulb n will be before or in front of (or.nearer
to the furnace than) the gripe of the rollers A and B. In that state the
mandril is ready for receiving the heated iron, which is withdrawn from the
furnace as soon as it has required a welding heat, and then the end of it is
presented to tho pointed end of the bulb n of the mandril which protrudes
through the aperture, and the hollow of the heated iron is thrust upon that
pointed end until the said end of the heated iron comes in contact with the
aperture formed by the grooves of the revolving rollers A and B, and there-

page_text: upon they catch and draw in the end of the heated iron, and then go on to
carry the iron through between them. In so doing they pass it over the
bulb or of the mandril which is retained motionless within the hollow of the
iren by means of its stem N, and in consequence of the end thereof being
stopped by its disck o and the notch in the stop plate I, and being thereby
prevented from moving endways, and the squeezing pressure which the
revolving rollers exert upon the heated iron (and which pressure causes the
edges of the iron to be closed together so as to become welded) takes place
when that iron is passing through between the rollers, arrives near to and
actually at their gripe or place of nearest proximity (or, in other words, arrives
near to or actually at the plane wherein the axes of both the revolving rollers
are situated). Note, the heated iron is not in a regular cylindrical form when
it is withdrawn from the furnace, and when the end of it is presented as
aforesaid to the end of the mandril and to the revolving rollers. The pointed
end of the bulb n of the mandril has the effect of opening out any part of the
heated iron which may happen (in consequence of the irregularity of the form,
to be within the limits, or which may encroach upon the limits of the intended
true cylindrical hollow through the iron; and the squeezing action of the
revolving rollers gathers in all parts of the iron which extend out beyond the
intended true cylindrical form of the outside of the iron; and it is in the act
of so gathering in that the edges of the iron which are to be welded together
are brought into their proper relative positions, and are pressed in close con
tact so as to become welded together. The bulb n of the mandril being kept
motionless in manner aforesaid within the hollow of the iron at the same time
when the iron is moving by the action of the revolving rollers over the said
motionless bulb, and when those rollers are in the act of squeezing the iron
inwards, the said bulb n prevents any part of the iron being pressed further
in than the intended true cylindrical form requires; but the bulb n gives
internal support to the heated iron, and keeps open the interior hollow to its
full intended size, and thereby insures that the edges of the iron which are to
be welded together shall not escape from their intended contact one with the
other, as might otherwise happen in case those edges, or either of them, were
allowed to be pressed inwards into the space which is intended to be reserved
for the interior hollow. And whereas the bulb n of the mandril will have to
perform its said operation upon the heated iron before each part of the length
of that iron arrives in its turn at the gripe of the rollers, and will conclude its
said operation by the time when each part of the iron has actually arrived at
the gripe of the rollers, therefore the principal portion of the length of the
largest part of the bulb n of the mandril should be before the gripe of the

page_text: rollers, as already stated; and when the whole length of the heated iron has
been thus carried through between the revolving rollers, and passed over the
bulb of the mandril, and on to the stem thereof behind the rollers, the edges
of the iron will have become welded together by the effect of the squeezing
pressure of the rollers upon the heated iron, and the internal support given
thereto by the bulb of the mandril; and instantly after the heated iron has so
passed all its length through between the revolving rollers and over the stem
N of the mandril, then, without any delay, the heated iron (which is now
become a welded tube, but which still retains a welding heat,) is suddenly
lifted up by one workman pressing down the lever handle V at the same time
whilst another workman guides the handle at the end of the stem of the
mandril, in manner already explained, whereby the heated iron tube, together
with the mandril which is within it, is lifted up both ends alike or parallel
to itself with motion in a circular arch, so as to cause the heated iron tube to
be turned nearly one fourth round about the centre axes of its cylindrical'
form, and so as to bring the end of-the heated iron tube and of the mandril
within it exactly opposite to the aperture formed by two corresponding
grooves of the middlemost and uppermost rollers A and C, in preparation for
repassing the heated iron tube through between those rollers whilst the weld-
ing heat continues. Also, at the same time, the end of the stem N of the
mandril is guided upwards into the notch in the upper stop plate K, with
the disk p behind or at the back of that plate; and after such preparation
(which is performed almost in an instant) the end of the heated iron tube,
with the bulb of the mandril within that end, is presented to the said aper--
ture formed by the grooves of the revolving rollers A and C, by the man
pushing the heated iron tube and the mandril endways towards the rollers, so
that the end of the heated iron tube will be caught and drawn in between.
the revolving rollers by the motion thereof, the mandril moving along with
the heated iron tube at first for a little way until the largest part of the bulb
n of the mandril arrives fully at (and a very little way beyond) the place of
the gripe of the rollers, and then the disk p stops behind or against the back
surface of the stop plate K, so as to prevent the mandril moving any further,
and therefore the bulb-n at the end of the mandril is detained motionless
within the heated iron tube, whilst the same is carried onwards over that'
motionless bulb n, by the action of the revolving rollers, as the heated iron'
tube is repassed through between them, and is subjected to their squeezing
pressure, and thereby they now complete the welding of any parts of the
edges of the iron which may have escaped complete welding at the first time
of passing through between the rollers. The action of the rollers to exert a

page_text: squeezing pressure on the external surface of the heated iron tube, and the
action of the bulb n of the mandril to give internal support to the iron whilst
undergoing that pressure, are the same during the repassing of the heated iron
tube through between the rollers as the action which took place during the
previous passing through, the only difference being that during the repassing
the heated iron tube is drawn off from the stem of the mandril, leaving the same
by itself behind the rollers, whereas during the previous passing the heated iron
was carried over and on to the said stem, but which difference has no effect on
the operation of welding. And note, the aperture through which the heated
iron tube is repassed as aforesaid should be only a very little less in size than
the aperture through which the heated iron has been passed immediately
before, because it is not intended to elongate the tube during such repassing,
but only to repeat and complete the welding. And whereas the heated iron
tube is turned nearly one fourth round about the central line or axis of its
cylindrical form, as already stated, in the interval between the passing of it
through for the first time of welding and the repassing or repetition of the
welding of it for the second time, the result is that different parts of the
circumference of the tube become subject to the most squeezing action of
the revolving rollers; and in the same manner, during the passing and repass-
ing of the tube without any mandril for elongation, as herein-before described,
the tube should be turned round about its said central line, in the interval
between each time of passing and repassing (or of repassing and passing) the
tube between the revolving rollers. And for facilitating the said passing and.
repassing of the completely-welded tube between the revolving rollers, without
any mandril, for the purpose of elongation, the lifting up of the tube without
any mandril in it may be performed by using the semicylindrical trough T.
and lever handle V in the manner already described; so as to lift up the tube
from being opposite to any aperture between the middlemost and lowermost
of the rollers A and B in an instant after the tube has passed through such
aperture; and to raise the end of the tube up opposite to the next aperture in
succession of size between the middlemost and uppermost rollers A and C,
the mode of operating with the trough T for that purpose will be the same as
already explained, because the absence of the mandril makes no difference;
except as regards the stop plates I and K, which are not required when no
mandril is to be used; and Figure 3 explains that there are no such stop
plates opposite to any other of the apertures, except to those two largest-sized
apertures wherein the welding is to be performed. But it is necessary that
the horizontal axis R, of the semi-cylindrical trough T, shall, when required,
be removed laterally and parallel to itself, and in a nearly horizontally plane,

page_text: so far from its position, as represented at R in Figure 3, as that the said
trough T in performing its motion in a circular arch, as before described,
may be brought opposite to any other of the apertures left between the corre-
sponding grooves of the three revolving rollers, instead of being merely brought
5 opposite, as already described, to those two largest-sized apertures aforesaid
wherein the welding is to be performed, and the requisité lateral, horizontal,
and parrallel motion of the axis R, for effecting such lateral removal thereof,
is permitted by the manner in which it is supported in bearings at the lower
ends of the suspending bearers S, as herein-before mentioned, for the said
suspending bearers are the two vertical sides of a strongly-braced frame, as
shewn at S, S, 8, 5, in Figure 2, and upper ends of the suspending bearers
S, S, are themselves suspended from a strong horizontal axis W, which. is
firmly sustained at an adequate height above the axis R, but parallel thereto,
by means of any suitable supports; such, for instance, as the bracket X, from
the framing of the rollers for supporting one end, and the upper end of the
standard L for supporting the other end of the horizontal axis W; and by a
swinging motion of the frame S, S, 5, 8, Figure 2, about the axis W, from
which it is suspended, the axis R, together with the semi-cylindrical trough T,
can be removed laterally; but in so doing they will preserve their horizontally
positions and their parallelism to themselves. The stops 9 are fixed, as already
mentioned, so as to intercept the lever handle V (or any other lever arm on
the axis R), in order to stop the descent of the lever handle V, and thereby
limit the motion upwards of the trough T, and the similar stops W are fixed
so as to intercept and stop the ascent of the lever handle V, and thereby limit
the motion downwards of the trough T; and by those limitations the trough T
can be brought into exact correspondence as to height, either with the aper-
tures beneath the middlemost roller, or with the apertures above that roller.
Also the said stops 9 and w consist of notches cut out in fixed plates.
suitably for the reception of a pin fastened into and projecting laterally from
the lever handle V, and which pin, when lodged in any of the said notches,
and pressed and held therein, has the effect of retaining the axis R from
moving laterally; for whenever the man has moved the lever handle V as far
as it can go, either upwards or downwards, the said pin, becoming pressed
into one of the said notches, and being held therein, then retains all the
parts firmly immoveable; viz, the lever handle V, the axis R, with its suspend-
ing bearers or swinging frame S, S, s, s, and its lever arms r, r, and the semi-
cylindrical trough T, which trough T will be in exact correspondence with one
of the apertures between the rollers whenever it is so rendered immoveable.
But when the position of the lever handle V is not an extreme position (either

page_text: its highest or its lowest position), the said pin withdraws from out of the notch
wherein it was lodged, and then the aforesaid parts are set at liberty, so that
then, by means of motion of the swinging frame S, S, 8, 8, about its axis W, the
axis R and the trough T can be removed laterally, as much as is requisite for
bringing the end of the trough T opposite to any of the apertures between the
rollers; but nevertheless, before the trough T can be brought to the exact
height of either the lowest or the highest row of apertures, the projecting pin
of the lever handle V must enter into one or other of the notches in the
stops g or w, and the entrance of the said pin into such notch will ensure
that the trough T shall be in exact correspondence with one of the apertures
between the rollers. There are as many notches in the two stops g and
, Figure 3, as there are apertures between the rollers, so that for each
aperture there is a suitable notch for enabling the trough T to be placed in
exact correspondence with such aperture. In the Drawing eight notches and
eight apertures are represented, but the number may be varied, as already
stated. A corresponding apparatus of the same kind as has been described
may be provided at the front of the rollers; viz, a semi-cylindrical trough T,
axis R, lever arms r, r, lever handle V, with stops g and w, and a swinging
frame S, S, 8, s, suspended from a fixed axis W. The last-mentioned trough
in front of the rollers must accompany the other trough in all its motions,
so that the two troughs will always range in the same horizontal line one with
the other. The said trough in front of the rollers must receive the heated iron
tube whenever it is repassed through an aperture between the middlemost and
uppermost rollers from the back to the front, and that trough will then let
'down the heated iron tube (as soon as it has so received it) suitably for
presenting the end of it to the next aperture in succession of size between
the middlemost and lowermost rollers, in order to pass the heated tube through
from the front to the back, and as it comes through it will be received into
the other trough T behind the rollers, and that trough will raise up the heated
.iron tube as soon as it has so received it, in order to present the end of it to
the next aperture in succession of size between the middlemost and upper-
'most rollers, for repassing it again from the back to the front, and so on for as
many repetitions as the heated iron tube is intended to be passed and repassed
without a mandril for elongation, as herein-before explained. And as the said
two semicylindrical troughs which are situated at the front and at the back of
the rollers will require to be moved with the same motions one as the other, and
so as that the two troughs will always range one with the other in the same
.horizontal line, their lever handles V or the ends of the lever arms r, r, on the
axis R, or the two troughs themselves, may be connected together by any

page_text: suitable means, so as that their motions may in all cases be performed simul-
taneously, and so as that any effort which the men may exert for moving
both or either of them may be transmitted to both of them with equal force
to each. For instance, a long horizontal axis may be extended along in the
roof of the building so as to be high up above and over both the said troughs,
and being in a direction parallel to them, and four pulley wheels or rollers
may be affixed on that axis, and adapted for winding up four suspending chains
around their circumferences, and for unwinding those chains, which may
descend to the several lever arms r, r, and be attached thereto near to where
the troughs are fixed or to the ends of those arms. The said four suspending
chains being properly regulated as to their respective lengths, they will sustain
the weight of both the troughs, so as to keep the two troughs in all cases at
the same level one with another, and by turning the said long axis round in
one direction its said four pulley wheels or rollers will wind up the four.
suspending chains all alike, 'so as to raise up all the four lever arms r, T,
and, consequently, both the troughs, with a simultaneous and equal motion;
or, on the contrary, by turning the said long axis round in the other direction,
its four pulley wheels or rollers will let down the four suspending chains,
and consequently the two troughs simultaneously and equally. The said long
axis may have other pulley wheels or rollers fastened upon it with chains
having balance weights suspended to them, winding around the circumferences
of those pulley wheels or rollers, in a contrary direction to the direction in
which the four suspending chains wind around the first-mentioned four pulley
wheels or rollers, and the said balance weights may be regulated so as to pull
up the four suspending chains with sufficient force for balancing the weight of
the heated iron tube or pipe or a great part thereof, as well as the weight
of the two troughs and their four respective lever arms r, r.
The apparatus
when thus balanced, and with the two troughs thus connected together, should
not have any such balance supplied to either of the lever handles V as has
been herein-before mentioned, because the four suspending chains are to bear
the weight of the troughs and of the heated iron tube or pipe which may be
contained in them. The men may give motion to each part of the apparatus
by the lever handles belonging to each part of the apparatus for the troughs
at the front and at the back of the rollers respectively, in the same manner
as already explained; but the connection by means of the suspending chains
will cause the two troughs to move simultaneously and equally, which, without
the connection, it would not be so easy for the men to do. Note, the four
suspending chains will not cause any obstruction or impediment to the lateral
motion of the troughs or of their axis R and swinging frames S, S, 5, 8, but

page_text: will only regulate the height of the two troughs, and keep both troughs to
the same height or level, but each trough will depend ás to its latéral motion
upon the man who gives motion to each one respectively, for the movements
that each man must give are regulated by the notches of the stops g and w of
each apparatus respectively, as herein-before described. And note, it has
been already stated that the heated iron tube, with the mandril in it, must be
moved endways by the man who holds the handle at the end of the stem of
the mandril, at the same time whilst the said tube and mandril are in the act
of being raised up by effort of the other man pressing down the lever handle V,
and thereby raising up the semi-cylindric trough T in which the heated iron
tube is then laying, the endway motion so given to the heated iron tube and
mandril being first in a direction away from the rollers before the raising up
is begun and during the early portion of that raising, but afterwards in a
contrary direction towards the rollers during the latter part of the raising up,
such endway motion being so given in order that the end of the heated iron
tube and the pointed end of the bulb of the mandril may keep clear from
touching the middlemost roller during the raising up, as already explained.
The giving of the said endway motion may be facilitated by causing the semi-
cylindrical trough T to move endways in manner aforesaid, in order that it may
tend to carry the heated iron tube and mandril with it, and thereby render it
more easy and certain for the man who holds the handle at the end of the
stem of the mandril to give the required endway motion with promptitude.
Note, that man will require to use tongs for moving the heated iron tube end-
ways, in addition to all he can do by operating thereon by means of the handle at
the end of the stem of the mandril. The semi-cylindrical trough T may be
made to slide endway's in the direction of its length, by fitting it to the ends
of the lever arms 1, r, with suitable sliding bearings, and it may be moved
endways by the man last mentioned operating with a handle which extends so
far backwards from the end of the trough as to come readily within reach
of his hand; or otherwise the lever arms r, r, may be fitted upon the axis R,
by means of a centre pin for each lever arm affixed into and projecting and
upwards from that axis R, and each of the lever arms V must be a continua-
tion of the lever arm ŕ in the same piece of metal pressing across the axis R,
so that each lever arm and bevel handle together will constitute a lever which
is mounted on one of the said centre pins, and therefore the said lever arms
r, r, instead of being fixed invariably at right angles to the axis R, may be
moved so as to depart from such right angles in either direction by an angular
motion across the axis R, in the manner of two levers turning about the said
two centre pins. Also the semi-cylindrical trough T must be mounted on the

page_text: ends of the lever arms r, r, by means of joint pins, which will allow the said
arms to depart in either direction from right angles with the length of the
trough, wherefore the trough T will be connected with the axis R by its two
lever arms 1, 2, somewhat in the manner of a parallel ruler, and the trough T
will always preserve its horizontal direction and its parellelism to the axis R,
but nevertheless the trough can be moved endways indepently of the axis R,
and such endway motion can be communicated at pleasure by the man who
actuates the lever handle V, for if he bears the end of the handle V to one
side or to the other, as may be required, that will cause the trough T to move
endways, together with the heated iron tube, which is then laying in the
trough, and he may so bear the lever handle sideways at the same time that
he is raising or lowering the said handle, and thereby the same man whose
business it is to raise up the trough T is also enabled to remove that trough
endways as may be required, and, consequently, he can concur with the other
man who holds the handle at the end of the stem of the mandril in giving the
requisite motion to the heated iron tube and the mandril with promptitude
and certainty, so as to effect the repassing of the heated iron through
between the revolving rollers immediately after it has been passed through
for the first time of welding, without any delay which can cause the iron to
cool materially from its welding heat before the repassing and repetition of
the welding is performed. Note; whenever the trough T is at its highest or
at its lowest position, then the aforesaid endway motion of the trough should
be prevented, and that will be the case in consequence of the stop plates g
or w acting laterally to confine the lever handle from moving sideways when-
ever the said lever is engaged with those stops g or w, and is limited by them
to its highest or lowest position, as already explained. And note, in the
Drawing, Figure 2, the two levers arms r; r, and the two lever handles V, V,
are represented as being made in the same pieces of metal, forming two
levers V, r, and V, r, which are both fastened upon the axis R, one lever near
to each end thereof. The short ends r, r, of those levers sustain the trough T,
and the long ends V are united by a long horizontal handle which parallel
to the axis R, and that handle is convenient for the workmen to take hold
of, and thereby he gives motion equally to both the said levers V, r, and V,r,
and consequently to the trough T. If a balance weight is to be applied to the
lever handle V, as herein-before mentioned, then the long horizontal handle,
being made of a heavy iron bar, will constitute a balance weight; but in case of
the suspending chains and pulley wheels on a long horizontal axis and balance
weights being used, as herein-before explained, so that no balance weights are
required on the lever handles V, then the said long horizontal handle may be
•

page_text: of wood, or a light iron tube. And note, although it has been herein-before
described that the passing of the heated iron for the first time of welding with
a mandril is through an aperture between the middlemost A and the lower-
most B of three revolving grooved rollers, and the repassing of the same iron
with the same mandril for the repetition of the welding with the same welding
heat is through an aperture between the middlemost A and uppermost C of
the three rollers, nevertheless that may be varied at pleasure, and the first
passing may be between the middlemost and uppermost, and the repetition
between the middlemost and lowermost, if preferred. And four revolving
grooved rollers may be used, one above the other, in the same manner as
herein-before described respecting three such rollers; and instead of the axis
of the three or more rollers being placed horizontally, they may, if preferred, be
placed vertically; the rollers in that case standing up side by side, three or
four, or more, in a row, with a similar arrangement to the revolving rollers
of what are called vertical sugar mills for crushing sugar canes, and which are
well known. The operation will be the same in effect as herein-before
explained, whether three or four revolving grooved rollers are used, and
whether those three or four rollers are placed with their axis horizontal or
vertical. The successive passings and repassings of the heated iron through
between the rollers will in either such case be performed in contrary directions,
so that immediately the heated iron has been passed through in one direction it
will be repassed through in a contrary direction without loss of time. And the
mode of using the mandril will be in either such case by passing the heated iron
on to the stem of the mandril during the passing of the heated iron through
in one direction between the revolving grooved rollers, and then immediately
afterwards drawing the same heated iron off from the said stem of the same
mandril during the repassing of the same heated iron through in a contrary
direction between the revolving grooved rollers. And as to the shape of the
grooves in the revolving grooved rollers, the same must be adapted to the shape
of the tubes, pipes, or hollow rods which are to be made. Tubes and pipes
are commonly of a cylindrical form, and the apertures formed between the
corresponding grooves of the rollers are of a circular form, or very nearly
circular, as herein-before explained; but hollow rods may be of various regular
prismatic forms, as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or
other forms, and then the said apertures must be of those forms. Such hollow
rods may be used for ornamental railing and other like purposes, instead of
solid iron rods of such forms. When the tubes, pipes, or hollow rods are
welded from skelps of a considerable thickness of metal, a sounder welding can
be effected than with thinner metal, and therefore I prefer to weld skelps of

page_text: thick iron in short lengths, in the manner herein-before described, and after-
wards to elongate the tubes, pipes, or hollow rods to the intended length, in
manner berein-before described. Such elongation after welding is the ordinary
practice in making gun barrels by Henry Osborn's process aforesaid; and the
tubes, pipes, or hollow rods may be welded according to my improvements,
from what are called twisted strings, being skelps prepared by winding a long
narrow bar or skelp or ribband of iron spirally like a fillet or screw, to the
form of a hollow cylinder, which prepared skelp or twisted string is to be
welded and treated in manner herein-before explained, and the same as
a skelp prepared in the ordinary way would be. And any of the ordinary
modes of preparing skelps may be used, with the edges of the iron which are
to be welded together overlapping each other, or the said edges only meeting
edge to edge; and the turning up of the skelps may be performed in any of
the well-known modes commonly practised for such purpose, such as pinching
the flat plates up to the form of an irregular tube or cylinder by a machine
called a crocodile, or drawing the skelps through a hole by a drawbench; or
revolving grooved rollers, with suitable forms of grooves, may be used
for bending up the flat plates at repeated operations, first to the form of a
concave gutter, which is afterwards turned up more and more completely until
the edges meet; and the furnace for heating the skelps to a welding heat may
be either of the usual kind of furnaces commonly used for such purpose, and
the construction of which is well known, one kind being a blast furnace,
wherein the fire is blown by a blast of air to excite the heat, and the other
kind being an air furnace wherein the fire is caused to burn by the draft or
current of air obtained by the use of a high chimney.
Having now described my said Invention, I, the said James Hardy, do
hereby declare that what I claim as the new Invention whereof the exclusive
use is granted to me by the Letters Patent herein-before mentioned consists in
the improvements herein-before described in the process of welding tubes,
pipes, or hollow rods of malleable iron by machinery of the kind herein-before
described, that is to say, three (or more) revolving grooved rollers combined
together (in manner herein-before described), so as to constitute two (or
more) pairs of such rollers, which are adapted for passing the heated iron
through between them in one direction, and then for repassing the same iron
through again in a contrary direction, for the purpose of welding the edges
of the heated iron together during such passing aforesaid, and then for repeat-
ing that welding without delay during the repassing aforesaid, and whilst the
iron retains a welding heat. And also a mandril being used (in manner
hercin-before described) during such welding, the heated iron being carried

page_text: over and on to the stem of that mandril at the first time of passing and welding,
and then the heated iron being carried off from the said stem at the repassing
and repetition of the welding, so as to leave the mandril by itself, without
requiring any trouble for withdrawing it from the heated iron after the welding.
And also means, herein-before described, being used for promptly transferring
the heated iron, with the mandril in it, from opposite to that aperture of the
revolving grooved rollers through which the heated iron has passed for the first
time of passing and welding, and speedily conveying the said heated iron and
mandril opposite to the other aperture, through it is then to be repassed for
repeating the welding.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hardy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-four.