IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC PIPES OR TUBES TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Job Cutler, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gentleman, for the Invention of." IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC PIPES OR TUBES TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES.
Sealed the 18th July 1856, and dated the 22nd May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the 'said Job Cutler at the Office
of. the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd May
1856.
I, JOB CUTLER, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC PIPES OR TUBES TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of metallic
tubes or pipes, whereby they are rendered taper or conical on their internal
surfaces, while they are parallel or cylindrical on their external surfaces; and
the mode in which I proceed to manufacture them is as follows:-In making
iron tubes or pipes, I take a strip of flat iron and bevil the two edges, as is
well understood, and then turn it up into a cylindrical form; I then place it
in a furnace to become heated, and get it up to what is termed a welding
heat; in this state I pass it through the groove of revolving rolls and over a
bulb or mandril, which bulb or mandril is placed in the centre of the groove
in the rolls. As the skelp of iron passes through the groove in the rolls and
over the bulb or mandril the welding of the two edges together is effected.
All these processes are well understood. Having accomplished the welding of
the tubes, and this welding may be done by any of the known processes, but
I prefer the mode of welding above described, I then pass it on down a
mandril rod to the next set of rolls, and pass it over another bulb of the same

page_text: diameter (or nearly so) as the one over which the tube or pipe has been
welded, and through a groove in the rolls; but instead of the groove formed by
the rollers in this case being equal or parallel all round the roller, the groove
in this and the succeeding sets of rolls are turned or engraved in the rolls of
a conical shape, so as to give the tube or pipe, when it shall have passed
through and been compressed by them on the head or bulb of the mandril, a
conical or taper shape or form from one end to the other; this is repeated
through other similar rolls, which still more decrease the end. This has the
effect of not only reducing the tube or pipe into a conical or taper shape or
form, but gradually thins the iron from one end to the other, so that at the
end of the pipe or tube; that is of the greatest external diameter, that end is
considerably thicker: in metal than at the other or smaller external diameter
end. In this state they are parallel inside and taper or conical outside, and
are applicable to a variety of purposes; but as iron tubes have been welled
for
gun barrels taper outside and parallel inside, I do not claim this as any
part of my Invention, which is really, when they are so made taper outside
and parallel inside to reverse the order of things, and make them parallel
outside and taper inside; they are thus preferred for steam boiler purposes,
and the mode in which I effect this is as follows:-When I have prepared a
tube taper outside and parallel inside, I proceed to pass them between rolls
that have a parallel groove, in them the exact sizes of the smaller external
diameter and of the conical tube or pipe; this has the effect, as the larger
portion of the external diameter is being brought within the pressure of the
rolls, of compressing the tube or pipe, so as to make it parallel on its external
surface, while the internal surface of the tube or pipe is by this operation
made conical, and the metal is left considerably thicker at one end while it
gradually diminishes in thickness to the other end. This is considered of great
advantage for many purposes, but more particularly when applied as flues
for steam boilers. It will be seen that I have here spoken of welded iron
tubes only, but my Invention has reference also to other metallic tubes or pipes.
I propose also to obtain a tube or pipe of brass or other metal or alloys of
metal which is taper or conical internally, while it shall be parallel or of one
uniform diameter on its external surface by my newly invented process; this
I can do by passing the tube through the series of rolls, as before described,
to make them taper outside and parallel inside, and having got the tube at
the end, having the smallest external diameter to the size which I require its
external diameter to be, I then pass it through a pair of grooved rollers, the
circular groove in which is of the size as the smallest external diameter of
the tube, and by this means, there being no resisting power within the tube,
:

page_text: the taper form is compressed from the outside and is driven to the inside, thus
forming the internal taper required. When it is required to fix tubes into
steam boilers, it is sometimes necessary to open or pierce one end of the
boiler plate with a larger hole than the hole in the plate at the other end of
the boiler, and as some difficulty is experienced in expanding the tube in a
cold state to fill up the larger sized hole, the tubes are heated and a taper
plug is driven into the end of the tube to expand it for about one inch down,
so as to fill up the larger hole when it is put into the boiler. This operation is
now performed by the smiths at an ordinary anvil, and by means of a rounding
seat; by this process, however, there is great irregularity in sizes after they
are done, and sometimes great trouble is given to the workmen in putting
them into the boiler; and one portion of my Invention of improvements in the
manufacture of metallic tubes or pipes has for its object the obviating of this
difficulty, which I do in the following manner:-I prepare die or dies
forming a cylindrical hole the size of the tube required; this die or dies I
have turned or bored out at one end, say, about one-eighth of an inch larger
for about one to two inches down inside the die or dies; I then turn a plug
to fit the die or dies, allowing for the thickness of the metal in the tube;
on this plug I turn a collar or shoulder; if it is required to expand an iron
tube; I heat it to a bright worm red and place the hot end of the tube in the
die or dies, and having closed and secured them at the back end of the tube,
being firmly secured against a stop, I insert the plug in the hot end of the
tube and force it in, so as to expand the tube to the limit and shape of the
dies in which the hot end of the tube is placed, as before mentioned; this
gives it one uniform size and regularity of diameter all round; but at the same
time I effect another decided advantage, inasmuch as I form a flange on the
end of the tube, and this at the same time as I expand the diameter of the
end of the tube I do in the following manner:-In placing the hot end of
the tube in the die or dies, I allow the end of the tube to project outside so
far as I require the size of the flange to be, and when the plug is driven into
the tube, as before mentioned, the collar or shoulder on the plug lays this
projecting part of the iron flat against the die or dies, forming thereby a
perfect flange of the required size. The plug may be driven in by hammers
or by pressure, but I prefer to drive it in by means of a screw worked by
hydraulic pressure, but do not confine myself to this mode of working it.
Tubes when so manufactured effect a very great saving in labor in fixing
them into boilers. Brass or other metallic tubes may be expanded and
flanged by the same tools and process either in a hot or cold state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Job Cutler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1856.
TO ALLTO WHOM THESE PRESENTS: SHALL COME, I, JOB
CUTLER, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman,
send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date, the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of
Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Job Cutler, Her special license that I, the said Job' Cutler, my
executors, 'administrators, and assigns, or such others' as I, the said Job
Cutler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,. use; exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC PIPES OR TUBES TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Job Cutler, should by
any instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samé
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed within the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent
:
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Job 'Cutler do declare the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statements, that
is to say:
"My Invention, of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Pipes or
Tubes to be used for Various Purposes," consists, firstly, in making. or manu-
facturing metallic pipes or tubes, whereby they are rendered taper or conical
on their internal surfaces, while they are parallel or cylindrical on their
external surfaces; and the niode in which I proceed to manufacture them is
as follows In making iron pipes or tubes, I take a strip of flat iron 'and
bevil the two edges, as is well understood, and then turn it up into a cylindrical
form; I then place it in a furnace to become heated, and get it up to what
is termed a welding heat; in this state I pass it through the groove of
revolving rolls and over a bulb or mandril, which bulb or mandril is placed

page_text: in the centre of the groove in the rolls. As the skelp of iron passes through
the groove in the. rolls and over the bulb or mandril the welding of the two
edges together is effected. All these processes are well understood.
Having accomplished the welding of the tubes, which welding may be
done by any of the known processes (but I prefer the mode of welding
above described), I then pass it on down a mandril rod to the next
set of rolls, and pass it over another bulb of the same diameter (or nearly
so) as the one. over which the pipe. or tube, has been welded and through
a groove in the rolls; but instead of the groove formed by the rollers in this
case being equal or parallel all round the roller, the groove in this and
the succeeding sets of rolls are turned or engraved in the rolls of a conical
shape, so as to give the pipe or 'tube, when it shall have passed through and
been compressed by them on the head or bulb of the mandril, a conical or
taper shape or form from one end to the other; this is repeated through other.
similar rolls, which still more decrease the external diameter of the one end.
This has the effect of not only reducing the pipe or tube into a conical or taper
shape or form, but gradually thins the iron from one end to the other, so that,
at the end. of the pipe or tube that is of the greatest external diameter, that
end is considerably thicker in metal than at the other or smaller external
diameter end. In this state the tubes are parallel inside and taper or conical
outside, and are applicable to a variety of purposes; but as iron tubes have
been welded for gun barrels taper outside and parallel inside, I do not claim
this as any part of my Invention, which has for its object to reverse this order
of things, and make them parallel outside and taper inside, such tubes being
preferred for steam boiler purposes. The mode in which I effect this is as
follows: Having prepared the tubes taper outside and parallel inside, I
proceed to pass them.in a heated state between rolls that have a parallel
groove the exact sizes of the smaller external diameter end of the conical pipe
or tube; this has the effect, as the larger portion of the external diameter
is being brought within the pressure of the rolls, of compressing the pipe or
tube, so as to make it parallel on its external surface, while the internal surface
of the pipe or tube is by this operation made conical, and the metal is left con-
siderably thicker at one end while it gradually diminishes in thickness at
the other end. This is considered of great advantage for many purposes, but
more particularly when tubes so made are applied as flues for steam boilers. It
will be seen that I have here spoken of welded. iron tubes only, but my
Invention has reference also; to other metallic pipes or tubes. I obtained. a
pipe or tube of brass or other metal or alloys of metal, which is taper or
conical internally, and parallel or of one uniform .diameter on its external
surface, in the same manner.

page_text: Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed shews sectional views of a series
of rolls for rolling the tube with a taper exterior preparatory. to compressing the
pipe or tube through the cylindrical rollers.
J
A, A, Figure 1, are the standards and frames on which the rolls are placed;
B, a pair of rolls, with parallel grooves turned in their edges, for the purpose of
welding the tube; Care the first pair of tapering rolls; D are the second pair
of tapering rolls, the grooves of which are a little more taper than those of C;
E are the third pair of tapering rolls, the grooves of which are still a little
more taper than those of D; F are the fourth pair of tapering: rolls, the
grooves of which are a little more taper than those of E; G is the mandril
stein or rod, which passes through the whole series of the rolls and abuts
against the stay H. This mandril stem or rod is in compartments, and joints
into the bulb of the mandril J in the centre of the rolls. I is the stop plate;
which slides on and off the mandril and abuts against the stop H; J is the
bulb of the mandril; K is a beated tube, entering the rolls over the bulb
of the mandril for the purpose of welding; L are standards with hinged
joints, to support the mandril rod G. When the tube arrives at this support it
forces the.binged joint down, passes along the maudril rod to the next pair of
rolls, through which it is passed, and so this process is performed through cach
successive pair of rolls until it has passed the last pair of rolls. It will be
seen that, in describing the mode of tapering the tube on its external diameter,
I have shewn that it may be done by a series of rolls, as above described; but
it is obvious the tube parallel on the inside but taper on the outside may be
made by having suitable grooves engraved on a set of rolls, as is done
in welding gun barrels; or such tubes may be made by other processes, where
internal resistance is given by a mandril to external circular pressure upon the
tube; but my object, as to this portion of my Invention, is having obtained by
the above or other practicable process a tube which is parallel on its internal
surface, and conical or taper on its external surface, to transform such tube
into a tube which shall be taper or conical on its internal surface while it shall
be parallel or cylindrical on its external surface, and this is done, as above
described, by passing such tube in manner above mentioned through grooved
rollers having a parallel groove engraved on their surfaces, so that when acting
together such groove shall form a diameter the size which it is intended the
external diameter of the tube is to be. I have said this is to be accomplished
by grooved rollers, as above mentioned, but it is obvious it may be done by
passing the tube so prepared between either grooved rollers or dies with
circular parallel grooves or holes, whereby external pressure is exerted ou
the external surface of such tube without internal pressure or resistance;
but I have shown what I consider to be the best mode of obtaining the desired.

page_text: result. When the pipe or tube is required to be fixed into steam boilers, it is
sometimes necessary to open or pierce one end of the.boiler plate with a larger
hole than the hole in the plate at the other end of the boiler, and as some
difficulty is experienced in expanding the tube in a cold state to fill up the
larger sized hole, the tubes are heated and a taper plug is driven into the end
of the tube to expand it for about one inch down, so as to fill up the larger
bole when it is put into the boiler. This operation is now performed by the
smiths at an ordinary anvil, and by means of a rounding seat. By this process
there is, however, great irregularity in sizes after they are done, and sometimes
great trouble is given to the workmen in putting them into the boiler, and one.
portion of my Invention for improvements in the manufacture of metallic
pipes or tubes bas for its object the obviating of this difficulty, which I do in
the following manner:-I prepare a die or dies forming a cylindrical hole the
size of the tube required; . this die or dies I have turned or bored out at one
end, say, from one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch larger, or, as may be
required, for about one to two inches down inside the die or dies; I then
prepare a suitable plug, and have it made to fit the die or dies, allowing for the
thickness of the metal in the tubes; on this plug I turn à collar or shoulder;
if it is required to expand an iron tube, I heat it to a bright worm red,
and place the hot end of the tube in the die or dies, and having closed and
secured them, the back end of the tube being firmly secured against a stop, I-
insert the plug in the hot end of the tube, and force it in so as to expand the
tube to the limit and shape of the dies in which the hot end of the tube
is placed, as before mentioned; this gives it one uniform size and regularity of
diameter all round; but at the same time I can effect another decided
advantage, inasmuch as I can lip, or bell-mouth, or form a flange, as may be
required, on the end of. the tube, and at, the same time I expand the diameter.
of the end of the tube; and this I do in the following manner:-In placing
the hot end of the tube in the die or dies, I allow the end of the tube to project
outside as far as I require the size of the bell-mouth or flange to be,, and when
the plug is driven into the tube, as before mentioned, the collar or shoulder on
the plug lays this projecting part of the iron against the die or dies, forming
thereby a bell-mouth or flange of the required size, the dies and plugs being
first properly prepared to the form or shape required.
Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed has reference to this portion of
my Invention; and Figure 1, on the said Sheet, shews a longitudinal section of
the machine, by which the opening, bell-mouthing, or flanging of the tubes is
effected. A, A, A, the bed and standards of the machine, and this will require
to be long enough to take the longest sized tube intended to be operated upon;

page_text: B, B, the stay or stop against which the cold or back end of the tube abuts;
€, the adjusting pin, by which the cold or. back end of the tube is raised or
lowered, and so to regulate and keep, its heated end perfectly in the centre of
the dics E to meet the plug; D, the frame, placed upon the: bed to hold the
dies E for the opening, flanging; or bell-mouthing of the tube; D is the top
part of the frame, acting on a joint, so as to open and shut, for. the purpose of
placing therein dies of any form or. diameter that may be required, (which joint
is clearly shewn in Figure 3;) and also for placing the tube in the dies to .be
operated upon by the plug; or expanding or flanging apparatus; E, E, pair of
dies fixed in tlie.frame ready for use; the top part D of the frame and dies is
held down by the screw.or fastening F; as shewn in Figure 3. When the heated
end of the tube is inserted.in the dies, the top part of. the frame and die. D' is
closed down, and the screw: F is screwed into the lower part of the frame D, to
hold the tube tight in the dies ..while the. operation of opening or flanging is
performed. .G, the regulating or adjusting screw to the stay or stop. B, to
adjust it to the required length of any. tube about. being operated upon. H, H,
the lever by which G is set in motion, and on which B works; I, the.plug for
passing into the tube, by which the operation of. expanding or flanging is
performed, and which operation is hierein-after more.particularly.described; J,
the slide bolt in which the plug-I. is placed; K,.K, is the frame.through which
the bolt J travels; L is the screw by which the bolt J. is! moved. backwards
and forwards; M, nut into which the screw works, and is. driven, round by the
spur wheel N, which is keyed on.it;. O, pinion driving spur wheel; P, P, P,
three drums for driving, with belts; the centre one: to be keyed on shaft
and the two outside ones loose; one loose-pulley to have a, straight belt and the
other a' cross belt, either of which may be thrown.on to the fixed pulley in the
centre, so as to reverse. the motion of the machine. Q, a clutch, cast on to
pinion O; R; R, lever working into. clutch to throw pinion. O out of gear.
The lever R is kept up. by ther catch Still the bolt Ja has arrived at the end
of the travel; when the stud.T, pressing against the lever U, disconnects the
catch at S, and the weight V brings the lever down, and throws. the pinion O
out of gear with the wheel: N, stopping the machine. The lever is brought
back to its position by the handle,W,tas shewn in the elevation Drawing,
Number 3, Figure 2, on Sheet: 2, shews a cross section at A, B, of the
longitudinal section; Figure 3 shews a cross section..at C, D, shewing more
particularly the action of opening and closing of the dies at the top part D
with the adjusting: screw F, as before described; Figure 4 shews a. cross
section at D, F. Figures 5, 6; and 7 are sections of the dies E, E, used in
the process of opening, bell-mouthing, and flanging the tubes. Figures 8 and 9

page_text: are sections of: the ends of boiler tubes flanged and bell-mouthed by this
process. Figures 10 and 11 shew sections of the ends of tubes opened and
bell-mouthed and flanged for bedsteads; &c. Figures 12 and 13 shew sections
of the ends of tubes flanged and bell-mouthed when used as-stays for ship
decks and other. such like purposes.
2.
.:
Figure 1, on Sheet 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed, shews: an elevation of
the machine; and Figure 2 shews an end view, with the wheel H for working
the adjusting screw G; Figure 3 shewing driving drums and gearing. When
it is required to expand the end of a tube the operation is performed as follows,
videlicit:-The end of the tube, if of iron, is sufficiently heated for the purpose,
and the heated end of such tube is fixed in the dies E: The drums P, P, P,
are then set in motion, being driven by steam or. other power, and the driving
wheel N, acting on the screw L, propels the slide bolt-J forward through the
frame: K, and forces the plug I. into the heated.end of the tube which is in the
dies E and expands it. to the form and shape required;. when the plug I..is
driven fully up into. the tube it is stopped by the stud T striking against the
lever U, throwing out of gear the driving, wheel N, and: at the same time
throwing into gear the reversing motion, pulley withdraws the slide bolt J
into its proper position. The plug I is turned with a stem or pin at its back
end of less diameter than the plug itself, which thereby forms a collar, so that
this stem or pin end can be placed in a hole prepared in the end of the slide
bolt J, as shewn in the Drawing. As it will be found that at times the heated
end of the tube, by contracting as; it cools,,will take hold of the plug I, and
will retain it in the tube, when the tube is removed from the dies it must be
slightly heated, and the expansion of the tube will cause the plug to drop out,
and the plug must be cooled when it is again ready for use; but to prevent
delay in carrying on the operations, several plugs of the same size, shape, form,
and diameter must be provided for use. It is obvious that in expanding pipes
or tubes by my improved process various shapes or patterns may be impressed
on the ends of such pipes or tubes, and which may be very useful for various
purposes; the lower ends of metallic bedsteads may be thus expanded, giving
not only a bold appearance to the article; but greater strength and stability.;
and other uses might be mentioned were it necessary. The plug I may be
driven in by hammers or by pressure, or as described herein, but I prefer to
drive it in by means of a screw worked by bydraulic pressure, but do not
confine myself to this particular mode or working it. Steam boiler tubes when
so manufactured effect a great saving in labour in fixing them into boilers,
inasmuch as when they are lipped or bell-mouthed, as shewn at Figures 8
and 9. The tube being placed in the boikr plate, the bell-mouthed end has

page_text: only to be driven close home, and held in that position while the other end is
opened and rivited back, then the bell-mouthed end only requires to be rivited
back; this will save one-third the time and labour now consumed in tubing
boilers, and will be attended. with less risk of having cracked or damaged
tubes. Brass or other metallic tubes for various purposes may be expanded,
bell-mouthed, or flanged by the same tools and process either in a hot or cold
state..
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I claim, as
the Invention intended to be secured by the said Letters Patent, as follows:-
First, I claim the manufacture of metallic tubes parallel or cylindrical at
their inner surface and conical or taper at their outer surface, by passing the
same over a mandril by a series of rolls, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the manufacture of. tubes parallel or cylindrical at their
outer surface and conical or taper on their internal surface, by passing pipes
or: tubės taper or conical outside through grooved rolls or dies, so as to cause
the tubes by the action of external circumferential pressure without internal
pressure to become conical or taper on the inside and parallel or circular on
the outside, as before described.
%.
Thirdly, I claim the expanding, bell-mouthing, and flanging pipes or tubes
by a plug or expanding mandril forced into the ends of such pipes or tubes in
combination with the die or dies or external pressure, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Job Cutler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-
named Job Cutler, in the presence of.
JOHN WALFORD CUTLER, Attorney,
Birmingham.
JOB CUTLER. (L.S.),