Improvements in or relating to Machinery Employed in the Manufacture of Metallic Tubes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery Employed in the
Manufacture of Metallic Tubes.
We, WILLIAM PILKINGTON, ANDERSON BROWNSWORD, CHARLES THOMAS
BISHOP and ARTHUR PILKINGTON trading as "The Birmingham Climax
Steel Tube Company" Catherine Street Aston Birmingham, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to machines used for the purpose of elongating tubes
in the process of manufacture, such elongation being accompanied by a reduction or
diminution of the " gauge or thickness of the metal forming the tube.
"
The manufacture of tubes of the lengths and thickness of metal usually employed
is often effected, as is well known, by first making a short thick tube, which is then
drawn through a set of suitable dies in a drawbench and is thus gradually formed
into a longer tube having the metal reduced in gauge or thickness.
The object of our invention is to effect this increase of length and reduction of
gauge or thickness of metal in a new and advantageous manner.
We will describe our invention thus :-
We employ two or more sets of spindles (three by preference) each spindle
having formed on it, or secured to it, one or more sets of rolls, side by side, each of
these rolls having usually the shape of a thick disc, with a convex, or suitably
shaped edge or periphery.
The rolls at one end of each spindle are smaller in diameter than those at the
other end and the diameters of the rolls increase regularly but not necessarily by
equal steps along the spindle.
We mount these spindles in adjustable bearings in the framing of the machine,
some or all of these bearings being made capable of yielding when required and
having spring adjustments or their equivalents. We give each spindle with its rolls
a rotary motion in the proper direction by appropriate gearing.
The bearings of the spindles are placed so that the spindles themselves are nearly
but not quite parallel to each other, so that as they revolve the peripheries of the
successive rolls form a kind of revolving female screw.
When we employ two spindles with their rolls, we provide a third surface such
as that of a plane, or curved bar placed nearly parallel with the nearly parallel
axes of the spindles, or parallel to one of the axes or to a line which bisects the
angle formed by the axes.
Ou looking towards the ends of the spindles, when mounted as hereinbefore
described a space will be seen between the peripheries of the rolls, this space
will be triangular with curved sides if two spindles and a guide are used, or if
three spindles are used. It will be quadrangular if four spindles are used
and so on.
Into this space between the peripheries of the smaller rolls or between the
peripheries of the smaller rolls and the guide, as the case may be, we introduce
the end of the short thick tube, the tube being placed for the purpose on a mandril.
As the spindles with their rollers revolve the tube is drawn in between them by
the screw-like action of the succession of rollers mounted on the spindles which
are not quite parallel to each other. As the tube is drawn in between the rolls
in a direction approximately parallel to their axes it is caused to revolve by the
rolls, and as it is being drawn through between the sets of rolls by the screw-like

page_text: action previously described it meets successively rolls of a larger diameter
which of course leave a smaller space between them through which the tube
must pass.
"
As the size of the mandril on which the tube is mounted remains invariable,
the metal of the tube becomes reduced in its "gauge or thickness and the tube
is elongated.
.
THOS. KENDRICK,
3 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery Employed in the
Manufacture of Metallic Tubes.
We WILLIAM PILKINGTON, ANDERSON BROWNSWORD, CHARLES THOMAS
BISHOP and ARTHUR PILKINGTON, trading as "The Birmingham Climax
Steel Tube Company" Catherine Street Aston Birmingham, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention has reference to machines used for the purpose of elongating tubes
in the process of manufacture, such elongation being accompanied by a reduction or
diminution of the gauge or thickness of the metal forming the tube.
The manufacture of tubes of the lengths and thickness of metal usually employed,
is often effected as is well known by first making a short thick tube, which is then
drawn through a set of suitable dies in a draw-bench and is thus gradually formed
into a longer tube having the metal reduced in gauge or thickness.
The object of our invention is to effect this increase of length and reduction of
gauge or thickness of metal in a new and advantageous manner.
And in order that this our said invention may be the more readily understood,
we will now proceed to describe it with the aid of the accompanying sheet of
drawings, similar letters of reference denote similar parts in each figure in which
they occur.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tube rolling machine constructed according to
our invention, and in the manner most usual, that is to say with three roll
spindles.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same taken on the line A. B, (Figure 1) looking
towards d¹.
Figure 3, is a cross section of the same taken on line C. D, (Figure 1) looking
towards d².
Figure 4, is a plan of the machine as above.
Figure 5, is a cross section of a modification of our invention wherein two sets of
rolls are employed, with one fixed bar.
Figure 6, is a cross section of another modification of our invention in which four
sets of rolls are employed.
66
a, b, c" (Figures, 1, 2, 3 and 4) are three spindles, each of these spindles has
secured to it, or formed in one piece with it a set of rolls as a¹, a², a³, a—b¹, b², b³, 1,4
c, c², c, c, these rolls are side by side and each roll is preferably of the shape of a
thick disc with rounded edge or periphery.
The roll a', is the smallest in diameter of the rolls on the spindle a, and the rolls
on this spindle increase in diameter according to their position on the spindle,
a, being larger than a',-a³, larger than a² and a larger than a³. Similarly 6' is
the roll smallest in diameter on the spindle b, and 6 the largest, the diameters of
the rolls increasing in the same order as those on the spindle a, and c', is the

page_text: smallest roll on spindle c, and c¹ the largest on that spindle, the diameters of these
rolls also increasing in the same order as those on the spindle a.
The spindles are so placed that their ends carrying the smallest rolls are all at
one side of the machine, and the ends carrying the largest rolls are all at the other
side.
The spindles a, b, c, are mounted in bearings a a-6, 66, c, c, these bearings are
carried in openings formed in the framing d, of the machine. In the drawing only
the bearings of the spindle a, are shown adjustable, and the adjustments are elastic,
and is effected by springs e, e, Figures 2 and 3, but we may vary and make all the
bearings adjustable, or so many of them as we wish.
A revolving motion is given to the spindle a, by an appropriate wheel (not
shown) gearing into the pinion f, or in any other well known manner.
When the machine is in use the other roll spindles will be caused to revolve by
the friction between the tube being manipulated and the peripheries of the rolls
which they carry.
We may however if desired drive each spindle in a positive
manner.
The bearings of the spindles are placed in the mauner shown in the cross-
sections, Figures 2 and 3 where a7, 6, 7, are the centres of the spindles in the
bearings carried in the side d', of the machine, Figures 1 and 4 and a³, 68, c³, are
the centres of the spindles in the bearings carried in the side d², of the machine.
The bearings being placed in this manner the spindles will be caused to lie
nearly but not quite (in the same general direction) parallel to each other, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 4. The effect of this position of the roll spindles is, that,
when the spindles are all caused to revolve in the same direction the inner and
opposing parts of the peripheries of the rolls, form a kind of revolving female
Screw.
In Figure 3 it will be seen that the inner and opposing parts of the peripheries
of the rolls form a space somewhat triangular, or more properly trilateral the sides.
of this figure being curved. The closer the rolls approach each other the nearer
does this space become triangular in shape.
The framing d, of the machine has a central aperture g, at the entering side d
of the machine and a similar opening h at the exit side d³.
The action of a machine constructed according to our invention, and as herein-
before described is as follows:-
A short thick tube j, is prepared and placed on a rigid mandril k. The tube
must be in a sufficiently plastic condition to be acted on by the machine, it may be
cold or hot according to the nature of the metal of which it is made.
The roll spindle a, is caused to revolve, and if necessary the other spindles are
also caused to revolve, in the same direction, as shown by the arrows.
The tube j on its mandril k is then pushed through the opening 9, at the entering
side of the machine. It is immediately seized by the revolving rollers a, b, c,
and receives from them a double motion, one a motion of rotation about its own
axis, and the other a motion of translation in the direction of the arrow in .
Figure 1, presently the tube meets the second set of rolls a², 622 which being.
larger in diameter than the first set have less space between them, and therefore
compel the plastic tube to decrease in outside diameter, and to increase in length.
The tube being still urged on in the direction of the arrow Figure 1 meets
successively the rolls a³, 63, c³, and a* b c and by each of these successively the
action of reducing the outside diameter of the tube, and increasing its length is
repeated. The inner diameter of the tube being invariable (the tube being
supported on a rigid mandril k) the effect of the reduction of the outer diameter of
the tube will be to reduce the thickness or "guage" of the metal of which the
tube is formed.
.
When the tube emerges from the last set of rolls a, b, c, it passes out of the
machine through the opening h.
The number of rolls on the spindles is immaterial, four are shewn on the drawings
for convenience

page_text: In the modification of our invention shewn in cross-section in Figure 5, we
employ only two spindles set in the manner hereinbefore described. Rolls are
mounted on these spindles but the place of the third set of rolls is taken by the
fixed bar 1, along which the tube slides during the process of manufacture. The
mounting and driving of the spindles similar to that herein before described as for
three spindles.
The
In the modification of our invention shewn in cross-section Figure 6, we employ
four sets of rolls. The space between their opposing peripheries is in this case
quodrangular, or more properly quadrilateral, the sides being curved.
mounting and driving of the spindles is similar to that herein before described.
Whether in the primary form of our invention, or in any of its modifications the
inner and opposing peripheries of sets of rolls, mounted on spindles nearly but not
-quite parallel, as herein before described will, when caused to revolve in the same
-direction as each other form a species of revolving female screw, through which
the tube is drawn in a direction which is the mean direction of the axes of the
spindles. The rolls being of gradually increasing size the space between their
peripheries will become smaller and thereby the outer diameter of the tube will be
diminished and the length of the tube increased.
The place of one or more sets of rolls may be taken under certain conditions by
a fixed bar or guide.
We do not limit ourselves to the number or exact position of spindles or to the
number and shape of the rolls shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, nor to the number, or
section of the bar shewn in Figure 5.
Nor do we limit ourselves to the configuration of the bearings or to the manner
of their adjustment, or to the configuration of the framing of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
-claim is :-
In "Improvements in or relating to machinery employed in the manufacture of
metallic tubes,' "
1. The construction and arrangement of the spindles, provided with the rolls or
discs, such rolls or discs gradually increasing in their diameter, along the said
spindles, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The construction and arrangement of the said spindles, mounted in adjustable
bearings at a position nearly but not quite parallel to each other, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The construction and arrangement of the said spindles, mounted in adjustable
bearings, at a position nearly but not quite parallel to each other and with a plane
or curved bar substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
4. The general construction combination and arrangement of parts substantially
as herein before described in the foregoing Specification and illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated 7th April 1896.
THOS. KENDRICK,
3 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent.