Improvements in Apparatus Applicable for Extracting Ferrules from Boiler and other Tubes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 26th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus Applicable for Extracting Ferrules
from Boiler and other Tubes.
1, HENRY WILLIAM SWIFT, of Ince in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has been designed mainly for drawing the ferrules out of boiler
tubes. Engineers know very well the damage that is so often caused in knocking out
the ferrules with the ordinary long bar of iron put through the tube against the ferrule,
and then striking the same with a heavy hammer, which not only knocks the ferrule
out, but often the tube when it is not wanted, and in nearly every case it sets the other
tubes leaking, and gives an amount of trouble to get them steam tight again. By the
use of this ferrule extractor, the ferrules can be drawn out in much less time, and
without risk of disturbing the other tubes.
1 form my apparatus of a stout, preferably cylindrical, box with open face abutting
on a ring or washer placed against the tube. This box has inside, the two jaws here-
after described. One of these jaws (the bottom one when in use) terminates in a
screw which passes through a hole in the otherwise closed end of the box, and is
provided with a nut beyond. This jaw is preferably so shaped as to be supported
against the contiguous side of the box, and its end has a projection or claw to overlap
and hold onto the ferrule. On the opposite side, my experimental apparatus is provided
with a projection fitting a hollow in the other, or top jaw. It might, instead, have a
hollow fitting a projection on the top jaw, or is hinged or linked to the top jaw in
equivalent manner, so as to both forin a fulcrum for the top jaw, and be able to drag
the top jaw with it, when screwed up. The top jaw in my experimental apparatus has
also a projection or claw to catch on the ferrule, and through the side of the box I fix
a set screw, which, by pressing on the tail of the top jaw beyond its fulcrum on the
bottom one, keeps the jaws distended, and catching on the ferrule.
The mode of action is as follows:
A ring, cut out to fit the tube end, is placed on the latter, the box placed against the
tube with the two claws inserted beyond the ferrule, the set screw is tightened till the
jaws fit over the ferrule. The main screw is now screwed up till the ferrule is forced

page_text: out of the tube. As different rings can be made for each size of tube, and the box
abuts against these, one of the expanders can be used for many different sizes of tubes
and ferrules.
In place of two jaws, a single stem, projecting into the tube with two hinged wings
pointing obliquely outward, or hinged grippers pointing inward, and kept apart by a
spring or a regulating device, could be used. A spring or equivalent could also be
substituted for the set screw first mentioned, but the plan I have described as my
experimental machine I prefer, while however not binding myself to the same.
Dated thin orth dow of A 1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus Applicable for Extracting Ferrules
from Boiler and other Tubes.
I, HENRY WILLIAM SWIFT of Ince in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has been designed mainly for drawing the ferrules out of boiler
tubes. Engineers know very well the damage that is so often caused in knocking out
the ferrules with the ordinary long bar of iron put through the tube against the ferrule,
and then striking the same with a heavy hammer, which not only knocks the ferrule
out, but often the tube when it is not wanted, and in nearly every case it sets the other
tubes leaking, and gives an amount of trouble to get them steam tight again. By the
use of this ferrule extractor, the ferrules can be drawn out in much less timo, and
without risk of disturbing the other tubes.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is vertical section of the apparatus when in use.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus.
In these, A is a stout preferably cylindrical box with open face abutting on a ring or
washer B, placed against the tube C. This box A has inside, the two jaws D, D¹. One
of these jaws, preferably the jaw D, terminates in a screw E, which passes through a
hole in the otherwise closed end of the box A, and is provided with a nut F beyond.
This jaw is preferably so shaped as to be supported against the contiguous side of the
box, and its end has a projection or claw d to overlap and hold onto the ferrule G. On
the opposite side, the jaw D is provided with a projection fitting a hollow in the other
jaw . It might, instead, have a hollow fitting a projection on the jaw D₁ or might
be hinged or linked to the top jaw in equivalent manner, so as to form a fulcrum for
the top jaw, and be able to drag the top jaw with it when screwed up. The jaw D¹
has also a projection or claw d¹ to catch on the ferrule G, and through the side of the
box A, I fix a set screw H, which by pressing on the tail of the jaw D' beyond its
fulcrum on the other one, keeps the jaws distended and catching on the ferrule. I is
the boiler or other plate to which the tube C is fixed.
The mode of action is as follows:-
-
A ring such as B, cut out to fit the tube end is placed on the latter, the box A
placed against the ring with the two claws inserted beyond the ferrule, the set screw
is tightened till the jaws fit over the ferrule. The main screw E is now screwed up
till the ferrule is forced or drawn out of the tube. As different rings B can be made
for each size of tube, and the box abuts against these, one apparatus can be used for
many different sizes of tubes and ferrules.
In place of two jaws, a single stem projecting into the tube with two hinged wings
pointing obliquely outward, or hinged grippers pointing inward, and kept apart by a

page_text: spring or a regulating device, could be used. A spring or equivalent could also be
substituted for the sot screw first mentioned, but the plan I have described, as my
experimental machine I prefer while, however, not binding myself to the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A ferrule extractor having two expanding jaws D, D', provided with claws such
as d, d', the said jaws hinged or linked in an equivalent manner so as to be opened or
expanded on a fulcrum, by means of the set screw H or its equivalent, and thereby
made to claw or catch the ferrule and draw or drag it out of the tube when the main
screw E is screwed up, substantially as described.
2. The means provided for using one apparatus for different sizes of tubes and
ferrules, consisting of a ring or washer B made to suit each size of tube, and against
which the frame or box A abuts, substantially as described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.