IMPROVEMENTS IN FLANGING BOILER AND OTHER PLATES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ralph Hart Tweddell, of Delahay Street, Westminster, in
the County of Middlesex, James Platt, and John Fielding, both of the Atlas
Works, in the County of Gloucester, and William Boyd, of Jesmond Road, in
the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN FLANGING BOILER AND OTHER PLATES AND APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ralph Hart Tweddell,
James Platt, John Fielding, and William Boyd at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December 1880.
RALPH HART TWEDDELL, of Delahay Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, JAMES PLATT, and JOHN FIELDING, both of the Atlas Works, in the
County of Gloucester, and WILLIAM BOYD, of Jesmond Road, in the Town and
County of Newcastle upon Tyne. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLANGING BOILER AND
OTHER PLATES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
In flanging boiler and other plates by hydraulic machinery, it is usual to heat
the whole plate and effect the flanging at one effort. This system involves the use
of large furnaces and powerful machinery, as well as large expenditure for blocks
and dies to suit different sizes and forms of plates. Our Invention relates to the
flanging of plates in successive portions, so that the parts to be operated on can be
heated in furnaces of moderate size; the tools employed are simple and com-
paratively small in dimensions, and the hydraulic power which has to perform
only a fraction of the work at a time is much less than when the whole work is
done at once. In order to illustrate the nature of our Invention we shall suppose
that a large circular plate, such as would form the end of a boiler, has to be
flanged all round its periphery. For this purpose we lay the plate horizontally on
a suitable bed, in one part of which there is fixed a block or anvil which is a small
segment of what would be the complete circular die block. Immediately over the
anvil is mounted a hydraulic cylinder, the ram of which being pressed down clamps
the plate firmly on the anvil. Another hydraulic cylinder is mounted at the side
of the former and its ram terminates in a bending tool so shaped that when it
descends on the edge of the plate projecting beyond the anvil and clamping ram it
bends part of that edge down. A third hydraulic cylinder fixed horizontally has
its ram provided with a finishing head so that when the plate has been bent
down and the bending ram has been withdrawn this finishing head advances, and
pressing the bent down part against the side of the anvil, flattens down such buckles
as may have been formed in the bending and finishes that portion of the flange.
The rams being now withdrawn the plate is turned partly round so as to present
the next portion of its circumference to be operated on in like manner. And thus
[Price 6d1

page_text: step by step, the whole circumference is flanged. It is of advantage to mount the
plate on a turntable worked by worm or other gearing, so that the plate can be
readily moved by degrees round the axis of the turn table. When the form of the
plate is other than circular it can be slid along the bed to the required position for
Hanging each portion of its periphery, and the tools may be altered to suit the different
forms of these portions. In order to avoid the necessity for removing the plate for its
successive heats, and to economise time and fuel, a furnace may be placed near the
flanging tools, so that there may be a portion of the edge of the plate being heated
while the part previously heated is being flanged, and when the plate is moved partly
round the heated portion may in its turn be brought to the anvil to be operated on.
The hydraulic cylinders may be fixed on framing projecting from the bed beyond
the plate. We find it convenient however to provide a framing consisting of
uprights far enough apart to admit between them the largest plate that is to be
flanged, and a girder supported by these uprights, and we fit the hydraulic cylinder
to slide along this girder so that they can be set in any required position
on it relatively to the centre of the turntable, so as to suit plates of different
diameters, the anvil below the plate being adjusted to a corresponding position.
In this manner plates of other than circular form can be readily flanged, as
described. Instead of making the hydraulic cylinders and the anvil moveable, the
axis of the turntable may be moved to suit different forms and sizes of plates, the
cylinders and anvil being stationary. It often happens that a plate has to be
flanged internally around a hole to form the mouth of a flue or fire place, or around
several such holes. In many cases these holes being of comparatively small
dimensions are most conveniently flanged in the ordinary manner by the use of a
single block and die,. which form the flange at one effort. For this purpose the
same hydraulic cylinder which for external flanging serves to clamp the plate on
the anvil, or that which serves to bend down the edge of the plate, or both together,
can be employed to work the die. When however it is desired to form an internal
flange round a hole in successive portions the apparatus first described may be
employed; when the hole is sufficiently large to permit of the plate being passed
over the hydraulic cylinders, or when the hole is of smaller size, we arrange
apparatus as follows:-From a bed plate, on which is fixed a suitable segmental
anvil block, a frame projects upwards, this frame being sufficiently small to pass
through the hole that is to be flanged, so that the plate when heated can be laid
upon the bed plate and anvil. The frame carries a hydraulic cylinder mounted on
trunnions having their bearings fitted in slides, so that the cylinder can be turned
to various inclinations and raised or lowered. The cylinder being raised, and
having its axis inclined at an angle of 45° or thereabouts to the horizontal, its ram
is caused to advance against the edge of the plate projecting over the anvil, and so
to bend that edge downwards, and the cylinder being thereafter lowered down and
turned to a horizontal attitude, its ram advancing against the bent down portion
of the plate presses it against the side of the anvil, finishing the flanging of that
portion. The plate being now turned partly round the axis of the hole has another
portion operated on in like manner. Instead of their turning the plate the frame
of the hydraulic cylinder and the anvil can be mounted on a vertical axis, so as to
be turned to act on successive portions of the plate which in that case remains at
rest. Although we have described the action of the bending and finishing hydraulic
tools, as if each made only one movement to 'effect its operation, it is to be under-
stood that by alternately subjecting the rams to pressure and relieving them
therefrom, they can be made to perform their respective operations by a succession
of movements as if they were slow moving hammers; and in this manner the plate
after being flanged can be flattened by the movements of the same tools. Although
in what has preceded we have referred to hydraulic pressure as the power employed,
it is to be understood that other fluid pressure, such as that of steam or compressed
air, might be employed in working apparatus such as we have described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ralph Hart Tweddell, James Platt, John Fielding and William
Boyd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th June 1881.
RALPH HART TWEDDELL, of Delahay Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, JAMES PLATT and JOHN FIELDING, both of the Atlas Works, in the
County of Gloucester, and WILLIAM BOYD, of Jesmond Road, in the Town and
County of Newcastle upon Tyne. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLANGING BOILER AND
OTHER PLATES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
In
The
In flanging boiler and other plates by hydraulic machinery, it is usual to heat the
whole plate and effect the flanging at one effort. This system involves the use of
large furnaces and powerful machinery as well as large expenditure for blocks and
dies to suit different sizes and forms of plates. Our Invention relates to the
flanging of plates in successive portions, so that the parts to be operated on can be
heated in furnaces of moderate size; the tools employed are simple and comparatively
small in dimensions, and the hydraulic power which has to perform only a fraction
of the work at a time is much less than when the whole work is done at once.
order to illustrate the nature of our Invention we shall suppose that a large
circular plate, such as would form the end of a boiler, has to be flanged all round
its periphery. For this purpose we lay the plate horizontally on a suitable bed, in
one part of which there is fixed a block or anvil which is a small segment of what
would be the complete circular die block. Immediately over the anvil there is
mounted a hydraulic cylinder, the ram of which being pressed down clamps the
plate firmly on the anvil. Another hydraulic cylinder is mounted at the side of
the former, and its ram terminates in a bending tool so shaped that when it descends
on the edge of the plate projecting beyond the anvil and clamping ram it bends
part of that edge down. A third hydraulic cylinder fixed horizontally has its
ram provided with a finishing head, so that when the plate has been bent down
and the bending ram has been withdrawn this finishing head advances, and pressing
the bent down part against the side of the anvil flattens down such buckles as may
have been formed in the bending and finishes that portion of the flange.
rams being now withdrawn the plate is turned partly round so as to present the
next portion of its circumference to be operated on in like manner. And thus
step by step the whole circumference is flanged. It is of advantage to mount
the plate on a turn table worked by worm or other gearing, so that the
plate can be readily moved by degrees round the axis of the turn-table.
When the form of the plate is other than circular it can be slid along the bed
to the required position for flanging each portion of its periphery, and the
tools may be altered to suit the different forms of these portions. In order to
avoid the necessity for removing the plate for its successive heats and to economise
time and fuel, a furnace may be placed near the flanging tools, so that there may be
a portion of the edge of the plate being heated while the part previously heated is
being flanged, and when the plate is moved partly round the heated portion may
in its turn be brought to the anvil to be operated on. The hydraulic cylinders may
be fixed on framing projecting from the bed beyond the plate. We find it
convenient however to provide a framing consisting of uprights far enough apart
to admit between them the largest plate that is to be flanged and a girder
supported by these uprights, and we fit the hydraulic cylinder to slide along this
girder so that they can be set in any required position on it relatively to the centre
of the turntable so as to suit plates of different diameters, the anvil below the
plate being adjusted to a corresponding position. In this manner plates of other than
circular form can be readily flanged as described. Instead of making the hydraulic

page_text: cylinders and their anvil moveable, the axis of the turntable may be moved to
suit different forms and sizes of plates, the cylinders and anvil being stationary.
It often happens that a plate has to be flanged internally around a hole to form
the mouth of a flue or fire place or around several such holes. In many cases these
holes being of comparatively small dimensions are most conveniently flanged in
the ordinary manner by the use of a single block and die which form the flange
at one effort. For this purpose the same hydraulic cylinder which for external
flanging serves to clamp the plate on the anvil, or that which serves to bend down
the edge of the plate, or both together, can be employed to work the die. When
however it is desired to form an internal flange round a hole in successive portions
the apparatus first described may be employed; when the hole is sufficiently large
to permit of the plate being passed over the hydraulic cylinders, or when the hole
is of smaller size, we arrange apparatus as follows:-From a bed plate, on which
is fixed a suitable segmental anvil block, a frame projects upwards, this frame
being sufficiently small to pass through the hole that is to be flanged, so that the
plate when heated can be laid upon the bed plate and anvil. The frame carries a
hydraulic cylinder mounted on trunnions having their bearings fitted in slides, so
that the cylinder can be turned to various inclinations and raised or lowered. The
cylinder being raised and having its axis inclined at an angle of 45° or thereabouts
to the horizontal, its ram is caused to advance against the edge of the plate pro-
jecting over the anvil, and so to bend that edge downwards, and the cylinder being
thereafter lowered down and turned to a horizontal attitude, its ram advancing
against the bent down portion of the plate presses it against the side of the anvil,
finishing the flanging of that portion. The plate being now turned partly round
the axis of the hole has another portion operated on in like manner. Instead of
then turning the plate, the frame of the hydraulic cylinder and the anvil can be
mounted on a vertical axis, so as to be turned to act on successive portions of the
plate which in that case remains at rest. Although we have described the action
of the bending and finishing hydraulic tools as if cach made only one movement to
effect its operation, it is to be understood that by alternately subjecting the rams to
pressure and relieving them therefrom, they can be made to perform their respective
operations by a succession of movements as if they were slow moving hammers;
and in this manner the plate after being flanged can be flattened by the movements
of the same tools. Although in what has preceded we have referred to hydraulic
pressure as the power employed, it is to be understood that other fluid pressure,
such as that of steam or compressed air, might be employed in working apparatus
such as we have described.
Fig. 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a plan of apparatus according to our Invention
for flanging plates. On a bed A is fixed in any desired position a turntable B,
on which is laid the plate P to be flanged. On a frame C at the end of the
bed are fixed three hydraulic cylinders, having plungers D, E, and F, on the
ends of which are fixed suitable tools. The two plungers D and E working
vertically may be drawn up by means of chains worked by the plunger of a single
draw back cylinder G fixed on the top of the frame, or separate cylinders may be
employed for that purpose. For flanging a circular plate P, the turntable B, and
an anvil block H, are fixed on the bed A, and adjusted to the desired radius of the
flange. The plungers D, E, and F being withdrawn, the plate heated at the edge
is placed with its edge projecting beyond the anvil H; the plunger D is then
lowered on the plate, so as to press it firmly on the anvil, and thereupon the
plunger E, which carries a tool suitably sloped on its face descends, bending part
of the edge of the plate P over the anvil ; the plunger E being now raised, the
horizontal plunger F is advanced, so as to press the bent down part of the plate
against the face of the anvil H; the plungers being again withdrawn the plate P is

page_text: turned partly round, so as to present a fresh portion of its edge, which is similarly
operated on. Instead of arranging the plunger F in line with the plungers D
and E, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be arranged to work obliquely at the
side, as shewn at F¹ in the plan, Fig. 3.
In this case it is not necessary to
withdraw either of the plungers E or F in order to permit the advance of the
other. When a straight edged plate has to be flanged there may be fixed on the
bed A a slide, having a lateral traverse instead of the turn plate B; or when the
edge of the plate has a curvature other than circular the plate may by the com-
bined movements of the turntable and the lateral slide be caused to traverse in the
desired direction, and in case of variation of curvature the anvil H may be provided
with removeable facings, which may be changed from time to time. The machine
above described is applicable for flanging plates in the ordinary way, the two
plungers D and E acting together on the moving block K, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5.
The plate may if required be held up by a plunger L exerting less pressure than the
two combined plungers D and E. These plungers may be drawn up by means of a
single cylinder G, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, or there may be separate cylinders G¹
and G2 for that purpose, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5. When the machine is employed
as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 the anvil H and guide bracket M, shewn in Fig. 1 are
removed as well as a lengthening piece forming part of the plunger F. When the
arrangement of the plunger F and its cylinder is as shewn in Fig. 3, this cylinder may
be turned aside working on the bolt N as a centre, in which case it is necessary to
remove only the anvil H and guide M. Fig. 6 shews a modified arrangement of
the machine, the hydraulic cylinders being in this case fixed on a carriage which
can be moved along a strong girder O connected to the bed A by uprights Q, Q.
The turntable B may be made hollow so that it can be used to receive the mould
for an inwardly flanged plate, the flanging block K being worked by the two
plungers D and E combined, as indicated by the dotted lines, a holding up plunger L
being employed if required. To suit various diameters of externally flanged plates,
the cylinders of D and E are moved along the girder O, and the plunger F is fitted
with suitable lengthening pieces as f. Fig. 7 is a side view of apparatus, according
to our Invention, for internal flanging around a hole in a plate. In this case on a
bed A is fixed a circular anvil H of the size required. In the centre is mounted
a vertical axis R, which can be turned round by worm gearing or other suitable
gearing. The upper part of this axis is curved to a circular are forming a guide,
on which the hydraulic cylinder S can slide. The plate P being fixed on the anvil
with the edge of its hole projecting inwardly, the cylinder S is set at the higher
part of the arc, and its plunger then being advanced against the edge of the plate
bends it downwards. The axis R being turned, the plunger of S makes a series
of strokes so as to bend the edge of the plate all round. The cylinder S is then
lowered a little, and its plunger makes another series of strokes while the axis R is
turned, and thus the edge of the plate is gradually bent downwards, until when S
arrives at its lowest position the flange is finished.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we claim,—
First. The method herein described of flanging boiler or other plates by the action
tools moved by fluid pressure upon successive portions of the plate edge, pressing
these portions over and against a suitable anvil block.
Second. For flanging plates in the manner referred to in the preceding claim, the
use of an anvil block in combination with three plungers worked by fluid pressure,
these plungers carrying tools, one for clamping the plate on the anvil, one for
bending its edge over the anvil, and one for finishing the flange against the anvil,
substantially as herein described.
Third. The construction of apparatus for. Hanging plates herein described with
reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fourth. The construction of apparatus for flanging plates herein described, with
reference to Fig. 6.

page_text: Fifth. The use for internal flanging a plate around a circular hole of apparatus
constructed and operating substantially as described with reference to Fig. 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ralph Hart Tweddell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
RALPH HART TWEDDELL. (L.S.)