Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Tubes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left 25th Julv. 1898-Accepted. 27th Oct., 1898
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Tubes.
We, ALFRED MILWARD REYNOLDS, Manufacturer, and JoHN THOMAS HEWITT,
Foreman, both of Newtown Row, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements relating to the manufacture of seam-
less steel and other tubes for boilers, for cycle construction, and for other purposes,
our object being to readily produce such tubes with a varying distribution of
metal, or with the ends or other required parts of a greater thickness than the
body of the tubes.
In the manufacture of tubes in accordance with our invention having a parallel
or uniform bore or internal diameter, we draw the tube in an ordinary manner to
a suitable thickness, and we subsequently further draw it upon a mandrel which
is necked down or reduced in diameter at the parts corresponding with the re-
quired thickened portions of the tube. In such drawing a tube is produced with
a parallel or uniform external diameter, but with an internal diameter corre-
sponding with the variations in the diameter of its mandrel. The tube with its
mandrel is subjected to the action of an ordinary reeling or releasing machine
and the tube is then withdrawn from the mandrel in the draw-bench, the man-
drel being attached to the outer end of the bench. During the withdrawal of the
tube the thickened portions of the metal are raised, and on the complete removal
from the mandrel a tube is produced of uniform bore or internal diameter but
with an additional thickness of metal on the exterior at the ends or other re-
quired parts A bulb or plug mandrel is afterwards drawn through the tube if
desired, to accurately finish the interior to the required size.
In the manufacture of tubes having a varying thickness of metal but with
uniform external diameter for cycle construction and other purposes, we first make
the tube with the thickened parts forming external projections, in the manner
hereinbefore described, and we then subject the tube to a further drawing for the
purpose of returning the external projections to the level of the body of the tube,
the additional metal being thus again disposed within the tube or in the position
it was originally compelled to assume when drawn upon the mandrel with the
necked or reduced parts.
In drawing tubes with thickened ends the mandrel can be made sufficiently long
and be so shaped as to enable two or more of such tubes to be formed in one piece
which is afterwards cut to the lengths required.
In order to avoid wasting the tube by nosing or tagging each length prepara-
tory to drawing, we sometimes use a screwed stem formed with a head or collar
which fits loosely in the tube; such collar bears against an internal flange formed
on the end of the tube. A sleeve is screwed over the stem and grips the flanged
end of the tube against the collar of the stem, which is prevented from turning
by interlocking or engaging with the end of the mandrel inserted through the
open end of the tube.

page_text: The tube with its mandrel is drawn through the die and is afterwards with-
drawn from the mandrel as before described.
In the manufacture of tubes having a tapering thickness of metal, a required
length of tube with a parallel thickness of metal has one end flanged in or par-
tially closed. Such internally flanged end of the tube is gripped between the
extremity of a suitably tapered mandrel and a plug which is screwed into the
mandrel and serves as a gripping piece for the drawing of the tube and mandrel
through the draw-bench die. After the drawing the tapered tube and its mandrel
can be subjected to the action of a releasing or reeling machine, and then on
unscrewing the plug the mandrel can be withdrawn in the draw-bench from the
end of the tube opposite to that on which the internal flange is formed, the tube
abutting against a sharp edged die. The tube can be subsequently drawn through
a sizing die by means of a stem having a collar or enlarged end for abutting
against the internal flange, which is afterwards cut off in any ordinary manner.
We modify the shape and construction of the mandrels and dies and other tools
employed in the application of our invention, to suit the particular class of tubes
required.
г
Improvements relating to the manufacture of Tubes.
We, ALFRED MILWARD REYNOLDS, Manufacturer, and JOHN THOMAS HEWITT,
Foreman, both of Newtown Row, in the City of Birmingham, 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 consists of improvements relating to the manufacture of seam-
less steel and other tubes for boilers, for cycle construction, and for other purposes,
and especially to the production of such tubes with a varying distribution of
metal, or with the ends or other required parts of a greater thickness than the
body of the tubes.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter re-
ferred to.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are sectional views of a tube at different stages of manufac-
ture in accordance with our invention, the tube having when finished a parallel or
uniform bore or internal diameter but with an additional thickness of metal at
the ends on its exterior surface.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, are sectional views illustrating the manufacture of a
tube with thickened or butted ends in accordance with our invention, but in this
case the additional thickness of metal is disposed on the interior surface of the
finished tube, the external surface having a uniform diameter throughout.
Figure 8 is a part sectional view of the body part of the mandrel we employ in
the production of long tubes with thickened ends, whilst Figures 9, 10 and 11
represent the detachable end pieces which are screwed into the body part of the
mandrel.
Figures 12 to 19 inclusive represent the method and means we adopt for draw-
ing the tubes through the reducing dies without tagging or closing the end which
is usually gripped by the machine.

page_text: Figures 20, 21 and 22 illustrate our method of manufacturing tubes with a
tapering thickness of metal.
Figures 23 and 24 illustrate our method of drawing a taper tube thickened at
one end only.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In the manufacture of tubes in accordance with our invention having a parallel
or uniform bore or internal diameter, we draw a tube in an ordinary manner to
a suitable thickness, and we subsequently further draw such tube as A Figures 1
and 2 upon a mandrel B which is necked down or reduced in diameter at the
parts bb corresponding with the required thickened portions of the tube. In
such drawing a tube is produced with a parallel or uniform external diameter,
but with an internal diameter corresponding with the variations in the diameter
of its mandrel. Figure 1 represents the tube A and its mandrel B before draw-
ing, and Figure 2 the same parts after they have been drawn together through a
suitable die in any ordinary tube drawing machine. The drawn tube A Figure 2
with its mandrel is subjected to the action of an ordinary reeling or releasing
machine and the tube is then withdrawn from the mandrel in the draw-bench,
the mandrel being attached to the outer end of the bench in any ordinary
manner, or the tube may be held stationary whilst the mandrel is withdrawn
therefrom. During such detachment of the tube and mandrel the thickened por-
tions of the tube metal are raised by the passage of the larger diameter of the
mandrel through the smaller internal diameter of the tube, and on the complete
removal from the mandrel a tube is produced such as shown at Figure 3 of
uniform or approximately uniform bore or internal diameter but with an addi-
tional thickness of metal on the exterior at the ends or other required parts. The
closed end A¹ of the tube is cut off along the line a Figure 3. A bulb or plug
mandrel is afterwards drawn through the tube if desired, to accurately finish the
interior to the required size.
The bulb or rounded end B¹ of the mandrel B is omitted if the thick portion
of the tube adjoining it is not required to be swelled or expanded to the same
bore or internal diameter as the remainder of the tube.
In the manufacture of tubes having a varying thickness of metal but with
uniform external diameter, we first make the tube with the thickened part or
parts or one of them, forming an external projection in the manner hereinbefore
described, and we then subject the tube to a further drawing for the purpose of
returning the external projection or projections to the level of the body of the
tube, the additional metal being thus again disposed within the tube or in the
position it was originally compelled to assume when drawn upon the mandrel
with the necked or reduced parts. The manufacture of such a tube is illustrated
by Figures 4 to 7 inclusive. Figure 6 illustrates the tube A after its detachment
from the mandrel, whilst Figure 7 shows the tube after it has been re-drawn
through a die. The closed end A¹ of the tube is cut off along the line xx
Figure 7. The mandrel C has a plain end c as illustrated.
In the case of long tubes we sometimes make the ends or heads of the mandrel
separate from its body or central part which is shown at Figure 8. The ends of
the body part have each a tapped hole to receive the screwed stems of the mandrel
heads; three different forms of such heads or ends are shown at Figures 9, 10
and 11. We suitably harden the mandrel ends to enable them to better withstand
the wear and tear to which they are subjected in use.
In drawing tubes of moderate length with their ends or other part or parts
thickened as herein before described, the mandrel can be made sufficiently long
and be so shaped as to enable two or more of such tubes to be formed in one piece
which is afterwards cut to the length required.
In order to avoid waste of metal by fully closing or tagging each tube prepara-
tory to drawing and for other reasons hereinafter set forth, more particularly
when making short tubes such as shown by the Figures 12 to 24, for cycle con-

page_text: struction and other purposes, we use a screwed stem as D (Figures 14 15 17
and 18) having a head or collar which fits loosely in the tube and bears against
an internal flange as A³ formed on the end of the tube A (Figures 12, 17 and 18).
A sleeve or nut E (Figures 13, 17, and 18) is screwed on to the externally pro-
jecting portion of the stem D and grips the flanged end A2 of the tube against
the head of the stem D as illustrated at Figures 17 and 18; the stem is pre-
vented from turning whilst the sleeve is screwed on to it by the interlocking or
engagement of its head with the square end F¹ of the mandrel F the opposite
end of the mandrel being preferably held in the moving or sliding part of the
tube drawing machine. Figure 12 shows the tube A with one end flanged in;
Figure 13 represents the sleeve or nut alone; Figure 14 is a side elevation with
part in section and Figure 15 an end elevation of the screwed attachment stem
with its hollow or socket-like head for fitting loosely within the tube; Figure 16
represents the mandrel alone, held by its outer end in the moving or sliding
part of the drawing machine. Figure 17 is a sectional view of the tube after
it has been passed, on the mandrel F, through the reducing die; the tube is
subsequently subjected to the action of an ordinary reeling or releasing machine
to permit of its ready detachment from the mandrel as hereinbefore described.
Figure 18 shows the tube after removal from the mandrel but with the screwed
stem and its sleeve or
nut still in attachment with the tube which
is again passed through a die, on a loosely fitting mandrel, for the
purpose of making the tube of a uniform diameter throughout as shown at
Figure 19 representing the finished double-butted tube having the internally pro-
jecting flange cut away. The removal of the tube from the mandrel is effected
preferably by holding back the tube by means of a retaining piece engaging with
the groove e of the sleeve E, the mandrel F. being drawn out by the moving or
sliding part of the tube drawing machine which is in engagement with the
groove for the mandrel may be kept stationary whilst the tube is withdrawn
from it.
We manufacture tubes having a tapering thickness of metal, and the maximum
at the centre or mid-way between the ends, from tubes of uniform thickness which
we draw down upon a mandrel G, Figure 20, tapered to correspond with the
required taper in the tube metal. One end of the tube has an internally pro-
jecting flange formed upon it, as shown, to permit of its attachment with a
screwed stem and a sleeve or nut such as hereinbefore described. After the tube
has been released from the mandrel by the action of an ordinary reeling or releasing
machine the mandrel is removed from it, as with tubes having thickened or butted
ends as herein before described, and thus a tube is produced as shown at Figure 21,
having a thickened central portion and with a uniform bore or internal diameter.
If the tube is required to be of uniform external diameter it is passed through a
die on a loosely fitting mandrel; the internally projecting flange is then cut away
leaving the finished tube as shown at Figure 22.
We manufacture tubes having a tapering thickness but with the maximum at
one end, from tubes having a parallel thickness of metal, by drawing such tubes
on a suitably tapered mandrel as H at Figure 23. Figure 24 represents the
finished tube, with a uniform external diameter, after the removal of the man-
drel H and the cutting away of the internally projecting flange by which the tube
was held during its pass through the die. We sometimes provide the mandrel H
with the screwed stem for passing through the flanged end, omitting the internal
socket head, formed in one piece with or screwed into the said mandrel.
We modify the shape and construction of the mandrels and dies and other
tools employed in the application of our invention to suit the particular class of
tubes required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In the manufacture of tubes with a varying distribution of metal, detaching

page_text: the tube from the mandrel on which it has been passed through a reducing die
by the withdrawal of one part whilst the other is held stationary thereby expand-
ing the thickened portions of the tube, substantially as set forth.
2. The improved process of manufacturing tubes having a varying thickness of
metal, consisting in the placing of a tube having metal of a uniform thickness
throughout upon a mandrel having reduced portions corresponding with the re-
quired thicker portions of the finished tube, drawing both tube and mandrel
together through a die, passing same through a reeling or releasing machine, and
subsequently withdrawing the one whilst the other is held stationary substantially
as set forth.
3. The improved process of manufacturing tubes having a uniform external
diameter but with a varying thickness of metal, consisting in the placing of a
tube having metal of a uniform thickness throughout upon a mandrel having
reduced portions corresponding with the required thicker portions of the finished
tube, drawing both tube and mandrel together through a die, passing same
through a reeling or releasing machine, withdrawing the one whilst the other is
held stationary, and subsequently re-drawing the tube through a die, substantially
as set forth.
4. In tube drawing, the combination of a mandrel centre or body having a
tapped hole at each end, with screwed mandrel end pieces, the said end pieces
being in part of less diameter than the said mandrel centre or body, substantially
as set forth.
5. In tube drawing, the combination with the internally flanged end of the
tube to be drawn of a screwed stem having a socket like head for engaging with
the inner end of the mandrel on which the tube is placed, and a sleeve or nut for.
the said screwed stem, substantially as set forth.
6. In tube drawing, effecting the removal of the tube from its mandrel by
retaining the tube, by the engagement of the groove e in the sleeve E with a
fixed part of the drawing machine, whilst the mandrel is withdrawn, or by retain-
ing the mandrel whilst the tube is withdrawn therefrom, substantially as set forth.
7. In tube drawing, the combination in the tube to be reduced of an internal
flange As formed on one end of the said tube and a mandrel H having a shoulder
abutting against the inner surface of the said flange, and a projecting screwed
stem, for the reception of a clamping sleeve, substantially as set forth.
D
1
Sword day of July 1000.
MARKS & CLERK,
!
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.