Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Spirally-formed Welded Pipe.
Year: 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Spirally-formed
Welded Pipe.
I, JOHN B. Roor, of Portchester, County of Westchester, and State of New
York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
.b
These improvements relate to the manufacture of sheet metal pipe, formed by
winding blanks, plates or ribbons of sheet-metal into spiral form with their
opposite edges overlapping and welding such edges together, thereby producing a
continuous cylindrical pipe having a welded seam running spirally around it.
The invention consists generally in improved mechanism for winding the sheet-
metal blanks into spiral cylindrical form and welding them together.
The form of machine here shewn as embodying the invention consists of guiding
devices arranged to direct the sheet-metal blank into the machine at the proper
inclination for spiral winding; clamping or pinching jaws; which have a spirally
reciprocating motion and are constructed and operated to seize the blank and carry
it forward with a step by step spirally reciprocating movement, the jaws loosing
their hold upon the blank as they return and thereby leaving it in its forward
position; guiding devices arranged along the spiral path of the blank and adapted
to assist in guiding and shaping the blank; a former adapted to support the pipe
as it is formed and assist in giving it cylindrical form; a heating device or furnace
structure located in close proximity to the blank and arranged to heat the over-
lapping edges thereof at or near their point of junction-the point where such
edges are brought together by being coiled into cylindrical form; and hammering or
welding mechanism arranged to act upon the overlapping edges of the blank at
their point of junction for the purpose of welding them together. The invention
further consists in a special form of furnace structure particularly adapted for use
with this machine and of a special form of apparatus for heating the gases used in
such heating device.
The construction and operation of the machine will now be described in detail.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my improvements. Figure 2.
is an end elevation view of the same from the left of Figure 1.
ד

page_text: Figure 41s an end elevation view, and a sectional view on the line a, a of the
furnace structure.
Figure 5 is a top and side view of the other parts of the furnace.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the machine.
Figure 7 is an end elevation from the right of Figures 1 and 6 and views of
detail parts.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the former and fornace with the blank in position for
being shaped..
Figure 9 is a cross section of the furnace and former on line b, b of Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a detail view of the hammers.
Figure 11 is a section of the pincher shaft on line c, c of Figure 1. ·
Figure 12 is a like section on plane d, d.
Figures 13 and 14 are a plan and elevation of a modified form of the same
machine.
Figures 15 and 16 are detail elevations of the guide table; and
Figure 17 is a detail view of the hammer supports of Figures 13 and 14.
Referring to these views in detail A (in dotted lines) is the blank of sheet-metal
of the requisite width and thickness for the particular size of pipe it is desired to
produce. This blank is fed into the machine on a guide table B, see Figures 13, 15
and 16 where this guide is shewn, it being omitted from the other views so that
the working heating parts of the machine can be more fully shewn. This guide
table is adapted to blanks of various widths by the adjustable plates C, and it has
angular movement on the segment bed D by means of tangent screw E, for the
purpose of giving the blank any desired inclination.
F, G are the jaws of the lever pincher or clamping and feeding mechanism.
These jaws have motion to and from each other to seize the blank and release it,
and also a reciprocating compound motion consisting of a rotary movement around,
and a rectilinear movement along, the axis of their supporting shaft, which causes
them to move along the spiral course along which it is desired to lay the blank.
These pinchers or clamps seize the blank and draw it forward in its spiral direction,
at the same time shaping it cylindrically and forcing it through the guides H and
on and through the half circular former I, which guides and former further shape
and support it and direct it so that its opposite edges overlap (as seen in Figures 8
and 9). These overlapping edges are brought to a welding heat by the jet from a
blow-pipe J just before or as they come in contact; so that as the pinchers seize
the two edges they are brought firmly in contact with each other and welded
together by the hammers K just as the pinchers begin moving forward; thus
feeding forward a part of the blank and finishing a portion of the tube or pipe at
every successive forward movement of the pinchers.
These several parts and their operating mechanism are mounted upon a common
bed or frame L. The pinchers F G consist of strong lever-jaws carrying pinching
or clamping blocks or faces F¹ G' on their outer ends, which take hold of the edges
of the blank and are curved to correspond with the shape it is desired to give the
blank; so as to form it when they close upon it. These pinchers are also provided
with shaping heads F, G³ which are also suitably curved and take hold upon the
body of the blank, they serving to give the pinchers an extended grasp and also to
further shape the blank. The blocks F1 G₁ are cored out (Figure 9) and water is
caused to circulate through them, by means of pipes F³, G³ to keep them from
becoming unduly heated.
The pinchers are mounted upon trunnions M, M on the head N of the hollow
shaft O, which shaft is supported by, but is free to rotate and slide in, the pillar
bearings P rising from the head of the machine. The pinchers extend back past
their trunnions, forming levers of which these trunnions are fulcra, and these inner
ends of these levers are actuated, to close and open their pinching ends, by the
oppositely arranged excentrics or cams Q' (Figure 11) on the main or driving
shaft Q, the interposed sliding blocks Q and Q³, and the links Q which connect
the slides Q with the pinchers. The main shaft extends back through the shaft O

page_text: This shaft also carries the
To this end of the bed. of
and is driven by means of a belt on pulley Q.
excentric Q, to which is attached one end of rod R.
the machine is attached the bracket S, which has the guide slot S¹ in which moves
one end of the guide bolt R¹ of the excentric rod R. The other end of this
bolt R passes through the slot T¹ of the lever arm T, which arm is pivotted
to the rod T which in turn is pivotally attached at O¹ to the periphery of the
hollow shaft O. The other end of lever arm T passes through the ways U¹
of the trunnion joint U, which joint slides in ways U2, being moved along the same
by the screw shaft V, which is operated from the front end of the machine by the
hand wheel V. 03 is a segment gear which is fixed upon the shaft O and meshes
with the trough rack Os moving in the way O' of the guide block 0%. This guide
block is pivotted directly under the shaft O to the bed of the machine, while its
outer end is connected with the hand wheel 0" adapted to give the block any
desired inclination. As the main shaft revolves and causes the pinchers to close
upon the blank, the lever arm T is lifted and the pincher shaft is caused to
partially revolve, rectilinear motion being at the same time imparted to it by the
inclined guide block 0%, so that the pinchers are caused to move forward carrying
the blank with them along a spiral course. As eccentric Q moves over to the
other side of the main shaft the pincher shaft comes to a stop. But immediately
the lug R on eccentric rod R passes upon the curved head T4 of the lever arm T,
and the descent of the eccentric Q6 forces the swinging end of the lever arm down
and causes the pincher shaft to return along the spiral path through which it was
moved forward. By means of the hand wheels O and V₁ the spiral motion may
be changed and regulated, to produce any desired spiral feed and also any length
of feed, as may be required by blanks of various widths and thicknesses; without
altering the starting point of the pinchers.
The hammers K are mounted (as more clearly shown in Figures 6 and 10) on
running blocks K₁ in the head N of the pincher shaft, such blocks being hung on
the same shafts as the pinchers F G, and the hammer arms extending toward the
blank shaped so that the hammers in closing together strike on opposite sides of
the overlapping edges of the blank close to where the pinchers take hold.
The blocks K¹ are connected so as to be moved together by the sliding gib K",
which is pivotted to the upper block at a point. near the axis of such block and
slides in a groove in the lower block. By this arrangement, the lower hammer
which projects under the block and has but little room in which to move, has a
shorter swing, corresponding, however with the long swing of the upper hammer,
its block K¹ being heavier so that it will deliver a blow of the same power as the
upper hammer.
These hammers are held in the open position by spring K
attached to the lower one and to the head N. The hammers are operated by the
spring pawl N¹, which is hinged to the upper pincher and bears on the notched
sleeve K³, which sleeve is hung on a shaft N' in the top of the head N and carries
the tripping arm N³ and the hammer actuating arm N'. When the pinchers move
to close upon the blank, the pawl N engages with the sleeve K³ and partially
revolve it, so that the arm N' swings the hammers together (Figure 10) and causes
them to deliver a welding blow upon the heated portion of the edges of the blank.
When the hammers have; nearly come together and received their full impulse, the
tripping arm N³ comes in contact with the pawl N¹ and disconnects it from the
sleeve; so that when the hammers have struck the blank they are at once returned
to their open position by their retracting spring.
>>
On the shaft N' is a cam No to the arm of which is attached the actuating
rod N extending to the position of the operator at the front end of the machine.
This cam turns on its supporting shaft, and is arranged directly over the pawl N¹,
so that when it is turned with the highest part of its periphery bearing on the
pawl, the pawl will be depressed so that it cannot engage with the sleeve K³.
By this mechanism the action of the hammers is entirely under the control of
the operator, who can, at any time while the clamping or pinching jaws are
working, put the hammers into operation or stop them.

page_text: The former I consists of a fixed half circular ring having an internal size
corresponding to the pipe being made, and is secured to the bed of the machine
with its central line coinciding with that of the pincher shaft. In some cases this
ring is made in cylindrical form, but usually this half circular form is sufficient,
particularly when pinchers are provided, "as here shown, with the forming or
shaping heads FG. The guides H are supported on an upwardly spirally curving
arm of the former, which arm serves to make the former practically cylindrical,
and to assist in curving the blank into spiral shape; the guides being constructed
to enclose the edge of the sheet, and thereby assist to hold it to its proper spiral
inclination. Other similar guides may be used on the lower inner end of the
former; but, as the edges of the blank are secured together as fast as the blank is
fed in, these are not essential in all cases.
1
The blow-pipe J of the heating structure is arranged to deliver its jet or flame
directly into the angle formed by the opposite edges of the blank where they come
together (Figures 8 and 9), and upon the edges only that are to be welded together;
thereby obviating the heating of the whole blank and the consequent waste of
heating gases, as well as preserving the working parts of the machine from the
action of the welding flame. The blow-pipe is surrounded by a furnace structure,
which consists of suitable refractory material J₁ supported and held in place
by a shell or core J. This furnace structure is made up essentially of a top
part J, a bottom part J', and a core part J' which is arranged within the shaped
pipe and underneath the flat portion of the blank, to confine the jet to the curved
edges and to protect the other parts. This furnace shell is properly bolted together
and secured to the base of the machine as shown. It is to be understood that the
blow-pipe may be used without the enclosing structure shown; but this is
undesirable because of the dissipation of the welding heat, and the inability to
concentrate its action upon the parts only that are to be welded. Jo represents
water pipes, which run through the furnace structure and are so disposed that by
passing water through them the furnace may be kept properly cooled.
The blow-pipe is of any suitable form in construction, and the gases used are of
any suitable fuel (or hydrogen) gas and oxygen (usually air). It is desirable,
however, to produce as high a heat as is economically possible, so that the blanks
may be quickly brought to a welding condition; it being understood that the speed
of the machine must be limited by the time necessary to heat the edges of the
blank as it is fed into the machine. It is also desirable to produce a heating flame
freed from vapour of water or other gases capable of oxidizing or otherwise
attacking the heated blanks in any way that will prevent a perfect weld being
made. And I have discovered, that if the air with which the blow-pipe is supplied
be heated before it mingles with the fuel gas in the blow-pipe, the heat produced
will be much higher than when the air is used unheated, and all difficulties because
of the heated surfaces becoming oxidised or otherwise affected will be removed.
Accordingly I provide the stove Y for heating the air used by the blow-pipe J, see
Figure 2. This stove consists of an outer shell or case Y, and an inner spiral air
flue or passage Y¹ arranged within such shell as shown. J' is the pipe by which
the blow-pipe is supplied with gas. Y is the opening for admitting air to the
Blue Y. This opening may be provided with an induction air jet Y³ or it may
connect with an air pipe supplied with compressed air. Y' is a burner by which
the flue Y is heated. This flue is connected at the top of the stove with the outer
part of the blow-pipe, Figure 1. As the air passes up the flue of the stove its
moisture is driven off and it becomes highly heated, so that when it meets the fuel
gas in the blow-pipe it is in a condition to produce, intense combustion with the
development of very high heat I am aware that the air used in various furnaces
has been heated before being passed into the furnace, and such method I do not
claim; but I believe that it is new, in the case of heating blanks for spiral pipe
welding, as herein described, to heat the air, as, and for the purposes, described.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 show a modified construction of the hammer operating
devices. Here the hammers are supported independent of the pincher shaft in

page_text: stationary standards A¹ rising from the bed of the machine; these standards also
support the shaft N', the notched sleeve K³ and tripping arm No. The pawl N¹ is
hung to the lever arm A' which is pivotted at A³ to one of the standards A¹, and
this lever is connected by rod A' to the eccentric A° on the shaft A which is
supported in suitable bearings on the pillars P and is geared to the main shaft
at A. This mechanism operates in substantially the same way as that already
described, the only difference being that it ramains stationary the hammers strike
the blank just before the pinchers begin to move forward..
Other changes and modifications are possible in the construction of the various
parts of the machine, but these it is not essential to describe here, as the forms
shown are regarded as the best and as sufficient to explain the scope and operation
of the invention.
It should be noted, however, that the welding of the blanks together may be
accomplished by the pinching or clamping mechanism, and I have produced
successfully operated machines of this kind in which there were no hammering
devices, the welding together of the heated overlapping edges of the blank being
accomplished entirely by the pinching or clamping jawa. But it is preferred to
use hammering mechanism, as shown and described, in conjunction with such
pinching mechanism, for the welding is thereby more effectively done particularly
with thick blanks; and, where both such clamping and hammering mechanisms
are used, the welding may be done in part by each; or, as is usually the design,
the hammers may be used to practically accomplish the weld, and the pinchers will
then set down the seam and complete it in such respects as may not be done by the
hammers, or may be only partly or ineffectually done.
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:-
First. In a spiral pipe machine the combination of spirally reciprocating and
clamping and welding mechanism for shaping the blank and uniting its edges, and
a heating jet applied to the edges of the blank at their point of junction for
bringing them to a welding condition.
Second. In a spiral pipe machine, the combination of blank-forming and welding
mechanism, a heating jet, and a furnace or other structure arranged to confine the
action of the jet to the parts of the blank to be welded together.
Third. In a spiral pipe machine, the combination of sprirally-reciprocating blank
shaping and welding mechanism, a furnace or heating structure arranged to apply
a welding heat to the edges of the blank at or near their point of junction, said
shaping and welding mechanism and said furnace structure being provided with
water passages for the purpose of keeping the parts cooled.
Fourth. In a spiral-pipe machine, the combination of spirally-reciprocating blank
shaping and welding mechanism, and a fixed former for shaping and supporting the
blank.
Fifth. In a spiral-pipe machine, the combination of spirally reciprocating blank
feeding and shaping mechanism, and a guide for giving the blank its proper
inclination.
Sixth. In a spiral-pipe machine, the combination of spirally-reciprocating
pinchers arranged and operated to seize the blank and carry it forward, and a
guide for directing the blank into the machine at the proper inclination.
Seventh. In a spiral-pipe machine, the combination of spirally-reciprocating
pinchers arranged and operated to seize the blank and carry it forward, and a
guide located along the spiral path of the blank for directing and shaping the
blank as it is fed forward.
Eighth. In combination, in the herein described spiral-pipe machine, the spirally-
reciprocating pincher shaft carrying the blank pinching and shaping mechanism, a
rotating driving shaft, and connections between said shafts whereby the pincher
shaft receives its circular reciprocating motion from the driving shaft,
:

page_text: Ninth. In combination, the spirally-reciprocating lever pinchers borne upon the
end of the pincher-shaft, and the main shaft located within the pincher shaft and
having connections with and for operating said pinchers.
Teuth. In combination, the spirally-reciprocating pincher-shaft carrying blank
feeding and shaping mechanism, the fixed guide by which the shaft is made to
move rectilinearly, the rotating main shaft and its connections with the pincher
shaft through which said pincher shaft receives its circular reciprocating motion.
Eleventh. In a spiral-pipe machine, the combination of spirally-reciprocating
blank clamping and shaping mechanism, adapted to forming the blank cylindrically,
with its opposite edges overlapping, and a bammering mechanism arranged to
operate upon the overlapping edges of the blank, for the purpose of welding the
same together.
Twelfth. In a spiral-pipe machine, the combination of spirally-reciprocating
blank-shaping mechanism; heating devices for bringing the edges of the blank
to a welding condition, and hammering mechanism for welding such edges
together.
Thirteenth. In a pipe machine, the combination of spirally reciprocating blank
shaping lever jaws, oppositely arranged hammers constructed to operate upon both
sides of the blank for the purpose of welding the edges of the same together and
having spiral motion with said jaws, and heating devices for bringing the edges
of the blank to a welding heat.
Fourteenth. In combination in the herein described spiral-pipe machine, the
spirally reciprocating pincher shaft, the pincher levers and hammers borne thereon,
the rotating main shaft, and the connections by which said pinchers and said
hammers are operated from said main shaft.
Fifteenth. In combination, a machine for welding together the edges of pipe
blanks, a blow-pipe furnace arranged to bring the edges of the blank to a welding
heat, and an air heating device connected with said furnace and adapted to heat
the air supplied to said furnace.
Sixteenth. In combination, the herein described pipe forming and welding
machine, the blow-pipe furnace, and the air heating stove provided with the spiral
air passage and a heating lamp.
Dated this 2nd don of Amanat 1886