An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Supporting Tubular Articles during the Process of Hardening.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE FREDERICK SIMONDS, of Fitchburg,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Supporting Tubular
Articles during the Process of Hardening.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to an improved method of and appliances for supporting
tubular articles such as steel rings and sleeves during the process of hardening the
same, whereby the original shape of the article is retained, and the said article is
so supported that it can be hardened to an exact given form and size and sub-
sequently removed from its support without injury and in readiness for use without
being subjected to a grinding operation.
Either the inside, or outside, or both surfaces, of the article may be hardened.
According to this invention the ring, sleeve or like article to be hardened is
heated to a hardening temperature, then placed upon a collapsable support, then
cooled while held on said support in such a manner as to prevent warping and
distortion, and finally removed from the collapsable support.
An important feature of the said invention relates to the construction of collapsable
mandrels or supports for use in the process of hardening steel rings, sleeves and
similar tubular articles, hereinabove mentioned.
The said mandrel has one or more tapering seats adapted to be engaged with a
detachable and collapsable collar which has a tapered inner face corresponding with
the surface of said seat.
The collapsable collar is split or provided with a gap extended entirely through
its body and it may be also provided at suitable intervals in its exterior with
recesses that serve to increase its flexibility and enable it to collapse more readily
when the mandrel is withdrawn. By reason of the tapered seat and the corre-
sponding construction of the inner face of the collapsable collar, the mandrel and
collar can be readily engaged and disengaged when required.
The exterior of the collapsable collar may be made with a practically unbroken
surface, either tapering or cylindrical, to closely fit throughout the interior of a
tapering or straight steel ring or sleeve when only the outside of said steel ring or
sleeve is to be hardened.
A collapsable collar having longitudinal and annular corrugations intersecting
each other in its generally cylindrical outer face is sometimes used when it is
required to harden the interior of a ring as well as or instead of the exterior of
the same.
The intersecting longitudinal and annular corrugations serve as passages for the
circulation of a cooling fluid such as water, brine, oil or other fluid, in contact with
said inner face of the article to complete the hardening process.
When a sleeve having enlarged chambered ends, such for instance as in an axle
boxing or the hub of a bicycle wheel, is to have its interior subjected to a hardening
process, it may be supported and retained in shape during the process by means of
two collapsable collars, one of said collars being arranged within each enlarged
end of the said sleeve. By means of the intersecting corrugations formed in the
exterior of these collars a free passage is afforded for the circulation of a cooling

page_text: fluid, in contact with the entire interior of the sleeve and at the same time the
ends of the sleeve which are the most apt to become warped and distorted during
the operation of cooling are effectively supported and retained in shape.
In the ordinary operations of hardening steel rings, sleeves or similar articles
large losses are frequently experienced from the warping and distortion incident to
unequal contraction of the article if it is cooled without internal support. If a
heated tubular article is allowed to completely cool on an ordinary mandrel of
sufficient diameter to furnish an adequate support it will be impossible to remove
the article without great injury. These difficulties and objections are wholly
obviated by this invention. According to this method of preserving the proper
shape of a tubular steel article during the process of hardening, the article after
having been heated to a hardening temperature is placed in its heated and expanded
condition upon a collapsable collar, of the character herein before described. The
said collar, being detachably seated upon a central mandrel will afford such support
to the steel ring, sleeve or other tubular article as will effectually prevent warping
and distortion of the article while it is being cooled.
The collapsable collar should be of the shape and size to which it is desired to
harden and contract the steel ring, sleeve or other tubular body, and it is obvious
that the principle hereinabove indicated may be applied to collapsable supports of
other than cylindrical or conical shape. After the steel ring, sleeve or other
article has been sufficiently cooled the mandrel may be driven out from its engage-
ment with the collar or collars by suitable force applied to one of the mandrel ends.
It will be seen that by providing the mandrel with tapering seats for the collapsable
collars the said parts can be readily disengaged by a few blows on the small end of
the mandrel. When the collapsable collars are thus relieved from the internal
pressure of the mandrel body they can be readily drawn or forced out from the
steel ring or sleeve without subjecting the parts to any injurious strain.
Dated this 24th day of September 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Supporting Tubular
Articles during the Process of Hardening.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to an improved method of and appliances for supporting
tubular articles such as rings and sleeves and the like during the process of
hardening the same, whereby the original shapes thereof are retained, and each
said article is so supported that it can be hardened to an exact given form and size
and subsequently moved from its support without injury and in readiness for use
without being subjected to a grinding operation.
Either the inside or outside, or both surfaces of the article may be hardened.
According to this invention the ring, sleeve or like article to be hardened is
heated to a hardening temperature then placed upon a collapsable support, then
cooled while held on said support in such a manner as to prevent warping and
distortion, and finally moved from the collapsable support.
An important feature of the said invention relates to the construction of
collapsable mandrels, or supports for use in the process of hardening rings, sleeves
and similar tubular articles, hereinabove mentioned.

page_text: In the annexed drawings illustrating the invention,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Figure 1 showing a mandrel
provided with a movable and collapsable collar arranged to support and retain
in shape a straight steel ring or sleeve while its outer side is subjected to a
hardening process.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section shewing a straight steel sleeve provided with a
mandrel for supporting it while its inner side (and if desired its outside also) is
subjected to a hardening process.
Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a mandrel similar to that shewn in Figure 3,
for supporting and retaining in shape a tapering steel ring or sleeve during its
subjection to the hardening process.
Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 shows the manner of supporting and retaining in shape during the
hardening process a steel sleeve or tubular body such as the hub of a bicycle
wheel and,
Figure 8 is a transverse section of the same on the line 8-8 showing the shape
of one of the collapsable collars forming part of the mandrel.
Like letters of reference denote similar parts in all the drawings.
A is the centre piece of the mandrel provided with one or more tapering
seats A' adapted to be engaged with a detachable and collapsable collar B which
has a tapered inner face corresponding with the surface of said tapered seat.
The collapsable collar B is split or provided with a gap B₁ extended entirely
through its body and it may be also provided at suitable intervals in its exterior
with recesses B2 that serve to increase its flexibility and enable it to collapse
more readily when the centre piece A is withdrawn. By reason of the tapered
seat A' and the corresponding construction of the inner face of the collapsable
collar B, the centre piece and collar can be readily engaged and disengaged when
required.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the exterior of the collapsable collar B is made
with a practically unbroken surface, either tapering or cylindrical so as to closely
fit throughout the interior of a tapering or straight steel ring or sleeve C when
only the outside of said steel ring or sleeve is to be hardened.
If it is desired to subject the interior of the straight steel ring or sleeve to a
hardening process, the collapsable collar B is made with longitudinal corruga-
tions B and annular corrugations B₁ intersecting each other in its generally
cylindrical outer face as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, or the said collar may be made
in any suitable shape provided a sufficient number of points are left to support the
article while it is being hardened, and sufficient space left between the said points
to allow the brine or other cooling medium to circulate freely. When the steel
ring or sleeve is tapered as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the outer face B³ of the
collapsable collar B, is formed with a corresponding taper. The intersecting
longitudinal and annular corrugations serve as passages for the circulation of a
cooling fluid such as water, brine, oil or other fluid in contact with said inner
face of the article to complete the hardening process.
When a sleeve having enlarged chambered ends, such for instance as in an axle
boxing or the hub of a bicycle wheel is to have its interior subjected to a hardening
process it
may be supported and retained in shape during the process by means of
two collapsable collars, as shown in Figure 7, one of said collars being arranged
within each enlarged end of the said sleeve. By means of the intersecting
corrugations B³, B* formed in the exterior of the collars a free passage is afforded
for the circulation of a cooling fluid, in contact with the interior of the sleeve and
at the same time the ends of the sleeves which are the most apt to become warped
and distorted during the operation of cooling are effectively supported and retained
in shape.
In the ordinary operations of hardening steel rings, sleeves or similar articles

page_text: If a
large losses are frequently experienced from the warping and distortion incident to
unequal contraction of the article if it is cooled without internal support.
heated tubular article is allowed to completely cool on an ordinary mandrel of
sufficient diameter to furnish an adequate support it will be impossible to remove
the article without great injury. These difficulties and objections are wholly
obviated by this invention. According to this method of preserving the proper
shape of a tubular steel article during the process of hardening, the article after
having been heated to a hardening temperature is placed in its heated and
expanded condition upon a collapsable collar, of the character hereinbefore
described. The said collar, being detachably seated upon a centre piece will
afford such support to the steel ring, sleeve or other tubular article as will
effectually prevent warping and distortion of the article while it is being cooled.
In practice I prefer to first place the collapsable ring B upon the tapered seat A'
of the centre piece. The heated tubular article in its expanded condition is then
readily slipped on to the supporting collar. While thus supported the heated
article is next subjected to the action of a cooling medium, such as water, brine, oil
or other flu d, applied either to the interior or the exterior or to both surfaces of
said article. Under this treatment the steel ring, sleeve or like article will contract
with great uniformity, without warping, distortion or other injury. The channels
or passages B and B formed by the corrugated exterior of the collapsable
collar B will afford access for the cooling medium to the interior of the steel ring
or sleeve, if desired, or if preferred the cooling medium may be applied only to the
outside of the article by employing for the support of said article a collapsable
collar having a plain or uncorrugated outer surface closely fitting the interior of the
ring or sleeve. The collapsable collar B should be of the shape and size to which
it is desired to harden and contract the steel ring, sleeve or other tubular body,
and it is obvious that the principle hereinabove indicated may be applied to
collapsable supports of other than cylindrical or conical shape. After the steel
ring, sleeve or other article has been sufficiently cooled, the centre piece A may be
driven out from its engagement with the collar or collars B by suitable force
applied to one of the ends of the said centre. It will be seen that by providing the
centre piece with tapering seats A' for the collapsable collars the said parts can be
readily disengaged by a few blows on the small end of the centre piece. When
the collapsable collars B are thus relieved from the internal pressure of the centre
piece they can be readily drawn or forced out from the steel ring or sleeve without
subjecting the parts to any injurious strain.
Although I have described this invention with reference to particular articles it
is obvious that it can be applied to any articles which are circular or approximately
circular in section and which it is desirable to support internally during the process
of hardening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described method of hardening a ring, sleeve or other tubular
article and retaining its proper shape during the cooling operation which consists
in heating the said article to a bardening temperature, then placing it upon a
collapsable support, then cooling the said article while held on said support in such
a manner as to prevent warping and distortion, and finally removing the collapsable
support, substantially as described.
2. A collapsable mandrel adapted to support a ring, sleeve or other tubular
article during the process of hardening and cooling the same without warping or
distortion, substantially as described.
3. In a collapsable mandrel either parallel or taper or part parallel and part
taper the combination of a taper centre piece with a detachable and collapsable
collar which is made with or without longitudinal or annular corrugations or other
suitable supporting points, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 4. The improved apparatus for supporting a ring sleeve or other tubular article
during the process of hardening and cooling the same, substantially as described
with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.