IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUMBERS' TRAPS AND OTHER PIPES OR TUBES OF SOFT METAL OR OTHER MATERIAL
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
PLUMBERS' TRAPS AND OTHER PIPES OR TUBES OF SOFT METAL OR OTHER
MATERIAL." A communication from abroad by Jesse Edward Folk, of Brooklyn,
New York United States of America. Merchant.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUMBERS' TRAPS AND OTHER PIPES OR TUBES OF SOFT
METAL OR OTHER MATERIAL." [A communication from abroad by Jesse Edward
Folk, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Merchant.]
This Invention relates to machines or apparatus for making curved pipes, such
as plumbers' traps, by causing lead or other plastic material to issue with variable
velocities at opposite sides of an annular die, or a die of oval or other suitable form,
to curve the pipe in one direction or another as it issues from the said die.
The object of the said Invention is to provide an apparatus more simple and
easily operated than any hitherto devised.
In apparatus heretofore devised for this purpose; the flow of the material to
one side or the other of the die has been caused by using an intermediate diaphragm,
slide valve or valves, or the like to move or operate between the receiver and the
die for directing or obstructing, as the case may be, the flow or passage of the
material into the die. I propose to dispense entirely with the said intermediate
valve and other parts, and provide direct communication of openings or passages
between the receiver and the die, such cómmunication being shifted or altered as
the operation of curving or straightening the pipe or trap progresses,

page_text: My Invention comprises a novel combination of the die with the receiver
for holding the material, whereby one is made movable with reference to the other,
thus providing for the casy direction of the material to one side or other of the die
as may be required.
It also comprises other novel features and arrangements of the die with the
receiver of great utility in the manufacture of the said curved pipes or traps.
The head or top is supported by rods or pillars, which also hold the said top
firmly to the bottom of the machine on which the bydraulic cylinder and ram are
designed to rest, the ram operating upward toward the said head or top. Passing
through a bore or cylindrical opening in the head, is the receiver or cylinder
(preferably of steel) for holding the material which is to be forced upward through
the said cylinder by the plunger actuated by the aforesaid hydraulic ram, or by any
other suitable lifting or forcing power. The aforesaid cylinder is open at the bottom,
but closed at its top, except as herein-after specified, and is secured to the head by
bolts.
The die which may have an annular form consists of a shell or box and a core.
The upper edge of the box and the upper part of the core form the mouth of the
die, the lower portion or support of the core being fixed solidly or rigidly to the
bottom of the said box
The lower part of the core may be of circular form with two partitions extending
from it on opposite sides, preferably quite up to the sides of the box. By shortening
the die sufficiently, the said partitions may be dispensed with, the short upward
pressure of the material being then so much greater in a given space than the long
lateral or circumferential pressure necessary to bring the material to the side of the
die opposite that where it enters from the cylinder.
The said die is intended to revolve or rotate upon the cylinder to which it is
fastened by a bolt or rod passing through the centre of the core and the centre of
the cylinder head, an intermediate bushing or washer aiding the adjustment and
rotation of the one upon the other, and the bolt or rod serving as the pivot or axis
upon which the rotation is to be made. In the bottom of the aforesaid box in the
channel between the core and the sides or walls of the box are two apertures
extending through the bottom of the said box, these apertures being on opposite
sides of the core and midway between the partitions. In the top of the cylinder
are also two apertures or slots between the centre and circumference, and nearly
opposite each other, but somewhat out of line, so that when the die is pivoted to
the cylinder and one aperture is brought directly in line with one slot, the other
aperture will be just past the other slot; and for instance, when one aperture is
brought by the rotation of the die to half cover or partially cover one slot, the
other aperture will uncover the other slot to a like extent, thus providing an equal
communication on the sides of the die with the cylinder, and thus permitting an
alteration therefrom to any extent up to entirely closing the one aperture and the
simultaneous opening of the other aperture.
By adding more partitions to the die, as for example, forming four partitions by
suitable rotation of the die, traps or pipes may be curved in other desired directions,
as for instance with the bends at right angles to each other.
If four partitions are used, a like number of apertures will be required in the
die, one aperture in each chamber formed by the partitions adjoining each other.
I have described the cylinder as stationary, and the die as moving or movable
upon it, but the die may be made stationary and the cylinder either alone or with
its plunger made to rotate or move against the die.
Instead of having a rotating die I may use a die arranged to slide upon the
cylinder in fixed guides, and the lower part of the core, instead of being circular, is
a partition extending diametrically from one side to the other side of the box, the
apertures being thus brought close together, so that one central aperture in the
cylinder top will suffice to connect with either or both of the aforesaid apertures as
desired

page_text: The cylinder top may be in some instances of a convex or spherical shape, the
bottom of the die being made of corresponding shape to fit thereon, and the said
die being attached to the cylinder by a yoke fastened rigidly to it and pivoted to
the cylinder on opposite sides.
By raising or lowering the handle, a rocking motion is given to the said die upon
the cylinder.
Both the sliding die and the rocking die may be made with the lower part of the
core of circular form, but the apertures in the die being in such case further apart
would require either two apertures or one longer aperture in the cylinder.
The cylinder in some instances may have one large central opening, and the die
may have a core, the said core being fastened into the wall of the box, and the die
and cylinder being pivoted together. The die is moved upon the said pivot by the
handle, or by other suitable means, so that when by such movement the die becomes
more or less excentric to the cylinder, the apertures between the sides of the box
and the partition or core support become more or less closed or open with relation
to each other, thus permitting a greater or less quantity of material to pass into
one side or the other of the die.
By the use of my Invention many lead pipe machines hitherto used simply for
making straight lead pipe, could, with slight expense, be adapted to make curved
pipe or traps.
It is to be understood that other plastic material, such as clay for instance, may
be manipulated in the same manner as lead, except that the heating of the cylinder
and material would be unnecessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
February 1878.
18
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUMBERS' TRAPS AND OTHER PIPES OR TUBES OF SOFT
METAL OR OTHER MATERIAL." A communication from abroad by Jesse Edward
Folk, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Merchant.
This Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for making curved pipes, such
as plumbers' traps, by causing lead or other plastic material to issue with variable
velocities at opposite sides of an annular die, or a die of oval or other suitable form,
to curve the pipe in one direction or another as it issues from the said die.
.
The object of the said Invention is to provide an apparatus more simple and
easily operated than any hitherto devised.
In apparatus heretofore devised for this purpose, the flow of the material to one
side or the other of the die has been caused by using an intermediate diaphragm,
slide valve or valves, or the like, to move or operate between the receiver and the
die for directing or obstructing, as the case may be, the flow or passage of the.
material into the die. I propose to dispense entirely with the said intermediate
valve and other parts, and provide direct communication of openings or passages
between the receiver and the die, such communication being shifted or. altered as
the operation of curving or straightening the pipe or trap progresses.
My Invention comprises a novel combination of the die with the receiver for
holding the material, whereby one is made moveable with reference to the other,
thus providing for the easy direction of the material to one side or another of the
die as may be required.
It also comprises other novel features and arrangements of the die with the
receiver of great utility in the manufacture of the said curved pipes or traps.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 represents a central sectional view of the upper portion of a seamless
pipe machine, embodying the main features of my Invention; Figure 1º is a plan
of the same.
Figure 2 is a central sectional view of the die and cylinder on the line x, x,
Figure 3.
Figures 3 and 3ª are horizontal sectional views of the die and cylinder on the
line 2, 2, Figure 2.
Figure 3b is a face view of the cylinder.
Figures 2a and 2b shew a vertical central sectional and horizontal sectional view
of the die and cylinder in a modified form.
Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view; and Figures 4 and 4b are horizontal
sectional views of the die and cylinder in another modified form.
Figures 5 and 5ª are vertical central sectional views; and Figure 5b is a side
view of the die and cylinder in another modified form.
Figures 6 and 6ª are horizontal sectional views of the die and cylinder; and
Figure 6b is a face view of the cylinder represented in another modified form.
Figure 7 is a vertical central sectional view; and Figures 7ª and 7b are horizontal
sectional views of the die and cylinder made in yet another modified form.
In Figures 1 and 1º, A represents the upper portion of a machine; such as is
ordinarily used in the manufacture of lead pipe, A¹ being the head or top supported
by the rods or pillars a, which also hold said top firmly to the bottom of the machine
on which the hydraulic cylinder and ram are designed to rest, the ram operating
upward toward the said head or top A¹. Passing through a bore or cylindrical
opening in the said head, is the receiver or cylinder B (preferably of steel) for
holding the material, which material I design to force upward through said cylinder
by the plunger C, actuated by the hydraulic ram before mentioned, on which it is

page_text: designed to be fastened or operated by any other suitable lifting or forcing power.
The cylinder B is open at the bottom but closed at its top except as herein-after
mentioned, and is secured to the head by bolts b passing through the flange or
shoulder b¹ of the said cylinder.
Instead of having a separate cylinder inserted in the head A¹ of the machine, the
head may itself be constructed and arranged to serve as the cylinder or receiver.
D represents the die, in this instance of annular form, and consisting of the shell
or box fand the core g, h; the upper edge f¹ of the box fand the upper part g of
the core, or what I may call the core proper, forming the mouth of the die, the lower
portion of the core or support of the core proper being fixed solidly or rigidly to the
bottom of the box f.
The lower part of the core is here shown of circular form, and having two
partitions i, i, extending from it on opposite sides, preferably quite up to the sides
of the box f. A slight space however between the ends of the partitions and the
sides or wall of the box f will facilitate the uniting of the material in tubular form
at the mouth of the die. As shewn in Figures 2ª, 2b, however by shortening the
die D sufficiently the partitions i, i, may be dispensed with, the short upward
pressure of the material being then so much greater in a given space than the long
lateral or circumferential pressure necessary to bring the material to the side of the
die opposite that where it enters from the cylinder.
The die D is intended to revolve or rotate upon the cylinder B, to which it is
fastened by the bolt or rod ; passing through the centre of the core g, h, and the
centre of the cylinder head 62, an intermediate bushing or washer 63, aiding more
accurate adjustment and revolving or rotation of the one upon the other, and the
bolt or rod serving as the pivot or axis upon which the rotation is to be made.
In the bottom of the box fin the channel between the core g, h, and the sides or
walls of the box fare two apertures k, l, extending through the bottom of the
box, these apertures being on opposite sides of the core, and each midway between
the partitions i, i. Provided in the top 62 of the cylinder B are also two apertures
or slots m, n, between the centre and circumference, and nearly opposite each other,
but sufficiently out of line, so that when the die D is pivoted to the cylinder B and
the aperture k, for example, is brought directly in line with slot m, the other
aperture will be just past the slot n; and, for instance, when the aperture kis
brought by the rotation of the die to half cover, or partially cover the slot m, the
aperture will uncover the slot n to a like degree, thus providing an equal com-
munication on each side of the. die from the cylinder, and thus permitting also of
an alteration therefrom to any extent up to entirely closing aperture and simul-
taneously opening aperture 1, or vice versa, with the least degree of rotation of
the die.
In operating the machine the cylinder being first heated by the introduction of
steam, or in any other suitable manner (if lead, for instance, is to be used), to
prevent the lead from cooling below the requisite temperature, the plunger C is
then forced upward until it enters the bottom or mouth of the cylinder B sufficiently
to form a closed bottom therefor; the melted lead is then run or poured into the
cylinder B, preferably at its top, through the aperture o (the die being off), and the
die is then attached to the cylinder B; and as soon as the lead has cooled sufficiently
to set when passing through and from the die at its mouth the plunger C is started
upward, forcing the lead to the top of the cylinder and through the apertures m, n,
one or both, as the case may be, according as they are brought into communication
with the apertures k, l, of the die by the turning or rotation of the latter on its
pivot by the handle d, or other device actuated by hand or hydraulic power or
by other suitable means.
By turning the die D so that the apertures k, l, become of equal size, as in
Figure 3, the pipe or trap will issue straight; by turning it so that one aperture
becomes larger and the other smaller, as in Figure 3, the pipe or trap will curve
from the side of the die on which the aperture is larger, the degree of curvature
depending upon the relative sizes for the moment of the two apertures and the

page_text: consequent relative quantities of lead passing into the two opposite sides of the die
and through and from it with different degrees of velocity, uniting at the core
proper in the mouth of the die. By reversing the rotation of the die the degree of
curvature is diminished until the pipe again issues straight, when, if the reverse
rotation be continued, the pipe will curve in the opposite direction. Thus, by
alternating the movement of the die upon the cylinder, a so-called U or S or other
similar trap or bent pipe may be made.
By adding more partitions to the die, if long (although, as already stated, they
may be dispensed with by shortening the die), as, for example, forming four
partitions,, ', ', as shewn in Figures 6, 6a, by suitable rotation of the die Ds
may be made traps or pipes curved in other desired directions, as, for instance, with
the bends at right angles to each other.
If partitions be used a like number of apertures would be required in the die,
one aperture in each chamber formed by the partitions adjoining each other.
It will readily be seen that any desired variation of curves, with reference to each
other, may thus be obtained by increasing the number of apertures in the die, and
bringing any desired two apertures in communication with the two apertures in the
cylinder B.
While I have shown and described the cylinder as stationary and the die as
moving or moveable upon it, the die may on the other hand be made stationary, and
the cylinder either alone or with its plunger made to rotate or move against the
die, but the latter method would naturally require. much more power for rotation
and would not be so desirable, although I consider either plan as an equivalent of
the other.
In Figures 4, 4ª, and 4b, the die D' instead of rotating is shown arranged to slide
upon the cylinder B in the fixed guides p, p, and the lower part of the core instead
of being circular in form is a partition extending diametrically from one side of the
box to the other, the apertures, 1, being thus brought close together, so that one
central aperture m' in the cylinder top will suffice to connect with either or both of
the apertures k, l, as desired. The die D¹ being moved inward or outward by the
screw or other suitable means, actuated by hand or other suitable power, the
aperture m' in the cylinder is brought partially under the aperture ³, and partially
under the aperture , or wholly under one or the other, as the case may be.
In Figures 5, 5, 5b, the cylinder top 63 is shown of a convex or spherical shape,
and the bottom of the die D² of corresponding shape to fit thereon, the die D being
attached to the cylinder by the yokes s fastened rigidly to the die D² and pivoted
to the cylinder B on opposite sides by bolts q, q.
By raising the handle d² or lowering it a rocking motion is given to the die D²
upon the cylinder B, which die D2, except as to the shape of its bottom, is con-
structed like the sliding die D' herein-before described, and has similar apertures
to cominunicate with a like aperture in the cylinder; the operation being substan-
tially alike also.
Both the sliding die D¹ and the rocking die D² may be made with the lower
part of the core of circular form like die D, but the apertures in the die being in
such case further apart would require either two apertures, or one longer aperture
in the cylinder.
In Figures 7, 7ª, and 7b, the cylinder B is shewn having one large central
opening m2, and the die D' may have a core, like dies D', D2, the said core being
fastened into the wall of the box f, and the die D and cylinder B are pivoted
together at r, the die being moved upon said pivot by the handle d³ or other suit-
able means, so that when by such movement the die D' becomes more or less
excentric to the cylinder B, the apertures 2, 12, between the sides of the box fand
the partition or core support h, become more or less closed or open with relation to
each other, thus permitting of a greater or less quantity of material passing into one
side or the other of the die D', as the case may be.
It will be seen that either form of my Invention permits of great facility in sub-
stituting a die of one size for a die of another to make pipes or traps of different

page_text: sizes, and it will also be seen that one cylinder will serve for any and all sizes of
dies ordinarily used and not require a separate cylinder for each die, as is the case
with some other machines devised for the manufacture of traps, which thereby
entail more or less loss of time in changing dies, besides the considerable expense
attendant upon requiring several cylinders where one might suffice.
By the use of my Invention many lead pipe machines hitherto used simply for
making straight lead pipe could with slight expense be adapted to make both that
and curved pipe or traps.
It is to be understood that other plastic material, such as clay for instance, may
be manipulated in the same manner as herein-before set forth for lead, except that
the heating of the cylinder and material would be unnecessary.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. In a machine for making seamless die-drawn curved pipes or traps, the die
and the receiver moveable with reference to each other, as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
Second. In a machine for making seamless die-drawn curved pipes or traps, the
die arranged to move with reference to the cylinder or receiver, as and for the pur-
pose herein set forth.
Third. In a machine for making seamless die-drawn curved pipes or traps, the
combination or its equivalent of a moveable die and a stationary receiver, as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. In a machine for making seamless die-drawn curved pipes or traps, a
valve die or cut-off die, consisting essentially of a box or shell and a central core,
the two forming a continuous facial opening or mouth, the said die being provided
with a cut-off aperture or apertures and surfaces, and arranged to operate in
immediate contact with the cylinder or receiver, as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
Fifth. The rotating cut-off die constructed and arranged for operation, as herein
set forth.
Sixth. The sliding cut-off die constructed and arranged for operation, as herein
set forth.
Seventh. The rocking cut-off die constructed and arranged for operation, as
herein set forth.
Eighth. The pivotal cut-off die constructed and arranged for operation, as herein
set forth.
Ninth. The universal cut-off die constructed and arranged for operation, as herein
set forth.
Tenth. In a machine for making seamless die-drawn curved pipes or traps, the
combination with the die and receiver, moveable with reference to each other, of the
plunger for forcing the material into and from the die, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM ROBT LAKE (LS)