Improvements in Pipe-making Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pipe-making Machines.
We, JAMES CRAIG of the firm of J. & M. Craig, of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire,
Fire-clay Manufacturers, and HUGH STEVENSON, of Perceton Fire Clay Works,
Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Manager to said firm, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for making drain pipes and similar piping of
clay and it has for its object the provision of simpler and more efficient devices than
hitherto in use for cutting off the piping in suitable lengths or the ends of the
lengths of piping at right angles to their longitudinal axis whilst the piping is in
course of formation.
Such apparatus as heretofore provided has been of a heavy and cumbersome
nature and only capable of dealing with piping of large diameter, capable of with-
standing considerable end pressure; and in dealing with smaller pipes the ends have
usually been cut off by hand or by the use of mandrels on which the pipe lengths
are turned whilst operated on by a cutting tool.
According to the present invention a vertically guided cage carrying a trans-
versely sliding cutting wire or bow is employed as in machines for making and
cutting heavy pipes the cutting cage being, however, carried by a beam lever and
balanced by a counter-weight or weights so that when it is carried down with the
pipe supporting cage for the cutting operation it offers but little resistance or
pressure tending to bulge the pipe. This cage has pivoted on each side a catch
piece with which cam pieces fitted on the pulleys over which pass the chains carrying
the pipe supporting cage, are brought into contact upon the rotation of said pulleys.
One set of such cams is so placed that the pivoted catches are struck and the cutting
cage carried down with the pipe supporting cage upon the issue of each fresh pipe
length from the machine the slide with the cutting bow or wire being then traversed
across the cage, to cut the lower end of the pipe squarely across.
By the continued rotation of the wheel this cam frees itself from the catch,
allowing the cutting cage to rise to its normal position of rest. A second set of
cam pieces is fitted at another part of the wheel such cams being adapted to act on
the cutting cage and carry it down with the pipe supporting cage when the desired
pipe length is formed so that the upper end of the pipe may be cut squarely across
by sliding the cutting bow frame.
Any desired number of sets of cam pieces may be fitted in the circumference of
the chain pulleys at such intervals apart as correspond to the lengths of piping to be
formed the cams being fitted to act on the catches at about the centre lines of the
chains so that the cutting cage is carried down at the same speed as the pipe
supporting cage, and liability to cut the pipe at an inclination is avoided.
Dated this Thirty-first day of January 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pipe-making Machines.
We, JAMES CRAIG of the firm of J. & M. Craig of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire,
Fire-clay Manufacturers, and HUGH STEVENSON of Perceton, Fire-clay Works,
Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Manager to said firm, do hereby declare the nature of

page_text: 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 machines for making drain pipes and similar piping of
clay and it has for its object the provision, of simpler and more efficient devices
than hitherto in use for cutting off the piping in suitable lengths or the ends of the
lengths of piping at right angles to their longitudinal axis whilst the piping is in
course of formation.
Such apparatus as heretofore provided has been of a heavy and cumbersome
nature and only capable of dealing with piping of large diameter capable of with-
standing considerable end pressure, and in dealing with smaller pipes the ends have
usually been cut off by hand or by the use of mandrels on which the pipe lengths
are turned whilst operated on by a cutting tool.
According to the present invention which is illustrated in side.and end elevations
at Figures and 2 of the accompanying drawings a vertically guided cage A
carrying a transversely sliding cutting wire or bow B is employed as in machines
for making and cutting heavy pipes the cutting cage being, however, carried by a
beam lever C and balanced by a counter weight or weights D. so that when it is
carried down with the pipe supporting cage E for the cutting operation it offers
but little resistance or pressure, tending to bulge the pipe. This cage has pivoted
on each side a catch piece, or as shown is connected by a link to a beam lever F,
said lever F being attached to a sliding block G by a stud fixed on the sliding
block and which stud has also pivoted on it a catch-piece or tumbler G¹, with
which cam pieces H, H₁ fitted on one of the pulleys I, I, over which pass the
chains J, J, carrying the pipe supporting cage E are prought into contact upon the
rotation of said pulleys. One of the cams H, H', is so placed that the pivoted catch
or tumbler G¹ is struck and the cutting cage A carried down with the pipe supporting
cage E upon the issue of each fresh pipe length from the pipe-making machine K
the slide with the cutting bow or wire B being then traversed by hand across the
cage A, to cut the lower end of the pipe squarely across.
By the continued rotation of the wheels I, 1, this cam H frees itself from the
catch Gallowing the cutting cage A to rise to its normal position of rest. A second
cam piece His fitted at another part of the wheel, this cam being adapted to act on
the lever F connected to the cutting cage A and carry the latter down with the
pipe supporting cage F when the desired pipe length is formed so that the upper
end of the pipe may be cut squarely across by sliding the cutting bow frame B.
Any desired number of cam pieces H. H¹ may be fitted in the circumference of the
chain pulleys at such intervals apart as correspond to the lengths of piping to be
formed the cams being fitted to act on the catches at about the centre lines of the
chains so that the cutting cage A is carried down at the same speed as the pipe.
supporting cage E and liability to cut the pipe at an inclination is avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
In pipe making machines the arrangement of devices for carrying down the
cutting cage at the same speed as the pipe supporting cage during the cutting opera-
tions substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Thirty-first day of October 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.