A NEW OR IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINT OR SEAM FOR SHEET OR PLATE METAL PIPES AND FITTINGS, AND MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING PIPES WITH SUCH NEW OR IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINTS OR SEAMS "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Quadling of Forest Hill, in the County of Kent
for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINT OR SEAM
FOR SHEET OR PLATE METAL PIPES AND FITTINGS, AND MACHINERY FOR
MANUFACTURING PIPES WITH SUCH NEW OR IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINTS
OR SEAMS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Quadling at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1883.
EDWIN QUADLING, of Forest Hill, in the County of Kent, "A NEW OR
IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINT OR SEAM FOR SHEET OR PLATE METAL PIPES AND
FITTINGS, AND MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING PIPES WITH SUCH NEW OR
IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINTS OR SEAMS
"
Heretofore, in the manufacture of pipes from sheets or plates of metal, it has
been customary to make the longitudinal joints or seams either by folding over
and interlocking the edges of the sheets or plates, then pressing the folded edges
together, and finally brazing or soldering the fold; sometimes also the edges of the
sheets are simply welded, brazed, or rivetted together, but whichever process is
adopted certain difficulties and inconveniences are met with in practice which tend
to make such pipes expensive when of large diameters. The object of the present
Invention is to enable sheet or plate metal pipes above the ordinary sizes of
wrought iron gas or steam pipe to be made with greater facility and at less cost
than by the processes heretofore in use. According to my Invention I forin the
longitudinal joint or seam in sheet or plate metal pipes and fittings such as bends,
tees, etcetera, in the following manner. I first form a T or double flange along the
full length of each edge, and I prepare a strip of metal of H or channel section, by
rolling or otherwise, of such dimensions that the said T or double flanged edges of the
sheets or plates can be placed in the channels of the said H strip, and then, by
means of suitable pressure, I bend the projecting arms or tables of the said H strip
down behind the T or double flanges of the edges of the sheets or plates whereby
the latter are locked securely together; the junction may then be further completed
if required by means of solder, brazing or welding. Or, instead of forming a T or
double flange along each edge, I sometimes turn or bend each edge at right angles;

page_text: more or less, to the surface of the sheet or plate, or I split the edges and open them
out into a Y shape, or fold the edges completely over on to the surface of the sheet or
plate, but in either case I employ the H strip, or a strip of other suitable section, to
effect the junction of the two edges in a manner similar to that described in
reference to the T or double flanged edges.
The new or improved machinery I propose to employ for manufacturing sheet or
plate metal pipes with longitudinal joints of the kind above described, consists of
the following arrangements.
First, of a shearing machine for shearing the sheets or plates to the exact width
required. This machine is constructed with a pair of longitudinal continuous
guides which can be adjusted to any required distance apart, by means of screws
or otherwise, according to the width of the sheet or plate to be operated upon; it
is also furnished with two pairs of guide or feed rollers, to hold the sheet or plate
down, and to feed it forward while it is being sheared, one pair being placed in
front of, and the other behind, the rotating cutters. The latter are made adjustable
on their spindles so as to shear to any required width.
Second, of a series of rollers formed of the sections required for shaping the T or
double flanges on the edges, or for bending such edges into any of the forms above
mentioned.
Third, of a series of bending rollers, the offico of which is, to bend the sheet or
plate, the edges of which have been prepared in the series of rollers last above
mentioned, into the cylindrical shape necessary to form a pipe, the said sheet or
plate being guided from roll to roll by a suitably shaped cradle or cradles, guide
or guides, formed either in one continuous length or in separate parts, acting either
externally to such plate, internally thereto, or both; of a guide or guides for the
introduction of the H or channel strip between the prepared edges of the bent up
sheet or plate; of a mandril containing a series of friction rollers, and a series of
closing and pressing rollers acting externally to the said mandril, for the purpose
of drawing the bent sheet or plate with its H or channel strip between the edges,
and pressing down the projecting arms or tables of the said H or channel strip
behind the Tees, double flanges or turned up edges of the sheet or plate which is now
formed into the complete pipe, and is drawn or forced out of the machine by the
action of the rollers, or by draw tongs if necessary.
The three machines or apparatus above described may be used separately, each
forming a separate and distinct process or step in the manufacture of a pipe, or the
shearing and edging may be combined into one continuous machine, leaving the
bending, closing, and pressing, as a separate machine, or the edging machine may
be combined with the bending, closing and pressing machino leaving the shearing
as a separate process, or all three machines may be combined, so as to form one
continuous machine, the whole of the operations being performed consecutively
but at one operation.
For some purposes the joints of the pipe as it leaves the machine are sufficiently
tight without further treatment but in some cases it is necessary to solder, braze,
or weld them in the usual way.
The above described joints are equally applicable to the manufacture of pipe
fittings, such as bends, tees, taper pieces, etcetera.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Quadling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th October
1883.
EDWIN QUADLING, of Forest Hill, in the County of Kent
IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINT OR SEAM FOR SHEET OR PLATE METAL PIPES
"A NEW OR
AND FITTINGS, AND MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING PIPES WITH SUCH NEW OR
IMPROVED LONGITUDINAL JOINTS OR SEAMS "
Heretofore, in the manufacture of pipes from sheets or plates of metal, it has
been customary to make the longitudinal joints or seams either by folding over
and interlocking the edges of the sheets or plates, then pressing the folded edges
together and finally brazing or soldering the fold; sometimes also the edges of the
sheets are simply welded, brazed or rivetted together, but whichever process is
adopted certain difficulties and inconveniences are met with in practice which tend
to make such pipes expensive when of large diameters. The object of the present
invention is to enable sheet or plate metal pipes above the ordinary sizes of
wrought iron gas or steam pipe to be made with greater facility, and at less cost,
than by the processes heretofore in use. According to my invention I form the
longitudinal joint or seam in sheet or plate metal pipes and fittings such as bends,
tees, etcetera in the following manner. I first form a T or double flange along the
full length of each edge and I prepare a strip of metal of H or channel section, by
rolling or otherwise, of such dimensions that the said T, or double flanged edges of
the sheets or plates can be placed in the channels of the said H strip, and then by
means of suitable pressure I bend the projecting arms or tables of the said H strip
down behind the † or double flanges of the edges of the sheets or plates, whereby
the latter are locked securely together; the junction may then be further completed
if required by means of soldering, brazing or welding.
Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates the joint above described. A A are the two
edges of the sheet or plate forming the pipe, such edges having formed thereon tho
Tor double flanges as shown, B is the H or channel strip into which the T or
flanged edges of the sheet or plate are inserted, the dotted lines represent the arms
or tables of the H or channel strip before being bent down behind the T or double
Hanges, and the full lines the same after being so bent down. Figure 2 shows the
flange formed on one side only of the sheet or plate.
Instead of forming a T or double flange along each edge of the sheet or plate I
sometimes turn or bend each edge at right angles, more or less to the surface of
the sheet or plate as shown in Figure 3. Or I split the edges and open them out
nto a Y shape as shown in Figures 4 and 4. In some cases I fold the edges
completely over on to the surface of the sheet or plate as shown in Figure 5 and
f desired the edges may be bent so as to form channels into which the edges of
he channel strip B are folded and pressed as shown in Figure 6. But
whichever arrangement be adopted I employ the H strip, or a strip of other
imilar section to effect the junction of the two edges in a manner similar
o that described in reference to the T or double flanged edges shown in
Figure 1.
⋅
Figures 2, 3 5 and 6ª show similar joints but with the upset or flanged parts
urned outwards and one table of the H or channel strip made smaller than the
ther so as to present less projection on one side than in the corresponding
igures 2, 3, 5, and 6.
The new or improved machinery for manufacturing sheet or plate metal pipes
ith longitudinal joints of the kind above described, consists of the following
rangements. First, of a shearing machine for shearing the sheets or plates to

page_text: the exact width required. This machine is constructed with a pair of longitudinal
guides which can be adjusted to any required distance apart by means of screws
or otherwise according to the width of the sheet or plate to be operated upon; it
is also furnished with two pairs of guide or feed rollers, to hold the sheet or plato
down, and to feed it forward while it is being sheared, one pair being placed in
front of, and the other behind the rotating cutters. The latter are made adjustable
on their spindles so as to shear to any required width.
Figure 7 of the drawings shows a longitudinal section, Figure 8 a plan,
Figure 9 a partial end view, Figure 10 a partial sectional elevation on line 1-1
of Figure 8, and Figuro 11 a diagram of the driving gear of the said shearing
machine.
A A are the main side frames carrying the bearings for the cutters and guide or
feed rollers. B B are end standards carrying the outer ends of the longitudinal
guides CC which may conveniently be made of Tee or angle iron. These guides
rest upon the bearing beds D D and one or both of them is or are adapted to be
adjusted into any required position on the said bearing beds to suit the width of
the sheet or plate it is required to shear. This adjustment is effected by traversing
screws EE passing through nuts fixed to the under sides of the guides and turning
in holes in the bearing beds D D in a manner similar to the traversing screws of a
lathe slide-rest. The screws may be connected together by bevel gearing F F and
side shafts G G so as to be operated together by the hand wheels H H. It will be
understood that if one of the guides C, for example is fixed and the other C' only
made moveable the adjusting screws will requiro to be right handed or left handed
only, but if both the guides C and C' are adjustable it will be convenient to make
the screws right handed at one end and left handed at the other so that both
guides will bo moved inwards simultaneously by turning the screws in one.
direction or outwards simultaneously by turning the screws in the opposite direction.
When the guides are adjusted to their proper position they may be secured to the
bearing beds by the screws and nuts I and hooked clamping plates J. K K' are
the two pairs of guide or feed rollers for holding the sheet or plate down, for
feeding it forward to the rotating cutters or shears L L, and for drawing it through
after the shearing is effected. The cutters L L are adjustable on their shafts M M
to suit various widths of cut in a manner well understood. In the drawing the
two guide or feed rollers are shown as driven from the lower cutter spindle by
intermediate spur wheels but it is obvious that this gearing as well as the
whole of the driving gear may be varied at pleasure and to suit various
circumstances.
The machinery consists secondly of a series of rollers formed of the sections
required for shaping the T or double flanges on the edges, or for bending such
edges into any of the forms above mentioned and thirdly of a series of bending
rollers, the office of which is to bend the sheet or plate, the edges of which have
been prepared in the series of rollers last above mentioned, into the cylindrical
shape necessary to form a pipe; the said sheet or plate being guided from roll to
roll by a suitably shaped cradle or cradles, guide or guides, formed either in one
continuous length, or in separate parts, acting either externally to such sheet or
plate, internally thereto or both. Combined with the said series of bending rollers
is a mandril containing a series of friction rollers and carrying a guide or guides
for the introduction of the H or channel strip between the prepared edges of the
upset or bent up sheet or plate and lastly, a series of closing and pressing rollers
acting externally to the said mandril, for the purpose of drawing forward the bent
sheet or plate with its H or channel strip between the edges, and pressing down
the projecting arms or tables of the said H or channel strip behind the Tees
double Hanges, or turned up edges of the sheet or plate which is thus formed into
the complete pipe, and is drawn or forced out of the machine by the action of the
rollers or by draw tongs if necessary.
The second and third parts of the machinery above referred to are shown
£dososiation in Figures 12 to 28.

page_text: Figure 12 is a plan of the said combined machinery, Figure 13 a side elevation
of the same, Figure 14 a longitudinal section of same partly in elevation the
frames and certain other parts being shown in dotted outline or diagram only,
Figure 15 an elevation at the edging or Hanging machine end, Figure 16 an
elevation at the mandril or finishing end, Figure 17 a sectional elevation at
line 2-2 of Figure 12, Figure 18 a partial section at line 3-3 of Figure 12, showing
one arrangement of the cradle or guide, Figures 19 and 20 transverse sections of
the mandril at lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 12, and Figures 21 to 28
sections of the sheet or plate showing the forms it successively assumes as it passes
between the corresponding pairs or sets of rollers over which each section is shown.
AA are the side frames for the edging or flanging part of the machinery. B B a
pair of straight rollers turning in bearings in the said side frames. The sheet or
plate C (previously sheared to the required width in the shearing machine above
described, or in any other suitable cutting or shearing machine) is passed between
these rollers B B. DD is a pair of vertical rollers turning in suitable carriages
fixed to the frames A, and so placed that grooves D* in the said rollers D come
exactly opposite the ends of the "gate" between the rollers B B, the width and
depth of these grooves D* approximate more or less to the width and thickness
respectively of the Tees or flanges to be formed on the edges of the sheet or plate C.
The rollers D D may he geared to one of the rollers B B .by bevel wheels so as to
have the same circumferential speed as the said rollers B B or they may in some
cases be left free to turn on their axes by the friction of the edges of the sheet or
plate passing between them. The pressure of the upper roller of the pair B B on
the lower one may be regulated by pressure screws and springs in any of the well
known ways so as to draw and force forward the plate C and the same remark
applies to the other pairs or sets of rollers hereafter described in connexion with
this machinery. The length of the rollers B B plus the depths of the grooves D
in the rollers D must be so much less than the width of the plate '℃ that the
excess of the said width shall be squeezed or "upset' more or less into the
grooves D* in the side rollers D so as to partially form the Tees or double
flanges on the edges of the sheet or plate.
"
A second pair of rollers B' B' is placed at a short distance behind the pair B B,
and is furnished with a pair of side rollers D' similar to the side rollers D but
with the grooves in them of a shape suitable to impart to the Tees or double
Banges the required finished form as the sheet or plate C is drawn forward between
them.
Any number of these edging or flanging rollers may be employed according to
the thickness of the sheet or plate and the size and character of the Tees or flanges
to be formed on their edges.
The arrangements above described are suited for the Tee or double flange joint
shown in Figure 1 and it will be readily understood that the shapes. of the rollers
and the grooves in them have to be modified according to requirements if either of
the other forms of joint shown in Figures 2 to 6* be employed.
The machinery for effecting the bending up of the sheet or plate C into the
cylindrical form after the edges have been prepared in the edging or flanging
machine, the insertion of the H or channel strip between the edges and the pressing
of the joint is arranged as follows:-
E E are side frames supporting pairs of convex and concave rollers F F' G G'
and H H. These rollers are geared together and to the main driving apparatus
in such manner that each pair revolves in the same direction as the rollers of the
edging or flanging apparatus, that is, so as to draw the sheet or plate C forward
between them. The curvatures of the first pair of rollers F F' are comparatively
slight so as to impart a comparatively slight curvature to the sheet or plate as
shown in Figure 21. The curvatures of the second pair of rollers G G₁ are sharper
than those of the first pair and impart a further curvature to the sheet or plate as
shown in Figure 22. The curvatures of the third pair of rollers H H are still
sharper than those of the second pair and impart a still further curvature to the

page_text: sheet or plate as shown in Figure 23. In order to guide the sheet or plate O from
one pair of bending rolls to the next and to assist in the shaping of the sheet or plate
between each pair of rolls the curved cradle or guide I is fixed between the side
frames as illustrated in Figure 18. It is provided at its upper edges with friction
rollers J J and varies in cross section from the straight form corresponding to the
flat sheet or plate as it leaves the edging or flanging rollers to the bent up trough
like form imparted to the sheet or plate by the pair of rollers H H' so that as the
sheet or plate is forced along the cradle or guide the edges of the sheet or plate
bear against the said friction rollers J J and the body of the sheet or plate is
forced to take a shape favourable to its entranco between the next succeeding pair
of rollers. To reduce friction between the sheet or plate C and the cradle or
guide I the latter may also be furnished with friction rollers placed at any suitable
points, such friction rollers being arranged to project slightly beyond the internal
surface of the cradle or guide so that the sheet or plate shall bear against them
instead of against the cradle or guide.
The cradle or guide I is shown in the drawing as a casting or castings, it may
however be made if preferred of a series of longitudinal bars secured to cross
pieces fixed to the side frames.
In order to continue the bending of the sheet or plate successively into
the forms shown in Figures 24, 25 and 26 a series of sido rollers K K', LL'
and M M with an internal mandril N are employed.
This mandril is
supported at its hinder end and prevented from moving longitudinally by
a pin O and cross bar P; it is furnished with a guide piece Q through which
the channel strip (shown in dotted lines) R is introduced between the edges of the
sheet or plate C, and with friction rollers S S shown also in Figures 19 and 20,
the front end of the mandril is supported between the pressing rollers TT'
and U U. The side bending rollers K K' and L L' which bend the sheet
successively into the forms shown in Figures 24 and 25 may be arranged to turn
loosely on their axes carried in suitable bearings as shown in Figures 12 and 13
or they may be driven by gearing if required. The pair of side rollers M M'
which close the edges of the sheet or plate C into the channel strip R are preferably
driven by gearing as shown because they have more work to perform than the
rollers K K and L L'. A small roller V serves to hold the channel strip R down
and if preferred may be geared so as to assist in carrying the said strip forward
and so as to keep it in the proper plane for receiving the two edges of the sheet
or plate C. A pressure roller W serves to complete the bending of the sheet or
plate into the circular form as shown in Figure 27. The pressing rollers TT
and UU are carried by the side frames XX and are formed with grooves X³
and Y respectively the edges of which serve to effect the bending down of the
upper or outer tables of the channel strip R, the under or inner tables of the same
being similarly bent up by the edges of the grooves in the friction rollers in the
mandril opposed to the pressing rollers T and U. The pressing rollers TTI carrying
the pipe forward in the form shown in Figure 27 and the pressing rollers
deliver the completed pipe in the form shown in Figure 28.
It will now be understood that a sheet or plate C cut to width by the shearing
machine, and introduced between the rollers B B will be drawn forward thereby
and passed forward to the rollers B¹ B', that the edges of the sheet or plate C will
be "upset" flanged or bent by these rollers B B, B' B¹, and the rollers D D¹ as
already described, that the sheet or plate will then pass on between the rollers F F
G G¹ and H H¹ being beut thereby and by the guide I successively into the forms
shown in Figures 21, 22 and 23, that it then passes round the outside of the
mandril N and is further bent over the same by the side rollers K K, L L' and
M M into the forms shown in Figures 24, 25 and 26, that the channel strip R is
introduced at this stage through the guide piece Q between the edges of the sheet C,
that the said edges are then pressed into the channel strip R by the rollers M M',
that the bent up sheet or plate with the said channel strip between its flanged or
bent edges is then passed over the mandril N under the roller W and between the

page_text: pressing rollers T T' and U U₁ receiving the forms shown in Figures 27 and 28,
finally issuing from the rollers U U₁ and from the mandril N in the form of a pipe
with the completed longitudinal joint of the kind described.
When thin sheets or plates are employed they may be operated upon by this
machinery in a cold state, especially when the edges are merely bent up as shown
in Figures 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 6 and 6º, but when thick sheets or plates are employed,
and especially when the edges are required to be "upset" into the T or double
flange form shown in Figure 1 for example, they should be operated upon at a
bright red heat if of iron, or at a cherry red heat.if of steel.
The three machines or apparatuses above described may be used separately, each
forming a separate and distinct process or step in the manufacture of a pipe, or the
shearing and edging or flanging machines may be combined into one continuous
machine, leaving the bending, closing and pressing as a separate machine, or the
edging or flanging machine may be combined with the bending, closing and pressing
machine as shown in Figures 12 to 14 of the drawings leaving the shearing as a
separate process, or all three machines may be combined, so as to form ono
continuous machine, the whole of the operations being performed consecutively but
at one operation.
For some purposes the joints of the pipe as it leaves the machine are sufficiently
tight without further treatment, but in some cases it is necessary to solder, braze,
or weld them in the usual way.
The above described joints are equally applicable to the manufacture of pipe
fittings such as bends, tees, taper pieces etcetera.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect I would have it understood that I am
aware that machinery of a character somewhat similar to that above described has
before been employed for the manufacture of pipes or tubes with folded interlocking
joints and I make no claim to such machinery when employed and adapted for that
purpose but what I do claim is :—
First. The new or improved longitudinal joint or seam for sheet or plate metal
pipes and fittings constructed by upsetting, splitting or bending the edges of
the sheet or plate so as to form Tees flanges or projecting parts thereon,
which Tees, flanges or projecting parts are then placed in the channels of a
strip of metal of H or other similar section introduced between the said edges,
the arms or tables of the said H or channel strip being then bent down by any
suitable pressure behind the said Tees flanges or projecting parts the whole
arranged and combined substantially as herein before described, and illustrated
in Figures 1 to 6ª of the drawings hereto annexed.
Second. In shearing machines with disc cutters for shearing the sheets or plates of
metal intended to be formed into pipes, the combination with the disc cutters
of guide or feed rollers placed before and behind such cutters and of
longitudinal adjustable guides as herein before described, and illustrated in
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings hereto annexed, and for the purposes
specified.
Third. In machinery for making pipes with longitudinal joints of the kind herein-
before described and claimed in the first claim clause hereof the combination of
rollers B B and DD employed singly or along with any suitable number of
similar sets of rollers B' B', D' D' for the purpose of upsetting or flanging the
edges of the sheet or plate of metal or of similar rollers shaped so as to bend
or otherwise form the said edges into the shapes shown in Figures 1 to 6" of
the drawings or any mere modifications of such forms whether such com-
bination of rollers be used separately from or in combination with the bending
machinery, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 14 and
16 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth. In machinery for making pipes with longitudinal joints of the kind herein<
before described and claimed in the first claiming clause hereof the combination
of bending rollers, guides, mandril and pressing rollers whereby the sheet or
=

page_text: plate of metal, the edges of which have been previously shaped into one or
other of the forms illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 or any mere modification
thereof, is gradually bent up into the cylindrical form, the two shaped edges
thereof placed in the channels of a strip of metal of H or other similar section
introduced between the said edges, and the arms or tables of the said strip of
metal bent down behind the Tees flanges or other projecting parts of such
edges so as to produce a complete pipe as herein before described, and illustrated
in Figures 12 to 14 and 16 to 18 of the drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Quadling have hereunto set my hand
nd seal this twenty-sixth day of October in the year of Our Lord One thousand
ight hundred and eighty-three.