Improvements in Welding Pipes and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
TUST LEIN
DIMUIFICATIOA
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES SIMPSON, of Thirteenth and Locust Streets,
McKeesport, Allegheny, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Welding Pipes and in Apparatus therefor.
I JOHN THOMSON KING of 4 Clayton Square Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Patent Agent 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 :-
My present invention relates to an improvement in the art of welding pipes and
in apparatus therefor and it consists :
First. In a pipe welding bell provided with internal rollers, the function of
which is to serve as antifriction means to save wear on the bell and to facilitate
the drawing of the skelp therethrough. In the drawing I show such rollers placed
only at diametrically opposite points in the bell, though it should be understood that
as many rollers or sets of rollers may be set around the internal periphery of the bell
as may be desirable.
Secondly, it consists in the combination with the bell of a roller which bears on
the exterior of the skelp at the seam and a tongue or roller situate opposite thereto
at the interior of the skelp so that the interposed seam shall be pressed by
these parts.
Third, it consists in the use of a tongue having its external outline substantially
circular in cross-section and arranged concentrically within the bell, so as to support
and sustain a considerable internal area of the skelp, a cavity being afforded at the
side of the tongue to permit passage of the tag.
Fourth, it consists in combination with the bell, of a tongue or roller which bears
on the seam at the exterior of the skelp at a point in advance of the bell, and an
opposite internal tongue or roller which bears on the seam at the interior of the
skelp so that the seam shall be pressed between these parts after the skelp has
emerged from the bell.
Fifth, it consists in the combination with the bell, of means situate in the rear
thereof for holding and centering the skelp, and preventing it from twisting in
the bell, and to ensure the seam being maintained in a single direct line.
Sixth. it consists in a peculiar internal shape of the welding-dio or hell, which
is provided with a tapering recess adapted to permit the edges of the skelp to
overlap and thus make it possible to make lap welded pipes in the bell.
Seventh, it consists in an improvement in the art of pipe making by scarfing
the edges of the skelp drawing it through a bell, and supporting the interior of the
skelp, so as to cause the overlapping edges to weld and to form a lap joint.
Eighth, in scarfing the skelp with a peculiar scarf as hereinafter set forth.
Ninth, in certain preferred details of construction hereinafter set forth, and
particularly summarized in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved pipe welding
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the skelp supporting roller at the back of
the bell.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the bell on the line III-111 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the bell, partly in section on the line IV-IV of
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a vertical central section of a modified construction of the hell.
Figure 6 is a vertical central section.
Figure 7 is a plan view of a modified construction.
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page_text: Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of the bell shown in Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a vertical central section of a modified construction of the bell.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the end of the skelp and tag.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view, showing the skelp scarfed to fit it for making
lap-welded pipe.
Figure 12 is a similar view showing the skelp scarfed to adapt it to the manufacturo
of a modified form of butt welded pipe.
Figures 13 and 14 show in cross section pipes made from the skelp iron illustrated
in Figures 11 and 12 respectively.
Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.
In the drawing Figures 1 and 3, 2 represents the pipe-welding bell which is
approximately of the form of the bells now commonly employed for making butt
welded pipe. 3 is a tongue or mandrel which extends into the interior of the bell from
the rear or larger end thereof, and which may be provided with an upwardly extending
bracket 4 having a bent portion which fits on the top of the bell and is secured
thereto by bolts 5. The front portion of the tongue 3 is constructed as shown in
Figure 4, being formed in a circular are in cross section and set concentrically in
the bell, so as to leave an intermediate space which is approximately equal to the
thickness of the skelp iron. The circular portion of the tongue does not, however,
extend around its entire circumference, but at its underpart it is cut as at a to form
a space for the passage of the tag in the operation of drawing the skelp through the
boll. On the upper side of the tongue 3 is a recess in which is set a roller 6,
journaled on a pin 7, extending through the roller and through the tongue. The
periphery of the roller is curved laterally to conform to the curvature of the tongue
and projects slightly above the surface of the tongue, so as to form a support for the
skelp on the inner side of the seam during the welding of the pipe. There is also
a recess formed in the bell directly opposite to the position of the roller 6 and in this
recess there is journaled a roller 8 whose periphery is laterally concave, to conform
to the curvature of the interior of the bell, and projects slightly into the same. The
roller is journaled in said recess preferably as follows; Straps 9 having curved ends
are set on seats 10 on the bell, at the sides of the strap of the bracket and their curved
ends project into the recess on the top of the bell, forming brackets between which
the roller 8 is journaled. These straps 9 are held to the bell by bolts 11. The
roller 8 may be otherwise journaled, but the device which I have described for this
purpose is convenient, since if the roller becomes worn the straps may be removed
and a new roller substituted without difficulty, or if the bell should become worn out
the straps and roller may be removed for use on another bell.
I prefer also to use another roller 12 on the side of the bell opposite to the
roller 8. This roller is set in a recess formed in the bell, so that its periphery shall
project but slightly to the interior of the bell, and it is journaled between lugs formed
at the ends of the strap 13, which is held to the bell by bolts 14. The purpose of
this roller is to enable the skelp to be drawn through the bell without the great friction
and wear on the bottom of the bell which ordinarily takes place.
In the use of this bell, it is placed in a bell holder 15 which is set in the usual
bracket 16 in front of the furnace door as shown in Figure 1 and the bell may be
upheld by a chain 18 running over an overhead pulley 19. The bell holder, instead
of being set in the usual vertical position, is somewhat inclined toward the furnace.
The reason for this position of the bellholder is that in practice the pipe passing from
the bell tends to curve upward and to wear the edges of the bell, and by setting the
bell in this inclined position, its face is brought nearly at right angles to the natural
course of the pipe, and this wear is prevented.
After heating the skelp the tag is passed through the hole c and the skelp is drawn
through the bell, the action of which turns up the skelp around the tongue 3
and welds the edges together to form the pipe. The seam of the pipe is directly
between the rollers 6 and 8.
The roller 6 supports the seam, and together with the roller 8 presses upon it so as
to make the weld very thorough. The edges of the skelp are preferably somewhat

page_text: scarfed so as to enhance the benefits of this action of the rollers. The rollers 6, 8 and 12
also reduce the friction of drawing the pipe through the bell and enable it to be drawn
with less effort and better results than have heretofore been possible.
The use of this form of bell enables me not only to make butt welded pipe, in which
the weld is formed by the meeting of squared edges of the skelp, but also to
lapweld the pipe.
To fit the bell for lapwelding I shape the interior of the bell as shown in
Figures 1 and 5 so as to make a lateral recess d extending partly around the
periphery of the interior and tapering toward the smaller end of the bell, said recess
being adapted to receive one side of the skelp as it is turned up, and to permit the
edge of the other side to lap in under it.
For this purpose the skelp is scarfed, as shown in Figure 11, and as the recess d
in the bell tapers towards its smaller end, the scarfed edges of the skelp are drawn
together into lapping contact between the rollers. In thus lapwelding the pipe, the
edges being turned up by the bell so as to overlap each other as shown in Figure 13,
the pressure on these edges between the rollers 6 and 8 forces them together and
causes them to weld perfectly at one operation. The tongue 3 fitting in the interior
of the skelp, supports it during the welding process, keeps it from turning in and
makes a pipe of very excellent form; and in order that the rollers may exert sufficient
pressure on the seam of the skelp, the tongue 3 may be made of spring-metal and
may be adjusted by inserting or removing liners from beneath the bracket 4, on top of
the bell and by tightening up the bolts 5.
I believe I am the first to make lapwelded pipe by means of a bell and desire to
claim the same broadly.
Its advantages will be readily understood. A lapwelded pipe is much stronger
than a pipe having a butt-weld and its manufacture by means of a bell is much
cheaper and less laborious than the usual process of manufacture by rolls and
mandrels.
In Figure 5, I show a modified form of the apparatus in which instead of employing
a single roller 6 at the end of the tongue 3 I employ two such rollers 6, 6, and
directly opposite thereto, so as to bear on the exterior of the skelp, I journal two
other rollers 8, 8, the advanced roller 8 being journaled in a prolongation of the
straps 9, which thus constitutes a tongue which bears on tho skelp seam in advance
of the bell, after the skelp has emerged from the bell. This is of advantage, because
it gives to the skelp seam a supplementary compressing and welding, and thereby
makes a better and stronger pipe. The tongue 3 and the strap 9 (which also serves
as a tongue) at their advance bearing on the skelp are preferably provided with
rollers, for the purpose of reducing the friction of drawing the pipe but it should be
understood that this is not indispensable, since these points of bearing may be
without rollers.
In Figures 6 and 7, 1 show the strap 9 and tongue 3 projecting beyond the end of
the bell and having at their ends rollers 6, 8, which bear on the pipe seam, while in
the bell no rollers are shown, I also prefer in using the advanced bearing on the
skelp, in the manner shown in Figures 6 and 7, not to bolt the strap 9 rigidly to
the bell, but to afford to it a slight vertical play, as shown in Figure 6, so that
the ends of the strap and tongue may be able to yield so as to adjust themselves
to the natural upward curvature of the pipe as it leaves the bell. The strap 9 and
the bracket of the tongue 3 may also be made of separate pieces bolted together as
shown in these figures.
In all the forms of my improvement which I have illustrated in the drawing, I
show the tongue 3, provided with an antifriction roller 26 journaled at its heel and
adapted to bear on the middle of the skelp at its entrance into the bell, to prevent
buckling of the skelp at that place. This is a desirable addition to my invention
but my claims are not limited to its use: I also prefer in each case to make the
tongue 3 and straps 9, or both of spring metal, or to apply special springs thereto,
so that they shall exert a sufficient pressure on the seam of the skelp.

page_text: In order to centre the skelp properly in the bell and to prevent its twisting in its
passage therethrough, I may employ a roller 20 interposed between the bell and the
furnace, and journaled in bearings.21, provided with a bar 22 overlying the roller,
pivoted at 25, and provided with a hand lever 24. The roller has at its middle
portion a peripheral groove 25, to permit passage of the tag. In inserting the
skelp into the bell, the bar 23 being raised, the tag is placed in the groove 25 and
passed through the bell, and the bar 22 is then lowered into the position shown in
Figure 2. This insures the accurate adjustment of the tag in the bell and
throughout the drawing of the skelp the bar 22 prevents the skelp from twisting
and maintains the seam in a single straight line at the middle of the rollers 6 and 8
while the roller 20 serves as antifriction means to support and facilitate the passage
of the skelp. Its action in this regard is shown clearly in Figure 1. The bar 22
may consist of a roller journaled on its longitudinal axis.
In Figure 21 show the bell constructed for use in making butt welded pipe.
The difference between this construction and that of Figure 1 is that the bell is
not provided with the recess to permit the lapping of the edges of the skelp, but is
internally of circular cross section, and that the tongue 3 need not be so large in
cross section.
In making pipe by this bell, the edges of the skelp may be squared in the
usual manner, but I prefer to scarf them slightly as shown in Figure 12, so that
where they meet their edges shall be inclined to afford faces which, in abutiing,
are wedged in against each other just in the rear of the rollers, and are welded
thoroughly by the compressing action of the latter when the seam passes between
thein. This form of weld is a species of lapwelding. The bell shown in Figure 9
may be provided with the sets of double rollers as shown in Figure 5.
The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,
and I do not limit myself strictly to the precise arrangement and construction of the
parts herein described and shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a pipe welding bell, of a roller journaled to the bell on
the outside of the skelp and having its periphery substantially flush with the inner
surface of the bell; substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination with a pipe welding bell, of a roller journaled in a recess
formed in the shell of the bell on the outer side of the skelp, and a strap or straps
extending into the recess and forming the bearings for the roller substantially as
and for the purposes described.
3. The combination with a pipe welding bell, of a roller having its periphery at
the exterior of the skelp and an interior tongue adapted to bear on the interior of
the skelp opposite to the exterior roller; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. The combination with a pipe welding bell of a tongue having a bearing on the
seam, at the exterior of the skelp, in advance of the bell, and a second tongue baving
an opposite bearing on the seami at the interior of the skelp; substantially as and-for
the purposes described.
5. The combination with a pipe welding bell of a tongue arranged within the bell
opposite to the position of the seam therein, said tongue having a periphery circular
in cross-section, to afford an intermediate space for the skelp, and formed with a
longitudinal space c for passage of the tag; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
6. The combination with a pipe welding bell, of a bar situated back of the bell
directly above the path of the skelp, and a support for the skelp beneath said bar;
substantially as and for the purposes described.
7. The combination with a pipe welding bell, of a supporting roller situated back

page_text: of the bell directly beneath the path of the skelp, and a retaining bar 22 situated
above said supporting roller and adjacently thereto; substantially as and for the
purposes described.
8. The combination with a pipe welding bell of a skelp-supporting roller situate
back of the bell and having a grooved periphery; substantially as and for the
purposes describer.
9. In pipe welding apparatus, the combination with the furnace of a bell and bell
holder, said bell holder being backwardly inclined substantially as and for the purposes
described
10. The combination of a pipe welding bell, having in its interior a lateral recess
to permit overlapping of the skelp, and a tongue within the bell adapted to support
the seam; substantially as and for the purpose described.
11. The combination of a pipe welding bell, having in its interior a lateral recess
to permit overlapping of the skelp, a tongue within the bell, adapted to support the
seam, and a roller 8, situate at the interior of the bell and adapted to act in
conjunction with the tongue to weld the seam; substantially as and for the
purposes described.
12. An improvement in the art of pipe welding which consists in scarfing the
edges of the skelp, drawing it through a bell, and supporting the interior of the
skelp opposite to the seam, thereby causing the overlaping scarfed edges to
well and to form a lap-joint; substantially as and for the purposes described.
13. An improvement in the art of pipe welding which consists in scarfing the
edges of the skelp, as shown in Figure 11, drawing the skelp through the bell, and
welding it thereby; substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated the Sixth day of October 1890.
→
Ter pro J. T KING,
J. Johnson.