IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Selby and William Carter, both of Smeth-
wick, in the County of Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH
MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 14th March 1879, and dated the 4th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Selby and
William Carter at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
December 1878.
GEORGE THOMAS SELBY and WILLIAM CARTER, both of Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of metal tubes
and in apparatus to be used in such manufacture.
We turn up strips or sheets into the form of open jointed tubes previous to
the process of welding or brazing by passing them, by means of cylindrical
rollers, through a closed groove or passage in a block or mould through which the
strip or sheet is forced by the cylindrical rollers, or both forced and drawn at the
same time.
The passage through the block or mould is formed in the following manner :-At
the end at which the strip or sheet enters there is a straight mouth or opening, of
a size to receive the strip or sheet in its flat form and just allow it to pass freely.
In passing along the block or mould towards the other end the passage, whilst re-
taining the same dimensions, viz., the dimensions requisite to allow the strip or
sheet to pass freely through it, becomes progressively more and more curved until,
when the other end of the block or mould is reached, the groove has returned upon
itself in such manner that the strips or sheets forced through it may thereby be
brought to the form of closed tubes, either with butted or overlapping edges as may
be required.

page_text: We find it most convenient to combine the two methods of forcing and drawing
the strip or sheet through the above described block or mould by means of two pairs
of rolls, one pair at each end of the block or mould.
At the end where the sheet enters the groove we use, as already stated, a pair of
parallel rolls, which, being of any length, will accommodate any width of sheet, and
by altering their relative positions, any thickness of strip or sheet.
At the end where the sheet emerges from the mould we use a pair or set of rolls
turned to suit the required form of turned up strip or sheet as it emerges; in
these rolls we commonly use a mandril, but in butt jointed tubes this mandril may
be dispensed with.
To bevel the edges of the strips or sheets we employ rolls arranged in the following
manner:-
We take two rolls which roll one on the other and we provide a raised ring on
each roll adapted to form the required bevel.
We arrange these rolls to be moveable, one with regard to the other, in the
direction of the axis, so as to accommodate any width of strip or sheet.
These rolls may be fixed opposite a furnace or muffle from which the sheets are
drawn out and passed through. They are then ready to be turned up, either in the
ordinary way or by the means already described; in the latter case by suitably
placing the two machines we do the two processes at one operation or heat.
This arrangement of rolls bevels the strip or sheet on the two opposite sides or
faces, thereby making, after bending, a perfect lap.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Thomas Selby and William Carter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd June 1879.
GEORGE THOMAS SELBY and WILLIAM CARTER, both of Smethwick, in the County
of Stafford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of metal tubes
and in apparatus to be used in such manufacture.
We turn up strips or sheets into the form of open jointed tubes previous to
the process of welding or brazing by passing them by means of cylindrical
rollers through a closed groove or passage in a block or mould through which the
strip or sheet is forced by the cylindrical rollers, or both forced and drawn at the
same time.
The passage through the block or mould is formed in the following manner :-At
the end at which the strip or sheet enters there is a straight mouth or opening, of a
size to receive the strip or sheet in its flat form and just allow it to pass freely.
In passing along the block or mould towards the other end the passage, whilst re-.
taining the same dimensions, viz., the dimensions requisite to allow the strip, or
sheet to pass freely through it becomes progressively more and more curved until,
when the other end of the block or mould is reached, the groove has returned upon
itself in such manner that the strips or sheets forced through it may thereby be
brought to the form of closed tubes, either with butted or overlapping edges as may
be required.
We find it most convenient to combine the two methods of forcing and drawing
the strip or sheet through the above described block or mould by means of two pairs
of rolls, one pair at each end of the block or mould.
At the end where the sheet enters the groove we use, as already stated, a pair of
parallel rolls, which, being of any length, will accommodate any width of sheet, and
by altering their relative positions, any thickness of strip or sheet.
At the end where the sheet emerges from the mould we use a pair or set of rolls
turned to suit the required form of turned up strip or sheet as it emerges; in these
rolls we commonly use a mandril, but in butt jointed tubes this mandril may be
dispensed with.
To bevel the edges of the strips or sheets we employ rolls arranged in the following
manner :-
We take two rolls which roll one on the other, and we provide a raised ring on
each roll adapted to form the required bevel.
We arrange these rolls to be moveable, one with regard to the other, in the
direction of the axis, so as to accommodate any width of strip or sheet.
These rolls may be fixed opposite a furnace or muffle from which the sheets
are drawn out and passed through. They are then ready to be turned up
either in the ordinary way or by the means already described; in the latter case.
by suitably placing the two machines we do the two processes at one operation or
heat.
This arrangement of rolls bevels the strip or sheet on the two opposite sides or faces,
thereby making, after bending, a perfect lap.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily.
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: from the forcing rolls to the turning up mould; Figure 4 is a plan corresponding
thereto; Figures 5 to 9 are enlarged views of parts of same apparatus; Figures
10 and 11 are views of the sheets when flat and turned up; Figures 12 and 13
are elevations of the arrangement for bevelling various widths of sheets with one pair
of rolls.
We now proceed to explain the various Figures in detail, the same letters will
always refer to the same parts in the various views.
Figures 1 and 2, the sheet or strip A is received from the furnace or elsewhere
(passing through a guide not shown) by the cylindrical forcing rolls B, B, and forced
The
up the curver or groove C by them in the direction shown by the arrows.
construction of the former is also illustrated by transverse sections hereinafter
described. As the strip emerges from the groove in the former in an almost
cylindrical or prismatic form it is seized by the rolls D and drawn through
the curver, the rolls D at the same time bringing the sheet or strip to the exact form
required.
The rolls D, D, obtain their grip by pressing the sheet A on to the mandril E
when turning up strips for lapwelded or brazed tubes, but for buttwelded or brazed
tubes the mandril may, as a rule, be dispensed with as the two edges of the sheet
butting together give sufficient bite.
It will be seen from the Drawing that the forcing rolls B, B, also bevel the sheets
or strips as they pass through. By this means the bevelling may be done simul-
taneously with the forcing when so required.
The mandril E is held in position by the stem or rod G, which is in its turn
secured by the curved cotter H, seen in the transverse section Figure 1ª.
After the mandril E has become too small by reason of the wear, caused by the
turned up strips passing over it, it may be removed along with the stem G by lifting
up the handle J and withdrawing the cotter H; a new mandril may then be put on
the stem G and the same replaced and secured by putting the handle J back into its
original position as shown.
The housings for carrying the rolls B, B, and D, D, have not been shown, as any
of the many kinds used for carrying the rolls of tube welding machines may be
used.
The delivering rolls D, D, deliver the sheet or strip turned up and ready for
welding or brazing into a suitable trough placed to receive it.
The mandril E may be held in position by a long stem in compression, that is, as
it is usually held in tube welding machines, without deviating from the Invention,
but we have shown the method which we consider the most convenient.
We prefer to make the curver or slot of cast steel or iron, with the flat or re-
ceiving end of wrought iron or mild steel. The feather edges F, F, are accurately
fitted and bedded to the rolls B, B. We have shown the curver made in three pieces
dividing longitudinally, but it is evident that it may be made in any number of
parts or of other materials to suit circumstances.
Figures 3 and 4. The same explanation will suffice for these Figures with the
exception of the prong or gridiron arrangement for guiding the sheets into the groove
or curver from the forcing rolls. In this arrangement the feather edges F, F, are
replaced by the prongs F.
In this case in order to guide the sheet into the slot or curver C as it leaves the
forcing rolls B, B, we use a gridiron arrangement, as shown at the rolls B, B, in order
to avoid the use of feather edges, which, although they work very well, are liable,
when out of use, to get damaged.
The receiving or flat end of the curver or slot C is prolonged beyond the centre of
the rolls by means of a series of prongs F, F, F, F, which fit into corresponding
grooves turned in the cylindrical forcing rolls B, B.
Figure 5 shows a section taken at L, L, Figures 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, through
the end of the groove, slot, or curver C for a butt jointed tube near where
the sheet or strip A emerges immediately before entering the delivering rolls D, D.
Figure 6 shows a section taken at L, L, Figures 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, through the

page_text: end of the curver C for a lap jointed tube. Figure 7 shows a section taken through
the centre of the curver at K, K, (Figures 1 and 2, or 3 and 4); this is the same for
either a butt or lap welded tube. A bevilled sheet A for a lap jointed tube is shown
passing through the curver. Figure 8 is an outside and end view of the flat or re-
ceiving end of the curver or groove C, showing the prongs F, F, F, F, the rolls
B, B, being removed so as to show it more clearly; a sheet A for a lap
jointed tube is shown as it passes through. Figure 9 is a view of the same with
feather edges in lieu of the prongs F.
Figure 10 is a sheet or strip with bevelled edges, when flat and when turned up.
This Figure shows how, by bevelling on the two opposite faces, a perfect lap is
made. Figure 11 is a-sheet, flat and turned up for a butt jointed tube; Figure 12
is a side elevation showing how a wide sheet may be bevelled, and Figure 13
shows how, by moving the two rolls M, M, with their brackets or carriers each or
either in the direction of the arrows, a narrower sheet of any width within a given
limit may be bevelled.
This arrangement may be used in conjunction with the turning up apparatus
already described, or may be used independently and the sheets or strips turned up
in the ordinary way.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would have it understood that we claim, -
First. The combination of the block, mould, or curver C with cylindrical forcing
rolls B and delivering rolls D, substantially as described.
Second. The construction of the block, mould, or curver with a closed passage
through it of no larger size than is necessary to allow the strip to pass freely, and
so formed that the strip in passing through it has its radius of curvature continuously
and uniformly diminished, substantially as described.
Third. The combination with the block, mould, or curver of forcing rolls so formed
as to bevel the edges of the strips, substantially as described.
Fourth. The arrangement for bevelling the edges of strips of various widths con-
sisting of a pair of rollers each with a raised ring suited to the form of the bevel,
such rollers, either one or both, being adjustable in position endwise, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The apparatus, substantially as herein described and represented in the
annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Carter, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILL. CARTER. (L.S.)