Improvements in Tools for Expanding and Cutting Boiler Tubes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tools for Expanding and Cutting Boiler Tubes.
I, JOHN CHAMBERS, of 71 Bolam Street, South Byker, in the City and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Foreman Boiler Smith, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
According to my invention the back end of the tubes are expanded by operating at
the front end instead of inside the combustion chamber in cramped space and imperfect
light. Any of the ordinary expanders may be used but I prefer to apply the required
power to the tapered expanding mandril by a portable machine constructed so as to be
readily fixed and capable of forcing from it or drawing to it the expanding mandril
giving it at the same time a revolving motion.
For expanding the back ends of tubes I use an expanding mandril of special
construction the smaller end of which fits by a coupling on to a long rod which
passes through the tube to the front where it is connected to the spindle of the portable
machine.
The larger end of the mandril projecting into the combustion chamber has a tapered
end allowing the expander to pass easily over it against the tube plate and the portable
machine being put into operation the mandril is drawn toward the front revolving at
same time and the tube is expanded without being strained.
A labourer or boy in the combustion chamber adjusts the expander for each tube
all the other operations being done from the front end. When expanding the front
end of tubes I use an ordinary mandril but attach it to the spindle of the portable
machine in preference to driving it into the expander by a hammer.
To cut off the superfluous projecting ends of the tubes in combustion chamber I
use a long rod with an enlarged circular end into which, after it has been passed from
the front end through a tube into the combustion chamber, is fitted a knife which is
secured by a set bolt or key. A ferrule may be slipped over the enlarged end of
rod to fit the inside of tube and form a steady bearing. The rod is now drawn forward
till the knife rests against the end of tube and the cutting commences by the knife
being revolved from the front end, by hand or by the portable machine used for

page_text: expanding, and at the same time drawn against the tube end until the tube end is cut
to the proper projection out of the tube plate and the tool is changed to the next tube by a
labourer or boy in the combustion chamber taking out the knife till the rod is with-
drawn at the front end and pushed through the next tube when he replaces the
knife.
Improvements in Tools for Expanding and Cutting Boiler Tubes.
I, JOHN CHAMBERS, of 71 Bolam Street, South Byker, in the City and Connty of
Newcastle upon Tyne, Foreman Boiler Smith, do hereby declare the nature of
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly]
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
According to my invention the back ends of the tubes are expanded by operating
at the front end, instead of inside the combustion chamber in cramped space and
imperfect light. Any of the ordinary expanders may be used but I prefer to apply
the required power to the tapered expanding mandril by a portable machine constructed
so as to be readily fixed and capable of drawing to it the expanding mandril giving it
at the same time a revolving motion. For expanding the back ends of tubes I
use an expanding mandril of special construction the smaller end of which fits by.
a coupling onto a long rod which passes through the tube to the front where it
is connected to the spindle of the portable machine.
The larger end of the mandril projecting into the combustion chamber has a
tapered end allowing the expander to pass easily over it against the tube plate and
the portable machine, being put into operation, the mandril is drawn toward the
front revolving at same time and the tube is expanded without being strained.
A labourer or boy in the combustion chamber adjusts the expander for each
tube all the other operations being done from the front end.
front ends of tubes I use an ordinary mandril but attach it to the spindle of the
When expanding the
portable machine in preference to driving it into the expander by a hammer..
To cut off the superfluous projecting ends of the tubes in. combustion chamber I
use a long rod with an enlarged circular end into which, after it has been passed
from the front-end through a tube into the combustion chamber, is fitted a knife
which is secured by a set bolt or key. A ferrule may be slipped over the enlarged

page_text: end of rod to fit the inside of tube and form a steady bearing. In order to operate
the cutting tool by the same rod which is used for the expander, I propose to fit the
tool holder into a coupling which, being nearly the diameter of the inside of the tube,
forms a steady bearing but ferrules may be used to fit larger tubes. The rod is now
drawn forward till the knife rests against the end of tube and the cutting com-
mences by the knife being revolved from the front end, by hand or by the portable
machine used for expanding, and at the same time drawn against the tubo end which
is cut to the proper projection out of the tube plate and the tool is changed to the
next tube, by a labourer or boy in the combustion chamber taking out the knife, till
the rod is withdrawn at the front end and pushed through the next tube when he
replaces the knife.
On the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my invention as applied to 2 tubes
of a boiler the upper tube having the expander operating at back end and the lower
tube being fitted with the cutter also operating at the back end in the combustion
chamber.
Referring to the expanding process, A is a long rod inserted from front end of tube,
where it is connected to the spindle of a portable machine, not shown, which may be
of any construction capable of giving a revolving motion at the same time drawing
the expanding mandril B into the tube. The inner end of the mandril, having been
connected to the coupling C, formed on the end of the rod A, is drawn toward the
front until the feet of the expander D come against the back tube plate in which
position it is shewn. The further revolving and drawing forward of the rod A, by
the portable machine, expands the tube in the back tube plate, when the rod A is dis-
connected from the portable machine and the apparatus is pushed back until the
expander D is clear of the tube and when it is removed from the expanding mandril B.
The rod A and mandril B are then withdrawn through the front end of the tube and
inserted into another tube when the expander B is placed on the expanding mandril (
and pushed forward until it fits into the end of the tube and the operation is.
repeated.
In cutting off the projecting back ends of tubes the long rod A is attached by the
coupling C to the tool holder E in the enlarged end F of which is a knife G with
suitably shaped cutting edge fixed in the tool F by a set screw H. The rod A is
inserted into the tube allowing the enlarged end F of the tool holder E to project
through at the back tube plate in the combustion chamber when the knife G is inserted
and secured by the set screw H, and the rod A is then drawn forward till the cutting
edge of the knife rests against the end of the tube. The rod A being now connected
to the spindle of the portable machine the cutting commences by the revolution of
the knife which is at the same time drawn against the tube end and. continues
until the projecting end is cut off to the required extent. This being effected the
rod A is disconnected from the spindle of the portable machine, the knife G is taken
out of the tool holder E, the rod A is withdrawn from the tube through the front
end, replaced in another tube, the knife G again secured in the tool holder E, and
the rod A attached to the portable machine, when the cutting operation is
repeated.
Although I prefer and propose to operate the expanding tool and the cutting
tool by a machine, they may be operated by manual power by being fitted at the
front end with an appliance which will, when they are revolved, draw the tapered
mandril of the expander, and the knife of the cutter, toward the front end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1st. For expanding the ends of tubes in the back tube plate the construction and
application of a tool which, being operated from the front end, by a portable machine

page_text: or by manual power, will cause the rollers of the expander to revolve and expand
simultaneously and allow the expander and the tool to be readily changed from one
tube to another, substantially as described and shewn.
2nd. For cutting off the superfluous projecting ends of tubes in the back tube
plate the construction and application of a tool which, being operated from the front
end, by a portable machine or by manual power, will cause a revolving knife to cut
off the tube ends and allow the tool to be readily changed from one tube to another,
substantially as described and shewn.