the Manufacture of Twisted Metallic Tubes, Rods, and Wire.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1838
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec.. 188
the Manufacture of Twisted Metallic Tubes, Rods, and Wire.
I EDWARD MAPPLEBECK of the firm of John Wilkes Mapplebeck and Company of
the Patent Brass Tube Works Abberley Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
In the ordinary method of manufacturing twisted metallic tubes rods and wire the
rotating steel die or tool by which the required twist is given to the tube rod or wire
drawn through it bears and rotates against a flat or convex metallic plate. In con-
sequence of the friction between the rotating die and the said plate the die is liable
to stick or to rotate irregularly and an uneven or irregular twist in the tube rod or wire
is thereby produced.
The improvement or improvements constituting my invention consist in the arrange-
ment hereinafter described whereby the friction between the dio at the plato it works
against is reduced to a minimum. The rotating die in consequence is not liable to
be arrested or retarded and the twist produced on the tube rod or wire operated
upon has a regularity unattainable by the ordinary method of manufacture.
Near the margin of that face of the rotating die which works against the plate I
make a groove nearly semi circular in cross section the said groove being concentric
with the axis of the die and in that part of the plate against which the die works I
make a similar groove. In the said grooves I place a series of hardened steel spheres
or balls. The said balls prevent the die and plate from coming into actual contact
the pressure on the die being transferred to the plate through the said balls. On the
rotation of the die the said balls perform a rolling motion in the grooves and all
direct rubbing of the die against the plate and the friction consequent on the said
rubbing are avoided. The freedom with which the die rotates even under great
pressure results in extreme uniformity in the twist produced in the tube rod or wire
operated upon.
Dated this 14th day of March 1800
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improvement or Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for
the Manufacture of Twisted Metallic Tubes, Rods, and Wire.
I EDWARD MAPPLEBECK of the firm of John Wilkes, Mapplebeck and Company
of the Patent Brass Tube Works, Abberley Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
In the ordinary method of manufacturing twisted metallic tubes rods and wire the
rotating steel die or tool by which the required twist is given to the tube rod or wire
drawn through it bears and rotates against a flat or convex metallic plate. In con-
sequence of the friction between the rotating die and the said plate the die is liable
to stick or to rotate irregularly and an uneven or irregular twist in the tube rod or
wire is thereby produced.
The improvement or improvements constituting my invention consist in the arrange-
ment hereinafter described whereby the friction between the die and the plate it works
against is reduced to a minimum. The rotating die in consequence is not liable to be
arrested or retarded and the twist produced on the tube, rod or wire operated upon
has a regularity unattainable by the ordinary method of manufacture.
Near the margin of that face of the rotating die which works against the plate I
make a groove nearly semi-circular in cross section the said groove being concentric
with the axis of the die and in that part of the plate against which the die works I
make a similar groove. In the said grooves I place a series of hardened steel spheres
or balls. The said balls prevent the die and plate from coming into actual contact
the pressure on the die being transferred to the plate through the said balls. On the
rotation of the die the said balls perform a rolling motion in the grooves and all
direct rubbing of the die against the plate and the friction consequent on the said
rubbing are avoided.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in vertical section the rotating
die or twisting tool and the metallic plate of the twisting machinery against which
plate the die or tool rotates to give the required twist to the tube rod or wire drawn
through it; Figure 2 represents a section of the fixed plate in combination with the
rotating die or twisting tool, the said section being taken in a plane at right angles
to that in which the section of Figure 1 is taken and Figure 3 represents a front
elevation of the rotating die or twisting tool.
b is the rotating die or twisting tool the axial draw holed in which is fluted spirally
after the manner of a helix or screw for giving the required twist to the tube, rod or
wire drawn through it; a is the supporting plate of the die or tool b situated parallel
thereto and having a plain draw hole e in it as usual.
In that face of the die b which is presented to and works nearly in contact with
the supporting plate a an annular groove is made nearly semi-circular in cross

page_text: section, the said groove being concentric with the axis of the draw hole d in the
said die; and in the opposed face of the plate a a similar groove e is made.
When the two grooves e, f are brought nearly together as represented in the
drawing a groove nearly circular in cross section is formed.
In the two grooves e, f in the opposed faces of the plate a and rotating die ba
series of hardened steel spheres or balls g, g is placed the said spheres or balls g
filling and bearing closely against the said grooves as represented in Figures 1 and 2.
It will thus be seen that the said spheres or balls 9, 9 prevent the die 6 and
plate a from coming into actual contact the pressure on the rotating die 6 being
transferred to the plate a through the said balls or spheres g, g so that on the rotation
of the die 6 the said balls perform a rotary motion in the grooves ef and all direct
rubbing of the die 6 against the plate a and the friction consequent on the said
rubbing are avoided. The rotating die or twisting tool is used in the ordinary
way the tube rod or wire being drawn through the dio or tool in the direction of
the arrow Figure 1. By the arrangement or combination of parts described and
represented the freedom with which the twisting dio 6 rotates even under great
pressure results in extreme uniformity in the twist produced in the tube rod or wire
operated upon.
As the rotating twisting dio b and plate a constructed as before described for giving
freedom of motion to the said die and for reducing friction are combined with and
used in the draw bench in the ordinary way I have not thought it necessary to
represent the said draw bench.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I
claim as my invention of "An improvement or improvements in machinery or
apparatus for the manufacture of twisted metallic tubes rods and wire" :-
Giving great freedom of motion to the rotating twisting die or tool of the said
machinery or apparatus and preventing friction between the said die or tool and the
fixed plate by making in the opposed faces of the said die or tool and plate annular
grooves nearly semi-circular in cross section and filling the said grooves with hardened
steel balls or spheres, whereby the said die or tool and plate are prevented from coming
into actual contact and the pressure on the rotating die or tool is transferred to the
plate through the said balls or spheres substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Dated the 2nd day of November 1888.