Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Lap Welded Tubes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Lap Welded
Tubes.
I, HUGH SYMINGTON, of Union Tube Works, Coatbridge Lanarkshire, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the manufacture
of lap welded tubes, and in the arrangement and combination of the parts of
appliances to be used for the welding of lap joints of the same more particularly
those of a large size such as boiler flues and the like.
According to one modification of the improvements, the tubes to be operated
upon would be placed in position on a pair of strong horizontal bars or girders
placed parallel and supported at one end by a strong built up bed or it might be a
metal frame on which is securely bedded the hydraulic cylinder and ram to actuate
the welding appliances to be described, while the other ends of the parallel bars
would be supported on any suitable standard or erection either with or without a
free passage between said ends. Those parallel bars, which might be made of
Hiron, would be angled or curved on their inner sides to fit the tube placed
thereon, and would be fitted with catches or clamps, which might be portable and
be secured in place by screws, to secure the tube at each end so as to prevent it
moving longitudinally on the bars.
To accomodate tubes of different sizes on and between the parallel bars, portable
bracket pieces would be secured thereon so as to keep the tubes always in the
centre line of the machine.
The welding would be effected by rolls traversed along the joint of the tube
while hot, and those would be fitted and actuated as follows.
The actuating hydraulic cylinder already referred to as bedded on an erection
at one end of the parallel bars would be furnished with a long ram which
would be fitted in front of the cylinder with a crosshead which would travel
on a slide guide in the centre. This crosshead would be connected by strong
rods to a vertical travelling frame carrying upper and lower rolls so adjusted as to
traverse on the outside of the upper and lower parts of the tube, and so afford
resistance against pressure applied inside of the tube. The rolls would rotate by
their journals in bush bearings adjustably carried in housings in the side standards
of the vertical travelling frame and those side standards may be bound together
by arched transverse stays above and below, and screws above and below on each
side standard would be used to adjust the distance between the rolls to suit different
sizes of tubes.
These rolls would be grooved or concave shaped on their circumferential surface
to fit the tube being operated upon and would be so carried in their housings as to
be easily removed for change when a different size and contour was required to be
used.
On the outer end of a mandrel jointed to the bydraulic ram would be carried an
upper and lower roll or pulley at such a distance from the cylinder as to be in
vertical line with the beforementioned rolls and the distance between these pulleys,
which would be convex shaped on their circumferential surface to fit the inside of
the tube operated upon would be adjusted by a right and left handed screw
working between them. These rolls would be so secured to the end of the mandrel
as to admit of vertical movement when the adjusting screw was being turned or
the bearings carrying the lower pulley might be formed solid with the mandrel
017

page_text: and a simple screw be used. These pulleys would also be so carried in their
bearings as to be easily changed when required.
The vertical travelling frame traversed to and fro by the hydraulic ram would
be mounted on wheels running on rails and would be linked to a carriage running
on the same, rails or it might be a pair of rails between them, carrying a long
boiler makers furnace fed with smokeless fuel, but preferably a gas furnace would
be used for the purpose of heating the joint. The appliances described would be
used as follows.
The hydraulic ram, and the vertical travelling frame being drawn in to their
inmost position a tube would be secured on the parallel bars with its unwelded joint
downwards and the furnace run under it to heat the joint and linked to the travelling
frame.
When the joint was heated up to the desired degree the ram would be driven
outwards and force the travelling frame and furnace along with it, while the hot
joint would be nipped between the lower roll outside and the lower pulley inside
the tube and welded by the pressure. The furnace would then be unlinked and
the travelling frame drawn inwards by the ram, so that the welded tube could be
removed. Through hydraulic power is stated as that preferred to be used for
operating the welding appliances steam or other power with suitable gearing may
be used.
According to another modification of the apparatus the tube to be welded would
be mounted on a carriage travelling on rails instead of ou fixed bars, which
carriage would be fitted on top with rollers or pulleys, adjustable to different
heights, at each side, for to facilitate the running of the tube on or off the carriage,
and would also be fitted with a longitudinal gas or other furnace for heating the
tube along its length in the centre.
In this case, the vertical frame carrying the welding rolls would be securely fixed
to a strong foundation, instead of running on rails, with outer rolls similar to those
aiready,described, and the inner rolls instead of being secured to a mandril con-
nected, to the hydraulic ram, would. be mounted on the end of a strong fixed
projecting arm which would also be fitted with adjustable guides, above to receive
the tube as it left, the rolls in the process of welding.
The hydraulic ram might be used for drawing the heated tube between the
welding rolls and for that purpose would be fitted with a rod or rods, having
gripping, appliances at their outer ends to seize and securely hold the tube.
Otherwise however the hydraulic ram may be dispensed with, and the outer rolls
be worked by wheel gearing and draw the tube from off its carriage between the
outer and inner welding rolls in their revolution. In these machines the whole
joint may be heated and welded at one operation or only a portion at a time.
Dated the 23rd April 1894.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Lap Welded
Tubes..
I, HUGH SYMINGTON of Union Tube Works, Coatbridge Lanarkshire,
Manufacturer, 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 writing, reference being made to the accompanying
drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the manufacture of

page_text: lap welded tubes, and in the arrangement and combination of the parts of appliances
to be used for the welding of the lap joints of the same more particularly those of a,
large size, such as boiler flues and the like, and it consists in the introduction into
the tube to be welded of rolls, two or more, curved to the shape of the tube, and
the application to the outside of the tubes of rolls or pulleys, also curved to the
shape of the tube, one of the rolls inside and one of the pulleys outside being
opposite each other, and in immediate contact with the lap edges of the tube and
their pressure upon one another effecting the weld. It is part of the arrangement
that the lap joint is to be heated in position by a smokeless furnace or by gas, or
otherwise, and that the rolls and the pulleys are to be moved together longitudinally
along the weld either by mechanical force applied to them or by similar force
applied to the tube while the rolls and pulleys are stationary..
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto>
appended four sheets of explanatory drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate the same or equivalent parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1, on Sheets 1, 2 and 3, is a side elevation of a lap joint welding machine,
shown for convenience of illustration as broken away into three divisions.
Figure 2, on Sheets 1 and 2, shows a plan view of the parts illustrated by
Figure 1 on same sheets.
Figure 3, ou Sheet 3, is a cross section of part of the machine illustrating the
method of securing the tubes to be operated on, the guide rollers on each side of
the tube, and the furnace in position below.
Figure 4, on Sheet 4, is a front view of the welding rolls and Figure 5 is a side
view of the inner rolls, showing the devices for adjusting their distance from one
another.
Figure 6, on Sheet 1, shows a device for supporting the rod carrying the inner
rolls in true horizontal line.
Figure 7 on Sheet 3 is a diagram plan of another arrangement of the parts of
the machine, and Figure 8 is a view of a gripping appliance for gripping the end
of the tube to draw it through between the rolls.
According to the arrangement, shown in Figures 1 to 6, the tube A to be
operated upon is placed on a pair of strong horizontal girders B placed parallel,
and supported at one end by a strong built up bed C, or it might be a metal frame,
on which is securely bedded the double acting hydraulic ram E E', to actuate the
welding appliances to be described, while the other ends of the parallel girders B
of Hiron are supported on columns or any suitable standard or erection with or
without a free passage between said ends.
To support the tube A on the girders B, portable bracket pieces 1, Figure 3,
are secured on the inside of the girders B by screwed bolts & secured by nuts, so
as to keep the tube A always in the centre line of the machine, these brackets
being formed of a shape and size to effect this, and a series of holes being formed
through the girders to receive the bolts b. Catches , placed at the ends of the
tube A to prevent longitudinal movement, are also secured to the girders B by the
same bolts as secure the brackets b.
0011
The welding is effected by rolls traversed along the joint of the tube while hot,
and these would be fitted and actuated as follows:-The actuating double acting
hydraulic ram E E' already referred to as bedded on an erection C at one end of
the parallel girders B is furnished with a long plunger or ram E' which is fitted in
front with a crosshead F which travels in slide guides G on each side, resting
and secured to the girders B. This crosshead F is connected by strong stay rods F
to a vertical travelling frame H carrying upper and lower rolls H'H' so adjusted
as to roll on the outside of the tube A, above and below to afford resistance
against pressure applied inside of the tube. These rolls, H, H, rotate by their
journals in bush bearings h³ adjustably carried in housings in the side standards
of. the vertical travelling frame H, and these side standards are bound together by
transverse stays H', and screws H* on each standard are used for adjusting the
positions of the rolls H' H' to suit different sizes of tubes. These rolls H'H**

page_text: are concave shaped on the circumferential surface to fit the tube being operated
upon and are so carried in their housings as to be easily removed for change when
rolls of a different size and contour are required to be used.
On the outer end of a mandrel J carried on a rod F jointed to the_crosshead F
of the hydraulic ram E, E¹ are carried upper and lower rolls J', J, at such a
distance from the cylinder E as to be in vertical line with the beforementioned
rolls H', H, and the distance between these rolls J', J', which are convex shaped
on their circumferential surface to fit the inside of the tube operated upon, is
adjusted by a screw j actuating the toggle links by means of a sliding block >*
with studs to press outwards and draw inwards the bush bearings of the
rolls J, J, a steel washer or block being interposed between the end of the
screw and the mandrel to keep the screw in position and at same time sustain the
pressure, all as shown in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 4.
A pulley P, Figures 1 and 2 is mounted on a block P¹ so as to be adjustable
vertically by the screws p, and on this pulley P the connecting rod F2 made flat on
its under surface runs so as to be maintained in true line with the centre of the
tube to be operated upon. Otherwise the rod F may be supported by a crossbar
sliding in the guides G as indicated at P³ Figure 2 and shown more particularly in
Figure 6, this crossbar having an adjusting screw P4 to adjust the rod Fin
true line.
The vertical travelling frame H traversed to and fro by the hydraulic ram E E',
is mounted on wheels h running on rails I and can be linked to a carriage K running
on the same ruils, or on a pair of rails K' between these, carrying a long boiler
maker's furnace K mounted on the carriage K by bell crank levers K³ the pair on
each side being connected by a rod K, and actuated by the handle K being a
prolongation of one of the limbs of one of the bell crank levers, all for the purpose
of raising and lowering the furnace K' as desired. This furnace is to be fed with
coke or other smokeless fuel, but a gas furnace could be used instead for the purpose
of heating the joint.
The appliances described are used as follows. The hydraulic ram E¹ and the
vertical travelling frame H connected to same being drawn inwards to their inmost
position, a tube A would be secured on the parallel girders B with its unwelded
joint downwards, and the furnace K on its carriage K run under it to heat the
joint, and linked to the travelling frame H. When the joint is heated up to the
desired degree the ram E' is driven outwards by hydraulic pressure, and forces
the travelling frame H, and furnace K, along with it, while the hot joint is nipped
between the lower roll H' outside and the lower roll J inside of the tube and is
welded by the pressure, the tube being guided by the adjustable anti-friction
rollers H on the inside of the frame standards.
The furnace K would then be unlinked and drawn back along the rails, and
the frame H drawn inwards by the rain E', so that the welded tube can be
removed.
Though hydraulic power is stated as that to be used for operating the welding
appliances steam or other power with suitable gearing could be used.
According to another arrangements of the machine as illustrated by the diagram
plan view Figure 7, Sheet 3, the tube to be welded would be mounted on a carriage
indicated at M travelling on rails instead of being fixed in place on side girders,
which carriage would be fitted above with rollers or pulleys adjustable, by raising
and lowering screws, to different heights, or by being mounted on bell crank levers
in a similar manner to the furnace described, and shown in Figures 1 and 3. These
pulleys would facilitate the running of the tube on or off the carriage, which would
also be fitted with a longitudinal gas or other furnace for heating the tube, along
its length in the centre, the joint in this case would be turned upwards. In this
arrangement the vertical frame H carrying the outer welding rolls would be
securely fixed to a strong foundation instead of having wheels and running on rails,
and the inner rolls instead of being secured to a mandrel connected to the hydraulic
ram, would be mounted on the end of a strong fixed projecting arm or rod as

page_text: indicated at F which would also be fitted with adjustable guide rolls on its upper
side as indicated at F* to receive the tube as it passes through the rolls in the
process of welding. The double acting ram E' in this case working out from the
far end of the cylinder E, would be used for drawing the heated tube between
the welding rolls, and for that purpose would be fitted with a crosshead F carrying
the rods having gripping appliances, which may be of the form shown by
Figure 8, at their outer ends to seize and securely hold the tube. These rods
would be carried in guides and jointed as indicated at 0' 02. Otherwise the
hydraulic ram may be dispensed with and the outer rolls, in this case being of the
same diameter, be geared together and worked by power transmitted by means of
any ordinary gearing, and made to draw the tube from off its carriage by friction,
between the outer and inner welding rolls in their revolution; the carriage carrying
the heated tube being pushed on its rails towards the machine until the tube was
entered between the rolls.
In these machines the whole joint may be heated and welded at one operation or
only a portion at a time as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In machines for welding the lap joints of tubes by means of outer and
inner rolls or pulleys the arrangement and combination of the parts all substan-
tially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Second. In machines for welding the lap joints of tubes the combination
comprising outer and inner rolls or pulleys, and actuating and adjusting
devices all substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In a machine for welding the lap joints of tubes by means of outer rolls
or pulleys carried in a travelling frame and inner rolls or pulleys carried by a
movable mandrel the construction and arrangement or combination of these parts,
with actuating devices all substantially as herein described and illustrated by
Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for welding the lap joints of tubes by means of outer rolls
or pulleys carried in a fixed vertical frame and inner rolls or pulleys carried on a
fixed rod or arm, the construction and arrangement or combination of these parts
with hydraulic appliances for drawing the tube between the outer and inner rolls,
all substantially as herein described and illustrated by Figures 7 and 8 of tbe
accompanying drawings.
Fifth. A machine for welding the lap joints of tubes by means of inner rolls or
pulleys carried on a fixed rod or arm and outer rolls or pulleys carried in a fixed
vertical frame and actuated by wheel gearing all substantially as herein
described.
Sixth. In machines for welding the lap joints of tubes the construction and
arrangement of the inner rolls or pulleys and their adjusting appliances all
substantially as herein described and particularly illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 of
the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. In machines for welding the lap joints of tubes the construction and
arrangement of the outer rolls or pulleys and their vertical frame having adjusting
screws all substantially as herein described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying drawings.
100*