IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN WELDING BOILER AND OTHER SHELLS OF CYLINDRICAL AND OTHER FORMS "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Alley, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN WELDING BOILER AND OTHER SHELLS OF CYLINDRICAL AND
OTHER FORMS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Alley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1883.
STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN
SHELLS OF CYLINDRICAL AND OTHER FORMS
"
WELDING BOILER AND OTHER
This Invention has for its object to simplify, improve, and cheapen the
operations of forming cylindrical and other shells for boilers and other vessels or
parts thereof.
In carrying out the Invention when forming a cylindrical shell, the sheet of iron
or steel, having been bended into the cylindrical form is heated at the edges which
have to be welded together and is then placed in a machine or apparatus arranged
with parts for confining it so as to prevent enlargement of its diameter, such
apparatus also having a part or parts to be applied to the outside of the joint to
resist the welding pressure. The welding operation is effected by means of a roller
fitted to the outer end of the ram of an hydraulic cylinder, the ram having also
fitted to its end a second roller arranged to bear on the interior of the shell
diametrically opposite to the welding roller. The shell having been suitably
heated and placed in position in the holding or confining apparatus, water under
pressure is admitted into the hydraulic cylinder so as to force out the ram which
causes the welding roller and the other roller to move through the cylinder, tho
necessary pressure of the welding roller on the joint being maintained through the
bearing of the other roller on the opposite side of the cylinder.
In one modification the holding or confining apparatus consists of a fixed block
formed with a semi-cylindrical cavity, and of a similarly shaped movable block,
which when the shell to be welded has been placed in position is closed down and
held by means of one or more hydraulic cylinders. The cavities of the blocks may

page_text: be shaped to bear on the entire external surface of the shell or they may be mado
with bearing parts restricted to what are in practice found sufficient to prevent
enlargement which might be caused by the spreading of the metal at the joint
whilst being welded. In some cases bands or straps may be employed instead of
blocks such bands being tightened by means of levers, eccentrics, screws, or
hydraulic rams.
When forming taper or conical shells or tubes, or when a roller bearing against
the inside of the shell or tube cannot bo conveniently used, a stationary beam or
arm is arranged to extend through the shell or tube, and being made with one
side or edge parallel to the joint that is to be welded, the bearing roller runs along
it; or the ram may be made without the bearing roller but so as to slide along the
In the case of taper tubes the beam or arm may have a similarly
tapered shape and be arranged to bear against the inside of the tube opposite to
the joint. When welding large shells of cylindrical or other form the beam or arm
may be fixed externally so as not to bear against the inside of the shell.
beam or arm.
In some cases the machine or apparatus for holding the shell and for forcing
through it the welding roller is erected upon a turntable, which is concentric with a
scries of furnaces ranged round more or less of a circle. The furnaces are formed
with narrow openings in lines radiating from the common centre and a number of
the shells having been placed on the furnace openings so as to be heated in
succession, the welding machine is moved angularly so as to be placed in line with
each furnace when the shell on it is ready; and the shell is transferred from the
furnace to the machine in a direct manner and the welding is effected without loss
of time or heat. When the metal of the shell or tube is thin it is preferred to lift
it from the furnace by means of a porter bar having a firebrick cover which becomes
heated along with the shell or tube.
When welding long flue tubes of small diameter and in similar cases it is generally
desirable to heat the entire tube in an ordinary air furnace, and after the joint has
been welded the ram with its rollers may be turned partly round and forced through
the tube a second time or oftener to render the interior smooth at other parts besides
the joint and part opposite thereto.
Instead of the confining blocks or pieces being moved directly by one or more
hydraulic rams, the ram or rams may be made to operate through levers or cams.
When a boiler shell of large size has to be welded it will be convenient to employ
a portable furnace on wheels, for heating the joint edges, and such furnace may be
moved out of the way cither by separate appliances, or by means of an hydraulic
ram which at the samo time moves into position a block to bear against the outside
of the joint so as to resist the welding pressure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Stephen Alley in the Great Seal Patent Offico on the 4th July
1883.
"
STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN WELDING BOILER AND OTHER
SHELLS OF CYLINDRICAL AND OTHER FORMS
"
My said Invention has for its object to simplify, improve, and cheapen the
operations of forming cylindrical and other shells for boilers and other vessels or
parts thereof.
In carrying out my Invention when forming a cylindrical shell, the sheet of iron
or steel, having been bended into the cylindrical form, is heated at the edges which
have to be welded together, and is then placed in a machine or apparatus arranged
with parts for confining it so as to prevent enlargement of its diameter, such
apparatus also having a part or parts to be applied to the outside of the joint to
resist the welding pressure. The welding operation is affected by means of a roller
fitted to the outer end of the ram of an hydraulic cylinder the ram having also
fitted to its end a second roller armnged to bear on the interior of the shell at a
part diametrically opposite to the part acted on by the welding roller. The shell
having been suitably heated and placed in position in the holding or confining
apparatus, water under pressure is admitted into the hydraulic cylinder so as to
force out the ram which causes the welding roller and the other roller to move
through the cylinder, the necessary pressure of the welding roller on the joint
being maintained through the bearing of the other roller on the opposite side of
the cylinder.
In one modification the holding or confining apparatus consists of a fixed block
formed with a semi-cylindrical cavity and of a similarly shaped movable block,
which when the shell to be welded has been placed in position is closed down and
held by means of one or more hydraulic cylinders. The cavities of the blocks may
be shaped to bear on the entire external surface of the shell, or they may be made
with bearing parts restricted to what are in practice found sufficient to prevent
enlargement which might be caused by the spreading of the metal at the joint
whilst being welded. In some cases bands or strips may be employed instead of
blocks, such bands being tightened by means of levers, eccentrics, screws, or
hydraulic rams.
When forming taper or conical shells or tubes, or when a roller bearing against
the inside of the shell or tube cannot be conveniently used, a stationary beam or
arm is arranged to extend through the shell or tube, and being made with one sido
or edge parallel to the joint that is to be welded, tho bearing roller runs along it;
or the ram may be made without the bearing roller but so as to slide along the
beam or arm.
In some cases the machine or apparatus for holding the shell and for forcing
through it the welding roller is erected on a turntable, which is concentric with a
series of furnaces ranged round more or less of a circle. The furnaces aro formed
with narrow openings in lines radiating from the common centre; and a number of
the shells having been placed on the furnace openings so as to be heated in
succession, the welding machine is moved angularly so as to be placed in line with
cach furnace when the shell on it is ready; and the shell is transferred from the
furnace to the machine in a direct manner, and the welding is offected without loss
of time or heat. When the metal of the shell or tube is thin it is preferred to lift
it from the furnace by means of a porter bar having a firebrick cover which

page_text: becomes heated along with the shell or tube and prevents the too rapid cooling of
the metal whilst being transferred from the furnace to the welding machine.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing various modifications of my
improved apparatus.
Figure 1, on sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings is an end elevation of one
modification of my improved welding apparatus. Figures, 2 and 3, are transverse
and longitudinal vertical sections of a form of furnace to be used with the machino.
Figure, 4, is a sectional side elevation corresponding to figure, 1; and figure, 5, is a
plan on a reduced scale; whilst figure, 6, shows a modification of the holding or
confining apparatus. Figures, 7, and 8, on sheet 2, are a side elevation and
longitudinal vertical section of a modification arranged for welding large shells for
boilers and the liko, figures 9, and 10, being corresponding transverse vertical
sections. Figure, 11, is a sectional side elevation of a modification arranged for
welding taper or conical tubes or shells. In these drawings the same referenco
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus shown on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings comprises parts
for holding the cylinder whilst being welded and parts for effecting the welding
operation by passing a roller acting with considerable pressure along the joint to be
welded. These parts may be stationary but are represented as carried by a turn-
table or frame, 12, formed with or fixed upon a pillar, 13, and carried in a
pedestal, 14, so as to be capable of turning about a vertical axis. This arrangement
allows of one welding machine being used conveniently in combination with a
number of heating furnaces, 15, arranged as indicated in figure, 5, round more or
less of a circle. On the turntable, 12, there is fixed at one end a horizontal
hydraulic cylinder, 16; and at the other end there is a block, 17, which may be
formed or fixed on the turntable and which has a semicylindrical cavity formed
in its upper side. Above the block, 17, there is supported on pillars or bars, 18, an
inverted hydraulic cylinder, 19, the ram, 20, of which has fixed to it an upper
block, 21, having a semicylindrical cavity formed on its under side. When
welding a cylinder, 22, of smaller size than the spaco between the two blocks, 17, 21,
when closed, semicylindrical shells, 23, of suitable thickness are applied to tho
cavities in the two blocks. In figures, 1, and 4, a cylindrical shell, 22, is
represented as being welded, the weld joint being along the bottom. The edges
to be jointed have been brought to a welding heat, and the cylinder has been
placed between the blocks, 17, 21, the upper one, 21, having been brought down
by means of the hydraulic cylinder, 19, so as to securely hold and confine the
cylinder. The welding is effected by a roller, 24, fitted to the head, 25, of the
ram, 26, of the horizontal hydraulic cylinder, 16; the requisite pressure being
obtained by the action of an upper roller, 27, also fitted to the ram head, 25,
and which bears up against the inside of the top of the cylinder, 22.
rollers, 24, 27, are held by separate bearing pieces which can be adjusted more or
less apart by means of a wedge, 28, connected to the ram head, 25, by a pair of
adjustable screw bolts. As soon as the freshly heated cylinder, 22, has been
secured between the confining blocks, 17, 21, the water under pressure is admitted
into the hydraulic cylinder, 16, so as to move out the ram, 20, and force the
rollers, 24, 27, through the cylinder, 22. The bydraulic cylinder, 16, is made
double-acting and after moving outwards through the cylinder, 22, the rollers, 24, 27,
are drawn back again; after which the upper confining block, 21, can be raised and
the cylinder, 22, removed. The confining of the cylinder during the welding
operation is of great importance as it prevents the spreading or thinning down of
the metal under the welding roller and causes the pressure to act more effectually
in uniting the edges of the joint. I prefer to have the joint a little open during
the heating process so that the flames may operate effectually on the edges.
Afterwards the action of the confining blocks causes the edges to be forcibly
pressed together. In some cases it will be sufficient to confine the cylinder, 22,
The

page_text: in the manner shown in figure, 6, with blocks or bars, 29, bearing only on portions
of the cylinder. These blocks or bars, 29, may be changeable for different sizes and
may be held in dovetail sockets in the main confining blocks, 17, 21, If preferred
the joint may be at the top instead of the bottom whilst being welded.
Any suitable furnace may be used for heating the joint edges of the cylinder, 23,
but that shown in figures 2, 3, and 5, is simple and convenient. A narrow slot, 30,
is formed in the top from which when the furnace is in action the flame issues so as
to play upon the joint edges of the cylinder, 22, this cylinder being then placed
with the edges upon the slot, 30. The grate, 31, for the fuel, is made as the top of
a blast box, 32, which is made with compartments, the air supplies to these com-
partments being separately adjustable so that the intensity of heat at different
parts of the slot may be separately controllable. Whilst a cylinder is being heated
a firebrick cover is by preference placed inside the cylinder over the parts being
heated to confine and economise the heat.
When welding long flue tubes of small diameter, and in similar cases, it is
generally desirable to heat the entire tube in an ordinary air furnace; and after
the joint has been welded the ram (26) with its rollers (24, 27) may be turned
partly round and forced through the tube a second time or oftener to render the
interior smooth at other parts besides the joint and part opposite thereto.
Instead of the confining blocks (17, 21) or pieces being moved or closed directly
by one or more bydraulic rams (19) the ram or rams may be made to operate
through lovers or cams.
When a boiler shell of large size has to be welded it will be convenient to employ
a portable furnace on wheels for heating the joint edges, and such furnace may be
moved out of the way either by separate appliances, or by means of one or more
hydraulic rams which at the same time movo into position a block to bear against
the outside of the joint so as to resist the welding pressure. An arrangement of
this kind is shown in figures, 7, to 10, on sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings.
The parts of the machine are carried on a pair of longitudinal box girders, 34,
supported upon and connected by transverse beams or sleepers, 35, the horizontal
bydraulic cylinder, 16, for actuating the welding roller, 24, being carried by
bracket supports at one end of the girders, 34. The cylindrical shell, 22, to bo
welded is supported on rollers, 36, and is held down and confined by straps, 37,
which are jointed to short levers on rocking shafts, 38, whilst longer levers, 39, on
these shafts are connected to the opposite ends of the piston rod, 40, of an hydraulic
cylinder, 41. Instead of arranging the roller, 27, above or opposite to the welding
roller, 24, to bear against the inside of the top of the cylinder, 22, as is conveniently
dono in the case of comparatively small cylinders, it is arranged to bear against
and roll along the underside of a beam, 42, which is fixed by one end above the
bydraulic cylinder, 16, with its other end extending through the cylinder, 22, and
which is made sufficiently strong and rigid to sustain the strain of the welding
roller, 24. The welding pressure is sustained on the outer and under side of the
joint by a block, 43, which is movable on wheels, 44, by means of rods, 45, from
two small hydraulic cylinders, 46. The block carriage, 43, has connected to it a
portable furnace, 47, on wheels 48, which is drawn into position for heating the
joint edges of the cylindrical shell, 22, by the samo action which moves the block
carriage, 43, from that position; and when the heating has been effected the
reverse movement of the hydraulic cylinders, 46, causes the portable furnace, 47, to
recede and the block, 43, to take its place. The air blast for the furnace, 47, may
be supplied through telescopic or jointed pipes.
In the arrangement of apparatus shown in figure, 11, for welding taper or
conical tubes or shells, the beam, 42, is used for resisting the welding pressure,
being shown as combined with parts like those of the apparatus hereinbefore
described with reference to figures, 1, to 5, the shell, 22, being held within confining
blocks, 17, 21, the upper one of which is closed by the ram, 20, of an hydraulic
cylinder. The under side of the beam, 42, is made parallel to the weld joint whilst
the upper or opposite side is tapered or inclined to fit against the inside of the top

page_text: of the shell, 22, In this way the beam, 42, itself is sustained. against the welding
pressure by the upper block, 21, acting through the shell, 22, but it may be made
sufficiently rigid in itself to be independent of such support if preferred.
My improved apparatus may obviously be adapted for welding shells which are
of oval or other forms in cross section as well as those which are of a circular
form.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the preciso
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The system or mode of welding boiler and other shells of cylindrical and
other forms, wherein a roller or equivalent forcibly moved along the inside of the
shell is combined with external blocks, straps, or equivalent appliances which
confine the shell and prevent its enlargement, the parts being arranged and
operating substantially as herein beforo described
2. The arrangement of the welding apparatus upon a turntable or turning frame
in combination with a series of furnaces placed in a circle concentric therewith
substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of apparatus for welding large boiler and other shells
hereinbofore described with reference to figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The arrangement of apparatus hereinbefore described for welding taper or
conical tubes or shells.
In Witness whereof I, the said Stephen Alley, have hereunto set my band
and seal this second day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow
STEPHEN ALLEY (L.S.)