An Improved Method of Shaping or Forming and Welding Metal Tubes and other Articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES HALL BEVINGTON, of 30, Canal Street,
Chicago, County of Cook, Illinois, United States of America, Machinist.]
An Improved Method of Shaping or Forming and Welding Metal
Tubes and other Articles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates chiefly to the formation of tubes and other articles, and to
providing means for closing them at the ends or for reducing or increasing their
diameter, or welding or joining the ends of two or more tubes together, as will be
hereinafter described.
My invention consists in employing a hard metal die or former suitably mounted
upon the spindle of a lathe, said die or former provided with a smooth recessed
face, or with a smooth longitudinal perforation, or with both as may be required.
This recessed face of the perforation receives the tube or other article to be formed.
When the die is revolved to sufficient velocity, the tube or other article forced into
the die or former becomes intensely heated from frictional contact, thereby softened
and made susceptible of being reduced, closed or otherwise formed in any suitable
or desired manner. In the process the article to be formed may be revolved while
the die remains at rest or both revolved in opposite directions, as convenience may
suggest.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a lathe for spinning tubes or other articles,
according to my method.
Figure 1 is a detail view of a modification of my invention.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of a die or former used in my process
of reducing a metal tube to one of smaller diameter.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 4 shows the tube and die after the tube has been operated upon.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a die where it is desired to close the end of
the tube.
Figure 5 is a detail view.
Figure 6 represents the die used to weld two tubes together for the purpose of
lengthening the same
Figures 7, 8 9 10 11 and 12 represent some of the different results accomplished
by my process of reducing and increasing the diameter, and closing the ends of
metal tubes.
In Figure 1, D represents a hard metal die or former securely held in the hollow
spindle of a lathe and T a metal tube about to be forced into the hard metal die D
by means of the tail stock screw or lever. The die D is revolved at a high rate of
speed and receives the tube, which, coming in contact with the dic, is softened by
reason of the intense heat generated by frictional contact.
The position of these parts may be reversed as shown at Figure 14, which
represents the die inserted in the tail stock of the lathe and securely held by same,
Trepresenting the tube inserted in the spindle and revolving rapidly. It receives
the die which is forced into it by the tail stock screw or lever.
In Figures 2 and 3 I show the die in longitudinal section- and in front elevation.
This die is for the purpose of forming tubes with small termini, E representing the
arge opening or entrance and e the small opening or exit. At T, I show the tube
about to enter the die.
Figures 7, 8 9 10 11 and 12 represent some of the different results accomplished
by my process of reducing and increasing the diameter, and closing the ends of
metal tubes.
In Figure 1, D represents a hard metal die or former securely held in the hollow
spindle of a lathe and T a metal tube about to be forced into the hard metal die D
by means of the tail stock screw or lever. The die D is revolved at a high rate of
speed and receives the tube, which, coming in contact with the die, is softened by
reason of the intense heat generated by frictional contact.
The position of these parts may be reversed as shown at Figure 1A, which
represents the die inserted in the tail stock of the lathe and securely held by same,
Trepresenting the tube inserted in the spindle and revolving rapidly. It receives
the die which is forced into it by the tail stock screw or lever.
In Figures 2 and 3 I show the die in longitudinal section- and in front elevation.
This die is for the purpose of forming tubes with small termini, E representing the
arge opening or entrance and e the small opening or exit.
about to enter the die.
At T, I show the tube

page_text: Figure 4 represents the die as having received the tube and reduced and formed
it as desired, with a small opening at d and a large opening at L.
Figure 5 represents the central view of the die whereby the ends of a tube are
securely closed and welded by means of the tube striking the wall which bends,
closes and securely welds the end of a tube in a smooth manner.
.tube about to enter.
t represents the
Figure 5 represents this completed tube closed at the end.
In Figure 6, represent a die in longitudinal section. X represents the opening
of the die to receive two tubes to be welded together. represents a tube, and u
represents another tube slightly larger which first has its end reduced as at to
enable it to be inserted into the first tube. The tubes are now forced into the
die D, and the moment the tube z comes in contact with the die it becomes reduced,
and by reason of the intense heat generated by the frictional contact of the rapidly
revolving die, is immediately welded to the tube t, and passes out of the opening o
reduced to the same size and thickness as tube t.
Although I have described my process as applied to tubes for the purpose of
decreasing their diameter or welding them together, I have done this merely for
the sake of convenience since it is obvious that the process may be applied to solid
metallic bars, rods or wires, and I contemplate so applying it. When applied to a
solid rod, the process is precisely the same. A dic of suitable shape is revolved at
a high rate of speed, and the rod being forced into it is heated by the friction
between the die and the rod, and becoming softened, its form may be changed to
accord with the form of the die. For instance if the die be simply provided with a
hole of smaller diameter than the rod, the diameter of the rod would be decreased
as such rod is forced through the die. Or, if two or more rods are bunched
together and inserted into the die, they will be softened and welded together. In
this way, metallic rods or tubes may be treated with equal facility, and either the
metal to be acted upon, or the die may be revolved as desired.
When this process is used for the purpose of increasing the size of tubes, it is
carried out by forcing the tube over a rapidly revolving die of suitable shape and
dimensions; this die being preferably heated. As the tube is forced over the die,
the friction acts to soften the metal of which the tube is composed, so that such
tube will conform to the shape and size of the die.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The method of forming metal by forcing it into or through a die of harder
metal, while the die or metal to be formed is revolving at a high rate of speed,
whereby the softer metal is heated by the friction between the parts and more
easily spun or formed substantially as described.
Second. The method of forming tubes, wires and other articles, reducing or
increasing their diameter, and welding them together by means of a revolving die
or former as hereinbefore described.
Third. The method of forming tubes and other metallic articles, which consists
in revolving them at a high rate of speed, and then bringing them into frictional
contact with a suitably shaped die or former, whereby the metal is softened and
formed as desired.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.