Improvements relating to the Welding of Metals and to Machinery or Apparatus therefor..
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1890.
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Welding of Metals and to Machinery
or Apparatus therefor..
I, HERBERT ELLSWORTH FOWLER, of 119, Davenport Avenue, New Haven,
Connecticut, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the welding of metals and to machinery or apparatus
therefor.
My said invention is chiefly designed to provide for welding metals by first heating
the parts to be welded, by fire or by means of gas or other flame, then moving the
heating apparatus aside, and then bringing into position to operate upon the said
parts, without disturbing the same, suitable hanimers or rolls arranged to rotate
about the work and to effect the welding by pressure or by impact, or both.
I also provide for the manufacture of pipes or tubes and other objects with
longitudinal welds, by continuously or intermittently feeding the said pipes, tubes
or other objects through the heating apparatus and then through the space between
the hammers or rolls, the latter being arranged to act always upon the parts to be
welded. Either large or small pipes or tubes with longitudinal lap-welds can be
advantageously manufactured in this manner.
My present improvements are, moreover, advantageously applicable to the
manufacture of pipes and other objects provided with the improved welded joints
described in the Provisional Specification accompanying my Application for Letters
Patent No. 3854, filed on the same day as the present Application, that is to say,
welded joints wherein one or both of the parts to be united are provided with holes
so that, in the process of welding, the metal of the other part will be forced into
the said holes and thus effect a very strong union of the said parts.
In carrying my present invention into practice, I find it convenient and
advantageous to employ a machine constructed as follows, that is to say; upon a
suitable frame or base-plate are mounted two standards, one or both of which are
provided with suitable clamps for holding the pipe or other object to be welded, and
one of which is provided with a rotating head, wheel or other part carrying suitable
hammers or rolls, and with a fixed cam whereby, in the rotation of the said head or
other part, the said hammers or rolls will be operated. This standard or support
is adjustable towards and away from the other standard or support for the purpose
of moving the hammers or rolls to and from the parts of the work upon which they
are to operate. The said machine is provided with a forge mounted upon rollers or
arranged to be turned about suitable pivots or trunnions, or otherwise arranged so
that it can be moved into and out of the space between the said standards or
supports.
When the said hammers or rolls are to be operated by hand, I sometimes mount the
aforesaid rotary head or wheel on a hollow shaft extending through a suitable bearing
in the corresponding standard or support, and 1 fix upon the said hollow shaft a
toothel wheel with which is geared a pinion arranged to be rotated by hand by a
crank handle or other convenient device.
I employ interchangeable cams for operating the said hammers or rolls in the
rotation thereof about the work, so that the machine may be adapted for welding
objects differing in shape, and for making longitudinal welds or for uniting two pipes
or bars end to end.
The hammers or rolls are acted upon by springs which are compressed by the
cam, and which act, when released, to cause the hammers or rolls to strike the work.
I sometimes arrange the cam and springs in such a manner that the said cam will

page_text: cause the hammers or rolls to press against the metal and effect the welding by
pressure instead of by impact, and the springs will draw back the said hammers or
rolls when released by the cam. In other instances, I dispense with the cam and
so arrange the hammers or rolls and springs that the said springs will constantly
press the hammers or rolls against the metal and will effect the weld by pressure
instead of by impact.
It is obvious that I can substitute for the movable forge above described, a suitable
device or apparatus for heating the work by means of water-gas or any other
suitable gas or other flame, the said device or apparatus being so arranged that it
can be readily moved to and from the work for the purposes above specified.
Moreover, in cases where it is desired to upset the metal at the parts to be welded,
I provide means for adjusting one of the said standards or supports relatively to the
other. If desired, one or more springs can be arranged to act upon this standard
or support, so that it will yield in case of elongation of the work in the process of
welding.
T
It is obvious that, if desired, I can employ three standards or supports on the said
frame or base-plate, the two outer standards being provided with clamps for holding
the work, and the central standard or support carrying the hammers or rolls, being
arranged to move to and fro between the outer standards or supports.
.
For the manufacture of pipes or other objects with longitudinal welds, I provide
the machine with suitable means for feeding the pipe or other objects either con-
tinuously or intermittently first through the heating apparatus and then through the
space between the hammers or rolls. In this manner I provide for very rapidly and
efficiently forming longitudinal welds on either large or small pipes or tubes.
In some instances, I provide the machine with both hammers and rolls for acting
with either simultaneously or alternately upon the parts to be welded, the rolls being
arranged to act upon the work either circumferentially or in a longitudinal
-direction.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton. Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Welding of Metals and to Machinery
or Apparatus therefor.
I, HERBERT ELLSWORTH FOWLER, of 119, Davenport Avenue, New Haven,
Connecticut, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the welding of metals and to machinery or apparatus
therefor.
My said invention is chiefly designed to provide for the welding of metals by a
method or process wherein the parts to be joined are properly placed in contact with
each other and, after being firmily secured in their proper relative position, are first
heated and then subjected to pressure or impact. For this purpose I find it advan-
tageous to first secure the parts in their proper relative position by means of suitable
clamps, and then to heat the parts to be welded by fire or by means of a gas or other
flame, and after they are heated to the required degree, to move the heating
apparatus aside, and then bring into position to operate upon the said parts, without
disturbing the same, suitable hammers or rolls or equivalent devices which will effect
the welding by pressure or by impact.
I can, however, accomplish the desired result by securing the parts to be joined
in suitable clamps arranged to move upon or between rails or guides, so that the
work can be transferred from a stationary heating apparatus to a stationary welding
machinc.

page_text: I also provide for the manufacture of pipes or tubes and other objects with longi-
tudinal welds, by continuously or intermittently feeding the said pipes, tubes or
other objects through the heating apparatus and then through the space between
the hammers or rolls, the latter being arranged to act always upon the parts to be
welded. Either large or small pipes or tubes with longitudinal lap-welds can be
advantageously manufactured in this manner.
My present improvements are, moreover, advantageously applicable to the manu-
facture of pipes and other objects with welded joints such as those described in the
Specification accompanying my Application for Letters Patent No. 3854 filed on the
same day as the present Application, that is to say, welded joints wherein one or both
of the parts to be united are provided with holes so that, in the process of welding,
portions of the metal of the other part will be forced into the said holes, thus effecting
a very strong union of the said parts.
My improved method of welding provides for holding the parts firmly in contact
during the working of the joint and overcomes the tendency to separation due to the
blows or pressure of the welding appliances. In some instances, my improved
apparatus is arranged to permit of forcing together the ends to be welded with such
pressure as to upset the same.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my improved apparate, or machinery
for welding according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation looking from the left of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an end elevation looking from the right of Figure 1, the furnace
hereinafter described being shown in the position it occupies when heating the
work.
Figures 5 and 6 are side and front elevations respectively of the rotating welding
head.
Figures 7 and 8 are front and end elevations respectively of wuding apparatus
wherein a liquid-fuel furnace is employed for heating the work.
Figure 9 is an end elevation having one of the clamping brackets removed.
Figures 10 to 13 show welding appliances constructed according to modifications
of my invention, and
Figure 14 is a side elevation of a further modification of my invention.
Fi
igure 15 is a side elevation.
Figure 16 an end elevation, and
Figure 17 a plan of one form of apparatus constructed accc:ḍing to my invention
for welding pipes longitudinally.
Figure 18 shows a pair of rolls for a special purpose hereinafter described.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 A is a cast iron or other suitable frame or base plate
on one corner of which is mounted a standard B carrying a bracket C which is pro-
rided with suitable adjustable clamping jaws D adapted to firmly hold the parts
intended to be welded by the apparatus. The said jaws are actuated for the
purpose of closing or opening the same by means of a pivoted handle E in which
are formed two eccentric slots e engaging respectively with pins d fixed in or formed
with the said clamping jaws D. One only or both the jaws may be movable as
desired. The clamps shown in the drawings are adapted more especially for holding
pipes and rods. On another corner of the base plate A is mounted a second
standard B' which carries a bracket C' provided with clamping jaws D¹ and a
handle E' for operating the same similar to the aforesaid jawa D and handle E
respectively. The two sets of jaws D, D' are in line with each other. The
standard B also carries a bracket F which is mounted to slide in guide ways o¹
formed in the upper face of the said standard so as to be adjustable between
the two fixed brackets CC. The said bracket F carries a head capable of
rotation and in which suitable hammers for effecting the weld are mounted.
G is the said head consisting of a hollow rectangular casting fixed or formed

page_text: on the end of a hollow shaft G¹ which is mounted to rotate in a bearing in
the bracket F. A large toothed wheel H is fixed on the outer end of the
shaft G and the said wheel gears with a pinion H' fixed on a shaft H* which
is mounted in a bearing in an arm F of the bracket F and is provided with a
crank handle H by which it may be rotated. On turning the said handle H'
the head G is revolved but at a slower speed. Within the said head as shown
more clearly in Figures 5 and 6 are mounted opposite each other two hammers g
having faces of such form as to be adapted to the shape of the joint to be
welded. The said hammers 9 are constructed to slide between the sides of the
head G in a direction radial to the shaft G' and spiral or other springs are
placed between the rear ends of the hammers and the ends of the head for the
purpose of pressing the hammers inwards. In each hammer is fixed a stud y³
which projects through a radial slot Figure 3 formed in the back of the
head G and on each stud is mounted an anti-friction roller gt. I is a stationary
cam wheel or disc fixed upon the bracket F so as to be concentric with the
shaft G and the rim or surface of the said cam which has a series of gentle
rises and sudden depressions resembling a coarse toothed ratchet wheel engages
with the aforesaid rollers . The operation of this part of my apparatus is
as follows when the handle H is actuated and the hammer head & thereby
rotated the rollers are carried over the surface of the cam disc and arc
alternately moved radially outwards thereby compressing the springs g² and then
suddenly released as cach tooth of the cam passes underneath the said rollers.
When the hammers are thus released the springs g' operate to drive the same
inwards and effect the desired blow. The number of blows given by each
hammer in one revolution of the head G corresponds to the number of teeth.on
the cam disc.
Between the two standards B B' is placed a portable forge J provided with
wheels and mounted on transverse rails j. The said forge can be brought
between the brackets C C¹ in direct line with the clamping jaws DD' and can
be moved to one side out of the way of the work to "permit of the welding
taking place. The forge is of any suitable construction and shape the rectan-
gular form shown being preferred. Near its upper end and on each side wall
thereof the said forge is provided with bearings or supports for the work, while
the latter is being heated, consisting of a pair of plates K K hinged at k k¹
respectively and which are notched at k on the adjoining faces to form a
bearing for the work. The two front plates K are provided with a common
handle for raising the same to permit of moving the forge without disturbing
the work. A projection is provided on each side of the forge to support the
plates K' when closed. Moreover an opening J is formed in the two side walls
of the forge, and a door J' is provided hinged at J* to the front wall of the
furnace. The said door is maintained closed when required by the aforesaid
haudle. It is obvious from this construction that when the two plates K'
are turned upwards about their pivots thus uncovering the side openings J
and the door J lowered about its hinge J the forge may be moved backwards
and away from the parts to be welded that have been heated therein leaving
the said parts supported entirely by the clamping jaws D D¹. After the said
parts to be welded have been heated in the forge and the latter then moved
clear of the work as above described the bracket F with the head G may be
slid along the work until the hammers are brought over the part to be
welded and by operating the handle H³ the said hammers are actuated and the
weld is effected.
Jis the blow pipe of the furnace and J the chimney.
In the use of my apparatus for welding together lengths or sections of pipes
for example one of the sections of the said pipes may first be inserted a short
distance into the other to hold them in line they are then passed through the
hollow shaft G' of the hammering device and their ends are made fast in the
clamps. The door J' of the forge is then opened and the said forge drawn

page_text: forward on its rails until the joint in the pipe is in or over the fire, when the
door and hinged plates are closed and secured as above described and shown in
the drawings, and the heat of the fire increased by blowing. As soon as the
metal has been brought to a welding heat, the furnace is run back out of the
way and the hammering appliance moved endwise until the joint is between
the opposing faces of the hammers, which latter are then operated to effect
the weld. In some instances one or both of the clamp standards is or are made
adjustable and provided with any suitable means for moving the same in order
to upset the ends of the parts after they are brought to welding heat. The-
upsetting may however be accomplished in other well known ways. If desired
one or more springs may be arranged to act upon this standard or support so
that it will yield in case of elongation of the work in the process of welding.
In Figures 7 to 13 inclusive I have shown a modified construction of furnace.
and welding appliance the former adapted for burning liquid fuel. The
brackets CC carrying the clamping jaws D are mounted on a bed or base plate A'
supported upon a pedestral A and the upper jaw of the clamp which in this
case is the movable jaw is operated by a screw provided with a hand wheel /
for turning the same.
The furnace is adapted for burning oil or gas and comprises a burner head L
supported on a swinging arın L which is journaled in a frame formed by the-
branches L, L of a pipe through which fluid fuel is supplied and which branches.
are supported by braces M from the bed plate A. The fluid is delivered by the
branches L, L to small pipes L³, which deliver at opposite sides of the pipe,
bar or other article to be welded. The burner head is recessed at L for the
admission of the pipe or other article to be welded, the said recess or opening being
closed when the said pipe or other article is in position by a hinged plate.
In this modification the welding is effected by pressure only and not by impact.
In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown a welding head adapted for working the joint
on flat bars. The said head comprises a pulley N provided with four blocks or
jaws n mounted to slide in radial slots formed in the said pulley. Each block
carries a roller n mounted to rotate in a plane, at right angles to the plane of the
head N. Each block morcover is provided with an adjusting screw ³. The said
head is provided with any suitable means for reciprocating the same laterally, i.e. in
the direction of the length of the work and when the pulley N is thus reciprocated,
the rollers n' work the joint longitudinally and effect the weld.
In Figures 12 and 13 the rollers n' are mounted in a plane parallel to the side of
the head N and the latter is rotated about the work by the application of a belt
or suitable gearing to its rim. The positions of the blocks n are adjusted towards
and from the axis of the head N by means of the screws n³ to adapt them to pipes
or bars of different diameters.
Figure 14 shows another modification of my invention wherein I provide for
moving the work after it has been heated from the furnace to the welding appliances,
the said furnace and welding appliances being stationary.
O is the stationary furnace which is adapted for burning liquid fuel, but may be an
ordinary forge. The said furnace is supported by legs O¹ and its side walls are grooved
at O to permit of the introduction and removal of the work as above described.
P is the welding appliance comprising a standard P¹ provided with a crank or
eccentric shaft P and a pair of blocks or dies p' the surfaces of which are
adapted to the shape of the work to be welded. The lower dic is stationary during
welding and the upper die is reciprocated in suitable guides formed in the
standard P by the crauk or eccentric shaft P' with which it is coupled by a
suitable connecting arm. The said shaft P' may be driven by power or by hand.
The standard P¹ has a curved base and is mounted to turn or swing in an arc-
shaped foundation block Q to allow of the dies acting upon the work in different
directions while the latter remains stationary.
The work to be welded is secured in screw-clamps D which are mounted to
slide on guide ways R provided on each side the furnace and welding press,

page_text: each said clamp having a projecting handle d by which it may be moved
backwards and forwards on the said guide-ways. The guide ways are not
secured to the standard P but are supported on each side thereof in any
suitable manner so as not to interfere with the turning movement of the standard
on its bed for the purpose above specified. To allow of the introduction between
the dies of the parts to be welded I arrange that the lower die block P shall be
supported by a wedge shaped block which may be moved in or out and the
said die thereby raised or lowered. The die is guided in its vertical movement
by suitable guide ways. is a screw-threaded rod passing through a nut fixed
in the standard P₁ or through an equivalent screw threaded portion of the said |
standard and attached to the wedge in any manner that permits of a free
rotary motion thereof. The said screw is provided with a hand wheel by
which it may be rotated for the purpose of operating the wedge and raising
or lowering the die p.
The working of this apparatus is as follows:-The parts to be welded are
secured in the clamps D and the latter are then moved on the guide ways R to
bring the said parts within the furnace O. As soon as the welding hent is attained
the work is withdrawn from the furnace and moved between the dies p², the
former having previously been lowered by withdrawing the wedge p². The said
wedge is then pushed forward again to raise the lower die until it forms a support
for the work, and the upper die is then actuated to effect the weld by rotating the
crank shaft .
This apparatus is specially applicable for welding small articles which can be
moved easily from the furnace to the welding machine.
It is obvious-that I may modify the construction of my apparatus in detail
without departing from the nature of my invention. For instance may-arrange
that the welding head hereinbefore described shall be driven by power instead
of by hand, any suitable gear for this purpose being substituted for the hand
gear above described. I may moreover employ rollers instead of haminers in
the welding head, and provide interchangeable cams for operating the said
hammers or rolls in the rotation thereof about the work to provide for welding
objects of various shapes. Further I may arrange that the springs g² and cam
shall act in the reverse direction, that is to say, the cam may be arranged to
press the hammers or rolls against the metal, and effect the welding by pressure
instead of by impact, and the springs to draw back the said hammers or rolls
when released by the cam. Or I may dispense with the cam and so arrange
the hammers or rolls and springs that the said springs will constantly press
the hammers or rolls against the metal and will effect the weld by pressure only.
In some instances I provide the machine with both hammers and rolls for acting
either intermittently or alternately upon the parts to be welded.
Moreover I may modify the construction of the apparatus in many ways that are
obvious; for instance I can use a drop or trip hammer for effecting the welding
instead of the apparatus above described.
In some instances I use a drop or trip hammer or a press similar to that shown in
Figure 14 in lieu of the rotary hammers shown in Figure 1.
For the manufacture of pipes with longitudinal welds, I provide the machine
with suitable means for feeding the pipe either continuously or intermittently first
through the heating apparatus and then through the space between the hammers or
rolls. In this manner I provide for very rapidly and efficiently forming longitudinal
welds on either large or small pipes or tubes.
Referring to Figures 15 to 17 which illustrate this part of my invention A is a
bed plate or frame near each end of which is mounted in suitable bearings provided
for the purpose a pair of rolls S. Each roll is formed with a semi-circular circum-
ferential groove in its periphery which adapts it to fit the pipe to be welded and
enables the said rolls to be used efficiently as feed rolls for feeding the pipe through
the furnace and welding appliance. The two rolls of each pair are geared together
by gear wheels S¹. The axle of each upper roll is carried in bearing blocks s which

page_text: are constructed to slide vertically between suitable guides formed in the frame A,
and adjusting screws having hand wheels are provided to press on the said
bearing blocks for the purpose of forcing the rolls together and giving the required
grip on the pipe. t is a pulley fixed on the axle of one of the upper rolls and t¹
is a driving belt by which the rolls are driven. The second pair of rolls may be
driven from the axle of the first pair by means of a chain working on chain
pulleys keyed on the respective axles, or the second pair of rolls may be driven
by an independent belt in which case the chain may or may not be dispensed
with. I is a furnace and Na welding head, mounted between and in line with the
two pairs of feed rolls S, and which are constructed and operate substantially as
above described and illustrated in Figures 7 to 9. It is obvious, however, that any
of the above described forms of furuace and welding appliance may be employed
in combination with the feed rolls S for the purpose of welding pipes longitudinally.
Tis an additional guide for guiding the pipe while passing through the furnace.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: The pipe to be welded
longitudinally having been placed between the rear pair of feed rolls S and
pressure applied by the screws s¹ so as to cause the rolls to nip the pipe, the said
pipe will then be fed forward by the rotation of the rolls and will be caused to
pass through the furnace L and the welding head N which respectively heat and
weld the joint. As soon as the forward end of the pipe enters the forward pair of
feed rolls these also nip the said pipe and assist in drawing it forward through the
furnace and welding head. It is obvious that the feed-rolls may be driven at any
desired speed in accordance with the requirements of the work. When desire to
feed the pipe intermittently I may use feed rolls having circumferential grooves of
varying section as shown in Figure 18. The smallest part of the groove is adapted
to fit the pipe while the larger part of the groove is larger than the pipe and will
not grip the same, and the two rolls of each pair are set so that the smaller parts of
the grooves come together when rotating. With this construction the pipe is only
gripped for a brief interval and fed forward a short distance at the moment the
small parts of the grooves come together and then remains stationary until the rolls
complete a revolution and the small parts of the groove come together again when
another short feed is effected. In this manner an intermittent feed of the pipe
through the furnace and welding head is obtained. I may effect the same result by
employing segmental feed rolls that is to say, rolls in which the groove extends
around a portion only of the circumference of the coils and the remainder of the
circumference is of smaller diameter so as not to engage with the pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I
claim-
First. The herein described method of welding metals without the aid of
electricity, wherein the operations of heating the parts to be joined and subjecting
the same to pressure or impact, are successively performed while the said parts are
securely held in contact with each other in their proper relative positions, as above
specified.
Second. The improved method of welding metals, consisting in heating the parts
to be united while the same are held in contact with each other, then moving the
heating apparatus aside, and then bringing into position to operate upon the said
parts, suitable hammers or rolls or equivalent devices, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Third. The combination, with suitable clamps for holding the parts to be welded,
of a welding machine or head arranged to be moved to and fro between the said
clamps substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Fourth. The combination, with suitable clamps for holding the parts to be welded,
of a furnace or other heating apparatus adapted to be moved to and from the work,
and a welding machine or head also adapted to be moved to and from the work, for
the purposes above specified.

page_text: Fifth. The combination, with suitable clamps for holding the parts to be welded,
of a welding machine or head which is movable to and fro between the said clamps,
and a furnace or other heating apparatus which is movable to and fro in a
direction at right angles, or approximately at right angles to that of the move-
ment of the said welding machine or head, substantially as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Sixth. The improved furnace or forge constructed with the openings or slots in
the walls thereof and adapted to be moved to and fro upon rails or slides, substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings,
for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The improved heating apparatus constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, for the purpose
specified.
Eighth. The improved welding machine or head constructed substantially as
described and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 or in Figures 10 to 13 of the accompanying
drawings, for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The modification of my invention wherein 1 so arrange the clamps that
they may be moved with the work from the furnace or other heating apparatus to
the welding machine, for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The improved method of making a longitudinal weld, in the manufacture
of a pipe, tube or other object, consisting in feeding the said pipe or other
object, either continuously or intermittently, first through a heating apparatus and
then through a space between suitable hammers, rolls or equivalent devices for
welding by pressure or by impact, substantially as hereinbefore described.
-
Eleventh: The-combination of the furnace or other suitable heating apparatus,
the welding machine or head, and the means for feeling a pipe or other-object
continuously or intermittently through the said heating apparatus and the
welding machine or head, substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.--
Twelfth. The improved apparatus comprising the clamp for holding the work,
the heating apparatus, and the welding machine or head, constructed and com-
bined substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifications
shown in the accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.