Improved Method of and Apparatus for Forming Flanges on Tubes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Forming Flanges on Tubes.
I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM BARTHELS, of No. 4, Neumannstrasse, Hamburg I, in
the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for forming flanges on
tubes as will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, in which
Figure 1 shows the apparatus with a tube mounted therein.
Figures 2 to 6 show the successive steps in the formation of the flange.
Figures 7 and 8 show the formation of conical or tapering flanges.
Figure 9 shows a modified flange-forming apparatus to that shown in Figure 1.
This invention is mainly applicable to copper tubes for steam connections.
In the tube a is mounted a flange-forming apparatus constructed of steel. This
apparatus comprises a core 6 of the same diameter as the interior of the tube and
of a length to suit the tube.
C
The core b is at its front end provided with a collar c and a head d. Where the
core 6 joins the collar c it is formed with a slightly rounded portion e as shown.
Attached to the core is a rod f with a screw-threaded portion fitted with a
screw-nut g at its outer end and with a cap h which closes the end of the tube a;
the arrangement being such that by tightening the nut y upon the cap h the
tube a will be forced against the collar c, while by striking the head d the end
of the tube is forced over the widened base e of the core.
As the core b is red-hot when introduced into the tube a while the tube is
heated on the exterior by means of a blow-pipe flame it will be evident that the
tube must necessarily be compressed or become thickened and also bulge out at
this end as shown in Figure 2.
By now hammering this part of the tube back against the core, the material
is thickened as shown at Figure 3.
The heating is repeated and the blows on the head d, while simultaneously
tightening the screw-nut g, are continued so as to further compress the material
until the flange is completely formed in the matrix constituted by the collar and
its flange c as shown in Figure 6.
Figures 7 to 9 show a modified flange forming apparatus in which, with the
object of forming conical or tapering flanges, the curvature e at the base of the
cord is omitted. The flange is then hammered into the sharp edge of the collar
so as to assume a form as shown in Figure 8.
By this method of compressing the flange is of thicker material than the tube.
Figure 8 shows a finished flange and the compression of material at that part
while at the same time showing how the thickness at a¹ gradually disappears into
the original thickness of the tube.
As the flange is subject to more stress in the bend, care must be taken to render
this part sufficiently strong and safe and this is provided for by the present
nethod.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A method of and apparatus for forming flanges on tubes by compression, char-
acterized by the fact that the tube-end to be formed with a flange is placed upon
a hot mandrel 6 as far as the collar c thereof while the tube is held between the
collar c and an adjustable screw-nut g upon a rod f forming an extension of the
mandrel and whereby with the simultaneous heating of the tube-end being flanged,
hammering against the head d of the mandrel and tightening of the screw-nut g
the material is compressed and then with the aid of a hammer repeatedly
straightened, bulged and compressed until a flange with thickened walls has been
formed against or in the collar c.
11:
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.