Improved Means applicable for use in Forming End-flanges on Soft Metal Pipes or Tubes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL DIEVITICATION.
Improved Means applicable for use in Forming End-flanges on Soft
Metal Pipes or Tubes.
I, SAMUEL LEENDERT HUIZER, of 180, Riouwstraat, The Hague, in the King-
dom of Holland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
-
This invention relates to an improved device or plier-like tool for use in
forming the coupling flanges at the extremities of soft metal tubes or pipes, an
accurate and tight joint being secured.
Pipes of the kind referred to are usually connected with each other, or with
mains, by means of sockets. T-joints or the like, the flanged ends of the pipes
being tightened in the joint by means of screw-nuts placed over the adjoining
pipe-ends. The ends of the pipes have flat flanges soldered to them, with which
the nut surrounding the pipe is pressed into contact, so that, in its turn, it presses
the said flanges firmly against the seating in the socket.
By the employment of the improved device the operation of soldering a flange
to the pipe-end may be avoided, the flange being formed from the metal of the
pipe.
According to my invention, the device is in the form of pliers, and comprises
a pair of jaws in the adjacent faces whereof are provided a series of semi-circular
or semi-cylindrical grooves which vary in diameter according to the different
sizes of pipes with which the pliers are intended to be used, the grooves, when
the jaws are in the closed position, coinciding and forming apertures of true
cylindrical bore wherein the pipe or tube end may be firmly held while being
operated upon. The surfaces of the grooves may be screw-threaded or serrated
so as to afford a better gripping surface. The grooves are countersunk at the
upper end. One of the jaws carries a plate which is supported at one end by
the pivot or hinge pin and at the other end by a stud in the said jaw. This plate
is provided with as many tapped holes as there are grooves in the jaws, the holes
and the grooves being in alignment when the jaws are closed. Each hole is
adapted to receive the shank of a conical ended screw fitted at the outer end with
a suitable handle for turning the same.
In using the device, the usual screw-nut is first passed over the end of a pipe
or tube which is then placed between a pair of semicircular grooves in such a
position that its edge is flush with the sides of the jaws, its end being made
level if requisite by means of a file. The screw-shank is then screwed down so
as to enter the bore of the pipe; the conical or taper end of said screw acting as
a mandrel to open out the pipe-end until the latter fits snugly against the counter-
sunk portions of the grooves. Thus the pipe-end is opened out to form a conical
enlargement which serves the purpose of a coupling flange.

page_text: If desired, the handles of the pliers may be provided with means for holding
them in the closed position.
On completing the above operation, the opening-out screw is withdrawn from
the pipe-end, and the latter released from the pliers..
The pipe-end is then inserted into the opening for its reception in the coupling
whereof the bore is equal to that of the pipe. The screw-nut is screwed into the
coupling whereby the conical flange on the pipe-end is flattened so that a per-
fectly tight joint is effected between the pipe-end and the inner end of the opening
in the coupling.
For pipes of small diameter, made of copper or other soft metal, no further
tightening or packing medium is necessary; but, for pipes of a comparatively large
diameter and made of harder metal, a packing ring of lead or any other suitable
material is preferably placed upon the joint-surface of the pipe-coupling. In
the latter case the tightening nut is not required to be screwed home quite so
tightly.
To disconnect the parts all that is necessary is to release the tightening nut.
The flange at the pipe-end may either be used afresh in forming another joint, or
be cut off; a new flange being formed when required as hereinbefore described.
Improved Means applicable for use in Forming End-flanges on Soft
Metal Pipes or Tubes.
I, SAMUEL LEENDERT HUIZER, of 180, Riouwstraat, The Hague, in the King-
dom of Holland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved device or plier-like tool for use in expand-
ing the extremity of a soft metal tube or pipe, for the purpose of forming a flange
or lip, whereby an accurate and tight joint is secured with the extremity of a
.correspondingly formed pipe or with the aid of T or other joints.
Pipes of the kind referred to are usually connected with each other, or with
mains, by means of sockets, T-joints or the like, the flanged or flared ends of the
pipes being tightened in the joint by means of screw-nuts placed over the pipe-
ends to be joined or connected. The ends of the pipes have flat flanges soldered
to them, with which the nut surrounding the pipe is pressed into contact, so that,
in its turn, it presses the said flanges firmly against the seating in the socket,
T-joint or the like.
By the employment of the improved device the operation of soldering a flange
to the pipe-end may be avoided, the flange being formed from the metal of the
pipe.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the device,
showing a pipe or tube whereof the end-flange is in course of formation. Fig. 2
is a corresponding plan. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views partly in section and partly

page_text: in elevation illustrating pipes having end-flanges formed according to my inven-
tion and placed in T-joints.
A device for opening out or flaring the ends of soft metal pipes or tubes con-
structed according to my invention is in the form of pliers, and comprises a pair
of jaws B B respectively furnished with handles A A. In the adjacent faces
of the jaws are provided a series of semi-circular or semi-cylindrical grooves,
n, n, which vary in diameter, according to the different sizes of pipes with which
the pliers are intended to be used, the grooves when the jaws are in the closed
position, coinciding and forming apertures of true cylindrical bore wherein the
pipe- or tube-end may be firmly held while being operated upon. The surfaces
of the grooves may be screw-threaded or serrated so as to afford a better gripping
surface. The grooves are countersunk at their upper end as indicated at
plate P is supported at one end by the pivot or hinge-pin a and at the other end
by a stud b in the jaw B. This plate is provided with as many tapped holes o,
o, 03, as there are grooves in the jaws, the holes and the coinciding grooves being
in alignment when the jaws are closed. Each hole is adapted to receive the shank
of a conical ended screw or expanding tool D fitted at the outer end with a suitable
handle E for turning the same.
A
Before expanding the pipe- or tube-end, the usual screw nut M is passed over
the end of the pipe or tube which is then placed between a pair of semi-circular
grooves in such a position that its end is flush with the sides of the jaws (Fig. 1).
The said end may be made level, if requisite, by means of a file. The expanding
tool D is then screwed down so as to enter the bore of the pipe; the conical or
taper end C acting as a mandrel to expand or open out the pipe-end until the
latter fits snugly against the countersunk portions of the grooves. Thus the
pipe-end is opened out to form a conical enlargement which serves the purpose
of a flange.
If desired, the handles A A¹ of the pliers may be provided with means for
holding them in the closed position.
On completing the above operation, the expanding or opening-out tool D is
screwed back or withdrawn from the pipe-end, and the latter released from the
pliers.
The pipe-end R, having the nut M thereon, is then inserted in the opening for
its reception in the socket or joint K whereof the bore d is equal to that of the
pipe (see Fig. 5), and the screw-nut M is screwed into the coupling (Fig. 4);
the conical flange f formed by the expanded portion on the pipe-end being
hereby flattened against the seating in the socket or joint and a perfectly tight
joint effected.
For pipes of small diameter, made of copper or other soft metal, no additional
tightening or packing medium is necessary; but, for pipes of a comparatively
large diameter and made of harder metal, a packing ring r of lead or any other
suitable material is preferably placed against the seating or joint-surface in the
socket or joint (Fig. 3). In this case, the nut M is not required to be screwed
home quite so tightly it being unnecessary that the flange or lip f should be
completely flattened against the said lead ring.
To disconnect the pipe, it is simply necessary to release the nut M. The flange
at the pipe-end may either be used again in forming another joint, or be cut off;
a new flange being formed when required. as herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim: --
The herein described means for flanging soft metal pipes or tubes, comprising
a plier-like device, in the opposed faces of the jaws whereof are formed semi-
circular grooves wherein the pipe- or tube-end is held, the upper extremities of
the said grooves being countersunk, and a screwed stem working through a guide-

page_text: plate and adapted to enter the extremity of the pipe whilst the latter is held in
position in the countersunk grooves of the plier-jaws, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 18th day of April 1899.
Won the Aunlicant
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.