A NEW OR IMPROVED ELASTIC AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Webster, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED ELASTIC
AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME."
MEMARIO TURE
Sealed the 30th September 1856, and dated the 5th April 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Webster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th April 1856.
I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
ELASTIC METALLIC TUBE, AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME," to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists of a tube made of brass, copper, or other metal or
alloy, in which a series of corrugations are made in planes perpendicular to
the axis of the tube. I do not limit myself to any precise figure in the said
corrugations, but I prefer to make them as deep as is compatible with the
nature of the metal or alloy of which the tube is made, and so narrow that
the shoulders between the corrugations shall touch each other on slight
flexure of the tube. I make the said tube by putting an ordinary cylindrical
tube into a lathe or other machine, by which a rapid rotatory motion can be
given to it. A series of rolls are made to bear against the rotating tube, and

page_text: form a series of depressions thereon; the depressions are deepened by the
I prefer to use three sets of similar rolls at the same time, the
axes of the said rolls being parallel with the axis of the tubes, and situated at
three equidistant points around the tube. The said tube is thus supported on
all sides during the formation of the corrugations, and only requires to be
connected at one end with the mechanism which gives the rotatory motion. The
tube shortens as the corrugations are deepened, and the rolls slide upon their
axes to follow the corrugations in which they are working. Tubes made
according to my Invention are elastic both longitudinally and transversely,
that is to say, they are capable of elongation and flexure within certain limits
without taking a set. Tubes made according to my Invention are suitable for
effecting the junction of pipes exposed to variable temperatures, and otherwiso
strained or required to bend, as in couplings of locomotives with their tenders,
hose for fire engines, and other like purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give. and grant unto me, the said
James Webster, Her special licence that I, the said James Webster, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Webster, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,. exercise, and
vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED ELASTIC
METALLIC TUBE, AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME," upon the
condition, (amongst others,) that I, the said James Webster, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Webster, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:-
"
V My Invention consist, firstly, of a tube made of brass, copper, or other
metal or alloy, in which a series of corrugations are made in planes per-
pendicular to the axis of the tube. The said corrugations give elasticity to
the said tube, and permit of its flexure within certain limits. I do not confine
myself to any particular figure of the said corrugations, but I prefer to make
them as deep as is compatible with the nature of the metal or alloy of which
the tube is made, and so narrow that the shoulders between the corrugations
shall touch each other on slight flexure of the tube.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the stages through which a plain or cylindrical
tube passes in being converted into my improved elastic tube. The plain or
cylindrical tube is first impressed or corrugated, in the manner represented in
Figure 1. The corrugations are afterwards deepened, as represented in Figuro
2, and the tube is further compressed longitudinally, and the corrugations still
further deepened, as represented in Figure 3. When the tube is only to be
subjected to slight flexure it may be left in the state represented in Figure 1.
Where greater elasticity is required, the deepening and narrowing of the
corrugations may be carried to either of the stages represented in Figures 2
and 8.
I manufacture the elastic tube, Figures 1, 2, and 3, by means of the
machinery represented in side elevation in Figure 4, and in transverse section
in Figure 5. The said machinery constitutes the second part of my Invention.
A piece of ordinary cylindrical tubing a is fixed at one end to the sliding shaft
or axis b, and at its other end to the axis of the lathe head c.
The manner
of attaching the tube is as follows:-d is a conical plug affixed to the end of
the axis b; the plug d is forced into the end of the tube a, and the collar e is
screwed upon the plug d, as represented, the end of the tube a is thereby
grasped firmly between d and e; that end of the tube which is fixed to tho
axis c is secured in a similar manner. A series of rolls f, f, f, are placed
loosely upon axes, the said axes being supported on the arms g, g, h, and i.
The arms g, g, and h are jointed to the bed of the machine, and the arm i is
jointed to the lever k on the axis l. m is a cross piece on the axis 1, to the
vertical arms of which the arms g, g, and h are respectively connected by

page_text: I
links n, o; p is an arm or lever fixed on the axis ; q, q, are coiled springs,
which acting upon the arm or lever k depress the said arm or lever k, and by
producing partial rotation of the axis 7 cause the separation of the rolls f, f, f.
By pressing upon the arm or lover p the said rolls f, f, f, are made to press
at equidistant points upon the tube a. A piece of plain tube being fixed in
the machine, a rapid rotatory motion is given to the said tube, and the lever p
depressed, so as to bring the rolls f, f, f, to bear against the said tube a.
first use rolls f. f. f, of a form suitable to produce depressions similar to those
represented in Figure 1; I afterwards deepen the depressions by the use of
rolls narrower than those previously employed, which said rolls I place upon
the axes f, f', f. Although I prefer to use three sets of rolls, acting simul-
taneously and at equidistant points upon the tube a, yet two, four, or other
number of sets of rolls may be employed. As the corrugations are formed
and deepened, the tube a shortens, and the axis 6 slides in its bearing, so that
it may follow the tube in its contraction. r is a helical or coiled spring, which,
bearing against the cone d, presses the said cone and axis 6 in the direction in
which the tube contracts. The rolls f, f, f, besides rotating upon their axes,
are capable of sliding thereon, so as to follow the corrugations, in which they
work, as the said corrugations approach nearer to each other. Instead of rolls
f, f, f, burnishers or fixed pressing tools may be employed to press upon the
tube and form the depressions therein; I prefer, however, the use of rolls as
described. Tubes made according to my Invention are elastic both longi-
tudinally and transversely, that is to say, they are capable of elongation and
flexure, within certain limits, without taking a set. Tubes made according
to my Invention are suitable for effecting the junctions of pipes exposed to
variable temperatures, or otherwise strained or required to bend, as in the
couplings of locomotives with their tenders, hose for fire engines, and other like
purposes.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and represented, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention; but I
claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the new or improved elastic metallic tube, herein-before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, a metallic tube
having depressions or corrugations in planes at right angles to the axis of the
said tube.
Secondly, the method of making my new or improved elastic tube, hercin-
before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is to say,

page_text: by the use of machinery in which rolls or fixed burnishers or pressing tools are
made to bear upon and indent a rotating metallic tube.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Webster, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JAMES WEBSTER. (L.S.)