Improvements in Bottles or Holders for the Storage and Conveyance of Quicksilver, Gas, and other Fluids under High Pressure, and in the Method of Manufacture thereof.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1891
'omplete Specification Left. 9th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles or Holders for the Storage and Conveyance
of Quicksilver, Gas, and other Fluids under High Pressure, and
in the Method of Manufacture thereof.
We, JOHN BROTHERTON, of The Woodlands, Penn, near Wolverhampton in
the County of Stafford, Tube Manufacturer, and WILLIAM GRIFFITH of Wharn-
cliffe Chambers, Sheffield in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to bottles or holders for the storage and conveyance of
quicksilver and of gases under very high pressure, and to bottles or holders
generally employed in the storage and conveyance of fluids under high pressure;
and has for its object to construct such bottles in forms which will render them
better able than heretofore to resist the extreme pressure to which they are
subjected and which will render them more convenient in use, and to improve the
method of manufacture in a manner which ensures the secure attachment of the
ends, and avoids the liability, incidental to such bottles constructed in the ordinary
manner, of having their ends blown out.
A bottle constructed according to this invention, for any of the purposes
described, has the body first formed as a cylindrical tube of iron or steel. The
ends of this tube are heated in any suitable furnace or fire, preferably in a hollow
fire, and are tapered down in suitable swaging tools so that the extreme ends shall
be of a less diameter than the main portion of the tube. The mouth, however, at
each end is formed slightly open, or bell-mouthed; and this is accomplished by
closing the outer end of each length of taper on to a mandril which tapers in the
opposite direction. Each end of the tube is closed in by means of a plug of iron or
steel which is formed taper to fit within the bell-mouth on the corresponding end
of the body, and with a groove or sinking around it, preferably near to its outer
edge; and each plug is fixed by first placing it within the corresponding bell-
mouth of the body, then slightly riveting or bulging in the outer end of the tube
into the groove or sinking of the plug sufficiently to hold the plug firmly in place
until welded in, and finally heating the plug and end of the tube and welding them
together. The reduction of the ends of the tube causes the plugs to be, of course,
of smaller diameter than plugs which are welded into the full diameter of the
tube, and the pressure tending to blow out the ends is thus greatly reduced. The
groove or sinking around each plug answers the purpose not only of affording con-
venient means of holding the plugs in the ends of the tube until they have been
welded up, but enables also a much stronger joint to be formed, by reason of the
metal of the tube entering partially within the groove or recess and thus acting as
a key in addition to the hold given by the welding.
The plug forming the bottom is, preferably, formed with a fillet or projecting
margin around the outer edge at the back, so as to ensure that it shall have a level
bearing when placed on end; and the inner face of this plug is hollowed out by
means of an annular channel of a curved shape in cross section, which leaves a flat
surface around it and forms a projection in the centre. This formation of the plug
answers the purpose of lightening out the solid metal, and facilitates the heating of
the plug when placed within the end of the tube, and enables the end or plug to
more advantageously resist the internal pressure than if made flat across its inner
face.
The plug forming the top is shaped with an outward extension forming the
bottle neck, and has a hole through its centre which is internally screwed to receive
the valve and seat and the nozzle or other connection through which the charge is

page_text: supplied and allowed to discharge. The exterior of the neck is screwed for
convenience in making the necessary connection for testing, and for securing a
screw cap to cover the hole. The interior face of this plug is hollowed out to a
dome-shape, leaving a flat ring around it at the inner face. This formation
lightens out the plug, and enables it to be readily heated for welding, and adapts it.
to more advantageously resist the internal pressure than if made flat across.
4
Dated this 8th day of December 1891.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles or Holders for the Storage and Conveyance
of Quicksilver, Gas, and other Fluids under High Pressure, and
in the Method of Manufacture thereof.
We JOHN BROTHERTON of The Woodlands, Penn, near Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Tube Manufacturer and WILLIAM GRIFFITH of Wharn-
cliffe Chambers, Sheffield in the County of York, Steel 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 refers to bottles or holders for the storage and conveyance of
quicksilver and of gases under very high pressure, and to bottles or holders, generally,
employed in the storage and conveyance of fluids under high pressure, and has for
its object to construct such bottles in forms which will render them better able
than heretofore to resist the pressure to which they are subjected and which will
render them more convenient in use, and to improve the method of manufacture in
a manner which ensures the secure attachment of the ends, and avoids the
liability, incidental to such bottles constructed in the ordinary manner, of having
their ends blown out.
Hitherto it has been usual, when such bottles or holders are required to be
capable of standing on end upright, to construct them of the same diameter at the
bottom as along the main length, and to close such end by welding therein a plug
of metal, and to shoulder down the upper end to a smaller diameter and weld
therein a plain socket which is subsequently screwed internally to receive the valve
box, the part of reduced diameter into which it is welded being, subsequently to
such welding, screwed internally for the usual attachment for testing and to receive
the usual cap to protect the valve. The large diameter of the bottom exposes it to
a very severe strain from the internal pressure, and the difficulty of welding in the
plug renders the operation liable to be imperfectly performed, and causes conse-
quently frequent failures of the bottles in use. The operation of shouldering down
the upper eud of the bottle is an inconvenient and expensive one, and causes a
severe strain in the metal which frequently develops flaws therein. These flaws
render the bottle unfit for use, or if undetected lead to its failure. Moreover, the
shape of the upper end of the bottle, combined with its large diameter constitutes
an element of weakness. In some cases the bottom is formed dome-ended by
turning in the metal of the tube and welding a small plug in the crown, but it is
very difficult to weld the plug securely, and an end formed in this manner is
expensive in manufacture and liable to give way under pressure; and of course the
bottle cannot in such case be stood on end.
Now, the main purpose of this invention, is to obviate the inconveniences above
referred to, and this is accomplished by gradually reducing the diameter of the
length of tube from which the bottle is to be formed at both ends, preferably to the
same degree at each end, by simply tapering down such ends in suitable tools, and
then welding into each end a plug which has a groove formed around its periphery
into which the metal of the tube is forced and within which it holds, thus acting as

page_text: a key, in addition to the hold given by the welding. The plug in the top of the
tube is formed with an upward extension which constitutes the bottle neck, and this
combined plug and neck has a suitable passage formed therethrough for charging
and discharging the bottle. The neck is subsequently screwed, as usual, internally
to receive the valve box, and externally for the usual attachment in testing, and to
receive the usual cap to protect the valve. The invention comprises, also, further
improvements which will be described hereinafter.
In order that the invention may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which
Figure shews, in longitudinal section, a plain tube (broken in length, for
convenience of illustration) from which the tubular portion of the bottle or holder
is to be formed.
'
Figure 2 shews, in longitudinal section, one end of such tub as the operation of
tapering it down to a reduced diameter is being completed in a pair of tools, and
a suitable bell-mouth given thereto, by the aid of a mandril, to receive the plug by
which it is to be closed in.
Figure 3 shews, in longitudinal section, the combined plug and neck inserted into
a reduced end of the tube, previously to being welded therein.
Figure 3 shews a detached view of such combined plug and neck with a modified
form of groove therearound.
Figure 4 shews, in transverse section, the plug which is to be welded into the
other end of the tube.
Figure 5 shews, in longitudinal section, the tube with the plugs welded into its
ends, and the top end being finished in a pair of finishing tools. And
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the upper end of the bottle or holder, with the
valve box and cap in place.
:
The same letters of reference, wherever occurring, indicate the same parts.
The tube A, Figure 1, has each end tapered down to a reduced diameter in a
pair of swaging tools B, Figure 2, which may be carried in any suitable stamp or
press after the manner of other swaging and forging tools. The depressions or
operative parts of these tools are, of course, each formed as a portion of the inner
surface of a hollow cone. The tube is pushed gradually in between these tools,
and is turned between each operation of the top or moving tool. When the
tapering of an end is nearly completed, a slightly tapering mandril C is inserted
therein and is held therein while the tapering of the tube end is completed; and
thus the interior of the extreme end of the tube is formed slightly bell-mouthed
or open. The ends of the tube are, of course, heated in any suitable furnace,
preferably in a hollow fire, for being tapered down by the tools.
The next operation (which may be performed either when one end only of the
tube has been tapered down, or after both ends have been so treated) is to form
the top of the bottle or holder. This is effected by the use of a combined plug and
neck D, Figure 3, which is formed with a part b constituting the plug or part
which is inserted into and welded in the tapered end of the tube A, and with a
part c of reduced diameter which forms the neck. The inner face of the combined
plug and neck D is hollowed out, as shewn at d, to a hemispherical, or nearly hemi-
spherical, or analogous form. This formation of the inner face of the combined
plug and neck lightens out the body of the metal, and enables it and the end of the
tube, when placed together as hereinafter described, to be readily heated for
welding together without any part becoming overheated or burnt, and adapts it to
more advantageously resist the internal pressure than if made flat across.
hollowing out of the inner face of the plug in other form than hemispherical will
answer the purpose in some degree. A hole e is formed down the centre of the
neck during the operation of stamping or forging the combined plug and neck,
through which the bottle or holder is charged and discharged. The part b, for
insertion into the end of the tube, is tapered to admit of its ready insertion into the
bell-mouth thereof, and is inserted while the tube end is expanded by the heat
which it retains after the tube end has been tapered down in the tools B. A groove
The

page_text: or recess, which forms a very important feature of the invention, is formed in the
edge or circumferential face of the plug, and some of the metal of the tube is
hammered into the groove or recess to retain the plug properly in place in the tube
while it and the end of the tube are heated to a welding heat. The metal may be
so hammered in for such purpose by striking the tube end a few blows with the
upper tool B. When the plug and end of the tube have been heated to a welding
heat, the plug is welded into the inner end of the tube by hammering in the usual
manner of welding, with the effect that the portions of the metal driven into the
groove or recess fact as a key and greatly add to the strength of the welded joint.
The groove may be formed as a rebate at the back edge of the plug, as shewn in
detached view Figure 34 of the combined neck and plug, but we prefer the
formation of the groove shewn by Figure 3 more especially when, as is usually the
case, the end of the bottle is to be turned up in a lathe.
The bottom of the bottle or holder is closed in by means of a plug E, Figure 4.
This plug is formed slightly taper as the plug b, and has also a groove or recess f
around it as and for the same purpose as the corresponding groove around the
plug b.
In this case, also, a rebate may be used around the back edge of the plug
in lieu of the groove shewn. This plug E is fixed in the bottom end of the tube A
just as the plug is fixed in the top thereof. The plug E is formed with a fillet g
around it at the back, to ensure a level bearing for the bottle or holder when
standing on end; and the inner face of this plug is hollowed out by means,
preferably, of an annular channel, of a curved shape in cross section, as shewn,
leaving the plug specially strong in the middle, for the purpose of lightening out
the solid metal and enabling. it and the end of the tube to be readily heated for
welding without any part becoming overheated or burnt and enabling it to
advantageously resist the internal pressure.
The upper end of the bottle or holder is, preferably, finished to a symmetrical
shape in finishing tools F, Figure 5, carried in any suitable stamp or press; and the
bottom end is preferably finished also in the same tools. During the operation, of
finishing the upper end the hole e, Figure 3, through the neck c, is kept true by the
aid of a mandril therethrough.
Finally, the hole e is bored and screwed to receive the usual or any suitable
valve-box k, Figure 6, and is seated in the usual manner as shewn at m to make a
tight joint with the valve-box; and the neck is screwed externally for the usual
attachment in testing, and to receive the usual cap 1 to protect the valve.
In lieu of forming a groove or rebate f around each plug for the purpose
described, the plug may be formed tapering smaller in diameter outwards, as shewa
by Figure 3B, which shews the combined neck and plug D to be formed in such
manner and inserted within the upper end of the bottle ready for welding therein.
This method of forming the plugs is not considered so good as forming them each
with a groove or rebate; but, as the plugs when made in this manner and welded
within the ends of the tube cannot be blown out without expanding such ends, the
ends of the bottle are much stronger than if plugs with plain cylindrical surfaces
were welded in the ends of the tubes.
The tools B may be.dispensed with, and the operation described as performed by
such tools be performed by the finishing tools F. In such case the mandril C is
made with its shank or backwardly projecting portion to fit within the part of
reduced diameter at the back end of the tools.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of bottles or holders for use for the purpose above stated,
the employment of plugs for welding into the ends of the tubular portions of the
bottles or holders, said plugs being shaped with portions which are to be more
remote from the interior of the bottles or holders formed to a less diameter than
portions which are to be nearer to the interior thereof, so that as the metal at the

page_text: ends of the tubes is welded to the plugs portions of such metal will be reduced in
internal diameter to a less diameter than portions of the plugs which are nearer to
the interior of the bottle, and thus securely key such plugs in place in addition to
the strength of the weld, against any tendency to being blown out, substantially as
described.
2. The means of fixing an end into the tubular portion of a bottle or holder for
use for the purpose above stated, that is to say, by welding therein a plug, having a
groove or recess around it into which some of the metal of the tubular portion is
forced, or formed to taper smaller in diameter outwards so that the metal of the
tubular portion is closed in to a less diameter towards the outer end of the plug
than at the inner end thereof, substantially as described.
3. A bottle or holder for the purpose above stated, having its upper end formed
by means of a combined plug and neck of which the plug is welded into the end of
the tubular portion and of which the neck projects outwardly therefrom,
substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
4. In the manufacture of a bottle or holder for the purpose above stated, the
employment, for welding into the upper end of its tubular portion, of a combined
plug and neck, of which the inner face is hollowed out, preferably to a hemi-
spherical or analogous shape, substantially as described and shewn, for the purpose
set forth.
5. The combined plug and neck D having the neck c of a less diameter than the
plug b, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith, for the
purpose set forth.
6. In the manufacture of a bottle or holder for the purpose above stated, the
employment, for welding into the bottom end of its tubular portion, of a plug
hollowed in its inner face, substantially as described.
7. In the manufacture of a bottle or holder for the purpose above stated, the
employment, for welding into the bottom end of its tubular portion, of a plug
hollowed in its inner face by means of an annular channel, substantially as described
and shewn, for the purpose set forth.
8. The improved manufacture of bottles or holders for use for the purpose stated,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 7th day of September 1892.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.