Improvements in the Method of and Machinery for Making Seamless Tubular Lining for Hose Pipes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th July, 1891
JUDIT LEIE DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery for Making Seamless
Tubular Lining for Hose Pipes.
I JOHN BRUNSWICK BARTON Merchant of 38 St. Johns Road Longsight
Manchester in the County of Lancaster (a communication to me from abroad by
Ernest Nathaniel Foote of 1641 East Madison Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, United
States of America Rubber Worker) do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 new or improved method of and machinery for making
seamless tubular lining for hose pipes.
Heretofore seamless tubular rubber lining for hose pipes of the diameter of garden
hose has been made or even of a diameter as great as that of brewers hose where
the "stock" from which the tubular rubber lining was formed was not sticky nor
rich but was of a poor or adulterated quality.
When however the stock was rich or relatively pure it has been impossible to
form the tubular rubber lining of hose pipes as large as brewers hose seamless on
account of its collapsing in the process of manufacture and all hose pipes of a
diameter greater than brewers hose (for instance fire extinguishing hose) no matter
what the quality of the stock from which the lining was made it has been practically
impossible to form it seamless. The reason has been that the thickness of the walls
of the tube in the larger diameters has been so small relatively to the diameter that
the soft warm tube emerging from the tube making machine has quickly "collapsed
or "broken down" and the inner periphery or inner surface of the tube would
thereupon stick together.
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No mode of satisfactorily separating the collapsed and stuck-together tube has
ever been practised and the result was that it has been necessary to form the lining
in a flat piece and afterwards to join the free edges of the same together to form a
tube. The disadvantages of a rubber lining made with lapped edges instead of
tubular and seamless is two fold first as the hose becomes worn and bent backward
and forward sideways and spirally the lapped or joint edges of the lining had an
inevitable tendency to separate and work apart and when once started the pressure
of the water flowing through the hosc caused the edges still further to separate and
open and the hose soon became leaky and worthless. Furthermore a careless
workman would frequently fail to properly join the edges and the hose when tested
was discovered to be faulty and had to be thrown out at a considerable loss to the
manufacturer. Even when placed on the market and after being sold the first
practical test of the hose in use by the purchaser would often reveal it to be
imperfect owing to the improperly joined edges and the purchaser would return it
to the selling house and it in turn would return it to the manufacturer. Thus every
season a large amount of hose would be thrown back upon the manufacturers hands
to his considerable loss.
A second point of disadvantage relates more particularly to fire hose. The
lapped edges of the hose cause a ridge in the interior of the lining this ridge
interposes more or less friction to the passage of the water through the hose as the
pump or engine usually imparts a spiral motion to the water and thus the force with
which the water is discharged from the nozzle is proportionately lessened. This
Eriction in the best classes of fire hose heretofore made has absorbed a large
per centage of the entire effective force exerted by the pump or engine on the
water passing through the hose while hose pipes provided with my improved seam-
less tubular rubber lining greatly reduces this friction thus largely diminishing the
frictional loss. This is a matter of great import to users of fire hose under existing

page_text: conditions of cheap and flimsy building construction in populous cities and districts.
Another feature of advantage lies in the uniformity of the lining and the great
saving in labour effected by being able to utilize it in the form produced by
machinery for making seamlesss tube or hose lining (hereinafter called the "tuber")
without the necessity of rehandling and lap-joining the seam by hand.
The essential principle of this new method consists of introducing into the
interior of the newly formed seamless tubular rubber hose lining prior to its
collapsing any substance that will prevent the inner surface of said lining from
sticking together. This may be accomplished in one of the several ways as herein-
after described and illustrated in the drawings.
In
1st. It may be accomplished by introducing into the newly formed tube a
substance that will prevent it from collapsing before the rubber is firmly set.
this case one portion of the inner surface of the tube would not be brought into
contact with another portion of the inner surface of the same and hence the
inner surface of the tube could not stick together. Filling the tube with water
would effect this result introducing and maintaining gas or air under pressure
would likewise effect the same result or even introducing a solid in the forming
tube would accomplish the same purpose but in this latter case care should be
had that the substance et-cetera brought into contact with the interior of the tube is
of a character to prevent said tube from sticking to it.
2nd. The above result may be accomplished by introducing into the tube prior
to to its collapsing a substance etcetera that will prevent the collapsed interior
surface from sticking together. This result might be accomplished by introducing
a less quantity of water that would prevent collapsing as the inventor has discovered
by actual test that a small quantity of cool water introduced into the newly formed
tube not only chills it and reduces its sticky properties but also has a tendency to
glaze it which also decreases its adhesiveness. Or the interior of the tube may be
dusted prior to the possibility of its collapsing with soapstone and this in fact is one
of the casiest and simplest methods of preventing the inner surface of the tube if
collapsed from sticking together.
The principle of this improved method being once made known various modes of
utilizing or applying it will readily occur to anyone skilled in the art and this
invention is not limited to any particular substance etcetera or to any particular
mode of introducing the same into the lining.
By the expression "collapsible tube" it should be understood as meaning a tube
having a peripheral wall of a thickness so slight relatively to its circumference that
it would naturally (without artificial support) collapse as soon as it emerged any
distance from the tube making machine.
The substance gas air fluid or the like that is introduced into the tube as it is
being made may be of several characters as already stated. The end of the hose
pipe that is forming may be closed and air blown into the forming hose to keep it
distended to its normal or less than its normal size and thus prevent its collapsing.
In case air is used care should be had that the blast of air is not of sufficient
strength to cause the cause the newly formed and warm hose to be extended
beyond its normal diameter. Water may be introduced to the full diameter of the
hose in which case it would prevent the collapsing of the same or a smaller quantity
of water may be introduced that will not prevent the hose collapsing but will
prevent its sticking together after it has collapsed. Water introduced into the
interior of warm newly formed hose has a property if it is cold of cooling the hose
and thereupon reducing the stickiness of the same and also has a tendency to glaze
the hose thereby preventing its sticking together. Dust or finely commuted
particles of almost any substance that will prevent the inner surface of the hose
from sticking together may also be introduced with good effect. In practice
powdered soapstone has been used with great advantage. French chalk may also
be thus similarly used.
The above statements are made not merely from a theoretical standpoint but
have been actually tested in use and after repeated experiments and a long

page_text: continued trial in daily constant use have proved effectual for the purpose
intended.
The machine (herein called "tuber") for making seamless tubular lining for
hose pipes and other like tubing is shown on the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a "tuber" provided with one form of mechanism for
carrying out these improvements certain parts being broken away and in section to
show its construction.
Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a "tuber" provided with another form of
mechanism for carrying out this invention.
Figure 3 is a front view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a tuber provided with another form of mechanism for
carrying out this invention certain parts being broken away and in section.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a "tuber" provided with another form of mechanism
for carrying out this invention certain parts being broken away and in section.
Figure 6 is a view in elevation of a "tuber" provided with another form of
mechanism for carrying out this invention certain parts being broken away and in
section.
"
In the drawings A represents a tube making machine of any desired construction
and B a seamless tubular rubber hose lining formed by said tube making machine
and issuing or emerging therefrom. The tuber" represented in the drawings
has a frame 1 and is provided with a horizontal barrel portion 2. Said barrel is
provided at its upper portion with a hopper like opening 3 into which the "stock
is fed. The barrel is also provided with the two annular chambers 4 into which
lead the supply pipes 5 and the outlet pipes 6. Said chambers or reservoirs 4 are
for the purpose of receiving steam or hot water in order to maintain a uniform heat
in said barrel to warm and soften up the "stock" that is undergoing the tube
making process. Extending horizontally through said barrel is a bearing 7 into
which fits the spiral worm 8. To the rear of this worm and integral with it is the
enlarged bearing portion 9 that is provided with a series of circumferential
grooves 10 fitted in the bearing 11 that is provided with counterpart grooves.
The object of enlarging this bearing portion 9 and grooving it is to prevent the
necessarily great pressure caused by the rotation of the worm 8 in pulverizing
and grinding up "stock" introduced in the hopper from forcing backward said
worm. The bearing between portions 10 and 11 is large and evenly distributed to
obviate unnecessary friction. By means of this and the enlarged gear wheels it is
possible to greatly increase the speed of the "tuber" and indeed to increase said
speed three or four fold. This is of great importance. A large gear wheel 12 is
keyed on to the rear portion of the worm 8. A table of the common form and
provided with a rotary roller C actuating endless belt c is located in front of said
tube making machine or tuber as it is technically called for the purpose of
carrying forward the tube as it issues from the "tuber." The form of "tuber"
shown in Figure 1 is constructed with a central longitudinal passage d extending
the entire length of the "tuber" from front to rear and also extending through
the die d' The circumferential opening between the periphery of the die d' and the
periphery of the opening in the die chuck regulates the thickness of the walls of
the tube that is formed by the "tuber" and the size of the opening in the die
chuck determines the outer diameter of said forming tube.
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"
"
Secured to the rear of the "tuber in any suitable manner is the hopper E
provided with a funnel shaped discharge pipe e movably secured to pipe e¹ that is
loosely fitted to the rear extremity of the "tuber" and having an opening
registering with the bore of the same. An air blast pipe connected to suitable
air driving power is provided with a nozzle extending a short distance into the
funnel shaped opening of pipe and has the usual controlling valve by which the
force of the air blast may be regulated. Powdered soapstone French chalk or
other analogous substance of non-adhesive quality may be placed in said hopper
and the air blast turned on to a proper degree whereupon the powdered soapstone

page_text: et cetera will be induced forward through the central passage of the "tuber" and
out of the same into the newly forming tube at or near its point of formation and
before it has had an opportunity to collapse thus dusting or coating the interior or
inner surface of said tube and preventing the same from sticking together when it
does collapse.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate another form of mechanism for carrying out my
invention in which the die d is of the usual solid formation but provided in its
free extremity with a hook g which is suitably secured in the outer extremity of
the die and in which is caught an eye gl secured in the end of a hollow tube h
whose outer diameter is less than the interior opening in the tube to be formed and
which will thus readily permit the forming tube to encompass and surround it as
said forming tube advances forward. Said tube advantageously rests on the
endless belt c and its opposite extremity is connected up with an air blast pipe that
may be connected with a soapstone holding hopper similar to that shown in Figure 1
and by means of which a blast of powdered soapstone or other similar substance of
a proper degree of intensity may be discharged at the hook end of said tube into
the newly forming portion of the seamless tubular rubber hose lining issuing from
the "tuber" prior to the collapse of said tube as it is being formed or moulded.
In Figure 4 is illustrated another form of mechanism for preventing the inner
surface of the tube from sticking together when collapsed." In this form the
extremity of the tube in course of formation is collapsed or closed up by hand or in
other suitable manner and stuck together its natural cohesiveness in its warm state
easily permitting this or it may be held closed by a spring or other clamp. An air
pipe i is inserted in the rear end of the "tuber" opening and an air blast of proper
intensity is discharged therein causing the newly formed tube to be distended and
preventing its collapse. Care should be had in utilizing this method that the blast
of air be so regulated as not to distend the soft and easily stretched forming tube
beyond its normal diameter. When the desired length of tubing issues from the
"tuber
"its last formed portion may be collapsed and stuck together in the same
manner as its first formed extremity and then cut off leaving the section of the tube
distended to its natural diameter by means of the contained air. After it has once
thoroughly cooled the end may be opened and the confined air released as no further
danger exists of its inner circumference sticking together when collapsed.
In Figure 5 the endless belt c is shown as elevated slightly above the level of
the solid die d¹ and into the end of the forming tube a small quantity of cool water
may be poured whereby the tube is chilled and cooled the water has a further
tendency to glaze the interior of the tube and thus further reduce its adhesive
quality. One pouring of water is sufficient to cool and glaze an entire section of
tube as the body of the water is caused by gravity to remain in that portion of
the tube emerging from the tuber a further rearward movement of the water being
prevented by the solid die. Into the end of the tube that is forming is introduced
a tube connected with a regular water supply and as the forming tube passes out
of the tuber water is gently discharged into it causing the tube to cool and having
a tendency to prevent its collapsing.
In Figure 6 mechanism is illustrated for completely filling the newly formed
tube with water under proper pressure.
In this mode the end of the tube is closed
as heretofore described and the water pipe that extends longitudinally through
the passage d and is connected up at its rear extremity to any suitable water supply
which discharges a proper head of water into the newly forming tube whereby the
latter is kept distended to its normal diameter and is prevented from collapsing.
When the full section of the tube is formed the water supply may be cut off and
the last formed portion of the tube closed like the first formed extremity and the
water permitted to remain therein until the tube is chilled and glazed sufficiently
to prevent all danger of its inner surface sticking together when collapsed. The
ends of the tube section may then be opened and the water released. Ordinarily in
practice it may be advantageous in utilizing this method to introduce merely

page_text: sufficient water to cool and glaze the tube sufficiently to prevent the inner surface
of the same from sticking together when collapsed and not enough to completely
fill it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a method of making seamless tubular rubber lining for hose pipes-intro-
ducing into the collapsible seamless tubular lining at or near its point of formation a
substance gas air or fluid that will prevent the inner periphery of said seamless
tubular rubber lining from sticking together substantially as set forth.
2. In a method of making seamless tubular rubber lining for hose pipes -intro-
ducing into the interior of the tube prior to its collapsing a substance gas air or
fluid that will prevent its inner periphery from sticking together substantially as
set forth.
3 In a method of making seamless tubular rubber lining for hose pipes-intro-
ducing into the tubular rubber lining as it emerges from the tube making machine
a substance gas air or fluid that will prevent the inner periphery of the tube thus
formed from sticking together substantially as set forth.
4. In a method of making seamless tubular rubber lining for hose pipes-intro-
ducing into the tubular rubber lining after emerging from the tube making machine
but prior to its collapsing a substance gas air or fluid that will prevent the inner
periphery of the tube thus formed from sticking together substantially as described.
5. A tube making machine provided with a discharge orifice within the forming
seamless rubber tube whereby a substance gas air or fluid to prevent the tube
collapsing or sticking together may be forced into the forming tube substantially
as set forth.
6. A. tube making machine having a hollow worm for the purpose of introducing
into the tube as it is forming a foreign substance gas air or fluid that will prevent
the inner periphery of said tube sticking together substantially as set forth."
7. In a tube making machine the combination of a hollow worm a gear wheel
rigid therewith and an actuating pinion meshing with said gear wheel substantially
as set forth.
"
8. A tuber provided with an enlarged bearing plate having peripheral
bearing grooves whereby the worm is prevented from moving backward substan-
tially as set forth.
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'spider" fitting in
9. In a tube making machine the combination of a recess a
said recess and carrying a die and a die chuck holding said "spider" in said recess
substantially as set forth.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.