IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOFT METAL PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander McCallum Gordon, of Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Soft Metal Pipe Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOFT METAL
PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
"
Sealed the 10th May 1872, and dated the 14th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander McCallum
Gordon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th November 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MCCALLUM GORDON, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Soft Metal Pipe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOFT
METAL PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:-

page_text: It will be obvious that moulds and mandrils of the ordinary kind are
employed in the production of the above ingots.
The second part of my Invention relates to apparatus for facilitating
the production of the above or other compound ingots and also for
economizing labour in their formation into pipes, and consists in casting
the compound ingots in that form of moveable container which is
free to swing on one of the pillars of the hydraulic press invented by
N. S. Walker, and patented by him in the year 1870, No. 2919,
when the said container is so fitted that it can be inverted. The
purpose to be served by inverting the container is to ensure that the
metals composing the ingot are in proper proportions to form the
required pipes. In practice I prefer to form the swinging container
with a swivel joint.
The third part of my Invention relates to the construction of the dies
used in hydraulic machines for forming lead, encased block tin, lead,
composition, or other soft metal pipes. Instead of fixing the die to the
plunger I employ a separate die piece less in diameter than the con-
tainer. The upper surface of the said die piece is slightly concave; it
moves when in use downwards in the container, and is practically self-
adjusting, that is to say, its paralelism to the mandril and sides of the
container is maintained.
·
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander McCallum Gordon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MCCALLUM GORDON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Soft
Metal Pipe Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander McCallum Gordon, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander McCallum Gordon, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
McCallum Gordon, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOFT METAL
PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander McCallum
Gordon, 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 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 Alexander McCallum Gordon, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of illustrative Drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
In the manufacture of lead, encased block tin, and other soft metal pipes
composed of two or more thicknesses of different kinds or qualities of
metal from compound ingots under the Patents of W. A. Shaw, No. 1025,
of the year 1863; H. Haines, No. 1767, of the year 1868; and N. S.
Walker, No. 2739, of the year 1870, the said compound ingots are
produced by pouring molten tin or composition metal on or in contact
with solid lead, and as before the two metals or different qualities of
metal unite at their surfaces of contact, a portion of the lead becomes
melted and mixes with the tin which is to serve as the lining or coating
of the finished pipe, it follows that the said tin is not absolutely pure.
Now the object of the first part of my Invention is to provide ingots
which shall have the tin lining or coating absolutely pure, so that when
such ingots are subjected to hydraulic pressure while over a cove
through a die pipes with the required lining or coating or both lining
and coating shall be produced. For this purpose I proceed as
follows:-

page_text: First. I cast a lead cylinder, and when that has set pour tin on the
inside or outside, or both. Afterwards when the coated cylinder has set,
a further thickness of tin is poured over the inside or outside or both the
inside and outside.
Second. I form a tin ingot by casting or by drawing in hydraulic
apparatus, and place the same within or over a lead cylinder. Into the
annular space, or if the pipe is to be coated inside and outside, into the
two annular spaces, I pour molten tin or composition metal so as to
unite the whole.
Third. I form an ingot of tin and composition metal by casting or by
drawing in hydraulic apparatus, and place the same within or over; or
I employ two of these ingots, one within and the other over a lead
cylinder. Into the annular space or annular spaces I pour molten tin
or composition metal, so as thereby to unite the whole.
Fourth. I form an ingot of tin and composition metal by casting or
drawing in hydraulic apparatus, and then cast the thickness of lead over
or within the said composition metal; or I employ two of the said
ingots, one with the tin inside, and the other with the tin outside, and
pour molten lead between the two; but in either of these cases the
composition metal must be of sufficient thickness to prevent the tin from
melting.
It will be obvious that moulds and mandrils of the ordinary kind are
employed in the production of the above ingots.
The second part of my Invention relates to apparatus for facilitating
the production of the above or other compound ingots, and also for
economizing labour in their formation into pipes, and consists in casting
the compound ingots in that form of movable container which is free to
swing on one of the pillars of the hydraulic press invented by N. S.
Walker, and patented by him in the year 1870, No. 2919, when the said
container is so fitted that it can be inverted. The purpose to be served
by inverting the container is to ensure that the metals composing
the ingot are in proper proportions to form the required pipes. In
practice I prefer to form the swinging container with a swivel joint.
The third part of my Invention relates to the construction of the dies
used in hydraulic machines for forming lead, encased block tin, lead,
composition, or other soft metal pipes. Instead of fixing the die to the
plunger I employ a separate die piece less in diameter than the con-

page_text: tainer. The upper surface of the said die piece is slightly concave; it
moves when in use downwards in the container, and is practically self-
adjusting, that is to say its parallelism to the mandril and sides of the
container is maintained.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Second Part. A modification of parts constructed and combined in
accordance with the second part of my Invention is illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 on the accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1 is a side
elevation; Fig. 2, a plan; and Fig. 3, a section at A, B. All of part of
a hydraulic press fitted with an invertible container. Here a denotes
part of a pillar formed with a strong carrying flange b; c, swinging
bracket fitted with adjustable bearings d, in which the trunnions e of
the ingot container rest; f, ram head; g, securing pawl.
With the object of ensuring that the metals forming the compound
ingot are in proper proportion relatively to each other to yield pipe of
uniform thicknesses of metal, as well at the commencement of the
pressing as afterwards, I cast the ingot bottom upwards, and subsequently
invert the container with its ingot. In this way the outer thickness
of metal covers for an inch, more or less, the tapering end of the inner
thickness of metal, and this in such ratio that the angle of flow of the
metals is provided for, and proper quality pipe obtained from the
beginning of the pressing.
Another modification under the second part of my Invention is shown
by Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation and section; Fig. 5,
a plan; and Fig. 6, a section at C, D. Here a is the press pillar, with
flange b; c, swinging bracket with stem d entering the boss part
secured to the ingot container e; f, ring for allowing of outwards and
inwards adjustment of the part d' and ingot container e, the said ring f
being connected to d¹ by the bolts g; h are lock nut screws which pass
through and d³, and enter a groove around d. When in use the con- ;
tainer e, part d', ring f, and bolts g and h move together on d, the object
of the ring and bolts g being to adjust e in position.
Third Part. The third part of my Invention is illustrated by view in
vertical section, Fig. 7. Here e is the container; I, separate die piece
composed of the holder i and die proper . This separate die piece I is a
made to fit the container e with great accuracy, and is of sufficient
depth to maintain its parallelism with the axis of the container;

page_text: for the purpose set forth.
Under the third part of my Invention the employment of a separate
die piece, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander McCallum Gordon, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two
A. M°C. GORDON. (L.S.)
In the presence of
JAMES JOHNSON,
.
Draughtsman to J. T. King,
Liverpool.