and Tubes suitable for Internal Flues, Fire Boxes, and snels of Steam Boilers, and other Uses.
Year: 1885

page_text: and Tubes suitable for Internal Flues, Fire Boxes, and snels
of Steam Boilers, and other Uses.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WELDLESS METALLIC PIPES AND
TUBES SUITABLE FOR INTERNAL FLUES, FIRE BOXES AND SHELLS OF STEAM BOILERS,
AND OTHER USES," to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to an improved method of making metallic pipes or tubes
suitable for internal flues, fire boxes and shells of steam boilers, the object being
to produce them without longitudinal joints and of uniform strength throughout.
For this purpose, according to my invention a ring is first produced. One way
is to cast a ring of metal such as mild steel of suitable diameter much shorter than
the intended length of the pipe, tube or shell into which it is to be converted, the
thickness of metal in the ring being proportionately in excess of what it will be
when the ring shall have been elongated into a tube constituting the finished
article.
Or the ring may be made out of a disc of metal somewhat larger in diameter
and much shorter and thicker than the pipe; tube or shell to be produced, the
periphery of such-disc being turned to an external diameter approximately that of
the finished article to be produced, but leaving a projection or flange around the
same at one end thereof.
A hole being made through this disc, it will form a ring the substance of which
will be many times thicker than the intended thickness of the finished article.-
Or the ring may be made by taking a disc of metal much less in diameter than the
required finished article, forming a central hole therethrough by punching or
otherwise and thus forming a ring or short tube much less in length than the
finished article into which it is to be converted.
To enlarge this ring to about the external diameter of the finished article it is
hammered whilst hot over an anvil pike, a projection or flange being left around
it on one end thereof.
To elongate a ring of any suitable metal such as above referred to, increasing
its internal diameter, and converting it into a pipe, tube or shell of the required

page_text: ultimate length, internal diameter and thickness, I proceed as follows:-The ring
is heated to a high degree and placed (according to the kind of ring operated upon)
in or upon a strong cylindrical metal die, the flange or projection above referred
to resting upon the end of such die. This die is heated by any suitable means,
such as a combustible mixture of gas and air, or by the use of suitable fuel, in a
specially constructed furnace, the die being surrounded by a wall of refractory
material, such as will leave an annular space around the die between it and the
refractory wall, which space may be formed into a spiral flue around the die or
otherwise, for the passage of the heated gases or flame for maintaining the die at
such a temperature that the ring under treatment shall not be unduly cooled by
its contact therewith.
•
When a ring such as described has been placed in position in and with its flange
or projection resting upon the top of the cylindrical die, there are passed through
it successively either by hydraulic, percussive or other pressure a series of mandrels
of such forms and dimensions as will by their action upon the internal surface of
the ring simultaneously increase its internal diameter and proportionately elongate
the ring into a pipe or tube of the desired length and reduced thickness.
During the intervals between the pressing, elongating and enlarging operations
effected by each successive mandrel acting within the ring or partially formed tube,
in order that such ring or tube and the cylindrical die may be at a suitable
temperature for the succeeding operation, the following plan is adopted. In con-
nection with the furnace flue there is or are provided a suitably arranged valve or
valves for diverting the heated gases or flame before referred to so that instead
of acting on the outside of the cylindrical die only, the same are or is caused to
Jass upward through the said die and also through the partially formed tube, and
onward through a portable hood or flue (in connection with a chimney) capable of
being easily moved by swinging or otherwise to or from the top of the die, as the
case may be, at the changing of direction of the current of heated gases or flame,
and so as to permit the passage of each succeeding elongating and enlarging
mandrel.
The internal enlargement and elongation of the ring or partially formed tube
may be effected by adjustable runners attached to the arms of levers arranged
togglewise on a bar or ram, which being forced through the ring or partially formed
tube, and then withdrawn, may be moved in an angular direction and passed
through again and again, each time being moved angularly, until the whole interior
of the ring or tube has been operated upon, this process being repeated until a
pipe, tube or shell of the required length and thickness has been produced by such
treatment of the ring.
My invention may be used with advantage in the manufacture of socket and
other pipes and cylinders.

page_text: and Tubes suitable for Internal Flues, Fire-boxes, and Shells
of Steam Boilers, and other Uses.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster, 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 relates to an improved method of making metallic pipes or tubes
suitable for internal flues, fire-boxes and shells of steam boilers, the object being
to produce them without longitudinal joints and of uniform strength throughout.
For this purpose according to my invention a ring is first produced in one or
other of the following ways. One way is to cast a ring of metal such as mild
steel of suitable diameter, inuch shorter than the intended length of the pipe, tube
or shell into which it is to be converted, the thickness of metal in the ring being
proportionately in excess of what it will be when the ring shall have been
elongated into a tube constituting the finished article.
Or the ring may be made out of a disc of metal somewhat larger in diameter
but much less in thickness than the intended length of the pipe, tube or shell to be
produced, the periphery of such disc being turned to an external diameter approxi-
mately that of the finished article to be produced, but leaving a projection or
flange around the same at one end thereof. A hole being made through this
disc, it will form a ring the substance of which will be many times thicker than
the intended thickness of the finished article.
Or the ring may be made by taking a disc of metal much less in diameter than
the finished article is to be, making a central hole therethrough by punching or
otherwise and thus forming a ring or short tube much less in length than the
finished article into which it is to be converted.
To enlarge this ring to about the external diameter of the finished article it is
hammered whilst hot over an anvil pike, a projection or flange being left around
it on one end thereof.
To elongate a ring such as above referred to, increasing its internal diameter,
and converting it into a pipe, tube, or shell, of the required ultimate length internal
diameter and thickness I proceed as follows:-The ring is heated to a high degree
and placed (according to the kind of ring operated upon) in or upon a strong
cylindrical metal die, the flange or projection above referred to resting upon the
end of such die. This die is heated by any suitable means, such as by a combustible
mixture of gas and air, or by the use of suitable fuel in a specially constructed
furnace, the die being surrounded by a wall of refractory material, such as will
leave an annular space around the die between it and the refractory. wall, which
space may be formed into a spiral flue around the die, or otherwise, for the passage
of the heated gases or flaine for maintaining the die at such a temperature that
the ring under treatment shall not be.undyly, cooled by its contact therewith.

page_text: When a ring such as described has been placed in position in, and with its flange
or projection resting upon the top of the cylindrical die, there are passed through
it. successively, either by hydraulic, percussive or other pressure, a series of
mandrels of such forms and dimensions as will by their action upon the internal
surface of the ring simultaneously increase its internal diameter and proportionately
elongate the ring into a pipe or tube of the desired length and reduced thickness.
During the intervals between the pressing, elongating and enlarging operations
effected by each successive mandrel acting within the ring or partially formed tube,
in order that such ring or tube and the cylindrical die may be at a suitable tempe-
rature for the succeeding operation the following plan is adopted. In connection
with the furnace flue there is or are provided a suitably arranged valve or valves
for diverting the heated gases or flame before referred to, so that instead of
acting on the outside of the cylindrical die only, the same are. or is caused to pass
upward through the said die and also through the partially formed tube, and
onward through a portable hood or flue (in connection with a chimney) capable of
being easily moved by swinging or otherwise to or from the top of the die, as the
case may be, at the changing of the direction of the current of heated gases or
flame, and so as to permit the passage of each succeeding elongating and enlarging
mandrel.
The internal enlargement and elongation of the ring or partially formed tube
may be effected by adjustable runners attached to the arms of levers arranged
togglewise on a bar or ram, which being forced through the ring or partially formed
tube and then withdrawn, may be moved in an angular direction and passed
through again and again, each time being moved angularly, until the whole interior
of the ring or tube has been operated upon, this process being repeated until a
pipe, tube or shell of the required length and thickness has been produced by such
treatment of the ring.
In the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1. Sheet 1. represents in sectional elevation,
and Fig. 2, in plan, a ring a, suitable for the manufacture by my invention of a
weldless pipe, tube or shell for an internal flue, firebox, or shell of a steam boiler.
Such a ring, which may be cast or otherwise produced as previously described, is
according to my invention heated and subjected to internal enlargement and
elongation process as already and hereinafter described. Fig. 3. is a front elevation
-partly in section, Fig. 4, a side elevation also partly in section and Fig. 5. Sheet 2,
a plan of apparatus, according to my invention, b, is a double acting hydraulic
.apparatus, c, is a strong metallic die or cylinder, within the upper part of which
the ring a (Figs. 1, and 2,) is placed so that it rests by its slightly projecting flange
on the end of the die,-d, is a spiral flue around the die c, for conducting flame or
:heated gases from a suitably constructed furnace e, around the said die, so as to
*maintain it at such a temperature that it will prevent undue cooling of the metallic
ring under treatment, the heated gases pass from the flue to a chimney f. Suitable
mandrels such as g, or g1, Fig. 8, (of gradually increasing sizes,) are pressed or
forced through the ring a, by the hydraulic apparatus so as to increase its internal
diameter spreading the metal of the ring over the interior of the die c, and thereby
forming a tube.
After each operation the ring or partially formed tube may be removed from the
die, re-heated and again placed in the die c, for further internal enlargement and
elongation, or the flame or heated gases may by means of a two-way valve h, be
diverted from the spiral flue d, and be caused to pass through the die c, and
ring a, thence through a swivelling hood i, to the chimney f, the bood 2, being
moved to one side while a mandril is being passed through the ring a.
The two-
way valve during this operation is placed in the position shewn in Fig. 3, and
directs the flame or heated gases to the spiral flue d.
In lieu of using a number of different solid mandrels such as g, one such as
shewn in Figs. 6, and 7, capable of adjustment to various diameters may be used.
Fig. 6, is a vertical section, and Fig. 7, a horizontal section on line 1, 1, of Fig. 6.
This mandrel comprises three rollers (or there may be more) mounted in bent or

page_text: elbow levers k. having their centres of motion at 7, these levers have projections m
which are acted upon by the conical part of the central screw n, for expanding the
same. When such a mandrel is passed through a ring such as a, the rollers j, will
act on its interior as already mentioned, then the mandrel should be withdrawn
from the ring, and be partially rotated through an angle corresponding approxi-
mately to the breadth of a roller j, then be re-inserted and caused to act upon the
ring, and so on repeatedly until the whole internal circumference has been acted
upon (the ring being kept constantly heated during these operations) On the
mandrel being withdrawn after the interior of the ring has been acted upon all
round, the conically pointed screw n, is advanced, causing the rollers ;, to be
extended radially proportionate to the next series of enlarging operations, and
so on until the required internal diameter and length are attained. It is to be
noted that I do not confine myself to the use of hydraulic apparatus for operating
the enlarging and elongating apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The manufacture of weldless metallic pipes and tubes suitable for internal
flues, fire-boxes and shells of steam boilers by elongating metallic rings in a heated
die such as c, substantially in the manner hereinabove described.
2. For the purpose referred to in the preceding claim, the use of one or more
expanding mandrels furnished with rollers for enlarging, elongating and spreading
the metal of a metallic ring over the inner surface of the cylindrical die substan-
tially in the manner hereinabove described.
3. In the manufacture of weldless metallic pipes and tubes suitable for internal
flues, fire-boxes and shells of steam boilers, the use of apparatus comprising a die
or cylinder and means substantially such as described above with reference to
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, of the drawings annexed for heating such die or cylinder and the
ring under treatment for the purpose set forth.
Dated this zzna day of Apru 1886.
Witness:
THOS E. CRAVEN, Č.E.,
Fel, Inst. Patent Agents,
24, Victoria Chambers,
Leeds.
SAMSON FOX