Improved Apparatus to be employed in the Manufacture of Metallic Shells and Tubes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
Improved Apparatus to be employed in the Manufacture of Metallic
Shells and Tubes.
"
We WILLIAM PILKINGTON, CHARLES THOMAS BISHOP, and ANDERSON
BROWNSWORD trading as the "Birmingham Climax Steel Tube Company'
Catherine Street, Aston Birmingham do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improved apparatus employed in manufacture of metallic
shells and tubes. We will describe our invention thus, We provide a number of
rollers preferably three the shape of each being a truncated cone and arrange them
with their axes vertical and in a circle. The smaller ends of each of these conical
rollers are uppermost. The surface of each of these conical rollers is grooved or
serrated so as to take a firm grip of the disc of metal from which the shell or tube
is to be made. The lower part of each roller is plain and smooth not serrated. We
cause each of the conical rollers to revolve at the same speed and in the same
direction by appropriate mechanism.
We provide a circular disc of metal such as is at present used in the manufacture
of shells and we lay it horizontally in the space between the upper (that is the
smaller) ends of the conical rollers. We provide a ram of suitable size underneath
the disc and another ram or follower on the top of the disc. These grasp the disc
but not so tightly as to prevent its rotation. As the conical rollers revolve they
engage the periphery of the disc by means of the serrations on their surfaces,
and cause it also to revolve. The rams descend and carry the disc down with them
into the smaller space towards the lower that is the larger ends of the conical
rollers. This combined action causes the disc to assume a conical shape with a flat
lower end. When however this conical piece is brought by the rams to the lower plain
edges of the said conical rollers and forced through and clear of them the conical
shape is converted into a cylindrical one with the lower end flat. The shell is then
finished. If it is desired to make a tube we cut off the flat end in any well known
manner leaving the cylindrical part open at both ends.
Although we have described the rollers as being arranged vertically we may
arrange them and the rams horizontally in which case the disc would be
vertical.
Or in some cases we might place the rollers obliquely so as to give a screw or
twist motion, in whatever position they are the rams are parallel to them and the
disc is at right angles.
By another mode in the finishing we dispense with the ordinary draw bench and
draw plate by making the draw plate in such a manner that it shall draw the tube
through itself by its own mechanical action without external force being applied
to the tube as in the ordinary process of manufacture.
In our invention the draw plate is made in the shape of a circular disc capable
of rotary motion in its own plane. In the centre of the disc is an aperture large
enough to allow of the easy passage through it of the tube being drawn. Surround-
ing this aperture are dies or rollers preferably three in number. The axes of
these rollers are parallel to the axis of the main disc or draw plate and also to the
axis of the tube being drawn. These discs or rollers are carried by studs projecting
from the face of the draw plate and their peripheries project slightly beyond the
periphery of the central aperture. The centres of the rollers being adjustable and
arranged so far apart that the inner space between their peripheries is the same as the
utside size of the tube being drawn. The peripheries of the rollers are formed so

page_text: as to grip the tube which is being drawn, and by their rotary motion around the tube
to draw it forward. The action of the apparatus is as follows. The circular draw
plate is caused to revolve by appropriate mechanism and the end of the tube to be
drawn is slightly tapered for that purpose and is presented to the space between
the inner peripheries of the disc rollers which revolve with the draw plate. The
tube is prevented from revolving and the action of the disc rollers upon it is such
as to draw it forward through the hole in the centre of the draw plate and at the
same time to compress it in diameter and extend it in length in the same
manner as the draw plate of an ordinary draw bench does only with much less
friction.
Those parts of the tube which pass the interstices between the disc rollers will
not be compressed so tightly on the mandril as is the case in the ordinary method
of manufacture it will be therefore easier to remove the draw tube from the
mandril. Instead of causing the disc draw plate to rotate we may in certain cases
keep it stationary and cause the simultaneous rotation of each of the roller discs on
its own axis the tube then being allowed to rotate on its axis. The effect so far as
drawing the tube through the draw plate is concerned being the same in this case as
in the arrangement first described.
By another mode which has reference to that part of the draw plate used in an
ordinary draw bench for the manufacture of tubes which is called the "hole"
through which the tubes are drawn.
Instead of making this an ordinary aperture in a plate of steel we provide in the
steel draw plate an aperture slightly larger than the tube which has to be drawn
through it we provide a ring of hard steel balls so placed that the distance between
the inner surfaces of any opposite pair of balls shall be equal to the required
outside diameter of the tube.
The balls are confined in a suitable circular cage so that they each may revolve
freely about its own centre while not changing its position relatively to the rest.
The tube will be drawn through the ring of balls with much less friction and
through the hole as usually made in an ordinary draw plate.
Those parts of the tube which pass the interstices between the balls will not be
pressed down so tightly on the mandril as is the case in the ordinary method
of manufacture it will therefore be easier to remove the draw tube from the
mandril.
Dated 14th November 1890.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus to be employed in the Manufacture of Metallic
Shells and Tubes.
WILLIAM PILKINGTON, CHARLES THOMAS BISHOP and ANDERSON BROWN-
SWORD, trading as the "Birmingham Climax Steel Tube Company," Catherine
Street, Aston, Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improved apparatus employed in the manufacture of
metallic shells and tubes.
We will describe our invention thus,
We provide a number of rollers preferably three, the shape of each being a
truncated cone, and arrange them with their axis vertical and in a circle. The
smaller ends of each of these conical rollers are uppermost. The surface of each of
these conical rollers is grooved or serrated so as to take a firm grip of the disc of
the metal from which the shell or tube is to be made. The lower part of each
roller is plain and smooth not serrated.

page_text: We cause each of the conical rollers to revolve at the same speed and in the
same direction by appropriate mechanism.
We provide a circular disc of metal, such as is at present used in the manufacture
of shells and we lay it horizontally in the space between the upper (that is the
smaller) ends of the conical rollers.
We provide a ram of suitable size underneath the disc and another ram or
follower on the top of the disc. These grasp the disc not so tightly as to prevent
its rotation.
As the conical rollers revolve they engage the periphery of the disc by means of
the serrations on their surfaces, and cause it also to revolve. The rams descen'l
and carry the disc down with them into the smaller space towards the lower that is
the larger ends of the conical rollers.
This combined action causes the disc to assume a conical shape with a flat lower
end. When however this conical is wrought by the rams to the lower plain edges
of the said conical rollers and forced through and clear of them, the conical shape
is converted into a cylindrical one with the lower end of flat. The shell is then
finished. If it is desired to make a tube, we cut off the flat end in any well known
manner leaving the cylindrical part open at both ends.
Although we have described the rollers as being arranged vertically we may
arrange them and the rams horizontally in which case the disc would be
vertical.
Or in some cases we might place the rollers obliquely so as to give a screw or
twist motion in whatever position they are the rams are parallel to them, and the
disc is at right angles.
By another mode in the finishing we dispense with the ordinary draw bench and
draw plate by making the draw plate in such a manner that it shall draw the tube
through itself by its own mechanical action without external force being applied to
the tube, as in the ordinary process of manufacture.
In our invention the draw plate is made in the shape of a circular disc, capable
of rotary motion in its own plane. In the centre of the disc is an aperture large
enough to allow of the easy passage through it of the tube being drawn.
Surrounding this aperture are dies or rollers preferably three in number. The
axis of these rollers are parallel to the axis of the main disc or draw plate, and also
the axis of the tube being drawn. These discs or rollers are carried by studs pro-
jecting from the face of the draw-plate and their peripherne's project slightly
beyond the pheriphery of the central aperture.
The centres of the rollers being adjustable and arranged so far apart that the
inner space between their peripheries is the same as the outside size of the tube
being drawn. The peripheries of the rollers are formed so as to grip the tube
which is being drawn, and by their rotary motion around the tube to draw it
forward. The action of the apparatus is as follows:
The circular draw plate is caused to revolve by appropriate mechanism, and the
end of the tube is slightly tapered for that purpose and is presented to the space
between the inner peripheries of the disc rollers which revolve with the draw
olate.
The tube is prevented from revolving and the action of the disc rollers upon it is
such as to draw it forward through the hole in the centre of the draw plate and at
the same time to compress it in diameter and extend it in length in the same
nanner as the draw plate of an ordinary draw-bench does only with much less
riction.
Those parts of the tube which pass the interstices between the disc rollers will
not be compressed so tightly on the mandril as in the case in the ordinary method
of manufacture, it will be therefore easier to remove the drawn tube from the
nandril.
Instead of causing the disc draw plate to rotate we may in
tationary and cause the simultaneous rotation of each of the
xis, the tube then being allowed to rotate on its axis.
certain cases keep it
roller discs on its own
The effect so far a

page_text: drawing the tube through the draw-plate is concerned being the same in this case
as in the arrangement first described.
By another mode which has reference to that part of the draw-plate used in an
ordinary draw-bench for the manufacture of tubes, which is called the "hole'
through which the tubes are drawn. Instead of making this an ordinary aperture
in a plate of steel, we provide in the steel draw plate an aperture slightly larger
than the tube which has to be drawn through it. We provide a ring of hard steel
balls so placed that the distance between the inner surface of any opposite pair of
balls shall be equal to the required outside diameter of the tube.
The balls are confined in a suitable cage so that they each may revolve freely
about its own centre while not changing its position relatively to the rest.
The tube will be drawn through the ring of balls with much less friction and
through the hole as usually made in an ordinary draw plate.
Those parts of the tube which pass the interstices between the balls will not be
pressed down so tight on the mandril as in the in the ordinary method of manu-
facture it will be easier to remove the drawn tube from the mandril.
And in order that this our said invention may be more fully understood we shall
now proceed more fully and particularly to describe the same and for that purpose
we shall refer to the several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
figures.
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation shewing the employment of three rollers, of a cone
shape, truncated, and forming a metallic shell according to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a roll being a departure in shape or configuration
but for the purpose as described in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a view in plan and elevation of a circular disc of metal preparatory to
being formed as a shell.
Fig. 5 is a view in plan and elevation of the same when partially passed through
the rolls as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 6 is a view in plan and elevation of the same when entirely passed through
the rolls, converting Fig. 5 into a cylindrical shape, and a metallic shell according
to our invention.
Fig. 7 is a view in elevation as Figure 6 but shewing the bottom or flat end cut
off, and forming a cylindrical short tube.
Fig. 8 is a front view elevation of our improvements in the drawing or finishing
of tubes, by which we employ a circular disc fitted with dies or rollers set obliquely
forming the "hole" and grasping the tubed to be finished.
Fig. 9 is a view in elevation sectional of the same as Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a front view elevation of another mode of our improvements in the
drawing or finishing of tubes by which we employ a series of balls set so that the
centre forms the "hole" to receive the tube to be finished.
Fig. 11 is a view in elevation sectional of the same as Fig. 10.
C,
the
A, are the rolls in Figures 1 and 2 of the form of a truncated conc, the axis of
which are arranged vertically, the smaller ends of these rolls a¹ as above set are
uppermost, and the surface of cach roll A, is serrated or roughened as
lower part of each roll A, is plain and parallel, d, is the disc of metal as Figure 4
which is arranged at the space of the smaller ends of the rolls A, which we term
the entering end, and held in position by means of the ram e, which is under the
disc d, and the upper ram or follower g, which is over the disc d, although these
rams, e, and
g, keep the disc d, in position they allow it to rotate, and as the rolls a
revolve they grasp the periphery of d by means of their serrated or roughened
surfaces and cause it also to revolve, and as the rams and descend into the
smaller space that is towards the lower or larger ends a² of a, d, also descends.
The disc d, now by means of this combined action becomes dished as shewn in
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 and and as it passes lower that is to the smaller space
between a, it assumes a conical shape, but still lower upon reaching e, by the force
I,

page_text: of the rams, e and g, it is carried through the parallel space and thus the conical
form is converted into a cylindrical one with a flat bottom as Fig. 6.
The rolls we employ as a, of a truncated conical form Fig. 1, and 2, or as
Fig. 3 of a bulbous form may be more than three in number and we may set them
horizontally or in any required position with the rams e, and g, in their relative
positions.
In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 we show how motion may be imparted to these rolls a, for
the purpose above set forth h being a ring carried on rollers with the external
teeth i, driven by the pinion wheel j, and internal teeth r driving the
on the rolls a.
spur wheels
e,
By whatever mechanism we may employ to give motion to these rolls a cither
three or more simultaneously, they will revolve at the same speed and in the same
direction.
The whole is set in a suitable bed and framing.
Having thus constructed a metallic shell according to our invention and shewn
in Fig. 6, we now cut away bottom or flat end and convert from a shell into a
cylindrical short tube as Fig. 7. We will now describe our mode of drawing or
finishing this, which is effected by its own mechanical action, that is to say it is
pulled through without external aid or force being applied to the tube as
hitherto.
We make our draw plate Fig. 8 and 9 as a circular disc or body m, with the
aperture n, through which passes freely the tube o, upon its mandril o. p, are the
dies or rollers three or more in number, set obliquely, fixed and adjusted (with
their peripheries projecting slightly beyond the peripheries of the aperture n,) by
means of the screws p². This draw plate is caused to rotate by means of the spur
pinion engaging with the spur wheel i, fixed on m so that the combined mechanical
action of the draw plate m, in its own plane and the oblique setting of the dies or
rollers P the object as above set forth is effected.
Or by another mode to be employed in the drawing and finishing of the tube as
Fig. 7 we dispense with the ordinary drawbench and "hole" through which the
tube is drawn and make our draw plate as Fig. 10 and 11. r, is a circular body in
two parts connected together by the screwed parts r. 3, is the aperture, t, is the
spherical balls, confined in the cage u, but the peripheries of the spherical balls t
as a ring, project slightly beyond the periphery of the aperture s, and move freely
about their own centre, but not to change position relatively to each other. v, is the
tube passing through the "hole" made by the balls t, upon its mandril o' and with
reduced friction, the tube can be removed from the mandril after this drawing
process effected with greater ease than hitherto.
In the finishing process this circular body r, is caused to rotate by means of the
spur pinion j, engaging with the spur wheel i fixed on 7, when the spherical balls
are in motion, this purpose is effected by the combined mechanical action as above
set forth.
The object of the screwed part is to effectually set up the bearings forming
the cage u so as to compensate t, for the wear they receive, and prevent
looseness.
The above being our invention we wish to say that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details, or arrangement of parts, as shewn on the accompanying sheet
of drawings but that we hold ourselves at liberty to alter or modify the same
without departing essentially from the principle of our said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The construction and application of rolls a, Figs. 1. 2. 3 and rams e, and 9,
for forming metallic shells from the blank d, as Fig. 4, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and set forth.
2. The construction and application of a rotating plate m, Figs. 8 and 9, provided

page_text: with oblique rollers or dies p, for drawing and finishing metallic tubes, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and set forth.
3. The construction and application of a rotating body r, Figs. 11 and provided
with spherical balls t, caged as u, and adjusted as for drawing and finishing
metallic tubes, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and set
forth.
4. The general construction combination and arrangement of parts substantially
as hereinbefore described in the foregoing Specification and shewn on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.