AN IMPROVED TOOL OR IMPLEMENT FOR EXPANDING THE ENDS OF BOILER TUBES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED TOOL OR IMPLEMENT FOR EXPANDING THE ENDS OF BOILER
TUBES." A communication from abroad by Christian Winord, of Vienna,
Empire of Austria, Locomotive Superintendent of the Austrian Western
Railway.
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 10th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1870.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED TOOL OR IMPLEMENT FOR
EXPANDING THE ENDS OF BOILER TUBES." A communication.
The object of this Invention is to supply a simple tool for quickly upsetting,
expanding, or caulking the ends of boiler tubes, and more especially locomotive
boiler tubes, which may become loose and leak while in use. Leaking tubes can
thus be caulked while the locomotive is running, and without disturbing the fire.
This tool consists of a conical mandril connected with a bar or handle by means
of a universal or ball-and-socket joint. The length of the bar or handle varies
according to the depth of the fire-box, and has to be such as to enable the person
using it to conveniently manipulate the tool from outside the fire-box. The handle
is provided with a projection or flange near its end furthest from the mandril.
When the end of a boiler tube requires caulking, the tool is inserted through the
fire-door into the fire-box, and the mandril thrust into the boiler tube; the other
end of the tool is then struck with a hammer, preferably weighing not more than
about two or three pounds. For withdrawing the tool the above-mentioned pro-
jection or flange near the end of the handle has to be struck by the hammer in the
contrary direction. The ball-shaped end of the bar fitting into a socket in the
mandril, a ball-and-socket joint is formed, enabling the bar or handle to assume any
position necessary for facilitating the caulking of the tube end into which the
mandril may have been inserted.
It has been found in practice that by reason of the ball-and-socket joint the effect
of the blow struck against the end of the handle of the tool is pretty equally distri-
buted over the entire surface of the tube end into which the mandril has been
[Price 4d1

page_text: inserted, even when the longitudinal axis of the bar or handle is at an angle with
the longitudinal axis of the mandril
inserted, even when the longitudinal axis of the bar or handle is at an angle with
the longitudinal axis of the mandril
In order to diminish the weight of the said tool the mandril may be made
hollow
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd October
1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "An IMPROVED TOOL OR IMPLEMENT FOR
EXPANDING THE ENDS OF BOILER TUBES." A communication from abroad by
Christian Winord, of Vienna, Empire of Austria, Locomotive Superintendent of the
Austrian Western Railway.
The object of this Invention is to supply a simple tool for quickly upsetting,
expanding, or caulking the ends of boiler tubes, especially locomotive boiler tubes,
which may become loose and leak while in use. Leaking tubes of a locomotive
engine can thus be caulked while the engine is running, and without disturbing
the fire.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 shows the said tool about full size, partly broken and partly in section.
Figure 2 shows the entire tool, the dotted lines indicating its position when used
at an angle.
This tool, as shown in the Drawing, consists of a conical mandril a connected with
a barb by means of a ball-and-socket joint a¹, 61. The length of the bar b varies
according to the depth of the fire-box, and has to be such as to enable the person
using it to conveniently handle the tool. Near the end of the handle c of the tool
there is a projection c¹.
When the end of a boiler tube requires caulking, the said tool is inserted through
the fire-door into the fire-box, and the mandril a is thrust into the boiler tube; the
other end of the tool is then struck with a hammer. For this purpose it has been
found preferable to use a light hammer, weighing no more than about two or three
pounds. For withdrawing the tool the projection cl has to be struck by the hammer
in the contrary direction. The ball-shaped end 6 of the bar b fits into the socket a¹
of the mandril d, and thus forms a ball-and-socket joint, enabling the tool to assume
any position necessary for facilitating the caulking of any one of the tubes by
inserting the tool through the fire-door.
It has been found in practise that by reason of the ball-and-socket joint the effect
of the blow struck against the end of the tool is about equally distributed over the
entire surface of the end of the tubo surrounding the mandril.
In order to diminish the weight of the tool the mandril is preferably made hollow,
as shewn.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. A tool for caulking boiler tubes, and consisting of a mandril connected by
a ball-and-socket joint to a bar and handle, as above set forth.
Second. The combination of a mandril a, joint a¹, b¹, and bar b with a handle c
and projection c¹, as above described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year. of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.