Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Welding Metal by Means of Electricity.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th J n., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Welding Metal by
Means of Electricity.
I, HERBERT ELSWORTH FOWLER, of 119 Davenport Avenue New Haven, Con-
necticut, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a machine for welding pipes rods, bars or other pieces of
metal, by means of electricity; and the object of my invention is to provide a machine
which shall form the weld by working the joint without removing any of the metal
and thereby I approximate more nearly, by the use of this machine, to the method of
hand or power hammer welding.
In carrying out my invention, I employ, by preference, means for holding the parts
stationary, and for supplying an electrical current to the respective sections which are
to be united; means for forcing or crowding the sections endwise, whereby, when the
metal is fused, the abutting ends are upset; and means for rotating welding appliances,
which may be either hammers or rolls, about the work, and delivering the blows or
pressure upon the upset part of the pipe, whereby it is hammered or rolled down
at that point and a secure weld formed without removing any of the metal from the
joint.
-
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the machine of the preferred construction, some of
the parts broken away and others omitted.
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section.
Figure 3 shows a section of pipe with its end upset and a mandrel inserted in the
pipe and showing the hammer ready to act to form the weld; and
Figure 4 shows a form of roll which may be employed instead of the hammer
described, the views being respectively a side and an edge elevation of the same
part.
The machine is mounted on a suitable base A, having the standards B, B³, with
bearings therein for the pipe C. These standards are insulated at b, from the base of
the machine and are connected respectively to the batteries D, D¹, by the wires d, d¹.
Standard B is movably mounted in ways and is adapted to be moved by means of the
pivoted lever E, having the link e, connected to a stud on the said standard. The
sections of pipe may be secured against rotation in the standards B B', by means of
the set screws 62. F, F, represent uprights or standards also secured to the frame A
and which have in their upper ends, journal boxes or bearings for the hub of the pulley
wheel G, which will be rotated in its bearings by means of a suitable belt. H represents
guide Hange secured with the hub or pulley G and having ways formed therein
within which ways hammers l move. These hammers are preferably mounted upon.
head blocks J, and they have curved faces as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1.
Instead of the hammers, the rolls shown in Figure 4 may be secured in the ways and
adapted to form the weld by being rotated in contact with the upset portion of the
pipe. I prefer, however, to form the weld by means of the hammers shown in
Figure 1, which are reciprocated by the cam wheel K, which is secured to or formed
integrally with the fixed bearings of the pulley hub and which cam wheel is adapted
to engage studs L, projecting from the sides of the hammer heads. Such heads are
backed by suitable springs such as those marked N, in the drawings which have a
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page_text: constant bearing at their free ends upon said heads and have their opposite ends secure i
to the rim of the pulley. A spiral bow, or other form of spring may be substituted,
or other means may be employed for reciprocating the hammer to deliver the blow.
I prefer to use leaf springs O, which are secured at one end to a fixed part of the
frame and which have a bearing at their free ends upon the sliding standard B¹, so
that after the ends of the pipe have been upset and the welding commenced,
the standard B¹ may move back with the pipe as the latter is slightly extended by the
welding operation.
The operation of the machine is as follows:
Two sections of pipe, rod or bar, are secured in the bearings of the standards B B+,
with their ends in contact and the current of electricity is passed along the wires to
the pipe. When the abutting ends of the sections are sufficiently heated or fused, the
movable standard B¹ with its section of pipe, is forced against the other, thus upsetting
the ends of of the pipe, as shown in Figure 3. The pulley carrying the hammers or
rolls is then rotated around the work and the blows or pressure delivered upon this
upset portion of the hammer or rolls, as the case may be, thus spreading the metal on
both sides of the joint and forming a secure weld without removing any of the metal
raised by the upsetting. Where the machine is used to weld pipe, a mandrel P, may
be inserted to prevent unevenness on the interior.
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
First. In a machine for welding metal by electricity, the combination with means
for holding the parts to be welded against rotation, electrical apparatus for directing a
current of electricity to the point of weld, means for moving the parts, whereby
to upset the ends, welding appliances, such as hammers or rolls, adapted to be
rotated about the parts to be welded; and means for actuating the welding appliances,
whereby to form the weld, substantially as described.
Second. In a machine for welding metal by electricity, the combination with means
for holding the parts to be welded and suitable electrical appliances for delivering a
current of electricity to the point of weld, one of the supports for the parts to be
welded being movable in the line of said part, whereby the parts may be forced
'together and their ends upset, reciprocating welding appliances such as hammers or
rolls, rotatably mounted and means for rotating the welding appliances about the work
and for reciprocating them to perform the welding, substantially as described.
Third. In a machine for welding metal by electricity, the combination with supports
for holding the parts to be welded against rotation, said supports being insulated from
the machine frame and welding appliances and one of them being adapted to move
with its supported part, whereby to upset the ends of said parts, a pulley journalled on
supports and having a hollow hub, welding appliances such as hammers or rolls
secured to rotate with the pulley, and adapted to be moved to perform the weld, springs
having a bearing upon the welding appliances and upon the pulley, and a stationary
cam device adapted to operate the welding appliances, and electrical appliances for
delivering a current of electricity to the point of weld, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of December 1889.
'
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.