Improvements in Machines for Swaging the Ends of Metal Tubes.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Swaging the Ends of Metal Tubes.
I, JOHN PATTERSON KENNEDY, of 716 East 13th Street, in the City of New
York and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 machines for swaging the ends of metal tubes into
conical or tapered form preparatory to closing such ends by welding the metal upon
itself and forming hemispherical ends of seamless thickened metal, constituting a
perfect closure of great strength and durability. The tubes thus formed with
welded hemispherical ends of thickened metal are particularly adapted for use in
the well known radial tube or porcupine boiler.
My machine embraces the following principal features of construction, viz.,a
pair of swaging dies, a feed-screw mounted in a screw-threaded bearing in a suitable
support, a tube holding device at one end of such feed-screw, an automatic
releasing device for releasing the tube from its holder, and power gearing mounted
upon an adjustable carriage for operating the feed-screw.
The object of my invention broadly considered is to provide for conveniently
holding one end of a tube and causing it to be rotated and fed forward, so that its
opposite end will be forced between a pair of swaging dies, also to provide for
quickly and readily releasing the tube from the holder after the swaging operation.
Another object is to provide an adjustable feeding mechanism or a carriage
containing the power gearing, the feed-screw and the releasing device for swaging
tubes of different lengths in the same machine.
My improved devices and features of construction above mentioned are adapted
for application and use either in a hand-operated machine or a power-machine, and
I have shown them in connection with both such forms of swaging machines in the
accompanying drawings.
Various kinds of tube holding devices may be attached to the end of the feed-
screw, and for the purpose of illustration, I show and describe herein four kinds of
devices adapted for holding tubes; I also show and describe herein three kinds
of tube releasing devices adapted for operation with the different kinds of tube
holders.
It is obvious that different kinds of power gearing may be used for operating the
feed-screw, and for the purpose of illustration, I show and describe herein three
different forms of well known power gearing suitably connected with the feed-screw.
I will now describe the construction of my swaging machine in detail by reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a top plan view partly in section of the tube supporting and
feeding mechanism of my swaging machine adapted to be operated by hand :
Figure 2 represents a side elevation thereof, also partly in section;
Figures 3 and 4 represent sectional detail views of one form of tube holder;
Figures 5 and 6 represent detail end views of an expansible clutch plug for
holding the tube while being swaged and for automatically releasing it after the
swaging operation;
Figure 7 represents a side elevation partly in vertical section of my swaging
machine with one form of power gearing;
Figure 8 represents a top plan view of the power gearing and a portion of the
extended and slotted bed-plate;
Figure 9 represents an end view of the extended bed plate, the adjustable-
carriage and power gearing;

page_text: Figure 10 represents a top plan view of a modified form of power gearing';
Figure 11 represents a vertical longitudinal section thereof;
Figure 12 represents an end elevation thereof;
Figure 13 represents a top plan view partly in horizontal section of a hand-
operated swaging-machine showing a modified form of tube-holder and releasing
device ;
Figure 14 represents a sectional elevation showing another form of power
gearing;
Figure 15 represents a sectional detailed view, the section being taken through
the feed-screw back of the tube-holder.
- The side-framing, A, (Figs. 7 and 13), which supports the dies and the operating
mechanism of the upper movable die is bolted to the base, B. The lower semi-
conical die, G', is secured to the bed-plate of the frame and the upper dic, G, is
secured to the cross-head, J, which is properly fitted to slide in a four-side guide-
way, I, which latter is provided with adjustable gibs at the side and with an adjustable
front-plate. The front rear, and side plates of the guide-way are formed with
flaring extensions at the top to form an oil cup for lubricating the cross-head.
The cross-head, J, is connected to the crank-shaft, Y, by a rod in the usual
manner. The above form of swaging machine is used in connection with feeding
mechanism operated both by hand and by power gearing.
I will first describe the feeding mechanism adapted to be operated by hand,
which is illustrated more particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 13. In this machine I
preferably use flexible or yielding connections between the swaging dies and
feeding mechanism consisting of the side bars, C, C, which are bolted at their inner
ends to the side frames, A, A, and are supported in a horizontal position by the
braces, D, D, having flanged ends, d, d¹, by which they are bolted or riveted
respectively to the bars, C, C and to the base, B. A transverse brace and tube-
rest, E, is bolted at its ends to the side-bars between the dies and tube-holder and
serve to support the tube in a horizontal position while being swaged. The bars, C,
are provided at their outer ends with shoulders, c, and with screw-threaded studs, b,
and may be connected directly to the cross-bar, F, as in Figure 13.
The detachable extension pieces, C¹, are provided at their inner ends with screw-
threaded sockets, e, for connection with the studs, b, and at their outer ends they
each have a short squared or angular section, c', for the application of a wrench,
and a screw-threaded stud, b', for the application of nuts, a¹. The detachable and
interchangeable extension pieces, C', are made in pairs of different lengths, so that
by using a short or long pair of such pieces the feeding mechanism can be set closer
to or farther from the swaging dies to adapt the machine for swaging tubes of
different lengths. The screw-threaded studs, b, are of the same size as the outer
screw-threaded studs, ', of the pieces, C¹, so that the cross-bar, F, could be
connected directly to the screw-threaded ends, b, by means of the nuts, a', as shown
in Figure 13.
The bars, C, may be extended at their rear ends, as indicated by dotted lines
(Figures 1 and 2) and the extensions provided with bolt-holes which may be in the
nature of longitudinal slots to permit the adjustment of the bars either forward or
backward.
The cross-bar, F, serves as a support for the feed-screw, and is provided at its
central portion with a screw-threaded bearing preferably in the form of a nut or
bushing, f, inserted in a suitable opening and held in place by a nut or collar, f',
and in such bushing is inserted the feed-screw, H, which may be either solid. or
hollow according to the form of tube holder and releasing device which are used.
A solid feed-screw may be used in connection with the tube holder shown in
Figures 1 and 2, which is preferably in the form of an expansible clutch plug, K.
This plug, K, is made in two or three longitudinal sections, three of such
sections, 1, 2, 3, being shown in the drawing (Figure 5) and is readily operated both
to hold the tube while being swaged and to release it after the swaging' operation.

page_text: The shank, H', at the end of the feed-screw, is made of any suitable angular cross-
section, such as triangular, as shown in Figure 6, or rectangular or with angular
grooves, and is tapered, so as to act as a wedge for forcing outward the sections of
the clutch plug. An elongated bolt, ', projects from the tapered end of the shank
and may have its outer end screw-threaded for receiving a nut and jamb-nut, k, or
the screw-threads may be omitted and the bolt, ¹ be provided with a solid head to
prevent the expansible plug from slipping off endwise. The sections of the plug
may be readily placed in position around the tapered shank and held together by
elastic retaining rings composed of coiled springs or other suitable springs. The
rear ends of the sections, 1, 2, 3, composing the plug, K, are provided at their
outer curved surfaces with outwardly extending flanges, k', which serve, when the
sections are in position, as a stop for the rear end of the tube when placed upon the
plug. The sections are also provided with grooves, m', for the application of
the elastic retaining rings. The body of the plug, composed of sections, as described,
may be nearly cylindrical at its outer surface, but the end is rounded or tapered
and is provided with a circular groove for receiving a second elastic retaining ring.
The sections are made with internal recesses of suitable form to fit upon the tapered
and angular shank, H', also upon the cylindrical portion of the screw. Interior
shoulders, , are formed at the junction of the angular or curved recesses in the
sections of the plug for abutting against shoulders, j, at the base of the tapered
shank. After the sections have been applied and properly secured in place by
retaining rings inserted in the grooves, they form a plug which is free to slide back
and forth upon the wedge shaped shank. As the plug is driven backward its
sections will be expanded by contact with the tapered or wedge like surfaces of the
shank, H', so as to securely clutch the tube, which has been placed upon the holder,
and such sections will readily collapse or contract when forced forward, so as to
release the tube. The backward movement of the clutch-plug is limited by
shoulders, ¹¹, abutting against the shoulders, j, at the base of shank, H'. The
handle,, is applied to the outer end of feed-screw, H, and may be held thereon by
a nut, as shown.
I prefer the expansible clutch-plug, above described, but other forms of plugs
may be used such as a screw-threaded plug, shown in Figures 3 and 4, or the
conoidal plug, shown in Figures 7, 10, and 11. The screw-threaded plug, (Figures 3
and 4) should have its screw-thread cut away at different points in its circumference,
so that the sharp ends of the thread will better cut into the metal tube and hold it
from slipping or turning while its opposite end is being swaged. Instead of the
plug, I may use a tube-holder composed of a hollow conical chuck attached to the
end of the feed-screw, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, and which will be hereinafter
more fully described.
In order to apply my conoidal clutch-plug and releasing collar, such as shown in
Figures 7, 10, and 11 the outer end of the screw, H, is left plain back a short
distance from slot, "", for receiving the collar, L, and beyond such plain cylindrical
portion the shank, H¹, is made square in cross section or of other angular form
and is tapered longitudinally in the form of a prismoid, and such prismoid is
provided at its end with a projecting bolt, ', for the application of a nut, k. The
clutch plug, K, is provided with a tapering socket, made square or of angular shape
in cross-section, to correspond with the tapering shank and with a hole through
its end, for passage of the projecting bolt, h. The plug is of conoidal form
externally, for readily receiving and engaging the tube to be swaged as it is forced
backward thereon. The resistance offered by the swaging dies, Ğ, G', as the tube
is fed forward by the feed-screw firmly forces the tube on to the clutch plug,
which securely holds it and causes it to rotate with the turning feed-screw. The
angular socket fitting over the angular and tapered shank, H, prevents the plug
from turning on the feed-screw.
An automatic releasing collar, L, is placed upon the cylindrical plain surface of
the feed-screw just back of plug, K, and is provided with a neck, l, just large

page_text: enough to turn readily upon the smooth portion of the feed-screw and with an
enlarged portion, l', of sufficient diameter to slide over plug, K and abut against
the rear end of the tube which is to be released. This collar is connected to the
shank, H', by a transverse bolt, o, passing through a slot, h, in the shank, as
shown in Figures 7 and 11. By this construction the collar is prevented from
turning, but is free to move back and forth on shank H', the distance of its
slot, When the feed-screw, H, is turned backward through its bearing, the
collar, L will strike nut, f¹, and be driven forward, so as to force the tube off from
the clutch plug, K. Clutch plugs of different sizes may be used for holding tubes
of different diameters.
In case a hollow tube-holding chuck is used, such as shown in Figures 13 and 14,
the feed-screw, H, is made hollow and has secured to its inner end the hollow
chuck, K', which is formed with a slightly tapered or conical socket for adapting
it to grip and hold the end of the tube by frictional contact.
The hollow chuck, K', may be made integral with the feed-screw, as shown in
Figure 13, or may be detachably connected thereto by bolts, as shown in Figures 14
and 15. According to the construction shown in Figure 14, the end of the feed-
screw is provided with a circular flange or disk, having a short central squared
or angular boss, for fitting in a like recess in the back of the chuck, and the chuck
is secured to such disk by bolts, . With this construction different sized chucks
for accommodating different sized tubes may be easily applied to the feed-screw.
The chuck has a tapering or conical socket larger at the mouth than the tube to
be gripped and of gradually decreasing diameter until it is smaller than the tube.
This tapering socket provides adjustability for small variations in the tubes, and
while serving to tightly grip the tube, provides for the requisite degree of
flexibility or movement between the tube and chuck to very much diminish and
deaden the transmission of the vibration (caused by the swaging dies) from the
tube to the feed-screw.
In order to provide for quickly and conveniently releasing the tube from the
chuck, I loosely fit in the socket of the chuck the plunger, i, secured to the end
of the rod, L', which is inserted in the bore of the feed-screw. The rod, L³, is
made with a plane surface and may extend either entirely through the feed-screw
and beyond its front end as shown in Figure 14, or may terminate within the screw
as shown in Figure 13, depending upon the way in which its operating screw-rod
is mounted and arranged in the machine.
The plunger,, is adapted to work freely in the socket of the chuck and to
bear against the end of the tube when in position, and the rod, L', is adapted to
freely move longitudinally in the hollow-feed-screw. Obviously a tube may be
released from the chuck by pressure upon the end of the plunger rod, such as by
a blow with a hammer or other implement, or by pressure with a screw-rod, or
by ruuning the feed-screw backward till the end of the plunger-rod strikes against
a fixed stop. The screw-rod, L", for operating the plunger may be mounted in
the internally screw-threaded end of the hollow feed-screw, H, as shown in
Figure 13, or in a separate support, as a cross-bar or yoke, N, attached to the side
frames of the machine, as shown in Figure 14. In either case the releasing plunger
and rod may be forced forward by turning screw-rod, L" inward through its screw-
threaded bearing. The outer end of rod, L1, is provided with a handle, for
turning it.
In the power machine (Figure 14) the plunger-rod, L', is preferably extended
out beyond the front end of the feed-screw in position to strike against the end of
an adjustable stop when the feed-screw is run backward. The adjustable stop
consists of a screw-rod, L", preferably having a flange or head at its inner end
and supported in a screw-threaded bearing in the fixed cross-bar or yoke, N. A
jam-nut, n, is provided for holding the rod, L", in any desired position. The
cross-bar or yoke, N, is bolted or pivoted to the side frames of the movable
carriage, M. By this construction it is evident that screw-rods, L", will act as a

page_text: fixed stop to arrest the backward movement of the releasing plunger, L, as the
feed-screw is run backward, thus automatically releasing the tube from the
chuck.
I will now describe the feeding mechanism arranged in connection with different
forms of power gearing adapted for rotating the tube to be swaged and feeding
it forward into the semi-conical swaging dies. The power gearing and feeding
mechanism are mounted upon an adjustable carriage, which is supported on a
slotted bed-plate.
In the power machine, the slotted extended base or bed-plate, B', is substituted
for the side bars used in the hand machine, and said bed plate may be cast with
or bolted to the base B, of the swaging machine, so as to extend directly forward
in line with the swaging dies, G, G. This bed-plate, B¹, is provided centrally
with a longitudinal slot, 61, as shown in Figure 8, and the walls of this slot are
80 shaped as to form a guide-way for the movable bolts, e', which hold the
carriage, M, in position upon the bed-plate, as shown in Figures 7, 9, and 12. In
Figures 7 and 14 a section of one side of the bed-plate is broken away for showing
one of the guide-ways of the longitudinal slot, 6 The bed-plate is also provided
at the sides with the longitudinal guide-ways, 6" (Figures 12 and 14).
The detachable frame or carriage, M, for supporting the feed-screw and its
power gearing is mounted upon the bed-plate and adjustably secured thereto by
the bolts, e', above mentioned. The carriage is provided on its sides with
downwardly extending flanges, m, which bear upon the guide-ways, ", and serve
to hold the carriage in proper position and prevent lateral movement thereof. The
bolts, e, pass through the carriage, M, and down through the slot, 61, and serve
by means of their heads and nuts to secure the carriage in any desired position
upon the bed-plate. The carriage is provided in front with a support in the
nature of a standard, F', which answers the same purpose as the cross-bar, F in
the hand-machine and holds the screw-threaded bushing, f, secured by a collar or
nut,, as previously described.
A standard, R, is preferably provided at the rear end of the carriage to aid in
supporting the feed-screw and the extended hub of the gear wheel, and such
standard may have at the top a journal box, r.
A simple form of power gearing is shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 consisting of a
spur wheel, W, rigidly secured to the screw, H. and arranged to mesh with an
elongated pinion, T, supported by standards, S. The pinion T, is longer than the
distance travelled by the screw and spur-wheel. A belt pulley, X, is applied to
the extended shaft of pinion T.
Another form of power gearing, is shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12, in which a
beveled wheel, W', is mounted upon the feed-screw, H, by means of an elongated
hub, w, and the longitudinal key or feathers, inserted in the groove in such feed-
screw. By means of the connecting key or feather the beveled wheel engages the
feed-screw, H, so that the two turn together, but permits longitudinal motion of
the feed-screw through its hub, as such screw is turned back and forth through its
screw-threaded bearing, f. The hub, w, of wheel, W₁, is mounted in a journal
box, r, at the top of standard, R. The pinion, T¹, which meshes with wheel W',
is mounted upon its shaft in the bearing, u, at the top of the standard, U, and such
shaft is provided at its outer end with the belt-wheel, X.
L..
In Figure 14, the power gearing consists of a worm-wheel, W", and a connecting
worm, T. The worm-wheel, W, is provided with an extended hub, w¹, arranged
in a bearing, r, and is connected to the feed-screw by means of a feather or spline, s,
fitted in the groove of such screw, as above described. The worm, T", is suitably
journalled in side boxes, t, in the usual manner, and its extended shaft is provided
with a pulley or belt-wheel, X.
It will be understood that rotation of the feed-screw by motion of the worm-wheel
and worm will cause such screw to be traversed back and forth through the
screw-threaded bearing, f, thereby moving the tube-holder toward or from the
swaging dies,

page_text: :
A tube rest, E, is secured by nuts in the longitudinal slot of the bed-plate and
can be adjusted in any suitable position in such slot for best supporting the tube
while being swaged.
The operation of swaging the ends of tubes with my ma hine is very simple and
is conducted as follows:-The tube to be swaged is first heated at one end to the
proper working temperature and then its opposite end is applied to one of the forms
of tube holders, such as a clutch plug, K, or a hollow chuck, K', where it is securely
held by frictional contact. The tube will rest upon the support or rest, E, and its
inner end will be centered just within the semi-conical dies. For the purpose of
engaging the tube by the bolder, it may first be laid upon the tube rest and then
the feed-screw and its holder moved up to its rear end until it is grasped by the
holder, and then by continued rotation of the feed-screw the tube is gradually
fed in between the semi-conical dies. The upper swaging die being in operation
will quickly swage the end of the tabe into tapered or conical form, which operation
can be completed in this machine with one heat. After the end of the tube is
properly swaged into a conical form, the feed-screw, H, is turned to the left thus
withdrawing the tube from the dies and then the tube is released from its holder by
means of one of the releasing devices above.described.
In case the expansible clutch-plug is being used, the feed-screw is turned back
until the rear flange of such plug strikes upon the bushing, f, which pushes the
expansible plug forward upon its tapered shank, whereby the sections are permitted
to collapse or draw together thereby releasing the tube. In case the conoidal plug
and releasing collar, L, are in use, the backward movement of the feed-screw will
cause such collar, L, to strike against the bushing, for its nut, f¹, which pushes it
forward against the end of the tube thereby forcing it off from the plug.
In case the hollow chuck, K', is being used in the power machine (Figure 14)
the backward movement of the feed-screw will cause the rear end of the plunger-
rod, L', to strike against the fixed stock composed of the screw-rods, L", and
thereby push forward the plunger, " and shove the tube out of the chuck. The
screw-rod, L, either in the hand or power machine, Figures 13 and 14, may be
turned forward to bear upon the plunger rod, L', and thereby force the plunger, ",
against the end of the tube and release it from the socket of the chuck.
The operation of swaging and releasing the tube is quickly performed. A tube
can be readily and quickly placed in the machine; the forward motion of the feed
screw is continuous from the time the tube is inserted until the completion of the
swaging operation; the retrograde movement of the feed-screw is rapidly
performed and is continuous until the feed mechanism is stopped, and the tube on
being released from the chuck may be quickly removed and replaced by a
new one.
The tapered or conical ends imparted to the tubes in this machine can be closed
by welding into a hemispherical form in a subsequent operation by a suitable
machine. The tubes after having their ends closed by welding the metal upon itself
are used in the well known "porcupine boiler."
г
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes the combination with
Ewaging dies of feed mechanism composed of a support such as a cross-bar or
standard having a screw-threaded bearing, a feed-screw in such bearing, a tube-
holder connected to one end of the feed screw and adapted to receive and hold
one end of the tube to be swaged and means for turning the screw, substantially as
described.
2. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes, the combination with
swaging dies of feed mechanism composed of a fixed cross-bar or standard, having
a screw-threaded bearing suitably supported in front of the swaging dies,--a feed-
screw working in such bearing and carrying at its inner end a clutch-plug adapted

page_text: for receiving and holding one end of the tube to be swaged, and a nanale secured to
the feed-screw for operating it as described.
3. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes the combination with
swaging dies of a feed-screw having a tapered shank an expansible clutch-plug, free
to slide back and forth on such shank and composed of two or more sections, held
together by yielding retaining rings and adapted to hold a tube when forced back
and expanded on the tapered shank and to release such tube when forced forward
and collapsed, as described.
4. In combination with the swaging dies and the feeding mechanism in a machine
for swaging the ends of tubes, the extended side bars, means, such as described for
adjusting them out or in for different length tubes to be swaged, and connections
to the cross-bar which supports the feed-screw, substantially as described.
5. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes, the feed-screw, provided at
one end with a tube-holder, such as a clutch-plug or hollow chuck, and mounted in
a screw-threaded bearing in a fixed support, in combination with suitable power
gearing for operating such feed-screw, substantially as described.
6. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes the feed-screw provided
with a tube-holder and mounted in the screw-threaded bearing in a fixed support in
combination with a spur or worm-wheel, connected by a key or feather with the
feed-screw, a pinion or worm meshing with such wheel and a belt pulley secured to
the shaft of the pinion as and for the purpose described.
7. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes an adjustable carriage,
provided with means for supporting the feeding mechanism, in combination with
such mechanism composed of the feed-screw and a tube-holder, and operating
gearing, substantially as described.
8. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes the extended bed-plate
having guide ways, in combination with an adjustable carriage having flanges fitted
to the guide ways, bolts for securing said carriage in any desired position to the
bed-plate, and the feeding mechanism supported on such carriage, as described.
9. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes the extended base or bed-
plate having a longitudinal slot with guide-ways, in combination with an adjustable
carriage supporting the feeding mechanism and power gearing, headed bolts passing
through the bottom plate of said carriage and through the slot in the bed-plate for
securing said carriage in any desired position and the feeding mechanism supported
on the carriage as described.
10. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes, the feed-screw mounted in
a screw-threaded bearing in a suitable support and having secured to its inner end
a tube-holder, in combination with means carried by the feed-screw for automatically
releasing a tube from the holder, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for swaging the ends of metal tubes the feed-screw mounted in
a screw-threaded bearing in a fixed support and having secured to its inner end a
tapered or conoidal plug in combination with a reciprocating collar loosely
connected to the feed-screw and having an enlarged portion overlapping the rear
end of the plug and adapted to automatically release the tube from the plug, as
described.
12. In a machine for swaging metal tubes, a feed-mechanism consisting of a
screw-threaded bearing, a hollow-feed-screw fitted to work in such a threaded
bearing, a chuck at the inner end of the feed-screw provided with a tapering socket
for receiving and holding the outer end of the tube to be swaged, a tube releasing
device consisting of a plunger within the chuck and the plunger-rod passing
through and fitted to slide longitudinally in the hollow feed-screw, substantially as
set forth.
13. In a machine for swaging metal tubes, a feed mechanism consisting of a
screw-threaded bearing, a feed-screw fitted to work in such bearing and provided
with a chuck having a tapering socket, for holding the tube, a worm-wheel fitted
on the feed-screw, a spline and groove connection between the worm-wheel and the

page_text: eed-screw and the worm fitted to rotate in bearings and meshing in the worm-wheel,
Substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of August 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.