IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INCREASING OR REDUCIng the DIAMETERS OF THE ENDS OF METALLIC TUBES.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samson Fox of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds in
the County of York, Engineer and Ironmaster for an invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INCREASING OR REDUCIng the
DIAMETERS OF THE ENDS OF METALLIC TUBES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samson Fox at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1882.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironmaster, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
INCREASING OR REDUCING THE DIAMETERS OF THE ENDS OF METALLIC TUBES.'
"
In the manufacture of corrugated tubes for the fire boxes and flues of steam
boilers, the ends of such tubes after they have left the rolling mill are subject to
alteration to suit the requirements of engineers using them, in some cases to a less,
and in others to a greater diameter than that of the corrugated part.
Now my present invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for facili-
tating the expansion or contraction of the ends to the desired diameter. For this
purpose I provide a lathe headstock suitably mounted and fitted with a revolving
mandrel and chuck, capable of being driven in either direction by a suitable
arrangement of gearing, one direction being for expanding and the other for con-
tracting. The said chuck is provided with a number of radial guide slots on its
face which carry a corresponding number of sliding blocks, each having a stud and
revolving boss or roller projecting therefrom, these revolving bosses or rollers are
furnished with anti-friction rollers between their studs and their interior peripheries
so that the use of lubricating material between the said bosses or rollers and studs
may be dispensed with.
The bosses or rollers may be so formed as to make the expanded or contracted
part of the tube under operation either of a parallel or conical form. I effect the
expanding and contracting movement of the sliding blocks and rollers by mounting

page_text: a circular plate (having spur teeth on its periphery) immediately behind the afore-
said chuck in such wise that it is free to revolve on the boss thereof. This circular
or back plate has a helix or spiral formed on that surface next the aforesaid chuck,
studs or other suitable projections on the said sliding blocks take into the helix or
spiral, and are moved radially thereby during a differential motion which is com-
municated to the said back plate by a suitable arrangement of gearing in connection
with the teeth on the periphery of the said chuck and those on the back plate.
The said gearing is capable of being disengaged from the chuck and backplate at
pleasure or when the expansion or contraction of the end of a tube has been
completed.
In lieu of a helix or spiral on the above-mentioned backplate, tangential or
eccentric curvilinear slots therein may be used for effecting the radial movement of
the sliding blocks and rollers, or the backplate may be dispensed with, or screws,
may be used placed radially in the slots of the chuck, taking into the said sliding
blocks, the said screws being connected together by suitable gearing in the centre
of the chuck or otherwise and which may either receive a toppet motion at their
outer ends as the chuck revolves-or-be-connected to a differential motion capable
of. being disengaged as required
When the end of a tube is required to be expanded or contracted I cause the
said end to be heated all round and-in order that it may be held in a position
directly opposite to and concentric with the aforesaid chuck and expanding or
contracting rollers, I mount on a suitable bed or gauntry two or more gripping
vices each having simultaneously moving jaws, tho gripping parts of which are of
a form suitable for holding the tube whilst being operated upon. These vices may-
be either separate or connected and are capable of being moved along the bed or
gauntry so as to bring-the-tube-in_an_endwise direction to a position proper for
being operated upon. On the chuck and rollers now being set-in-motion_the_
expansion or contraction (as the case may be) proceeds until the end is brought to
the diameter required when the differential motion of the back plate of the chuck
is arrested by withdrawing its driving gear and that to which it is attached,
respectively from the teeth on the periphery of the said back plate and those on
the chuck, or by reversing the motion of the chuck and so causing the rollers to
recede from contact with the tubo prior to its removal from the machine.
This machinery or apparatus may also be used for expanding or contracting the
ends of plain tubes.
After the expansión and contraction of the end of a tube has been effected as
above described and in order to ensure the end being of a comparatively circular
forin and of the exact size suitable for joining to any other similar tubes or to
other parts of boilers to which tubes require to be adapted I use a suitable blocking
apparatus consisting of an exterior ring or die in parts, which I cause to approach
and surround the tube after being placed in position, this ring or die may be so
formed as to admit of liners for various sizes of tubes to be operated upon, or a
separate ring or die may be used for each size. Beneath this said ring or die I use
a rising and falling platform for adjusting the tubes in an endwise position
within the said ring or die and when a tube is mounted therein I cause a plug
or mandrel to be forced into the end thereof by steam, hydraulic or other
pressure.
This operation may be performed while the tube is either in a hot or cold state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent fled
by the said Samson Fox in the Great Seal Patont Office on the 11th Octobor
1882.
SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge New Wortley, Leeds in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironmaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
INCREASING AND REDUCING THE DIAMETERS OF THE ENDS OF METALLIC TUBES
"
In the manufacture of corrugated tubes for the fire boxes and flues of steam
boilers, the onds of such tubes aftor they have loft the rolling (corrugating)
mill, are subject to alteration to suit the requirements of Engineers using them,
in some cases to a less, and in others to a greater diameter than that of the
corrugated part.
Now my present invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for facilitating
the expansion or contraction of the ends to the desired diameter.
For this purpose I provide a lathe headstock, or its equivalent, suitably mounted
and fitted with a revolving mandrel and chuck capable of being driven in either
direction by a suitable arrangement of gearing, one direction being for expanding,
and the other for contracting. The said chuck is provided with a number of
radial guide slots on its face which carry a corresponding number of sliding blocks
These
each having a projecting stud and revolving boss or roller theroon.
revolving bosses or rollers are furnished with anti-friction rollers between their
respective studs and their interior peripheries, so that the use of lubricating
material between the said bosses or rollers and studs may be dispensed with. The
bosses or rollers may be so formed as to make the expanded or contracted part of
the tube under operation either of a parallel or conical form. I effect the expanding
and contracting movements of the sliding blocks and rollers by mounting a circular
plate (having spur teeth on its periphery) immediately behind the aforesaid chuck
in such wise that it is free to revolve on the boss thereof-This circular or back
plate has a helix or spiral formed on that surface next to the aforesaid chuck;
studs or other suitable projections on the said sliding blocks take into the helix or
spiral and are moved radially thereby during a differential motion which is
communicated to the said back plate by a suitable arrangement of gearing in
connection with the teeth on the periphery of the said chuck and those on the
back plate. The said gearing is capable of being disengaged at pleasure or when
the expansion or contraction of the end of a tube has been completed.
In lieu of a helix or spiral on the above mentioned back plate, tangential or
eccentric curviliner slots therein may be used for effecting the radial movement, of
the sliding blocks and rollers, or the back plate may be dispensed with, and screws
may be used placed radially in the slots of the chuck, taking into the said sliding
blocks, the said screws being connected together by suitable gearing in the centre
of the chuck or otherwise, and being arranged either to receive a tappet motion at
their outer ends as the chuck revolves, or to be connected to a differential motion
capable of being disengaged as required.-When the end of a tube is required to
be expanded or contracted, I cause the said end to be heated all round, and in
order that it may be held in a position directly opposite to and concentric with the
aforesaid chuck and expanding and contracting rollers, I mount on a suitable bed
or gauntry two or more gripping vices each having simultaneously moving jaws,
the gripping parts of which are of a form suitable for holding the tube whilst being
operated upon. These vices may be either separate or connected and are capable
of being moved along the bed or gauntry so as to bring the tube in an endwise
direction to a position proper for being operated upon. On the chuck and rollers

page_text: now being set in motion the expansion or contraction (as the case may be) proceeds
until the end is brought to the diameter required, when the differential motion of
the back plate of the chuck is arrested by the withdrawing its driving gear and
that to which it is attached, respectively from the teeth on the periphery of the
said back plate and those on the chuck, or by reversing the motion of the chuck
and so causing the rollers to recede from contact with the tube prior to its removal
from the machine.
This machinery or apparatus may also be used for expanding or contracting
the ends of plain tubes.-After the expansion and contraction of the end of a tube
has been effected as above described, and in order to ensure the end being of a
comparatively circular form and of the exact size suitable for joining to any other
similar tubes or to other parts of boilers to which tubes require to be adapted, I use
a suitable blocking apparatus consisting of an exterior ring or die in parts, which I
cause to approach and surround the tube after being placed in position, this ring
or die may be so formed as to admit of liners for various sizes of tubes to be
operated upon, or a separate ring or die may be used for each size.-Beneath this
said-ring.or die I use a rising and falling-platform_for_adjusting the tubes in an
endwise position within the said ring or die, and when a tube is mounted therein,
I cause a plug or mandrel to act on the insido thereof by steam, hydraulic or other
pressure. This operation may be performed while the tube is either in a hot or
cold state.
In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, Fig. 1. sheet 1, is a plan of a
machine or apparatus according to my invention for increasing or reducing the
diameters of the ends of tubes, Fig 2. a front elevation. Fig 3. a rear end elevation.
Fig. 4, a cross-sectional elevation on the line 1, 1, Figs 1, and 2.-Fig 5. is a front
view of the back plate of the chuck-D, with a helix or spiral on the face thereof,
Figs 6 and 7, shew in front elevation and cross section the revolving-bosses-or-
rollers for acting on that part of a tube which has to be expanded or contracted,
Figs 8, to 14 Sheet 2. shew modifications in the apparatus for moving the sliding
blocks of the chuck carrying the expanding bosses or rollera.
In Figs. 1 to 14, like letters of reference represent like parts, A, is the bed or
gauntry upon which is mounted the other parts of the machine, B, is the head-
stock, C, the revolving mandrel carrying the chuck D, E, E, radial slots into
which are fitted the sliding blocks F, for carrying the projecting studs G, and the
rollers or bosses H, I, are antifriction rollers between said studs and the interior
peripheries of said bosses or rollers H, shewn in detail in Figs. C and 7.-J, is the
driving pulley on the shaft K, on which also is the pinion L, the teeth of which
take into those on the periphery of the chuck D, and impart a rotating motion
thereto; M, and N, are loose or carrying pulleys for an open and crossed strap
respectively for causing a forward and backward notion of the chuck as desired.
O, is the backplate of the chuck having a helix or spiral on the front or face
thereof as shewn in Fig. 5; and in section in Fig: 2, the sliding blocks F, having
projections F 1. at the back taking into the grooves of the said spiral on plate 0,-
The plate O, is so mounted as to turn freely on the boss of the chuck D, and is
provided with teeth on its periphery,-P, and Q, are pinions either formed in one
piece or so constructed that they revolve together freely on the stud R, and have
inotion imparted thereto by the teeth of the chuck D,-these pinions P, and Q are
capable of being disengaged from D, and O, on the completion of the expanding or
contracting operation, A difference in the respective numbers of the teeth in the
chuck D, and plate O, or of those of the pinions Q, and R, or in all the four
D, O, Q, R, causes the back plate O, to rotate quicker or slower relatively than
the chuck D, as the case may be, and by the action of the helix or spiral of the
plate O, on the sliding blocks F, carrying the bosses or rollers H, the latter are
caused to act on the ends of the tubes so as to expand or contract them as desired-
Instead of disengaging the pinions P, and Q, on the completion of the expanding
or contracting operation as above described, the motion of the chuck D, may be
reversed by the beforementioned crossed and open straps, and thus cause the bosses

page_text: or rollers H, to recede from contact with the tube under treatment and to be in a
position for receiving another.-Fig. 8. sheet 2, is a modification of the chuck D,
shewing the back plate O, with tangential slots S, for the movement of the sliding
blocks F, Fig. 9 shews another modification of the said chuck D, and back plate O,
the latter having eccentric curvilinear slots S, for the above movement.-Fig. 10,
shews the chuck D, and the back plate O, partly in section corresponding with
Figs. 8 and 9-Fig. 11, is another modification of the chuck D, in which tho
sliding blocks F, are moved by radial screws T, actuated intermittently by a star
wheel U, coming into contact during the rotating motion of the chuck D, with a
fixed stud, the radial screws T, are connected by bevil gearing at the centre of the
chuck, Fig. 12, shews a faco view of the same. Figs 13, and 14, shew another
inodification of the chuck D, having radial screws and gearing same as shown in
Figs, 11 and 12. but having a differential train of gearing V, W, X, Y, at the back
of the headstock B, for actuating the radial screws T, by means of a shaft Y',
passing up the centre of the mandrel C, (which in this case is hollow) and com-
municating with the bevil gear of the said radial screws T, thus forming a
continuous expanding or contracting movement which is capable of being dis-
engaged at pleasure by the hand wheel Z, disconnecting the the two members of
the train W, and X, from each other-The tube under operation is represented by
clotted lines a, b, b, are two cross saddles forming portions of the gripping vices
for holding the tubes whilst being operated upon. These cross saddles are fitted
upon and are capable of being moved along the bed or gauntry A, by means of
the rack pinions e, and racks f, in order to bring a tube end wise to a position
proper for being acted upon by the expanding and contracting rollers H. Upon
these cross saddles b, b, are mounted the sliding parts c, to which are attached
the gripping jaws d, The parts c, and d, are capable of being moved to and from
each other simultaneously by the hand wheels g, gearing h, and screws i,
Fig. 15, Sheet 3, is a sectional elevation of an apparatus for "blocking" or
adjusting the ends of tubes after the expanding and contracting operation has b.en
perforined.
is
Fig. 16, is a plan of the upper part shewing the external ring or dies j, in parts,
one of is shewn fixed and the others capable of being caused to approach and
surround the end of a tube by means of the screws -, is a plug or mandrel
(in parts) for acting on the inside of tubes and pressing the samo tightly within
the said ring or dics j, and giving to such tube the final form and size required,
The said plug or mandrel 2, is formed with inclined parts at m, which are acted
upon by corresponding inclined sides of the tup n, Fig. 18, of a steam haminer or
hydraulic or other power. If preferred the tup n, may be of a conical form, o,
a platform upon which the tube rests whilst under the blocking operation, and
which is capable of being adjusted in position by the handle p, gearing q, r, s, t,
and screw u,. to suit the length of tube under operation, the wheel t, has an
internal screw thread in which the screw u, takes, v, is a cylinder or packing piece
mounted in a concentric position upon the platforin o, for supporting the plug or
mandrel, such cylinder or packing pieco being formed lengthwise in sections, so
that any part may be removed as required to suit the length of tube under
operation. Fig. 17, is a plan of the bottom part of this apparatus shewing the
foundation plato w, and the gearing 7, 8. t,-, is a tube under operation.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as secured to me by the
Letters Patent, herein before in part recited is
1,-Altering the diameter of the end of a metallic tube whilst hot, by the use
in conjunction for holding such tube, of rollers acting upon its ends, such rollers
being mounted on a chuck on a lathe headstock or equivalent and being caused
while acting on the tube end to travel relatively to the tube in a path that is the
resultant of two motions, namely (a) a circular motion concentric with the tubo

page_text: under treatment, and (b) a-motion inclined or perpendicular to the periphery of
the said tube, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a machine for altering the diameter of the ends of metallic tubes, the
respective combinations and arrangements of mechanism for automatically moving
the rollers H, in paths inclined or perpendicular to the periphery of the tube under
treatment, substantially as described with reference to and illustrated respectively
in Figs 1. 2. 3, and 5, in Figs 8, 9, and 10,-in Figs 11, and 12. and in Figs, 13.
and 14. of the drawings
3. The improved machine for increasing and reducing the diameters of the ends
of metallic tubes, constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described
with reference to Figs 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings.
4 The use in combination for blocking and adjusting to size and forin, the ends
of metallic, of an exterior ring or die in parts which can be caused to approach
and surround the tube after being placed in position, a plug or mandrel to act on
the inside of the tube and a rising and falling platform for adjusting the tube in an
Lendwise direction within the above-named ring or die, substantially as described.
-5. The combination-of-parts-constituting the improved apparatus for blocking
and adjusting to size and form the-ends of metallic tubes substantially_as_described
with reference to Figs 15, 16, and 17 of the drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samson Fox have hereunto set my hand and
seal this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
--eight-hundred and eighty two.
Witness to the signature of the
said-Samson Fox,
Tho. E CRAVEN C.E
Patent Agent
24 Victoria Chambers
South Parade
Leeds.
-SAMSON FOX. (LS.)