IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER TUBES OR FLUES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND, MANUFACTURE OF THESE AND OTHER TUBES AND FLUES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Wood of Cookley in the County of
Worcester, Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER TUBES
OR FLUES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND, MANUFACTURE OF THESE AND OTHER
TUBES AND FLUES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Wood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY WOOD of Cookley in the County of Worcester. Engineer,
** IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILER TUBES OR FLUES AND IN THE MACHINERY
MANUFACTURE OF THESE AND OTHER TUBES AND FLUES."
23-
AND
My invention has for its object improvements in Boiler tubes and flues and in
the machinery and manufacture of these and other similar Boiler and other tubes
by which I am enabled to give increased strength with less metal and to produce
the tubes & flues with less strain upon the metal during the process of
manufacture.
In constructing the various lengths of Boilers flues which may be made either
concave, convex or both, i-e larger in diameter at the centre of each length than at
the ends. I weld or rivet these lengths together, without any flange formed at
the end, by simply making one sufficiently large to overlap on the other, or by
flanges formed on the ends, either riveted, or welded, or with a ring between them.
In other cases I join the various lengths together by rather a peculiar ring
having thin flanges either welded or riveted to the ends of these rings the thick
body part of the T's forming abutments for the various arches or lengths of the
flue or tube. In other cases I formn each arch by two lengths of plates instead of
one and these I either join together at the crown of the arch by flanges and a ring
or by welding or rivetting the two ends together, without flanges.
In manufacturing flues and tubes I construct a set of two, three or four rolls of
such shape as will be necessary to give the ring or the plate the particular sweep
desired.

page_text: These rolls would be driven in such a manner that either the side rolls, or the
top roll could be adjusted to any required radius. Where the curve is quick and
in either case the faces of the rolls would be constructed partly of revolving rings
which would allow them to travel at various speeds according to the circumference
of each particular part of the roll or rolls. I also provide an adjustable roller or
rollers frictionally revolving or driven by gearing, which may act as a collar, to
the top roll, or be attached to the framing of the machine. These rollers are
adjustable to the width of the plate and act as guides tending by side pressure to
diminish its width and to cause it more readily to take the shape required.
These rollers may be so shaped and arranged as to give the end of each length
of tube the desired form for being connected together. Either the top or other
roll or rolls may be removed, or a part of one end of the frame may be made
removable to facilitate the removal, of the tube flue, or bent plate.
The process of manufacture is as follows:-The various lengths may be first
welded into rings in the usual manner and then passed through the machine, or
the plate may be first passed through the machine and bent to the desired shape
and flanged at the same time, or the rings may be flanged separately and bent
separately on separate machines.
I will now describe another very convenient machine for the manufacture of
these tubes. Between two suitabi standards I fix a base plate, or base, which is
hollowed to contain short rollers, at various frictional parts, and in which the
welded tube sits while it is shaped by the reciprocating action of an
carrying a convex roller or rollers which may be so made and attached to carriages
that the roller would be run back from each end, in a few seconds and as quickly
replaced.
arm
Another mode of making these or other tubes is to place the welded ring in a
divided casing, the inside of which is just the size and shape desired for the
outside of the tube. The plate or welded ring would be made to take the shape of
the casing by means of an internal roller carried by either a reciprocating or
revolving arm, which would be set up against the inside of the tube, as it
gradually assumes the desired shape, or by a mandril made in sections to the size
of the inside of tube on which the tube, or plate could be placed outside, and made
to the desired shape, by means of a concave roller, or rollers which would be set up
against the outside of the plate or tube or flue.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd September 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY WOOD of Cookley in the County of Worcester
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOILER TUBES OR FLUES AND IN THE MACHINERY AND MANUFACTURE
OF THESE AND OTHER TUBES AND FLUES
"
My invention has for its object improvements in boiler tubes and flues and in
the machinery and manufacture of these and other similar boiler and other tubes
by which I am enabled to give increased strength with less metal and to produce
the tubes and flues with less strain upon the metal during the process of
manufacture.
In constructing the various lengths of boiler flues which may be made either
concave, convex or both i.-e larger in diameter at the centre of each length than at
the ends I weld or rivet these lengths together without any flange formed at the
end by simply making one sufficiently large to overlap on the other or by flanges
formed on the ends either riveted or welded or with a ring between them. In
other cases I join the various lengths together by either a particular T ring having
thin flanges either welded or riveted to the ends of these rings the body part of
the T's forming abutments for the various arches or lengths of the flue or tube. In
other cases I form each arch of two lengths of plate instead of one and these I
either join together at the crown or at the arch by flanges and an intermediate
ring or by welding or riveting the two ends together without flanges.
In manufacturing flues and tubes I construct a set of two three or four rolls of
such shape as will be necessary to give the ring or the plate the particular sweep
desired. These rolls are driven in such a manner that either the side rolls or the
top roll could be adjusted to any required ralius. Where the curve is quick the
faces of the rolls would be constructed partly of revolving rings which would allow
them to travel at various speeds according to the circumference of each particular
part of the roll or rolls. I also provide an adjustable roller or rollers frictionally
revolving or driven by gearing which may act as a collar to the top roll or the roller
or rollers may be attached to the framing of the machine. These rollers are
adjustable to the width of the plate and act as guides tending by side pressure to
diminish its width and to cause it more readily to take the shape required. These
rollers may be so shaped and arranged as to give the end of each length of tube
the desired form for being connected together. Either the top or other roll or
rolls may be removed or a part of one end of the frame may be made removeable
to facilitate the withdrawal of the tube, flue, or bent plate.
The process of manufacture is as follows:-The various lengths may be first
welded into rings in the usual manner and then passed through the machine or
the plate may be first passed through the machine and bent to the desired shape
and flanged at the same time, or the rings may be flanged separately on separate
machines.
Another very convenient machine for the manufacture of these tubes is;
Between two suitable standards fix a base plate or base which is hollowed to
contain short rollers at various frictional parts and in which the welded tube sits
while it is shaped by the reciprocating action, of an arm, carrying a convex roller
or rollers which may be so made and attached to carriages that the rollers would
be run back from each end in a few seconds and as quickly replaced.
Another mode of making these or other tubes or flues is to place the welded
rings in a divided casing the inside of which is just the size and shape desired for
the outside of the tube.

page_text: The plate or welded ring is made to take the shape of the onter casing by
means of internal rollers carried by either a reciprocating or revolving arm which
would be set up against the inside of the tube or flue as it gradually assumes the
desired shape. Or a mandril may be made in sections to the size of the inside of
the tube and the plate placed outside this mandril and worked to the desired shape
on the mandril by rollers either concave or otherwise which would be set up
against the outside of the plate or tube or flue.
In order that my various improvements may be more clearly understood and
carried into effect I have appended hereunto drawings of those parts which I have
considered it necessary to illustrate. The other parts would be easily carried out
by those conversant with the trade from the explanations without drawings.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate one modification of the machinery for manu-
facturing boiler tubes and flues such as those described by me in my Specification
No 1749 A.D. 1881.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the rolls and one form of headgear.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the left end of the rolls and framing.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the right end of the rolls and framing.
Figure 4 is a plan of the arrangement.
Figure 5 is a section through the rolls showing a plate during the operation of
bending.
A and B are two housings firmly secured to a suitable bed. C and D are two
concave rolls free to run in suitable journals carried by the housings and these
rolls when necessary may be adjusted as to their distances apart so as to be
accommodated to any specially large variations in the diameters of the flues to be
rolled, but usually this would not be necessary. E is a convex roll which when in
working position is immediately over the centre of the space between roll C and D
as shown in the section of the three rolls Figure 5. Roll C is driven by the
driving wheel F and roll D by suitable gear G, H, J. The working of the machine
in this modification would be as follows: A plate K, K Figure 4 is introduced into
the rolls, which is accomplished by raising roll E sufficiently by any suitable head
gear M, M to allow the plate to pass between. The roll is then gradually lowered
the plate being passed backwards and forwards by reversing gear until it has
assumed a circular shape something like that shown by K Figure 5. Immediately
the plate is thus bent the upper roll E is lifted by suitable elevating head or other
gear until the end E' takes a bearing against the projecting bracket N which
counterbalances the overhanging weight of the roll while it is
iuto a similar
swung
position to that shown in the plan Figure 4. The end L, L, L, L is withdrawn by
the wheel and screw P while the roll E is being swung round. The collars E²
and of the roll E flanges the part K₁ and K2 of the plate K over the ends of the
rolls C and D these ends may be rounded or made to any desired shape. Instead
of the solid collars E and E³ they may be made loose to revolve. In other cases
I use friction adjustable rollers at the ends to flange the plate over instead of the
collars E and E³. These rolls are of course suitable for covexing or concaving
plates without flanging.
Figure 6 illustrates one modification of the way in which I join the various
lengths of my flues together. The rings S are made of T iron bent round and
welded. The tube plates T and T¹ are riveted outside the flanges of the rings.
It will thus be seen that the rings S are connecting abutments for the various
archies formed by the several lengths of plates which constitute the complete
flue. Of course the flanges of ring S may be placed outside the plate T
and T¹.
Figure 7 is a modification of my plan for forming convex flue plates. Each
arch is in this case divided into two parts as U and U¹ which are riveted together
either by a flange or a flat joint as shown by Figure 8 or Figure 9 but they may
be either welded or riveted together. These conical sections with circular or other
sides may be formed in moulds or casings which are in two or more parts as shown
in section by Figure 10 the casing V and V' being in separate parts so as to open

page_text: out and liberate the conical flanged piece W. Generally these sections would be
formed from conical welded tubes placed inside the casing and then worked
into the shape of the mould by internal rolling and manipulating. The flanging
over may also be done by rolling or hammering or partly by each.
These flues would usually be made from steel or wrought iron of superior
quality, but any other suitable metal may be used for the purpose
Having now described my invention of improvements in boiler tubes and flues
and in the machinery and manufacture of these and other similar boiler and other
tubes I would have it clearly understood that do not confine myself to the exact
mode herein described but what I claim is:-
First: The manufacture of boiler and other flues by a combination of convex or
arched plates or rings united one to the other by T rings and as herein set forth
and illustrated by Figure 6.
Second The manufacture of boiler and other flues by a series of conical or
curved taper plates or rings and as herein set forth and illustrated by Figures 7, 8
and 9.
Third: The mode of manufacturing conical curved tubes as herein set forth and
partly illustrated by Figure 10.
Fourth Making convex flues out of one plate by means of convex and
concave rolls as herein described and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Fifth Making convex flanged flues out of one plate or tube by means of convex
and concave rolls in combination with frictional end collars or rollers as herein set
forth.
Sixth The special machinery and tools hereinbefore set forth and illustrated on
the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Henry Wood have hereunto set my
hand and seal this first day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM HENRY WOOD. (L.S.)