Apparatus for Manufacturing Tubes, Pipes, and like Articles from Pulp.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1889
Specification Accepted, 30th Mar.. 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Manufacturing Tubes, Pipes, and like Articles from
Pulp.
I, HORACE JAMES MEDBURY, of the town of Mechanicsville, County of Saratoga,
and State. of New York, United States of America, a 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:-
My Invention relates to machines for making seamless, tubes, pipes or other
analogous articles from paper, wood, or other equivalent pulp, which may be of a
uniform diameter throughout or tapering as desired, and it consists in the peculiar
construction and arrangement of parts adapted to form such tubes or pipes as herein-
after described.
In the drawings:
Figure 1. is a side elevation of the machine embodying my improvements, the
former upon which the pipe is made, and the lifting devices whereby it is lifted
into the molding cylinder, being shown nearly at their lowest position, which position
permits the former to be turned down horizontally, as shown in dotted lines, when
freed from the molding cylinder, the said Figure showing also, in dotted lines, the
elevated position of the lifter and its attached parts, as when the former is fully
telescoped into the molding cylinder.
Figure 2. is a plan view of the lifter or elevator and the rod hinged thereto, which
engages with the lower end of the former.
Figure 3. is a sectional view of the upper part of the molding cylinder and
co-acting parts with the former in position therein, some of the details being
omitted.
Figure 4. is a sectional view of the lower part of the molding cylinder with the
former inserted and locked to the bottom of the molding cylinder.
Figure 5. is a plan view of the upper end of the former.
Figure 6. is a perspective view of a part of the former with its different coverings
partly removed, showing the construction of the same.
Figure 7. is a plan view of the locking device or ring at the bottom of the molding
cylinder.

page_text: The object of my invention is to construct an apparatus whereby tubes or pipes,
irrespective of their diameter or length, may be made from paper pulp, wood pulp,
or other suitable pulp by the aid of hydraulic pressure, the fibres of the pulp being
pressed into tubular or pipe form by pressure applied. substantially at right angles to
the resistance, whereby the strength of the resulting product is greatly increased.
In the drawings, A is a molding cylinder within which the pipe is formed; B is
a former upon which the pipe is formed. The former B is removable from the
cylinder A for the purpose of removing the pipe when made, from it.
C is an
hydraulic cylinder, the water is forced into it through the pipe D, and drawn off
through the pipe E. F is a plunger which is caused to rise through the packed
end of the cylinder C upon the inflow of water through pipe D, as now well under-
stood. G is a cross head attached to the upper end of the plunger F, to which are
attached lifting rods H, H, which, at their lower ends, are attached to a sliding lifter 1;
this lifter encircles the cylinder and is bifurcated at its ends as seen at I, I,
Figure 2. In the bifurcated end rests a hollow connecting link J, which rocks on
the cross bolt K.
Referring now to Figure 4, the link J, is threaded at its upper end, into a block L,
which has bolted or screwed to its upper face another block, M, and into the upper
surface of the block, M, the former B is threaded, as shown. There being preferably
a packing ring N, of rubber or other suitable material between their meeting surfaces.
There is an aperture O extending through the bottom of the former B through the
block M and block L, connecting with the hollow link J, whereby the water expressed
from the pulp, as hereinafter explained, may escape. P is an annular cavity, made
in the blocks M and L, which connects with the pulp inlet pipe Q. This pulp inlet
pipe has a swivel in it or an elastic section as preferred whereby the swinging of
the former from a vertical to a horizontal position may be effected without difficulty.
At the upper end of this cavity P there is an annular opening R, which opens into
the space between the water tight bag hereinafter to be described, and the exterior
of the former B. S is a locking ring, shown in plan in Figure 7, it is held in a
recess in the periphery of the plate N by a holding ring T, screwed or bolted thereto:
This locking ring is provided with four, more or less, cam surfaces U, U, U, U,
see Figures 4 and 7, and also has a handle or lever V, whereby it may be turned,
rotating in the recess before described. W is the base of the forming cylinder
which is bolted to another plate. W', which supports also the upper end of the
hydraulic cylinder C, (see Figure 1). To the under side of this plate W₁ are
attached by bolts or by being cast therewith, as preferred, four downwardly projecting
hooks W2, which engage with the locking ring S when the parts are in position.
The engaging faces of the locking parts U of this ring S, or of the hooks W2, or
both of them, if desired, are cut upon a bevel so as to present a cam like surface
whereby the former and the co-acting parts will be pressed firmly against the base
plate W of the machine when in operation. A¹ is an annular ring which is supported
upon the lower end of the molding cylinder. B¹ is a water tight expandable bag,
which extends from the bottom to the top of the forming cylinder; its lower part is
flanged outwardly, passing over the inwardly presented edge of the ring A', and is
clamped between the plates W and W being firmly held thereby aud the upper end
of this bag, (see Figure 3), is in like manner flanged outwardly its edge being firmly
clamped between a flange C¹ on the upper end of the forming cylinder and a
plate D', which closes the end of the cylinder. E is an annular recess at the lower
part of the forming cylinder which is covered by a strong perforated brass, or other
metal, shield F¹. is the water outlet from the forming cylinder exteriorly of the
bag B', it engages with the annular recess E. His a guide rod fastened centrally
to the capping plate D₁ and having at its upper edge a downwardly presented conical
portion 11, which, in the operation of the apparatus partially enters a hole in the end
of the former B, as hereinafter explained; its attachment to the plate D¹ may be
made adjustable if desired. J¹ is a stop cock placed in the pulp inlet pipe Q, which
may be turned shut to prevent the backward passage of the pulp when hydraulic
pressure is applied, as hereinafter set forth.

page_text: c is a
Referring now to the details of the construction of the former B, having special
reference to Figures 4 and 5. It is a hollow tube preferably, although not necessarily,
cylindrical in shape, in fact, for the purposes of more easily removing the pipe made
upon it; I sometimes prefer that it should be very slightly tapering from its base
towards its upper end, so that when the pipe is once started it may easily slip off. It
may also be of other form than circular in cross section. a, a, a &c., are spiral
grooves cut in the exterior of the metallic former, as shown. They are preferably
separated by a "land" of about the same area as they themselves have and through.
the bottom of these spiral grooves holes bare bored into the interior of the former,
they occur at very frequent intervals in the bottom of the spiral grooves.
perforated metallic plate the perforations in which are quite fine and close together.
It is hugged down close to the surface of the former B resting upon the "lands"
between the grooves. d is an exterior covering of cloth, which should be tough and
strong in texture. The upper end of the former B is closed by a head as shown in
Figure 6, through the centre of which there is a relatively small hole, the sides of
which preferably taper from the exterior of the head inwardly, the inner opening
being such that the rod H', (see Figure 3), will slide easily, but not too loosely therein.
As before stated the former B is hollow and has an opening O at the bottom com-
municating through the blocks M and L and the link J.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that the former is withdrawn
from the molding cylinder as shown in Figure 1, and is in its horizontal position..
The operator lifts the former B into a vertical position during, which act it swings
upon the pivot K in the bifurcated end of the lifter I, (see Figure 2), the water is
then let into the hydraulic cylinder C through the pipe D, moderately at first; as the
cylinder is gradually filled the plunger F is displaced and rises, carrying, by means
of the cross head G, lifter rods H and lifter I, the former B with it. As the former B
slowly rises the lower end of the guide rod H', which is preferably pointed for the
purpose, is entered into the hole in the top of the former B (see Figure 6), as soon
as it has entered therein the water is turned on full force through the inlet pipe D of
the hydraulic cylinder, thereby rapidly lifting the former into the molding cylinder A
and when it reaches its uppermost position, the cone shaped enlargement I' on the
guiding rod H entering the conical bole in the end of the former B accurately
contres it and also seals the said hole, so that no pulp can enter it. Any suitable packing,
preferably metallic; may be employed at this point if desired. As soon as the former has
reached its uppermost position the locking ring S is rotated by the lever V,
thus engaging
the cam shaped locking surfaces U of the ring with the hooks W2 thereby firmly holding
the former in position in the molding cylinder against the hydraulic pressure about to be
exerted. The stop cock J'in the pulp inlet pipe is then opened and the pulp flows
into the annular chamber P through the opening R at its upper part into the space
between the former and the water tight bag B. The orifice R is preferably made
quite small in order that any foreign matter such as chips and the like which may
accidentally get into the pulp shall not enter the space between the former and the
bag B', and also in order that the inflow of the pulp may be smooth and uniform.
The pressure of the inflowing pulp is sufficient to expand the bag b', so that it shall
practically rest against the inner wall of the molding cylinder A throughout, and on
this account I prefer to make, the bag of rubber since it should have considerable
elasticity. As soon as the space between the bag and the former has been completely
filled with pulp, which is determined by the partial cessation of the flow of water
through the link J, thus indicating that the inflow of pulp surcharged with water has
ceased. The stop cock J is shut and the water in the pipe H2, which is under
hydraulic pressure is allowed to enter through that pipe into the space between the
water tight bag B', and the inner walls of the molding cylinder A. This of course
generates hydraulic pressure upon the exterior of the bag and forces it inwardly toward
the former B with substantially equal pressure at all parts and at substantiaily right
angles to the resistance, in other words the former B. During this operation, of
course the fibres of the pulp are compressed with great force into a tubular form upon
the exterior of the former B, the water contained in the pulp passing first through the

page_text: cloth, then through the perforations in the metallic plate c. thence into the spiral
grooves d and through the holes into the interior of the former, thence through the
opening at its lower end, escaping finally through the hollow link J, flowing around
the pivot on which it rocks. The pressure is continued as long as may be necessary,
depending upon the character of pulp employed and the pipe desired. After the
pressing operation has been completed the inflow of water through the pipe H² is cut
off and a cock in the draw off pipe G¹ is opened, the water then escapes from the space
between the bag B' and the inner walls of the molding cylinder A by passing through
the perforated plate F1 into the annular space E¹ and thence out through the draw off
pipe G. When all the water bas thus run off the locking ring S is unlocked, the
draw off pipe e at the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder C is opened, more or less as
will be determined by the rapidity with which it is desired to withdraw the former
with the tube on it from the molding cylinder, and as the water escapes from the
hydraulic cylinder C, the former B and all its co-acting parts descend. When they
have been entirely withdrawn from the molding cylinder the former, having the pipe
upon it, is swung down into a horizontal position and the pipe is withdrawn from the
former, dried in any suitable or preferred manner and when dry it becomes exceedingly
hard and may have screw thread cut in it. It may be turned down on its exterior or
bored out centrally or used rough, just as it comes from the machine, depending
upon the degree of finish desired, or the use to which it is to be put. If the pipe
should stick to the cloth covering of the former it may be loosened sufficiently to
be withdrawn by tapping it with blocks of wood, about the size of an ordinary
brick, on its several sides; there will not be much jar of this character necessary
however.
I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown, since it is obvious
that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
As for instance, the molding cylinder, may be made to move downward.
over the former, instead of the former moving outwardly into the molding cylinder
also other means of drawing off the water from the various spaces or parts may be
employed and other means of guiding the former, and other means of confining
the water tight bag may be employed; also the construction of the former may be
very greatly altered from that shown; nor do I limit myself to a vertically operating
apparatus, it may be arranged horizontally, I prefer however, that during the
construction of the pipe the former should be vertical. There are many other
changes also which may be made in the apparatus without departing from my
invention.
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 1
claim is :-.
First The combination of a molding cylinder, provided with water inlet and outlet
pipes, a removable former adapted to both a vertical and horizontal position, a water
tight bag between the former and the cylinder, a pulp inlet pipe opening into the
space between the former and the water tight bag, and outlets for the water expressed
from the pulp substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second-The combination of a molding cylinder provided with water inlet and outlet
pipes, a removable former provided with locking mechanism whereby it may be held
in position in the molding cylinder, a guide for the former during its insertion into
the molding cylinder, a water tight bag between the former and the cylinder a pulp
inlet pipe opening into the space between the former and the water tight bag and
outlets for the water expressed from the pulp, substantially as set forth.
--
Third The combination of a molding cylinder provided with water inlet and outlet
pipes, a removable former adapted to be placed with the molding cylinder, a water
tight bag between the former and the cylinder, a pulp inlet pipe opening into the
space between the former and the water tight bag, outlets for the water expressed
from the pulp and means for holding the former in the molding cylinder against the
water pressure, substantially as set forth."
.

page_text: :-
Fourth The combination in a tube making apparatus of a perforated former, a
molding cylinder provided with water inlet and outlet, a water tight bag between the
cylinder and the former, a pulp supply. tube opening into the space between the bag
and the former, draw off openings for the water expressed from the pulp and a
hydraulic lift constructed and arranged to place the former within the molding
cylinder, substantially as set forth.
Fifth-The combination in a tube making apparatus of a perforated former, a
molding cylinder provided with water inlet and outlet, a water tight bag between the
cylinder and the former, a pulp supply tube opening into the space between the bag
and the former, draw off openings for the water expressed from the pulp and
a hydraulic lift constructed and arranged to place the former within the molding
cylinder and locking mechanism to hold the former in the molding cylinder against
the hydraulic pressure therein, substantially as set forth.
Ի I
1000
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.