AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR Manu- FACTURING METAL TUBES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Quadling and William May, both of
Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex, Civil and Mechanical
Engineers, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR Manu-
FACTURING METAL TUBES."
Sealed the 21st February 1873, and dated the 27th November 1872.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edwin Quadling and
William May at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition and Declaration, on the 27th November 1872,
pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act,
1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWIN
QUADLING and WILLIAM MAY, both of Euston Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil and Mechanical Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL TUBES," and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto us, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declara-
tion that we are the true and first Inventors thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edwin Quadling and William
May, do hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under

page_text: first pair of bending rolls a, the stationary guides 6, the second pair of
bending rolls c, the mandril d, and the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth
pairs of rolls e, f, g, h. And we will now proceed to describe the
peculiar construction and purpose of each of these parts, and the
contrivances for operating the same. i is the driving shaft provided
with fast and loose pulleys ¹, 2ª. The said shaft is supported in suitable
bearings B', formed on or attached to the bed or frame B. j is a pinion
fixed on the said shaft and gearing with the spur wheel k. This wheel
carries a crank pin ³, from which a connecting rod * extends to a
crank pin in the disc fixed on the shaft f¹ of the upper roll f. This
shaft has a similar crank disc on its other end, and from the pins of
these discs connecting rods m extend to crank pins in the wheel n and
disc n¹ carried on the shaft c¹ of the upper roll of the second pair c, and
this shaft is by means of the rods o connected in like manner to the shaft a¹
of the upper roll of the first pair a. By using these connecting rods we
are enabled to dispense with a long train of wheel gearing, and thereby
reduce the weight of the machine and its cost of construction. Instead
of these connecting rods we may use screws or worms and worm wheels.
In these machines as heretofore constructed the effect of the first pair
of rolls is to bend both edges or laps of the metal strip in one direction.
This manner of commencing to form the lap is disadvantageous, as when
the joint is finished one lap has to lie within the other, and consequently
one of the laps so bent must subsequently to its first bending in one
direction be bent in the reverse direction. Therefore in our machine we
commence the formation of the joint by bending the two edges or laps
in contrary directions, so that when the two laps are consequently
brought together one will. lie properly within the other. For this
purpose we construct the first pair of rolls as shewn in Figure 3, that is
to say the ends a³ of the said rolls are bevelled in contrary directions,
and the metal strip thereby receives the shape represented in Figure 6.
For conducting the metal strip to the bending rolls a we use the
guide plate q, which is supported by the bolts q' attached to the frame B.
These bolts are provided with spiral springs which tend to press the said
plate down upon the metal strip passing under it upon the table q³, and
thereby prevent the buckling of the said plate. Instead of this spring
plate we may use an elastic roll.
b
The stationary guides 6 are supported on the bracket b' secured to the
od R
Thais adoos

page_text: between these guides from the line to the line the metal strip
passes through the various shapes represented by the lines 1, 2, 3, 4, in
Figure 4, being left by the said guides with the sectional form shewn in
Figure 9. On the shaft c¹ of the upper roll c are formed small bevelled
lead collars c², which by their action upon the laps bring them from
the shape indicated in Figure 6 to that represented in Figure 7.
The mandril d, as clearly shewn in Figure 2, is made hollow or
tubular. The said mandril has a feather d', which forms a guide and
support for the laps of the metal strip during its passage through the
guides b.
The vertical friction or drawing rolls e, as clearly shewn in Figure 5,
are arranged in combination with the feather d. In this feather and the
upper edges e¹ of these rolls are so shaped that the form of the laps is by
them changed from that shewn in Figure 9 to that shewn in Figure 10,
the said laps being partially pressed down upon the perimeter of the
tube.
The machines described in the said former Specifications when con-
structed to make tubes of a certain size can make them of that size only.
It is however very desirable that the said machine should be capable
of adjustment, so that any one machine can make tubes of various sizes,
and we accomplish this object by making the parts of the machine.
adjustable as herein described. The shafts e* of the rolls e are supported
in adjustable steps ea upon the brackets B³, india-rubber es being inter-
posed between the said steps and brackets to form an elastic support for
the said rolls. The steps e* are provided with screws e', whereby they
are adjusted laterally to set the rolls nearer together or farther apart,
and the said rolls are adjusted vertically by moving them upon their
shafts e*, whereon they are secured by set screws as shewn. '8, 81, are
bevel gear wheels, whereby the rolls e are driven from the shaft &³ which
is geared with the shaft f by the wheels 83. The bevel wheels s¹ are secured
on their shaft 83 by set screws or otherwise, and are adjustable thereon
so that they may follow the rolls e in their adjustment.
The rolls complete the formation of the lap or seam of the tube.
As shewn in the Drawing these rolls have a plain or smooth periphery,
and are designed for forming an inside seam, but if desired they may
be grooved or channelled to form an outside seam on the tube. The
shafts g¹ of the friction or drawing rolls are supported in adjustable
steps which are carried.in a bracket b' extending across the bed B,

page_text: and these shafts are adjustable laterally by means of screws, and
vertically on the shafts as described with regard to the rolls e, a.
cushion g of india-rubber being also interposed between their steps and
the bracket which carries them, to give an elastic support to the said
rolls. t, t, are bevel wheels for driving these rolls; the wheels are
adjustable on their shaft, the said shaft being geared by the wheels
with the shaft h¹.
These rolls
The finishing rolls h are provided with studs for indenting the seam of
the tube, and thereby increasing the security of the same.
may be used or not as desired.
the bed B
Springs u**
Bearing or guide blocks u are attached to the under side of
for supporting the bearings u¹ of the bottom rolls a, c, f, h.
of steel or india-rubber are placed under the bearings u¹, set screws u³.
being so arranged in combination with these springs as to regulate their
pressure, and thereby adapt the rolls to the different sizes of tubes being:
manufactured.
The rolls a are sometimes made telescopic and adjustable on their
shafts by means of screws. The other rolls may be made in two halves.
with removeable rings between them; their size being varied by changing.
the said rings.
By making the various parts of the machine, adjustable as above-
described we are enabled to vary the size of tubes made in the machine
within certain limits without changing the mandril d, but by using
different sized mandrils we can make tubes of any size not exceeding the
capacity of the machine.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we wish it understood that we claim,-
First. In a machine for manufacturing metal tubes the first pair of
rolls with their edges bevelled or inclined, in the peculiar manner set
forth for the purpose specified.
Second. In combination with the said first pair of rolls the spring
presser plate or elastic roll arranged over the feed table, as herein set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. The stationary guides constructed as described, and arranged in
combination with the small rotating bevilled collars, as herein set forth
and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Fourth. Constructing the mandril with a longitudinal rib or feather,
as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The third pair of rolls on vertical shafts, operating in com-
bination with the mandril and the rib or feather on the same, as herein
specified for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. Supporting these rolls and also the fifth pair of rolls in steps
which rest upon india-rubber packing, and making the said rolls
adjustable laterally and vertically by means of the contrivances herein
described, or by other suitable contrivances, for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. Making the rolls telescopic or in two halves, adjustable on
their shafts and providing them with changeable washers or rings
placed between them, as herein set forth for the purpose specified.
Eighth. In a machine for manufacturing metal tubes, communicating
rotary motion from the driving shaft to the different pairs of rolls by
means of connecting rods or by screws, as herein set forth.
Ninth. A machine for manufacturing metal tubes with the rolls and
other parts so constructed and arranged that the said machine may be
adjusted to make tubes of various sizes as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edwin Quadling and William
May, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
G. GASKELL EXTON,
406, Euston Road,
Clerk..
EDWIN QUADLING. (L.S.)
WILLIAM MAY.
(L.S.)