IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WELDING AND HAM. MERING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUN BARRELS AND OTHER TUBES
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CORNELIUS WHITEHOUSE, of Wolverhampton and Birmingham, Gun
Barrel Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of June, in the eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Cornelius Whitehouse, my exors, admors, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Cornelius Whitehouse, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Cornelius Whitehouse, my exors, admors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WELDING AND HAM.
MERING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUN BARRELS AND OTHER TUBES,"

page_text: in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
Cornelius Whitehouse, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Cornelius Whitehouse, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in machinery for
welding gun barrels and other tubes, whereby a peculiar process of
hammering by revolving surfaces is made to weld the seam or longi-
tudinal joint. Secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in
machinery for welding gun barrels and other welded iron tubes where
the seam does not run longitudinally. And, thirdly, my Invention
relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for rendering the
interior and exterior surfaces of gun barrels and welded iron tubes equal
and regular.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued
by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
•
Figure 1, shows the side view of a machine arranged suitably for
carrying out the first part of my Invention. Figure 2, is a plan of the
same. a, a, is the framing, the nature of which will readily be traced
on. examining the Drawing. b, is what I call the hammer shaft, which
turns in bearings at 6, 1; and it has an universal joint at 62, as is
shown. c, is a lever, which carries the fore part of the hammer shaft,
and this lever is forked at its back end, and by two necks moves in the

page_text: bearings c', affixed to the framing a, a, and the lever c carries the fore
end of the axis b, by means of the two bearings 63, 63, affixed to the
lever c; hence, by reason of the universal joint 62, and the lever c, the
fore part of the axis b, can rise and fall, and yet receive continuous
rotatory motion. On the hammer shaft b, is fixed two revolving ham-
mers d, suitable for acting according to the first part of my Invention ;
and these rotatory hammers consist each of a rolling surface broken up
into several parts, so that each successive part d', comes down on the
barrel or tube to be welded in a similar manner to a succession of cams.
or excentrics striking against the heated iron, giving a succession of
drawing blows to the surface to be welded, the surfaces striking the
blows having a pressing and rolling action on the iron, so as to move it.
forward, as will readily be understood on a careful examination of the
Drawing. The number of striking surfaces d¹, to any hammer depends
on whether the work is heavy or light; for heavy work I use a revolving
hammer with only two surfaces, as is shown at Figure 3; and according
as the work is lighter and lighter so I use the revolving hammers, Figures
4, 5, 6, or 7, or those shown in the machine, which are for medium..
work or ordinary gun barrels; and if those of of larger diameter, such as
Figures 4, 5, 6, or 7, be used, and consequently heavier, the bearings
or carriages of the necks or axes of the lever c, are to be raised so as to
keep the lever c, in a horizontal position, as is shown in the Drawing.
It will be evident that the hammer shaft as it revolves will rise. and
fall at the front end thereof, as the anvil or surface where the barrel or
tube to be welded is placed remains at the same position. The revolving
hammering surfaces d, are grooved so as to offer rounding hollow
surfaces to the barrels or tubes; but in cases where square tubes are
desired, then the hammer surfaces will be flat. And I would remark
that in some cases I make the rolling surfaces two or three sets side by
side on the same shaft, cach set having different sizes of grooves,..so
that when one set has been used, and the barrel or tube reduced by the
process, the workman may introduce. it to be worked by the next smaller
grooved surfaces. The under surface or anvil may be formed in different
ways; I prefer it to be in one of the two forms e, f, shown in the

page_text: machine, but this may be varied.
e, is a grooved roller under one of the
rotatory hammers shown in the machine, and I prefer that the hammer
shaft should revolve faster than the shaft or axis of the roller e, sup-
posing the roller e, and the rotatory hammer, to be of the same diameter
as is shown. And in order that the other part of the machine may
work when required the axis or shaft of the roller e is made in two
parts, and coupled at e¹, as is shown; and when such description of
anvil or roller e, is used together with a revolving hammer, then, in case
there are several sets of hammers side by side, the roller e must be long
enough, or several of them be used side by side, to correspond with the
grooves of the hammers. The shafts of the hammers d, and the roller e,
are shewn to be geared together by cog wheels, so that by giving motion
to either by means of a steam engine or other power will give motion
to both. In welding a gun barrel or other tube the workman takes a
properly prepared and turned skelp, with the edges, overlapped, and
having heated it to a welding heat, he introduces a mandril, such as is
hereafter described when welding twist gun barrels or tubes, and having
a steel collar or ring thereon (the nature and object of which will be
hereafter explained), and he introduces such mandril into the heated
skelp, and then places it between the hammer and the anvil roller e, so
that the revolution of the surfaces will have a tendency to draw the
barrel or tube through between their grooved surfaces; but the work-
man can from time to time draw the barrel, or the tube, and the man-
dril back in those intervals which take place in the striking of the
highest point of the one hammering surface, and the coming up of the
first point of contact of the next hammering surface, the workman
holding and controlling the end of the mandril for that purpose, so that
he may cause the hammering surfaces to come successively on to the
same or nearly the same surface. ², is a spring which constantly
presses on the upper surface of the lever c, so as to force it downwards,
and keep the rolling hammering surfaces d, to their work. The
Drawing, as before stated, has two revolving hammers d, but they are
not brought into work at the same time, for when one is being used the
other is out of use. And the second revolving hammer works with a

page_text: different arrangement of anvil surface, and it consists of a pair of
holding dies, the jaw f¹ of which is capable of opening and closing so
as to hold and release the barrel or tube, so that it may move forward,
and offer a fresh surface for the next hammering surface. The machine
is so arranged that the back holding die f¹ is moved when the
hammering surface is nearly at its highest position on the tube or barrel
by means of the connecting rods h, h, which are used when the front
rolling hammers d, and the holding dies or tools f, are in work, but are
removed when the other rolling hammers d, and the anvil surface c, is
used; or the two modes of working may be placed in separate machines,
in place of being in the same machine, as shewn. The connecting rods
h, h, are each at one end attached by a pin joint to the back die or
holder f, and at their other ends they take hold of the pins i affixed
on uprights on the ends of the lever c. On one of the necks or axes
of the lever c, is placed a wheel ;, and in order to vary the weight of
the rolling hammer surfaces on the tube or barrel I adopt the following
arrangement :-, l, are two arms with weights on their ends, such
arms being fixed to a loose box on the end of the axis of the wheel j,
and there is a projection from the under side of the box carrying the
axis of a lever k, one end of which has a pin ¹, which is capable of
passing into any one of the holes in the surface of the wheel j, the lever
having at. its other end a weight 2, by which the stop k¹ is con-
stantly borne against the wheel j; and it will be evident that if the
weights remain in the position shown they would not interfere with the
weight of the hammers, because the two weights are equi-distant from
the central axis of motion of the lever c; but if the weights were
brought both behind the axis, then the hammers would be more or less.
counterbalanced; or if the weights were brought both before the axis
then the weights would encrease the weight of the hammers on the
tube or barrel; and therefore the workman nay, as he judges proper,
vary the weight of the same hammers c, so as to act with different
effects at different times. m, is a lever prop or stop for preventing the
wheel coming down on to the anvil surface. When it is desired to lift
the hammer from the tube or barrel and from the anvil; the axis n is

page_text: put in motion by a winch handle, and the pinion o gives motion to the
wheel, and thus raises the hammer. In working with the machine
when with the holding instruments f, the workman, as before, takes the
heated prepared skelp on a mandril, which in the case shown would be
of an oval section, and he introduces one end, and the tendency of the
machine is to carry the tube and mandril through between the hammer-
ing surfaces, d, and the holders f, but the holders will retain it from
movement, excepting just when the hammering comes up to its highest
position, when the tube or barrel and mandril will be momentously re-
leased, and the workman can aid or retard the tendency of the rolling
hammering surface by pressing the mandril forwards or by holding it
back.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention,
which relates to welding gun barrels and other tubes where the joint
or seam runs across the same and not longitudinally. Figure 8, is a plan
of a machine arranged according to this part of my Invention, some of the
parts being in section, in order to show the position of the tube or barrel
when about to be welded. Figure 9, shows a side view of the machine.
This machine consists of two clamping instruments or dies, which
receive and enclose the prepared tube or barrel when at a welding
heat, the interior of the dies being slightly larger than the external size
of the tube or barrel, so that when the dies are closed on the barrel or
tube, the same will not fill the dies. , a, is the framing of the
machine, the nature of which is clearly shown in the Drawing. b, b,
are the two clamp instruments or dies, each of which moves on an axis
at c, c. The tube or barrel d, the seam of which runs across, and not
longitudinally, when at a welding heat, has a mandril e put through it,
first having placed on the mandril a steel collar f, the object of which is
to facilitate the getting the barrel or tube off the mandril, the mandril
being in all cases slightly tapering; and the collar or ring f, also is the
means of compressing the metal of which the barrel or tube is made
into the clamping instruments or dies, and by so compressing it to weld
the seam. The barrel shown is what is called a twist barrel, made in
the ordinary manner, but barrels or tubes may be made by.. welding

page_text: several short tubes or rings; and in fact this machinery is applicable
where the seam is across, not longitudinally, of the barrel or tube, and
the interior of the dies or clamping instruments will be more or less
cylindrical, according as it is desired to obtain the exterior of the tube
more or less cylindrical. The two parts of the dies or clamping
instruments are forced together by means of the cranked levers g, g,
the shorter ends of which press against the sides of the clamping
instruments, and the parts may be held more securely together by the
screws h, h, or the screws only may be used for closing and holding the
dies together; the same may be done by any convenient mechanical
means. The dies, when allowed, will be moved back by the weighted
chains i, i, or by other means. The workman having introduced the
tube or barrel into the dies, fixes the head e¹ of the maudril in the
socket formed in the sliding cross head , and the mandril is capable of
being slided, to. and fro by turning the screwj; hence, when the tube
(with the mandril therein) is in the dies, and the dies closed by turning
the screw j, the mandril, and consequently the steel collar or ring
therein, will be forced into the dies, pushing up the barrel or tube, and
thus compressing it into the dies, by which the seam will be welded,
and when welded the dies are released from external pressure, and then
by reversing the screw j, the mandril will be moved, carrying with it
the barrel or tube thereon; but in reversing the screw j, so as to bring
back the mandril, I apply the cotter e², which passing through the head
el, embraces a neck on the end of the screw j, and connects the cross
head or carriage k, so that those parts may be brought back by
reversing the direction of turning the screw j. In forcing the mandril
into the tube; the head e' bears in the conical socket formed, as shewn,
in the cross head k, so as to take the carriage with it. And so soon as
the steel collar or ring comes against the stops i, 1, the barrel or tube
will be forced off the mandril. The cross head k, slides on the two bars
m, m, and is supported thereby. The stops 1, 1, move on axes ¹, l¹, and
they are coupled together by the link 2, so that moving one of the levers
, moves the other. The screw j, is turned by the handle n, fixed on the
wheel o, which is fixed on the end of the screw j.

page_text: I would here remark that in all cases when I use a mandril for
aiding in the making of the weld of a tube or barrel, I employ a steel
collar or ring on the mandril, in order to aid in getting off the barrel or
tube from the mandril, and the mandril should be got out as quickly as
may be after the weld has been accomplished; and it will be found that
by having the mandril taper, added to the use of a steel ring or collar,
the tube or barrel will readily come off the mandril.
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which has for
its object the finishing tubes by the use of external pressure of rollers
and dies, combined with the use of internal support given by a mandril,
one part of which is of greater diameter than the interior diameter of
the finished tube. Figure 10, is part of a side view of a machine
arranged suitably for performing this part of my Invention. Figure 11,
is a plan, Figure 12, is a side view, and Fig. 13, is an end view of
an arrangement of rollers and dies suitable for performing this part of
the process. Figure 14, is part of a transverse section of the sliding
head which holds the mandril, and which is adjusted to its proper
position by a screw, as hereafter described. The tube having been
welded by any suitable means is to be taken, when at a light welding
heat, and placed over the stem of a mandril, on which there is an
enlarged portion constituting the mandril; and I prefer that this
mandril should be formed as shewn at x, the larger diameter of which
(x) is such as to allow the tube to slide freely over such larger
diameter, and the smaller diameter of the mandril at (2) is to be of
the diameter suitable for producing the diameter desired, the space
between 1 and 2 being of still less diameter than the smaller
diameter of the mandril at a, by which means, when the rollers z, z
press on the tube the seam or joint being pressed on by one of such
rollers, will cause those two sides on which the rollers press to be
carried nearer to each other, so as to require to be again opened out
when passing the head of the mandril at 2, and the rollers y, y, which
are at a distance from the rollers z, z, will press the tube into shape in
those directions; for it will be seen that the tube is not surrounded
with pressure by the rollers, but only partly so, at two points distant

page_text: from each other. And in order to complete the tube in shape the tube
then passes through bell-mouthed dies w, w, (which I prefer to be in
the form shown.) And I would state that, in place of the rollers z, z,
bell-mouthed dies may be used, taking care that the successive dies
only each reduce the diameter of the tube slightly, so that the draft
through the various dies may not destroy the tube. By this arrange-
ment the tubes passing the larger diameter of the mandril ¹, will be
caused to have any inequality removed on the interior. In working
this machine the tube will be drawn off the mandril by a draw bench
or other convenient means, and at the same time be drawn between
the rollers and, and the bell-mouthed die w; and in order that the
mandril may be held correctly I prefer that it should be fixed in a
moving head u, as is shown, such head being moved to and fro by
means of a screw v, but other arrangements of apparatus for such
purpose may be employed. The dies w, are so formed as to carry the
lever handles of the rollers z, and y, and they are linked together so as
that at the closing of the handles of the dies w, the lever handles of
the rollers will be closed also, and in heavy work more than one person
may aid in pressing the handles together; or, in place of having the
whole connected into one apparatus, the parts may be made up and
used as three different apparatus, applying them by different workmen
at the same places.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the man-
ner in which the same is to be performed, I would wish it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the details herein de-
scribed, so long as the peculiar character of my Invention be retained;
nor do I claim any of the mechanical parts separately. But what I
claim is,-
First, the mode of welding tubes or barrels by revolving or rolling
hammering surfaces, as herein described:
Secondly, I claim the mode of welding barrels or tubes where the
seam or weld runs across the barrel or tube: And,
Thirdly, I claim the mode of equalizing tubes by drawing them over
a mandril part of which is of larger diameter than the tube is to be

page_text: finished at, and causing the tube to be reduced to a smaller diameter
as it is drawn off such a mandril.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cornelius Whitehouse, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and forty-five.