Improvements in Machines for Forming Dove-tail Edges on Plates to be used in the Manufacture of Rivetless Pipes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec.,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1898-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1898
Improvements in Machines for Forming Dove-tail Edges on Plates to
be used in the Manufacture of Rivetless Pipes.
I, MEPHAN FERGUSON, of The Olderfleet, Collins Street, Melbourne, in the
Colony of Victoria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of rivetless pipes from sheets of
metal whose longitudinal edges are formed into a dove-tail after which they are
curved so as to form the half or other arc of a circle and are then placed face to
face with their concave surfaces opposite each other. A length of H iron is then
placed between the adjacent dove-tail edges of said plates and closed down over.
said dove-tail edges so as to complete the manufacture of the pipe.
Now my present invention relates to machines for forming said dove-tail edges
on the plates of which these rivetless pipes are constructed.
The machines which I have devised for effecting this operation are constructed
with a substantial bed or base which is preferably divided longitudinally and has
provision for the insertion of a distance piece between the two halves in' order
that the width of the machine may be varied to suit the different widths of plates
to be operated upon. The two halves of this bed rest upon strong transverse
bearers to admit of their distance apart being adjusted as required.
Planed guide-ways are provided upon the bed to receive a travelling saddle or
carrier which is also made in two parts connected together by stout screw-threaded
bolts or distance bars.
Upon each half of this travelling saddle or carrier a number of upsetting rollers
are arranged each slightly in advance of the other in order that their effect may
gradually be increased until the desired dove-tail or amount of upsetting has been
accomplished.
By preference I use six plain and two flanged rollers the latter being arranged
behind the former and formed with slightly concave faces in order to give a
slight convexity to the edge of the plate. These rollers are made of very high-
carbon, chrome, nickel or other tool steel or metal possessing hard-wearing
qualities.
Preceding and attached to the saddle or carrier above described is another
smaller saddle carrying two pairs of shearing rolls or cutters, or, if preferred, a
set of two or more ordinary planing or shaping machine tools in order to ensure
the edges of the plate being planed parallel before being acted upon by the
upsetting rolls and, if thought desirable, to point or otherwise shape the edges of
the plates. This auxiliary saddle or carrier might be provided with the necessary
tools for that purpose.
Motion is imparted to the saddles or carriers preferably through the medium of
screw-threaded rods extending from end to end of the machine and driven by
mitre or other gearing, said screw-threaded rods being passed through correspond-

page_text: ingly threaded nuts on one or other of said saddles and in order that the screws
may be steadied at intervals along their length I use moving supports arranged
beneath them which travel at about one-half the speed of the carriers or saddles.
These supports are caused to travel automatically by screw-threaded rods to
which motion is imparted by spur or other gearing from the main screws above
referred to.
These said main screws are provided at their leading end with roller or other
bearings and are driven by belts or otherwise from a steam engine or other source
of motive power through mitre or other gearing.
Small hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are mounted upon the under-side of
stout girders extending longitudinally of the machine and said cylinders are
provided with rams or pistons which can be forced down on to the plate under
treatment so as to hold it firmly down on to the bed of the machine and, if found
desirable, rigid stop pièces can be provided upon the surface of said bed to hold
the plate against the travel of the upsetting rolls.
In lieu of these latter other suitable contrivances might be used for upsetting
the edges of the plates, for instance the same results might be accomplished by
means of a hydraulic or pneumatic hammer with the addition of one or more rollers
arranged to give the necessary finish to the edges of the plates.
It will be evident that the machine above described might be modified by
causing the plate to travel whilst the upsetting rollers or other tools remain
stationary in which case a pair of vertical rollers are provided between each pair
of horizontal upsetting rolls the upper one of said vertical rolls being mounted
in vertically adjustable bearings which are kept to their work by a spring and
adjusting screw in order to hold the plate in the required horizontal plane for the
upsetting rolls to act upon it. These latter rolls are carried upon inwardly
adjustable slides and their positions are adjusted to sufficiently upset the edges of
the plates and they are arranged one slightly in advance of the other in the
direction of the travel of the plate. The width of the upsetting rolls can be
increased by the insertion of a filling disc if they are required to treat plates of
increased thickness. The plate may be drawn between the upsetting rolls above
described in various ways, as for instance, by means of an endless travelling chain
to which motion can be imparted from any convenient source of power through
the medium of sprocket or other gearing. The plate is connected to this travelling
chain in some convenient manner, as for instance, by a pair of grippers or tongs
having a pivoted hook or catch at one end which can be dropped into engagement
with one of the links of the chain and which will automatically release itself when
it reaches the end of its travel.
Dated this Thirtieth day of October One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
Improvements in Machines for Forming Dove-tail Edges on Plates to 45
be used in the Manufacture of Rivetless Pipes.
I, MEPHAN FERGUSON, of The Olderfleet, Collins Street, Melbourne, in the
Colony of Victoria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
This invention relates to the manufacture of rivetless pipes from sheets of metal
whose longitudinal edges are upset or thickened into a dove-tail or approximately
dove-tail shape after which they are bent into a semi-circle or other arc of a
circle and are then coupled together by closing down the sides of a locking bar
of section so as to grip said thickened edges.
My present invention consists in a machine constructed as hereinafter described
whereby said longitudinal edges of said plates after having been planed are upset
or thickened.
In order that it may be clearly understood I will describe it by reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention
with part broken away in order to reduce its length to more convenient proportions.
Figure 2 is an elevation of one end of said machine, whilst,--
Figure 3 is a similar view of the opposite end.
Figures 4 to 19 are views of various details hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout
the drawings.
A A represents a substantial bed or base resting upon cross beams or girders a
bedded upon some suitable foundation. This bed or base A A is preferably
divided longitudinally in order that its width may be adjusted to suit different
widths of plates to be operated upon, stout distance pieces or blocks A¹ being
inserted between the two halves of the bed A to retain them the requisite distance
apart.
The two halves A A of the bed are formed with planed undercut guide ways a¹
These two
along each of which an upright casting B is arranged to slide.
castings are connected together by four stout screw-threaded bolts or distance
bars and form a travelling saddle. Said bolts are fitted with nuts b¹ whereby
the two castings B may be clamped and held rigidly at such a distance apart from
each other that they will be free to slide along the guide ways al on the bed A
but will not be jammed against them and thus cause undue friction and waste
of power.
Upon each of the castings B a number of upsetting rollers C are mounted as
illustrated in Figure 7 said rollers being mounted each in the end of a stout
rod projecting from holes provided for the purpose in the castings B and
less by
or
more
adapted to be moved outwards
threaded rod 2 fitted with a nut working within a recess formed
in the casting. The rear ends of the screw-threaded adjusting rods &
are squared or otherwise sided as ilustrated at and
threaded to receive a small lock-nute whereby they may be locked in
position. The rods c¹ carrying the rollers may be clamped by a set screw c' the
lower end of which projects into a small groove formed in the top of said rod.
The upsetting rollers C are arranged so that each one projects slightly further
from the carrier A than the preceding roller.
means of
ab Screw-
are also screw-
A pair of vertically arranged rollers D are mounted upon the ends of a pair
of small levers d which are fulcrummed upon set screws & upon the rear face of
each casting B so that they occupy a position one immediately above and the other
immediately below the edge of the plate to be operated upon as illustrated in
Figure 9. A strap encircles the outer ends of these two levers d and the upper
end of said strap is provided with a set screw ³ whereby the distance between the
two rollers DD can be adjusted to a nicety so as to determine the ultimate thick-
ness of the edge of the plate. A lock-nut is provided as shown for the purpose
of securing this set screw in the desired position.
In front of and connected to each half of the saddle B is a smaller saddle E
which is constructed as illustrated in Figures 1, 4, 6 and 10 so that it can bei

page_text: moved along the undercut guides a¹, a removable and adjustable block e being
provided, for ensuring a good fit against said guides.
Suitable cutter holders f are fitted in recesses provided to receive them in the
saddle E, said holders being formed at the outer ends with slots to receive small
vertical cutters F. The outer ends of these cutter holders f are turned at right
angles as illustrated in Figure 6 so that they bear one against the other and thus
assist in strengthening each other. Set screws f extend through the saddles E
and bear against the ends of each cutter holder f in order that said cutters may
be set each slightly in advance of the preceding one by which means successive
cuts will be taken off the edges of the plate until its width is reduced to the
extent required.
The saddles B B and E E are moved along the guide ways a by a long screw-
threaded shaft G on each side of the machine. This screw-threaded shaft G is
mounted in bearings g g¹ at each end and passes through a nut H in the saddle B.
The bearings g g for the screw-threaded shaft G are of ordinary construction
but the end of said shaft terminates in a flange g² illustrated in Figures 1 and 11
between which and the bearings g¹ are two steel rings or collars 3 each formed
with an annular race g in their adjacent faces. In these races are placed a number
of radial conical rollers g³ whereby the pull of the screw-threaded shaft G is
taken up without causing undue friction.
The nuts H fit within the lower parts of the castings B and are made in
halves bolted together as illustrated in Figure 4 in order that they may be
fitted upon the screw-threaded shafts G. To prevent their rotation these nuts
are made square at the centre as illustrated in order that a locking piece h may
be inserted between said squared portion and the under side of the castings B.
It will be readily understood that owing to the length of the screw-threaded
shafts G some means must be provided for supporting them in addition to the
bearings at each end and these supports must be so arranged as not to interfere
with the travel of the saddles B, E. I accomplish this by mounting another
smaller screw-threaded shaft I in bearings on the sides of the bed A underneath
the main screw shaft G and I make the pitch of the screw threads on these
shafts I just one half the pitch of the threads on the main shafts G.
JJ represent travelling supports two of which are provided on each side of the
machine for the screw-threaded shafts G to rest upon. These supports hang upon
planed guides provided for the purpose along each side of the bed A as
illustrated in Figure 12 and they are each provided with a nut made in halves
as illustrated in Figure 13 to enable them to be clamped upon the shafts I.
upper part of each of these travelling supports is provided with a pair of anti-
friction rollers upon which the screw-threaded shafts G rest and whereby said
shafts are supported the rollers allowing said shafts to revolve without effering
much frictional resistance to them.
The
As the pitch of the threads on the shaft I is one-half the pitch of the threads on
the shafts G these supports J will travel at one-half the speed of the saddles B
and E the effect being that one of the supports J will always be in a position
about mid-way between said saddles and the ends of the machine consequently
at no part of the operation will more than one-half of the screw-threaded shafts Ġ
be unsupported.
The metal plate whose edges are to be planed and thickened is laid upon the
bed A so that it slightly overhangs the central part thereof on either side. It
is held in position by two beams or girders K extending from end to end of the
machine and coupled together by cross pieces at convenient intervals. Under-
neath these beams or girders are fixed lengths of wood or other packing material
as indicated at in Figures 3 and 9. Provision is made for drawing down these
beams K in order to clamp the metal sheet upon the bed A as well as for raising
them from off said plate when it is desired to remove same from the machine. To
effect these objects a pair of hydraulic cylinders L M are provided at each end

page_text: of the beams the former being of larger diameter than the latter and being pro-
vided with a piston as illustrated in Figure 14 connected rigidly to the cross
pieces said piston being provided with a cup leather whilst the piston rod 1³
passes through a gland at the upper end of said cylinder.
The cylinders M for raising the beams K are fitted with solid rams or
plungers m having inverted cup leathers m² at their lower ends. The two
holding down cylinders L are connected together to a pipe leading to one of
the ports of a hydraulic reversing valve N of any preferred construction such
for instance as is shown in Figures 16 and 17, whilst the two raising cylinders M
are connected together by a pipe m³ to another port m of said reversing valve.
This latter is provided with an exhaust n and with an inlet n' for the power water
to be obtained from any convenient source of supply. This reversing valve is
fitted with a plunger 2 adapted to be raised and lowered by means of an operating
lever whereby the power water may be fed into the raising cylinders M or
into said raising cylinders as well as into the holding down cylinders L or
whereby said holding down cylinders may be placed in communication with the
exhaust port n.
The screw-threaded shafts G and I are driven by spur gearing as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2, 0 being a main shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings
and is fitted with two sets of fast and loose pulleys o¹ o A small pinion o³ on
this shaft gears with a spur wheel of on one of the shafts G. This spur wheel
gears with a corresponding idle spur wheel which is mounted on a vertically
adjustable bearing in the centre of the machine and gears with another spur
wheel of on the opposite shaft G. The reason for mounting the intermediate spur
wheel o on a vertically adjustable bearing as illustrated in Figures 18 and 19
is because of the necessity for varying the width of the bed of the machine
and the distance between the halves of the saddle B. This vertical adjustment
is readily accomplished by bolting a bracket of (see Figures 18 and 19) upon
the end of the bed of the machine, holes 8 being provided in said bracket at
certain distances apart to enable the bearing to be secured at the desired height.
The shafts I are driven from the shafts G through the medium of spur
gearing.
It is necessary to provide means for stopping and reversing the machine when
the saddles B E have reached either end of their stroke. This is accomplished
by providing belt shifting contrivances P in connection with the pulleys o¹, 02
and by connecting said contrivances to a striking lever P p at each end of
the machine pivotted stops or buffers 222 being provided upon each of said
levers for the saddles B E to contact with at the end of their stroke.
The operation of my invention is as follows;-
The plate whose edges are to be planed and thickened is laid upon the bed A A
so that its edges overhang slightly on either side and is held firmly by operating
the valve N so as to admit power water into the cylinders L. The saddles BE
having been previously moved back to the right hand end of the machine are
drawn forwards by shifting the driving belt on to the fast pulley of the set o¹.
This rotates the screw-threaded shaft G and thus causes said saddles to travel.
The first cutter F removes some of the inequalities from the edge of the plate and
each succeeding cutter takes another cut until the plate is reduced to the exact
width required. The rollers C then come into operation and gradually upset
the edges of the plate until it is dove-tail or approximately dove-tail shaped in
cross section-after which the two rollers D) true up the thickened edge of the
plate and reduce it to a uniform thickness.
When the saddles B E have travelled along the full length of the plate the
front of one of the saddles E comes in contact with the buffer p³ forces back the
upper ends of the levers p¹ and shifts the belt on to the idle one of the set
of pullies o and the other belt on to the fast one of the set of pullies o² thus
reversing the motion of the screws G and returning the saddles B and E to the
opposite end of the machine,

page_text: The valve N is operated so as to put the cylinders L in communication with the
exhaust leaving the cylinders M in communication with the power water inlet
thus raising the holding down beams or girders K and allowing the plate to be
removed and another one to be placed in position ready for a fresh operation.
It will be understood that as the saddles B and E are moved in either direction
along the bed the travelling supports J will follow at half the speed as above
described and thus the screw G will be effectively supported.
In case of very narrow plates being required to be operated upon two of them
can be laid side by side on the bed A or the distance blocks A' of varying widths
can be placed between the two halves of the bed the nuts on the tie-bolts b being
adjusted to regulate the widths of the saddles as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. The herein described machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-
tail edges on plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes consisting
essentially of the various parts constructed arranged and operating substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes a bed (such as A) made in
two parts longitudinally with distance pieces (such as A¹) and having planed
guide ways (such as a¹) substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes a travelling saddle (such
as B) comprising two castings adapted to slide along planed guideways and
connected together by tie-bolts (such as b) substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes a travelling saddle or
saddles (such as B E) fitted with a set of cutters (such as F) arranged slightly in
advance of each other together with a set of correspondingly arranged rollers (such
as C) substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes the combination with a
holding down beam ou beams or girders (such as K) of a pair or pairs of hydraulic
cylinders (such as L M) the one to draw down and the other to raise said beam or
beams substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes a screw-threaded shaft (such
as G) in combination with a travelling support or supports (such as J) moved at or
about one-half the speed of the saddle or saddles operated by said screw-threaded
shaft substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes a screw-threaded shaft
(such as G) for operating the tool carrying saddle or saddles in combination with
a set of conical anti-friction rollers (such as g³) bearing against the face of a
collar on said shaft substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a machine for forming dove-tail or approximately dove-tail edges on
plates to be used in the manufacture of rivetless pipes a pair of vertically adjustable

page_text: rollers (such as D) for regulating the thickness of the upset or dove-tail or
approximately dove-tail edge of the plate substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1
T... 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.