Improved Tube-making Machine.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SIECIFICATION.
Improved Tube-making Machine.
WILLIAM RIGHTER COMINGS, Mechanical Engineer, of Brewhouse Yard,
St. John Street, London in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My improved machine is especially adapted to the manufacture of lap-welded or
cemented tubes made of paper or similar fibrous materials; but can also be applied
to the making of tubes from sheet metal & other substances.
The invention consists broadly in employing the following elements,-
1st. An anvil for supporting the lapped edges of the tube.
2nd. Two alternately acting gauge clamps, for forming the laps straight & of
uniform width, and for holding them firmly in position while being united.
3rd. Of mechanism for exerting upon the tapped surfaces sufficient pressure to
unite the edges.
4th. In devices for suitably heating one or both of the welding surfaces when
required.
One form of the machine is constructed as follows-
1st. An upright frame or body part adapted for securing to a bench or suitable
legs.
2nd. On the lower front part of the frame is adjustably, or otherwise secured, a
bracket which I call the anvil having its working face at right angles to the front
face of the frame. The top of the frame carries, or has fixed to it, an arm parallel
with the anvil, and at right angles to the front face of the frame.
About midway between the said arm and the anvil & parallel with them, there
is placed a long spindle made to slide in or through the frame-the rear-end of this
spindle has attached to it a cord or chain which is brought forward over a
suitable pulley or other guide in the frame, and then passed down, and is con-
nected with a treadle (No. 1) on or near the floor. Upon operating this treadle
the spindle is caused to reciprocate in and out through the frame in a line parallel
with the anvil.
The front end of the reciprocating spindle carries a crosshead which is guided
by the arm of the frame. The lower part of this crosshead rests normally on or
near the upper, or working surface of the anvil, and is provided with an adjustable
pressure roller.
The anvil is provided with two gauge clamps working parallel with it, one on
each side of the reciprocating crosshead. These are connected to a second treadle
(No. 2) and with each other by means of a rocking arm (placed at the back of the
frame) in such a manner, that by moving treadle No. 2 one clamp gauge is raised
from the anvil while the other is brought down upon it so as to hold firmly any
sheet material placed thereon.
In making a tube the operation is as follows-
The sheet material is first cut so as to be equal in length to the tube required,
and having its breadth equal to the circumference of the tube plus about the
width of the anvil for lap. One or both of the surfaces to be lapped are then
glued, or cemented. One of the edges to be lapped is then passed under the raised
clamp gauge, and over the anvil till it comes in contact with the lowered clamp
gauge, which holds it in line with the anvil. No. 2 treadle is then operated, and
the previously raised clamp gauge descends, and grips the sheet material against
the side of the anvil, so as to leave the lap portion free and resting on the working
face of the anvil, while the other clamp gauge is raised the main portion of the sheet
is then bent round the anvil till the other lapped edge is brought up on top of the

page_text: anvil and against the depressed clamp gauge, which guides it true with the other
lap, and in line with the anvil.
No. 1 treadle is then operated which causes the crosshead to pass along over the
anvil while its pressure roller exerts a heavy force on the lapped edges tending to
bring them into very close contact, & firmly cement or weld them together. The
crosshead then passes, back over the lap. No. 2 treadle is then partially operated so
as to lift both clamps clear of the anvil, and the tube can then be easily removed,
and the operation repeated.
may
Instead of welding the surface by causing a roller to traverse the lap, it be
effected by causing a slide worked by any suitable mechanism, such as a crank, cam,
or toggel to exert a direct pressure upon the whole lap at once.
For large or heavy work the foot power treadles are modified so as to enable all,
or any desired part of the motions of the machine to be effected by steam or other
power.
For tubes made of paper or other similar material, when heat as well as pressure is
required for uniting the edges both the anvil or the pressure roller, or its equivalent,
are constructed so as to enable them to be heated by gas or electricity, in such
a way as to prevent any flame from coming in contact with the tube; while for
metal tubes, the flame is brought into direct contact with the material.
In some cases the anvil is supported and prevented from springing at its outer
end, by connecting it to the arm of the frame through a swinging link that can be
quickly detached for removing the tube when formed; or the anvil can be supported
from below by a detachable brace.
In some cases the lapped edges are bevelled, while in others they may be left the
same thickness according to the character of the tube required.
When it is desired to produce ornamental tubes, the pressure roller has its surface
formed with any required design, which is embossed upon the lapped or other
portions of the tube over which it is caused to pass.
July 21st 1890
WM. R. COMINGS,
Brewhouse Yard, 172, St. John Street, London.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Tube-making Machine.
I, WILLIAM RIGHTER COMINGS, Mechanical Engineer, of Brewhouse Yard,
172, St. John Street London in the County of Middlesex 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 improved machine is especially adapted to the manufacture of lap-welded
or cemented tubes made of paper or similar fibrous materials; but can also be
applied to the making of tubes from sheet metal & other substances. The invention
consists broadly in employing the following elements :-
1st. An anvil for supporting the lapped edges of the tube.
2nd. One or more gauge clamps acting alternately or otherwise for forming the
laps straight & of uniform width, & for holding them firmly in position while being
united.
3rd. Of mechanism for exerting upon the lapped surfaces sufficient pressure to
unite the edges.
4th. In devices for suitably heating one or both of the welding surfaces when
required.
In carrying out this process of making tubes machines can be constructed on
several different plans, but for ordinary & general work those I prefer to employ
.are constructed.in the following manner, reference being made to the accompanying
drawings which form part of this Specification & in which :-
Figure 1, represents a side elevation of the machine.

page_text: Figure 2, being a front elevation on the line (y. y) of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a front elevation of a modified construction of the anvil & gauge
clamps.
Figure 4, is a rear elevation of the anvil shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5, is a front elevation showing the connection of the treadles with the
clamp gauge mechanism shown in Figure 3.
Figure 6, represents a side elevation of a machine for applying direct pressure
simultaneously along the whole length of the tube, instead of exerting rolling
pressure as shown in Figure 1.
The construction is as follows:-
1st. An upright frame or body part, (A) adapted for securing to a bench or
suitable legs.
2nd. On the lower front part of the frame is adjustably, or otherwise secured, a
bracket (C) which I call the anvil having its working face at right angles to the
front face of the frame. The top of the frame (A) carries, or has fixed to it, an
arm (1) parallel with the anvil (C) and at right angles to the front face of the
frame (A).
About midway between the said arm & the anvil & parallel with them, there
is placed a long spindle (D) made to slide in or through the frame (A), the
rear end of this spindle has attached to it a cord or chain (E) which is brought
forward over a suitable pulley, or other guide (F) in the frame (A) and then
passed down, and is connected with a treadle (No. 1) on or near the floor. Upon
operating this treadle the spindle D is caused to reciprocate in & out through the
frame in a line parallel with the anvil.
The front end of the reciprocating spindle D carries a crosshead (G) which
is guided by the arm (B) of the frame (A). The lower part of this crosshead
rests normally on or near the upper, or working surface of the anvil (C) and is
provided with an adjustable pressure roller (H), the pressure being regulated
by set screw (0) acting on spring (N) & a friction roller (M) acting against
the arm (B).
.
The anvil (C) is provided with two gauge clamps (I, J) working parallel with
it, one on each side of the reciprocating crosshead (G), these are connected to
a second treadle (No. 2) and with each other by means of a rocking arm (K)
(placed at the back of the frame A) in such a manner that by moving
treadle (No. 2) one clamp gauge is raised from the anvil while the other is
brought down upon it so as to hold firmly any sheet material placed thereon.
In making a tube the operation is as follows-The sheet material is first cut so
as to be equal in length to the tube required, and having its breadth equal to the
circumference of the tube plus about the width of the working face of the anvil for
lap. One or both of the surfaces to be lapped are then glued, or cemented. One
of the edges to be lapped is then passed under the raised clamp gauge (J), and over
the anvil (C) till it comes in contact with the lowered clamp gauge (I) which holds
it in line with the anvil. No. 2 treadle is then operated, and the previously raised
clamp gauge (J) descends, and grips the sheet material against the side of the
anvil, so as to leave the lapped portion free and resting on the working face of the
anvil, while the other clamp gauge (I) is raised the main portion of the sheet is
then bent round the anvil till the other lapped edge is brought up on top of the
anvil and against the depressed clamp gauge, which guides it true with the other
lap, and in line with the anvil.
No. 1 treadle is then operated which causes the crosshead (G) to pass along
over the anvil (C) while its pressure roller (H) exerts a heavy force on the lapped
edges of the tube, tending to bring them into very close contact & firmly cement or
weld them together. The crosshead (G) actuated by spring (S) then passes back
over the lap. No. 2 treadle is then partially operated so as to lift both clamps
clear of the anvil, and the tube can then be easily removed, and the operation
repeated.
Instead of welding the surface by causing a roller to traverse the lap, it may be

page_text: effected by causing a slide (T) Figure 6 worked by any suitable mechanism, such
as a crank, cam, or toggel to exert a direct pressure upon the whole lap at once.
For large or heavy work the foot power treadles are omitted or modified after
any well known method so as to enable all or any desired part of the motions of the
machine to be effected by steam or other power.
For tubes made of paper or other similar material, when heat as well as
pressure is required for uniting the edges both the anvil (C) & the pressure
roller H or its equivalent, are constructed so as to enable them to be heated by gas.
or electricity, in such a way as to prevent any flame from coming in contact with
the tube. This is shown in Figure 3 in which the anvil or mandril (C) is made
hollow & contains a gas jet (Q) or other source of heat, adapted to impart &
maintain the required temperature to the working face of the anvil a similar
jet (R) is employed to heat the pressure roller (H) or its equivalent the slide (T)
Figure 6 instead of gas jets, I sometimes employ electricity passing through
suitable resistance coils or circuits, arranged & constructed in any well known
mauner, while for metal tubes the flame is brought into direct contact with the
material.
In some cases the anvil is supported & prevented from springing at its outer end,
by connecting it to the arm (13) of the frame (A.) through a swinging link P that
can be quickly detached for removing the tube when formed; or the anvil (C) can
be supported from below by a detachable brace. In some cases the lapped edges are
bevelled while in others they may be left the same thickness according to the
character of the tube required.
When it is desired to produce ornamental tubes, the pressure roller (H) or
slide T has its surface formed with any required design, which is embossed upon
the lapped or other portions of the tube over which it is caused to pass.
In some cases I prefer to combine the two clamp gauges (I, J) and arrange them
both on the same side of the anvil as shown in Figure 3, where (1) represents a
rocking clamp gauge supported on an adjustable or other axis (U) at the side of
the anvil, the clamping end (X) is held firmly against the anvil by the pressure of
a strong spring (W) increased by leverage, the rod (V) connects it, as shown in
Figure 5, with treadle No. 2, so that when the treadle is depressed, the end (X) is
raised from the anvil or mandril so that the material for the tube can be easily
inserted or removed. The length of lap in this case is regulated by having the
gauge (1) made to slide and fasten on the under side of plate (').
For some classes of work where it is important that the shape should be very
accurate & regular, I prefer to employ an anvil exactly similar in shape to the
inside of the tube, & made in halves so that it can be readily expanded and
contracted for the purpose of varying the size of the tube, this construction is
shown in Figures 3 & 4, in which Figure 3 shows the front end of said expanding
mandril or anvil (C) and Figure 4 the rear end; (Z, Z1,) represents screws at
the front end and (", ") bolts & screws at the back end, by which the expansion
is regulated & controlled. (4) represents a collar or flange placed round the back
part of the anvil or mandril (C) which serves to guide the material and keep it
perfectly true & square while being wrapped round.
In making tubes, in some cases the first end of the piece is lapped over the
second end and in other cases under it.
In some cases instead of making the clamp gauge or gauges to operate by a
rocking motion, they can be arranged to work by any suitable sliding motion, as
for instance one similar to that shown in Figure 6 for operating the pressure
slide (T) such a construction would be advantageous where it was desirable to
clamp the material very firmly to the mandril while being welded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The process of forming & making tubes from fibrous material which consists

page_text: in first coating the edges to be lapped with suitable cement; second, winding or
bending the material round an anvil, so as to lap the edges; third, in uniting said
lapped edges by suitably applied & maintained pressure, substantially as shown &
described.
2nd. A machine for making tubes from sheets of paper or other fibrous material
constructed & arranged substantially as shown & described.
3rd. In a tube machine, an anvil; a roller arranged to travel on & over said anvil
& exert, any required amount of pressure upon sheet material, placed on the
working face of the anvil; one or more gauge clamps, adapted to regulate the width
of lap, & to hold securely. the lapped edges, while being united under pressure:
one or more suitably arranged treadles for operating at will the pressing, clamping
& gauging mechanism, substantially as shown & described.
4th. In a tube machine a sliding crosshead (G) provided with a pressure
roller (H) & suitable means for regulating the force exerted by said roller,
substantially as shown & described.
5th. In a tube machine, one or more clamps adapted to hold the material in
proper position for being operated upon by the pressing mechanism substantially
as shown & described.
6th. In a tube machine, an adjustable clamp (1) Figure 3, provided with a
sliding gauge 1', substantially as shown & described.
7th. In a tube machine the alternately acting clamp gauges I, J, Figures 1 & 2
operated by the rocking arm (K) and the spring ($) substantially as shown &
described.
Sth. In a tube machine the adjustable expanding anvil or mandril (C)
Fig. 3 provided with regulating screws, substantially as shown & described.
London, April 21st 1890.
WM. R. COMINGS.