Method of and Apparatus for Shaping, Embossing, and Uniting Metal Objects.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1900
THUY DIUNAL SIBUITICATION
Method of and Apparatus for Shaping, Embossing, and Uniting Metal
Objects.
I, CHARLES DENTON ADEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, in the County of, London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from
abroad by Gesellschaft für Huber Pressung C. Huber & Co.. of 38, Beiertheimer
Allee, Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany) to be as follows:―
This invention has for its object to effect the shaping, embossing, of metal
objects, or the uniting together of metal objects by hydraulic pressure applied
in such manner that these operations are effected without requiring moulds or
abutment surfaces that liave to withstand the high pressure to which the metal
objects require to be subjected for the above purpose.
The invention consists mainly in providing a strong closed chamber or recipient
charged with water or other suitable liquid and combined with means whereby
sich liquid can be subjected to the requisite high pressure, into which chamber
the metal objects are introduced that require to be acted upon, these objects
being combined with moulds or abutment surfaces in such manner that the metal
objects and moulds &c. are subjected on all sides to the liquid under pressure
with the exception of those surfaces that have to be brought in to close contact
with each other the liquid being prevented from penetrating between these surfaces
by means of a suitable packing or luting material applied round the meeting
edges thereof.
By this means, as the pressure liquid is prevented by the packing from gaining
access between the surfaces in contact, the powerful pressure exerted by the
liquid upon the exposed surfaces of the bodies will, in the case of uniting metal
objects, cause the said surfaces to be pressed together with such force as to
become firmly united or welded together, while in the case of shaping and
embossing metal objects the metal of these will be forced to assume the con-
figuration of the moulds with which they have been placed in contact.
This method of operating can be applied to a great variety of purposes.
Thus it may be used for uniting two or more tubes together such for example
as for making the tubular joints of cycle frames. In this application a part of
one tube having been fitted into a part of another tube, or into a tubular socket
to which it is to be united the communications with the surfaces in contact
of the tubes or of the tube and socket are closed by suitable means such as by a
packing of caoutchouc or other material, or by soldering or tinning, or by enclosing
the joined tubes in an envelope of closely adhering more or less plastic substance.
Upon then introducing the tubular frame into the before mentioned pressure
chamber and filling this with the fluid or plastic pressure medium this will not
only surround the outer surface of the frame, but also the interior thereof so
that when the pressure medium is subjected to powerful pressure, such as by

page_text: the plunger of a hydraulic press entering an aperture in the pressure chamber,
the tubular joint will be subjected to such pressure both on its inner and outer
surfaces that the surfaces in contact will he forced together so as to become
firmly united.
In like manner any number of tubes fitted one within the other may be firmly
united together by closing the annular interstices between the tubes at the ends
by suitable packing, and then subjecting the interior of the innermost tube and
the exterior of the outermost tube to the action of the pressure medium as above
described.
In this manner gun barrels, ordnance, pressure chambers, and the like can lie
built up of a number of concentric tube.
The invention is also applicable to the coating of sheet metal or tubular metal
objects with another metal, such as for coating copper, brass, iron or steel plates
or tubes with silver, nickel, aluminium, and the like. For this purpose it is
only necessary to close the interstices between the metal plates at the edges of:
the plates by suitable packing, or. in the case of flat plates or objects, to enclose
them entirely in a flexible or plastic envelope, and then subject them to the
action of the pressure medium within the pressure chamber as described.
When employing the above described method of operating for moulding
metal objects, the mould may either surround the metal object when this is of a
hollow or tubular form, the edges of the mould and object at the open end or
ends being enclosed by. packing material as before described, so that the liquid
pressure can only gain access to the interior of the object and the exterior of the
mould, and thus, in expanding the interior of the object. to cause it to assume
the configuration of the interior of the mould, which would be suitably divided,
but which would of course not require to be made of greater strength than is
required to insure its rigidity. as it is supported against the internal pressure
by the corresponding external liquid pressure.
In other cases where a tubular object only requires to be shaped or embossed
on part of its periphery the mould would only be made of such a size as io
enclose the part of the object required to be embossed, the mould heing made
with a saddle shaped face to fit accurately against the outer surface of the object,
and the edges thereof being covered in by packing as. before.
In the case of moulding a flat object by means of a flat mould, the object would
he laid upon the embossed ornamented or engraved face of the mould, and the
meeting edges be then enclosed by suitable packing, so that on being subjected
to pressure the flat object would be pressed against the mould so as to assume
the configuration of its ornamented or engraved face. In this case the outer
face of the object may be advantageously covered in with a sheet of caoutchouc
the edges of which would also be enclosed by the said packing.
Or the entire mould and object might be enclosed in a bag of caoutchouc the
opening of which would be closed by packing or by cementing together.
When the cavities of the mould are of some depth so that if, the thin metal
wall of the obiect were to be suddenly forced into them by the high pressure of
the liquid medium, it might be liable to split or tear. the action may be made
to take place gradually by filling the cavities of the mould with plastic material
and forming on the outer surface of the latter hollow spaces communicatin
with the said cavities by parrow channels, so that on the application of the liquid
pressure to the obiect. this in being forced into the cavities will gradually force
the plastic material therein through the said channels into the outer spaces, and
the metal object will thus only gradually assume the form of the cavities.
The ahiret may also he made to gradually assume the form of deep cavities in
the mould by first subiecting it to the pressure in one or more preparatory moulds
of the same configuration as the final one. but in which the said cavities are of
a loss depth.
The process may also be employed for, producing. onenings or perforations in
the object to be moulded at the same time that its surface is embossed,

page_text: For this purpose the mould is formed with openings or porforations extending
through its walls at those points where openings are to be formed in the object,
and the outer surface of the mould is enclosed by a suitable casing; when the
object has been placed into or upon the mould, its outer surface which is to be
subjected to the pressure-liquid is coated with a thick layer of a suitable plastic
packing material.
On the combined mould and object being then subjected to liquid pressure in
a receiver, the object in addition to being made to assume the configuration of
the mould, will have those portions which are situated over the parforations
of the mould cut through by the pressure, the parts cut out being forced into
the perforations of the mould, whence they are afterwards removed. It will be
obvious that a great variety of differently arranged moulds may be employed
for carrying out the above described invention, according to the object for which
they are intended and that instead of completing the moulding of the object in
one operation, it may be subjected consecutively to the action of two or more
different moulds.
As, owing to the very high liquid pressure employed, a metal plate may be made
to accurately assume the form of the finest possible lines on the surface of an
engraved plate serving as mould it will be seen that the process may be used with
advantage for reproducing engravings, etchings, type formes for printing, and
the like.
The requisite pressure may be applied to the liquid in the pressure chamber
into which the combined moulds and objects are placed either by forcing in
liquid at the requisite pressure by means of force pumps or hydraulic presses,
or by combining with the pressure chamber a plunger passing through an
opening of the chamber and subjected to pressure such as that of a hydraulic
press; whereby as is well known such pressure will be transmitted uniformly
throughout the body of liquid.
The said recipients may be made of a sufficient size to contain a number of
objects to be submitted simultaneously to the liquid pressure.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY.
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Apparatus for Shaping, Embossing, and Uniting Métal
Objects.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent;
do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from
abroad by Gesellschaft für Huber Pressung C. Huber & Co., of 38, Beiertheimer
Allee, Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany), 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 effecting the shaping, embossing. of metal objects,
or the uniting together of metal objects by fluid pressure applied in such manier
that these operations are effected without requiring moulds or abutment surfaces
of such strength as to withstand the high pressure to which the metal objects
require to be subjected for the above purpose.
A method of operating for partly effecting the said objects was described in
the Specification to Huber's Patent No. 3135 of 1890.

page_text: According to the present improved method a strong closed chamber or recipient
charged with water or other suitable liquid and combined with means whereby
such liquid can be subjected to the requisite high pressure, has introduced into
it the metal objects that require to be acted upon, these objects being combined
with moulds or abutment surfaces in such manner that the metal objects and
moulds &c. are subjected on all sides to the liquid under pressure with the
'exception of those surfaces that have to be brought into close contact with each
other, the liquid being prevented from penetrating between these surfaces by
means of a suitable elastic or plastic packing or luting material applied round
the meeting edges thereof.
.
By this means, as the pressure liquid is prevented by the packing from gaining
access between the surfaces in contact, the powerful pressure exerted by the
liquid upon the exposed surfaces of the bodies will, in the case of uniting metal
objects. cause the said surfaces to be pressed together with such force as to
become firmly united or welded together, while in the case of shaping and
embossing metal objects the metal of these will be forced to assume the con-
figuration of the moulds with which they have been placed in contact.
This method of operating can be applied to a great variety of purposes.
Thus it may be used for uniting two or more tubes together such for example
as for making the tubular joints of cycle frames. In this application a part of
one tube having been fitted into a part of another tube, or into a tubular socket
to which it is to be united, the communications with the surfaces in contact
of the tubes or of the tube and socket are closed by suitable means, such as by a
packing of caoutchouc or other material, or by soldering or tinning, or by enclosing
the joined tubes in an envelope of closely adhering more or less plastic substance.
Upon then introducing the tubular frame into the before mentioned pressure
chamber and filling this with the fluid or plastic pressure medium this will not
only surround the outer surface of the frame, but also the interior thereof 80
that when the pressure medium is subjected to a sufficiently powerful pressure,
such as by the plunger of a hydraulic press entering an aperture in the pressure
chamber, the tubular joint will be subjected to such pressure both on its inner
and outer surfaces that the surfaces in contact will be forced together so as to
become firmly united.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews by way of example a longitudinal
section of a tubular socket piece A to which tubes B, C, D, E, are to be united
by hydraulic pressure by the above described method.
For this purpose, the said tubes having been suitably prepared and fitted into
the socket piece A, the crevices between the extremities of the socket at a are
hermetically enclosed by a suitable plastic packing material F, and the combined
parts are then placed within a strong chamber of any suitable construction which,
after being closed, is charged with liquid under high pressure. This pressure,
in acting both against the inner surfaces of the tubes B, C, D, E, and upon
the outer surfaces of the socket piece A through the medium of the plastic
material F, will cause the surfaces of the tubes and socket that are in contact
to be firmly united together.
It is to be observed that with the above described method of operating it is
necessary that the ends of the tubes B C D and E, that are within the socket
piece shall be closed up, as shewn in order that the liquid under pressure may
not gain access to the inner meeting edges of the surfaces in contact as these
edges are not enclosed by the plastic material.
In like manner any number of tubes fitted one within the other may be firmly
united together by closing the annular interstices between the tubes at the ends
by suitable packing, and then subjecting the interior of the innermost tube and
the exterior of the outermost tube to the action of the pressure medium as above
described.
In this manner gun barrels, ordnance, pressure chambers, and the like can be
built up of a number of concentric tubes..

page_text: The invention is also applicable to the coating of sheet metal or tubular metal
objects with another metal, such as for coating copper, brass, iron or steel plates
or tubes with silver, nickel, aluminium, and the like. For this purpose it is
only necessary to close the interstices between the metal plates at the edges of
the plates by suitable packing, or, in the case of flat plates or objects, to enclose
them entirely in a flexible or plastic and hermetically closed envelope, and then
subject them to the action of the pressure medium. within the pressure chamber
as described,
.
When employing the above described method of operating for moulding
metal objects, the mould may either surround the metal object when this is of a
hollow or tubular form, the edges of the mould and the object at the open end or
ends being enclosed by packing material as before described, so that the liquid
pressure can only gain access to the interior of the object and the exterior of the
mould, and thus, in expanding the interior of the object to cause it to assume
the configuration of the interior of the mould, which would be suitably divided,
but which would of course not require to be made of greater strength than is
required to insure its rigidity, as it is supported against the internal pressure
by the corresponding external liquid pressure.
In other cases where a tubular object only requires to be shaped or embossed
on part of its periphery, the mould would only be made of such a size as to
enclose the part of the object required to be embossed, the mould being made
with a saddle shaped face to fit accurately against the outer surface of the object.
and the edges thereof being covered in by packing as before.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section and Fig. 2a front view of a tube or hollow
vessel G that requires to be bulged outward in any desired form at the part G₁:
for this purpose there is fitted against such part a mould H adapted to fit closely
against the tube round the part G and having its cavity so formed as to produce
the required configuration of the part G. The edges h of the mould H are
then enclosed hermetically either by a suitable plastic packing material as as
Fig. 1, or by enclosing the mould by a tightly fitting caoutchouc jacket J fitting
entirely round the tube G, as shewn. The tube or hollow object G together with
the mould, having then been introduced into a strong receiver and, subjected
to liquid pressure applied both within the tube and against the outside of the
mould, as indicated by the arrows, the part will be bulged outward and made
to assume the form of the mould.
It will be evident that the mould may be arranged to -bulge the tube in the
before described manner at two or more places, or a continuous bulge may be
formed all round the tube by this means, by forming the mould so as to entirely.
surround the tube.
In the case of moulding a flat object by means of a flat mould, the object would
be laid upon the embossed ornamented or engraved face of the mould, and the
meeting edges be then enclosed by suitable packing, so that on being subjected
to pressure, the flat object would be pressed against the mould so as to assume
the configuration of its ornamented or engraved face. In this case the outer
face of the object may be advantageously covered in with a sheet of caoutchouc,
the edges of which would also be enclosed by the said packing.
Or the entire mould and object might be enclosed in a bag of caoutchouc, the
opening of which would be closed by packing or by cementing together.
The plate mould in this case need not be of the thickness which is necessary
when pressing by means of ordinary hydraulic or screw presses or stamps; it is
sufficient if the plate be of such thickness and strength as to insure that the
metal plate which is, to receive the impression therefrom shall be forced into its
cavities without the mould plate being deformed in any way by the pressure on
its outer sile...
By this means clichés can be taken from engraved or etched steel plates,
or clichés may be employed as moulds for producing copper, aluminium or
other engraved plates ready for printing. Also stereotype plates for typo printing

page_text: can, in like manner, be produced by pressure from the negative or cliché of a
forme, and generally, any recessed or relief designs may be produced by pressure
in the above described manner from any objects or ornaments placed upon a
strong plate.
Fig. 3 shews by way of example, a cross section of a mould or matrix plate K
both sides of which carry a design engraved or embossed thereon; on each euch
surface is laid a metal plate L and over these are laid sheets of caoutchouc M;
lastly, the meeting edges of such caoutchouc sheets, plates L and matrix K are
all covered in by a thick layer of plastic packing material N. The parts thus
combined are then placed in a strong receptacle in which they are subjected to
liquid pressure on both sides, whereby the plates L will be made to assume the
configuration of the surfaces of matrix K with which they are in contact.
As before stated, instead of effecting the hermetic enclosure by the packing
material N, the combined parts can be introduced into a correspondingly shaped
caoutchouc bag, the opening of which is then hermetically closed in any known
manner.
When the cavities of the mould are of some depth so that if the thin metal
wall of the object were to be suddenly forced into them by the high pressure of
the liquid medium, it might be liable to split or tear, the action may be made
to take place gradually by filling the cavities of the mould with plastic material
and forming on the outer surface of the latter hollow spaces communicating
with the said cavities by narrow channels, so that on the application of the liquid
pressure to the object, this in being forced into the cavities will gradually force
the plastic material therein through the said channels into the outer spaces, and
the metal object will thus only gradually assume the form of the cavities.
Fig. 4 shews a vertical section of a construction of mould such as last described.
This is generally similar to that described with reference to Figs. 2 and 2, the
mould being fitted over that part of the tube G which is to be bulged. On
the outer side of the mould is fitted a separate part Ol with the space Oa in which
the interior of the mould communicates by means of passages The
of the mould having been filled with a suitable liquid, semi-liquid, or plastic
material P the combined mould is placed in position. on the tube G and the
edges are enclosed by caoutchouc M and packing material N, and the tube with
the mould is then placed in the pressure vessel.
The pressure exerted within the tube G will gradually bulge outward the
part covered by the mould in forcing the liquid or plastic material contained
in the latter through the passages into the space 03, so that such part will
only be gradually expanded to the full depth of the mould, and thus any
injury to the metal by tearing or splitting will be prevented..
The object may also be made to gradually assume the form of deep cavities in
the mould by first subjecting it to the pressure in one or more preparatory moulds
of the same configuration as the final one, but in which the said cavities are of
a less depth.
The process may also be employed for producing openings or perforations in
the object to be-moulded at the same time that its surface is embossed.
For this purpose the mould is formed with openings or perforations extending
through its walls at those points where openings are to be formed in the object,
and the outer surface of the mould is enclosed by a suitable casing; when the
object has been placed into or upon the mould, its outer surface which is to be
subjected to the pressure-liquid is coated with a thick layer of a suitable plastic
packing material:
On the combined mould and object being then subjected to. liquid pressure in
a receiver, the object in addition to being made to assume the configuration of
the mould, will have those portions which are situated over the perforations
of the mould cut through by the pressure, the parts cut out being forced into
the perforations of the mould, whence they are afterwards removed. It will be
obvious that a great variety of differently arranged moulds may be employed

page_text: for carrying out the above described invention, according to the object for which
of
the
object in
they are intended and that instead of completing the moulding
one operation, it may be subjected consecutively to the action of two or more
different moulds.
Fig. 5 shews a vertical section of apparatus for operating in the last described
having the internal configuration which it is desired to
manner.
The
mould
impart to the object R, has openings Q formed in it at any desired points, which
openings are closed at the outer side by fitting the mould in a correspondingly
shaped outer casing S.
The object R having been placed in position the outer surface thereof, as also
the meeting edges of the three parts Q R S, are covered by a thick layer of
plastic packing material N, and the combined parts are then introduced into
the pressure chamber. The pressure acting on the interior of the object R will
cause it to assume the configuration of the mould; and at the same time it will
punch out those portions thereof that are situated over the openings Q1, forcing
the punched-out parts into the latter, and thus forming perforations in the
object corresponding to those of the mould. The edges of the openings Q¹
would of course be made as sharp as possible, so as to insure a clean punching
action by the liquid pressure.
On taking the mould' out of its casing, the cut-out portions can be removed
from the holes which are enlarged outwards.
The requisite pressure may be applied to the liquid in the pressure chamber
into which the combined moulds and objects are placed either by forcing in
liquid at the requisite pressure by means of force pumps or hydraulic presses,
or by combining with the pressure chamber a plunger passing through an
opening of the chamber and subjected to pressure such as that of a hydraulic
press, whereby, as is well known, such pressure will be transmitted uniformly
throughout the body of liquid.
The said recipients may be made of a sufficient size to contain a number of
objects to be submitted simultaneously to the liquid pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is
1. The method of shaping and moulding or embossing metal objects by moulds
and liquid pressure, consisting in fitting together the metal object and the mould.
hermetically enclosing the surfaces in contact or facing each other, by means of
elastic or plastic packing material applied round the edges thereof, then intro-
ducing such combined parts into a pressure chamber charged with liquid pressure
medium so that they are entirely surrounded by such medium and finally sub-
jecting the latter to pressure, substantially as described.
2. The method of uniting two metal objects by liquid pressure consisting in
placing the surfaces of the said objects which are to be united in contact with
each other, then enclosing such surfaces hermetically by the application of
elastic or plastic packing material round the edges thereof, then introducing the
combined parts into a pressure chamber charged with liquid pressure medium
and then subjecting the outer surfaces of both objects to the same high liquid
pressure. such as to cause the surfaces in contact to unite together, substantially
as described.
3. For carrying out the method of operating referred to in the first claim,
the use of moulds arranged so as to hermetically enclose the part of the outer
surface of a hollow body which requires to be shaped or embossed, so that on
introducing the said body and mould in a chamber and subjecting the body
internally and the mould externally to liquid pressure, the said part of the body
will be made to assume the configuration of the mould, substantially as described,
with reference to Fig. 2 & 2 of the drawings.
4. For carrying out the method of operating referred to in the first claim.

page_text: the use of a mould for hermetically enclosing the part of the outer surface of a
hollow body which requires to be shaped or embossed, such mould being provided
with an outer chamber communicating therewith by small apertures, while the
mould is filled with fluid or plastic material, so that as the said part of the hollow
object is forced into the mould, it forces the plastic material therein into the
outer chamber, substantially us and for the purposes described with reference to
Fig. 4 of the drawings.
5. Apparatus for shaping and moulding or embossing metal objects consisting
of a mould having the configuration to be imparted to the metal object, and
having openings corresponding to perforations to be formed in the object, such
mould being enclosed in an outer casing, so that when the metal object is fitted
into or against the mould, and the edges of the two have been enclosed hermeli-
cally by plastic packing material, and the exposed surfaces of the object and
casing of the mould are subjected to liquid pressure within a closed chamber,
the portions of the metal object situated over the openings in. the mould will be
forced into the latter so as to produce perforations in the object, substantially
as described.