Improvements in the Manufacture of Tubes or Flues and Shells of Boilers and the like and in Machinery Employed in such Manufacture.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 13th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Tubes or Flues and Shells of
Boilers and the like and in Machinery Employed in such
Manufacture.
I DANIEL ADAMSON, of Dukinfield, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
TUBES OR FLUES AND SHELLS OF BOILERS AND THE LIKE AND IN MACHINERY
EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE; to be as follows :-
My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of tubes or flues and
shells of boilers or other steam generators and the like and the chief object of my
improvements is to construct and arrange a machine which will in one operation
flange a solid tube at both ends and simultaneously roll out of the solid metal one or
more rings or annular projections.
In constructing my improved machine 1 employ a pair of rollers preferably placed
horizontally one a heavy roll with grooves turned on its periphery is supported in
the housing or main frame of the machine and is adjustable by means of suitable
mechanism. The other roll which is non-adjustable is of comparatively small diameter
and is formed with a flange at each end and with solid rings or annular projections to
correspond with the grooves, in the adjustable roll. The non-adjustable roll is
supported at one end in a strong bracket securely bolted to the housing and this
bracket carries an arm which extends to the opposite side of the machine where it has
secured to it a pedestal for supporting the other end of the non-adjustable roll. The
arm and pedestal and the other parts of the machine are specially arranged to permit
the solid tubes to be readily placed between and removed from the rolls when finished
thus dispensing with the hinged journal commonly employed in plate bending or
rolling machines.
In operation the adjustable roll is moved back far enough to allow the heated solid
tube to be passed over the non-adjustable roll and its fixing and up to a stop. The
adjustable roll is then moved quickly forward so as to press or nip the tube between
the two rolls which as they revolve flange the ends and simultaneously form the rings
or annular projections on the periphery of the tube.
To insure the rolls revolving at the same surface speed 1 prefer to gear the rolls

page_text: together and I arrange an adjustable holding up or carrier roller or rollers on a
balanced swinging bracket to support the tube below the rolls; this holding up or
carrier roller I drive at the same surface speed as the main rolls. The swinging
bracket may be adjusted so as to alter the position of the carrier roller or rollers
according to the diameter of the tube to be rolled.
In some cases I employ an additional roller or rollers inside the tube and preferably
opposite the carrier roller to insure the revolving of the tube.
My improved machine is applicable for rolling rings or corrugations on and
simultaneously flanging the ends of solid metal tubes either for the Hues or shells of
boilers or other steam generators or for other vessels such as receivers for air water
and other fluids under pressure.
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Tubes or Flues and Shells of
Boilers and the like and in Machinery Employed in such
Manufacture.
I DANIEL ADAMSON of Dukinfield in the County of Chester Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
TUBES OR FLUES AND SHELLS OF BOILERS AND THE LIKE AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED
IN SUCH MANUFACTURE, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of tubes or flues and
shells of boilers or other steam generators and the like and the chief object of my
improvements is to construct and arrange a machine which will in one operation
flange a solid tube at both ends and simultaneously roll out of the solid metal one
or more rings or annular projections.
In constructing my improved machine I employ a pair of rollers preferably placed
horizontally one a heavy roll with grooves turned on its periphery is supported in
the housing or main frame of the machine and is adjustable by means of suitable
mechanism. The other roll which is non-adjustable is of comparatively small diameter
and is formed with a flange at each end and with solid rings or annnlår projections
to correspond with the grooves in the adjustable roll. The non-adjustable roll is
supported at one end in a strong bracket securely bolted to the housing and this
bracket carries an arm which extends to the opposite side of the machine where it has
secured to it a pedestal for supporting the other end of the non-adjustable roll. The

page_text: arm and pedestal and the other parts of the machine are specially arranged to permit
the solid tubes to be readily placed between and removed from the rolls when
finished thus dispensing with the hinged journal commonly employed in plate bending
or rolling machines.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying four Sheets of Drawings reference being had
to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section Fig. 2 a plan Fig. 3 an elevation of one
end and Fig. 4 an elevation of the other end (part of the framing being removed) of a
machine constructed according to my Invention. Fig. 5 is a view of a tube
manufactured by a machine constructed according to my Invention. Fig. 6 is a view
of the adjacent ends of two tubes showing the special configuration of the flanges to
facilitate caulking and Fig. 7 is a detail view of parts of the two rolls employed to
form the caulking surface on the flanges of the tubes.
2
In Figures 1 to 4.-a designates the housing or main frame of the machine and
the large adjustable grooved roll which has grooves on its periphery and is
supported in blocks c free to slide in slideways in the housing a the blocks being
operated by screws d geared by bevel gears d¹ to bevel gears el fixed on a cross shaft e
which is driven in either direction as required by open and crossed belts (not shown)
on the fast pulley and loose pulleys f respectively; any other suitable
arrangement of mechanism for adjusting the position of the roll b may be employed.
The non-adjustable or shaping roll g is formed with a flange gl at each end see detail
view Fig. 7 and with solid rings to correspond with the grooves b₁ in the face of
the roll b. This roll g is supported at one end in the standard a' and also near this
end in the bracket A which is secured to the housing and carries the arm which
extends to the opposite side of the machine where it has secured to it a pedestal h² for
supporting the other end of the roll g.
To insure the rolls band g revolving at the same surface speed I prefer to gear
them together and the Drawings show a convenient. mode of effecting this. The
shaft is driven by means of the series of fast and loose pulleys and transmits
motion by a gear to a gear g³ fixed on the roll which is thus rotated. The other
roll bis driven from the shaft by a gear fixed thereon and transmits motion by an
intermediate gear fixed on a shaft to a gear 6 fixed on the roll. The teeth on
the gears are made sufficiently deep to permit the adjustable roll to be moved
backward and forward without any risk of breakage or injury to the teeth.
In operation the adjustable roll b is by actuating the blocks c as described moved
back far enough to allow the heated solid tube k to be passed over the non-adjustable
or shaping roll 9 and its fixing. The blocks c are then operated in the reverse
direction to move the adjustable roll b quickly forward so as to press or nip the tube k
see Fig. 2 between the two rolls which as they revolve flange the ends k¹ and
simultaneously form the rings or annular projections on the periphery of the said
tube as shown in Fig. 5.
To support and guide the tube k on its passage between the rolls b and g I employ
an adjustable holding up or carrier roller m placed below the rolls and supported in
sliding blocks n which may be moved up or down by screws and gearing operated by
the handwheel n' as shown or by any other suitable arrangement of mechanism; or
the carrier roller m may be supported in a balanced swinging bracket capable of
adjustment so as to alter the position of the carrier roller according to the diameter
of the tube to be rolled. The carrier roller m has a flange m¹ at each end and the
tube k when passed over the roll g and its fixing as above described is placed so that
its ends rest between and are prevented from moving endwise by the two flanges m¹.
A second adjustable carrier roller m² carried by a hinged bracket in slideways on the
housing is shown but this may or may not be employed as found necessary or
advantageous its object when used being to maintain the circular form of the tube.
In my Provisional Specification I spoke of driving the carrier roller at the same
surface speed as the rolls but in practice I do not find this necessary the nip of the
two rolls b and g being quite sufficient to feed the tube k forward without either

page_text: driving the carrier roller positively or employing an additional roller or rollers inside
the tube.
In the Specification accompanying my Application for Letters Patent No. 534 of
even date herewith I describe forming the flanges of special shape to form a caulking
surface. This operation may be readily effected on my improved machine as
illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7. The special configuration on each flange is shown at k³
Fig. 6 and the means whereby the flanges receive this special shape i.e. the
projection on the flange of the shaping roll g as well as the corresponding
recess on the other roll are shown in Fig. 7.
My improved machine is applicable for rolling rings or corrugations on and
simultaneously flanging the end or ends of solid metal tubes to be used either for the
flues or shells of boilers or other steam generators or for other vessels of a like nature
such as receivers for air water and other fluids under pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it understood
that I claim nothing that is covered by my aforesaid Application No. 534 A.D. 1887—
but I declare that what I claim is-
1. The combination with an adjustable grooved roll such as 6 of a non-adjustable
flanged shaping roll such as the roll provided with flanges g¹ and rings g² and
either with or without the special flanges g' substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and as illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
2. The combination with an adjustable roll and a non-adjustable shaping roll of
the arm h which forms part of the framing for supporting said non-adjustable
shaping roll substantially as herein set forth and whereby the tubes can be placed in
position between the rolls and removed when finished without necessitating the use of
any hinged part or movable journal as now customary.
3. The construction and arrangement of a machine substantially as specified which
will in one operation flange a solid tube at one or both ends and simultaneously roll
out of the solid metal one or more rings or annular projections.
4. The improvements in the manufacture of tubes or flues and shells of boilers
and the like consisting essentially in the operation of flanging a tube at one or both
ends and simultaneously forming a ring or rings or annular projections thereon
substantially in the manner and by the means herein described and shown on the
accompanying Drawings.
5. The construction use and application of the rolls substantially as described and
as illustrated by Fig. 7 whereby a caulking surface is produced on the flanges of the
tubes as shown in Fig. 6.
nated this 19th love of Ontahan 1987
H. B. BARLOW,
.17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for Applicant.