IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WELDING, FLANCHING, AND SHAPING METAL PLATES SUITABLE TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Plant, of Miles Platting, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Boiler Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WELDING, FLANCHING, AND SHAPING METAL PLATES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Plant at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1875.
I, GEORGE PLANT, of Miles Platting, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Boiler Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WELDING, FLANCHING, AND
SHAPING METAL PLATES SUITABLE TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM
GENERATORS," to be as follows:
My Invention relates more particularly to apparatus to be employed
in the welding and flanching or shaping of the water tubes, internal

page_text: applicable in the formation of other metal structures. In the said
apparatus I employ metal hammers or wooden mallets actuated by
power or directly by steam.
In an apparatus suitable for welding Galloway tubes or other tubes or
rings the hammer head is attached to one end of an arm, which is pre-
ferably made of steel, and is mounted upon a shaft or fixed by the other
end to a shaft, which is fitted to rock in bearings. A shorter arm or
lever formed in one piece with the said hammer arm or attached to the
same shaft, and making a right angle with the said hammer arm or
thereabouts, is connected by a jointed rod or by links to the head of a
piston rod, which is attached to the piston of a steam cylinder. The
movements of the said piston are governed by a suitable valve, or by
valves, the hammer head being caused to move to and fro in the arc of
a circle, and to strike the parts to be welded. The tube or ring or the
plates to be welded is or are supported upon a fixed mandril or table,
and the steam cylinder is fitted to slide upon a framing, and also if
required to be raised and lowered.
In a second form of the apparatus two hammers moving in opposite
directions are simultaneously operated by the same piston. This appa-
ratus is suitable to be employed in the welding together of the rings in
the formation of the steam generators according to the method described
in a former Invention, for which Provisional Protection, numbered 1539,
has been granted to me in the present year. The rings to be united are
supported upon wheels or rollers, which are mounted in a framing, and
the edges to be welded enter a fire, which is preferably urged by means
of two rows of air jets or tuycres. When a length of the joint is suffi-
ciently hot the rings are rotated by turning the said wheels or rollers,
or by other suitable means, so as to present the heated portion to the
action of the hammers, which when set in action strike the joint simul-
taneously on the two sides thereof. I prefer to employ a third hammer,
which is fixed on the end of the piston rod or of a rod which forms a
continuation thereof, and which slides in a bearing. The said hammer
is formed to strike the edges of the ring at the same time as the other.
hammers are striking the sides, or by differently arranging the lever
arms of the last-named hammers the third hammer may, strike alter-
nately with them. The steam. cylinder and framing arc fitted to be

page_text: raised and lowered or inclined by means of screws or racks and pinions,
or by other suitable means to suit varying diameters of rings.
A third form of apparatus is adapted to be employed in the flanching
of the said rings, or of other rings, or of Galloway or other tubes. The
ring or tube to be flanched is placed in a sheath, which is formed in two
parts, which can be bolted or clamped together to form a tube. The
said sheath is preferably formed of cast iron with strong ends, which
practically form anvils, and is or may be formed or provided with a spur
or worm wheel, also in two halves, by means of which the said sheath
may be rotated upon supporting wheels or rollers. Two carriages, each
sustaining a steam cylinder or actuating apparatus and a hammer, are so
arranged as that when in action the two opposite ends of the aforesaid
ring or tube can be simultaneously flanched by the action of the said
hammers. Each cylinder and its hammer and frame can be raised or
lowered and also rotated around the axis of the steam cylinder, so that
the hammers can be caused to strike the ends of the tube in a downward
or nearly downward direction, or in a horizontal direction, and in any
intermediate direction.
A remaining part of my Invention is also designed to be used in the
flanching of the said rings. The flanching is effected by means of
revolving rollers, which act the one upon the interior and the other upon
the exterior of the ring, one of the rollers being arranged to be moved
nearer to or farther from the other roller. One of the said rollers is
formed with collars which act upon the edges of the said ring and bend
the said edges outwards over the ends of the other roller. To suit
varying widths of rings the said collars and the parts of the other roller
which act in conjunction with the said collars may be fitted to slide
upon the axes of the rollers. The ring is guided by means of two
rollers, which are mounted one on each side of the flanching roller, and
are arranged to be adjustable in position to suit varying diameters of
rings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said George
Plant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PLANT, of Miles Platting, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Boiler Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said George Plant, Her special
licence, that I, the said George Plant, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Plant, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WELDING, FLANCHING, AND SHAPING METAL
PLATES SUITABLE TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM GENERATORS,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Plant, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office on or before the Twenty-third day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Plant, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the a
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention relates more particularly to apparatus to be employed
in the welding and flanching or shaping of the water tubes, internal
flues, and shells of steam generators, but may also be found to be
applicable in the formation of other metal structures. In the said

page_text: apparatus I employ metal hammers or wooden mallets actuated by
power or directly by steam.
In an apparatus suitable for welding "Galloway "tubes or other tubes
or rings the hammer head is attached to one end of an arm, which is
preferably made of steel, and is mounted upon a shaft or fixed by the
other end to an arm which is mounted upon a shaft or stud. A shorter
arm or lever formed in one piece with the said hammer arm or attached
to the same shaft and making a right angle with the said arm, or there-
abouts, is connected by a jointed rod, or by links to the head of a piston
rod which is attached to the piston of a steam cylinder. The movements
of the said piston are governed by a suitable valve or by valves, the
hammer head being caused to move to and fro in the arc of a circle, and
to strike the parts to be welded. The tube or ring or the plates to be
welded is or are supported upon a fixed mandril or table, and the
steam cylinder is fitted to slide upon a framing, and also if required to
bo raised and lowered.
A second form of apparatus is adapted to be employed in the flanching
of the said rings or of other rings, or of "Galloway" or other tubes. The
ring or tube to be flanched is placed in a sheath which is formed in two
parts which can be bolted or clamped together to form a tube. The
said sheath is preferably formed of cast iron with strong ends which
practically form anvils, and is or may be formed or provided with a spur
or worm wheel also in two halves, by means of which the said sheath
may be rotated upon supporting wheels or rollers. Two carriages each
containing a steam cylinder or actuating apparatus and a hammer are so
arranged as that when in action the two opposite ends of the aforesaid
ring or tube can be simultaneously flanched by the action of the said.
hammers. Each cylinder and its hammer and frame can be raised or
lowered, and also rotated around the axis of the steam cylinder, so that
the hammers can be caused to strike the ends of the tube in a downward
or nearly downward direction, or in a horizontal direction, and in any
intermediate direction.
In a third form of the apparatus two hammers moving in opposite
directions are simultaneously operated by the same piston. This
apparatus is suitable to be employed in the welding together of the
rings in the formation of the steam generators, according to the method
described in a former Invention, for which Provisional Protection, .

page_text: numbered 1539, has been granted to me in the year last ended. The
rings to be united are supported upon wheels or rollers which are
mounted in or on a framing, and the edges to be welded enter a fire
which is preferably urged by means of two rows of air jets or tuyeres.
The hammers when set in action strike the heated joint simultaneously
on the two sides thereof. I prefer to employ a third hammer which is
fixed on the end of the piston rod, or of a rod which forms a con-
tinuation thereof and which slides in a bearing. The said hammer is
arranged to strike the edges of the ring at the same time as the other
hammers are striking the sides, or by differently arranging the lever
arms of the last-named hammers the third hammer may strike
alternately with them. The steam cylinder and framing are fitted to be
moved to and fro, and may be arranged to be raised and lowered or
inclined by means of screws or racks and pinions, or by other suitable
means to suit varying diameters of rings.
A remaining part of my Invention is also designed to be used in the
flanching of the said rings. The flanching is effected by means of
revolving rollers which act the one upon the interior and the other upon
the exterior of the ring, the rollers being arranged to be moved nearer
to or farther from each other. One of the said rollers is formed with
collars which act upon the edges of the said ring and bend the said edges
outwards over the ends of the other roller. To suit varying widths of
rings the said collars and the parts of the other roller which act in con-
junction with the said collars may be fitted to slide upon the axes of the
rollers. The ring is guided by means of two rollers which are mounted
one on each side of the flanching roller. Some of the rollers are
arranged to be adjustable in position to suit varying diameters of
rings.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I have
appended hereunto three Sheets of Drawings made to a scale of about
one-eighth of the full size, and marked with letters of reference, corre-
sponding marks indicating the same parts in the various Figures.
Sheet 1 of the said Drawings is illustrative of the two sets of
apparatus for welding and flanching tubes. Fig. 1 representing an
elevation; and Fig. 2, a plan of the flanching apparatus.
In the said Figures A, A, are two beds, upon which carriages B, B,
are fitted to slide. Each bed is arranged to be raised and lowered by

page_text: means of a central screw jack a, and is guided in such movements by
means of four columns b, b, which are fitted to slide in holes bored in
the foundation plate C. The carriage B can be slid to and fro on the
bed A. by means of a screw and hand wheel c. On the said carriage
is mounted a steam cylinder D, which is provided with a piston and
piston rod, and with suitable arrangements for controlling the admission
and discharge of steam.
Any preferred description of valves and valve gear, such for example
as are employed in steam hammers, may be adapted to the steam
cylinders, both in this and in the examples yet to be described, but it
has not been considered necessary to shew the said valves and gear in
the Drawings. The outer end of the piston rod is jointed to two
links d, d, which are also jointed to the link e and the bell-crank lever e¹,
which are both jointed to a cross head f. The lever e¹ is formed with
a socket, in which the shaft of a hammer E is fixed. The effect of this
arrangement is that when the piston rod is moved to and fro by the
action of the steam the hammer head is caused to swing to and fro.
The said cross head is formed with a turned shank, which is fitted to
revolve in a bearing 9, and the said cross head is formed or provided
with a worm wheel quadrant h, with which gears a worm on the shaft i.
By turning the handle fixed on the said shaft in one direction or the
other the cross head, together with the jointed links and the piston rod
and piston, will be caused to rotate, whereby the direction in which the
blows of the hammer are given may be changed as required..
The Drawings illustrate the action of the parts in the machine for
welding the tubes according to the first part of my Invention, and in
fact one or both of the two hammering machines represented may
be employed in the welding process, as well as the flanching process.
When welding, the tube plate or parts to be welded is or are placed on
a strong mandril or table of a suitable form, the joint being in position
to receive the blows of the hammer head, which supposing the joint to
be welded to be horizontal, would be arranged to move in a vertical
plane, or thereabouts, the direction of movement being fixed, or being
adjustable by rotating the piston rod and connections, as in the example
illustrated. In case the tube or other work remains stationary during
the welding process the carriage A is moved by turning the screw cas
the welding proceeds, the length of the slides in the carriage being made

page_text: suitable to the length of the longest tube or joint which is to be welded;
or the work may be moved on the mandril or table, the said carriage
being stationary, or being also moved as found most convenient:
In a framework two shafts, upon which are fixed pulleys j, j, are
fitted to revolve, the said pulleys sustaining the aforesaid sheath G.
The said sheath is formed in two halves, connected together by means of
bolts and collars, as indicated by the dotted lines n, or by other suitable
means, and each half is fitted or formed with half a spur wheel L, and
with changeable ends secured to the main body by means of bolts
passing through flanches, as seen in Fig. 2.
may be turned and rest upon the pulleys j.
of the sheath and of the outer flanches of the changeable ends are made
suitable to the form of the tube to be flanched.
The said flanches are or
The forms of the exterior
In the example the apparatus is represented as made suitable in form
to operate upon ordinary conical Galloway tubes; tubes varying in
length and suitable for flues varying in diameter may be operated upon
by changing the ends of each half of the sheath. The tube to be
flanched having been heated at the ends is introduced into the sheath
and a revolving motion is imparted thereto by means of the gearing and
driving shaft m. The hammers E, E, are now set in motion and are
guided to strike in the required directions and upon the proper parts of
the tube by turning the worm shaft i. The intensity of the blows may
be regulated by governing the admission of steam. The carriages are
moved to or fro as required by turning the screws c; when the flanching
is completed the two halves of the sheath are disconnected and the tube
is removed.
In some cases it may be necessary or convenient to remove the upper
half of the sheath in order to place in position the tube to be flanched.
The Drawings on Sheet 2 are illustrative of the third form of appa-
ratus, Fig. 3 representing an elevation and Fig. 4 a plan of apparatus
suitable to be employed in the welding together of rings or parts to form
a flue or cylindrical shell. In this example a carriage H is provided
with wheels and arranged to be moved to and fro upon rails by turning
the screw and hand wheel n.
A steam cylinder I fitted as herein-before indicated is secured to a
standard, which is bolted to the said carriage. The piston rod of the

page_text: said steam cylinder is fitted to slide to and fro in a bearing formed in
the upper end of a second standard o, and on the end of the said rod is
secured a hammer or "swage" p, which in the example is formed with
two faces, between which is the nut which secures the said hammer to
the piston rod. The said hammer may however be formed with a single
face and be otherwise secured, in which case it would be necessary or
advisable to cause it to strike the work in the intervals between the
blows of the hammers J. This may be effected by arranging the levers
so that the backward movement of the piston shall cause the hammers J
to strike the work. In the example two bell-crank levers q, q, mounted
on studs fixed to the standard o are fitted with hammers J, the con-
nection of each lever with the piston rod being as in the previous
example.
*
, '
The flanches of the tubes to be welded together are heated by means
of a furnace or hearth K, a section of which, taken on the line *. is
represented by Fig. 5. The said hearth is formed with an internal space
for fuel, on each side of which is a water chamber r, through which
pass five tuyeres or any other suitable number of tuyeres, as preferred.
The said tuyeres communicate with air chambers 8, which are supplied
with a blast of air by suitable means. Upon the framing of the hearth
are formed or fixed bearings for the gudgeons of two rollers t, t, which
are made suitable in form to sustain the rings to be welded. Two rings
to be welded having been temporarily connected together by means of
their flanches are placed with the said flanches resting on the roller t.
Portions of the meeting flanches will now be exposed to the action of
the fire. When sufficiently heated the rings are revolved so as to bring
the heated section within the range of the hammers, which are set in
motion, and simultaneously strike the flanches of the two rings in
opposite directions, thereby effecting the welding, the hammer p also
striking the edges of the flanches and assisting in the welding and.
finishing of the joint. The rings are rotated as required during the
welding operation. The operation of welding is repeated upon succes-
sively heated portions of the flanches until the rings are completely
united. A carriage L running on rails and provided with rollers, as in
the case of the hearth, is employed to support one end of the flue or
shell as it increases in length. The carriage H may be arranged to slide
as in the previous example if preferred. If the diameters of the rings
vary greatly it will be advisable to provide means for raising and

page_text: lowering the steam cylinder and hammers, or for inclining them
towards the centre of the ring. This may be effected by similar means
to those shewn in Sheet 1, or by other suitable means, as, for example,
the rails on which the carriage H moves may be inclined at an angle of
forty-five degrees from the horizontal plane. I consider the direct
action of steam to be the most suitable for giving motion to the hammers
in this and the previous examples, but I do not confine myself to the
lowering the steam cylinder and hammers, or for inclining them
towards the centre of the ring. This may be effected by similar means
to those shewn in Sheet 1, or by other suitable means, as, for example,
the rails on which the carriage H moves may be inclined at an angle of
forty-five degrees, from the horizontal plane. I consider the direct
´action of steam to be the most suitable for giving motion to the hammers
in this and the previous examples, but I do not confine myself to the
said direct action.
The Drawings on Sheet 3 are illustrative of the remaining part of my
Invention, Fig. 6, representing an elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan of an
apparatus for flanching rings, say, for example, the rings to be welded
in the apparatus just described. Two carriages M and N are fitted to
slide in bed O, which forms the upper part of a strong framing. The
carriage M can be moved to and fro by means of a screw and hand
wheel u, and the carriage N by means of a screw and hand wheel v.
The lower end of an upright shaft P is fitted to revolve in a bearing in
the carriage M, and on the said shaft is fitted to slide a hollow shell or
shaft w, which is fitted to revolve in a bearing formed in the standard x,
which is fixed or formed on the said carriage. A fixed key in the shaft
P prevents the said shell from revolving on the shaft. On the shaft P
is fixed or formed a roller y, and on the shell w is fixed or formed a
similar roller y¹. A screw z is secured to the upper end of the shaft P
in such a manner as will permit of the independent rotation of the said
screw, which works in a nut fixed to or formed in the end of the shell.
By turning the said screw by means of the hand wheel the shell may be
caused to slide upon the shaft, whereby the roller y¹ may be caused to
approach or to recede from the other roller. A shaft Q is also fitted to
revolve in bearings formed in the carriage N and in a bracket a¹ fixed
or formed on the said carriage, and a sliding shell 6' actuated by means
of a screw C¹ is also fitted to the said shaft. On the shaft Q is fixed or
formed a roller d¹, and on the lower end of the shell 6' is fixed or formed
a roller f³. These rollers are formed to act upon the interior of the
ring represented by R, and to press out the edges so as to form the
flanches, and the rollers f¹ can be caused to approach or to recede from
the other roller by turning the screw C¹. Two vertical side rollers S, S,
fixed or formed on shafts T, T, which are fitted to revolve in bearings,
give support to the ring, and also impart the requisite motion thereto
during the operation. On the said shafts are fixed spur wheels g¹; 9¹;`

page_text: And, lastly. The arrangement and combination of parts, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and indicated herein-before and in
Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Plant, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Signed and sealed by the
said George Plant in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
·
Manchester.
GEORGE PLANT. (L.S.).