IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hall, of Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Commission Agent, and Samuel Thompson, also of Sunderland, in the
said County, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBE
EXPANDERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hall and Samuel
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June
1881.
JOHN HALL, of Sunderland, in the County of Durham, Commission Agent, and
SAMUEL THOMPSON, also of Sunderland, in the said County, Engineer.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS."
Our Invention relates to apparatus for expanding, setting, or fixing tubes in
steam boilers, condensers, and other similar structures wherein tubes are employed.
We provide a hollow metallic truncated cone divided longitudinally into a
number of sections (by preference three), each of these sections is hinged in a
suitable manner at the base to a hub or boss provided with ears for the purpose.
Internally the said sections form a conical hole that tapers in a reverse direction to
the exterior. Through the aforesaid hub or boss we pass the cylindrical part of a
screw so that it takes a bearing therein, and is, by two collars, prevented moving
end wise; the screw proper extends along the interior of the abovenamed sectional
cone, and on it is a nut having a conical or other suitably shaped exterior, which
on the said screw being turned in one direction is drawn towards the said hub or
boss, and bears or presses against the inside surface of the conical or other suitably
shaped sections and within the tube to be expanded or set. The screw at its outer
end is formed with a square or other suitably shaped part for the purpose of
turning the same. The hub or boss above referred to has a suitably shaped
projection by which it and the whole of the apparatus is caused to revolve inside
the tube to be expanded or set, thus by direct radial pressure of the sectional cone
resulting from the turning of the above named screw as well as by revolving the
whole apparatus within a tube, such tube will be expanded and set in the required
position. If the screw be afterwards turned in the reverse direction, the sectional
cone will contract sufficiently to allow of its removal from the tube.
In a modification, the inside of the sectional cone above referred to is made to
taper in the same direction as the outside, and the hub or boss forms the nut for a
conical plug having a screwed part to fit therein, and which we force in by turning
in one direction, thus expanding the conical or other suitably shaped sections, which
after use are caused to contract by turning the screw plug in a contrary direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Hall and Samuel Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th December 1881,
JOHN HALL, of Sunderland, in the County of Durham, Commission Agent,
and SAMUEL THOMPSON, also of Sunderland, in the said County, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBE EXPANDERS."
Our Invention relates to apparatus for expanding, setting, and fixing tubes in
steam boilers, condensers, and other similar structures wherein tubes are employed.
We provide a hollow metallic truncated cone divided longitudinally into a number
of sections (by preference three), each hinged at the base or larger end to a hub or
boss provided with ears for the purpose. Internally the said sections form a conical
hole that tapers in a reverse direction to the exterior. Through the aforesaid hub
or boss we pass the cylindrical part of a screw so that it takes a bearing therein,
and is by two collars prevented moving endwise; the screw proper extends along
the interior of the above named sections, and on it is a nut having conical or other
suitably shaped exterior, which on the said scrow being turned in one direction is
drawn towards the said hub or boss, and bears or presses against the inside surface
of the conical or other formed sections, and within the tube to be expanded or set.
The screw at its outer end is formed with a square or other suitably shaped part
for the purpose of turning the same. The hub or boss above referred to has a
suitably shaped projection by which it and the whole of the apparatus is caused to
tovolve inside the tube to be expanded or set, thus by direct radial pressure of the
sectional parts, resulting from the turning of the above named screw, as well as by
revolving the whole apparatus within a tubo, such tube will be expanded and set
in the required position. If the screw be afterwards turned in the reverse direction
the sectional parts will contract sufficiently to allow of its removal from the tube.
In a modification, the inside of the sectional parts above referred to is made to
taper in the contrary direction to that above described, that is, the larger diameter
is next the hub or boss, and the hub or boss forms the nut for a conical plug having
a screwed part to fit therein, and which we force in by turning in one direction,
thus expanding the conical or other formed sections which after use are caused to
contract by turning the screw plug in a contrary direction. In the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, in which similar letters indicate like parts, Fig. 1 is a
longitudinal section of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a view at the fore end, and Fig. 3,
a view at the rear end. A is the hub or boss; B, B, B, the sections hinged thereto;
C is the screw having its bearing in the hub A, and prevented from moving
endwise therein by the collars D, D; E is the nut which on being drawn along by
the screw C causes the sectional parts B, B, B, to expand, which in their turn press
against the inside of a tube, and on the whole apparatus being turned round whilo
so pressing, draws and sets the tube in the tube plate. The dotted lines B¹ shew a
modified external form that may be given to the sections B, B, B; Figs. 4 to 6,
shew a modification of the apparatus, Fig. 4 being a longitudinal section; Fig. 5,
a view at the fore end, and Fig. 6, a view at the rear end; the arrangement in this
case differs from the one above described in the manner of expanding the sectional
parts B, B, B, which is effected by the screw plug C, being forced into the conical
interior of the said sectional parts, in lieu of the nut E being drawn therein as
above referred to.
1
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, we would have it understood that what we believe

page_text: to be novel and original, and claim as secured to us by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The constructing and arranging tube expanders, substantially as hereinabove
described with reference respectively to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and to Figs. 4, 5, and 6,
of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness to the signature of
the said Samuel Thompson,
T. E. CRAVEN, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
24, Victoria Chambers,
Leeds.
SAMUEL THOMPSON. (L.S.)