Improvements in Machines for Flanging the Manholes in Boilers and like Orifices in Plates.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
[Communicated from abroad by THE BABCOCK AND WILCOX COMPANY, of New
York, in the United States of America, Steam Boiler Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Machines for Flanging the Manholes in Boilers
and like Orifices in Plates.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62 Saint Vincent Street, in the County
of the City of Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention consists in a machine having certain features of construction and
arrangement, hereinafter described and claimed, whereby flanging the manholes in
boilers, &c. can be more expeditiously and satisfactorily performed than has
heretofore been the case.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents, in vertical section, a sufficient portion of the machine for
an understanding of the invention, a part of a boiler or drum to be operated upon
being shown in position thereon preparatory to flanging the manhole therein.
Figure 2 represents a similar view with the parts in the position they assume
when the flanging has been completed.
Figure 3 shows, in side view and partial section, one of the formers with which
the flanging is effected.
Figure 4 represents a top view of the same.
Figure 5 represents a top view of the interior of the drum after the manhole has.
been flanged.
The machine is intended to be operated by hydraulic pressure, and has a base or
body A, provided with a cavity a, for the admission of water, as through a duct a¹,
in which cavity is arranged a piston B, a suitable packing, as at c, being employed
to prevent the escape of the water around the piston.
The piston B is furnished with a central hole b, through which passes a rod C
that is secured at its lower end to the base A. A packing d is attached to the
piston, surrounding said rod, to prevent the escape of water through the hole, and
the rod is preferably packed at d', in order that water may not escape around the.
lower end thereof.
"
Upon the upper end of the piston is secured a male former E, having a hole
therein for the passage of the rod C, the upper or entering portion e of which is
shaped to fit the initial opening or hole (as an oval one, shown by dotted lines at
in Fig. 5) that has been made in the boiler or drum F, which hole is to be
expanded, and the material around the same to be formed into a flange f. Below
the part e of the former is a frustro-conical portion el which acts to expand the
hole and produce the flange, and below this part is preferably a portione having
a vertical periphery.
Detachably secured to the upper end of the rod, is a head-block or backing-
block G, which may be circular, oval, or other suitable form in transverse outline,
and combined therewith is a female former H, in the shape of a ring loosely
surrounding the rod C, the interior outline of which is the same in shape as the
outline of the flange to be formed.
Preferably there is combined with the flange f a re-enforcing piece J having an

page_text: initial shape in transverse section, such as shown in Fig. 1, the portion; of which
is bent into a vertical position as shown in Fig. 2, during the flanging of the
manhole K.
The operation of the machine is substantially as follows:-
The piston B being in its lowermost position, and the head-block G and female
former H being detached, the boiler or drum F is placed over the machine and the
portion e of the male former E is inserted into the initial opening that has been
made in the drum. The re-enforcing piece J is then passed over the upper end of
the rod C, and adjusted in position on the drum, when the former H is placed upon
said piece, and the head-block G is screwed upon the rod C, thereby clamping the
former H and piece J in place.
Water is now forced through the duct a¹ into the cavity a, and the piston B,
with its attached male former E is moved upward, thereby causing said former to
expand the hole x and force the material surrounding the same into the form of a
flange f, the portion of the piece J being bent upward at the same time, as shown
in Fig. 2.
After the flanging has been completed, the head-block and former H are
removed, when the flanged drum can be taken off.
Although I prefer to make the former H separate from the block G so as to use
various formers with the said block, yet it will be readily understood that such
former and block may be integral, if desired, it only being necessary to allow the
rod C to pass through an unthreaded hole in the block G sufficiently far properly
to receive a nut on its threaded end, which nut can be screwed down to clamp the
former upon the drum to be flanged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a piston carrying a former; a stationary rod passing
loosely through the same; a second former surrounding said rod and adapted to
co-operate with the first former; and a backing-block detachably secured to the
rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination of a piston carrying a former having its entering-portion
shaped to fit the hole to be expanded, and provided with an adjoining frustro-
conical portion for expanding the hole and flanging up the material surrounding
the same; a stationary rod passing loosely through said piston and former; a
second former loosely surrounding said rod and adapted to co-operate with the
first former; and a detachable head-block secured to the rod and backing the
second former, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of April 1896.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER.