Improvements in the Manufacture of Seamless Metallic Tubes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Seamless Metallic Tubes
and the like.
EDMUND LUCAS COOPER, Seamless Steel Tube Works Manager, 17, Lordsmill
Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
An improvement in the method of piercing ingots for the manufacture of
seamless metallic tubes, or cylindrical hollow articles, by piercing a hole through
the said ingots whilst in a semi plastic state. The ingot is placed in a matrix
or die and by exerting pressure at one end of the billet by hydraulic power, the
ingot is pushed forward against & over a mandril, with power sufficient to make
'the said mandril open out or expand the ingot as it leaves the mouth of the
matrix or die.
The force is applied until the mandril has made a hole, the whole distance
through the ingot, leaving it in such a state that rolling it into a tube becomes,
practicable.
A small hole may be drilled through the ingot to guide the mandril central
if necessary.
It is claimed that by allowing the piercing and expanding of the ingot at
the same time takes less power to pierce and removes all scale from the outside
caused by heating and makes the metal more elastic and easier to work in its
subsequent treatment during manufacture.
Dated this First day of August 1899.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Seamless Metallic Tubes
and the like.
EDMUND LUCAS COOPER, Engineer and Tube Works Manager, 17, Lordsmill
Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
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 a new and improved method of and means of piercing
metallic ingots (such as copper, brass or steel) for the manufacture of seamless
metallic tubes or cylindrical hollow articles by piercing a hole through the said
ingots while in a semi plastic state.
The piercing is accomplished after the billet has left the bell-mouthed matrix
or die, allowing the ingot free room to expand during the operation.

page_text: Less power is required to pierce a billet in this way than when a billet is
enclosed in a matrix or die, as a matrix or die restricts the lateral expansion
of the ingot during piercing, through frictional contact between the matrix or
die and the ingot caused by the pressure due to the forcing of a mandril through
the metal. This piercing outside the matrix or die causes all the scale to fall
away, producing a clean outside surface free from the objectionable sears caused
by scale when pierced in a matrix or die. The force is applied until the mandril
has made a hole the whole distance through the ingot, leaving it in such a
state that rolling it into a tube becomes practicable.
A small hole may be drilled through the ingot to guide the mandril central
if necessary, in any case the ingot must be centered by first drilling a hole a
short distance into the ingot to guide the point of the mandril.
My invention consists in a method of and means for piercing hot metal ingots
at the mouth of a matrix or die, allowing the ingot to expand during the
piercing thus making the ingot larger in diameter than its original size, free from
scale and in such a size and condition that a tube can be rolled and afterwards
cold drawn to a diameter larger than the size of the solid ingot, also that the
ingot having free room to expand makes the metal more elastic in its subsequent
treatment.
In carrying my invention into effect according to one modification
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section showing the ingot pierced & expanded
half way through, and
Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section showing the piercing operation com-
pleted.
I place the ingot A into the matrix or die B, into the one end of which is
shown a hollow sleeve C attached to a hydraulic ram D, at the other end of
the matrix or die B is shown a mandril E on a stem rod F, at the out end of
which is a crosshead G to support F during the time of piercing.
The method of operation is as follows.
The ram D is raised allowing room for ingot A and sleeve C to be put into
the positions as shown on Fig. 1.
Force is then applied on ram D by hydraulic power in the direction of arrow a,
forcing C on to the back of ingot A the ingot A in turn being forced forward
and over mandril E.
Fig. 1 shows the position ready for piercing.
Fig. 2 shows the ingot forced forward and half pierced & expanded, and
Fig. 3 shows the ingot pierced all the way through, the operation being
completed.
0
The ram D and sleeve C are then withdrawn in direction of arrow bready
for another operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. The method of and means for piercing hot metal ingots outside of a
matrix or die, as, and for the purpose described.
2nd. Allowing the ingot free expansion so that less power is required for
this method of piercing, and that a larger tube may be made than heretofore.
3rd. The combination of ram and sleeve for forcing the ingot forward substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of April 1900.
EDMUND LUCAS COOPER.
Applicant.