FORMING AND SEAMING SHEET METAL TUBES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, EDMUND JORDAN, Citizen of the United States, residing at the City of
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, State of New York, Mechanical Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "FORMING AND SEAMING SHEET
METAL TUBES" 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 machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes
and embraces the mechanical combination of parts, hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machino showing its position after
a tube has been formed around the horn.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after a tube has
been formed on the horn, and then moved under the press or stamp for closing
the seam.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine as-shown in Figure 1 and
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the opposite end of the machine to that shown in
Figure 3.
Figure 6 represents a side view of a lever and cams which operate the gear-sector
which rotates the sleeve and formers.
•
Figure 7 is a side view of the cams and yoke which operate the carrier or slide
and stripping fingers, and shows their relation to each other on the shaft.
Figure 8 is a side view of the cams and yoke which operate the press showing
their relative positions on the shaft.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of the sleeve carrying the former, and showing
the gear-wheel and clutch-pin which engages with and rotates the sleeve, in their
relative positions.
Figure 10 is a side view of the parts shown in Figure 9, a portion of the gear-
wheel being removed to show the clutch-pin, groove, stop, and spring.
Figure 11 is a side view of the cam and lever, which operate a mechanical doctor
to move the tube into proper position on the horn to be closed by the press; it also
shows a cross section of the doctor, an end view of the press, and an end view of
the seam on the horn ready to be closed by the press.
:

page_text: Figure 12 is a front view of the cam, lever, and doctor, showing the general
features of the same, and the manner of adjusting the doctor to accommodate
different sizes of tubes.
Figure 13 is an end view of a seam after it has been closed by the press.
Figure 14 is a side view of the cams which operate the slide carrying the
stripping fingers; these cams being placed in the yoke shown on Figure 7.
Figure 15 is a side view of the cams which operate the lever for actuating the
gear-sector rotating the sleeve and former.
Figure 16 is an end view of the cams shown in Figure 14.
Figure 17 is an end view showing the form and relative positions on the shaft,
of the cams shown in Figure 15.
Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of the former, on the line y y figure 19, and
a side view of the graduated horn, the said parts being shown in their relative
positions.
Figure 19 is a transverse section on the line zz figure 18.
Figure 20 is an end view of the horn showing the grooves on the same.
Figure 21 is a sectional view of the adjustable jack which supports the end of
the horn, when the press acts on the seam.
Figure 22 is a vertical section of the jack on the line xx figure 21, and shows
the crank and cam which give the jacket an intermittent vertical motion.
Figure 23 is a plan view of the slide, carrying and operating the stripping
fingers.
Figure 24 is an end view, partly in section, on the line W W Figure 23 of the
.slide, the fingers, and the sliding cam which operates them, and which is shown by
dotted lines.
Figure 26 is a perspective view of the sliding cam.
Figure 27 is a perspective view of the cap holding the sliding cams in place.
Figure 28 is a side view of a portion of the fingers showing the spring joint in
the same.
Figure 29 is a perspective view of a guide for keeping the seam locked after the
tube is formed on the small portion of the horn, while the tube is being moved to
the enlarged surface of the same where the seam is closed.
Figure 30 represents the vertical bar or slide that carries the adjustable forked
stop against which the tube strikes when moved on the horn under the press, to
bring the edges evenly together before the seam is closed by the press.
Figure 31 is a side view of the same, and of the adjustable forked stop.
Figure 32 is a top view of the adjustable forked stop.
Figure 33 is a longitudinal section on the line vv Figure 2, of the lever
operating the slide which carries the fingers, and showing the slot for adjusting the
throw of the slide.
Figure 34 is a side view of the cam on the end of the shaft which operates the
jack, and the adjustable stop, and
Figure 35 is an end view of the same.
Figure 36 is an end view of a cam which actuates the lever and rock-shaft
which operate the dividing feed table.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
F is the main frame of suitable dimensions constructed of cast iron and
supported upon legs L or other supports.
H is a horn, one part of which is of different diameter from the other part, the
two parts being connected by a tapering portion. This horn is let into the end of
a stud w, figure 9, in a hub or socket h in the frame. Although this horn is shown
cylindrical; it may be of any other suitable shape The stud and horn are held in
place by a bolt b, passing through the hub h and stud w, and tapped into the horn.
are longitudinal grooves in the horn, in which the ends of the stripping
fingers move. h2, h² are longitudinal grooves in which an adjustable stop moves,
and is a horizontal groove in the upper surface of the horn to receive the seam
of the tube. At the points on the horn opposite to the feed table, one end of the

page_text: groove
15 signay cut away to accommodate the width of the tube to be formed
On the opposite shoulder of the groove a hook ht is rigidly attached to the horn.
The opposite edges of a piece of metal that is to be formed into a tube are bent so.
as to engage with each other as shown in Figure 11. The book on one edge of the
metal from which a tube is formed is caused to engage with the hook the piece
of metal being thereby held while the tube is being formed. The part of the horn
where the sheet metal is bent is of such diameter as to allow the hooks on the opposite
edges of the metal to lap over each other when formed around the horn, and make
a locked seam; but towards the discharge end, the horn is graduated to the size
of the tube, which is gradually expanded by being moved towards and over the
tapering portion of the horn, thus drawing the hooked edges together.
S represents a metallic sleeve fitted over the stud w, and adapted to rotate as
hereinafter described. This is clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10 wherein S¹ is a
groove in the sleeve which fits a guide on the frame whereby it is held in proper
position while being rotated, as shewn in Figure 2. The sleeve runs loosely against
the gear-wheel S2, which also runs loosely on the stud w between the sleeve S and
a collar on the stud. S³ is a movable clutch pin sliding through the gear-wheel,
and engaging in a notch in the end of the sleeve S thereby rotating the same.
spring S on the gear wheel keeps the clutch pin against the surface of the sleeve,.
and forces the clutch-pin into the groove.
A
S6 is a former clearly shown in Figure 19. This former is rigidly attached to
the sleeve S at S5, and fitted over the horn in such a manner as to allow the metal
to be formed round the horn inside the former. S7 represents a longitudinal slot in
the former, one edge being cut away to allow the operator to insert the sheet metal,
under the hook h^.
It is obvious that this former may consist of a pin beld to the sleeve S³, or of any
equivalent device. If the sleeve is used it should be provided with longitudinal
grooves S8 S8 Figure 19, similar to the grooves ¹ in the horn, to accommodate the
stripping fingers.
So is a gear sector pivotted in the frame, at f and engaging with the gear wheel S
on the sleeve. An adjustable connecting rod $10 attached to an arm of the sector is:
also attached to one end of a lever S" pivotted to the frame at f1 and is operated
by cams Sand. S¹³, rigidly attached to the main shaft S¹; whereby motion is ⚫
communicated to the sector, and thence to the sleeve and former. After the sleeve.
and gear-wheel have made a complete revolution, the former is held stationary by ;
a stop-lever S15, operated by a cam a20 on the main shaft and a spring on the frame,
while the revolution of the gear wheel is reversed until the clutch-pin enters the..
groove in the sleeve, when the former is ready for a second operation."
a, Figures 3 and 23, is a slide.moving horizontally in the frame, and receiving
motion as hereinafter mentioned. It is formed with a depression along its
longitudinal axis and carries the stripping fingers cc' which will be fully hereinafter
described. a represents an adjustable connecting rod, attached at one end to the:
lug on the slide a, and at the other end to a lever a², pivotted to an arm of the
frame.at f. a3 is a longitudinal slot in the lever a³, by means of which the throw:
of the slide a is regulated. A rod a connects the lever a² to the bell crank lever a³,
which is pivotted to the frame at 64, and a rod a connects the bell-crank lever a³,
with the vertically moving cam yoke a' which is so constructed as to move in the
frame. a and a are cams fixed rigidly on the main shaft S14, and a¹o are rolls
fitted in the cam-yoke, which rolls run on the faces of the cans.
These several
devices are provided to impart a horizontal motion to the slide or carrier.
On each side of the carrier is a projecting car or lug provided with a cross
groove, at right angles to the slide, into which the projecting shank on a finger is
fitted and adapted to move horizontally. cc represent the stripping tingers,
provided with projecting ends which move in the grooves ¹ h' in the horn. The
cam-plate c², Figure 26, is placed over a projection on one of the fingers, and
the surface of one of the lugs or cars on the slide, and is fitted in a groove in the
top.plate., A pin c¹ is fixed in, the. cam-plate, and, slots co co are formed therein..

page_text: c represents a cap covering the sliding cam c². The fingers, sliding cam, and cap
are all held in place by bolt c. Cross slots c10 are provided in the projections of
The cam caps
the fingers to permit a horizontal motion of the fingers when in use.
are provided with bolt holes and are rigidly bolted to adjustable blocks sliding in
the projecting ears of the slide. Spring joints c¹ c" are formed in the fingers to
impart elasticity to the same, thus preventing injury to the edges of the tubes
while being moved on the horn. This device may however be omitted without
injury or interfering with the usefulness of my invention. The slide fingers and.
cams move horizontally with the slide, and the fingers work in and out of the
grooves in the horn by means of the sliding cam-device already mentioned.
When a sheet of metal is bent on the born, the slide carrying the fingers which
are expanded, moves forward at the time the gear sector is travelling backward,
while the former stands at rest until the pins strike stationary stops on the
frame; as the slide continues its travel, the fingers are forced into the grooves h¹, h¹
in the horn, by the motion of the cam-plate. When the travel of the slide is
reversed, the projecting ends c¹² c12 of the fingers embrace the end of the tube, and
carry it on to the enlarged surface of the horn, under the press. At the extreme
end of the throw, pins n n in the lovers n¹ n¹, move forward and strike the sliding
cam plate, reversing its position and thereby expanding the stripping fingers.
d, Figure 29, represents a stationary adjustable guide fastened to the frame by a
bolt. The flanged side is placed in close proximity to the horn over the locked
seam, and the projecting end is located near the end of the former to keep the seam
of the tube locked until the tube is carried to the enlarged surface of the horn. The
circular portion d' is provided to guide the scam into its proper place to be brought
under the stamp. Any equivalent guide may be used, without. interfering with
the usefulness of my invention.
d2, Figures 11 and 12, represents the doctor, consisting of a plain sheet of
metal with a projecting lip as indicated in Figure 12, the ends being attached to
adjustable bars dd, provided with slots to adjust the same. The slotted ends of
the bar are attached to a cross bar d³ which is rigidly attached to a circular lever d³,
and pivotted to the frame at f*.
The mechanism just described is actuated by a cam d, on the main shaft S14,
working against the circular end of the lever, as indicated in Figure 11. The
doctor is so adjusted that the projecting lip strikes the locked seam of the tube
This is so
and moves it into position to receive the stamp to close the seam.
timed as to operate immediately after the tube comes to rest, as indicated at d
Figure 11.
g represents an automatic adjustable forked stop with projecting ends as indi-
cated in Figure 32. The stem is fitted into a vertical rod g', provided with a
collar g2, and attached to the frame by bearings g³ g. The rod g¹ working in its
bearings serves as a slide. Around the stem of the forked stop is a coiled spring to
form an elastic stop.
The projecting ends of the fork work in the grooves ³ ³ in the horn as illus-
trated in Figure 20. This stop is provided to bring the edges of the tube evenly
together, or level, before the stamp acts, and is moved vertically by a lever go to
allow the tubes to be stripped from the horn after the seam is closed. One end of
the lever g is attached to the collar g³, and the other slotted end is connected to
the rod 9 which connects with the lever g', pivotted at f6. The projection on the
end of the lever g' works in the cam groove in the side of the cam g³, rigidly fixed
to the main shaft S. When the press is operated this forked stop is raised by the
mechanism just described, in order that the ends 15 c¹s of the stripping fingers
which work in the grooves in the horn may strip the tube from the horn, at the
same time that another tube is being carried by hooks c1, c2 from where it is
formed to the point where the press is applied. This mechanism operates the sup-
porting jack g, Figure 22, which consists of a screw g¹ in a slide 10 operated by
a cam g rigidly fixed on one end of the shaft 912. On the opposite end of the
shaft is a crank. g13, which is connected with. the. connecting rod 9. The jack is.

page_text: raised to support the horn immediately before the application of the press to the
seam and recedes immediately after to allow the tube to be stripped from the horn
as before mentioned. The jack and the mechanism immediately connected there-
with are rigidly attached to the frame; a tongue g¹³ fitting into a groove in the
said frame.
nn are two adjustable pins in the ends of levers n³, n', attached rigidly to the
rock shaft n which has bearings in the frame. To this rock-shaft a lever n' is
also rigidly attached. The free end of this lever works on the face of a cam-
wheel which actuates the lever and also the pins n n, thereby causing them to
strike against the ends of sliding cam plate c², driving the same forward and thus
expanding the stripping fingers so that they move forward to grasp a tube on the
horn. This motion is so timed as to strike a sliding cam plate immediately
preceding the time when the slide reverses its travel to return for a tube formed
over the horn, as before described.
m, Figure 11, represents a press or stamp moving vertically in guides to close
the locked seam, and m¹ represents the adjusting screw connecting the press with
the cam yoke m³, Figure 8, which is operated vertically by cams m³ and m², rigidly
fixed on the main shaft 84 and acting on rollers m³ and m in the cam yoke, thereby
imparting a vertical intermittent motion to the press m, which motion is so timed
as to close a seam when the fingers are returning for a tube.
P, p, figure 2, represents a dividing feed-table which closes to receive a sheet
from the operator and to conduct it under the hook on the horn immediately pre-
ceding the rotation of the former. 2, p¹, represent two connecting rods, one end
of each being connected by a bell crank lever p³, to one side of the dividing table,
the upper ends being rigidly attached to arms on a rock-shaft f1, to which one
end of a lever p, figures 3 and 36 is rigidly fixed. The opposite end of the lever p
works on the face of the camp, rigidly attached to the main shaft S. The
mechanism described opens the dividing table immediately after the sheet is
pushed under the hook on the horn, allowing the former to form the sheet metal
around the horn, and then closes to secure a second sheet.
These several mechanical movements are so timed and arranged as to work in
unison.
R represents a short shaft having its bearings in the frame and provided with a
belt-pulley.
'
The operation of the improved machine is as follows, that is to say ;-the sheets
of metal cut to the required size, and having hooks turned on the edges, to form
the locked seams, are placed on the dividing feed table with the upturned hook on
the sheet in advance. The sheet is then conducted forward so that the hooked
edge enters under the hook on the horn. The former then commences its rotation,
and the feed table opens, allowing the sheet to drop, when it is formed around the
horn by the rotation of the formers, bringing the hooked edges of the metal past
each other, and holding them stationary when the former comes to rest.
The gear
sector now moves the gear wheel containing the clutch pin backwards, until the
clutch pin slides into the inclined slot in the sleeve, when the former is ready to
form another sheet around the horn. While the gear-sector is travelling back-
wards the slide carrying the extended stripping fingers moves forward until the
projecting pins in the sliding cams striking the stationary stops, close the fingers,
which move into the groove in the horn.
When the travel of the slide and fingers is reversed the projecting ends of the
fingers are brought into contact with the edges of the tube, moving it to the
graduated portion of the horn, the seam being kept locked by the stationary guide
in the frame, and the elastic stop brings the edges evenly together when the tube
remains at rest under the press. Through the action of the pins n, n against the
sliding cams the stripping fingers are extended outward from the horn when the
tube is in readiness to receive the press to close the locked seam. Preceding.
the application of the press, the jack is brought under the horn to support it when:

page_text: the press is applied. After the application of the press, the jack and the adjustable
forked stop, recede from the horn, allowing the tube to be stripped from it.
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-
First. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, a horn having
portions of different diameters with a tapering surface from the smaller to the
larger portion, substantially as described and for the purposes stated.
. Second. In a machine for forming tubes from sheet metal, a grooved horn having
portions of different diameters with a tapering surface from the larger to the
smaller portion, in combination with "means for bending sheet metal around the
smaller portion and means for moving it on to the larger portion of the horn.
Third. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, a horn having
portions of different diameters with a tapering surface from the smaller to the
larger portion, in combination with means for wrapping the sheet metal around the
smaller portion of the horn, means for moving the same on to the largest portion
thereof, and means for closing the seam when the tube is expanded.
Fourth. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, a horn having.
portions of different diameters with a tapering surface from the larger to the
smaller diameter, and provided with longitudinal grooves and means for forming
the sheet metal around the smaller portion of the horn, in combination with a
moving slide carrying a stripping device constructed to enter the longitudinal
grooves in the horn for moving the tubes from the smaller to the larger portion
thereof to expand them.
Fifth. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes a horn having
portions of different diameters with a tapering or inclined surface from the smaller
to the larger portion; in combination with means for moving the tube from the
smaller to the larger portion of the horn to expand the same, and means for closing
the seam when the tube is expanded to the required size.
Sixth. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, the combination
of a horn having portions of different diameters with a graduated inclined or
tapering surface from the smaller to the larger diameter, the sheet metal being bent
on the smaller portion of the horn to allow the hooks on the seam to lap and hook;
a device operating to move the tube longitudinally of the horn to expand the same
and lock the hooks, a device to keep. the hooks locked when the tube is being
moved and expanded on the horn; a device to level or adjust the edges of the
tube; a stamp or press to close the seam when the tube is expanded and the edges
bevelled; and a device for stripping the tubes from the horn after the seam is
closed.
Seventh. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, a horn having
portions of different diameters, and a graduated or tapering surface from the smaller
to the larger portion, the smaller portion of the horn allowing the hooks on the
sheet metal to lock when wrapped on the horn, and the tapering surface enabling
the tube to be expanded to the required size, in combination with a press or stamp
to close the scam of the tube when on the horn.
Eighth. In a machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, a horn of
suitable diameter to allow the sheet metal provided with hooked edges to be
wrapped thereon, and the hooks to lap each other, in combination with a former to
wrap the sheet metal on the horn; a carrier to move the tubes on the horn; and a
press or stamp to close the seam on the horn when the tube is expanded to the
required size.
Ninth. A machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, having a horn of
varying diameter with a graduated surface from the smaller to the larger portion
to expand the tube and lock the seam; a former to wrap the sheet around the
smaller portion of the horn so that its hooks overlap; a device to level the edges of
the tube when moved on to the larger-portion of the horn; a device to move the

page_text: tube on to the larger portion of the horn under the press; a guide to hold the seam
locked when the tube is being moved under the press; a press to close the seam
when the tube is expanded on the horn, a device to strip the tube from the horn;
and an automatic divided feed table to allow the sheet metal to drop in position to
be wrapped on the horn and to close after the former commences its work, all
combined and arranged substantially as described and for the purposes stated.
Tenth. A machine for forming and seaming sheet metal tubes, having a horn of
varying diameter with a graduated surface from the smaller to the larger portion,
the larger portion being designed to expand the tube and lock the seam; a former
to wrap the sheet around the smaller portion of the horn with its hooks overlapped;
a device to level the edges of the tube when moved on to the larger portion of the
horn; a device to move the tubes on to the larger portion of the horn under the
press, a guide to bold the seam locked when the tube is being moved; a press or
stamp to close the seam when the tube is expanded; and a device to strip the tube
from the horn, all combined and arranged substantially as described and for the
purposes stated.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.