AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MAKING LEAD AND OTHER TRAPS AND TUBES, AND METHOD OF MAKING THE BENDS IN SUCH TRAPS AND TUBES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR MAKING LEAD AND OTHER TRAPS AND TUBES, AND METHOD
OF MAKING THE BENDS IN SUCH TRAPS AND TUBES." A communication
from abroad by Eliphalet Wicks Blatchford and Caleb Foote Gates, composing
the Firm of E. W. Blatchford and Co., of Chicago, in the County of Cook and
State of Illinois United States of & mering
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MAKING LEAD AND
OTHER TRAPS AND TUBES, AND METHOD OF MAKING THE BENDS IN SUCH TRAPS
AND TUBES." A communication from abroad by Eliphalet Wicks Blatchford and
Caleb Foote Gates, composing the Firm of E. W. Blatchford & Co., of Chicago,
in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of machines which are used
to shape lead by pressure into S-shaped and other curved traps or tubes, such as
for example the trap indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the Drawings.
Heretofore such traps were made by hydraulic pressure, either by using one
cylinder and plunger and a movable diaphragm to regulate the outlet, or by using
two separate cylinders and plungers jointly. In the latter case each plunger would
have to be moved to make each curve, the one with greater the other with less
speed.
This Invention consists in the construction of a two plunger machine, said
plungers being in line in one cylinder, and combined with a core which allows
communication from one side of it to the other, so that when one of the plungers
alone is moved the metal will be forced out through the annular orifice from both
sides of the core. Thus I am enabled to produce a curve by moving one plunger

page_text: only, and the reverse curve by moving the other plunger only, though able
whenever desired to move both plungers simultaneously, which is necessary when
straight pipes are to be produced, and also at times when it is desirable in making
longer or shorter curves.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of the improved
machine for making lead traps, the trap being indicated by dotted lines; Figure 2
is a top view of the machine; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the same;
Figure 4, a horizontal section through the centre of the cylinder; and Figure 5,
a perspective view of the core.
A represents an hydraulic cylinder receiving two plungers B and C, one at each
of its ends, and having projecting from it between said ends the nozzle a, into
which the core D enters so as to produce an annular discharge opening b within
the nozzle indicated in Figure 2. The core D is rigidly secured in the lower
part of the cylinder A, either by being fitted into a socket d prepared for its
reception, as indicated in Figure 1, or by fastening pin or pins e, or both, or by
being screwed into place, or in any other suitable manner. The core D is by
preference of such a diameter that it will match or even exceed the diameter of
the bore of the cylinder A, as thereby it receives a strong support throughout its
length up to where it forms the constriction chamber fin the nozzle a, as shown
in Figures 3 and 4.
An aperture g is formed through the core D in line with the plungers B and C,
so that the cylinder will not be entirely interrupted by the core, but its chambers
will be in communication with one another. This enables me by moving one of
the plungers to force part of the contents of the cylinder through the aperture g
towards the other plunger and to the other side of the core. In order to
permit the proper discharge of the lead from the cylinder into the constriction
chamber and thence through the outlet b, I form when I use the aperture g two
vertical channels h that extend upwards from said aperture to the upper portion of
the core. Really these channels are made to leave the staying ribs i on each side,
whereby the core piece is stayed and securely held in its position; but I desire it
to be distinctly understood that whenever the character of the machine, the
strength of its parts, or the resistance of the material operated upon warrants it,
I may dispense with the aperture g through the core, and in lieu thereof use a core
of such reduced diameter or with grooves at its sides as to allow the passage of the
material, such as lead for example, around or past the core from one end of the
cylinder to the other.
The communicating passage may be formed in the body of
the cylinder itself.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The cylinder A is first charged with the requisite quantity of lead or other
substance to be formed into a bent tube or trap. Preferably equal amounts should
be on each side of the core in starting. Now in order to make a straight tube,
both plungers B and C are moved with equal speed towards the core by suitable
means, such as hydraulic machinery. This will force the lead or other matter out
through the mouth 6, in equal ratio all around the core, and produce a straight
pipe. Whenever a bend is to be produced only one of the plungers need be moved,
namely, the one on the side on which the greatest amount of material is to be
ejected from the orifice b. This one moving plunger will force the greater portion
of the lead or other substance out through the outlet b on its side of the core, but
at the same time will also supply the other side of the core through the orifice g to
a sufficient extent to produce the short bend in the curve. Hence the diameter of
the aperture g should be gauged to permit the passage through it of the necessary
quantity of lead that will make the short bend properly proportioned to the long
bend, and I therefore prefer to have a separate core for every differently curved
trap which is to be produced on the machine. Yet I am able with this machine,
without changing the core, to vary the character of the curve for either by moving i
the other plunger with less speed towards the core than the main moving plunger,
or by causing the second plunger to recede from while the first plunger advances

page_text: towards the core the character of the bend may be materially varied, either to
make it shorter or longer. When instead of a perforated core a core is used of a
diameter less than that of the bore of the cylinder A, or with grooves or passages
at the side, the same result will be obtained, namely, the metal will by the moving
plunger be forced out on both sides of the core in different degrees so as to produce
& curve.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,
1st. In a machine for making lead traps the combination of the cylinder A,
containing two plungers B, C, with the core D and outlet nozzle a, all constructed
to leave a passage from one side of the core to the other, so that when one plunger
is moved the lead will be ejected from the cylinder on both sides of the core,
substantially as specified.
2ndly. In combination with the cylinder A having two plungers B, C, the
core D having aperture g, substantially as specified.
3rdly. In combination with the cylinder A having two plungers B, C, the core D
baving aperture g and staying ribs i, i, substantially as specified.
4thly. The method herein described of forming bends in tubes or traps, which
method consists in forcing lead or other substance by means of one plunger, partly
against and partly through or past a central core, and thence along said core by
the motion of said one plunger in different proportions on opposite sides to the
outlet orifice.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)