A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF FLUTED METALLIC TUBES AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN WILKES of Liverpool Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF FLUTED METALLIC TUBES AND MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE" to be as follows: —
In the ordinary method of manufacturing fluted metallic tubes a plain or
cylindrical tube is drawn through a draw plate or series of draw holes the
configuration of which is the counterpart of the fluting to be given to the tube.
By this the ordinary method of manufacture the fluting extends from end to end
of the tube or from one end to nearly the other end. Where fluted metallic tubes
aro employed for condensers boilers and refrigerators and for various other purposes
it is necessary or desirable that both ends of the tube and in some cases other
parts be left plain or unfluted. This is especially necessary in fluted metallic tubes
used for steam boilers and condensers and the object of my invention is to manu-
facture fluted metallic tubes in which the ends and other required parts are
unoperated upon in the fluting process. In manufacturing fluted metallic tubes
according to my invention I dispense with the ordinary draw plate and cause the
fluting to be made by a series of radial or converging tools set in a holder the inner
end of each of the said tools having the figure of the concave or trough part of the
flute to be produced. The number of the said radial or converging tools is equal
to the number of the flutes to be produced. The said tools are capable of sliding
in their seats in the holder so that their acting or inner ends may be brought
nearer to or further from their common centre so that they may operate upon tubes
of different diameters. The said tools may be made to approach and be fixed in
position by a collar having a series of eccentrics bearing on the outer ends of the
tools but I do not limit myself to any particular method of making the tools
advance or retire or of fixing them in position.
In using the machinery or apparatus described the radial tools are made to
recede from each other to a sufficient distance to permit of the introduction of the
end of the plain or cylindrical tube between them. The tube is passed into the

page_text: machine to a distance equal to the length of that part which is to be left unfluted.
The tools are then made to converge upon the tube and the tube is drawn through
the machine a distance equal to the length of the tube on which flutes are to be
made upon it. The tube is thereby fluted through the required distance. By
making the tools alternately close upon and retire from the tube any required
portions of the tube may be fluted and the other portions left plain or cylindrical.
Although I prefer to use tools of the kind described yet in some cases the inner
ends of the tools may terminate in rollers having the configuration of the flutes to
be made. The action of this modification differs in no essential respect from the
action of the arrangement first described. My invention is applicable to the
manufacture of fluted metallic tubes in which the flutes are twisted as well as
tubes in which the flutes are straight.

page_text: I-JOHN WILKES of Liverpool Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF FLUTED METALLIC TUBES AND MACHINERY OR
"
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE' and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
In the ordinary method of manufacturing fluted metallic tubes, a plain or
cylindrical tube is drawn through a draw plate or series of draw holes the
configuration of which is the counterpart of the fluting to be given to the tubo.
By this the ordinary method of manufacture, the fluting extends from end to end
of the tube or from one end to nearly the other end.
Where fluted metallic tubes are employed for condensers, boilers and refrigerators
and for various other purposes it is necessary or desirable that both ends of the
tube and in some cases other parts shall be left plain or unfluted. This is especially
necessary in fluted metallic tubes used for steam boilers and condensers and the
object of my invention is to manufacture fluted metallic tubes in which the ends
and other required parts are unoperated upon in the fluting process. In manu-
facturing fluted metallic tubes according to my invention I dispense with the
ordinary draw plate and cause the fluting to be made by a series of radial or
converging tools set in a holder the inner end of each of the said tools having the
figure of the concave or trough part of the flute to be produced. The number. of
the said radial or converging tools may be equal to the number of the flutes to be
produced. The said tools are capable of sliding in their seats in the holder so that
their acting or inner ends may be brought nearer to or further from their common
centre so that they may operate upon tubes of different diameters. The said tools
may be made to approach and be fixed in position by a collar having a series of
eccentrics bearing on the outer ends of the tools but I do not limit myself to any
particular method of making the tools advance or retire or of fixing them in
position.
In using the machinery or apparatus described, the radial tools are made to
recede from each other to a sufficient distance to permit of the introduction of the
end of the plain or cylindrical tube between them. The tube is passed into the
machine to a distance equal to the length of that part which is to be left unfluted.
The tools are then made to converge upon the tube and the tubo is drawn through
the machine a distance equal to the length of the tube on which flutes are to be
made upon it. The tube is thereby fluted through the required distance. By
making the tools alternately close upon and retire from the tube any required
portions of the tube may be fluted and the other portions left plain or cylindrical.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a plain brass or other tube
from which the fluted tube is to be manufactured, the said tube having a diameter
considerably greater than that of the fluted tube to be made. Before the plain tube

page_text: is subjected to the action of the fluting machinery the ends of the tube which are
to be left plain or unfluted are reduced to the same diameter as the greatest
diameter of the fluted part of the tube to be made. The tube after its ends have
been reduced in diameter is represented in Figure 2, the plain reduced ends being
marked a, a.
Figure 3 represents a fluted tube made by subjecting the tube Figure 2 to the
action of the fluting machinery hereinafter described, the said fluted tube having
plain ends marked a, a.
Figure 4 represents a fluted tube in which the middle of the tube marked b is
plain as well as the ends marked a, a. This tube is manufactured in the way
hereinafter described.
The end elevations of Figures 1, 2 and 3 are drawn to a larger scale than the side
elevations of the same Figures.
Figure 5 represents in side elevation and Figure 6 in longitudinal section
machinery or apparatus constructed according to my invention for the manufacture
of fluted metallic tubes in conjunction with a portion of the draw-bench with
which the said machinery or apparatus is used; Figure 7 represents a back
elevation of the machinery; Figure 8 a front elevation of the same and Figure 9
a plan of the same; Figure 10 represents a front elevation of the die or tool box or
holder without the tools and Figures 11 and 12 represent the same with the tools
combined therewith the tools in Figure 11 being represented in their withdrawn
position and in Figure 12 in their advanced position; Figure 13 represents one of
the tools detached.
o, c are the radial or converging tools working in the radial slots or seats d, d in
the box or holder e, the said tool box or holder having in it a central opening f
through which the tube to be fluted is drawn (see Figure 10). The inner end of
each of the tools c bas the figure of one or more of the concave or trough parts of
the flutes to be produced. The said tools c, c are capable of sliding in the slots or
seats d, d in the holder e so that their acting or inner ends may be brought nearer
to or further from the common centre f for the purpose of operating upon tubes of
different diameters. In Figure 11, the tools c, c are represented withdrawn to their
full extent and in Figure 12 advanced to the distance required for the manufacture
of the fluted tube Figure 3. The front of the tool box or holder e is covered by
the cap e¹ bolted or screwed thereto; ġ is the rotating collar or cam by which the
positions of the tools c, c in the holder e are adjusted and the said tools fixed in the
positions to which they have been brought. The said collar or cam g is provided
with a handle g for turning it, the said collar or cam working in the top and
bottom bearings h, i, the lower bearing i being fixed on the bed k of the draw-
bench in front of the stop plate l. In the said rotating collar or cam g is a series
of eccentric grooves m, m in which the ends of the bolts p fixed to the tools c
respectively engage in the manner best seen in Figure 6. By rotating the collar or
cam g in one direction by means of its handle g the several tools c, c are simul-
taneously made to retire from the common centre f of the die box or holder e by
the action of the eccentrics m, m upon the bolts p, p of the tools; and by rotating
the collar or cam g in the opposite direction the several tools are simultaneously
made to approach the common centre f of the die box or holder e. The die box or
holder e is fixed to the lower bearing i in which the collar or cam g works by
means of screw bolts passed through side snugs q, q³ on the said lower bearing and
die box or holder as represented in Figure 9, the projection r on the bottom of the
die box or holder taking into a slot or opening in the bed k of the draw bench.
In manufacturing a fluted tube by the use of the machinery described and
represented I proceed as follows:-Having reduced the ends of the tube as repre-
sented in Figure 2 the radial tools c, c are made to recede from each other as
represented in Figure 11 to permit of the introduction of one of the plain ends a of
the cylindrical tube between them. The tube is then passed into the machine to a
distance equal to the length of the end a which is to be left unfluted. By now
rotating the collar or cam g by its handle g² the several tools c, c are made to

page_text: converge upon the tube and the said tube is drawn through the machine in
the ordinary way of drawing tubes as illustrated in Figure 6 and a fluted tube
of the kind represented in Figure 3 is produced, that is, the ends a a are plain and
the flutes extend between the plain ends a, a. In making tubes plain at one or
both ends or at other parts an ordinary draw plate having a cylindrical hole may
be used in connection with the fluting tools. In this case the fluting tools are
situated at the rear of the ordinary draw plate. When the fluting tools are
separated so far as not to act on the tube the said tube is drawn down by the
ordinary draw plate and is made of a cylindrical figure. When the fluting tools
are made to converge and operate on the tube the said tube is fluted. Thus, by
alternately opening and closing the fluting tools any required portions of the tube
may be made cylindrical or fluted. In this way tubes of the kind represented in
Figure 4 as well as tubes of the kind represented in Figure 3 may be made.
Although I prefer to use tools of the kind described and represented yet in some
cases the inner ends of the tools may terminate in rollers having the configuration
of the flutes to be made. The action of this modification differs in no essential
respect from the action of the arrangement first described.
My invention is applicable to the manufacture of fluted metallic tubes in which
the flutes are twisted as well as tubes in which the flutes are straight; and the
machinery described and represented may be used for fluting tubes throughout the
whole of their length instead of fluting portions only of the tubes as before
described.
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 of "A new or improved manufacture of fluted metallic tubes and
machinery or apparatus to be employed in the said manufacture"
First Manufacturing fluted tubes for condensers, boilers and refrigerators and
for various other purposes, with plain or unfluted ends or leaving portions of the
tubes at other parts plain and fluting the remaining portions substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly-Machinery or apparatus to be used in fluting metallic tubes of the
kind claimed in the first claim and for fluting other metallic tubes, the said
machinery or apparatus consisting essentially of a series of converging fluting tools
working in a die box or holder in conjunction with a collar or cam for causing the
said tools to close upon or retire from the tube and for fixing them in position
and either with or without an ordinary draw plate substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.