Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubes, Tubular or Hollow Articles, and in Shaping and Finishing of same and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: RESER
. Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1839
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubes,
Tubular or Hollow Articles, and in Shaping and Finishing of
same and in Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON, Engineer, of 95 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates mainly to the manufacture of seamless metal tube blanks and
tubes, and like seamless metal tubular hollow articles, such as boiler flues, pipe
coupling rings or sockets, broad rims for pulleys or rolls, and parallel and tapering
articles such as for shot and shell, and in new and improvod means and apparatus, and
new applications of apparatus, for manufacturing the same.
Under one arrangement my invention consists in a new and improved shape and
new and improved method of operating a long tube die for making or producing
tubes or chiefly metal tube blanks or short thick tubes to be afterwards shaped and
drawn out to thinner or smaller sizes or otherwise subsequently finished, which I
shall hereafter designate as "shells" from solid billets of metal made soft by heat,
chiefly adapted for making "shells" of iron, steel, and copper when in a heated and
soft or viscid state. For this purpose I form a metal matrice or tube die by
preference of cast iron or steel of a round and slightly tapering form internally with
a smooth surface, its central part lengthwise, of the same internal diameters and
tapering form as the external diameter of the heated billet of metal it is intended
to be used for and about double the length of this billet, so that when the hot billet is
put into this die from its wide end it sticks firmly about the centre of the die length-
wise. The die for some purposes may be in halves lengthwise and to be turned up
externally, also by preference of a tapering form and fitted into a strong containing
casting capable of standing great internal lateral pressure from the die, and this billet
or heated soft mass of metal so placed in this die, I cause to be pierced by a conical
or sharp pointed or bulbous mandrel in cross area about two thirds of the internal area
of the die entered centrally in at the wide end of the die by a guide fixed on its
mouth or otherwise, and by great force through the intervention of a strong stem
rod push in this mandrel swiftly into the soft mass of metal which by reason of the

page_text: internal tapering form of the die and correspondingly fitting and fixing action of the
billet, produces sufficient lateral frictional and abutting hold to it in the die to prevent
it being pushed forward bodily by the mandrel and results in causing the most of the
heated soft metal of the billet to extend and flow out around and over the mandrel and
its forcing stem rod in the reverse direction of the inward motion of the mandrel and
its stem rod and into a tube or tube blank or "shell" pierced with a hole the size of
the mandrel, the mandrel when nearing the furthest end of the billet stretching out
the metal in the billet thereafter forward in the die continuously into a tube until it
has passed entirely through the billet of metal, producing thereby from this soft billet
of metal a tube of the internal diameter of the mandrel used and of a tapering form
externally corresponding to the degree of taper formed in the internal surface of the
die, which is so formed to be removed out of the die as quickly as possible, so as to
avoid injuring by heat as much as possible, the internal tapering form of the die, and
as used for heated soft metal in this form being the main new and improved arrange-
ment in it in this modification, that renders solid metal ingots to be pierced and
converted into a tube in this way.
First, by the instant and unfailing means of binding the billet in the die lengthwise
or end wise sufficiently firm to withstand the great forward force of the mandrel to be
pushed before it bodily without any support at its furthest end; and secondly by the
taper supporting and fixing the metal of the billet at all points in succession opposite
the position of the mandrel in its progress through the billet against the tendency of
the force of the mandrel to break off the metal of the billet crosswise, found to be a
great defect in my parallel long tube die. And thirdly and mainly by allowing the
heated soft metal of the billet to squirt or flow out freely past the mandrel, in the form
of a tube, by the tube being formed in this way constantly diminishing in external
diameter and the metal in the die or tube as it is being formed constantly starting
from a point of smaller diameter in the die than it has afterwards to pass along in
the die in its passage outwards, thereby sustaining little or no resistance by frictional
contact in the die or otherwise to its flow out in the forin of a tube.
The mandrel should be made to pass through the soft metal about the same
speed as mandrels are passed through lap welded iron tube blanks when being
welded, namely, about four feet per second, and within practicable bounds the larger
the diameter of the tubes or "shells" the more practicable will this mode of making
them become as the mass of the mandrel which by preference I form of hard cast-
iron or steel the less it is subject to be injured by heat; rigidity in the stem rod,
which has to be a little smaller in diameter than the mandrel it supports, being also a
very essential condition to this mode of making tubes or "shells," is best obtained in
making tubes in this way in large sizes. For the general proportion, say for the
after drawing out and finishing, a tube or shell of sufficient mass for making a steel
tube of eight inches bore, one quarter of an inch thick, and fifteen feet long, the
tapering die should be about thirty-two inches long, its internal diameters at its
extreme ends should be about 91 and 10 inches. The metal billet should be about
17 inches long and its diameters at its extreme ends about 10 and 10 inches; the
mandrel at its greatest diameter should be about 8 inches in diameter to form a
" shell" of this size in this way about five feet long.
To operate mandrels as described quick end on traverse motion is required, and for
all ordinary diameters of tubes a great degree of force is required; any good
mechanical means may be used for producing this traverse in the mandrel and stem
rod or by the direct action of pistons actuated by steam, water, or other fluid in a
steady or in a percussive way, but I prefer to use direct pressure from hydraulic
rams or pistons actuated by pumps or otherwise at high pressures and stored in an
accumulator to produce quick action; and it is part of my invention to apply this
mode of transmitting power for this purpose to actuate the stem rods of these
mandrels in connection with these new and improved dies. The centre line of the
dies and mandrels may be placed horizontally, vertically, or otherwise, but I prefer
them to be placed in a horizontal position and in a suitable hydraulic machine for this
purpose, its arrangement is very similar to an ordinary hydraulic packing press or

page_text: The
yuraunc forging machine, and some forms of my tube drawing machines.
cylinder is connected to the die container by strong metal stays, and this die container
is formed somewhat like a hollow crosshead of a packing press, bored out in a tapering
or other fixing form centrally to receive dies as described, and as is necessary of
various sizes internally for different sizes of metal billets and different sizes of tubes.
To prevent heat from the hot billets passing through the dies in a degree to heat their
containing crosshead injuriously, its internally bored out seat for the dies may have
spiral or spread ruts or channels cut in it for a small stream of water to pass through
it to take away the heat. The die itself is to be kept cool by the external application
of water, or otherwise, as applied in hot metal rolling.
It part of my invention to employ two operating mandrel stem rods operating
bars to he actuated mechanically or by pistons at each end of the dies. In carrying
out this arrangement by hydraulic means, 1 connect both hydraulic cylinders by stays
to the die container and use the second ram or stem rod from it with a suitable head
for abutting up against the smaller end of the billet, which stem rod head may be
variously formed, and under one form, made internally conical or cup-shaped for
abutting and conically shaping up the end of the billet against the action of the
mandrel from the main stem rod from the other hydraulic cylinder for shaping up the
closed ends of tubular articles, such as shot and shell, for holding up the end of
the billet partly against the tube mandrel to prevent the metal at the centre breaking
off as the mandrel comes through it, and for exerting and regulating a degree of
pressure on the after end of the billet to help to solidify the metal and protect it
against being overstrained tensily particularly in parallel long tube dies. Also for
using as a return motion for pushing back the ram of the main cylinder, and saving
by it the use of a return motion cylinder and ram.
There are practicable limits to the diameters of tubes, "shells," and other articles
producible in this way at one operation as hereinbefore referred to, which may be
generally about from one inch to eighteen inches in diameter, and such articles as
boiler flues or boiler-fluo shells of say about three feet external diameter should bo
produced from annular billets or rings of say for this size of boiler flue about
18 inches long, 3 feet diameter and 4 inches thick the size of a mass to produce say a
boiler flue of about seven feet long and half an inch thick, the die to be also of a
conical internal form and of the same general form as just described, but with two
operating hydraulic rams. The mandrel to be provided with a parallel or tapering
tongue point somewhat longer than the length of the blank ring to be operated upon
and of about the diameter or somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the
blank or billet ring into which this round cylindrical tongue point is made to enter
and fill up the space inside the billet ring before the conical and operating part of
the mandrel reaches the billet, this tongue point of the mandrel being made into a
fitting annular supporting or abutting holding up head fitted on to the stem rod of
the after hydraulic cylinder, thus securing the mass of the ring against being pressed
inwards by the mandrel, whilst the abutting holding-up after stem rod head used to
assist the binding action of the inwardly tapering surface of the die can be so
regulated by water pressure valves to give way and recede before the mandrel as the
annular billet gets forced out into a "shell," flue, blank or tube. The after stem rod
may also be modified to enter the ring billet to prevent it from being pressed inwards.
In another and somewhat modified form of this arrangement for making tube
shells or tubes, the die may be bevelled in from both ends, and the holding up
annular after stem rod head formed into a conical or bulbous mandrel at its working
surface, the same as the main mandrel, and the soft metal of the billet in this way
made to flow or squirt out at both ends of the die, and the tube removed from the
die by taking out the die from its seat in its container, the die being formed in halves
and when opened out allowing the shell to be removed from it. This arrangement
has the advantage of making the "shell" alike in thickness and diameter at both
ends, and although left somewhat thicker in the centre, this is more easily dealt with
by ordinary after finishing processes than when one thick end is left upon the shell.
Another improvement consists in forcing in the mandrel into metal in a hot state in
"

page_text: .
these taper dies and revolving them at the same time either with smooth acting
surfaces on the mandrels or with cam shaped acting surfaces in the mandrels, sharp
pointed or otherwise, being an improvement on the modes described for making
tubes in the specifications to Letters Patent, of the United Kingdom granted to me,
No. 4201, of date 1878, and No. 15752, of date 1884, and which in all its suitable
forms and of housings it is part of my invention to combine with these improve-
ments the specifications of which describo the said tapered dies hereinbefore referred
to. It is also part of my invention to use this taper dio to act on metals in a cold state,
such as copper and its alloys, being easily converted into tubes or shells in this way.
It is no part of my invention to use any of these new and improved modes and
means or apparatus for making tubes out of what is usually designated soft metals,
such as load and tin, that have the distinguishing feature from other metals of not
hardening by compression or by being hammered in a cold state.
"
In converting thick "shells or tubes of increased diameter into thin tubes, a new
and improved arrangement of an internally parallel long die adapted to be operated
in the same form of hydraulic machine just described, consists in placing an annular
taper die inside this first and main parallel die, which inside taper die is made
externally a working fit on the internal parallel die. The inside die is held up by a
hollow stem rod of sufficient internal diameter to allow the "thick" tube or
"shell
to be operated on to pass up through it, the hollow after ram being caused to recede
as the tube is formed before the mandrel on the stem rod of the mandrel revolved
and operated by the main ram as the thick tube gets gradually formed into a thin
one, and thus finishes the thick shell into a parallel thin tube and into a diameter as
large as the internal diameter of the parallel containing long die. It is part of my
invention the moving or revolving of the dies of this form over the mandrels instead
of moving in the mandrels or of revolving the mandrel, but the first described mode
of action is the most generally convenient. Another and somewhat similar mode of
converting soft heated solid and ring shaped billets of metal, such as of iron, steel, and
copper into tubes with the advantage over the mode of doing this just described of
getting them done in longer lengths. at one operation, consists in having a long die
by preference of steel, as long as or longer than the length of the shell or tube
required to be made by preference of steel of light proportions, generally of about an
inch thick bored out internally smooth by preference with a slight degree of taper
and turned parallel externally. Into this die I insert a heated soft billet of metal of
such a form and size as to hold itself centrally in the round interior of the die, but
to leave space for expansion laterally, either at successive spaces longitudinally or
laterally or both, such as a triangular bar does or may do by touching the interior of
the die on its three corners or nearly so throughout the length of the die, or if with
a square bar holding itself centrally by touching continuously on the inside surface of
the die by its four corners. In like manner, with five or six sidod or other polygonal
form of bars or crosswise by having a succession of undulations or bosses or touching
points formed on the billet, leaving space always more or less to fill up by expansion
of the billet laterally. A square bar or billet is generally the most suitable form of
billet to be used in this new and improved way. The widest or entering end of the
die I make conical in a more obtuse degree for a short distance inwards, and form in
it on its inside surface shallow fastening indentations for the soft metal of the billet
to enter into and fix the billet in same and the after end of the billet is also made
slightly conical so as to fit roughly into this expanded entering end of the die to
prevent the billet from moving end wise towards the after end of the die. To this long
die I transmit swift motion which tends to throw out the mass of heated soft metal
into a tube by centrifugal force and at, as near as may be, the same instant I enter
in a sharp pointed mandrel by preference revolved in an opposite direction to that of
the motion of the billet and pushed forward at the same time in line with the centre of
the billet entered into its larger and fixed end in the die,, the motion and apparatus
for effecting this being of the same form of mandrels and also same mode of
transmitting motion to these or similar, when revolved, to those described in the
specification to my Letters Patent for the manufacture of metal tubes, entitled

page_text: In a
"Improvements in the manufacture of metal tubes," No. 15,75% of date 1881, and
described in.zame mainly in connection with Figures 61 to 65, by the direct contact of
frictional screwing rolls on the mandrel stem rod, which gives in a swift and covenient
way rotatory motion and forward motion to the mandrels at the same time.
sothewhat similar way and by frictional rolls of large diameters by preference covered
with rope "lagging" and without necessarily being skew set or being so lagged,
I transmit motion to the die at a high speed by frictional contact on these rolls, the
die being placed centrally between them crosswise and made to rest on an anti-
frictional roll, the arrangement affording an instant connecting and disconnecting
means of starting the die to revolve quickly with the minimum degree of jar and of
stopping it instantly when required. It is a necessity to minimise as much as possible
the transmission of heat from the billet to the die and from the die to its container as
described under the first arrangement of these improved dies (where either
the mandrel or die is not necessarily revolved) and in these just described
the rope lagging on the die rolls for transmitting motion acting as its con-
tainer affords a surface that can be soaked with cold water to keep the
die cool, and provides at the same time a soft driving surface which will not readily
injure the die. It is also part of my invention to insert a thin lining of asbestos
millboard in between the surfaces of the billet and the internal surface of these
new and improved dies, and of my older forms of these long dies, which so far as
I know I was the first to use, to prevent or retard in some degree the absorption of
heat from the billet by the die, and to provide at the same time a lubricant for their
contiguous acting surfaces. The internal surfaces of these dies in some of their
modifications may also be composed of compressed rings of asbestos millboard for
being used particularly when very thin tubes or "shell's
are required to be made in
this way to help to keep the metal from getting cold too rapidly from radiation of
its heat to the metal of the die. Collars may be provided on the frictional driving
rolls at their after end or at both ends to prevent the action of the forward motion of
the mandrel pressing out the die endwise between the rolls. The cross section of the
sharp bulbous mandrel for this revolving form of die should be about equal to the
total cross section of the vacant spaces left laterally between the billet and the die,
the joint action of the piercing sharp pointed mandrel and the centrifugal force from
the swift rotatory motion of the soft viscid billet mass of metal transmitted to it by the
die causing it to be in a swift way converted into a tube. Solid billets of metal of
these forms can also be converted into tubes by very swift motion in this way by
centrifugal force without the use of mandrels as described; but when mandrels are
not used particularly it will be an advantage to have a small hole cast or otherwise
formed in the billets, so as to form a straight central starting point of expansion for
the metal by centrifugal force, or solid billets of metal in their central expansion wiil
be greatly helped to have a hole punched or otherwise formed in centrally a short
distance into each end of the billet to form a central starting point of expansion before
it is inserted into the die to be expanded into a tube.
"
It is important to have ready means of pushing or taking out the tube from the
die, and one means of doing this is to have the after stem rod mechanically operated
or operated by a piston or ram by steam, air, or water as described in connection
with the first modification of these long tube dies, or this may be done by a blast of
compressed air made to act on an extemporized rough piston placed against the end of
the "shell" in the die and the air connected by a flexible or other suitable coupling
pipe. One good way of ejecting out the tube out of these last described and light
forms of dies particularly is to take out the die out between its driving rolls quickly
and drop it down an inclined open shoot a short distance with its wide end down-
wards and cause the end of the die in this way to come with sudden force against a
guard and cause it to eject the "shell" out in this way sareny...
For the after drawing out to thin gauges and finishing of these tube "ellor for
drawing out "shells" or endless rings made by any ordinary process. In one new
and improved form particularly suitable for large sizes of tubes such as boiler flues, I
employ a similar machine in its general arrangements of hydraulic cylinders to that

page_text: described in connection with and for actuating the taper die "shell" aking machine
first described in about all but the die which is of a new and improved form and
acts by preference by spherical rolls being rolled on the outside of the "shell." The
shell by preference being in a heated soft state and placed on a mandrel about as long
or longer than the tube intended to be rolled down and finished this new and improved
die consists of a strong stationary roll containing ring casting by preference of
cast iron turned out in its internal surface the circle of the large size spherical rolls to
roll in same, the cavity crosswise of this ring to be about equal to about one
fourth of the circle of the spherical rolls designed to roll in it and two or more
rolls of this form by preference three rolls to be placed in a guide frame of such a
form to retain them in their position near to the channel in the ring set equally
apart in a loose state and free to roll around and on the internal round concavo
crosswise containing ring surface, twice the diameter of those spherical rolls and twice
the thickness of the tube intended to be so finished and the diameter of the mandrel
to be the greatest inside diameter of the roll die guide containing ring. The mandrol
to be about the same diameter as the finished tube and say for a boiler flue tube of
three feet internal diameter and half an inch thick, having a mandrel three feet
diameter and spherical rolls one foot six inches in diameter, the internal diameter of
the roll containing ring requires to be six feet one inch in diameter, the whole
arrangement as far as the die is concerned with the mandrel placed in it being very
similar to an ordinary ball bearing wheel axis neck. The mandrel which also acts as
n stem rod being placed centrally to the centre of the die and bolted on to the end of
the ram of the main hydraulic cylinder is drawn back at starting out of the die
altogether and clear of the die as far as to admit a ring "shell" of hot metal (say of
steel) put upon it to make a boiler flue say 3 feet internal diameter half an inch thick
and six feet long requiring a "shell" say a little over three feet internal diameter to
go on the mandrel freely three inches thick and about sixteen inches long of
Behind the "shell" on the
sufficient mass. to produce a flue of the sizes named.
mandrel a movable guard is fixed by frictional or other means with sufficient resisting
hold as to push in the end of the "shell" in between the rolls and mandrel and to
drive round the billet from the mandrel on pressure being exerted by the ram of the
hydraulic cylinder and the ram revolved by spur toothed gear (as in one of my
inventions for making tubes referred to) connected to the ram-the impact of the
revolving billet on the rolls sends them in motion around or against the inner side of
their containing ring and round the billet or shell, and rolls down the "shell"
interposed between them and the mandrel to the space left between them and as by
these dimensions given to half an inch in thickness the mandrel as it is revolved being
also traversed the length of the tube or flue required or of the mass of metal to roll
down leaving a finished tube in this way about three feet internal diameter half inch
thick and about six feet long. The pressure forward of the ring billet and its rotative
and receding action on the mandrel may also be regulated by an after or separate
small hydraulic cylinder or by other gear. The guard holder of the rolls may also be
driven round by gear connected with the gear that rotates the mandrel and at the
requisite slower speed to the mandrel. It is intended to use an after holding back
hydraulic cylinder to push off the finished tubes off the mandiel and back the main
ram to its starting position and the two cylinders and ring roli die container held
together with strong iron stays, the rolls and ring die may be adopted for parallel or
conical rolls and in those also skew set to give screwing and drawing in action on the
billet, but the spherical form is the most simple and in addon to these rolling freely
gyrate crosswise and take in the billet as pressed forward with a small degree of
pressure from the hydraulic ram. A nearly similar though converse arrangement
may be used for this purpose in which the containing roll ring is revolved around the
mandrel and the rolls contained in same held in their position on stationary axis.
The mandre held stationary and composed of as many rolls as is set to roll in their
containing ring-the space between the surfaces of these two sets of rolls deter-
mining the thickness of the tube they are to roll down and finish. This arrange
ment has advantages for finishing the smaller sizes of "tubes. A new and improved

page_text: a
long stationary die and new and improved mandrel for same and combination of
gear for driving same generally applicable to roll mandrels more particularly appli-
cable for drawing out large diameter of tubes from ring shaped billets and "shells,"
such as boiler flues suitable for both parallel and taper dies. In this example I shall
describe it bored out internally parallel this new and improved part of the die
consisting in making the die in halves and hingeing the halves to open at one end,
and securing it together at the other end or throughout its length by gab hydraulic
ram heads or gab fixing pieces otherwise mechanically operated as also for being
opened out quickly for taking out the hot tubes without an external containing casting
to which is attached as in the foregoing modifications a hydraulic ram but without
revolving action and an after holding-up ram. The mandrel nevertheless is made to
revolve. The mandrel is fitted with a central frictional conical roll and two or more
conical rolls by preference three roils. The new and improved part of the mandrel
consisting mainly in having a hollow stem rod on which is the main mandrel
head and the three rolls that are made to roll on and roll out the thick short ring billet
into a long thin tube. In the example I describe the rolls in a conical form. The
central supporting antifrictional roll for same also conical in form so as the rolls on
revolving present an oblique rolling surface to the billet of metal they are made to act
upon and say of a proportion of double the diameter in the central roll to that of the
diameter of each of the three rolls for acting on the metal of the billet which gives
speed of one third of that of the central sustaining roll to that of the roll container or
main mandrel head holder. The stem rod of these high speed central sustaining and
driving conical rolls is carried back through the hollow stem rod and of the mandrel or
roll head guide of same and its end is placed in an hydraulic back centre fixed in the
centre of the front end of the main hydraulic cylinder, the speed of this central roll
stem rod for hot metal being high and three times greater than of the actual mandrel
and is too high for revolving the ram of the hydraulic cylinder and its stem rod
combined for the purposes of acting on hot metal billets. This central roll heretofore
has been antifrictional, bat to insure certainty of action I rotate or drive it by a wheel
gear connected to the wheel gear that drives or rotates the main mandrel and in
as aforesaid the proportion of three revolutions of the central stem rod to one of that
of the main one. The after hydraulic cylinder is provided with a stem rod and a sharp
pronged holding up ram bored for holding up the billet at starting to the rolls and for
preventing it from rolling round. The die and both hydraulic cylinders are connected
by strong stays and both hydraulic cylinders provided with return motion cylinders.
A new improved mode of drawing out thick ring billets into large thin diameters of
endless rings or into thin tubes on a roll mandrel is only two rolls being used in a
new and improved way to act upon the ring skew action in this fashion in a housing
to some extent similar to the housing of an endless rolling mill, the main roll being
connected to be moved on end by one or two hydraulic cylinders and only this main
roll driven by gear and without skew roll action, this main roll to be as long or longer
in the barrel as the length of the tube it is intended for rolling out in its central
part and of the same diameter in its bearings as the roll itself extended also as long
out past its bearings as the length of the traverse on it end wise necessary for
a narrow roll in the centre of the housing acting on the billet by this traverse on
end being got opposite any part of the billet or tube being operated upon. This short
companion roll to this long main one is placed in bearings crosswise on the end of a
short hydraulic cylinder and can be pressed down in any degree on the billet and is
rotated by its frictional contact with the billet and through it with the main driven roll
and on commencing by preference on the centre of its length and turned round to
any required skew position so as to draw itself along the billet a long hand lever or
otherwise to give it the requisite skew action its motion for hot metal requiring to be
at a high speed. The surface of the short roll to be of a rounded form to produce as much
elongating action on the billet as possible. To get on a billet ring on the main roll and
take the tube off the main roll or inandre! it is pushed on end to the one side out of the
central part of the housing by one of the rams of one of the hydraulic cylinders placed for
working the main roll in line with its centre. For light work or for finishing thin tubes

page_text: the hydraulic cylinder of the main roll can be dispensed with and its necessary end
traverse effected by the skew action of the short roll only through its frictional
action. The main improvement in this modification consisting in having the
bearings of the main roll at both ends of its acting part and mode of skewing
the short roll by carrying it and skewing it on a hydraulic cylinder to give
motion on end in either direction and the general effective rigidity of the housing.
A converse though otherwise a very similar arrangement of finishing and rolling
thin tubes consists of using a pair of narrow skew rolls in a suitable housing and
using a strong mandrel housing with parallel but short rolls in a mandrel with two or
more rolls acting opposite these narrow rolls in a strong fixed mandrel head and stem
rod. The rolls inside the mandrel head to be also skew set to traverse the tube
only instead of traversing the mandrel with it as in the modification just described.
A new and improved mode of expanding tubes in diameter and drawing out and
finishing thick tubes or "Shells" into tubes consists in a pair of skew set bevel rolls
set in a suitable ordinary housing for this form of rolls with also an anvil piece or
antifrictional roll in the centre of these rolls for the tube being operated upon, resting
upon, the main new and improved jaction and arrangement consisting in a mandrel
fixed in mandrel head with an antifrictional central set in bearings in it and the two
acting rolls set in it with corresponding skew action to cause the tube being acted
upon and increased in diameter to screw itself forward on the mandrel. My invention
consisting in improved forms of dies and mandrels for the manufacture of solid drawn
metal tubes, improved modes and means of actuating same and of improved apparatus
therefor.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Metal Tubes,
Tubular or Hollow Articles, and in Shaping and Finishing of
same and in Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON, Engineer of 95 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what mannor the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Three Sheets of
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates mainly to the manufacture of seamless metal tube blanks and
tubes, and like seamless metal tubular hollow articles, such as boiler flues, pipe
coupling rings or sockets, broad rims for pulleys or rolls, and parallel and tapering
articles such as for shot and shell, and in new and improved means and apparatus, and
new applications of apparatus for manufacturing the same. It is no part of my
invention to use any of these new and improved modes and means or apparatus for
making tubes out of what is usually designated "soft metals," such as lead and tin,
which have the distinguishing features from other metals of not hardening by
compression or by being hammered in a cold state.
Under one arrangement, my invention consists in a new and improved shape of, and
new and improved method of operating, a long tube die for making or producing tubes
or chiefly metal tube blanks or short thick tubes to be afterwards shaped and drawn
out to thinner or smaller sizes or otherwise subsequently finished, which I shall here-
after designate as tube blanks from solid billets of metal made soft by heat, chiefly
adapted for making tube blanks of iron and steel, and of copper and its alloys, when
in a heated and soft or viscid state. For this purpose I form a metal matrice or tube
die by preference of cast-iron or steel, of a round and slightly tapering form internally
with a smooth surface, its centrul part lengthwise, of nearly the same internal diameter
and tapering form as the external diameter of the heated billet of metal it is intended
to be used for, and about double the length of this billet, so that when the hot billet is
put into this die from its wide end it sticks firmly about the centre of the die length-
wise. The die for some purposes may be in halves lengthwise and jointed longi-
tudinally, and to be turned up externally, also by preference of a tapering form and fitted
into a strong containing casting capable of standing great internal lateral pressure
from the die, and this billet or heated soft mass of metal so placed in this die I cause
to be pierced by a conical or sharp pointed or bulbous mandrel in cross area about
one half of the internal area of the die, entered centrally in at the wide end of the die
by a guide fixed on its mouth or otherwise, and by great force through the interven-
tion of a strong stem rod, I push in this mandrel swiftly into the soft mass of metal,
which by reason of the internal tapering form of the die and correspondingly fitting
and fixing action of the billet produces sufficient lateral frictional and abutting hold to
it in the die to prevent it being pushed forward bodily by the mandrel, and results in
causing the most of the heated soft metal of the billet to extend and flow out around
B

page_text: and over the mandrel and its forcing stem rod in the reverse direction of the inward
motion of the mandrel and its stem rod in the form of a tube or tube blank or
"shell" pierced with a hole the size of the mandrel, the mandrel when nearing the
furthest end of the billet stretching out the metal in the billet thereafter forward in
the die continuously into a tube until it has passed entirely through the billet of
metal, producing thereby from this soft billet of metal a tube of the internal diameter
of the mandrel used, and of a tapering form externally corresponding to the degree of
taper formed in the internal surface of the die, all so formed that it may be removed
out of the die as quickly as possible, to avoid injuring by heat as much as possible, the
internal tapering surface of the die, and as used for heated soft metal in this form,
being the main new and improved arrangement in it in this modification, that enables
solid metal ingots to be pierced and converted into a tube in this way. First, by the
instant and unfailing means of binding the billet in the die lengthwise or endwise
sufficiently firm to withstand the great forward force of the mandrel to be pushed
before it bodily without any support at its farthest end; and secondly, by the taper
supporting and fixing the metal of the billet at all points in succession opposite the
position of the mandrel in its progress through the billet against the tendency of the
force of the mandrel to break off the metal of the billet crosswise, found to be a
great defect in my parallel long tube die, as described in the Specification of my
Patent No. 15752 of 1884. And thirdly and mainly by allowing the heated soft
metal of the billet to squirt or flow up freely past the mandrel in the form of a tube,
by the tube being formed in this way constantly diminishing in external diameter
and the metal in the die or tube as it is being formed constantly starting from a
point of smaller diameter in the die than it has afterwards to pass along in the die
in its passage outwards, thereby sustaining little or no resistance by frictional
contact in the die or otherwise to its flow out in the form of a tube.
The mandrel should be made to pass through the soft metal at about the same
speed as mandrels are passed through lap welded iron tube blanks when being welded,
namely, about four feet per second, and within practicable bounds the larger the
diameter of the tubes or tube blanks the more practicable will this mode of making
them become as the greater the mass of the mandrel, which by preference I form of
hard cast-iron or steel, the less it is subject to be injured by heat; rigidity in the
stem rod, which has to be a little smaller in diameter than the acting point or bulb of
the mandrel it supports, being also a very essential condition to this mode of making
tubes tube blanks, or tubular articles, is best obtained in making tubes in this way
in large sizes. For the general proportion, say for the after drawing out and
finishing of a tube or tube blank of sufficient mass for making a steel tube of eight
inches bore, one quarter of an inch thick, and fifteen feet long, the tapering die should
be about thirty-two inches long, its internal diameters at its extreme ends should be
about 9 and 10 inches. The metal billet should be about 17 inches long, and its
diameters at its extreme ends about 9 inches and 10 inches, respectively, the mandrel
at its greatest diameter should be about 8 inches in diameter to form a tube blank of
this size in this way about five feet long.
To operate mandrels as described, quick end on traverse motion is required; and
for all ordinary diameters of tubes, a great degree of force is required; Any good
mechanical means may be used for producing this traverse in the mandrel and stem
rod, or by the direct action of pistons actuated by steam, water, or other fluid in a
steady or in a percussive way, but I prefer to use direct pressure from hydraulic
rams or pistons actuated by pumps or otherwise at high pressures and stored in an
accumulator to produce quick action; and it is part of my invention to apply this
mode of transmitting power for this purpose to actuate the stem rods of these mandrels
in connection with these new and improved dies.
i
For the purpose of explaining the manner in which I carry out into effect or
practice my said invention, I append Three Sheets of Drawings or Diagrams illus
trating my improved forms of tube dies and mandrels, new and improved means of
working tube mandrels and dies, and improved apparatus and new and improved
pplications of apparatus for making or producing tubes. I use throughout the

page_text: following description the same letters and numerals of reference to indicate like parts in
all the Figures where shown, in order as far as possible to avoid needless repetition
in describing the various modifications shown. Throughout my explanation I
designate a solid piece of metal or one with a small central hole in it to be operated
upon, as also a thick cast or hammered ring of metal to be operated upon, a
"billet;"
and a piece of metal partially formed into a tube and open at both ends, a
" tube
blank." A finished hollow article of a length double that of its diameter or longer,
and open at both ends, I designate a "tube;" a hollow article open at both ends and of a
length more than once and less than twice its diameter, a "tubular article ;" and a
hollow article of a length more than twice its diameter with a closed end, a
« shell."
The arrows indicate the directions of the motions of the mandrels and of the tubes, as
also the dies whero moved. Arrows are also used to indicate the motions of moving
parts where new and improved apparatus and new applications of apparatus .are
explained to actuate these tube dies and mandrels.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 an after end elevation, and Figure 3 a
sectional plan through the lines 1---1 in Figures 1 and 2, of a modification of
my taper die A, showing a billet B placed with mandrel D in a position ready to be
pushed in same by the mandrel guide C, also shown in sectional plan, all suited for
making the smaller sizes of tube blanks B¹. By preference the die A is formed of
cast-iron, and I show used this material in all my modifications of these dies and
which I find to suit the purpose best. The internal surface of the die A requires to
have a smooth surface and it is in this example shown bored out with straight surfaces
and to a taper or angle of 10 degrees, which is a suitable angle or degree of taper
to suit for forming tube blanks from solid billets of steel or iron heated to a soft viscid
state, the degree of angle or degree of taper of the acting surface of the die A
requiring to be suited for the kind of metal and its temperature when being operated
upon. Generally, the softer the metal the greater the degree of angle is required
to give the metal or billet sufficient frictional side support and hold to keep it from
being pushed forward bodily before the mandrel D, and to allow the metal of the
billet to flow outwards with sufficient freedom past and over the mandrel from the
wide and entering end of the die A. A billet of steel B (to be understood to be in
the hot state described) is shown placed in the die (in Figure 3,) which is roughly
formed by casting or otherwise to enter and fill up the die A to the position shown,
and after being so placed in the die, a guide C is shown for guiding in and entering
the mandrel D centrally into the billet B at starting, consisting of an annular ring,
by preference of steel bored out internally an easy fit to the diameter of the bulb
mandrel D and its external diameter at its inner end turned to fit the mouth of the
billet seat of the die, being shown in section in Figure 3, and shown pushed into its
place tightly which is done as quickly as possible after the hot billet of metal B is
placed in the die. The bulb mandrel D for the smaller sizes of tube blanks, is formed
by preference of steel and hardened and formed in one piece with its stem rod D',
as in this example shown. The centre line of the mandrel and its stem rod D¹ at
starting is placed exactly in line with the axis of the bored out seat for the billet B in
the die A, and the bulb mandrel D placed in the guide C and thereafter pushed
through the mass of soft steel to the position shown in the sectional plan of the
die A by Figure 4, and showing also in sectional plan, the mass of steel being now
pierced by the mandrel D, which is shown pushed forward through it to the after
end of the die. The metal is by the displacing action of the mandrel made to flow
outwards over the bulb mandrel D and its stem rod D', pushing out the guide from
its seat and along the stem rod D¹ to the position shown, while the mandrel was forced
through the metal in an opposite direction, the movement of the mandrel D and tube
blank B' being all as indicated by the arrows a on the mandrel and arrow b on
the tube blank shown on the mandrel stem rod D¹ and on the tube blank B¹ thus
formed from the billet B. The mandrel guide C is moved out before the tube blank B¹
to the position on the stem rod D¹, all as shown by Figure 4. Thereafter the
tube blank and mandrel are removed from the die for a fresh operation. There is
almost no tendency of the bulb mandrel D to go off the centre of the billet after

page_text: it is centrally entered, the metal being always softest at its centre caused by the
cooling tendency of the die on the billet taking place first on its exterior mass, as
also from the metal of the billet becoming hardest at its outer surface by the pressure
of the mandrel, tending thereby to keep the mandrel sufficiently central in the billet
after being centrally entered to make the annular mass of the steel thus formed of
equal thickness and suitable for drawing out into a tube of equal thickness as shown.
The action is effected by moving inwards the mandrel D and its stem-rod I) as
indicated by the arrow a placed on it and by the squirting out action of the forepart
of the tube blank B', as indicated by the arrow b. It is also part of my invention to
operate these dies A in all forms in this and all the hereinafter described modifi-
cations, by fixing the mandrel and moving the die A and contained billet over it
as indicated by the arrows c, c, but it is best to move the mandrel D as shown by
the arrow a in Figures 3 and 4, and I show it operated in this way in all my
modifications hereinafter described. The most convenient posture of the axis line
of the die and mandrel will be the horizontal position shown, but it may be set
and worked in a vertical or in any other position. The force required on the
mandrel to pierce masses or billets of steel in a viscid soft state, such as when
heated to about the same degree usually required for welding iron and steel, requires
a force of about 20 tons to the square inch of cross section of the mandrel, and this
strain will indicate generally the strength of the dies, stem rods, fixing stays, and
other parts of the machines to be hereinafter shown as the best modes of carrying
out my said invention.
Figure 5 is a front end elevation, Figure 6 an after end elevation, both as turned on
their sides, and Figure 7 a sectional plan, of another modification of my taper tube
die A, being in this example formed in halves A and A¹, showing also a steel billet B
placed in same to be operated upon in a hot state. In this example two thirds of its
length is shown bored out to a smaller degree of angle than the after third of its
length, this after third of its length being bored out to a considerably greater degree
of angle, its after end being shown only slightly larger diameter than the mandrel D
at its after end. Furthermore to prevent the tendency of the mandrel D, by the
necessary force or pressure to be exerted on it from forcing forward the billet B bodily
in the die, the after part of the internal surface of the die is shown with a series of
steps or grooves A³ formed in it and at the inner end of each there being formed a
correspondingly small square set up ledge or collar, best shown by the internal plan
of the half die A' in Figure 8. These stepped collars are shown at bottom cut in
parallel to the axis of the die so as to allow the tube blank B' after it is formed to be
freely withdrawn out of the die. This modification of die is also shown formed in
halves A and A', having its external diameter turned up truly in a taper form and
placed in a strong containing frame E, which is bored out internally to suit the
external surface of the die, and with such a degree of taper as to fix itself
sufficiently (or to be otherwise fixed sufficiently) to hold it in its position and its
halves A A¹ thus held closely together, so as to require only a small amount of force
to move the die out of its seat in the container E, and its halves opened out if
required to allow the tube blank B¹ when formed to be more freely taken out. By
this further modification, the step recesses A³ formed in the die A, A', may in this
way be formed deeper than shown, to take a still greater hold of the billet B, to
prevent it from being forced forward by the mandrel D bodily and the tube blank B¹
taken out by withdrawing the die A, A¹, from its container E. This arrangement
also allows of collars being formed on the after end or at any other position on the
tube blank or tube B¹ for useful constructive purposes, such as for guns open at both
ends, which when required it is obvious may be almost of any variety of form. The
front end of the internal surface of the die can thus be made with so small a degree
of taper as 4° and allow the metal still to flow back over the inwardly thrust mandrel D
although to do this at this small degree of taper requires a greater degree of force
exerted on the mandrel. This arrangement however enables the greater part of the
tube blank B¹ to be formed nearly parallel on its external diameter, as shown by the
tube blanks B¹ in sectional plan in Figure 9; and for short dies suited for short tube

page_text: blanks the fore part of the die may be parallel altogether. This arrangement of
die A, A¹, and form internally, illustrates that the internal surface of these dies may
be modified in this tapering and new and improved billet holding form suited to this
process of forming these tube blanks within a limited range in many forms which are
modifications of my new improvements. It is also part of my new and improved means
of making those tubes or tube blanks to insert into these iniproved dies a thin lining
of asbestos, millboard, or other form or composition of lubricating millboard F
Figure 8, by placing it in the front end of the die, or the part of the die where the
metal flows outwards over the mandrel roughly shaped to a tapering form to the size
and shape of the part of the inner surface of the die it is intended to lubricate, and
be inserted into it before the billet B is put in, as shown in section in Figures 7 and 8;
but instead of this, a liquid or semi-liquid composition of asbestos millboard or other
lubricant may be used, such as graphite, not wholly destructable by heat and suited to
adhere to the surface of the die. A lubricant of this kind may be laid on by a brush
to serve this purpose on commencing each tube blank forming operation. The insertion
of the asbestos millboard F greatly preserves the smoothness of the internal surface of
the die A, A', and also reduces the force necessary to squirt out the metal over the
mandrel D. Another improvement herein illustrated consists in keeping the die A, A¹,
cool by forming in the internal surface of the container E broad shallow channels E',
around its internal surface, by preference of a spiral form to allow a flow of cold
water to pass along over most of the external surface of the die and thus cool it. These
spiral channels E', E', are shown in section in Figures 7 & 9, and with an inlet water
pipe nipple E and outward water pipe nipple E³, and corresponding channel for the
flow through of the water, all shown in section in Figure 7. The container E is also
shown provided with strong stay rod snugs E, the use of which will be hereinafter
explained. In this example also the bulb mandrel D is shown with a bored out
Bocket D' to receive a correspondingly turned fitting reduced stem end D³ formed in
the stem-rod D. For the larger diameters of tube blanks the mandrels D are preferred
to be made of cast-iron, and the socketing to the stem rod to these must be accurately
fitted to their abutting ends to stand the great pressure exerted on them. The stem
rods D¹ to stand the necessary end pressure should be made of the most rigid steel
procurable. Figure 9 illustrates the form the tube blank B' is finished to, after the
mandrel D is forced through the billet B and die A to the position shown by this
Figure 9. The motions of the mandrel D and of the tube blank B' when being
squirted out of the die, as also of the flow of the cooling water for keeping the dies
cool are indicated by the arrows at a, b and d respectively; but otherwise the action
is the same as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4.
It is part of my invention to employ two operating mandrel stem rods operating bars
to be actuated mechanically or by pistons at each end of the dies. in carrying out
this arrangement by hydraulic means, I connect both hydraulic cylinders by stays to
the die container and use the second ram or stem rod from it with a suitable head for
abutting up against the smaller end of the billet, which stem rod head may be variously
formed and under one form made internally conical, or cup shaped for abutting and
conically shaping up the end of the billet against the action of the mandrel from the
main stem rod from the other hydraulic cylinder for shaping up the closed ends of
tubular articles, such as shot and shell, for holding up the end of the billet partly
against the tube mandrel to prevent the metal at the centre breaking off as the mandrel
comes through it and for exerting and regulating a degree of pressure on the after end
of the billet to help to solidify the metal and protect it against being overstrained
tensily particularly in parallel long tube dies. Also for using as a return motion for
pushing back the ram of the main cylinder and saving by it the use of a return motion
cylinder and ram.
Figure 10 is a front end elevation on its side, and Figure 11 a sectional plan of a long
die, also formed in halves A and A' in which I show applied my new and improved
means of forming parallel tube blanks B' out of solid billets of steel or out of billets
formed with an initiatory small guiding hole in them, also suited for forming tube
blanks out of steel heated to a soft state. If used with a small hole in them, this may

page_text: be filled with asbestos, graphite, or other heat-resisting and lubricating materials to
lubricate the mandrels and tend to keep same in a central position. My new and
improved means for further accomplishing this than heretofore shown, consist mainly
in the application of an after abutting and holding-up-stem-rod G for supporting the
after end of the billet B, or of a tube blank or shell when operated upon. This is
preferably wrought by an after hydraulic ram and with by preference a conical hollow
or cup shaped stem-rod head G₁, formed in it or socketed on to it, and formed as shown
an easy working fit on its external diameter for the internal bore of the die A, A¹.
On the stem-rod head G¹ I exert such a lesser degree of force than is exerted on the
mandrel D on the after or receding end of the billet B so as to allow it to recede as it
is stretched out by the passage of the mandrel D through it in process of being con-
verted into a tube blank, so that by this partial receding and holding up action of the
stem rod head G¹ combined with the frictional hold of the metal of the billet B on
the inner surface of the die and by the die being made slightly conical at its
forward end as shown, the metal of the billet B is prevented from being moved back-
wards in the die bodily by the force of the mandrel. The abutting resisting or holding-
up action of the stem rod G and its head G¹ is regulated to such a degree as to prevent
the metal being squirted out at the front end of the die A, A', as described in connec-
tion with Figures 1 to 4, and at same time allow the billet to stretch out into the tube
blank or tube B' by a receding action on the ston rod head G¹ under such a degree of
resisting pressure as to cause the mandrel to pierce it, but not to break the walls of the
tube blank crosswise and thus allow the passage of the mandrel D to stretch out the
billet B to its after end rightly into a tube blank B¹ as shown in Fig. 12. For this
action it is part of my invention to use a hydraulic cylinder to operate the billet
holding up stem-rod head G¹ as referred to, which by loading a safety escape water
valve, or other water escape equivalent, connected to the water cylinder, provides a
handy means of regulating the degree of resisting pressure on the holding up stem
rod G and its head G¹ to be so exercised, which degree of pressure will vary to a con-
siderable extent according to the kind, quality, or condition of the metal being operated
upon, the resisting pressure exercised on this stem rod head G' always being less than
that exercised on the mandrel D, which may be regulated automatically, and to be
hereinafter explained. If for example a mandrel in piercing a heated soft steel billet
from the solid by this modification of die a force of 20 tons to the square inch of surface
on its cross area as hereinbefore referred to, a resisting pressure of about one half of
this pressure or 10 tons to the square inch of the cross area of the die has to be exer-
cised on the after abutting receding stem rod head G₁, to allow it to recede and at same
time to effect the piercing of the billet B. The mode of operation being generally
(though necessarily very variable under different working conditions) that the holding
up stem rod and its piston shaped stem-rod head G₁ is brought forward to the position
shown in the die A in Figure 11, by its operating hydraulic cylinder to the position
shown as holding the billet B at its front end about flush with the mouth of the die A, A¹,
and with its safety escape valve, which should be for this purpose of a large area to
allow the contained water in the hydraulic cylinder to escape quickly and exert a pressure
on the end of the billet of metal of say 10 tons to the square inch, in which state with
the entering guide C for the mandrel put in its position. Thereafter on the mandrel D
and its stem-rod D¹ being pushed into the metal of the billet, it passes through it
pushing out the after stem rod G in part of its course forward by the intervening
mass of metal of the billet B, then after it all gets formed into the tube blank B¹
and pressed up to the walls of the die A A¹ enters the cup-shaped stem-rod head G
and pushes it out of itself. The altered position of the mandrel D and after stem
rod head G, as also the in part altered position of the mass of material now shown
in this way formed into a tube blank B₁, being all as shown by the sectional plan
Figure 12 of the die A A' and tube blank B' and sectional plan of the after abutting
stem rod head G', the motions of the mandrel D after mass of the tube blank and of
the after stem rod G being as indicated by the arrows a and e respectively on same.
The regulation of the receding motion of the after or holding up stem rod G by the
outflow of water from an operating hydraulic cylinder, either by a safety valve loaded

page_text: to a certain degree of resistance as described, or by regulating the outflow of the water
by widening or narrowing the outflow of the water from its operating hydraulic cylinder
(the arrangement of which to be hereinafter shown) may be regarded as a resisting
frictional meaus of so regulating its receding action, and which can be effected by the
frictional hold of hard bodies, either by clamping the stem rod G itself by a brake in
roctilinear brake form, or done by the intervention of cog wheel or other gear by a
brake wheel and brake, which can be carried out in many ways. The motion backward
of the stem rod G before the after end of the billet can also be regulated in the exact
degree required to the inward motion of the mandrel by cog wheel or other positive
gear to suit the proportions of the billet being operated upon and the cross area of
the mandrel used. Thus in a billet of double the cross sectional area of the mandrel D
used, the after stem rod G requires to be moved backwards before the end of the billet
at half the speed of the inward motion of the mandrel D, and this also can be effected
in many ways, one of which ways is hereinafter referred to. Instead of the internal
acting surface of the tube die A A' being of a round form, it may be of a hexagonal or
any other form that can be readily given to either the die or mandrel, and Figure 13
is an after end elevation of a die A, A¹, internally of a hexagonal form with a billet B
in it shown as pierced with a round hole, the die A A' being formed in halves and
suited to fit the container E, shown by Figures 10, 11, and 12. In this way for this
modification, as also where taper dies are used, the dios may be modified in like way
and readily made to fit the saine container E to facilitate ready interchange of same.
Figure 14 is a front elevation and Figure 15 a sectional plan of a modification of a
form of my taper die in halves A and A¹ in which I show used an after abutting stem
rod G and its head G₁ for holding up the metal billet B to the operation of the
mandrel D as described in connection with Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13. It is also
part of my invention to use this after billet abutting steni rod G and its head G¹ for
making tubes and tubular articles, in conjunction with my improved taper dies similar
to those described in connection with Figures 1 to 9, and in this example I show it
used for a purpose other than making ordinary tube blanks or tubes namely tubular
close ended articles or shells, which application of this abutting or billet holding up
ram is also part of my invention. The close ended tubular article it is here shown
as applied to, is a steel blank for forming a shell blank or military shell. I am aware
that without this after abutting and shaping adjustable stem rod and stem rod
head G in part similar dies of a parallel form and also dies with a rounded or
tapering mouth end at which the mandril enters, have been used for making close
ended articles and military shell blanks and shells out of plates and flat round blanks
with close ends, variously shaped for making military hollow shot, also out of solid
billets of bot soft metal by successive punching operations, but this part of my invention
is designed to effect and form out the shell blanks or military shells and like close
ended articles to their full internal diameter required, from solid billets out of hot
metal at one operation, which is a great advantage; and to effect this at one operation
with the taper die A, A', and mandrel D, is also part of my invention, and a great
advantage possessed by it over all the appliances for making like articles. The form
and mode of applying this apparatus, and mode of applying it at the same time being
distinct from such as is now used to effect this purpose at several operations from solid
billets of metal as heretofore done. Figure 14 is a front elevation and Figure 15 a
sectional plan of a taper die A, A', placed in a container E and showing a taper billet B
of metal inserted into it, which is to be understood as a hot billet of steel to be shaped
into a military shell blank. The mandrel D is formed in one piece with its stem rod D¹,
requiring for this to be formed on its acting point piece slightly tapered as shown and
hardened. The mandrel guide C is placed out from the front of the die A, A¹, a short
distance, to allow the billet B to be inserted into it freely, the mode of fixing this
guide C to be hereinafter described with the full working parts of cylinders and other
parts forming a complete machine. The after stem rod G and stein rod head G¹ are
not allowed to recede in this example; their use is to provide a bottom holding up
contrivance for the hollow conical after stem rod head to forge or shape the point of
the shell blank B' into a suitable conical form and to push the shell out of the die

page_text: quickly after it is formed. The mandrel stem rod is shown provided with a stop
collar D which arrests the progress of the mandrel inwards at the proper distance
by coming up against the guide bush C. The motions of the mandrels and the flow
of the metal on the front end of the shell being as indicated by the arrows a, b,
respectively, placed on same. The position and shape of the hollow close ended military
shell blank B, being, when the shaping action to the shell is accomplished, all as shown
by Figure 16. The after stem rod G and stem-rod head G' serve also for setting out
the length required of the shell B in the die A, A¹, to be formed, and is applied also for
pushing back the mandrel D. In case also of operating on like hollow articles with
enlarged after ends, the after stem rod and its shaping stem rod head G¹ are used for
pressing and shaping purposes, and it is part of my invention to use these after stem
rods to operate mandrels also for shaping tubular articles.
There are practicable limits to the diameter of tubes, shells, tube blanks, and other
tubular articles producible in this way at one operation as hereinbefore referred to,
which may be generally about from one inch to eighteen inches in diameter, and
such articles as boiler flues or boiler flue shells of say about three feet external
diameter should be produced from annular billets or rings of say for this size of
boiler flue about 18 inches long, 3 feet diameter, and 4 inches thick the size of a
mass to produce say a boiler flue of about seven feet long and half an inch thick,
the die may be also of a conical internal form and of the same general form as just
described but with two operating hydraulic rams. The mandrel to be provided with
a parallel or tapering tongue point somewhat shorter than the length of the blank
ring to be operated upon, and of about the diameter or somewhat smaller than the
internal diameter of the blank or billet ring into which this round cylindrical tongue
point is made to enter and fill up the space inside the billet ring before the conical
and operating part of the mandrel reaches the billet, this tongue point of the mandrol
being made into a fitting annular supporting or abutting holding up head fitted on to
the stem rod of the after hydraulic cylinder, thus securing the mass of the ring
against being pressed inwards by the mandrel, whilst the abutting holding-up after
stem rod head used to assist the binding action of the inwardly tapering surface of
the die can be so regulated by water pressure valves to give way and recede before
the mandrel as the annular billet gets forced out into a flue tube blank, or tube.
The after stem rod may also be modified to enter the ring billet to prevent it from
being pressed inwards.
Figure 17 is a front end elevation, Figure 18 an after end elevation, and Figure 19
a sectional plan of a large size taper die in three sections A, A1, A3, showing also its
container E partly in section, also the hillet B and mandrel D in section and also a
mode of fixing the mandrel stem rod guide C to the container E to guide the mandrel
centrally into the metal billets B of large diameters. This modification is suited for
cast or otherwise formed ring billets of steel or other metal suited for making tubo
blanks for forming large diameters of tubes, which by this means is also part of my
invention, adapted in this example for a cast billet ring of steel B, to be operated upon
in a hot state, which is shown placed in the taper die A, and which is in this
example shown in three sections A, A', A', with the mandrel D shown in its position
ready to be forced through the billet, and with its stem rod D¹ and guide C showing,
as heretofore referred to, how these are secured to the die container E, for large sizes and
some exceptional forms of dies for tubular articles of some forms. An after abutting
stem rod head G¹ is also shown with an after stem rod G, having a tapered point G³
formed on it, to keep the ring formed billet B from being crushed inwards by the
action of the mandrel D. The billet B indicates the size and form of this heated cast
steel billet ring as it is entered in to the die A, A', A³, and the dotted lines B indicate
its increased length and diminished thickness after the mandrel is forced through it,
which thereafter takes its tube blank form B¹. The motions when the tube blank is
being formed are all as indicated by the arrows a, e, and b, respectively, placed on the
mandrel stem rod D¹ and on the after stem rod G¹, and on the tube blank B'. In
these large sizes the fore part of the billet flows outwards and the after end of
same to some extent flows inwards as indicated by the arrows on same. In the

page_text: preparation of these large diameter tube blanks, an important use of this process is to
get the tube blank round and to the right size internally for the after drawing out
process, and also to get the metal solidified at same time, for which purpose alone the
steel ring billets B, in a cast state would otherwise require to be hammered.
In another and somewhat modified form of this arrangement for making tube
blanks or tubes, the die A, A1, A3. may be bevelled in from both ends, and the holding
up annular after stem rod head formed into a conical or bulbous mandrel at its
working surface the same as the main mandrel, and the soft metal of the billet B, in
this way made to flow or squirt out at both ends of the die, and the tube removed
from the die by taking out the die from its sent in its container E, the die being
formed in three parts and when opened out allows the tube blank B₁ thus formed to be
removed from it. This arrangement has the advantage of making the tube blank
alike in thickness and diameter at both ends, and although left somewhat thicker in
the centre, this is is more easily dealt with by ordinary after finishing processes than
when one thick end only is left.upon the tube blank.
Figure 20 is a front elevation and Figure 21 a sectional plan of a somewhat similar
large die to that just described, also shown used in three sections A, A¹ and A³, and
also a parallel ring billet. B shown and just described as inserted in it in Figure 21,
ready for being drawn out into a tube blank or tube but in this example there are two
mandrels D&H shown used, which combination is also part of my invention. The
front end of the die A, A', A³, and the mandrel D is shown entered, and an after end
mandrel H is shown entered, which with its stem rod H¹ is of the form and diameter
as the mandrel D and its stem rod D₁ shown used as heretofore in the front end
of die. The internal surface of the die is shown of a slightly tapering forin largest
at the front end, showing formed in it the step grooves A³ to fix the fore end of the
mass of the billet B¹, being thinned down from flowing out in either direction. The
after mandrel H is pushed into the ring billet B simultaneously as shown to thin
down its after. end, effecting the purpose of an abutting stem rod head G', at the
same time acting on the billet. B as a mandrel as well as to hold up the billet
against the action of the front mandrel D, and when the points of the two mandrels D
and H meet as shown, the pressure of the after hydraulic ram operating the mandrel H
is released, and the front mandrel D thereafter is caused by its forward movement
to push the after mandrel H back and draws out the ring billet into a tube blank B¹,
as indicated in Figure 23, with the main part of its length as shown nearly parallel.
The motions of both the mandrels D and H until they meet as described being
indicated by arrows a placed on their stem rods D and H', the after motion of the
mandrel H and its stem rod H¹ being indicated by the arrows e. Figure 22 shows
a section of one half of the die A, A¹, detached.
Figure 24 is a side external elevation, and Figure 25 also a side elevation partly
in section, of my new and improved combination of hydraulic cylinders and rams
for operating these new and improved long tube dies hereinbefore referred to, which
arrangement of hydraulic cylinders and rams and combination with a forward and
after ram J and R, are part of my said invention. The form of the mandrel die A, A',
shown used, and its mandrel D and stem rod D', is the same as described in connection
with Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, but is placed in a container E as described in connection
with Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. There is nothing new or peculiar in the hydraulic
cylinders themselves, and require no detailed description, the main hydraulic cylinder I
being shown with its ram J connected to the mandrel holder J' into which the mandrel
stem rod D' is shown inserted, and which with its bulb mandrel end D is shown
ready to form a tube blank B, from having the after stem rod G, G³, shown applied
as described more particularly in connection with Figures 5 to 9. This main cylinder I
has shown fixed on its top side the small hydraulic cylinder K, fitted with a ram L
shown with an ordinary arrangement of gear for pulling back the main hydraulic
ram J. The end elevation Figure 26 of these cylinders further illustrates their
arrangement, as also of the stays M, M³, which are shown binding the main cylinder
ram and the die container E together. These stays M, M', also the ram J and ran
0

page_text: crosshead J, and guiding slides N, N¹, are shown in section in Figure 26 through the
line 2 - 2 in Figure 25.
---
Figure 27 is an end elevation of the ram crosshead J' showing the cylinder and
container stays M and M¹ and slide bars N and N₁ of the cross head in section, with
its covers N and N³ through the line 2 2, in Figure 25, showing also the saddle
slide piece of the ram crosshead J*, placed in the slide bars N and N.
Figure 28 is an after end elevation of the die container E, showing the positions of
its main stays M and M', and its snugs E for same to the main hydraulic cylinder,
showing also the after end of the die A A' as described, the whole showing a new
and improved combinaton of a hydraulic machine for operating my long tube dies,
and these new and improved long dies in the form such as are described in connection
with Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, but an after hydraulic
cylinder P is shown connected to the die container E and main hydraulic cylinder 1,
by the main stays M² and M³, which are continuations of the main stays M and M',
so that this after hydraulic cylinder P, P¹, is bound in one machine along with main
hydraulic cylinder J, and the die container E. the continuations of these stays M
and M, showing this combination in a complete form by Figures 24 and 25. To
further illustrate this arrangement of this after hydraulic cylinder P, which has cast
along with it in one piece a small pulling back hydraulic cylinder P¹, which is fitted
with a direct pulling back ram Q, the crosshead Q₁ of which being shown connected
with side pulling back stays Q, in an ordinary way to the crosshead of the main
after ram crosshead R₁ showing thereby a suitable new and improved arrangement
of hydraulic machine for operating these new and improved long dies, and new and
improved combination for operating long dies of the forms heretofore used by me
along with this new and improved construction with an after abutting billet holding
up stem rod head G₁ as described in connection with Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, and
for operating a parallel arrangement of long dies. In connection with Figures 14,
15, and 16 as also in connection with Figures 17, 18, and 19, and modes of operating
new and improved parallel and taper long dies, and in connection with Figures 20
to 23, and a mode of operating a long die with two mandrels. The position of the
after stem rod G and stem rod head G¹ (or mandrel stem rod H¹, as the case may be
when used in this machine) being shown by Figure 24. As herein before referred to,
instead of the notion backwards of the after billet holding up stem rod G, being
regulated by frictional retarding means, such as a brake or by throttling the escape of
water from a hydraulic cylinder, as described mainly in connection with Figures 10,
11, 12, and 13, and Figures 24 to 29 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, it can with great
advantage be regulated in its backward movement automatically by connecting gear
to the forward motion of the moving forward hydraulic operating ram or other
equivalent used for pushing forward the piercing or widening out mandrel D, and it
is part of my invention to operate the stem rod G in this way. The motion backwards
of this after holding up stem rod G is generally slower than the inward motion of
the mandrel and in the diminished proportion of the relative cross area of the die to
the cross area of the mandrel used, which is generally one half and therefore for this
proportion a tube blank or tube B¹ which is made double the length of the billet B
the distance to traverse backwards by the holding up stem-rod is one half that of the
inward traverse of the mandrel, and therefore in the use of this proportion of mandrel
a saving of power is effected by so coupling the after holding up stem-rod G to the
operating ram mandrel D. In carrying out this movement a new and improved and
still more important advantage is obtained by this means of making the motion
backwards of the stem rod G slightly greater than the exact degree required for the
proportion of the cross area of the tube blank B', to the mandrel, as thereby after the
fore part of the tube blank gets fixed on the walls of the die, as it immediately does
more or less after the mandrel enters it, a degree of drawing action to the tube
blank B being formed is thereby imparted to it, which tends to relieve the mandrel
from being so hard packed in the metal of the tube blank at its greatest diameter as
it otherwise would be if only the exact proportion of traverse were communicated to

page_text: the stem rod G, or was so operated backwards by resisting friction or pressure on it.
In this way a saving of wear on the mandrel is effected and at the part where it
ordinarily wears most, as also a saving of wear effected by this means on the internal
surface of the die.
Figure 30 is an external plan, and Figure 31 a sectional side elevation of an
arrangement of gear suited to obtain this result in one way, and in this proportion
of equal cross area in the mandrel D shown used to that of the tube blank B¹
shown made. I show used in this example also in place of a hydraulic ram for
operating the mandrel D, a strong cast metal cog toothed rack J, and shown operated
by a cog toothed pinion J. The die A, A¹, and its container E, mandrel 1), billet B,
and after stem-rod head G' shown used being the same as described by Figures 10
to 13 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings. The after operating hydraulic cylinders P and P
and their respective rams R and Q are of the same general form as described in
connection with Figures 24 to 29 on Sheet 1 of my drawings. In this example
however the cross area of the top hydraulic cylinder ram Q as referred to, is made
slightly over one half of that of the main after ram R shown used as hereinbefore
described to be necessary to carry out this action, and the connecting arrangement
necessary with the operating ram J of the mandrel D, which instead of a ram of a
hydraulic cylinder is here shown connected to the equivalent cog toothed rack bar J
shown, and connected by the rod J passed from it through an aperture formed in the
die container E, and connected by the crosshead Q2 and the connecting-rods Q and Q
to the ram crosshead Q¹, which thus regulates its speed backwards at the same speed
as the mandrel D is caused to move inwards into the die A, A¹. The water in the.
after cylinder P as it is pressed out by the motions of its ram R, being moved
backwards by the billet B is thus caused to flow out into the top hydraulic cylinder P¹
through the connecting pipe P2 shown in the after end elevation of these cylinders in
Figure 32, and thus regulates back the speed of the after holding up stem-rod G at
slightly over one half the distance in the same time traversed inwards by the mandrel D.
The position of the billet B to the tube blank B', after it is formed, is as shown in side
sectional elevation in Figure 32, and the motions of the several parts all as indicated
by the arrows on same, as also of the direction of the flow of the water from the lower
to the upper after hydraulic cylinder P through the pipe P2. By relatively proportioning
the mandrel to the die, and the operating speeds of the mandrel D and after
stem rod G, any required degree of "draw" on any required proportion of tube blank
can readily be given to the tube blank being made in this way. A safety valve P³ is
shown placed and connected to the hydraulic cylinder P¹, which by means of tho
pipe P also serves as a safety valve to the cylinder P.
All the hydraulic cylinders of this machine are designed to be operated by pumps
by preference through the intervention of a hydraulic accumulator to produce quick
movement to the mandrels and stem rod heads G¹, described, the hydraulic cylinders
as shown being suited for a pressure of 2000 lbs. to the square inch of area of same.
A converse mode of effecting the same purposes by holding the mandrel stationary
and moving the die with the billet contained in it over the mandrel by very similar
arrangements of hydraulic cylinders to those described. This converse mode of
working by imparting rectilinear movement to the die by hydraulic cylinders or by
rams or pistons actuated by steam or other elastic fluid, or so actuated mechanically,
is not however so generally convenient for operating these new and improved dies,
and is not shown in the Drawings. Pistons in a single form or by two or more
successive tandem pistons on the same rod actuated by steam, air, or other fluid can
be used in much the same way as the hydraulic arrangement of cylinders hereinbefore
shown and described, and by using steam in a way to require no accumulator other
than a boiler. Any good mechanical means of transmitting rectilinear motion to
either the mandrels or dies, such as by screws or by a toothed pinion and rack may
have force stored by the momentum of a fly wheel, and in this way is quite available
for operating these new and improved dies in an effective manner, although not
shown in the Drawings.
For the after drawing out to thin gauges and finishing of these tube blanks or for

page_text: drawing out tube blanks or metal rings made by any ordinary process In one new
and improved form particularly suitable for large sizes of tubes, such as boiler flues, I
employ a similar machine in its general arrangements of hydraulic cylinders to that,
described in connection with and for actuating the taper die tube blanks making
machine first described, in about all but the die, which is of a new and improved form
and acts by preference by spherical rolls being rolled on the outside of the tube.
blank. The tube blank by preference being in a heated soft state and placed on a
mandrel about as long as or longer than the tube intended to be rolled down and
finished, this new and improved die consists of a strong stationary roll containing
ring casting by preference of cast-iron turned out in its internal surface the circle of
the large size spherical rolls to roll in same, the cavity crosswise of this ring to be
about equal to about one fourth of the circle of the spherical rolls designed to roll in
it and two or more rolls of this form, by preference three roils, to be placed in a guide
frame of such a form to retain them in their position near to the channel in the ring
set equally apart in a loose state and free to roll around and on the internal round
concave crosswise containing ring surface twice the diameter of these spherical rolls
and twice the thickness of the tube intended to be so finished and the diameter of the
mandrel to be the greatest inside diameter of the roll die guide containing ring. The
mandrel to be about the same diameter as the finished tube; the whole arrangement
as far as the die is concerned with the mandrel placed in it, being very similar to an
ordinary ball bearing wheel axis neck.
Figure 34 is an end elevation of a roll die A of this kind' suited for drawing out
the smaller diameters of tube blanks; Figure 35 being a sectional side elevation
through its central vertical line 3---3 in Figure 34; and Figure 36 a sectional
plan of same through its horizontal central line 4---4 of Figure 34. The die A
by preference is formed of cast steel in one solid frame. Three spherical rolls S, S¹,
and S are shown used in this example and are formed of hard cast iron and the roll
guide T also formed of cast-iron, these spherical rolls S, S¹, and S² are turned smoothi
to the same diameter, and the die A is turned smoothly out to the spherical contour
of the surface of the rolls, and to embrace about one third of their circumference, as
shown in Figures 34 and 36, and shown having at the bottom of this channel rolling
seat for these rolls, a square channel A8 for water being allowed to flow into to keep
the rolls cool. The roll guide T is of an annular form as shown, having its internal
diameter turned an easy working fit for the internal diameter of the side guard part
of the die A. The guide T has three spherical cavities formed on it internally for
receiving the rolls S, S', and S², slightly larger in diameter than the rolls, so that
they can roll freely in same whilst this guide T.thus keeps these rolls in their
relative positions to each other. This roll guide T is formed in halves, being shown
divided up the centre line into two annular rings in line with the centre of the roll
holding cavities in it, and after the rolls S S¹ S are inserted in these hemispherical
cavities, these halves of this guide T are bolted together by three bolts placed between
the rolls as shown in Figure 35, after the rolls are placed in the die A and thus put
together the rolls and their guide T, are thereafter free to roll round in the die A together,
the rolls being thus always kept equally divided apart in the circle in which they
roll. The die A, and mandrel D with a taper formed "tube blank" B₁ of metal
supposed to be of steel in a hot soft state is shown placed over this mandrel D and
between the rolls S S1 and S2 and shown rolled down for part of its length into a
finished tube B2 in Figures 35 and 36. By this arrangement, for effecting this
rolling action the metal of the tube blank is first contracted at its point and is made
to fit tightly over a collar and taper pointed end formed on the mandrel D₁ in an
ordinary-way as shown, which prevents the tube blank B' from slipping forward
over the mandrel D and also from turning round on it. After this, on swift revolving
motion, and moving forward motion at the same time, or spiral motion, being given
to the mandrel D and the tube blank B¹ placed on its surface, the frictional contact
of the "tube blank B₁, gives rolling motion to the spherical rolls S, S', and S, and
their guide T, these rolls rolling round in the channel formed in the die A and the
soft tube blank B¹, being thus held firmly between the mandrel D, and the rolls S S¹

page_text: and S, and its soft mass thus under swift rolling action, speedily gets rolled down
into a thin tube B' (as partially shown done) through its entire length. The motion
of the mandrel D and of the tube blank B₁, as also of the rolls S S¹ and S2, and
their guide T being all as indicated by the arrows placed on same.
There is a
tendency in the tube B, thus rolled out of a billet to get over loose on the mandrel D
or larger in internal diameter than the external diameter of the mandrel but this
action is kept in check by the strain of the rolls against the end-on traverse of the
mandrel which having the tube fixed on it at its tapered collar point D* as explained
keeps the diameter tube B2 as it is rolled out in this way sufficiently tight down to
the surface of the mandrel D, the necessary quick spiral motion may be communicated
to the mandrel by any ordinary kind of gear. For the smaller sizes of tubes such
as this die is designed for, the best mode of giving motion to the mandrel is by
a pair of my skew rolls suited to drive by frictional contact. Behind the tube blank
on the mandrel a movable guard is fixed by frictional or other means with sufficient
resisting hold as will push in the end of the tube blank between the rolls and
mandrel and drive round the billet from the mandrel on pressure being exerted by
the ram of the hydraulic cylinder, and the ram revolved by spur toothed gear (as in
one of my inventions for making tubes referred to) connected to the ram N. The
guide holder T of the rolls may also be driven round by gear connected with the
gear that rotates the mandrel and at the requisite slower speed to the mandrel. It
is intended to use an after holding back hydraulic cylinder to push the finished
tubes off the mandrel and back the main ram to its starting position, and the two
cylinders and ring roll dio container held together with strong iron stays. The rolls.
and ring die may be adapted for parallel or conical rolls and in these also skew set
to give screwing and drawing in action on the billet, but the spherical form is
the most simple and in addition to the rolling freely gyrate crosswise and take
in the billet as pressed forward with a small degree of pressure from the hydraulic
ram.
For rolling out large diameters of tubes in the foregoing way, Figure 37 is an end
elevation, Figure 38 a sectional elevation through the line 5- 5 in Figure 37, and
Figure 39 an external plan of another and somewhat differently arranged spherical
roll die A of this kind just described suited for rolling ont tubes of large diameters.
The main new and improved part in this example from that just described in reference
to Figures 34 to 36, consists in the use of an after stem rod head G¹, this being
shown used connected direct to an after hydraulic ram used in this example as a
stem rod G, and freed to revolve for clamping or fixing the end of the tube blank B¹,
on to the collar point D, of the hollow mandrel D in this case to hold the "tube
blank" B' from being pushed along or turned round on the surface of the mandrel
by the action of the rolls. The hydraulic ram G which with its stem rod head G'
revolves along with the mandrel and the "tube blank" are held up at a lesser degree
of pressure exerted on it by a safety valve than is exerted to effect the forward
motion of the mandrel D (to be hereinafter more fully explained) which is here shown
broken off. There are also four spherical rolls used in this set of rolls S, S¹, S³,
and S3, and the guide T instead of being moved round by the impact alone of the
spherical rolls, has motion transmitted to it independently by having
a toothed
wheel T formed or fixed on it, into which a pinion T2 is made to gear, which is shown
keyed on a shaft Ta in Figure 38, through which motion is communicated to it, by
driving gear to give the same number of revolutions per minute in the roll guide T
as the rolling action of the rolls transmit to the rolls themselves by rolling on the
surfaces of the "tube blank B¹ and on the die frame A. The same letters of reference
refer to like parts as in Figures 34 to 36 and the motions of the several parts when
in action are as indicated by the arrows placed on same.
----
Figure 40 is an end elevation, Figure 41, a side sectional elevation through the
vertical line 6
---6, in Figure 40, and Figure 42 an external plan of a removable
form of die A, shown with as many rolls used as can be got into the circumference
of the channel of the tube die A; eleven rolls S to S10, being shown used; these rolls
in this example being of a cylindrical form slightly rounded at the ends. The die A

page_text: is shown in Figure 40 turned out to suit the contour of the rolls and formed in halves,
and is made to serve the purpose of a guide as well as that of a die, and is shown in
section in Figure 41, bolted on to the strong containing frame E which is formed
to receive it, and in a way for ready interchangement of these dies. This form of
roll die is very suitable for rolling down a small degree of the thickness of a
"tube
blank" at a time, but owing to the great number of rolls used and consequent great
number of acting rolling points on the "tube blank "it requires very great force on
end to push it in between the rolls and the mandrel and is not suitable for rolling
down so much at one pass as can be effected by the forms of these dies described in
connection with Figures 34 to 39. Its action is otherwise similar to that described
in connection with Figures 37 to 39 and the arrows on the several moving parts
indicate the motions of same. Any sort of wheel or other gear may operate these
larger sizes of dies by communicating swift spiral motion to the mandrel D and
motion to the hydraulic rams operating these by pumps by disposition of gear, and of
hydraulic rains similar to those described in connection with Figures 67 and 68 to
te hereinafter described in reference to Sheet 3 of my Drawings.
"
For converting thick "tube blanks or tubes into thin tubes of larger diameter,
a new and improved arrangement of parallel long die suited for being used with
mandrels having rectilinear motion only as described mainly in connection with
Figures 24 to 29 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, and with Figures 30 to 33, as also
suited to be used in conjunction with revolving mandrels, which may be operated by
my modifications of frictional driving skew rolls, for giving quick spiral motion to
the mandrels for this purpose, or to be operated by my hydraulic revolving inandrel
machine (to be hereinafter described) -consists mainly in revolving these long dies
on axes as a quick means of closing them over the tube blanks and of the use of an
inside die for converting tube blanks of smaller. external diameter into thin tubes of
larger external diameter by means of a hollow after stem rod used as an internal die,
as also of new and improved combinations with my holding up and regulating after
stem rod as hereinbefore described. Figure 43 is an end elevation and Figure 44 a
plan of a new and improved long die of this kind in two halves A and A' which are
adapted to close on the tube blank B¹ by each half the die being revolved or partially
revolved together on their turned trunnions A", A", in the half die A, and on the
trunnions A, A, in the half die A', and these trunnions are shown placed in the two
die containing frames E and E. The internal form of the die when closed, and form
of the hollow stem rod G and of the tube blank B', being shown operated upon in
sectional plan by Figure 44 the out end of the tube blank B', shown operated
upon before being inserted into the die, and expanded out a short distance at its out
end to the internal diameter of the main die A A before closed into it. The outer end.
of the tube blank B being thus roughly made out this shape to allow the mandrel D
to enter into it shown with its stem rod D' broken off. The tube blank B¹ to be
understood in this example to be of steel in a viscid hot state and the mandrel D,
operated as described mainly in connection with Figures 24 to 29 on Sheet 1 of my
Drawings. The die containing frames or housings E and E', which have bush
bearings shown bored in them an easy working fit for these trunnions of the die and
into which the trunnions A" and A12 of the half die A are shown placed and similarly
shown placed in same container frames the trunnions A1 and A1, of the half die A,
which half die A, and A¹ are shown in end elevation in a closed position in Figure 43
and in plan by Figure 44, and at their actuating part for the widening out of a tube
blank or tube shown in section with the hollow after stem rod G bored out to be used
.as an inside die and the tube blank B¹ shown placed in it, its stem rod head G¹ being
shown turned in an internal conical form and the direction of its motion as indicated
by the arrows placed upon it. The hollow stem rod G is moved back automatically
.along with the inward motion of the mandrel D in an analogous way to that described
in connection with Figures 30, 31, 32, and 34 and at the saine speed thereby keeping
always an equal distance between the internal conical surface, of the stem rod head G
and the forward surface of the mandrel D, so that the stem rod head G¹ holds up in a
.regular way on to the passing part of the tube blank B¹ between it and the mandrel D,

page_text: and when the tube is thus expanded and finished. The position of the mandrel D
and of the after stem rod G and its acting stem rod head G¹ as also of the finished
tube B being as indicated in the plan section of the bored out part of the halves of
the die A and A' shown by Figure 45 and the motion of the mandrel and after
hollow stem rod as indicated by the arrows placed on same. It is part of my
invention to use this arrangement of die and after stem rod along with a revolving
mandrel. The halves of the die A and A' are easily retained closed, in a secure way
by having the tube blank seat in same brought round to nearly the dead centres in
each half between their trunnion axes A" and A", as shown by Figure 43, to and
from which position they are operated (and when closed are retained closed as here.
shown) by the cog wheels A1 and A" keyed on the trunnions A and A" of the
halves of the die and geared together by the cog wheels A18, and A1 and by this
gear are held closed, or opened out as shown by Figure 46 in which position the
tube B is removed and a fresh tube blank B' inserted for a fresh operation. As will
be readily seen long dies with like containers and like gear for closing and opening
same can be formed with a number of dies in same, and I show another die in
halves A35, and A, placed in square formed seats in the same swivelling die
castings A A shown in end elevation by Figures 43 and 46 and in plan by
Figure 44.
This new and improved long die A A¹, from its quick and effective closing action
and free access when open for the insertion of asbestos or other lubricant into it for
the tube blank moving along the die and is very suitable and without or with the after
stem rod G, as shown for widening and drawing out hot steel tube blanks with a
revolving mandrel D from tube blanks of about the same external diameter as that of
the die by using the main die only, and Figure 47 is a sectional plan of the working
portions of the halves of the die A and A as shown with a cam shaped revolving.
mandrel Dentered into same, and with a plain after stem rod G shown in it suited to
be retarded by a frictional contact breaking retarding action. With a heavy stem.
rod G its inertia at starting on its backward motion and the resistance caused by its.
own weight resting on the lower surface of the die is sufficient means for regulating:
the action of the drawing out hot steel tube blanks into light tubes. Another and
somewhat similar mode of converting soft heated solid and ring shaped billets of metal,.
such as of iron, steel, and copper into tubes with the advantage over the mode of doing
this just described, of getting them done in longer lengths at one operation, consists.
in having a long die by preference of steel, as long as or longer than the length of the
tube blank or tube required to be made by preference of steel of light proportions.
generally of about an inch thick bored out internally smooth by preference with a.
slight degree of taper and turned parallel externally. Into this die I insert a heated
soft billet of metal of such a form and size as to hold itself centrally in the round
interior of the die, but to leave space for expansion laterally, either at successive spaces.
longitudinally or laterally or both, such as a triangular bar does or may do by
touching the interior of the die on its three corners or nearly so throughout the length
of the die or if with a square bar holding itself centrally by touching continnously on
the inside surface of the die by its four corners. In like manner with five or six
sided or other polygonal form of bars or crosswise by having a succession of undula-
tions or hosses or touching points formed in the billet leaving space always more or
less to fill up by expansion of the billet laterally. A square bar or billet is generally
the most suitable form of billet to be used in this new and improved way. The widest.
or entering end of the die I make conical in a more obtuse degree for a short distance
inwards and form in it on its inside surface shallow fastening indentations for the soft
metal of the billet to enter into and fix the billet in same; and the after end of the.
billet is also made slightly conical so as to fit roughly into this expanded entering
end of the die to prevent the billet from moving end wise towards the after end of the
die. To this long die I transmit swift motion which tends to throw out the mass of
heated soft metal into a tube by centrifugal force and at as near as may be, the
same instant I also enter in a sharp pointed mandrel by preference revolved in an
opposite direction to that of the motion of the billet, as a further part of my invention.

page_text: to aid the expansion of the billet into a tube. To illustrate the foregoing, Figure 48
is an end elevation and Figure 49, a side elevation of tube die A and its bush bearing
container E the die A being partly shown in section in Figure 49 of this kind. The
round die A is shown in full length sectional plan in Figure 50. The die container E
is very similar to the fixed head-stock of a lathe provided with a bush bearing at each
end E, E, which are bored out to an easy working fit for the die A which is bored
out to the form shown and slightly wider at its mandrel entering end, and provided
with a bottom guard collar A on which the inner end of the billet B, is made to rest
when inserted to be operated upon. The outer surface of the die is as preferred
of a parallel form as shown, and is turned smoothly to revolve in its bearings E³.
When in operation swift revolving motion is communicated to the die A by the
after hollow abutting stem rod G, which is shown in Figures 49, and 50, and in
end elevation by Figure 51 provided with a driving clutch feather G³ for con-
necting it to the die A. Swift motion can in this way be transmitted to the die
through the after stem_rod G by a belt pulley or other suitable gear. The billet B
shown to be operated upon is of a square form in cross section shown in end elevation
in Figure 48, and of a size as shown for its four corners to fit into and hold itself by
these resting in this way in a central position in the die A, which being of a round
form internally as shown, leaves the four lateral spaces A' in it vacant. The billet B
for the purpose of providing a central starting line for its expansion out into a round
tube by centrifugal force with advantage may first have a small hole formed in it
throughout, but a small hole bored or otherwise formed in it a short distance from
each end as shown in Figure 49, provides this starting point of expansion in a suffi-
ciently central way and at smaller expense. On the metal billet B (supposed to be of
steel in this case) being heated to a soft state and revolved swiftly with the die A, as
explained in the container E, the centrifugal force of its swift rotating motion throws
out its mass into a tube B2 as indicated in sectional plan by Figure 50 and in end
elevation by Figure 52 thereafter the die A is drawn out of its container bearings E³.
and on being up ended with its mouth downwards from its contraction by cooling and
the tapering form of the die, the tube blank or tube is with the assistance of sight
concussive force readily ejected from the die. The die A has to be cooled in water
for every fresh operation. Any external form of billet B which provides a ready means
of holding itself in a central position in the die and at same time leaving sufficient
room for its lateral expansion in the way described into a tube or tube blank is suitable
for being operated on in this way, the square billet as shown used, affording this in
the best proportions as also in the form most easily obtained. A triangular form of
billet B is also suitable for being operated upon, this triangular form of billet B being
shown in end elevation in a similar die A to that just described by Figure 53.
Figure 54 in a similar way in end elevation shows an hexagonal billet B placed in a
similar die A, but with necessarily much diminished lateral spaces A' for the expansion
of the billet into a tube. Instead of longitudinal flat or fluted lateral spaces being
left or formed on the billets B as described, annular, spiral or irregular spaces may be
suitably formed on the billets to hold themselves centrally in the die when so revolved,
and leave with more or less advantage lateral space for expansion by centrifugal force so
communicated to them, and Figure 55 shows portion of a similar die A to those just
described in section, and corresponding portions of a billet B with a corrugated
surface shown inserted into it. The hollows in the corrugated form of billet B
allow spaces between the billet and inner surface of the die A for expansion. This
die and billet is also shown in end elevation by Figure 56, the arrows show the
direction of the motions of the die and billet. In a somewhat similar way and by
frictional rolls of large diameters by preference covered with rope "lagging" and
without necessarily being skew set or being so lagged, I transmit motion to the die
at a high speed by frictional contact on these rolls, the die being placed centrally
between them crosswise and made to rest on an antifrictional roll, the arrangement
affording an instant connecting and disconnecting means of starting the die to revolve
quickly with the minimum degree of jar and of stopping it instantly when required.
It is a necessity to minimise as much as possible the transmission of heat from the

page_text: billet to the die and from the die to its container as described under the first arrange-
ment of these improved dies (where either the mandrel or die is not necessarily
revolved) and in these just described the rope lagging on the die rolls for transmitting
motion acting as its container affords a surface that can be soaked with cold water
to keep the die cool and provides at the same time a soft driving surface which will
not readily injure the die.
I show operated in this way a similar die A and billet B, to that just described in
connection with Figures 48 to 52, Figure 57 being an end elevation and Figure 58 a
plan of these, the rolls E6, E7, E8, forming the container of the die A, these die con-
taining rolls being made to work in a suitable axis bush housing but having their axis
shown broken off. The housing for this is a common form of housing used for rolls
and not necessary to be shown, the two rope lagged rolls E and E' which revolve in
the same direction and geared together transmit motion to the die A by their rope
surface contact and do so noiselessly whilst at the same time the rope is soaked with
water to keep down the heat transmitted to the die by the hot metal billet. The under
roller E is an antifrictional roller caused to hold the die in its position vertically and
centrally between its driving frictional rope lagged rolls E and E. Motion on end
being prevented on the die A by the collars E formed in the casting of these rolls.
In this example I show a pointed cam shaped piercing mandrel D used, and of a
diameter about equal in area to the displacement of the metal at the centre of the
billet which the centrifugal force of itself would cause. The mandrel D with advantage
can be revolved in an opposite direction from that of the motion given to the die A,
but is here shown only with endwise traverse motion inwards which motion is trans-
mitted to it at the saine instant the die A has transmitted to it sufficient speed to
produce the expansion out of the metal by centrifugal force. The pressing forward of
the mandrel helps its expansion by the centrifugal force and at same time helps to
keep the tube blank B₁ equal in thickness throughout its walls and to smooth its
internal surface. Figure 59 shows in side sectional elevation the position of the
mandrel and mass of the billet now converted into a tube blank B' after the mandrel D
has been passed through it, the position of the mandrel D, D¹, being now also shown
in end elevation by Figure 60, and the motions of all the parts being as indicated by
the arrows placed on same. The internal surfaces of these dies A, in some of their
modifications may also be composed of compressed rings of asbestos millboard for
being used particularly when very thin tubes or tube blanks are required to be
made in this way to help to keep the metal from getting cold too rapidly from
radiation of the heat to the metal of the die. It is important to have ready means
of pushing or taking out the tube from the die, and one means of doing this is
to.have the after stem rod mechanically operated or operated by piston or ram by
steam, air, cr water as described in connection with the first modification of these
long tube dies, or this may be done by a blast of compressed air to act on an
extemporized rough piston placed against the end of the tube blank in the die and
the air connected by a flexible or other suitable coupling pipe.
Figure 61 is an end elevation and Figure 62 a sectional plan of a die of this kind
adapted to be revolved in this form of roll container just described and adapted to operate
on a square form of billet B as described in connection with Figures 49 to 52, there being
no mandrel used. The outer walls of the die A, are also the same as described in
connection with Figures 49 to 52 but are shown lined with a series of asbestos
rings A which may be alternated with thin metal rings, by preference thin steel rings
with their surfaces perforated or otherwise roughened to tend to keep the asbestos
from flowing inwards which in order to have a solid hard smooth surface requires to
be very hard pressed into its position and secured in same by an internal collar A10,
screwed in tightly over the compressed up asbestos rings A. In order to avoid the
necessity of lifting out the die A from out between its driving containing rolls for
ejecting out the tube blank after it is formed a detached metal piston A is inserted
into the bottom of the die A before the square hot metal billet is placed in it, the
expansion of the soft metal outwards, causing the piston to be made approximately
fluid tight, and in order to force out the tube blank B' without taking the die A
.
D

page_text: out of its container a connecting jointing flange ended pipe U is shown laid up
against the after end opening of the die A, which pipe by being connected to a fluid
reservoir at a high pressure with intervening valve (by preference air at a high
pressure) on opening same the pressure of the fluid is thus exerted on the piston A¹¹,
and both this piston and the tube blank B' is in this way removed from the die A
without it being taken out from between its driving containing rolls. The motions
on same are as indicated by the arrows shown on Figures 61 and 63. When the
billet B is expanded into a tube blank B¹, in this way it assumes the form shown by
Figures 62 and 63.
Another improvement consists in forcing in the mandrel into metal in a hot state in
these new or improved taper dies either with or without the said after-end billet
holding up and regulating stem rods and revolving them at the same time, either
with smooth acting surfaces on the mandrels or with cam shaped acting surfaces in
the mandrels, sharp pointed or otherwise, being an improvement on the modes
described for making tubes in the Letters Patent of the United Kingdom granted
to me No. 4201 of date 1878, and No. 15752 of date 1884, and which in all its
suitable forms of mandrels and of housings it is part of my invention to combine
with these improvements the specifications of which describe the said long dies
hereinbefore referred to. It is also part of my invention to use this taper die to act
on metals in a cold state, such as copper and its alloys, being easily converted into
tubes or tube blanks in this way. This improvement comprises a new and improved
long stationary tube die suited for being used either in conjunction with stationary or
revolving mandrels; and is applicable also for roll mandrels of a new and improved
form and with a new and improved gear for driving same more particularly
applicable for drawing out large diameters of tubes from ring shaped billets and
tube blanks such as for boiler flues and suitable for both parallel and taper dies.
In this example I shall describe it bored out internally parallel, this new and
improved part of the die consisting in making the die in halves and hinging the
halves, to open at one end and securing it together at the other end or throughout
its length by gab hydraulic ram heads or gab fixing pieces otherwise mechanically
operated as also for being opened out quickly for taking out the hot tubes without
an external containing casting to which is attached as in the foregoing modification
Figures 24 and 25 a hydraulic ram. The mandrel in this example is made to revolve.
The mandrel is fitted with a central frictional conical roll and two or more outer
acting conical rolls, by preference three rolls. The new and improved part of the
mandrel consists mainly in having a hollow stem rod on to which is connected the
main mandrel head and the three rolls that are made to roll on and roll out the
thick short ring billet into a long thin tube arranged to be partly driven by a central
stem rod. In the example I describe the rolls in a conical form. The central
supporting antifrictional roll for same is also made conical in form so that on the
outer rolls being revolved they present an oblique rolling surface to the billet of metal
they are made to act upon and say of a proportion of double the diameter in the
central roll to that of the diameter of each of the three rolls for acting on the metal
of the billet which gives an angular speed of one third of that of the central sus-
taining roll to the roll container or main mandrel head holder. The stem rod of
these high speed central sustaining and driving conical rolls is carried back through
the hollow stem rod and of the mandrel or roll head guide of same and its end is
placed in an hydraulic back centre fixed by preference in the centre of the front
end of the main hydraulic cylinder, the speed of this central roll stem rod for hot
metal being high and three times greater than of the actual mandrel and is too high
for revolving the ram of the hydraulic cylinder and its stem rod combined for the
purposes of acting on hot metal billets. This central roll heretofore has been anti-
frictional, but to insure centainty of action I rotate or drive it as also the mandrel
itself by a wheel gear connected to the wheel gear that drives or rotates the main mandrel
and in as aforesaid the proportion of three revolutions of the central stem rod to one
of that of the main one. The after hydraulic cylinder is provided with a stem rod
and a sharp pronged holding up ram head for holding up the billet at starting to the

page_text: rolls and for preventing it from rolling round. The die and both hydraulic cylinders
are connected by strong stays and both hydraulic cylinders provided with return
motion cylinders.
My new and improved roll revolving mandrel and new, and improved gear for
actuating same consists in gear for revolving both the mandrel itself as well as the
central sustaining roll usually employed as an antifrictional roll, or in case of its being
used to actuate the roll mandrel, the mandrel itself has not at same time been
otherwise heretofore driven or actuated. My improvement consists mainly in driving
both together, and at suitable different rotative angular speeds, securing thereby
greater certainty of action than when only either driven by its central roll, or by
rotating the mandrel itself as heretofore done. Of the proportions of mandrel rolls
referred to of a mandrel of this kind, Figure 64 is a plan Figure 65 an end elevation
through line 7. 7 in Figure 64 and Figure 66 a longitudinal section through the
line 88, in Figure 65. The mandrel D is composed of two pieces D and 18 and
shown bolted together, this being necessary for the insertion of the central roll D³,
the part D8 being bored out to receive the boss of the main hollow stem rod D¹ an
easy fit to slip on to this boss freely. It is shown provided with claw clutch con-
nections of an ordinary form, and shown connected to a corresponding ordinary half
of same D10 which is keyed on the boss of the stem rod D' and in this way formed
the main stem rod D¹ is provided a means of rotating the mandrel and ready means
of drawing it off its main stem rod D¹ at the same time after it has been
passed through a tube. Through the centre of this main stem rods D¹, and
shown bushed into same, is a central shaft D" the end boss of which the central
roll D is bored out to receive and shown provided with slot feather ways and
corresponding. slot driving feathers D¹ being also shown provided in the
shaft D and of an easy fit to it by which is therefor also shown a means of
driving the central roll Ď as also of its being easily drawn off its stem rods D¹
and D when required and along in one piece with the mandrel itself and its three
acting rolls D3, D, and D1 all by preference made of cast iron, and being of an
ordinary construction except for the new and improved provision for the work to be
done by it of driving it which is shown of a proportion to be driven by the central
shaft of three revolutions of it for each revolution of the main hollow stem
rod D. A tube blank B' is shown in part rolled out into a tube and portion of
it B' so rolled by the rolls and also a die A shown broken off to show its position
in the ring billet B when in action in drawing out large tubes or boiler flues.
Figure 67 is a side elevation and Figure 68 a plan of the new and improved
arrangement of gear suitable for. working revolving mandrels generally and that
just described in reference to Figures 64 to 66 (and like tube mandrels and dies
requiring two speeds) and here shown applied for transmitting spiral motion or
revolving motion to both the mandrel containing acting roll piece D and D³ by its
hollow stem rod D¹ and to its acting rolls by the central stem rod D and by driving
its central roll D° and shown together with the die A A', and main hydraulic
cylinder I, pulling back cylinder of same K, after holding up hydraulic cylinder P
and its ram P¹ all shown combined together by the stays M and M'. The arrange-
ment of these operating hydraulic cylinders and rams being generally similar to that
doscribed in connection with Figures 24 to 29 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings for operating
tube mandrels and dies by rectilinear motion, and the same letters of reference are
used for like parts and need not again be otherwise described. My new and improved
arrangement of wheel gear and of new and improved hydraulic back centre Y
placed on a hydraulic ram for the high speed central mandrel stem rod Du and for a
back centre for high speed revolving mandrels generally, and for the main hollow
stem rod D¹ being shown on an enlarged scale by Figure 69 in sectional side elevation
and by Figure 70 in plan. Figure 71 is an end elevation partly in section through
the line 9---9 in Figure 70, showing an end elevation of this mandrel gear. Figure 72
is an end elevation through the line 10---10 in Figure 70 showing my new and
improved revolving sliding and abbutting hydraulic back centre Y and sliding cross-
head Y' formed in the back centre hydraulic cylinder Y and its sliding bars N and N¹.

page_text: Z₁
Figure 73 is a front end elevation of the main hydraulic cylinder I and stool I³ shown
in section and after end elevation of its pulling back cylinder K. The shaft Z is the
main actuating shaft of the gear for revolving the mandrel which is shown coupled
to a second shaft Z', which has two slots Z formed in it shown in side elevation in
Figure 69 and in end elevations Figures 71 and 72. This wheel gear has to transmit
motion in this example to a proportion of acting roll mandrel with central roll double
the diameter of that of the acting rolls (as described in connection with Figures 64
to 66 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings) and therefore has to produce three revolutions of
the central stem rod D¹ to one of the main mandrel stem rod D' in this example made
hollow. The diameters and other proportions of this wheel gear to produce this
result has to be, as shown, and suited to slide along the main driving shaft Z by the
action of the hydraulic ram J. The different rotative speeds to the stem rods D¹
and D being transmitted by the two cog toothed wheels of different diameters Z³,
which are shown formed in one piece, and bored out an easy fit for the shaft Z', and
provided with two driving feathers shown projecting into the slots Z in the shaft Z¹
shown in Figures 71 and 73 which thereby gives motion to these wheels at any
position in which they may be moved by the hydraulic cylinder ram J along their
driving shaft Z the larger wheel Z3, being as shown geared with the smaller diameter
of these driven wheels Z and Z shown geared into the larger driven wheel Z³. The
wheel Ze has therefore the highest rotative speed transmitted to it and being keyed on
the central stem rod D¹ gives it the requisite high speed, and the wheel Z being
shown geared to the wheel Z gives it its requisite slower speed, which wheel Z being
keyed on the main hollow mandrel stem rod D₁ gives it thereby its requisite pro-
portional slow speed. It is part of my invention to use as a tube drawing revolving
mandrel back centre, a second short hydraulic cylinder placed on the front end of the
actuating main ram to receive the end thrust of a revolving mandrel or die stem rod
or shaft to resist the end pressure of same particularly advantageous when used for
mandrels or dies, instead of revolving a long hydraulic ram for this purpose for which
Letters Patent were granted to me of the United Kingdom No. 15752 of date 1884
for the invention of a revolving hydraulic ram to take the end pressure for either
revolving tube mandrels or dies and which is for ordinary tube making purposes an
effective invention, but when the end pressure requisite becomes very great requiring
a large diameter of ram, and at the same time high rotative speed as is required in
this case for the central stem rod D", which is made to take all the end thrust off the
mandrel, the loss from friction by rotating so large an hydraulic ram becomes a
drawback, and this new and improved arrangement of providing a short hydraulic
cylinder which is easily made to stand a high pressure formed in or placed on the
main ram head further provides a means for relieving the end pressure in an almost
frictionless way for high speed revolving mandrels and dies. This short hydraulic
cylinder Y is shown bolted on to the ram head J³, bored out as shown in section in
Figure 69 an easy fit to receive a brass bush Y and cover Ys and leather packing
collar Y in the usual hydraulic cylinder form and provided with a liquid filling
channel and screw stopper as shown, for filling it with oil water or other liquid to take
the pressure and be thereafter stopped up, there being no .occasion after it is once
filled with the liquid for a fresh supply unless in the case of leakage no pipe con-
nection is necessary to it. This back centre hydraulic cylinder Y is otherwise formed
into a sliding cross head shown in plan by Figure 70, and in end elevation by
Figure 72 showing it provided with a bushed boss Y' in which the main shaft Z
revolves and with free action to slide along this shaft at the same time, being shown
provided also with slide block ends Y, Y', planed to slide in the slides N, N¹, which
traverses in these slides the full stroke of the ram J and supports its out end and
connected gear.
The inner end of the main stem rod D¹ is shown supported with
bush bracket Z which is provided also with a bushed boss Z' through which the slotted
parts of the shaft Z work, and having also slide block ends Z Z" planed to slide
along the main slides N, N¹. The hydraulic back sliding centre and crosshead
combined Y and Y¹, being shown held together by the short wrought iron stays Ye
and Y, which are used only to pull back this slide supporting bush bracket Z

page_text: leaving a little end play being given to these for the hydraulic cylinder Y, being more
or less completely filled. The wheels to Z are also shown with side grasping end
on containing joggles Z Z and which always keep them relatively right to each
other end wise and in this way a differential driving gear for the mandrel stem rod I)'
and D is provided, as also a new and improved hydraulic back centre for revolving
tube mandrels and tube dies of all kinds with single gear, the whole of this arrange-
ment of gear with slight modification being also suitable for working the
mandrels through dies as described in connection with Figures 34 to 42 on Sheet 2
of my Drawings, and for like high speed tube mandrels and dies.
Figure 74 is a side elevation, Figure 75 is a plan Figure 76 an after end
elevation and Figure 77 a front end elevation of my improved long die, suited
for drawing out large metal tubes, boiler flues, rings, wheels and like large sized
tubes and tubular articles shown formed in halves A, A' by preference also formed
of cast iron, the lower half A being adapted to be fixed to a foundation, and the
upper half A hinged at its after end to its lower half A by the strong wrought
iron links A2 A2 which allow it to open up as indicated by the dotted lines A"
or higher to allow the hollow billet B to be inserted as also as when finished into
a tube to allow it to be freely withdrawn. For the purpose of lifting it up quickly
an hydraulic cylinder A2 and ram A is provided for which a snug A is formed on
the upper half of the die A¹ shown extending over the top of the ram A in Figures 74
and 77 and shown broken off in Figure 75 to show the position of its operating
rain A. The strong after end hinge links A20 and A" when the upper die half A' is
down, hold it securely down against the tendency of the mandrel to raise it up through
the pressure of the tube being formed at this end, and at or near its other end
for the purpose of securing it when down. In short the hydraulic cylinder A³³, A³,
are placed horizontally and fitted with gab headed rams A and A" respectively
of the same form. These cylinders A, A, are shown bolted to the strong cast iron
cross bearer A which in Figure 74 is also shown supporting the front end of the
under half A of the die and to which also the top half die A' lifting hydraulic
cylinder A is also shown secured by bolts. In Figure 77 which shows clearly the
gab form of these die fixing ram heads A and A27 also showing both halves with
strong closed retaining snugs provided with the snugs A2 A30 on the upper half
and tapering on the top side, also with corresponding snugs on the bottom half A1 A32
but these are formed parallel on their under side surface to the centre line of tho
hydraulic rams. Those rams are shown passed up in their closed position and the
closed die in Figure 77 has a ring billet B as shown inserted into it ready for
being operated upon by the mandrel D shown in Figure 77. The snugs E for
the main stays M, M, are in this example formed on the under half Å of the
die A, A¹ itself and not as herein before shown formed on a die container. The after
end elevation Figure 76 of the die shows the tube B2 in its finished form. The
position of these stays and of this die being all shown in the complete machine by
Figures 67 and 68.
Figure 78 is a side sectional elevation Figure 79 a plan, Figure 80. an after end
elevation partly in section, and Figure 81 a front elevation also partly in section of
the after holding up stem rod G and stem rod head G with operating hydraulic
cylinder P and connections shown in position to the die A A¹ in Figures 67 and 68
drawn to a larger scale, which also illustrates a mode of operating this after holding
up stem rod G and its stem rod head G₁ also generally applicable where applied to
those new and improved dies where they are operated either with or without axial
or angular or revolving motion, and suitable in this example for revolving tube
mandrels. When used along with external roll dies as described in connection with
Figures 34 to 42 on Sheet 1 of my drawings, or used in conjunction with taper or
parallel internal dies, when these are made to revolve, the stem rod G may also be
allowed to revolve round with this motion being transmitted to it in these cases by
its friction contact, mainly with the billet or tube blank being operated upon, and it
is part of my invention to allow it to revolve when so applied. As applied in this

page_text: example the after holding up stem rod G and its stem rod head G' does not revolve,
its main use being to hold up the hollow billet B and to prevent it from revolving,
(which is to be understood in this example to be a circular steel ring casting in a
hot viscid state) until by the rolling out action of the mandrel D and the consequent
expansion of the billet B it takes hold of the internal surface of the die somewhat
similar to that described in connection with Figures 17 to 23 on Sheet 1 of my
drawings, but in this example is of a parallel form and of a mass sufficient to make
a tube or boiler flue or like article by one swift passage of the mandrel D into a
tube of an inch thick and of an external diameter and length the same as the internal
diameter of the die A A¹ just described. To prevent the after stem rod G and its stem
head G¹ from revolving along with the billet at the commencement of the revolving and
drawing action of the mandrel which as applied to large size tubes there is a tendency
in its operating hydraulic ram (which in this example is used directly as the affer stem
rod) to revolve along with the billet if too loose in the die and along with the mandrel D,
and to prevent this action its after end is shown in Figure 78 provided with a T-cross-
head G which traverses all its entire stroke in the corresponding longitudinal internal
grooves P formed in its hydraulic cylinder P an easy working fit for it, shown in
section in Figures 80 and 81. The stem rod head G¹ on its outer diameter is made an
easy working fit for the dio A when closed, but has in this example as shown a series of
sharp snugs G formed on its forward surface to take a hold of the soft billet Bat
starting to prevent it from moving round with the mandrel D. The stem rod G is
also shown provided at its front end with a tongue G8 which is turned an easy fit
for the forward end in the central holo D in the mandrel D, shown in Figures 66
and 68, into which when brought forward to the billet B, and as in the process of
being rolled down and nearly all rolled down into a tube, this tongue G³ enters
into the hole D in the mandrel, and after the mandrel D has been passed through
the die A A¹ and the billet B rolled out into the thin tube B2 and it becomes there-
after necessary to take off the mandrel D from its stem rods D¹ and D" this
tongue G on the after stem rod G supports the mandrel D until the tube B' thus
formed is removed and the die A A¹ again prepared for a fresh operation, and
thereafter as part of this preparation the mandrel D after temporarily resting on
this tongue G on the after stem rod G is pushed by it back through the die, and
on its bosses on the mandrel stem rod D1 and D¹¹ as hereinbefore described. There
is little tendency in so large size billets, tube blanks or tubes shown operated upon
as in this example of breaking crosswise by the forward pressure of the mandrel and
after the rolling operation is onco fairly started thereafter the end holding up
pressure from the ram R of the after hydraulic cylinder P used in this example as
the stem rod head G' with advantage is entirely relieved which may be effected by
hand by raising a relief safety valve placed on same, or this may be done automatically.
The motions of the mandrel, hydraulic rams, mandrel stem rod, and after stem rod
as also of the wheel gear for operating the mandrel are all as indicated by arrows
placed on same while in motion in process of rolling down a billet into a tube. My
invention consisting in improved forms of dies and mandrels for the manufacture of
metal tubes. Improved modes and means of actuating same and of apparatus therefor,
as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what
I claim is
First. The method of, and appliances and apparatus for, making and drawing out
tube blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, from billets of
metal and tube or metal blanks, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks, tubes, and tubular
articles from solid billets of metal, or billets of metal with a small central hole
formed in them in a hot state, by a long taper formed tube die operated by an

page_text: ordinary form of tube mandrel or sharp pointed tube mandrel by rectilinear motion
either on the mandrel or on the die, substantially as herein described, in reference to.
and shown in connection with Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The mode of,and means for, forming tube blanks, tubes, or tubular articles,
from solid billets of metal, or billets of metal with a small central tube formed in
them, in a hot state by a long taper tubo die and ordinary form of tube mandrel.or
sharp pointed tube mandrel, and mode of shaping or grooving the internal surface
of the die to fix the metal billet end wise in it and of lubricating the billet by the
insertion into the die of lubricating mill board and arrangement for keeping the die
cool, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with
Figures 5 to 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks, tubes, or tubular articles
by parallel or tapering or otherwise formed long tube dies, and ordinary or sharp
pointed tube mandrels, from solid, billets or tube blanks of hot metal, operated in
conjunction with an after billet or tube blank holding up and regulating stem rod,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with
Figures 10 to 13 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The mode of and means for forming close or wall ended hollow articles or
shells from solid billets of metal in a hot state, substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in connection with Figures 14 to 16 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixth. The mode of and means for forming close or wall ended hollow articles or
shells from solid billets or blanks of metal in a hot state, combined with an after
holding up stem rod operated along with either tapered or parallel shaped long dies,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with
Figures 10 to 16 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks, tubes or tubular articles
by taper dies, in conjunction with an after holding up stem rod, out of ring shaped
billets of metal in a hot state, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in connection with Figures 17 to 19 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks, tubes, or tubular
articles, from tubular or ring shaped billets in a hot state in taper or parallel
shaped long dies operated by tube mandrels from each end of the die substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in connection with Figures 20 to 22 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth. The mode of and means for operating long tapered or parallel tube dies
through hydraulic cylinders by imparting longitudinal motion to ordinary or sharp
pointed tube mandrels to actuate same, and of also imparting and regulating
longitudinal motion to the dies, in conjunction with an after billet or tube blank
hold up stem rod, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown mainly
in connection with Figures 24 to 29 of the accompanying Drawings.
Tenth. The mode of and means for operating and of regulating the action of long
tube dies of ordinary forms and of these new and improved forms of dies by regulating
the motions of the mandrel, or of a die and billet or tube blank after holding up
stem rod and stem rod head of same operated automatically and relatively to each
other by mechanical hydraulic or other connecting gear which can be variously
carried out as described in one proportion of die to mandrel and shown carried
out in one mechanical way, substantially as described in connection with Figures 30
to 33 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eleventh. The mode of and means for drawing out tube blanks and tubes by
rolls combined in a stationary die having, the rolls contained in it and being
adapted to roll down the blank by revolving it along with a mandril, substantially
as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with Figures 34 to 36
of the accompanying Drawings.
Twelfth. The mode of and means for drawing out tubes and tube blanks by rolls
placed in a die to roll on the blank or tube placed on a mandril and in conjunction
with an after tube blank holding up and fixing stem rod, the rolls operated partially

page_text: by their frictional rolling action on the blank and partially by the roll guide, being
also driven by gear substantially as herein described in reference to and shown mainly
in combined with Figures 37 to 39 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirteenth. The mode of and means for drawing out tube blanks and tubes and
tubular articles by rolls placed in a die without a guide, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in connection with Figures 41 to 42 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourteenth. The mode of and means for drawing out tube blanks placed in a
long tube die into tubes formed in halves, and each half of same suited for angular
or revolving motion on trunnions, suited for closing in tube blanks quickly and
holding securely when operated by mandrils, quick means of opening and ready
facilities of changing dies, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in connection with Figures 43 to 47 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifteenth. The mode of and means for drawing out, and of enlarging the diameter.
of tube blanks or tubes, by a long tube die in conjunction with a solid after stem rod
or hollow containing stem rod and after die, or operated in conjunction with the
motion of a mandrel with either a rectilinear, angular or revolving motion, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with Figures 43
to 47 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixteenth. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks or tubes, out of billets
of metal of an angular fluted corrugated or of successive bulbous form, beated to a
soft state by long tube dies revolved at a high speed to expand out the billets by
centrifugal force without using mandrils, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in connection with Figures 48 to 63 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventeenth. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks and tubes from
billets of metal of an angular form, heated to a soft state and expanded out by
centrifugal force, by revolving same at a high speed operated in conjunction with a
stationary or revolving mandrel, which may be of a sharp pointed and cam shape, or
of other forms of mandrels, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in connection with Figures 48 to 63 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighteenth. The mode and means in roll revolving mandrils, by giving motion to
both the central roll and the main block holder of the rolls acting on the metal,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with
Figures 64 to 66 of the accompanying Drawings.
Nineteenth. The mode of and means for providing an hydraulic actuating back
centre for the stem rods of revolving mandrels, and revolving tube dies, by placing it
in front of an actuating traversing bydraulic ram or other mandril or die operating
traversing equivalent, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
connection with Figures 67 to 73 of the accompanying Drawings.
Twentieth. The mode of and means for giving differentiated rotative and spiral
motion to a central mandril stem rod and hollow mandril stem rod at same time,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with
Figures 63 to 67 of the accompanying Drawings.
Twenty-first. The mode of and means for hinging endwise, and of opening closing
and securing the halves of long tube dies and of operating long tube dies of this or
other forms by and in combination with a revolving mandrilof this or other forms along
with an after billet or tube blank holding up and regulating stem rod, substantially
as herein described in reference to and shown in connection with Figures 67 to 81 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Twenty-second. The mode of and means for holding up and regulating the drawing
out of solid billets of metal or the holding up and regulating the drawing out of tube
blanks of metal into tubes, tubular articles or shells in long dies of my older forms or
in these new and improved long dies, by an after stem rod, against the action of tube
mandrels having angular or revolving motion, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Twenty-third. The mode and means, and the application and use of long taper

page_text: shaped tube dies by revolving them while their contained article is being operated
on or drawn by a stationary or revolving mandril in form as described in connection
with Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying Drawings and revolved as described in
connection with Figures 67 and 68 mainly or as revolved heretofore.
Twenty-fourth. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks, tubes, or tubular
articles from billets or tube blanks of metal in a hot state placed in long taper tube
dies of the form described in connection with Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying
Drawings, operated on by revolving mandrels of a cam or other form or shape,
or by roll mandrels, the mandrels being operated as heretofore done or in the
new and improved mode described in connection with Figures 67 and 68 of the
accompanying Drawings.
"
Twenty-fifth. The mode of and means for forming tube blanks, tubes, "shells'
or tubular articles, from billets or tube blanks of metal such as of copper and its
alloys, in a cold state, in long taper tube dies as described in connection with
Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying Drawings, and operated on by mandrils having
angular or revolving motion operated as heretofore done, or in the new and
improved way described in connection with Figures 67 and 68 or as heretofore.
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