US1881916A - Method of forming fibrous bell-mouth tube ends - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1932. H. PARKER METHOD OF FORMING FiBRoUs BELL MOUTH TUBE ENDS Ori inal Filed March 21, 1950 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. H. PARKER I I 1,881,916

METHOD OF FORMING FIBROUS BELL MOUTH TUBE ENDS Origipal Filed March 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES AT N OFFICE,

BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE METHOD OF FORMING FIBROUS DELI-MOUTH TUBE ENDS Original application filed March 21, 1980, Serial No. 487,692. Divided and this application filed February i 28, 1931. Serial "No. 519,094.

This application is a division'of my copendlng application Serial No. 437,692 filed March 21, 1930. The invention-relates to a method of forming fiber bell-mouth members foruse with fiber conduit. When fiber conduits are laid underground for telephone wires, electric cables, etc., the conduits are interrupted at intervals by man-holes through which new wires may be threaded through the conduits, and in which connections can be made for branching wires, etc. The conduits open into the man-holes on two or more sides. The wires or cables entering at one side are usually bent around along the wall of the man-hole instead of projecting straight across, to keep the central portion of the man-hole, clear for workmen. In order to avoid sharp bends in the cables as they enter'the man-holes, it is desirable that the conduits be laid with flared or bell-mouth ends to provide curved surfaces around-which the cables can bend as they enter a man-hole. If metal or tile conduits be used, such bell mouth ends can be cast or molded to any desired shape. Where fiber conduit is used,

- however, the problem of forming bell-mouth ends is more difficult, since the strength ofa fiber article depends largely on the method of forming it, owing to the fact that the strength of such an article arises chiefly from the thoroughness with which the fibers are interfelted. If, for example, fibrous tubing be made by winding a wet web of pulp on itself on a mandrel, under pressure, the resulting tube, if properly dried, has comparatively great strength owing to the-efiicient interfelting of the fibers caused by pressing the wet layers together prior to drying. The mechanical strength of such tube is far in excess of that of a tube of similar dimensions made by pressing pulp into a mold. In order to retain the strength of the fibrous tubing made as described by winding a wet web on itself under pressure, the bell mouth embodying the present invention is preferably made to complete the structure.

According to the invention such a structure is preferably assembled while the materials are thoroughly wet, and the assembled HOWARID PARKER,.OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 BROWN COMPANY, OF

structure is thereupon subjected to high pressure which not only gives it its finished shape,

but also interfelts the separate parts into a well knitted unit.

For a more'complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the description thereof which follows, and to the drawings, of which,'

. Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of fiber tubing, with an end slotted.

Figure 2, is an end View of the same.

Figure 3 is an elevation of asplit tube section with the end elements bent outwardly.

Figure 4 is an end view of the same.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section of the tube, wall (developed in ,a plane) after the insertion of gussets in the splits.

Figure 6 is a sectional View of a bell-mouth as it comes from the press.

Figure 7 is a similar view of a bell-mouth after being tooled to final shape.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of pressing apparatus. v

In forming a bell mouth according to the invention, a. short length of fiber tube 50 is thoroughly soaked in water. The end of thls section is slit longitudinally, as at 51, these slits being preferably uniformly spaced around the circumference of the tube. The tube may be-split either before or after soaking. The soaked and split end of thetube isthen spread, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, forming triangular openings between the split end elements 52. This may be done by forcing the split end down over a su table flaring mold such as is illustrated in Figure 8. The side edges of the elements 52 may then be .bent slightly outward, as indicated 'at 55 in Figure 5. In the triangular openwardly, as shown in Figure 5. After the gussets are in place, the ,bent up edges may be patted down flush to knit or felt together the abutting edges of the gussets .54 and the tube elements 52. This is preferably done while the tubular member 5.0 is on the flaring mold used for spreading the elements 52. The entire member 50 may now be pressed to shape the member as a whole and to consolidate the seams'between the elements 52 and the gussets 54. This may be done by suitable apparatus such,'for example, as is illustrated in Figure 8, and is more fully illustrated and described in my application Serial No.

- 437,692, hereinbefore referred to. After he ing pressed, the bell-mouth may be dried, treated with waterproofing material and machined to its final shape.

Apparatus for presslng the bell-mouth is shown in Figure 8. A bell-shaped mold with suitable perforations 61 to carry off water expressed from the bell-mouth, is removably mounted on a standard 62 in which is a drain or suction line 63. The mold 60 may be covered with a suitable cloth b 64 which facilitates stripping the mold a er a bell mouth has been pressed to shape thereon.

Over the mold-is a heavy, removable cap- 65 within which is a rubberba g 0r diaphragm 66. The diaphragm is tubular and is secured to the'cap along its entire upper and lower edges so as to form aclosed chamber with the side wall of the cap. An opening 67 leads through the cap wall into this chamber and communicates with a supply of pressure fluid such as water. After a tube-portion 50 has been placed on the mold 60 and the ssets have been suitably inserted, the capls lo'wered into place as shown, and firmly clamped in place." Water under pressure may then be introduced through theinlet 67 to press the diaphragm 66 against the tube portion 50. This comp-acts the fibrous structure and expresses considerable of thewater from the member 50. After being ,pressed,-the member is ready for removal, drying and further treatment. a

I claim:

' 1. A method of joining together edge to .whereby wedge-shaped openings are formed between, ad'acent elements, fittmg ssets of tube-wall. t ickness into said opemngs, and

I felting together the abutting edges of said gussets and elements. I

3. A method of forming bell-mouthends,

which comprises longitudinally slitting an end portion of afiber tube, soaking said end portion in water, spreading the split end over a form, fitting wet fiber gussets into the widened slits to form a bell-mouth, workingthe abutting edges together, and applying pressure to the outer surface of said bell-mouth. 4:. -A method of forming fiber bell-mouth ends, which comprises longitudinally slitting a wet end portion of a fiber tube, pressing outwardly the material along said slits,

spreading theslit end portion over a bellshaped mold, fitting into the widened slits gussets of material similar to that of said tube, said gussets having their side edges upturned whereby a com lete bell-mouth structure is formed with ridges along the seams, andpressing said ridges flush with the adj acent surface.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

. HOWARD PARKER.

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