US416077A - Manufacture of tubes - Google Patents

Description

i (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 1. J. ROBERTSON.

MANUPAGTURE OP TUBES.

No. 416,077. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

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J. ROBERTSON. MANUFAGTURB 0F TUBES.

- (N o Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ROBERTSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, COUNTY OF \VAR\VIOI{, ENGLAND.

`IVIANUFACTU RE OF TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,077, dated November 26, 1889. Application filed February 26, 1889. Serial No. 301,286. (-No model.) Patented in England April 4, 1888, No. 5,018.

To all whom t 11i/ay concern.:

Be it known that I, JAMES ROBERTSON, of Birmingham, in the county of lVarwick, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Method of and Means for Making Seamless Tubes, Tube-Blanks, and Like Seam less Tubular Articles, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain and Ireland, No. 5,018, dated April 4, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, mainly, to the manufacture of seamless metal tube-blanks and tubes and like seamless metal tubular hollow articles-such as boiler-dues, pipe-coupling rings or sockets, broad rims of pulleys oi; rolls, and parallel and tapering articles, such as for shot and shell; and it consists in certain improved means for manufacturing the same. It is no part of my invention Y to use any of these new and improved means or apparatus for making tubes out of what is usually designated soft metals such as lead and tinthat have the distinguishing' feature from other metals of not hardening by compres# sion or by being hammered in 'a cold state.

My invention consists, mainly, in the combination, in an apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, of a die having a forming bore or seat, a 'fixed holder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die and act upon a billet or on a tube-blank therein, a motor connected with the stem of the mandrel, whereby the latter is impelled forward in the die, a head or support formed to support the inner end of the billet or blank while it is being acted on by the mandrel, and means for giving said head or supporta movement which is synchronous with but slower-than that of the mandrel, the mandrel and head moving in the same direction, so that the mandrel recedes as the head advances, the receding movement of the head being regulated according to the nature of the material being treated, so that the holding-up pressure of said head allows the inner end ot the billet to recede before the man` drei at about the speed of the displacement of the metal by the mandrel, and at the same time prevents bodily endwise movement or displacement ot' the entire billet or blank, including that portion which may have been formed or laid up to the walls of the die, so that the tube cannot slip endwise While it is being formed. The said synchronous and relativelyslow receding movement of the supportinghead may be produced by various means, several of which are hereinafter described. y

The invention also consists in certain improvements in the construction of the die in which the billets or blanks are formed, and, iinally, in the improved method of making tubes from billets of metal and drawing out tube-blanks, tubular articles, tbc., by placing the metal billet or tube-blank in a long die, causing the mandrel to move forward through the billet or tubeblank, and at the same time holding up the billet or tube-blank by a supporting-head which recedes synchronously with the advancing movement of the mandrel, but ata slower rate.

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 billetg7 a piece of metal partially formed into a tube and open at both ends a tube-blank, a inished hollow article ot' 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 I designate a tubular article, and a hollow article with a closed end a shell.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front end elevation of a die which I use -in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the same, showing the position of the parts at the commencement of the tube-forming operation. Fig. .3 represents a section similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts at the end of the operation. Fig. el is a rear elevation of a die having a hexagonal form internally. Fig. 5 is a front elevation, and Figs. 6 and 7 sectional plans, of a modification of the die. Fig. S is a front elevation, Fig. 9 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 10 a sectional plan, of a die made in three sect-ions.

Fig. l1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 12 a sectional plan, of another die made in threesections. Fig. 13 is a side viewof one section of TOO v4`stem-rod may be variously formed, and under- V,one form made internally conical or cupli4 and 15.

,anfdhousing rwith its gearing.

,are detail views thereof. tional elevation, and Fig. 30 a plan view, of

a die of slightly-different form. Fig. 13 represents a sectional view of the die shown in Fig. 13 placed in its container. Fig. 14 is a side external elevation, and Fig. 15 also a side elevation, partly in section, of the operating hydraulic cylinders and rams. Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the hydiaulic cylinders, parts being in section. Fig. 17 is an after end elevation of the die-container. Fig. 18 is an end elevation of the ram cross-head, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 14. Fig. 19 is aview on the line 3 3, Fig. 14. Fig. 2O represents a topview of a modified form of the machine shown in Figs. Figs. 21 and 22 are longitudinal ,sectional views thereof. Fig. 23 is a transfverse. sectional view of this machine. Fig. 24

is an end elevation of the die-containin g frame Fig. 26 is a similar view with the latter removed, and showing the parts open. Fig. 25 is a sectional plan view of a die made in independently hinged or pivoted sections. Figs. 27 and 28 Fig. 29 is a secan arrangement of mechanism for actuating the mandrel. l

VIt is a part of my invention to employ two loperating-mandrels, stem-rods, or operatingbars, 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-contain er, and use the second ram or stemrod `from it, with a suitable head, to abut against the smaller end of the billet, which shaped to abut against and conically shape the end of the billet against the action of the mandrel 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 center 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 solidify the metal and protect it against being overstrained tensely, part-icularly in parallel long-t-ube dies. The said second ram or stem-rod may also be used as a return motion for pushing back the ram of the main cylinder and obviating the use of a return-motion cylinder and ram.

l, Fig. 1 is a front end elevation on its side7 and Flg. 2 a sectional plan, of a longdie A, also formed in halves 2 and 3, 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 ini- `tiatory small guiding-hole in them, also suited for forming tube-blanks out of steel heated to a soft state. If the billets are used with a small hole in them, this may be filled with asbestus, graphite, or other heat-resistin g and lubricating materials to lubricate the man drels and tend to keep the same in a central position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, G represents an after abutting and holding-up stem-rod for supporting the after end of the billet B or of a tube-blank or shell when operated upon. This rod is preferably operated by an after hydraulic ram, and has, by preference, a conical hollow or cup-shaped siem-rod G' formed in it or socketed onto it, and forming, as shown, an easy-working fl-t on its external diameter for the internal bore of the die AG. On the stem-rod head G', I exert such a lesser degree of force than is exerted by the mandrel D on the billet B, so as to allow said stem-rod head to recede as it is stretched out by the passage of the mandrel D through it, so that by this partial receding and holding-up action of the stem-rod head G', combined with the frictional hold of the metal of the billetB on the inner surface of the die A, 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 backward 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 G' is regulated to such a degree as to prevent the metal from being squirtcd out at theA front end of the die, and at the same time to allow the billet to stretch out into the tube-blank or tube B' by a receding action on the stem-rod head G 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 to properly stretch out the billet B to its after end into a tube-blank B', as shown in Fig. 3. For this action I prefer to use a hydraulic cylinder to operate this billet-holding-u p stemrod head G', and by loading a safety escapewater valve or other water-escape equivalent connected .to the water-cylinder I provide a handy means of regulating the degree of resisting pressure on the holding-up stem-rod G and its head G', which degree of pressure will vary to a considerable extent, according to the kind, quality, or condition of the metal being operated upon. The resisting pressure exercised on the stem-rod head G' must always be less than that exercised on the mandrel D, and may be regulated automatically. If, for example, a mandrel in piercing aheat ed soft steel billet from the solid by this modification of die exerts a force of twenty 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 ten tons to the square inch of the cross-area of the die, has to be exercised on the after abuttingreceding stem-rod head G' to allow it to recede and at the same time to effect the piercing of the billet B.

Although the mode of operation necessarily varies under different working conditions, I prefer generally the following mode: The holding-up stem-rod and its piston-shaped stem-rod head G' are brought forward to the positionv shown in the die A in Fig.

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2 by the operating hydraulic cylinder, the head G thus holding the front end of the billet B about Hush with the mouth of the die A. The escape-valve of the said cylinder should be 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, ten tons to The entering-guide C for the mandrel being' in its position, the mandrel D is then pushed into the metal of the billet and pushes out the after stein-rod G in part of its course forward by the intervening mass of metal of the billet B. Then after all the metal is formed into the tubewblank B and pressed up to the walls ot' the die A6 the mandrel enters the cup-shaped stein-rod head G and pushes the latter out of the die. 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 tubeblank B', are shown in Fig. 3, 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 on said figure.

The regulation of the receding motion of the after or holding-up stem-rod G by the outiiow of water from an operatinghydraulic cylinder, either by a safety-valve loaded to a certain degree of resistance, as described, orby regulating the outiiow of the Water by widening or narrowing the outfiow of the water from its operating hydraulic cylinder, (the arrangement of which is to be hereinafter showin) may be regarded as a resisting` frictional means of so regulating the receding action of the rod G, and which can be effected by the frictioiial hold of hard bodies, either by clamping the rod G itself by a brake in rectilinear brake form, or by the intervention of cog-wheel or other gear by a brake-Wheel and brake, which can be carried out in many ways. The backward motion of the rod G before the after end of the billet can also be regulated in the exact degree required relatively 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.

V Thus in a billet of double the cross-sectional -onal or any other form that can be readily given to either the die or mandrel.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of a die AG, internally of a hexagonal form, with a billet B in it, shown as pierced with a round hole, the die being' in halves and suited to fit the containerE to facilitate ready interchange of the same.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, and Fig. G a sectional plan, of a modification of a form of my 7o taper die A in halves, in which I show an after abutting stem-rod G and its head G for holding up the metal billet B to the operation of the mandrel D, as described in connecton with Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4. It is also part of my invention to use this rod G and its head G for making tubes and tubular articles in conjunction with my improved taper dies. 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 closeended 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 tapering or rounded mouth end at which the mandrel enters, have been used for making articles with one closed end and military-shell blanks and shells out of plates and at round blanks with closed ends variously shaped, an d for making military hollow shot also out of solid billets of hot soft metal bysuccessive punching operations; but

this part of my invention is designed to effect and form shell-blanks or military shells and like close-ended articles out to its full internal diameter required from solid billets out of hot metal at one operation, which is a great advantage'. The taper die AG, Figs. 5 and 6, placed in a container E, has a taper billet B of metal inserted into it, which is to be understood as a hot billet of steel to be shaped into Va military-shell blank. The mandrel D is formed in one piece with its stem-rod D', requiring for this to be formed on its acting point-piece slightly tapered, as shown, and hardened. The mandrel -guide C is separated from the front of the die A6 a short distance to allow the billet B to be inserted freely. The after stem-rod G and head G are not allowed to recede in this example. Their use is to provide a bottom holding-up contrivance for the hollow conical redhead, 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 quickly after it is formed. The mandrel stem-rod is shown provided with a stop-collar DWhich arrests the progress of the mandrel inward at the proper distance by coming up against the guidebush C. The motions of the mandrels and of the flow of the metal on the front end of the shell are as indicated by the arrows placed onthe same, the position and shape of the shell-blank Bbeing, when the shaping action to the shell is accomplished, as shown inFig. 7. The rod G and its head G serve IOO IIO

also for setting' out the length the shell 3 is required in the die A6 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-head G are used for pressing and shaping purposes, and it is part of my invention to use these 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 from about one inch to eighteen inches in diameter, and such articles as boiler-fines 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-fine, about eighteen inches long, three feet diameter, and four 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 for this purpose may be also of a conical internal form and of the same general form as just described, but is used jvith two operating hydraulic rams,

t 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 of 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 billetring before the conical and operating part of the mandrel reaches the billet, this tonguepoint of the mandrel being made into a iitting annular supporting or abutting holdingup head fitted onto the stem-rod of the after hydraulic cylinder, thus securing the mass of the ring against being pressed inward by the mandrel, while the stem-rod head used to assist the binding` action of the inwardly-tapering surface of the die can be so regulated by waterpressnre valves to give way and recede before the mandrel while the annular billet tube.

is being forced out into a flue-tube blank or The after stem-rod may be also modiied to enter the ring-billet to prevent it from being pressed inward.

Fig. 8 is a front end elevation, Fig. J an after end elevation, and Fig. l0 a sectional plan, of a large-size taper die in three sections, A, Fig. lO showing, also, the container E, partly in section; also the billet B and mandrel D in section, and also a mode of ixing the mandrel-stem-rod guide C to the container E to guide the mandrel in centrally to 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 tube-blanks for forming large diameters of tubes, which by this means is also a 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, which is in this example shown in three sections, with the mandrel D shown in its position ready to be forced through the billet and with its steinrod D and guide C, showing, as heretofore referred to, how these are secured to the diecontainer E for large sizes, and. some exceptional forms of dies for tubular articles of some forms. A rod-head G is also shown with an after stem-rod having a tapered point G2 formed on it to keep the ring-formed billet B from being crushed inward by the action ofthe mandrel D. The billet B indicates the size and form of this heated cast-steel billet-ring as it is entered into the die A6, 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 B. The motions when the tube-blank is being formed are all as indicated by the arrows placed on the man- Vdrel-stem rod D and on the after stem-rod G and on the tube-blank B. In these large sizes the fore part of the billet flows outward, and the after end of the same, to some extent, flows inward, as indicated by the arrows. In the preparation of theselarge-diameter tubeblanks an important use of .this process is to get the tube-blank round and to the right size internally for the after drauf'ing-ont 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 urequire to be hammered. In another and somewhat moditied form of this arrangement for making tube-blanks or tubes the die A6 may be beveled 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 sott metal of the billet B in this way made to dow or squirt out at both ends of the die, and the tube removed from the die by taking out the die from its vseat in the container E, the die being formed in three parts, and when opened out allows the tube-blank B thus formed to be removed from it. This arrangement has the advantage of makingthe tube about alike in thickness and diameter at both ends, and although left somewhat thicker in the center, this is more easily dealt with by ordinary after-finishing processes than when the thickest portion is at one end of the blank.

Fig. Il is a front elevation, and Fig. l2 a sectional plan, of a somewhat similar large die A6 to that just described, also shown in three sections. A parallel ring-billet B is shown in Fig. 12 ready to be drawn out into a tube-blank or tube; but in this example there are two mandrels D and II. The mandrel D is shown entering the front end of the die, and the mandrel II is entering the rear end of the die, the two mandrels being of substantially the same form and diameter. The internal surface of the die is shown of a slightly-tapering form, largest at the front end, and has formed in it the step-grooves A2,

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to [ix the fore end of the mass of the shellB from tlowing out in either direction. The two mandrels are pushed into the ring-billet B simultaneously to thin down its ends, the mandrel II eifecting the purpose of an abutting stem-rod head G', at the same time acting in the billet B as a mandrel, as well as to hold up the billet against the action of lthe 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 II is released, and the frontmandrel D thereafter is caused by its forward movement to push the after mandrel H back and draws out the ring-billet into a tubeblank B, as indicated in Fig. 13,`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 o, placed on their stemrods D and H', the after motion of the mandrel I-I and its stem-rod. H being indicated by the arrows e. Fig. 13 shows a section of one half of the die A6 detached.

Fig. 14E is a side external elevation, and Fig. 15 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 ramJ and R are part of my said invention. The form of the internal die A and its mandrel D and stem-rod D is tapering', the die being placed in a container E; but either of the dies above describedmay be used as a part of the organized machine shown in Figs. Hand 15. There is nothing new or peculiar in the hydraulic cylinders of themselves, and they require no detailed description. The main hydraulic cylinder I is shown with its ram J connected to the mandrel-holder J 2, into which the'inandrel stem-rod D is inserted, and

which, with its bulb mandrel end D, is shown ready to form a tube-blank. This main cylinder I has xed on its top side the small hydraulic cylinder Ii, fitted with a ram L, shown with a suitable arrangement of gear for pulling back the main hydraulic ram J-viz., a chain C2, connecting the cylinder K and ram J and passing over a pulley D2, carried by the ram L. The end elevation, Fig. 16, of these cylinders further illustrates their arrangement, as also of the stays M M', which are shown binding the main-cylinder ram and the die-container E together.

Fig. 17 is an after end elevation of the diecontainer Il, showing the positions of its main stays M and M and the snugs E4 for the same.

Fig. 18 -is an end elevation of the ram crosshead J 3, showing the cylinder and containerstays M and M and slide-bars N and N of the cross-head in section, with its covers N2 and N3 through the line 2 2 in Fig. 14, showing, also, the saddle slide-piece of the ram cross-head J1 placed in the slide-bars N and N. An after hydraulic cylinder P is shown connected to the die-container E and main hydraulic cylinder I by the main stays M2 and M3, which are contin nations of the main stays M and M', so that this after hydraulic cylinder P P is bound in onemachine along with main hydraulic cylinder I and the diecontainer E. The after hydraulic cylinder P has cast with it a small pulling-back hydraulic cylinder Pp', which is fitted with a direct pulling-back ram Q, the cross-head Q of which is shown connected with side pullingback stays Q2 in an ordinary way to the cross-head of the main after ram cross-head R, the whole constituting a new and improved arrangement of hydraulic machines capable of performing the operations above described in connection with Figs. 1 to 13a.

` The position of the rod G and head G (or mandrel stem-rod H', as the case may be, when used in this machine) is shown by Fig. 15. Instead of regulating the backward or receding motion of the stem-rod G by frictional retard in g mean s-su ch as a retarding-brake-or by throttling the escapeof water from a hydraulic cylinder, as described mainly in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and Figs. 14 to 19 of my drawings, said motion can with great advantagebe regulated in its backward movement automatically by devices connecting said rod to the mandrel D or its motor, and it is part of my invention to operate the stem-rod G in this way. The motion backward of the stem-rod G is generally slower than the inward motion of the mandrel `and should have the same relation to the motion of the mandrel that the cross-area of the mandrel bears to that of the die. For example, if the cross-area of the mandrel is one-half of the cross-area of the die, which is the best proportion for making a tube-blank or tube which is double the length of the billet B, the stem-rod should recede or move backward one-half as far as the mandrel moves forward. -It will be seen, therefore, that a saving of power is effected by so coupling the stem-rod G to the operati11g-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 back-V ward of the 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 the stem-rod G, or was so operated IOO IIO

backward 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 savingfof wear effected by this means on the internal surface of the die.

Fig. 2O is an external plan, and Fig. 21 a sectional side elevation` of an arrangement of gear suited to obtain this result in one way, and in this proportion of equal crossarea in the mandrel D shown used to that of the tube-blank B shown made. I show in this example, in place of a hydraulic ram for operating the mandrel D, a strong cast-metal rack J, operated by a pinion J 5, the die and its container E, mandrel D, billet B, and rodhead G shown being the same as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. 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 Figs. 14 to 19. 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, and the connecting arrangement of said ram with the motor (here shown as the rack J) is a rod J 1, passed from said motor through an aperture formed in the die-container E, and connected bythe cross-head Q2 and the connecting-rods Q4 and Q5 to the ram crosshead Q. The backward motion of the ram Q is therefore at the same speed as the forward motion of the mandrel D into the die. The water in the after cylinder P, as it is pressed out bythe motion of its ram R, (which is moved backwardly by the advancing end ofthe billet,) is thus caused to Iiow out into the top hydraulic cylinder P through the connecting-pipe P2, (shown in Fig. 23,) and thus regulates back the speed of the stemrod G at slightly over one-half'of the distance in -the 'same time traversed inward by the mandrel D. The position of the billet B relatively to the tube-blank B aft-er it is formed is as shown in Fig. 21, and the motions ofthe several parts all as indicated by arrows, as also the direct-ion of the flow of the water Jfrom 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 rod G any required degree of draw on any required proportion of tube-blank can readily be'given to the tube-blank in this way. A safety-valve P3 is shown connected with the hydraulic cylinder P, which, by means of the pipe P2, 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 hy- `draulic accumulater to produce quick movement to the mandrels and stem-rod heads G', the hydraulic cylinders, as shown, being suited fora pressure of two thousand pounds to the square inch of area of the same. A converse mode of effecting the same purposes would be 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, 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 this 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 diessuch as by screws or by 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.

In Fig. 29 I show a sectional elevation, and in Fig. 30 a plan view, of an arrangement of mechanism for actuating the mandrel D and the holding-up stem-rod G, in which the receding movement of the rod G is entirely positive, all hydraulic mechanism being dispensed with. The mand rel is connected with a rack J, which is operated by a pinion J 5, as in Figs. 20, 21, and 22. A rod JG connects the rack J not with a hydraulic ram, but with another rack J10, which meshes with a pinion .112, mounted to rotate on a bearing in a frame J13, aiiixed to and moving with the rod G. Said pinion meshes witha fixed rack J11, attached to the supporting-frame of the machine. The movement imparted to the rack J10 by the forward motion of the rack J causes the rack J10 to rotate the pinion J12, the latter being thus caused to travel along the fixed rack J11 and move the rod G with it in the same direction that the mandrel moves. The pinion J 5 is so proportioned relatively to the pinion J12 that the rod G is moved backwardly at half the speed of the forward movement of the mandrel. The mandrel D and the after holding-up head G', moving synchronously but at different speeds, as hereinbefore described, may also be used in making pipes of non-metallic plastic material, such as clay, paper-pulp, &c.

For converting thick tube-blanks 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 Figs. 14 to 19 of my drawings, and with Figs. 2O to 23, as also suited to be used in conjunction with revolving mandrels which may be operated by my modifications of fric- IOO IIO

tional driving skew-rolls for giving quick spiral motion to the mandrels for this purpose, or to be operated b y m y hydraulic revolving-mandrel machine, (to be hereinafterl describcd,) consists, mainly, in revolving these long dies on axis as a quick means oi' 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 eX- t-ernal diameter by means of a hollow stemrod used as an internal die, as also of new and improved combinations with my holdingup and regulating after stem-rod, as hereinbefore described.

Fig. 2-t is an end elevation. and Fig. 25 a sectional plan, of a new and improved long die A'7 of this kind in two halves, which are adapted to close on the tube-blank B by each half of the die being revolved or partially revolved together on their turned trunnions A12 A12 on one half of the die A'1 and on the trunnions A14 A15 on the other hal-f, 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 Fig. 25, the out end of the tube-blank B shown being operated upon before being inserted into the die being expanded out a short distance at its out end to the internal diameter of the main die 7 before closed into it, the out 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 die containing frames or housings 9 have bush-bearings shown bored in them, an easy-working fit for these trunnions of the die and into which the trunnions A12 of one of the halves of the die A7 are shown placed, and similarly shown placed-in same container-frames the trunnions A14 of thc other half of said die, which halves are shown in end elevation in a closed position in Fig. 24 and in an open position in Fig. 26, and their actuating' parts for the widening out of a'tube-blank or tube shown in section with the hollow after stemrod G bored out to be used as au inside die and the tube-blank B shown placed in it, its stem-rod head G being shown turned in an internal conical form and the directionof its motion as indicated by the arrows placed upon it. The hollow stem-rod G is moved back automatically along with the inward motion ofthe mandrel D in an analogous way to that described in connection with Figs. 2O to 23, and at the same speed, thereby keeping always an equal distance between the internal conical surface of the rod-head G and Ythe forward surface of the mandrel D, so that sition of the mandrel D and of the after stemrod G and its acting-head G', as also of the finished tube B2, being as indicated in the plan section of the bored-out part ot' the halves of the die A1, (shown by Fig. 27,) and the motion ofthe mandrel and after hollow stem-rod, as indicated by the. arrows. 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'r are easily retained closed in a secure way by having the tube-blank scat in samebrought round to nearly the dead-centers in each half between their trunnion-axis A12 and A14, as shown by Fig. 2G. The halves of the die are moved to and from said positions, and when closed are retained by the cog-wheels A16 and A11, keyed on the trunnions A12 and A14 of the halves of the die, and geared together by the cog-wheels A18 and A12, and by this gear are held closed or opened out, as shown by Fig. 2o', in which position the tube B2 is removed and a fresh tube-blank B inserted for a fresh operation. This new and improved long die A7, from its quick and effective closing action and free access when open for the insertion of asbestus or other. lubricant into it for the tube-blank moving along the die, isfvery suitable, and without or with the after stein-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.

Fig. 28 is a sectional plan of the working portions of the halves of the die A7, as shown, with a cam-shaped revolving mandrel D entered into same, and with a plain after stemrod G shown in it suited to be retarded by a frictional contact-breaking retarding action. Titha heavy stem-rod G its inertia at starting on its backward motion and the resistance caused by its own weight resting on the lo wersurface of the die are sufiicient means for regulating the action of the drawing-out hot steel tube-blanks into light tubes.

l do not claim `in this application the in vention shown in my British patent, No. 15,752 of 1884, nor in my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed July 7, 1887, Serial No. 243,617, said United States application showing the inventionV for which the last-named British patent was granted.

I claiml. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a mandrel formed to enter said die and elongate a billet or blank therein, means for' forcing the mandrel into the die, and a movable head or support moving synchronously with the mandrel, but at a slower rate, and arranged to support the inner end of the billet or blank, whereby bodily move- IOO IIO

ment of the billet or blank by the die is prevented, as set forth.

2. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, `the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die and act on a billet or blank therein, a motor connected with the stem of said mandrel, whereby the latter is impelled forward, a movable or yielding head or support formed to enter the die and bear against the inner end of a billet or blank, and means for resisting or retarding the receding motion of the said head or support, as set forth.

As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a motor for said mandrel, a movable or yielding head or support formed to bear on the inner end of a billet or blank therein, and a hydraulic cylinder containing a ram which is connected withsaid head and provided with an outlet for the escape of water, as set forth.

4. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes,

tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, A

the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a motor for said mandrel, a movable or yielding head or support formed to bear on the inner end of a billet or blank therein, a hydraulic cylinder containing a ram which is connected with said head, a water-outlet for said cylinder, and means for regulating or adjusting the escape of water through said outlet, as set forth.

5. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a .mandrel formed to enter said die and act on a billet or blank therein, a motor connected with the stem of said mandrel, whereby the latter is impelled forward, a movable head or support formed to enter the die and bear against the inner end of the billet or blank, and a connection between the said support and the mandrel, whereby the support is caused to recede synchronously with the advance of the mandrel, but at a slower rate, as set forth.

6. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tubes, tubular articles, tube-blanks, and hollow articles or shells, the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a motorforsaid mandrel, a movable or yielding head or supportI formed to bear on thc inner end of a billet or blank therein, a primary hydraulic cylinder containing a ram which is connected with said head, a secondary hydraulic cylinder connected with the primary cylinder to receive the water from the latter, a ram or plunger in the secondary cylinder, whereby the admission of water thereto is regulated, and a connection between said ram or plunger and the mandrel, whereby the ram is moved synchronously with the mandrel, as set forth.'

7. As an improvement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, the combination of a die having a forming bore or seat, a holder for said die, a mandrel formed to enter said die, a second hydraulic cylinder K,having a ram L, and a connection, substantially as described, between the rams J and L, whereby the ram J and the mandrel are retracted by the operation of the ram L, as set forth.

8. As an improvement in apparat us for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, a die having a forming bore or seat and composed of separable longitudinal sections mounted on independent centers and capable of swinging on said centers to open and close the die, combined with a mandrel formed to enter the die, a motor for said mandrel, and a yielding support or head forlned to enter the die and bear on the inner end of a billet or blank therein, as set forth.

0. As an improven'ient in apparatus for making and drawing out tubeblanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, a die having a forming bore or seat composed of separable longitudinal sections, each having trunnions, combined with fixed bearings or framessupporting said trunnions and permitting the said die-sections to oscillate, as set forth.

l0. As an in'lprovement in apparatus for making and drawing out tube-blanks, tubes, tubular articles, and hollow articles or shells, a die having a forming bore or seat composed of separable longitudinal sections, each having trunnions, combined with fixed bearings or frames supporting the trunnions and permittin g the said die-sections -to oscillate, gears aliixed to said trunnions, and intermediate gears conn ectin g said trunnion-gears, whereby the latter may be simultaneously rotated, as set forth.

11. The improved method hereinbefore described of making tubes from billets and of drawing out tube-blanks and tubular articles, tbc., the same consisting in placing the billet in a long die, forcing a mandrel into or through the billet or tube-blank while in said die, and at the same time holding up the inner end of the billet or tube-blank by a support which recedes synchronously with the advancing mandrel, but at a slower rate,

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whereby the. unformed end or mass of the to thisspeeiicatiomin thepreseneeof twosubbillet or blank is allowed to recede before soribing Witnesses, this 28th day of January, Io the mandrel at about the speed of the dis- 1889.

, placement of the material by the mandrel 5 and the drawn or formed portion of Jshe tube JAMES ROBER'I SON' is laid up to the Walls of the die Without end- Vtnesses: Y Wise-slipping motion thereon. WILLIAM ROBERTSON, In testimony whereof I have signed my name VILLIAM LINDSAY.

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