Process and apparatus for producing cylindrical tubular bodies from blooms

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR BODY FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE METAL BLOOM HAVING A CENTERING HOLE IN ITS LEADING END, COMPRISING A PAIR OF DRIVEN GROOVED ROLLS FORMING A CIRCULAR ROLL PASS, A TAPERED PIERCING PLUG, A MANDREL BAR AT THE OUTLET END OF THE PASS SUPPORTING THE PLUG IN THE CENTER OF THE PASS, MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TRAILING END OF SAID BLOOM FOR FORCING THE BLOOM FORWARD OVER SAID PLUG AND MANDREL BAR AS THE BLOOM IS ROLLED INTO CYLINDRICAL SHAPE IN SAID PASS, WHEREBY A CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR BODY WILL MOVE ALONG THE MANDREL BAR, SAID MANDREL BAR HOLDING SAID PLUG IN A POSITION WHERE THE PLUG WILL BE ENGAGED BY THE EDGE OF SAID BLOOM CENTERING HOLE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH FIRST CONTACT OF THE CORNERS OF THE BLOOM WITH SAID ROLLS, AND A STATIONARY GUIDING DIE AT THE OUTLET OF THE PASS SURROUNDING SAID MANDREL BAR FOR RECEIVING SAID TUBULAR BODY AND ENGAGING THE OUTSIDE OF IT AS IT MOVES ALONG THE MANDREL BAR.