A Brief History of Pipe

Pipe and the materials transported through it keep our society moving, day in and day out &#; but taking a look at the history of pipe gives insight into how the technology has evolved over millennia to become what we&#;re most familiar with today. From ancient methods of water transportation to modern materials and mechanics, here&#;s a look back at the history of pipe.

View Details

The Earliest Pipe

Early pipe systems date back to B.C., when the Macedonians constructed brick-lined pits like modern-day septic systems. Plumbing reached an early high with the sophisticated systems built by the Romans, who had indoor toilets, running water and efficient waste disposal through expansive systems of aqueducts, tile wastewater removal and lead pipe that mostly relied on gravity. Their innovation set the bar for the rest of the world.

Pipe and the Western World

In Boston in , the first waterworks was made using hollowed-out logs as pipe. In fact, redwood was often used as pipe in the western United States because of its properties that protected it from erosion, weathering and insects. Modern galvanized pipe started to appear in the s as urbanization created higher demand for sanitation, and as production efficiency increased, steel pipe prices decreased. The Bessemer process for the mass production of steel in the s caused pipe manufacturing to grow exponentially. Cast iron was also a popular material used in sewer lines, but due to its susceptibility to corrosion, cast iron pipe lined with cement was widely used.

Modern-Day Pipe

In the mid-20th century, ductile iron pipe was introduced as an improvement on cast iron. Concrete pipe was also a popular choice and is still being installed today in storm sewer lines and water mains. Steel is still one of the most commonly used pipe materials, but the introduction of plastic pipes such as PVC, ABS and PEX pipe in the s and &#;60s led to more options for both manufacturing and use. Today, each of these pipe materials can be found in use somewhere in the United States, and all have their own advantages and disadvantages.

All-Tex Pipe & Supply proudly carries a wide range of carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, cast iron and plastic pipe to serve your needs. Contact us today, and we can help you find the best material to fit your project.

Steel pipes are long, hollow tubes that are used for a variety of purposes. They are produced by two distinct methods which result in either a welded or seamless pipe. In both methods, raw steel is first cast into a more workable starting form. It is then made into a pipe by stretching the steel out into a seamless tube or forcing the edges together and sealing them with a weld. The first methods for producing steel pipe were introduced in the early s, and they have steadily evolved into the modern processes we use today. Each year, millions of tons of steel pipe are produced. Its versatility makes it the most often used product produced by the steel industry.

History

Link to Hongyuan International

People have used pipes for thousands of years. Perhaps the first use was by ancient agriculturalists who diverted water from streams and rivers into their fields. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Chinese used reed pipe for transporting water to desired locations as early as B.C. Clay tubes that were used by other ancient civilizations have been discovered. During the first century A.D, the first lead pipes were constructed in Europe. In tropical countries, bamboo tubes were used to transport water. Colonial Americans used wood for a similar purpose. In , the first waterworks was made in Boston using hollow logs.

Development of the modern day welded steel pipe can be traced back to the early s. In , William Murdock invented a coal burning lamp system. To fit the entire city of London with these lights, Murdock joined together the barrels from discarded muskets. He used this continuous pipeline to transport the coal gas. When his lighting system proved successful a greater demand was created for long metal tubes. To produce enough tubes to meet this demand, a variety of inventors set to work on developing new pipe making processes

An early notable method for producing metal tubes quickly and inexpensively was patented by James Russell in . In his method, tubes were created by joining together opposite edges of a flat iron strip. The metal was first heated until it was malleable. Using a drop hammer, the edges folded together and welded. The pipe was finished by passing it through a groove and rolling mill.

Russell&#;s method was not used long because in the next year, Comelius Whitehouse developed a better method for making metal tubes. This process, called the butt-weld process is the basis for our current pipe-making procedures. In his method, thin sheets of iron were heated and drawn through a cone-shaped opening. As the metal went through the opening, its edges curled up and created a pipe shape. The two ends were welded together to finish the pipe. The first manufacturing plant to use

Welded pipe is formed by rolling steel strips through a series of grooved rollers that mold the material into a circular shape. Next, the unwedded pipe passes by welding electrodes. These devices seal the two ends of the pipe together.

Welded pipe is formed by rolling steel strips through a series of grooved rollers that mold the material into a circular shape. Next, the unwedded pipe passes by welding electrodes. These devices seal the two ends of the pipe together.

This process in the United States was opened in in Philadelphia.

Gradually, improvements were made in the Whitehouse method. One of the most important innovations was introduced by John Moon in . He suggested the continuous process method in which a manufacturing plant could produce pipe in an unending stream. He built machinery for this specific purpose and many pipe manufacturing facilities adopted it.

While the welded tube processes were being developed, a need for seamless metal pipes arouses. Seamless pipes are those which do not have a welded seam. They were first made by drilling a hole through the center of a solid cylinder. This method was developed during the late s. These types of pipes were perfect for bicycle frames because they have thin walls, are lightweight but are strong. In , the first plant to produce seamless tubes was built. As bicycle manufacturing gave way to auto manufacturing, seamless tubes were still needed for gasoline and oil lines. This demand was made even greater as larger oil deposits were found.

As early as , ironworkers could already produce seamless tubes. In one method, a hole was drilled through a solid metal, round billet. The billet was then heated and drawn through a series of dies which elongated it to form a pipe. This method was inefficient because it was difficult to drill the hole in the center. This resulted in an uneven pipe with one side being thicker than the other. In , an improved method was awarded a patent. In this process the solid billed was cast around a fireproof brick core. When it was cooled, the brick was removed leaving a hole in the middle. Since then new roller techniques have replaced these methods.

Want more information on Steel Pipeline? Feel free to contact us.