IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND SWILLING SHEETS OR PLATES OF IRON FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Whitehouse, of the Abercarne Iron and Tin-plate
Works, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth, Tin-plate Manufacturer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND
SWILLING SHEETS OR PLATES OF IRON FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND
TERNE PLATE."
Sealed the 8th June 1877, and dated the 6th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Whitehouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1877.
DANIEL WHITEHOUSE, of the Abercarne Iron and Tin-plate Works, near
Newport, in the County of Monmouth, Tin-plate Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND SWILLING SHEETS OR PLATES OF IRON FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATE."
Plates of iron to be tinned after coming from the mills have to be passed through
a bath of sulphuric acid in order to remove the deposits upon their surfaces caused
by oxidation, and various methods and apparatus have been hitherto used to effect
this object, all of which have been more or less defective in their operation or have
been very costly.
My said Invention is designed to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for
holding the iron plates while subjected to pickling and swilling, into which
apparatus the said plates may be easily and readily packed, and in such a manner
that the whole apparatus may be placed bodily in the pickling bath, and then after
remaining there a sufficient length of time may be taken out and placed bodily in
the swilling bath.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I provide a frame, which may be
constructed of any suitable metal or other material, but which I prefer to be of
copper. I provide two longitudinal bars, in each of which there is a slot extending
nearly its whole length; and the said bars are arranged to slide perpendicularly
by having their ends fitted into slots made in the four upright outside parts of the
said frame.
I provide also a number of transverse rods of copper or other suitable metal, the

page_text: ends of which fit into the slots made in the aforesaid longitudinal bars, the said
rods thus extending across the frame, and so arranged that they will slide along
the length of the said frame. I prefer to make these transverse rods with a
shoulder at each end, so that they will not readily slip out of the aforesaid bars.
At
The aforesaid longitudinal bars are connected by cross pieces, and have a suitable
handle or other appliance by which they can be readily lifted up and down.
the top of the said frame I provide two rods of copper or other suitable metal
which have their bearings within the end pieces of the said frame, and are fitted
with a capability of being turned therein. The said rods are cranked or provided
with a shoulder, and when the said frame has been packed with plates ready to be
immersed in the pickle are so arranged as to touch, or nearly touch, the top edges
of the plates along the whole length of the frame.
The above-named operations are effected as follows, that is to say:-The empty
frames, constructed according to my said Invention, are placed in any suitable
position for packing, and the plates of iron to be pickled and swilled are then put
therein one by one by hand and upon their edges, each plate being divided from
the one next to it by one of the said transverse rods of metal. The said frame
having been packed with as many plates as it will hold is placed bodily in tho
bath containing the "pickle," so that the said plates are completely immersed and
allowed to remain therein for the desired length of time; and in order that the
pickle may reach every portion of the surfaces of all the plates, the aforesaid longi-
tudinal bars carrying the said transverse rods are worked up and down, so that
the said transverse rods will in this operation pass between the plates, and there-
fore should any two of them have come together at any part of their surface they
will thus be separated, and the pickle will not fail to operate on every part of cach
plate.
The aforesaid longitudinal rods, which bear in the ends of the frame resting
against the top edges of the plates as they stand, prevent the rising out of place of
any of the said plates. This arrangement of transverse rods is an important part
of my said Invention, as by their employment the said plates are effectually
separated, and they prevent the imperfect pickling which would be the result of
the coming together of any of the plates, the portions of their surfaces in contact
not being operated upon by the pickle.
When the said frame containing the plates has remained long enough in the
bath of pickle it is removed bodily, and at once placed in the swilling bath, where
the separating the plates is effected as above described, that is to say, the said
transverse rods are drawn up and down by means of the said transverse bar to
which they are attached; the frame is then removed, and the operation is complete.
The aforesaid longitudinal rods are then turned up, the longitudinal bars with
the transverse rods are raised high enough to be above the top of the plates, which
plates will then fall out and be ready to be sorted for the next process they will
have to undergo.
It may be desirable under some circumstances to cause the said plates to be
attached firmly to a sliding piece, and to have the said transverse rods fixed, and
then to draw the plates up and down bodily instead of drawing up and down
the transverse rods while the plates remain stationary, as above described.
The said frame may be constructed of any suitable dimensions, as may be found
convenient or desirable.
I provide upon the outside of the said frame at the four corners thereof, or in
any position that may be found desirable, projections with suitable openings, in
which may be inserted rods for the purpose of lifting or carrying the said frame.
The said apparatus may be lifted in and out of the baths by hand, or by any other
suitable means,
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Daniel Whitehouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
October 1877.
DANIEL WHITEHOUSE, of the Abercarne Iron and Tin-plate Works, near
Newport, in the County of Monmouth, Tin-plate Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND SWILLING SHEETS OR PLATES OF IRON FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATE."
Plates of iron after coming from the rolling mills and before being tinned liave
to be subjected to pickling and swilling, that is to say, they have to be passed
through a bath of sulphuric acid to remove the deposits upon their surfaces caused
by oxidisation, and they are cleansed from the acid by washing or swilling; various
methods and apparatus have been hitherto used to effect these objects, but all of
them have been more or less ineffectual in their operation or have been too costly
to be advantageously used.
My Invention is designed to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for holding
the iron plates while they are subjected to pickling and swilling. In this apparatus
the said plates may be readily and conveniently packed in such a manner that the
whole apparatus may be placed bodily in the pickling bath, and then after
remaining there a sufficient length of time may be taken out and placed in the
swilling bath.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn the apparatus I use for carrying
my Invention into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a frame in which the plates are held while being
pickled and swilled; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a
transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
.
Figure 4 shews apparatus for facilitating the use of the said frames in the
practise of my Invention.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
The frame a may be constructed of any suitable metal or other material, but I
prefer to make it of copper. It has two longitudinal bars b, whose ends are
supported and kept in the proper position by vertical bars or uprights c, which are
united and supported at the bottom and near the top by cross bars d, e, which
cross bars are stayed by vertical rods f. The bars have long slots c³, in which
the ends of the longitudinal bars b aro fitted to slide freely. The ends of the
bars b project through the slots c', as shewn in Figure 1, and are connected with
lifting rods g, whereby the said rods are worked up and down, and raised and held above
the plates. For this purpose the said rods are provided with joint pieces g¹, which
are pivotted to the ends of the longitudinal bars b. These joint pieces have holes
or sockets at g into which the lower ends of the rods are fitted to turn. The
upper ends of the rods g are supported in brackets or plates h, which have slots h¹
extending through one side. On each of the rods g I form or fix a small stud or
lug j, which will pass through the said slots when set in line therewith to allow
the rods g to be raised. This peculiar construction of the lifting rods and parts
connected therewith allows the said rods to be raised easily, and to be supported
when raised as and for the purpose herein-before specified.
One very important feature of my Invention consists in the means I employ for
keeping the plates separated while being pickled or swilled. For this purpose I
provide a number of transverse rods k, of copper or other suitable metal, the ends
of which when the apparatus is in use rest on the aforesaid longitudinal bars b, the
said rods k thus extending across the frame a. These rods are designed to be
inserted between the iron plates which are placed in the frame a, as shewn in
Figure 1, to separate or divide the said plates from each other. It will be seen
that one of the said longitudinal bars 6 lias a flange or rim b¹, which forms a stop
for the rods when the same are inserted between the iron plates. To prevent

page_text: too great straining or bending or lateral displacement of the dividing or separating
rods k, by the weight of the plates l, I provide the upright pointed rods m, which
are secured to longitudinal bars n, extending from end to end of the frame a.
These upright rods m serve as stays or rests for the plates l, and enable the
rods to sustain the weight or pressure of the plates without bending or lateral
displacement.
·
In using my improved apparatus the empty frames a are placed in any suitable
position for packing, and the plates of iron to be pickled and swilled are then put
therein by hand, with their lower edges resting on the bars n, each plate being
divided or separated from the one next to it by one of the said transverse metal
rods . The said framo a, having been packed with as many plates as it will hold,
is placed bodily in the bath containing the pickle (so that the iron plates are com-
pletely immersed), and is allowed to remain therein for the length of time necessary
for the "pickle" or solution to act thoroughly on the said plates; and in order that
the pickle may reach every portion of the surfaces of all the plates the aforesaid
longitudinal bars, carrying the said transverse rods, are worked up and down, so
that the said transverse rods in this operation pass between the plates, and there-
fore should any two of them have their surface in contact they will be separated,
so that the pickle will have free access to all parts of their surfaces and will not
fail to operate on the entire area of each plate. The lifting and working up and
down of the said longitudinal bars 6 and rods & are effected by means of the afore-
said lifting rods g.
When the frame a containing the iron plates has remained long enough in the
bath of pickle it is removed bodily and at once placed in the swilling bath, where
the separation of the plates is effected during the operation of swilling, as above
described, that is to say, the said transverse rods are drawn up and down by means
of the lifting rods g and longitudinal bars b. The frame is then removed from the
bath, and the operation is complete. The longitudinal bars with the transverse
separating rods are then raised by the rods g high enough to be above the top of
the plates, and are supported in this position by turning the rods in the
sockets g², so as to set the small studs ; across the slots in the brackets h. The
plates may be readily removed to be sorted for the next process they will have
to undergo.
l
•
It may be desirable under some circumstances, particularly when treating very
large plates, to cause the said plates to be attached firmly to a sliding piece, and
to have the said transverse rods fixed, and then to draw the plates up and down
between the rods instead of drawing up and down the transverse rods while the
plates remain stationary, as above described.
provide upon the outside of the said frame, at the four corners thereof, or in
any position that may be found desirable, projections o with suitable openings, in
which may be inserted rods for the purpose of lifting or carrying the frame a.
The said frame may be lifted in and out of the bath by hand, or by any suitable
apparatus. The frame a, constructed as shown, is a very efficient and convenient
apparatus for carrying into practise this part of my Invention relating to the
transverse rods, but it will be obvious that I may vary or modify the same in
various particulars without impairing its utility. The frame provided with the
lifting appliances is the most convenient for use in the process of white pickling,
but these lifting appliances are not necessary for the black pickling.
The turntable shewn in Figure 4 will be found very convenient in the use of
the aforesaid apparatus. Four or any desired number of the said frames may be
placed on the said turntable, as shewn in dotted lines. Each frame as it comes to
a certain position, say, at the point 1, is filled with plates. Then the turntable
is turned far enough to bring this frame to the point 2, where the rods k are placed
between the plates. Then the turntable is turned to bring the said frame to the
point 3; the frame is then removed and placed in the pickling and swilling baths,
and then replaced on the table. Then the latter is turned far enough to bring the
said frame round to the point +, where it is unloaded. While one frame is being

page_text: unloaded another is being loaded, and another having the rods inserted at the
positions above indicated, and the work is continued in this manner as long as
desired.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The employment of rods or bars placed between the iron plates in a
suitable frame or cradle to separate or divide the said plates from each other during
their immersion, as above set forth.
Second. The frame or cradle provided with longitudinal bars or shelves for
supporting the said separating or dividing rods, and also provided with means for
working up and down and raising and retaining the said rods above or clear of the
plates, and with or without the upright pointed rods, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Whitehouse, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
DAN". WHITEHOUSE. (L.S.)