Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Metals.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Metals.
I, RICHARD HEATHFIELD of Darlaston in the County of Stafford, Manager,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described & ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for cleaning metals &
is intended to supplement my previous Patents No. 500 A.D. :891 for: * Improve-
ments in the Means for Coating Metals" and No. 9757 A.D. 1891 for: "Improve-
ments in the Process of Coating or Cleaning Metals."
Unless the apparatus is practically arranged and worked out so as to enable the
sheets or other articles required to be cleaned to be quickly connected up to the
dynamo, electrical, or other apparatus as well as easily removed and placed into
the operating tank the value of the inventions are reduced.
My present invention is intended to supply such practical apparatus that the
operation can be conducted in a very rapid and effective manner.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood & more easily carried out
I have appended hereto two double sized sheets of drawings shewing a general
view of my apparatus and particulars in detail of the parts thereof which will
sufficiently make known the invention to enable others to apply the principal to
the ordinary varying conditions which are met with in the business of the tin plate
and galvanizing trades and other similar manufactures.
Figure 1., is a general perspective view of my apparatus complete.
Figure 2., is a vertical cross sectional elevation through Figure 1.
Figure 3., is a similar section to Figure 2 but shewing an alternative arrange-
ment in the connections.
Figure 4., is a broken off plan of the earthenware tank A.
Figure 5., is an enlargement of the connections shewn in the apparatus illustrated
by Figures 1 & 2.
Figure 6., is an enlargement of alternative connections shewn in the apparatus
illustrated by Figure 3.
The plates which form the anodes are represented by E and these are the plates
to be stripped in the bath by the electrical current ready for being coated with
metal of various kinds while the cathodes are represented by K.
It is important that the plates E should be easily removed and replaced to effect
which the shell A is provided being formed of earthenware or other non-conducting
and acid proof material. This earthenware shell A may be a tank complete in
itself for containing the solution or it may be perforated and placed as shewn in
the outer wooden or other tank B. Upon two interior sides of the shell A a
number of guides a' are provided which may either continue unbrokenly down the
whole depth of the sides or may be divided up into studded sections such as shewn
with intermediate perforations a² for allowing a free distribution of the solution. In
the guides al a metal contact piece a³ is placed as shewn at Figure 5 or in the case
of the anodes a carbon contact piece may be used and these contact pieces are so
arranged that upon the plates being inserted in the guide a' they rest against the
side of the contact piece a³ and form contact between the plates and the conducting
wire E or K' as the case may be. The contact pieces a³ are alternately connected
with the different conducting wires by means either of the screw clamp pieces a* or
in other suitable manner and the connecting wires e and k². These connections
may be formed on one or both sides of the tank as may be necessary. The con-
ducting wires E' and Kare supported by the brackets and are provided with
the insulators 6 which may be U-shaped with the wire lying in them as seen in
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page_text: Figure 1 or may be circular with the wires threaded through them as shewn by
in Figure 3. At the bottom of the guides a' the projecting stop a is provided on
which the corners of the plates rest and the earthenware shell may be provided
with suitable feet a to stand upon. In place of being studded or provided with
guides the earthenware sides may be grooved and the shell A may be formed
without a bottom if so desired.
It will be evident that such simple guides as a Fig. 4 would also answer the
purpose of supporting the plates.
By the use of carbon contact pieces for the plates E additional anodes are formed
but other separate carbon or insoluble anodes indicated in my Patent 9757" may be
inserted as may be required in suitable grooves or otherwise.
As an alternative arrangement the plates are slided direct into the earthenware
guides, studs, or grooves without the intervention of the contact pieces ³ in which
case contact is formed in a very simple and cheap manner as illustrated by
Figures 3 and 6 in which the connecting brass strip or wires or are bent
around or otherwise connected with the conducting wires E' or K and are provided
at the other end with the fork or as the case may be which press upon the top
edge of the plate and thereby form contact the forked end only requiring to be
turned or lifted up to allow of the plate being easily and readily removed. The
end of this wire may be bent into the shape of a fork or other suitable shape
for resting on the edge of the plate. The contact pieces are easily renewed from
time to time when worn.
Where longer sheets than ordinary tin plates have to be pickled and where there
would be a liability for them to sway against the cathodes, crossbars, or uprights
of non-conducting material may be fitted to or form part of the earthenware
vessels.
I do not confine myself to the particular configuration and arrangements of the
contact pieces shewn as there are evidently a number of equivalent modes by
which the sheets can be simply removed & placed into position but I have given
general examples as illustrating my invention.
I may heat the solution of necessary for which purpose I may form the outer
tank of material other than wood or otherwise use circulating pipes internally
between the outer & inner tanks.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improvements in apparatus for cleaning metals substantially as & for
the purpose herein set forth & illustrated upon the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In improvements in apparatus for cleaning metals by electricity the
earthenware tank or shell A having guides or grooves or studs such as a¹ & a
for supporting the plates, substantially as & for the purpose herein set forth &
shewn.
3rd. In improvements in apparatus for electrically cleaning metals the contact
pieces such as a³ ³ & k for making contact with the plates substantially as & for
the purpose herein set forth & shewn.
Dated this 16th day of January 1805
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.