IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN, TERNE, AND SIMILAR PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

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 THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN, TERNE,
AND SIMILAR PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 2nd March 1880, and dated the 9th September 1879
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Whitehouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th September 1879.
DANIEL WHITEHOUSE, of the Abercarne Iron and Tin-plate Works, near New-
port, in the County of Monmouth, Tin-plate Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN, TERNE, AND SIMILAR PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of tin, terne, and other
plates, that is to say, plates of metal which are required to be coated with another
metal or a mixture of metals, and to apparatus therefor.
The said Invention being designed chiefly for the manufacture of tin plates I will
describe it as applied to the same, and any modifications which may be necessary to
adapt the Invention to other plates will be apparent to all persons who have any
knowledge of the trade.
The said Invention comprises apparatus for pickling and swilling the plates after
they come from the rolling mills, and preparatory to applying the coating of tin ;
also apparatus for effecting the said coating or tinning of the plates, and apparatus
for greasing the same.
In carrying into practice the first part of my present Invention I employ by pre-
ference a frame or crate somewhat similar to the one described in the Specification
of Letters Patent granted to me the Sixth day of April, A.D. 1877, No. 1358, but
instead of constructing the frame with vertical bars or uprights extending in a
straight line from the top to the bottom, I provide at each end of the frame strong
end pieces, each one being a single frame of metal, the vertical parts of which are
made to incline inward at a point near their lower end and at an angle of about 45°.
The intermediate portions of the frame or crate connecting these end pieces being
also suitably constructed for the purpose, the edges of the plates when the frame

page_text: has been packed project outside the same along the lower part thereof on both sides,
that is to say, a part of the lower portion of the plates occupies the space which
would be enclosed by the frame if the latter did not incline inward, as above
explained. I provide inside the pickling and swilling pots two horizontal longitu-
dinal rods, whose surface is furnished with a number of cams or pieces which are
arranged along the whole length of the rods, and in such a manner that one projects
upward and the next one downward alternately, consequently when the rods revolve
the relative position of the cams is continually changing. These rods are provided
with suitable gearing, by means of which they are connected to a vertical rod in.
each pot extending upward outside the same, the vertical rods being connected with
a suitable handle to be worked by hand power, or with a pulley to be driven by a
steam or other engine. In some cases I may provide two vertical rods in each pot,
connecting them by gearing outside the same, so that all will operate by the turning
of one handle or pulley. The said horizontal rods are arranged in such a position
in each pot that when a frame charged with plates is lowered into the same the
cams or pieces will be under the aforesaid projecting edges of the plates. The said
vertical rods being then caused to rotate, their motion will be communicated to the
horizontal rods, and the cams thereon will cause the plates in the frame to be con-
tinually raised and lowered, and so agitated that they are kept from any tendency
to adhere together during the process of pickling or swilling. Thus each portion of
the surface of every individual plate is exposed to the action of the liquid in the pot,
and the work is very effectually performed. The cams or pieces are preferably made
with bevelled or: inclined surfaces to impart such a movement to the plates, as will
tend to cause them to separate, and the said vertical and horizontal rods are pro-
vided with suitable bearings. The transverse rods described in my said former
Specification may be dispensed with, or they may be used if desired.
I arrange a pickling pot and a swilling pot end to end and sink them in the
ground, and commencing at the outer end of each pot I construct a tramway which
is led in a curved direction to a turn-table at each end, and the said turn-tables are
connected by another section of tramway which extends in a direction parallel with
the two pots and with the sections of the tramway leading from the same to the
turn-tables. The turn-tables afford means for shifting the frames from one section
of the tramway to another. Above the two pôts I provide a crane which may be
operated by any suitable power, and is designed to lower the frames into and lift
them from the pots. By means of this arrangement I am enabled to pickle and
swill a very large number of plates in a very expeditious manner, as at each opera+
tion after the first commencement one frame containing plates to be pickled and
one frame containing plates to be swilled are lowered or lifted simultaneously. The
frames are provided with wheels, and are pushed upon the tramway as soon as
they are lifted from the pots; the one containing the swilled plates is removed along
the tramway to any convenient position, the plates being ready for tinning, and the
one containing the pickled plates is pushed to the edge of the swilling pot; then
another frame containing plates to be pickled is brought into position, and the two
frames having been attached to the crane are lowered simultaneously, that is to say,
the one containing plates that have been pickled, but not swilled is lowered this
time into the swilling pot, and the frame last brought up is lowered into the pickling
pot. These operations may be continued as long as desired in a very expeditious
manner without entailing any unnecessary break or delay between the pickling and
swilling, this fact being of great importance in lessening the cost of production.
The apparatus for tinning the plates is constructed according to my present In-
vention in the following manner, that is to say:-I provide a tinning pot which is
semi-circular in shape; I also provide an apparatus of cylindrical form, the lower
half of which is designed to fit into the tinning pot, leaving a space between the
outer periphery of the cylindrical apparatus and the interior surface of the pot, this
space being designed to. contain the molten tin through which the plates pass to be
coated therewith. Around the outer periphery of the said cylindrical apparatus or
cylinder I provide a band or circle of metal, which is furnished at suitable intervals

page_text: with transverse arms, the ends of which are turned up at right angles. Rollers are
provided at intervals in the periphery of the cylinder, and these are in contact with
the internal surface of the said band, which is thus capable of being rotated around
the cylinder.
Attached to the lower half of the said cylinder there are two guide pieces; these
extend around the said lower half, and conform to its shape; they may be made
tubular, and are each furnished with a slot from end to end designed to receive the
edges of the plates to be tinned, which are thus guided through the bath of molten
coating metal. These guides are arranged at the required distance apart to permit
of the edges of the plates resting in the said slots witout binding therein. The slots
may, if desirable, be furnished with small rollers at intervals to facilitate the passage
of the plates. The said transverse arms are attached to the band in such a manner
that they may be removed and adjusted nearer to or farther from each other, so as
to accommodate plates of different dimensions, and I prefer to attach these arms at
such distances apart that one plate will lie between each two arms, leaving an
interval of several inches.
The plates are fed one by one into the guides at the receiving end of the pot by.
an attendant, or they may be placed by him upon the aforesaid band; then the
latter is moved around by hand or by other suitable power, and the turned up ends
of the transverse arms coming in contact with the rear edge of the plate push it
along through the molten metal as the band rotates; the next plate is introduced
in the same manner, and the transverse arm immediately behind pushes it along, so
that there is a train of plates passing through the pot as the band is caused to
rotate. At the delivery end of the pot I provide rollers, and the guides at this end
are bent slightly outward, so that when a plate arrives at this end it enters between
the rollers, and the transverse arm which was pushing the plate up to this point
leaves it, and passes upward with the band of the rotation of the latter.
The cylindrical apparatus occupies a considerable portion of the interior space
of the tinning pot, and thus I avoid the necessity of having a greater body of
molten metal in the latter than is required. The cylinder, arms, and guides being
all attached together may be placed within and lifted from the tinning pot simul-
taneously.
Suitable projecting flanges are provided in the tinning pot, and upon these
flanges projections upon the cylinder are designed to rest when the cylinder is in
the pot.
I prefer to effect the greasing of the plates preparatory to tinning the same in a
pot or vessel provided for the purpose, which vessel is furnished with rollers
covered with felt or similar material, and working in the grease. The plates are
caused to pass through these rollers, and the grease becomes well rubbed into the
plates.

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 9th
March 1880.
DANIEL WHITEHOUSE, of the Abercarne Iron and Tin-plate Works, near New-
port, in the County of Monmouth, Tin-plate Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN, TERNE, AND SIMILAR PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR
"
My Invention relates to the manufacture of tin, terne, and other plates, that is to
say, plates of metal which are required to be coated with another metal or a mix-
ture of metals.
The said Invention being designed chiefly for the manufacture of tin plates I will
more particularly refer to such plates in the following description, which will
enable any modifications necessary to adapt the said Invention to the manu-
facture of other plates to be readily understood by those familiar with such
manufacture.
The said Invention comprises apparatus for pickling and swilling the plates after
they come from the rolling mills and preparatory to applying the coating of tin;
also apparatus for effecting the coating or tinning of the plates.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the swilling and pickling apparatus employed
in practising my Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 5 is a transverse section shewing
parts of the said apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter described.
a is a tramway or railway laid upon a suitable foundation; a pickling pot b and
a swilling pot care sunk in the ground; the said tramway extends from each pot
to a turn-table d at each end, and the said turn-tables are connected with another
section a' of tramway which extends in a curved direction between the turn-tables,
as shewn.
In carrying into practice the first part of my present Invention I employ by pre-
ference a frame, crate, or cage e, somewhat similar to the one described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me the Sixth day of April, A.D. 1877,
No. 1358, but instead of constructing the crate with vertical bars or uprights
extending in a straight line from the top to the bottom, I provide at each end of the
said crate or cage strong end-pieces, each one of which is a single frame e¹ of metal,
whose lower portions e² are made to incline or slope inward and downward at an
angle of about 45°, as shewn in Figure 5. The intermediate portions or ribs e³ of
the crate e being similarly inclined, and the said end pieces and ribs being connected
by the longitudinal bars e*, the edges of the plates when the crate has been packed
project outside the same along the lower part thereof on both sides, that is to say,
a part of the lower portion of the plates occupies the space which would be enclosed
by the crate if the latter did not incline inward, as above explained. I provide the
means, shewn in Figures 4 and 5, for agitating the plates, that is to say. I provide
the platforms of the pickling and swilling pots b, c, with two horizontal longitudinal
rods f, fitted to rotate in suitable bearings, and furnished with a number of cams,
excentrics, or tappets g along the whole length of the rods f, so arranged that one
projects or "throws" upward and the next downward alternately, consequently
when the rods revolve the relative position of the cams is continually changing.

page_text: These rods are provided with suitable gearing at i, by means of which they are
connected to vertical spindles or rods j fitted to turn in suitable bearings, and pro-
vided or connected with handles to be worked by hand power, or with pulleys to
be driven by a steam or other engine. In some cases I may provide two vertical
rods in each pot, connecting them by gearing outside the same, so that all will
operate by the turning of one handle or pulley. The said horizontal rods fare
arranged in such a position that when a frame or crate charged with plates is
lowered into the pot the cams or tappets g will be under the aforesaid projecting
edges of the plates. The said vertical rods being then caused to rotate, their motion
will be communicated to the horizontal rods, and the cams thereon will work the
plates in the frame up and down continually, thereby so agitating them that they
are kept from adhering together during the process of pickling or swilling. Thus
each portion of the surface of every individual plate is uniformly exposed to the
action of the liquid in the pot, and the work is very effectually performed. The
cams g are preferably made with bevelled or inclined surfaces to impart such a
movement to the plates as will tend to separate them. The transverse rods described
in my said former Specification may be dispensed with, or they may be used if desired,
as shewn at k, Figure 3.
The said crates are provided with wheels to run on the tramway a.
The plat-
forms are arranged to extend across the pots, and are provided with rails so as to
form continuations of the tramway and to receive the crates previous to lowering
the same into the pots b, c.
Above the two pots I provide a crane which may be operated by any suitable
power, and is designed to lower the said platforms and crates into and lift them
from the pots. The connection of the platforms with the crane is not shewn in the
Drawings. By means of this arrangement I am enabled to pickle and swill a very
large number of plates in a very expeditious manner, as at each operation after the
commencement one crate or cage containing plates to be pickled and one containing
plates to be swilled may be lowered or raised simultaneously or otherwise. The
crates are pushed along upon the tramway. as soon as they are lifted from the pots.
The crate containing the swilled plates is moved along the tramway to any con-
venient position, the plates being then ready for tinning, and the crate containing
the pickled plates is pushed upon the platform over the swilling pot. Then
another. crate containing plates to be pickled is brought into position over the
pickling pot, and the two platforms with the crates thereon are lowered simulta-
neously or otherwise by means of the crane, that is to say, the one containing plates
that have been pickled but not swilled is lowered this time into the swilling pot,
and the frame or crate last brought up is lowered into the pickling pot. These
operations may be continued as long as desired in a very expeditious manner
without entailing any unnecessary break or delay between the pickling aud the
swilling, this fact being of great importance in lessening the cost of production.
The turn-tables allow the crates to conveniently pass from one part to another of the
tramway, the curved portion of which affords convenient space for the standing of
the crates while packing or loading them.
The apparatus for tiuning or coating the plates is constructed according to my
present Invention as shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings.
Figure 6 is a plan or top view;
Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation; and
Figure 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same.
I provide a tinning pot m, which is semi-circular or nearly so in shape, as shewn
in Figure 7; I also provide a cylinder or cylindrical frame n, the lower half of which
is enclosed within the tinning pot m, leaving a space between the outer periphery
of the said cylindrical frame and the interior surface of the pot, this space being
designed to contain the molten tin through which the plates pass to be coated there-
with. Around the outer periphery of the said cylindrical frame I place a ring or
circular band o of metal, furnished at suitable intervals with arms. p, which extend

page_text: transversely across its periphery, and whose ends pare turned outward at right
_angles. Rollers q are provided at intervals in the periphery of the cylinder to form
bearings for the said band, which is capable of free rotation thereon around the
cylinder.n..
In combination with the said cylinder or frame n there are two guide-pieces r,
which extend around the lower half of the same and conform to its shape, as shewn
in Figure 7; they may be made tubular, and are grooved from end to end to receive
the edges of the plates to be tinned and guide them through the bath of molten
coating metal in the pot or vessel m. These guides r are arranged at the required
distance apart to permit the edges of the plates to enter and move in the said
grooves without binding therein. The grooves may, if desirable, be furnished with
small rollers at intervals to facilitate the passage of the plates. The said arms p are
attached to the ring or band o in such a manner that they may be removed and
adjusted nearer to or farther from each other to accommodate plates of different
dimensions, and I prefer to attach these arms at such distances apart that one plate
will lie between each two arms, leaving an interval of several inches between the
plates.
The plates are fed one by one into the guides r at the receiving end m³ of the pot
by an attendant, or they may be placed by him upon the aforesaid band o. After
putting in a plate the band o is moved around by hand or by any suitable power,
and the turned-up ends p' of one of the arms p coming in contact with the rear
edge of the plate push it along through the molten metal as the band rotates; the
next plate is introduced in the same manner, and the next arm immediately behind
pushes it along; thus there will be a train of plates. passing through the pot
as the band o is caused to rotate. At the delivery end m² of the pot I provide
rollers 8, and the guides r at this end of the apparatus are bent slightly outward, as
shewn at r¹, so that when a plate arrives at this end it enters between the rollers 8,
and the arm p, which has been pushing the plate up to this point, leaves it and
passes upward with the band and around the upper part of the cylinder in the rota-
tion of the said band.
The cylindrical frame n occupies a considerable portion of the interior space
of the tinning pot, and thus I avoid the necessity of having a greater body of
molten metal in the latter than is required. The cylinder, arms, and guides being
all united may be placed within and lifted from the tinning pot m simultaneously.
Suitable flanges m³ are provided in or upon the tinning pot for the projections n¹
on the cylinder n to rest upon when the said cylinder is in the pot.
I prefer to effect the greasing of the plates preparatory to tinning the same in
a pot or vessel provided for the purpose, which vessel is furnished with rollers
covered with felt or similar material, and working in the grease. The plates are
caused to pass through these rollers, and the grease becomes well rubbed into the
plates.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim the novel and peculiar features of construc-
tson and arrangement whereby I effect my improvements in the manufacture of tin,
terne, and other plates, that is to say:-
First. The frame, crate, or cage mounted on wheels for running on a tramway or
railway, and constructed with inclined or sloping portions, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Second. The apparatus for agitating the plates in the crate when the same
is lowered into the pickling and swilling pot, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Third. The apparatus consisting of the tramway, the pickling and swilling pots,
the crates mounted on wheels, the platforms arranged to receive the crates and hold
them while being lowered into and raised from the said pots, and the crane or other
raising and lowering device, combined and operating substantially as and for the t
purpose specified.

page_text: Fourth. The coating apparatus consisting of the semi-circular pot, the cylindrical
frame, the guides, and the rotating ring or band supported upon rollers around the
said frame, and provided with arms for pushing the plates along in the said guides
and through the metal in the said pot, all constructed and combined substantially
as shewn in the Drawings, and operating as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Whitehouse, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
DANIEL WHITEHOUSE. . (L.S.)