IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ZINC BATHS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kirkwood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1880.
JOHN KIRKWOOD, of Leith, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Zinc
Bath Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ZINC
BATHS."
This Invention, which has for its object improvements in tools used or to be used
in the manufacture of zinc baths, relates both to tools employed in bending and
shaping the ends and body of the bath and to tools used in making the joints of
the different sections. For making the vertical or more vertical end of the bath
the improved tool consists of an iron or other metal mould whose contour
corresponds to the shape of the bottom, sides, and back of the end. At the interior
of the mould a fire place or furnace is provided, the back whereof is terminated
short of the back of the mould in a metal plate or brick fire bridge which rises
towards the top of the mould, and so forms a heating space between it and the
back of the mould, the said space leading into a chimney or flue at its lower end.
The mould is provided with a removable ring, which surrounds its lower part and
with a cramp or frame hinged or jointed at the lower part of the mould and
capable of being raised or lowered over it in a vertical arc. The cramp or frame is
formed with a pin or its equivalent, at its upper end over which the eye of a
screw passes, the said screw also passing through a nut held in position in a bracket
fixed to the top of the mould. The cramp or frame is drawn forward over the
mould by turning the handle of a screw fixed to its outer end.
In making the end of a bath, a plate or sheet of zinc, which may or may not
have been previously heated to render it more pliable, is bent round the mould and
the movable ring forced down over it, so as to make the sides and bottom assume
the shape of the mould, whilst the back of the end is formed by drawing forward
the cramp or frame over the zinc by means of the screw, as hereinbefore set forth.
The heat given off from the fire at the mould's interior keeps the zinc pliable, and
enables the moulding operations to be performed with facility.
When the end has been so made the flanch or lip around its rim is produced by
placing the end in a hollow mould corresponding with it. This mould consists of
an iron or other metal frame supported on legs or feet, and having at its lower part
bars to support and confine the bath end. The end is cramped in position by
means of a wood, metal, or other block dropped into the upper part of the mould,

page_text: and when so firmly secured the flanch or lip is hammered or beaten down over a
corresponding moulding flanch or lip formed around the upper part of the mould.
To form the opposite or more inclined end of the bath a hollow iron or other
metal mould supported on a frame or on legs or feet is used into which a plate or
sheet of zinc, previously heated, is bent. A wood or metal block or die is then
forced downwards into the mould, whereby the zinc plate is caused to assume the
requisite form which being effected, and before removing the die the upper rim of
the end is hammered or bent down over a flanch formed round the mould into the
desired Blanch or lip.
In lieu of employing a mould of this construction to form the more inclined end,
a mould similar to that first described may be employed, or the latter construction
of mould may be used in forming the more vertical end of the bath.
The central portion of the bath is made in an iron or other metal mould by
bending a heated plate of zinc thereinto, and moulding it to the requisite form by
hammering or by the pressure of a die, as herein before described.
When the separate parts have been thus constructed they are placed on a planed
metal or other surface with the part whereat the soldered joint is to be made down-
wards; and in order that a straight joint may be easily effected a mark is drawn
round the zinc by an improved tool consisting of a planed metal sole having a
vertical bar or pin fixed in it. Over the pin an eye or socket is placed and held in
position by means of a pinching screw. Another eye is also made in the socket
through which the stem of a marking tool passes, the said tool being also held by a
pinching screw or its equivalent. By working this tool round with its sole in
contact with the planed surface of the plate, and the point in contact with the
zinc, a distinct mark is made on the section of the bath which serves as a guide in
soldering.
In order that the joints of the different sections may be effected with the
expenditure of as little solder as possible another improved tool is employed to
press the edges of the metal firmly and flatly together before the solder is used.
This tool consists of two jaws hinged or jointed together at one end, and at their
other ends each provided with a roller, the two rollers being opposite to each other.
When the tool is being used. it is placed with one jaw inside and the other outside
the joint, against which the rollers are caused to press by drawing the jaws towards
each other by means of a screw provided for that purpose, the tool the while
being operated vertically or horizontally over the joint; or in lieu of placing one
jaw on each side of the joint the tool may be simply run along the edge.