IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SUPERFLUOUS, OR OTHER PORTIONS FROM ARTICLES MADE OF GLASS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas George Webb, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SUPERFLUOUS, OR OTHER PORTIONS FROM ARTICLES
MADE OF GLASS." A communication from abroad by Pierre Rigout, of
Maestricht, in Holland.
Sealed the 6th May 1879, and dated the 12th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas George Webb at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1878.
THOMAS GEORGE WEBB, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Glass Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SUPERFLUOUS
OR OTHER PORTIONS FROM ARTICLES MADE OF GLASS." [A communication from
abroad by Pierre Rigout, of Maestricht, in Holland.]
This Invention consists in separating superfluous or other portions of glass from
articles made of that material by making a mark or scratch on the said article, and
then applying a stream of hot air in contact with the line at which it is intended
the separation shall take place. To illustrate the Invention, suppose it be desired
to remove the superfluous blown part from a wine glass, the article is placed upon a
revolving table and a short scratch is made thereon by a steel or other tool; as the
article then revolves a stream of hot air is caused to impinge upon it, and the
required separation takes place, or sufficiently so as to afford easy removal. The
stream of hot air may be produced in any convenient manner; but a special
apparatus employed consists in the use of a chamber provided with a partial
diaphragm on opposite sides of which ignited gas and air are projected, the supplies
being so regulated that hot air only issues from a slit to impinge upon the article
to be severed. It will be evident that the stream of hot air or the article to be
operated upon may be made to move, and that such movement be rotatory,
excentric, or of other character.
.
•

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas George Webb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th May 1879.
THOMAS GEORGE WEBB, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Glass Mann-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SUPERFLUOUS
OR OTHER PORTIONS FROM ARTICLES MADE OF GLASS." A communication from
abroad by Pierre Rigout, of Maestricht, in Holland.
This Invention consists in separating superfluous and other portions of glass from
articles made of that material by making a mark or scratch on the said article, and
then applying a stream of hot air. in contact with the line at which it is intended
the separation shall take place. The mechanical means employed for carrying out
the Invention may be varied, but I will describe an apparatus of convenient form
which has been found to answer the purpose. Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2, a
side view. At a is a pedestal carrying a cylindrical chamber b, which is provided
with two pipes c, d, one being for the admission of ordinary gas, and the other for
air under pressure, and at e is a third pipe flattened at its outward end f, and there
provided with an orifice in the form of a fine slit. The chamber b is provided with
a cover g, capable of turning upon a pin h, so as to open or close the said chamber
bat pleasure. At i is a partial diaphragm extending from one side of the chamber
b to about the centre of the inner orifice of the pipe e, but bevilled off so as not to
extend straight across the top of the chamber, as seen by dots in Fig. 2. In Fig. 1,
the cover is shewn partly broken off to expose the diaphragm. To use this
apparatus it is placed on any suitable support, and gas is admitted through the
pipe c, and air under pressure is blown by any convenient means through the piped,
and the cover g having been partly opened the gasses are lighted, after which the
cover g is closed, when a stream of hot air, without flame, issues through the slit f
at the end of the pipe e. A scratch of short length having been made on the
article to be separated (say a wine glass), the marked part is held close to the slit
f, and the article is turned round so as to cause the issueing stream of hot air to
impinge thereon in the direction the separation is to take place, and it will be found
that a severance of the material is continued from the said scratch. The part to be
removed may not at once fall off, but if not the application of a wet finger, sponge
or other article will complete the severance. The turning of the article to be
operated upon may be effected by hand, or it may be placed upon a revolving
table capable of being raised or lowered to suit the level of the part to be severed,
the slit f being moved inward or outward according to the diameter of the article.
The top edge of the chamber b is formed with nicks i*, and the under side of the
cover g is similarly sconed. This is for the purpose of allowing an escape of super-
abundant combustion. The pipes c, d, are provided with taps (not shewn) for
regulating relative supplies, so as to allow air only, not flame, to issue from the
slit f; experience will readily enable the attendant to accomplish this regulation.
At k is a clamp mounted so as to turn on the pedestal a, and capable of being
tightened in any position by a screw l. This clamp is for the purpose of holding a
scriber to effect the above mentioned scratch, such scriber being adapted on the
same level as the slit f, and when therefore a revolving table is used the article may
be first scratched by turning it by hand against the said seriber, and then moved
on the same table or other surface to the hot air current. The articles which have
been severed as above described of course require glazing, and this may be done in
any usual manner. The above described apparatus is convenient for use, but I do
not limit myself thereto, as the stream of hot air may be produced by many other
well known means, as for instance the pipe e might be a detached apparatus of
extended length passing through a furnace, the air being forced in at the end
opposite the slit f.

page_text: Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured under the above in part recited Letters Patent and for the purpose
above set forth, the use of a current of heated air in combination with a scratch
or mark, and acting upon the article in the direction of the intended severance,
also the use of the apparatus described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas George Webb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
THOMAS GEO. WEBB. (L.S.)