Improvements in Apparatus to Facilitate the Enameling of Cast-iron Baths and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus to Facilitate the Enameling of Cast-iron
Baths and the like.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say:-
My said invention relates to the enameling of castiron baths and the like, and
comprises improved apparatus for lifting the bath and moving it into and out of
the enameling furnace, and apparatus for tilting and turning the heated bath to
allow of the convenient and rapid application of the enameling material.
The lifting apparatus consists of a bracket-like crane piece arranged to move
up and down a vertical guide pillar by means of an hydraulic cylinder. The crane
piece is made with a horizontal member on which runs a small truck having.de-
pending from it a suspensory chain or link. To the lower end of the chain or link
is attached a large fork the prongs of which may be made adjustable to suit
different widths of bath, the shank of the fork being a more-or-less-counterbalanced
arm with a handle at its end.
In a suitable position in front of the furnace door there is a table carried by a
supporting frame by means of a central pivot allowing the table to be easily turned.
The supporting frame is carried by trunnion bearings and can be tilted by means
of a toothed sector acted on by means of a pinion or worm. On the table adjustable
devices are arranged for gripping the feet or other projections on the bottom of
a bath, the adjustments being effected by means of screw spindles or equivalents.
The gripping devices are on transverse slides which are themselves adjustable for
different lengths of bath, the devices on the transverse slides being adjustable for
different widths. Each gripping device consists of two blocks to bear against the
inner and outer sides of a bath foot or projection; and each outer block is
separately adjustable and its gripping face is made overhanging or claw-like, and
is to he screwed in upon the bath foot or projection when the bath has been placed
in position and the other parts have been adjusted.
Various parts of the apparatus hereinbefore described are obviously susceptible
of variation. Any suitable lifting crane may be used having a horizontal member
with a truck and suspensory chain or link. The gripping pieces of the table may
be adjusted by means of levers, wedges, eccentrics, or a combination thereof. The
supporting frame may be tilted by means of a lever or of a hydraulic cylinder.
Dated this Nineteenth day of April 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus to Facilitate the Enameling of Cast-iron
Baths and the like.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My said invention relates to the enameling of castiron baths and the like, and
comprises improved apparatus for lifting the bath and moving it into and out of the
enameling furnace; and apparatus for tilting and turning the heated bath to
allow of the convenient and rapid application of the enameling material.
The lifting apparatus consists of any suitable lifting crane having a horizontal
member with a truck and suspensory chain or link to which is attached a large
fork the prongs of which may be made adjustable, the shank of the fork being a
more or less counterbalanced arm with a handle at its end.
In a suitable position in front of the furnace door a table is pivoted on a sup-
porting frame which is carried by trunnion bearings and can be tilted by gearing.
On the table adjustable slides and devices are arranged for gripping the bath.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to in particularly describing apparatus made with my
improvements.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings, is a plan of my improved apparatus but
with some parts removed. Figure, 2, is a side elevation of the apparatus and
Figure, 3, is an end elevation showing the table and frame. Figure, 4, is a plan
and Figures, 5, and 6, are side and end elevations respectively, of the pivoted table.
Figures, 7, and 8, are transverse sections at right angles to each other of details
to be hereinafter referred to. In these drawings the same reference letters and
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
As shown in the drawings the lifting apparatus consists of an ordinary crane, A,
made with a horizontal member, A 1, on which runs a small truck, A2, having a
hook A 3, depending from it by a suspensory chain and pulleys, A4. To the
hook, A 3, there is attached by a link, B, (shown by dotted lines in Figure, 2) a
sleeve, B1, on the shank, B2, of a large fork, B3. The turned over edge of the
bath when in position rests on adjustable snugs, B4, on the prongs, the snug for
supporting one end of the bath and keeping it from sliding off the fork, B3, should
it become inclined being on a transverse piece, B5, which is adjustable on the
Irongs. The shank, B2, with its sleeve, B1, is a more or less counterbalanced
arm with a handle, B6, at its end but an additional weight (not shown) may be
hooked on to the sleeve to assist in counterbalancing the weight of the bath if
desired. By means of this improved fork and the crane the bath can be easily and
expeditiously lifted and moved into and out of the enameling furnace (not shown).
In a suitable position in front of the furnace door there is a table, C, carried by
a supporting frame, D, by means of a central pivot, C1, allowing the table, C, to
be easily turned by bevil gearing, C2, actuated by a hand-wheel, C3, on the outer
end of a shaft, C4, carried in bearings, C5, on the frame, D. The supporting
frame, D, is carried by trunnion bearings, D1, in the framing, E, and can be
tilted by turning a handwheel F, on the shaft of which is a pinion, F 1, gearing
with a spurwheel, G, or it might be a toothed sector from a crank pin, G 1, on which
a connecting rod, H, extends to a lever, D2, fixed to the underside of the frame, D.
A weight, J, is hung from the underside of the frame, D, beneath the centre of the

page_text: table, C, and tends to move that table and the bath fixed on it as hereinafter
described, into a horizontal position. In the same way a second weight, K, also
hung from the underside of the frame, D, acts along with the weight, J, to bring
the frame, D, table, C, and bath, back to the horizontal position after they have
been tilted as herein before described; and on letting go the handwheel, F.
On the table, C, adjustable devices are arranged for gripping the feet, L, or other
projections on the bottom of a bath, L 1, (shown by dotted lines in Figure, 6). The
gripping devices are on transverse slides, M, which are themselves adjustable for
different lengths of bath, L 1, on loosening the nuts, M 1, on bolts, M2, (Figure, 8)
which pass through slots, M 3, in the table, C, and on turning either of the
handles, N1, N2, on a right-and-left hand screw spindle, N 3, extending underneath
the table, C, and working in internally screwed parts on the underside of the trans-
verse slides, M. When adjusted the nuts, M. 1, are tightened again. The gripping
devices, on the transverse slides, M, are adjustable for different widths of baths
and each gripping device consists of two blocks, P1, P2, to bear against the inner
and outer sides of a bath foot or projection, L. The outer blocks, P1, are adjustable
by turning either of the handwheels, Q1, Q2, on a right-and-left hand screw
spindle, Q3, which works in internally screwed parts in the blocks, P 1, so that these
blocks can be screwed in upon the outer sides of the bath feet or projections, L.
The inner blocks, P2, slide on the transverse slides, M, and when adjusted so that
they will bear on the inner sides of the bath feet. L. can be clamped in position by
screwing a nut, R, onto the upper end of a T-headed bolt, R1, which passes
through a projection. R2, on the inner block, P2.
When the heated bath, L1, has been placed in position and secured it can be
turned and tilted by the mechanism hereinbefore described so as to permit of
the rapid application of the enameling material to all internal parts.
Various parts of the apparatus hereinbefore described are obviously susceptible
of variation. Any suitable lifting crane (A) may he used having a horizontal
member (A 1) with a truck (A 2) and suspensory chain or link. The gripping
pieces (M, P1, P2), of the table (C) may be adjusted by means of levers, wedges,
eccentrics, or a combination thereof. The supporting frame (D) may be tilted by
means of a lever or of an hydraulic cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In connection with apparatus to facilitate the enameling of castiron baths and
the like, a lifting fork the prongs of which are adapted to directly grip the bath
or article the shank of the fork being a more or less counterbalanced arm fitted
with a handle at its end substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus to facilitate the enameling of castiron baths and the like, pro-
viding a table on which are adjustable slides and gripping devices the table being
carried by a supporting frame by means of a central pivot and the supporting frame
being carried by trunnion bearings, with means for turning the table and tilting the
supporting frame substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
3. The improved combination of parts for moving a bath or the like into and
out of a furnace and for tilting and turning the same to receive enameling material,
the said parts being constructed and arranged substantially as herein before
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of January 1899.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.