IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rushton Turnock, of the Yspitty Iron and Tin-
plate Works, Llanelly, South Wales, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
AQU
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 3rd March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rushton Turnock at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March 1877.
JOSEPH RUSHTON TURNOCK, of the Yspitty Iron and Tin-plate Works, Llanelly,
South Wales. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND
IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention relates to the process of cleaning the surface of metal plates by
means of sulphuric or other suitable acid or compound, also to thoroughly washing
or swilling the plates after the pickling is finished.
The means by which the pickling is accomplished is as follows:-I employ one
or more plungers at each end of the pickling trough worked in such a manner that
when one is at the top of the stroke at one end the other is at the bottom of the
stroke at the other end. By this means when the plungers are working, the pickling
mixture is forced from the one end of the trough to the other, and in its passage
must pass through or between the metal sheets which are to be pickled, the sheets
of course being placed lengthwise of the stream; the rush of the liquid against the
edges of the plates causes them to open and admit the mixture between them;
thereby ensuring a more perfect and even contact between the plates and the
pickling mixture; by this Invention also the use of sawdust or other separating
material will be dispensed with. The plungers need not be placed at the ends of
the trough, but may be at the back, or may be at any distance from the troughs,
provided means are employed by which the liquid is drawn and forced backwards
and forwards between the plates or sheets, to do which the inlets must be at the
ends of the troughs facing the edges of the plates. The plates are placed in narrow
gratings holding, say, a tongs full each; these gratings are for the purpose of keeping
the plates in an upright position so that the liquid shall have to exert less power
to get between them than it would if the plates were leaning on one another,

page_text: A similar apparatus (as regards form) is used in the operation of washing or
swilling the plates to remove the pickling mixture from their surfaces, only that
clear water is circulated instead of acid, and a second swilling trough may be em-
ployed if found necessary. The plungers may be made to work either vertically or
horizontally.
Another form I propose to adopt, where necessary, is a trough in which the
mixture or water is forced up from below the plates by means of a plunger or
plungers, and thus caused to circulate between them, and one plunger may work
one or more troughs.
The pots or troughs for the pickling apparatus may be made of lead or other
suitable metal, either in solid or used as a protecting lining, and those for swilling
or washing may be of wood or iron as found most convenient. Hand or steam
power may be used to work the machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Rushton Turnock in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
1st September 1877.
JOSEPH RUSHTON TURNOCK, of the Yspitty Iron and Tin-plate Works, Llanelly,
South Wales. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention relates to the process of cleaning the surface of metal plates by
means of sulphuric or other suitable acid or compound, also to thoroughly washing
or swilling the plates after the pickling is finished.
The means by which the pickling is accomplished is as follows:-I employ one or
more plungers at each end of the pickling trough worked in such a manner that
when one is at the top of the stroke at one end the other is at the bottom of the
stroke at the other end; by this means when the plungers are working the pickling
mixture is forced from the one end of the trough to the other, and in its passage
must pass through or between the metal sheets which are to be pickled, the sheets
of course being placed lengthwise of the stream; the rush of the liquid against the
edges of the plates causes them to open and admit the mixture between them,
thereby ensuring a more perfect and even contact between the plates and the
pickling mixture; by this Invention also the use of sawdust or other separating
imaterial will be dispensed with. The plungers need not be placed at the ends of
the trough, but may be at the back, or may be at any distance from the troughs,
provided means are employed by which the liquid is drawn and forced backwards
and forwards between the plates or sheets, to do which the inlets must be at the
ends of the troughs facing the edges of the plates. The plates are placed in Darrow
gratings holding, say, a tongs full each; these gratings are for the purpose of keeping
the plates in an upright position so that the liquid shall have to exert less
power to get between them than it would if the plates were leaning on one
another.
A similar apparatus (as regards form) is used in the operation of washing or
swilling the plates to remove the pickling mixture from their surfaces, only that
clear water is circulated instead of acid, and a second swilling trough may be
employed if found necessary. The plungers may be made to work either vertically
or horizontally.
Another form I propose to adopt, where necessary, is a trough in which the
mixture or water is forced up from below the plates by means of a plunger or
plungers, and thus caused to circulate between them, and one plunger may work
one or more troughs.
The pots or troughs for the pickling apparatus may be made of lead or other
suitable metal, either in solid, or used as a protecting lining, and those for swilling

page_text: In order that my said Invention may be most rumy understood and scauny canicu
nto effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a pot in its simplest form, the dotted lines showing
the plungers.
Figure 2 is a ground plan of same, showing at a, a, a, a, the pins which are
used to keep the plates separated, it being understood that between each row of
pins a tongs full of plates is put in lengthwise of the machine.
Figure 3 shows a plunger in elevation, and Figure 4 in plan, b being a joint by
which it is raised and lowered..
Figure 5 is a section through A, B, Figure 2, showing a simple method of working
the plungers, the wheel c being driven by gearing or strap. It is evident also that
the plungers can be worked by means of cranks instead of a beam, or that the
beam may be connected direct to the piston rod either of a steam or water engine;
d, d, d, d, show that the divisions between the plunger portion and pickling or
swilling portions of the machine are perforated so as to allow the liquid to pass
backwards and forwards; a, a, a, show the pins by which the different tongs full of
plates are kept separate; e, e, are the plungers; f, f, the beam; g, g, connecting rods
to plungers; h, connecting rod to driving notion.
Figure 6 shows an elevation of pickling and swilling pots, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, being the
pickle pot, and 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, the swilling pot; it will be observed that the swilling
pot is at a slight elevation (say 8 inches) above the pickling pot, the purpose of
which is herein explained; e¹, e¹, are the pickling plungers; e², e², the swilling
plungers. It is not necessary that in both machines the plungers should not work
up and down at the same time, but by working them as shown less power is
required to drive the machine, and at the same time the motion is much steadier ;
i, i, i, show pieces of wood or metal which are for the purpose of preventing the
plates from slipping back into the pickle pot; h, k, h, k, show the board against
which the plates lean; 1, 1, 1, 1, the sloping board upon which the plates are reared
when taken out of the pickle pot, the slope being for the purpose of allowing the
surplus pickle to run back into the pot.
Figure 7 is a ground plan of Figure 6, not showing the lever motions; the Figures
correspond with description of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a cross section through A, B, Figure 7, the Figures corresponding
with description of Figure 6.
The method of working in this pot is as follows:-The pickler stands at the
front of the machine and places a tongs full of plates lengthwise between each row
of pins; the plungers being in motion cause the mixture or water to flow with more
or less force backwards and forwards, and so forces it between each sheet, obviating
the use of sawdust for the purpose of keeping the plates apart. When the first
tongs full is pickled he takes them out and rears them on the board 1, Figures 6, 7,
and 8, allowing them to lean against the top of the swilling pot; they drain for a
few seconds, then the swiller takes them up and places them between the pins in
the swilling pot in precisely the same way, and the process of swilling is performed
by the plungers causing a flow of water between the sheets; meanwhile the pickler
has put a fresh tongs full of plates into the first row, and proceeds with the plates
in the second row, and so on, and if the size of the machine requires it, a division
plate or plates may be put across it in the middle or elsewhere so that it may be
made large enough to take a large number of plates without increasing the width
of the pot, or when working different sized plates the object of the division
plates would then be to prevent one rank of plates getting swilled amongst
another rank.
In making a machine capable of doing an enormous quantity of work the plates

page_text: may be put into gratings or cages (there being no pins in the pots) by assistants,
and then by suitable means, either by craneage, wheel and axle, or pulleys, be
lowered into and raised out of the pots; by this means any sized machine can be
made the size and shape of the gratings or cages (which are to take the place of the
pins in the pots), being governed by the size of the works for which the machine is
intended, and the shape of the machine.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim my improvements in
pickling and swilling metal plates, and in apparatus therefor, consisting in causing
a to-and-fro flow of the pickling liquid and water between the plates, substantially
in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rushton Turnock, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.