IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND WASHING OR 'SWILLING' METAL PLATES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Glyn Thomas, of Penclawdd, in the County of
Glamorgan, Iron and Tin Plate Manufacturer, for the Invention of “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND WASHING OR 'SWILLING' METAL
PLATES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Glyn Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1878.
JOHN GLYN THOMAS, of Penclawdd, in the County of Glamorgan, Iron and
Tin Plate Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND
WASHING OR SWILLING' METAL PLATES."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation and application of apparatus to
the purpose of pickling and washing or swilling metal plates, by means of which
apparatus is effected a considerable saving of labour, and also of the oil of vitroil or
pickling liquid and water ordinarily used in the process or processes.
And my Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of a travelling
carriage, a cradle or plate holder, and a delivery table, with the means of working
and using the same, herein-after referred to.
The trough containing the pickling liquid, and that containing the water for
washing or swilling and the delivery table, may be either arranged in a straight
line so that a cradle containing plates to be operated upon can be carried along and
worked as required, successively in the said troughs, and afterwards deposited on
the delivery table, or the troughs and table may be arranged in a curved line so as
to admit of the said cradle being carried through the series of trouglis and table by
means of a central crane with radial connections.
When the troughs and table are arranged in succession in a straight line the
carriage from which the cradle is suspended is moved as required along a pair of
rails fixed above the troughs and table by means of a wheel fixed on the end of
'

page_text: one of the axles, or by other suitable means. From this carriage the cradle con-
taining the plates to be operated upon is suspended by means of a chain passing
over a quadrant fitted on a spindle mounted in the carriage, by which arrangement
the cradle can be worked up and down as required with facility in suitable guides
when inserted in either of the troughs by acting on counterpoised levers fixed on
the spindle forming a pivot of the quadrant, and it can also be carried forward to
the delivery table after the plates have been pickled and washed or swilled in the
respective troughs.
1
The troughs containing water for the washing or swilling process is supplied with
water through a pipe with ducts or conduits leading into the upper part of the
trough, and there are apertures at the bottom of the trough to serve as outlets for
water, by which arrangement a stream of water is caused to pass through the
trough while the cradle with the plates is worked up and down therein, and thereby
produce the required changing of cleansing. liquid during the process.
The cradle is moved from the last-mentioned trough into position over the
delivery table, and the arrangements of the cradle and table respectively are such
as to admit of the rack portion of the cradle passing downwards through a space
formed in the delivery table, while the plates are supported by a moveable frame of
the cradle, or otherwise, and deposited on the table.
By employing the apparatus above referred to the ordinary use of sawdust
between the plates is dispensed with, together with the liability of damage to the
plates in the subsequent process of annealing. The ordinary liability of the plates
to become blistered, bent, and bulged, is also reduced thereby.
Also by the vertical reciprocating movements of the cradle within the vitriol and
water troughs the process of pickling and that of washing or swilling are facilitated
in action and more effectually accomplished.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John. Glyn Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
August 1878.
JOHN GLYN THOMAS, of Penclawdd, in the County of Glamorgan, Iron and
Tin Plate Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND
WASHING OR SWILLING METAL PLATES."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation and application of apparatus to
the purpose of pickling and washing or swilling metal plates, by means of which
apparatus is effected a considerable saving of labour, and also of the oil of vitriol or
pickling liquid and water ordinarily used in the process or processes.
And my Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of a travelling
carriage, a cradle or plate holder, and a delivery table, with the means of working
and using the same herein-after referred to.
The trough containing the pickling liquid, and that containing the water for
washing or swilling and the delivery table, may be either arranged in a straight
line, so that a cradle containing plates to be operated upon can be carried along and
worked as required, successively in the said troughs, and afterwards deposited on
the delivery table; or the troughs and table may be arranged in a curved line so as
to admit of the said cradle being carried through the series of troughs and table by
means of a central crane with radial connections.
When the troughs and table are arranged in succession in a straight line the
carriage from which the cradle is suspended is moved as required along a pair of
rails fixed above the troughs and table by means of a wheel fixed on the end of one
of the axles, or by other suitable means. From this carriage the cradle containing
the plates to be operated upon is suspended by means of a chain passing over a
quadrant fitted on a spindle mounted in the carriage, by which arrangement the
cradle can be worked up and down as required with facility in suitable guides when
inserted in either of the troughs by acting on counterpoised levers fixed on the
spindle forming the pivot of the quadrant, and it can also be carried forward to the
delivery table after the plates have been pickled and washed or swilled in the
respective troughs.
The trough containing water for the washing or swilling process is supplied with
water through a pipe with ducts or conduits leading into the upper part of the
trough, and there are apertures at the bottom of the trough to serve as outlets for
water, by which arrangement a stream of water is caused to pass through the
trough while the cradle with the plates is worked up and down therein, and thereby
produce the required changing of cleansing liquid during the process.
The cradle is moved from the last-mentioned trough into position over the
delivery table, and the arrangements of the cradle and table respectively are such as
to admit of the rack portion of the cradle passing downwards through a space formed
in the delivery table, while the plates are supported by a moveable frame of the
cradle, or otherwise, and deposited on the table.
By employing the apparatus above referred to the ordinary use of sawdust
between the plates is dispensed with, together with the liability of damage to the
plates in the subsequent process of annealing. The ordinary liability of the plates
to become blistered, bent, and bulged is also reduced thereby.
Also by the vertical reciprocating movements of the cradle within the vitriol and
water troughs the process of pickling and that of washing or swilling are facilitated
in action and more effectually accomplished.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to describe

page_text: more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which is represented the apparatus arranged in a
straight line, as above referred to.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan or horizontal view of the apparatus ;
Fig. 3 is an elevation shewing the three troughs or cisterns; and Fig. 4 is a plan
shewing the cradle or plate holder.
In these several Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
A is the travelling carriage which carries the cradle or plate holder B, and which
is made to lower the cradle down and lift it up, as required. The wheel C is keyed
on a loose socket turning on the spindle D. On the other end of the socket is
keyed a cog wheel which gears with the wheel on the spindle E. At the other end
of the spindle E is keyed a pinion F which works in the teeth on the side of the
quadrant, which is thereby caused to raise or lower the cradle B as required. The
wheel G is keyed on the spindle H, which has a pair of tram wheels for moving the
cradle backwards and forwards.
1
The cradle is by preference constructed of yellow metal in the shape of a frame.
Across the frame are fixed yellow metal bars, which form a rack. At each end of
the frame are fixed two upright bars, on the top of which is fastened a cross head.
To the centre of the cross head are screwed two upright bars, which guide the cradle
up and down. Between the two cross heads in the length of the frame is a beam
for suspending the cradle; B* is an end view of the cradle; I is the gantry or way
on which the travelling carriage A runs backwards and forwards.
In Fig. 2 are shewn the troughs or cisterns K, K. In that at right hand of the
Figure is fitted a table or support which is used for loading the rack of the cradle or
plate holder B previous to the plates going through the process of pickling, and
afterwards for discharging the plates when finished. The said table or support is
made by fixing or setting two moveable wrought-iron bars L and M on three
swinging brackets on each side of the cistern. The bar L on one side of the table
shews the position of the bars when drawn in to allow the rack to pass to
through, and the bar M on the other side is shewn as drawn out to form the table or
support. When both sides or bars L and M are drawn in there is sufficient space
for the rack and plates in the cradle B to pass up and down between them, and
when ready for discharging the parts of the table are turned out and the cradle
passes through, leaving the plates on the table; N is the lever for moving the parts L
and M in and out as required.
In Fig. 20 is the quadrant, which is worked as required by the pinion F; and P
is the cog wheel on the same spindle as the pinion F; Qis the cog wheel which
works in the wheel P, and is keyed to the loose socket R.
The arrangement of the apparatus with the troughs.or cisterns and table in a
curved line, to be worked by means of a central crane with radial connections, is not
shewn, but this will be readily understood from the foregoing description, as the
process and mode of working will be similar to those described.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I do not claim as of my Inven-
tion any of the parts of apparatus shewn and described separately considered, but
only when used in combination, but what I do claim is,-
First. The general combination and arrangement of the parts of apparatus repre-
sented and described as adapted for pickling and washing or swilling metal plates
in the manner herein-before described.
And, Secondly. The arrangement of apparatus with the troughs and table in a

page_text: curved line, and the cradle worked by means of a central crane with radial con-
nections.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Glyn Thomas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
THOMAS FRANCIS,
Accountant.
Gower Works,
Penclawdd,
Nr Swansea.
JNO. GLYN THOMAS. (L.S.)