CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING SURFACES OF MAMY PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONCES OF GLASS OR OTHER MATERIAL WITH COLLODION
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Cornides, of No. 4, Trafalgar Square (Office
for Patents), Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING SURFACES OF
MAMY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Cornides at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th December 1854.
I, LOUIS CORNIDES, of No. 4, Trafalgar Square (Office for Patents), Charing
Cross, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING SURFACES
OF GLASS OR OTHER MATERIAL WITH COLLODION" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an apparatus intended to facilitate and ensure
the coating or covering of plates of glass or other surfaces requiring to be
coated with such material, to be employed for various purposes, both useful
and ornamental, by which means the great loss and inconvenience from the
evaporation of æther, hitherto inevitable in such operations, is entirely obviated.
The apparatus which I employ for this purpose consists of four principal parts;

page_text: viz., a vessel or receptacle capable of being made air-tight and intended to
receive the objects to be coated; an air-tight vessel or reservoir to contain the
collodion; an air pump in connection with the above-named vessels, and a worm
for condensing the æther. This apparatus is used by placing the object to be
coated in the receptacle, and after shutting the latter air-tight, the air is
exhausted from it by the air pump, and then the collodion is let into the
receptacle from the reservoir by gravity, or the action of air force pump, or of
an ordinary suction and force pump, placed between the reservoir and the
receptacle. After the object is thus immersed, the collodion is withdrawn back
into the reservoir by the same means, and the receptacle is then subjected to
a temperature sufficient to evaporate the ether which passes off into the worm.
The following is a convenient form and mode of arranging the apparatus:-I
employ an air-tight iron reservoir or vessel for the collodion slightly larger
than the receptacle. This reservoir is placed below the receptacle, with which
it communicates by means of a pipe. This receptacle is formed in two parts.
The lower part or bottom of the receptacle is formed with a groove, provided
with an india-rubber or other elastic washer, and is furnished with a pro-
jecting flange, by means of which the upper part of the receptacle is connected
thereto. The upper part of the receptacle comprises the top and sides thereof,
and the lower edge of the same fits into the groove in the bottom part, and
the india-rubber washer keeps the receptacle air-tight; within the upper part
or on the lower part is placed a framing, suitable for the reception of the objects
to be coated. The framing is capable of being adjusted or moved from the
outside by means of connecting rods or screws fitted in air-tight sockets in
the casing. The sides of this said receptacle are also provided with an outer
casing or jacket, between which and the sides of the receptacle steam or other
heat can be introduced when required. A pipe in communication with an
air pump connects the top of the receptacle to the top of the reservoir. This
pipe is furnished with valves, so arranged that the working of the air pump
shall exhaust the air from the upper vessel, and force it into the lower vessel.
This said pipe is also furnished with a branch, having a stop-cock, by opening
which the air may be allowed to return into the receptacle. The first-named
pipe, which is connected to the bottom of the receptacle, extends to nearly the
bottom of the lower vessel, where it is open or perforated. This said pipe is
furnished (between the two vessels) with a three-way cock, the third way of
which communicates with a worm for condensing the æther, which passes
through a vessel of water surrounding the reservoir. The worm is provided a
the bottom with a stop-cock for drawing off the condensed æther. The process

page_text: of coating or covering surfaces of glass or other material with collodion by means
of this apparatus is as follows:-The reservoir being charged with collodion,
and the three-way cock and the stop-cock in the branch pipe being closed, the
upper part of the receptacle is removed, the bearers being properly adjusted and
fixed so as to suit the size of the objects to be coated. When glass or other
plates are to be coated, they are placed in a slightly inclined position one above
the other on the bearers. Where the glass or other surface to be coated is of
a cylindrical or such other. form as to require a rotary motion to be imparted
thereto, so as to cause the collodion to flow uniformly over the whole surface,
the objects are placed on a frame connected with a revolving shaft passing
through air-tight glands, or stuffing boxes may be carried through the recep-
tacle or upper vessel for that purpose. The upper part of the receptacle is
then replaced, and the three-way cock opened, so as to establish a communi-
cation between the two vessels. The air pump is then worked, which will have
the effect of exhausting the air from the receptacle, and forcing the same into
the upper part of the reservoir. The collodion will then rise and fill the
receptacle, and thus coat all the plates uniformly on both sides; the air pump
is then thrown out of action. The stop-cock in the branch pipe is next opened,
which allows the air to ascend into the receptacle, and the superfluous collodion.
to return by its own gravity into the reservoir. As soon as the plates are
sufficiently drained, the three-way cock is turned, so as to close the communi-
cation with the reservoir, and open the communication from the receptacle
with the worm. Steam is then admitted between the inner and outer casing
of the receptacle, the heat from which will evaporate the æther from the
collodion and dry the plates. The vapor therefrom passing along the worm
cooled with water will become again condensed, and may be drawn off by
means of the cock below. When the plates are perfectly dry, the upper part
of the receptacle is withdrawn, the plates are removed from the apparatus,
and a fresh supply substituted. I would here remark, that (if preferred) on
exhausting the air, as above mentioned, the collodion may be allowed to flow
into the receptacle by its own gravity, and may be returned into the reservoir
by means of an ordinary pump. The operation may then be repeated as
before. By the use or employment of this apparatus, it will be evident that
a perfectly even and uniform coating will be insured, and the great waste of
æther by evaporation entirely obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Cornides in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th June 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
CORNIDES, of No. 4, Trafalgar Square (Office for Patents), Charing Cross, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Cornides, Her special licence that I, the said Louis Cornides,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said.
Louis Cornides, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the.
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING SURFACES OF GLASS OR OTHER MATERIAL WITH
COLLODION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis
Cornides, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should parti-
cularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Cornides, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
.
My Invention consists of an apparatus intended to facilitate and ensure the
coating or covering with collodion plates of glass, or other surfaces requiring
to be coated with such said material, to be afterwards employed for various
purposes, both useful and ornamental, by which means the great loss and
inconvenience from the evaporation of æther, hitherto inevitable in such opera-
tions, is entirely obviated. The apparatus which I employ for this purpose
consists of four principal parts; namely, a vessel or receptacle capable of
being made air-tight, and, intended to receive the objects to be coated; au
air-tight vessel or reservoir to contain the collodion; an air pump in con-
nection with the above-named vessels, and a worm for condensing the æther.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing exhibits a transverse and vertical section of the principal
parts of an apparatus constructed according to my said Invention.
A, A, is an air-tight iron vessel or reservoir to contain the collodion; this
reservoir is slightly larger than the receptacle B, below which it is placed, and
with which it communicates by means of a pipe C. The receptacle B is
formed of iron, in two parts; the lower part B', or bottom of the receptacle,
is formed with a groove, in which is placed an india-rubber or other suitable
elastic ring or washer X; the part B¹ is also formed with a flanch b, for con-
necting it, by means of bolts and nuts or screws, to the upper part 6 of the
receptacle B, such said upper part comprising the top B2 and sides B³ thereof.
The lower edge of the upper part 6 fits into the groove in the lower part B¹
of the receptacle B, and the india-rubber washer X serves to keep the recep-
tacle B air-tight. Within the upper part of the receptacle B, or on the lower
part thereof, is placed a framing D, suitable for the reception of the objects to
be coated. The framing D is capable of being adjusted by means of sockets D'.
The sides B3 of the receptacle B are also provided with an outer casing or
jacket G, between which and the sides of the receptacle steam or other heat
can be introduced when required. A pipe H in communication with an air
pump connects the top of the receptacle B to the top of the reservoir A.
This pipe is furnished with valves a, b, so arranged that the working of the air
pump shall exhaust the air from the upper vessel B, and force it into the lower
vessel A. The pipe El is also furnished with a branch, having a stop-cock I,
by opening which the air may be allowed to return into the receptable B. The
pipe C, which is connected to the bottom of the receptacle B, extends to
nearly the bottom of the lower vessel A, where it is open or perforated. This
said pipe is furnished (between the two vessels A and B) with a three-way
cock K, the third way of which communicates with a worm L, for condensing
the æther which passes through a vessel M of water surrounding the reser-
voir A. The worm L is provided at the bottom with a stop-cock N, for
drawing off the condensed æther. The process of coating or covering surfaces
of glass or other material with collodion by means of the above apparatus is
is follows: The reservoir A being charged with collodion, and the three-way

page_text: cock K and the stop-cock I in the branch pipe being closed, the upper part of
the receptacle B is removed, the bearers D being properly adjusted and fixed
so as to suit the size of the objects to be coated. When glass or other
plates are to be coated, they are placed in a slightly inclined position one
above the other on the bearers D; and further, when the glass or other
surface to be coated is of a cylindrical or such other form as to require a
rotary motion to be imparted thereto, so as to cause the collodion to flow
uniformly over the whole surface, the objects are placed on a frame connected
with a revolving shaft passing through air-tight glands or stuffing boxes,
which may be carried through the aforesaid receptacle or upper vessel for
that purpose.
The upper part of the receptacle B is then replaced, and
the three-way cock K opened, so as to establish a communication between
the two vessels. The air pump is then worked, which will have the effect
of exhausting the air from the receptacle B, and forcing the same into the
upper part of the reservoir A. The collodion will then rise and fill the
receptacle B, and thus coat all the plates uniformly on both sides.
air pump is then thrown out of action; the stop-cock I in the branch pipe P
is next opened, which allows the air to ascend into the receptacle B, and the
superfluous collodion to return by its own gravity into the reservoir A. As
soon as the plates are sufficiently drained, the three-way cock K is turned
so as to close the communication with the reservoir A, and open the commu-
nication from the receptacle B with the worm L. Steam is then admitted
between the inner and outer casing of the receptacle B, the heat from which
will evaporate the æther from the collodion and dry the plates. The vapour
therefrom passing along the worm cooled with water will become again
condensed, and may be drawn off' by means of tho cock below, the nose of
which should be inserted air-tight in a receptacle, as commonly practised in
the manufacture of æther.
The
When the plates are perfectly dry, the upper part B³ of the receptacle B is
withdrawn, the plates are removed from the apparatus, and a fresh supply
substituted. I would here remark, that, if preferred, on exhausting the air
as above mentioned, the collodion may be allowed to flow into the receptacle
by its own gravity, and may be returned into the reservoir by means of an
ordinary pump. The operation may then be repeated as before. By the use
and employment of an apparatus constructed as above, it will appear evident
that a perfectly even and uniform coating will be ensured, and the great waste
of æther by evaporation entirely obviated.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of
certain improved apparatus for coating or covering plates of glass or other

page_text: surfaces, together with the means of carrying the same into practical effect,
I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention, the principle of
coating surfaces with collodion in an air-tight chamber, so that the vapour
of the æther arising therefrom during the process of coating and drying the
coated surface is not suffered to escape, but is collected and condensed into
æther; and I also claim as my Invention, the apparatus, in combination with
a still herein-before described, for the purpose of practically applying such
principle; but though I have particularly described the parts and forms of such
apparatus, I do not confine myself to such particular form; but I claim all
such inodifications of the said apparatus as may be found convenient to adapt
the same to the nature and size of the surface to be coated, so long as the
principle of my said Invention is adhered to.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Cornides, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
ALEX PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.
LOUIS CORNIDES. (L.S.)