IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIN, TERNE, AND METAL PLATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard James Hutchings, of Treforest, in the County of
Glamorgan, South Wales, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIN, TERNE, AND METAL PLATES."
Sealed the 21st December 1876, and dated the 26th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard James Hutchings at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1876.
RICHARD JAMES HUTCHINGS, of Treforest, in the County of Glamorgan, South
Wales. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIN,
TERNE, AND METAL PLATES."
Heretofore it has been the practice to prepare plates for receiving a coating of
tin or terne metal by subjecting them to the action of grease in a receptacle known
as the "tinman's grease pot," from which they are removed to be immersed in the
melted metal contained in the tinman's tin pot," from whence they pass to the
"washman's pot," then they are brushed, and after being redipped are finished by
being passed between rolls revolving in a grease pot.
"
Now, according to the first part of my Invention, I employ rolls in the first or
preparatory greasing or fluxing operation. The plates are passed between these
rolls, one or both of which revolves or revolve in grease or flux, whereby the grease
is so evenly spread and brought into such intimate contact with the surface of the
plate that any further fluxing or greasing of the plate in the course of the coating
operation is rendered unnecessary, and the plate will take a sufficient coating of
metal with a less number of immersions in the metal baths than heretofore. The
number of metal baths may be therefore reduced.
The rollers employed for the aforesaid purpose are preferably covered with felt,
but other material capable of holding fluxing material, such as india-rubber, may
be employed. The rollers or rolls which are driven by bevel or other suitable
gearing have the required pressure conveyed or communicated to them by springs,
which I will call the principal springs, governed or regulated by other supplementary
springs of india-rubber or other suitable material attached to the top and bottom
of the rods which are connected with the principal springs, and by the agency of
these supplementary india-rubber or other springs the sudden pressure or relaxation

page_text: of the principal springs is modified, so that the plates while passing through or
between the rolls are relieved from an irregular pressure which now takes place in
the usual mode of working, and which has been caused by the various sudden
movements of the rolls, whereas by this part of my Invention the sudden movement
of the rolls is prevented by the action of these springs, aforesaid, upon them.
As previously described with reference to the first part of this Invention the
plates are first passed through rolls cased or covered with felt, india-rubber, or
equivalent suitable material, which rolls revolve or are worked in boxes or vessels
containing grease, oil, or other suitable material or flux; my Invention, however,
further consists in the employment of metal rolls in the metal pot or pots
between which the plates to be coated with metal are passed, the said pot or pots
contains or contain metal in which the plates are worked upwards or downwards,
or both, or in any other desired direction according to the position which the said
rolls occupy in the pot. The arrangement or arrangements for driving and regu-
lating the adjustment of the rolls is or are substantially the same as those described
for the rolls in the grease pot, only modified to suit the position in which the rolls
in the said metal pot are placed.
The plates are or may be subsequently brushed by hand as usual, or by rolls if
preferable, afterwards they are dipped in another pot containing metal known as
"wash pot," then passed through grease pot or pots containing grease, oil, or other
material in flux, by means of rolls worked by bevel or other gearing; the springs
by which the pressure is "conveyed or communicated to these rolls are governed by
auxiliary springs constructed and arranged as before described.
"Cradles" may or may not be employed in combination with the above apparatus.
I do not limit myself to the number of rolls, shape of pot or pots, or vessels,
wheels, springs, or gearing, or shape of slides, or covers, or materials for covering
rolls.
My Invention also consists in providing covers or slides for pots containing metal,
and also for grease pots, or oil pots, or other pots or vessels used in such manu-
facture to protect the contents of such pots or vessels from exposure as much as
possible or from the action of the air, and to thereby maintain the heat in these
pots and consequently to considerably reduce scruff, evaporation, and economize
fuel, metal, and grease, or any material which might be used in the manufacture
of coating tin, terne, and metal plates; these covers or slides may be partially used
while the pots are in work, and may be closed on mouth of pots while being heated
and also when not in operation.
My Invention further consists in finishing tin, terne, and other metal plates, by
conveying them directly from the metal pot to and through a heated chamber
without subjecting them to exposure to the atmosphere.
Rolls, slides, or other suitable appliances may or may not be fitted in this
chamber for drawing the plates through same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard James Hutchings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
December 1876.
RICHARD JAMES HUTCHINGS, of Treforest, in the County of Glamorgan, South 4
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIN,
TERNE, AND METAL PLATES."
Wales.
Heretofore it has been the practice to prepare plates for receiving a coating of
tin or terne metal by subjecting them to the action of grease in a receptacle known
as the "tinman's grease pot," from which they are removed to be immersed in the
melted metal contained in the "tinman's tin pot," from whence they pass to the

page_text: "washman's pot," then they are brushed, and after being redipped are finished by
being passed between rolls revolving in a grease pot.
Now, according to the first part of my Invention, I employ rolls in the first or
preparatory greasing or fluxing operation. The plates are passed between these
rolls, one or both of which revolves or revolve in grease or flux whereby the grease
is so evenly spread and brought into intimate contact with the surface of the plate.
Plates greased, as aforesaid, will take a sufficient coating of metal with a less
number of immersions in the metal baths than heretofore. The number of metal
baths may be therefore reduced.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical cross section of preparatory
greasing and coating apparatus, constructed according to this part of my Invention;
and Figure 2, a plan section through the coating pot.
Figure 3 is a vertical section; and Figure 4, a side elevation of an apparatus
according to a modified arrangement.
This apparatus is then for covering or coating the plates to be coated with
metal with an even layer of grease or flux; a, a, are a pair of rolls which have a
porous and yielding surface, and for this purpose are preferably covered with felt
or other material (such as india-rubber) capable of holding the greasing or fluxing
material. The rollers revolve in shallow trays b, b, containing the grease or flux,
but dip very slightly therein in order that only a small quantity be constantly
applied. The rollers a, a, are made to revolve by bevel or other suitable gearing
and have the required nipping pressure applied to them by suitable spring
appliances. As here shewn the bearings of the right hand roll a are at each end
connected to a rod c, which by a bell-crank lever d is connected to a rod e, the
latter is by right and left hand screw socket connected to a rod f which at its
upper end is formed or fitted with a disc that can slide up and down in a guide
box h and work against a spring cushion, such as an india-rubber solid ball g.
Other or supplementary springs may be used in addition thereto under the rods e,
in order to give all the required elasticity and softness of action. The rolls are so
mounted in a framing separate from and bolted to the coating pot I, that by dis-
connecting such bolts and unscrewing the sockets or rods e and f the rolls can be
taken away bodily with their framing and bearings. The coating pot I is by a
slanting partition or wall k narrowed down to almost a point at the bottom in
order that it shall not contain more coating metal than actually necessary, and I
thereby reduce the amount of firing and fuel required for keeping the metal in a
molten state and prevent loss of heat by radiation. The pot is also formed with
ribs, which project so far that the plate can readily be taken hold of and lifted
out of the first. coating bath I, after which I immerse it into the narrow second
coating bath m, which may answer the purpose of the ordinary so called
dipping pot.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an arrangement in all respects similar to Figure 1,
except in the means for supplying the rolls a, a, with grease or flux. In this
instance grease or flux is contained in the troughs b, b, placed above the rolls a, a,
and the quantity admitted to the rolls is regulated by means of regulating thumb
nuts n and screws, whereby one side of each trough 6 may be made to approach
more or less to the other side. I find in practice that a very fine trickling or
dripping stream suffices for the purpose.
The next part of my Invention is illustrated by Figure 5, which is a vertical
cross section through a coating pot more particularly applicable for coating
with terne or other heavy composition or metal, the pot is here shewn with the
grease or flux rollers, as in Figure 3. In the coating pot I are placed metal
rolls p, p, and q, q, or it might be one pair or more than two pairs for tin. I find
one pair only desirable. The plate to be coated in this case passes down between
these rolls, and is then lifted out by means of tongs in the usual way, or otherwise
by means of a so called cradle.
The arrangement for driving and regulating the adjustment of the rolls is sub-
stantially the same as those previously described, but must of course be modified

page_text: when the rolls are placed differently than here shewn; K is a metal feeding trough
for supplying the pot I with coating metal from time to time, and kept heated, as
also the pot I; g is a projecting part or parts inside the pot I, for ensuring that
the plate shall be thrown over against the slanting inner ribbed side of the pot
whence the plate is then withdrawn by tongs. The plates thus far coated may
then be brushed by hand as usual, or, if preferred, by rolls fitted with brushes or
similar appliances. The plates are then put into another pot containing metal and
known as "wash pot," and then passed through grease pot or pots containing oil
or flux by means of rolls worked by bevel or other gearing; these rolls may also
have pressure applied to them by means of springs, arranged as herein-before
described.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross section; and Figure 7, a vertical longitudinal section
of a grease pot thus fitted with rolls r, r, and 8, 8, which are pressed together by
spring appliances similar to those described with reference to Figures 1 and 3;
L is the grease pot, which is of similar form as the coating pot I, Figure 1, as
regards the bottom part of same. The plates are put in at the point t and pass
down into the cradle u, which is then raised so far that the plate can be caught
by the lower rolls 8, 8, which then pass it on to the next rolls r, r, and the plate is
then passed up and out for the workman to remove it; v, v, and w, w, are guides
for ensuring that the plate shall travel in the right upward direction. The rolls
are here worked by bevel wheels x, x, from a spindle y, but the roll spindles are so
connected to their bevel wheel ends that they together with rolls and framing can
be lifted bodily off the grease pot without disconnecting the gearing. The grease
pot is supplied from a reservoir M by pipe N, which has a rose inlet in the vessel M
in order to keep back impurities; it is also formed with a dip or bend at n for
impurities to collect there, whence they can be removed as required by taking out
the stop screw or plug.
The so-called cradle may or may not be employed in combination with the above-
described apparatus.
My Invention further consists in providing covers, sliding or otherwise, for the
pot containing metal, and also for the grease pots or other pots or vessels used in
such metal coating manufactures, to protect the contents of such pots or vessels
from exposure as much as possible and from the action of the air and to maintain
the heat in these pots, and consequently to considerably reduce scruff and evapora-
tion and economize fuel, metal, and grease, or any material which might be used
in the manufacture of tin, terne, and metal plates; these covers may be partially
used while the pots are in work, and may be closed over the mouths of the pots
while the contents of the latter are being heated and also when not in operation;
Z, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7, is a cover which when the rolls and their
frames are removed is placed on the pot, as shewn for the purposes aforesaid.
My Invention further consists in accelerating or facilitating the finishing of tin,
terne, and other metal plates, by conveying them directly from the last metal
coating pot to or through a heated closed chamber, where they are retained a certain
suitable time. The object of this is to let the heat cause the grease to run off the
plates, and thus a saving is effected in oil (which may be collected as it runs off)
and in bran or other cleaning material for the subsequent or final cleaning and
dusting process.
Figure 8 is a vertical cross section through one of a row of such heating
chambers, each closed by a door or flap a; when this is drawn up or opened a
truck b loaded with a rack containing plates, &c., run in, the door is then closed.
Instead of this arrangement many others may be applied with more or less
advantage, thus, one long chamber may be used with a door at each end, and as one
truck is put in at one end the furthest one at the opposite end is removed, the oil
having run off the plates in the latter during its progress from the entrance end
to the exit end of the heating chamber; or a sliding rack may be used for drawing
the plate through the chamber.
And having thus fully described this my Invention, I declare that I claim,-

page_text: Firstly. The employment in the first or preparatory greasing or fluxing operation
of rolls with a soft and porous surface, and the arrangement and construction of
parts connected therewith, substantially as herein described and shown on Figures
1, 2, 3, and 4.
Secondly. The employment of rolls in the metal coating pot, in the manner
described with reference to Figure 5.
Thirdly. The employment of rolls in the finishing grease or flux pot, in the
manner described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
Fourthly. The employment of heated chamber or chambers for causing the grease
or flux to run off the plates before the final cleaning and dusting process, as set
forth.
Fifthly. The employment of covers for pots or vessels used in the metal coating
manufacture, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard James Hutchings, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.