Year: 1885

page_text: I EDMUND MOREWOOD of Llanelly in the County of Carmarthen Tin Plate
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to lessen the cost or to improve the quality or
appearance of sheets plates or pieces or articles produced in the process of coating.
metals with other metals or alloys.
In order to prevent the flux used in the preparatory pot or vessel (which is
usually made of iron) becoming contaminated or mixed with the iron or oxide
or. foreign or undesirable matter which frequently is in or about such vessels,
I find it well to make the flux compartment or vessel which is placed at or near
the entrance side of the coating pot of crucible earthenware or of iron well lined
with strong spelter or zinc or of copper or of other suitable material which will
bear the temperature desired for the flux through which the plates or pieces pass
on their way to or as they enter the coating metal. And the fluxes which I find
it well to use in coating with melted tin or a mixture of lead and tin are tallow or
palm oil or suitable greasy or fatty matter or rosin or a mixture or mixtures of
such matters. I aim to keep such fluxes into or through which the plates or
pieces pass before entering or on their way to the coating metal as clean as
I conveniently can.
Sometimes also I use a tinning or coating pot of earthenware or other suitable
material capable of bearing the required heat.
And a finishing or improving flux division vessel or trough may also be of
earthenware or other suitable material capable of sustaining the necessary
temperature.
I also make the cups vessels or troughs which contain the washing metal in
which the rollers revolve of earthenware or other material suitable and capable of
bearing the heat required.
Thus I have vessels for the flux or for the coating metal which are more clean
than cast iron pots in order to lessen the quantity of scruff or undesirable matter
-I consider it well to use steel in preference to cast iron for this purpose.
Especially when I work with what are called reducing improving or finishing
rollers or washing or trough rollers which work in metal or flux for improving
or finishing the surface coating of sheets plates or pieces passing between them.

page_text: Such rollers then assist in clearing the surfaces of the plates from undesirable
matter which may remain.
Sometimes I have a piece or pieces of spelter or other matter suited to neutralize
or to decompose or precipitate acid or undesirable matter in the preparatory or
finishing flux vessel.
In coating with terne metal the half round pot or other vessel which contains the
coating metal is fitted with divisions or air chambers which I find it well to make
moveable but so arranged that I am able to feed the washing roller metal troughs
cups or vessels which are on the finishing side of the coating arrangements and the
latter compartments with tin or principally with tin or so as to enable me by means
of the divisions (which I find it well to make moveable and which rise to the level
at any rate of the surface of the melted metal) to have such coating mixture of
metal in the latter compartment kept cooler or with a larger proportion of tin than
the earlier compartments which are fed with a larger proportion of lead if not with
all lead. I also prefer to make the level of the bottom of the later compartment
higher than the bottom of the middle compartment although they have connection
by openings (and guides which I find it well to make moveable) under the surface
of the coating metal sufficiently large for the plates or pieces to travel from the
entrance to the exit without emerging.
I find it well to have the level of the bottom of the last compartment so far
raised that I can conveniently keep an air space or cooling matter under it and
specially regulate its temperature. Instead of using a trough with legs as usual
to contain the melted metal in which the washing rollers revolve I sometimes use
cups of such size and shape as to contain a comparatively small quantity of melted
metal to feed such rollers.
I so arrange the troughs cups or vessels that I can readily move them up or
down or arrange them so as to suit the position I may find most desirable.
And I find it well to connect them with exterior ends boxes or receivers which
I can feed or keep fed with melted metal so arranged that I can judge the level or
condition of the supply of metal from which the washing or finishing rollers
are fed.
Such washing rollers or vessels may be applied to other coating sets or
arrangements as well as to the half round or somewhat horizontai coating pot.
In some cases I apply sweepers or brushes to the surfaces of the trough or
washing rollers and also to the surfaces of those rollers which are used for reducing
improving or finishing the coating of plates or pieces passing against or between
them. Such rollers take more or less of the coating metal from the surface of the
plates or pieces passing between them and also of the scurf or undesirable matter
which may be mixed with such coating metal if it has not been previously brushed
or freed from scurf.
The brushes or sweepers I use are sometimes revolving-But other suitable
motion may be given to them or they may be stationary.
I make them sometimes of fine wire or of brick which is free from grit or of
hemp or of other suitable material.
I prefer to give them motion by friction or by an eccentric or automatic appliance.
I connect a washpot with the brushing or sweeping arrangement.
Sometimes I pass the plates down between a pair of rollers and then I find it
well to use a couple of what I call washing plates of tinned or coated iron or other
suitable metal rather wider than the sheet or plate in process of coating and
I place these washing plates surface to surface a little apart but so that they are
under the coating metal or flux-and that the coating sheets or plates in going down
or in rising up shall pass between them and near or close if they do not strictly
sweep or brush against them.
The coating or finishing sheets or plates in or by their travel or passage between
these surfaces create or cause such a swirl or current or movement in the melted
metal between or around them as to unsettle or set free more or less of the scruff or

page_text: undesirable matter from the surface of such coating or unishing sheets or plates or
pieces of metal.
These plates or surfaces which I call washing plates may be used in connection
with ordinary rollers for washing reducing improving or finishing the coating
sheets or plates or with rollers to whose coated surface sweepers or brushes may
be applied.
I prefer to raise the sheets or plates between these washing surfaces by means of
a cradle and rollers Sometimes by a cradle alone.
I make the washing plates moveable. Sometimes I give them a to and from
motion.
I arrange sweepers so as to keep the surface of the melted metal clean at the
point where the coating plates or pieces rise up and pass out of the melted coating
metal. In order to assist the attendant who works at or withdraws the plates or
pieces from the finishing improving washing or reducing rollers or from the vessel
or pot in which they operate or in which the coating plates or pieces are improved
or finished or to enable him to give the sheets or plates a regulated or longer time
in passing between such rollers pot or vessel I find it well to work the cradle or
appliance or arrangements for passing the sheets plates or pieces into or through
or raising them out of the metal or flux or vessel or rollers by means of or in
connection with an eccentric or automatic arrangement appliance or machine.
Such eccentric or automatic appliance machine or arrangement may work in
connection with more than one pot or vessel containing finishing improving reducing
or washing rollers in such manner and at such speed as to enable one attendant
to work or to withdraw the plates operated upon by the rollers of more than one
pot whether fed by plates or pieces alternately or otherwise. If two or more pots
or vessels are fed in succession then each plate or piece has at least one rolling in
two or more pots. If one pot or vessel only may be used and then each plate
passes twice down and twice up in the same pot or one pair of finishing rollers
only may be used in working the plates or pieces in succession then each plate or
piece is passed twice between or through the finishing pair of rollers.
Sometimes I have two cradles or appliances to receive or raise the plates or to
feed alternately or in succession one pair or one set of rollers working in the
finishing flux or melted metal.
Or one cradle with one foot or rest on each side of its rod may be fed very
rapidly or arranged so as to supply one or two pair or set or series of improving
or finishing rollers especially when the ordinary hand brushing is omitted. Then
one cradle may be arranged to raise two plates either at once or alternately with
its two feet or feed two pairs of rollers at about the same time.
I have also an arrangement or arrangements whereby the plate or piece which is
introduced into the reducing improving washing or finishing flux or pot or vessel
dwells or rests in the flux or vessel but outside the cradle or appliance whilst this
is receiving raising or operating upon another plate or piece.
The plate or piece thus rests until the cradle or appliance is free from the
previous plate or piece and ready to receive it.
I have what I call an exterior indicator by which the attendant can know the
position or the movement of the cradle or appliance when it is out of sight or
under the flux.
I arrange washing improving reducing or finishing rollers working in connection
with an eccentric or automatic appliance so that I can pass plates or pieces down
and between them into the washing improving or finishing metal or flux to be
afterwards raised or operated upon by one or more other rollers. Thus I regulate
the time and course of travel of the plates or pieces down-I find it well to
use guides.
When plates or pieces have obtained their coating in a semi-circular or somewhat
horizontal manner of travel or when they otherwise obtain a heavier coating than
I desire I wash reduce improve or finish the coating by passing the plates or pieces
through pairs of rollers revolving in contact with clean melted metal in cups

page_text: troughs or other vessels or through pairs of rollers commonly called reducing or
finishing rollers working in or in contact with finishing flux-I find it well some-
times to work such reducing improving or finishing rollers alternately or in
succession or by means of an eccentric or automatic appliance.
If I conduct washing or finishing in two or more pots or vessels with rollers in
contact with the metal or flux therein I place them so that one extends more or
less beyond the other or slantingly or otherwise so that one attendant can readily
work or withdraw the plates or pieces operated upon by the washing improving
reducing or finishing rollers of two or more pots or vessels.
I find it desirable in working thus to use an eccentric or automatic machine or
appliance for raising or withdrawing the plates or pieces whether I have one or
more than one pot or vessel as above mentioned.
are.
I sometimes cause the plates or pieces to rise up between or through a set or
series of three or more pairs of rollers one pair being above the other. Those I use
e-washing improving reducing or finishing rollers-I use them with a cradle or
similar appliance or fingers-and connected with an eccentric or automatic
appliance. I prefer not to drive all pairs from one side-I use a helicon or worm
or some wheel with smooth or easy motion to drive these rollers.
Sometimes I work with a layer or bed of clean sand or a suitable silicate or
siliceous matter on the surface of the coating metal. Such layer or bed serves
more or less to protect the surface of the melted metal from injury or waste or the
flux from laying directly on the hot surface of the melted metal without shelter.
I find it convenient to use rosin or a mixture of rosin or other suitable flux so
placed on or in contact with siliceous matter or other matter which does not
decompose or become mixed with or injure the flux so that the flux is more or less
sheltered or protected by the sandy or other suitable matter.
I find rosin combined with sal ammoniac or chloride of zinc a useful flux when
coating with alloys of zinc and tin or zinc and terne metal.

page_text: Improvements in Coating Sheets, Plates, and other Pieces.
of Metal.
I EDMUND MOREWOOD of Llanelly in the County of Carmarthen Tin Plate
Manufacturer 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:-
:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in coating sheets plates and
other pieces of metal.
It is usual in producing metal coated plates especially such as are known as tin
and terne plates, for the plates to be coated to be passed down into melted coating
metal through flux contained in a flux box.. The flux commonly employed consists
of palm oil and tallow, chloride of zinc and resin are also sometimes employed.
The flux box is usually of iron but this material is found to injure the flux and
a deposit is formed on the sides of the box which soils plates that come into
contact with it.
To avoid these inconveniences I make the flux box of earthenware; I use a
material which will bear heat without injury, as crucible earthenware. I make
the flux box in the usual form, for example of the general form as represented in
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.
Sometimes I use an iron flux box lined with zinc in that part which is in
contact with the flux. The zinc tends to keep the flux in good order preventing
acidity and otherwise avoiding the inconveniences which arise when the flux is in
contact with iron. Without lining the flux box so completely as to prevent
contact of the flux with the iron considerable advantage is obtained simply by
providing pieces of zinc in the flux box in contact with the flux. I fix such pieces
to the sides of the box.
Figure 1 of the drawings shows a transverse vertical section of a flux box.
a. a is the zinc lining attached to the sides of the box by zine rivets a a¹. The
dotted line 1. 1. indicates the depth to which the flux box dips down into the
melted metal contained in the coating pot. The flux does not rise in the flux box
above the top of the lining.
Sometimes in place of using zinc I with a like object form the upper part of the
flux box of copper or I line the flux box with copper.
The copper should not be allowed to come into contact with the melted coating
metal.
In making tin and terne plate it is also found that the plates which lie in
contact with the iron of which the coating pot is formed are injured thereby and
also. that the melted coating metal itself is injured by contact with the iron pot.
To avoid these inconveniences I form the interior of the pot of earthenware: The
following is the method I prefer. I use an iron pot lined with plates of crucible
earthenware say a quarter of an inch thick and four inches square.
quare. The plates fit

page_text: one against another and they are attached to the inside of the iron pot by screws
of tinned iron.
In making tin and terne plate it is common to employ metal coated rollers, and
to provide troughs beneath such rollers to retain melted coating metal or flux in
contact with the rollers. These troughs have heretofore been made of iron and the
coating metal or flux is injured to some extent by contact with the iron of which
the troughs are formed. I avoid this by forming the troughs of earthenware.
Such troughs are shown at b. b in Figure 2 hereinafter described.
Another part of my invention relates to the arrangements for withdrawing the
plates from the coating metal pot particularly from what is known as the "half
round" pot in which the plate being introduced at one side of the pot is carried
forwards by rollers and delivered at the exit end of the pot.
I mount the withdrawing rollers with their troughs in a moveable frame which
is closed at the bottom by dipping into a gutter or receiver provided for it and
I supply these troughs by siphons or by other means from the said gutters or
receivers in which a store is contained. I also cause the plates to emerge from the
melted coating metal at a surface which is kept clear from scruff by mechanical
sweepers consisting of a pair of metal coated rollers set at a distance apart and so
placed, that their under surfaces only are in contact with the melted metal. These
sweeping rollers are driven in the opposite direction to the delivery rollers.
Figure 2 of the annexed drawings shows a vertical section of part of a half
round pot with delivering apparatus arranged in accordance with my invention.
c is the pot the level at which the melted coating metal stands within it is
indicated by a dotted line. c¹ c¹ are rollers within this pot by which the plates are
carried forward. d is a flux box containing flux (palm oil and tallow) through
which the plates are delivered; at the sides and ends of the flux box a gutter or
receiver d¹ is provided in which is melted coating metal (or it may be flux) for the
supply of the troughs b. b. into which the delivery rollers e. e. dip. f. f are siphons
connecting the troughs b. b. with the gutters or receivers d¹ d. The rollers e. e.
are driven in the usual manner.
The rollers e with their driving gear and troughs b are carried by the moveable
frame g. The lower edges of this frame dip down into the gutters or receivers d'.
The frame with the parts mounted upon it can be readily lifted away when
required leaving the flux box d open at the top and the rollers beneath accessible.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement of sweeping rollers which I prefer to provide
at the surface of the melted metal from which the plates emerge.
e. e. are the
delivery rollers as in Figure 2. c c are the upper most pair of carrying rollers
placed somewhat lower than in Figure 2 so as to be completely covered by the
melted metal, the surface of which is indicated by the line h. h. i. i. are the
sweeping rollers set at a distance apart so that the plates in rising to the delivery
rollers do not touch them-they are so driven that their under surfaces in contact
with the molten metal travel away from each other. These surfaces of the rollers
catch the scruff and impurities and carry them to the rear where they may be
removed from the surfaces of the rollers by scrapers jj.
Sometimes I employ washing plates below the surface of the melted metal in the
coating pot; these plates are set at a little distance apart and held by very light
and easy springs. The plates are lifted between them by a cradle usually to
coated rollers which take the plates and deliver them out of the pot. This
arrangement is illustrated by Figure 4 which is a vertical section. k k are the
washing plates, they are well coated with the metal which stands in the pot above
the tops of the washing plates. are lever arms carrying the washing plates,
they are supported above the edge of the pot where they are provided with
springs and adjusting screws and nuts m. nn are the withdrawing rollers.
The sheets or plates coming up through the melted metal carry with them a wave
of metal which is checked when the sheets or plates enter between the washing
plates, with the result that scruff or impurities on the surface of the sheets or,
plates is detached and washed off.

page_text: Sometimes I make the washing plates narrower and arrange two or more
pairs one above another with spaces between them for the escape of scruff and
impurities.
My invention also relates to partially automatic apparatus by which plates may
be passed in rapid succession between rollers immersed in flux or metal whilst
nevertheless the plates are permitted to dwell for a time beneath the surface of the
flux or metal in the pot.
The apparatus consists of a double cradle to which automatic movement is
imparted so that whilst one side or part of the cradle rises to present a plate to the
rollers, the other side descends and a plate which has already been placed upon it
passes into position to be raised to the rollers. Automatic stops or indicators are
provided which prevent plates being placed in the cradle except when it is in
position to receive them.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a finishing grease pot with a double cradle and
other parts arranged as above stated.
o is the grease pot heated by means of a fire as usual and filled with grease
nearly to the top. p¹ p¹ p² p² and p³ p³ are metal coated rollers driven in the
usual way. Beneath the rollers p³ are feeding troughs 99 which may be of
earthenware. The troughs are by my invention suspended by rods which are
adjustable to vary the dip of the rollers p³ into the troughs. q¹ q' are funnels to
feed the troughs q with coating metal. rare stationary guides within the pot.
88 is a double cradle with a pivot at 8¹ on which it can rock and this pivot is able
to rise and fall in guide slots in the part r. tt are links connecting the cradle
with the rods uu which at their upper ends are suspended from the rocking
lever v.
The lever v receives motion from an eccentric w. The rods u are
adjustable in length by means of the nuts u. The links t are provided with
projections t. 1² are stops or indicators operated by the rods u. When the
rod is down the stop assumes the position in which it is represented at x and then
no plate can be placed in the cradle on this side; when the rod is up the stop
assumes the position indicated at x and the cradle can then receive a plate on
this side.
The apparatus is worked in the following manner; the workman receiving the
coated plates from the half round pot or other apparatus which delivers them in
rapid succession. He places the plate as he receives it into the cradle on the side
which is raised and open so that the plate rests on the projection t¹. The cradle
then rocks automatically which movement aided by the form of the guider and
link t causes the plate last put in to slip off the projection t¹ and descend to the
lower part of the cradle. Also by the same motion of the cradle a plate previously
in the cradle on the other side is presented to the rollers whilst the cradle on this
side comes into position for another plate to be put into it. This the workman
does and he also receives the plate which the rollers deliver.
These arrangements present several advantages: the cradle is operated indepen-
dently of the workman and manual labour is saved; the working can consequently
be rapid which is not only in itself an advantage but the plates following each
other almost, continuously between the rollers is more favourable to keeping the
rollers in good order than when the intervals between the passages of the plates
are comparatively long. Again notwithstanding the rapid work the plates dwell a
sufficient time in the pot there being always several plates immersed at the same
time; and lastly the apparatus is easy to work as the workman cannot introduce
a plate at a wrong time.
Lifting apparatus such as described can also be employed in pots containing
coating metal.
Figure 6 is a section of a grease pot in which the apparatus is duplicated in order
to obtain a longer dwell; that is to say two double cradles are provided and they
operate alternately. r are the stationary guides. 88 are the cradles, they are
connected by the rods uu with the rocking levers v v. are fingers jointed
u* on the rods u
to the guides r they are raised at suitable times by pins u

page_text: These fingers serve two purposes, to direct the plates to the rollers when the
cradle rises and to prevent a plate descending into the cradle until the cradle is
ready to receive it, the previous plate having already been presented to the rollers.
In this figure on one side a three roller arrangement is indicated, the plate in this
case is intended to descend between the outermost roller and that next to it but
where a pair only of top rollers is provided, the plate is inserted by the space
beyond the rollers. The figure on the left represents a plate which has just been
inserted but is not yet able to descend to the lower part of the cradle being
prevented by fingers but as the cradle continues to descend the plate will fall
into it and will at once assume the position of the plate shown in the cradle next
but one which has now come to the bottom of its stroke-meanwhile the plate in
the next cradle will have been presented to the rollers above and will rapidly be
taken out of the cradle. The plate in the cradle on the right of the figure is about
to be raised; this cradle is at the top of its stroke.
Another part. of my invention relates to. means for preventing waste and
deterioration of flux on the entrance side of a coating metal pot. In place of as
heretofore. permitting the unmixed flux to rest on the surface of the melted coating
metal I cover the surface of the metal with sand or siliceous material or other
granular matter which will not undergo change and amongst this material
I distribute the flux; this arrangement is especially suitable when fluxes which
are liable to be wasted or deteriorated by heat are employed such especially as
grease or resin or salammoniac. The siliceous matter which I prefer to employ is
pounded glass. I cover the surface of the metal with this to the depth of say half
an inch or more and the flux I place amongst and above the siliceous matter.
My invention is not confined to coating with tin and terne metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I'declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of
metal of a flux box or vessel made of earthenware.
2. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces
of metal of a flux box lined with zinc or containing pieces of zinc in contact
with the flux.
3. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of a flux box formed of or lined with copper.
4. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of a pot having an interior surface of earthenware to contain the melted coating
metal.
5. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal,
of metal coated rollers in combination with troughs of earthenware retaining
melted coating metal or flux in contact with the surfaces of the rollers.
6.-The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of a moveable frame carrying delivery rollers and parts in connection therewith,
the said frame being closed at the bottom by its edges being received into a gutter
or receiver containing melted metal or flux.
7. The use substantially as described in coating sheets, plates or pieces of metal
of a moveable frame carrying delivering rollers and troughs into which the rollers
dip, the said troughs being fed from a gutter or receiver into which the lower edges
of the moveable frame dip.
8.-The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of sweeping rollers keeping clear the surface of the melted coating metal from
which the plates are caused to emerge
9. The arrangements substantially as described in connection with a half
round pot.
10. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of washing plates beneath the surface of the melted coating metal .

page_text: 11. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of a pot containing a cradle to which automatic movement is given; such cradle
receiving the plate, raising it and presenting it to rollers or other finishing or
improving instruments.
12.-The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of a pot containing a double cradle to which an alternating automatic movement
is given; such cradle presenting plates to rollers first from one side and then from
the other.
13. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of a pot containing a double cradle, such cradle first receiving the plate upon a
support where for a time it dwells before passing into position to be delivered and
such cradle also causing the plates to be delivered first from one side and then
from the other.
14. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of stops or indicators in combination with a cradle worked automatically the same
serving to prevent the introduction of a plate into the pot where the cradle is not
in position to receive it.
15. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of rollers provided with troughs supplied with melted coating metal or flux; such
troughs being capable of adjustment up or down to regulate the depth to which
the rollers dip into the trough.
16. The use substantially as described in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal
of sand, pounded glass or other solid granular matter mixed with grease, rosin or
other flux.
17. My improvements in coating sheets plates or pieces of metal substantially
as described.
Dated th
1000