IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN GALVANIZING SHEET IRON OR COATING SHEET IRON WITH ZINC OR ALLOYS OF ZINC
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Heathfield, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
USED IN GALVANIZING SHEET IRON OR COATING SHEET IRON WITH ZINC OR
ALLOYS OF ZINC."
Sealed the 16th November 1877, and dated the 27th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Heathfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1877.
RICHARD HEATHFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufac-
turer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN GALVANIZING SHEET IRON OR
COATING SHEET IRON WITH ZINC OR ALLOYS OF ZINC."
In constructing the said apparatus according to my Invention I fix in the middle
of the galvanizing pot or bath, and near its upper side, a flat bar or plate placed
vertically, and extending from one end to the opposite end of the pot, thus dividing
the pot at its upper part into two equal or nearly equal divisions, as is well known.
On one side of the said bar, that is to say, that side out of which the coated plates
are to be drawn, I fix a pair of horizontal rolls, their axes'being in the same or
nearly the same horizontal plane. These rolls are situated by preference near the
surface of the metal in the pot, but may be placed at any convenient depth in the
pot.
In using the apparatus the plate to be coated is introduced into the pot at the
side of the middle bar opposite to that containing the pair of horizontal rolls in the
way usually practised in galvanizing sheets without rolls. The said plate is passed
underneath the middle bar described, and is conducted to and passed through the
pair of rolls at the outlet side of the pot, the plate thus entering the rolls length-
wise instead of. endwise, as in coating with rolls in the ordinary manner.
The
plate on emerging from the pot is taken hold of by the attendant workman and
removed.
'
: '
Although I prefer to use the middle bar described, in the pot, and which said bar
very much facilitates the galvanizing process when used in conjunction with a pair
of horizontal rolls as described, yet the said process may be conducted without the
said middle-bar.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Heathfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1877.
RICHARD HEATHFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufac-
turer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN GALVANIZING SHEET IRON OR
COATING SHEET IRON WITH ZINC OR ALLOYS OF ZINC."
In constructing the said apparatus according to my Invention I fix in the middle
of the galvanizing pot or bath, and at or near its upper side, a flat bar or plate
placed vertically, and extending from one end to the opposite end of the pot, thus
dividing the pot at its upper part into two equal or nearly equal divisions, as is well
known. On one side of the said bar, that is to say, that side out of which the
coated plates are to be drawn, I fix a pair of horizontal rolls, their axes being in the
same or nearly the same horizontal pláne. These rolls are situated by preference
near the surface of the metal in the pot, but they may be placed at any convenient
depth in the pot, and either wholly or partially submerged in the melted metal.
In using the apparatus the sheet to be coated is introduced into the pot length-
wise, that is, with its longer sides parallel or nearly parallel to the horizontal rolls,
*the said sheet being introduced at the side of the pot opposite to that containing
the pair of horizontal rolls in the way usually practised in galvanizing sheets without
rolls. The said plate is passed underneath the middle bar described in the ordinary
manner, and is conducted to and passed through the pair of rolls at the outlet side
of the pot, the plate thus entering the rolls lengthwise instead of endwise, as in
coating with rolls in the ordinary manner. The plate on emerging from the pot is
taken hold of by the attendant workman and removed.
•
Although I prefer to use the middle bar described in the pot, and which said bar
very much facilitates the galvanizing process when used in conjunction with a pair
of horizontal rolls as described, yet the said process may be conducted without the
said middle bar.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in cross section, and Figure 2 in plan, apparatus constructed
according to my Invention, to be used in the galvanizing of sheet iron or the coating
of sheet iron with zinc or alloy of zinc. Figure 1 is drawn to a larger scale than
Figure 2.
The same letters indicate the same parts in both Figures.
a, a, is the pot or bath containing the melted zinc or alloy of zinc, the said pot
being much longer than pots ordinarily employed in combination with rolls. 6 is
the vertical bar or plate passing from one end to the opposite end of the pot, and
dividing the top of the pot into two equal or nearly equal longitudinal parts, marked
respectively C and D, C being the entrance side of the pot, and D the outlet side of
the pot. At the outlet side D of the pot a pair of horizontal rolls e, f, is situated,
the said rolls being arranged parallel to the longer sides of the pot, as best seen in
the plan, Figure 2. The said pair of horizontal rolls e, f, is situated by preference
near the surface of the melted metal in the pot, but they may be placed at any
convenient depth in the pot, and either wholly or partially submerged in the melted
metal.
The rolls e, f, are driven by the gearing represented, or they may be driven by
other convenient gearing. The gearing shown consists of a large toothed wheel g
on the shaft driving the roll e, and the pinions i, k, at the opposite end of the rolls
coupling the said rolls together.
The distance between the two rolls e, f, may be adjusted by cams acting on the
bearings of the roll e, or by screws or levers.
In Figure 1 a sheet of iron in course of being galvanized is represented at
and m, indicating the position of the sheet when it is first dipped into the pot,

page_text: and m the position of the sheet as it is being withdrawn from the pot between the
rolls e, f. The guides n, o, serve to direct the sheet in its passage to the rolls. The
sheet is pushed by the workman under the bar b, and raised until it passes between
the rolls e, f, in the way in which he operates when rolls are not used, excepting
that in the ordinary method of operating he draws the coated sheet from the
pot direct from the melted metal, instead of drawing it between the pair of
rolls e, f.
It will be understood that the plates or sheets to be galvanized in apparatus con-
structed according to my Invention must be somewhat shorter in their longest
direction than the rolls.
The middle bar b dividing the top of the pot into two parts may be dispensed
with, but I prefer to use it in conjunction with the rolls e, f, as represented in the
Drawing.
By dipping the plate or sheet lengthwise into the pot or bath, and passing it
through and removing it from the bath and rolls in that position as described and
represented, economy in time, labour, and material in conducting the galvanizing
process is secured.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
the improvements in apparatus used in galvanizing sheet iron or coating sheet iron
with zinc or alloys of zinc, herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, that is to say, combining with a pot or bath for containing the
melted zinc or alloy of zinc a pair of horizontal rolls, arranged in the pot or bath in
the manner described and illustrated, so as to fit the apparatus for conducting the
galvanizing process by introducing the plate or sheet to be galvanized into the bath
of melted metal lengthwise, that is, with its longer sides parallel to the horizontal
rolls, and passing it through the bath and delivering it from the bath through the
rolls in the same position, as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Heathfield, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
T. H. KNIGHTS,
235, Lodge Road,
Birmingham.
RICHARD HEATHFIELD. (L.S.)