IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Llewelyn Howell, of Taibach, in the County of
Glamorgan, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKLING AND SWILLING
METAL PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Llewelyn Howell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1880.
LLEWELYN HOWELL, of Taibach, in the County of Glamorgan. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.”
The Invention is more particularly to be applied to the process of pickling and
swilling as practised in the tinplate trade, and consists in the manufacture and use
of a cradle, suspended in a bath in a vertical position by means of a spindle fixed
on each side, and resting in a bearing fixed on the sides of the pickling trough.
The trough should be long enough to enable the cradle with the plates to be rocked
backwards and forwards, and may be made in any convenient form, but I prefer
to make it of an oblong form, with the ends raised and covered over so as to prevent
the acid, or water, or compound from running over during the time the cradles are
in motion and the contents are agitated. On each side a bearing is made to
receive the spindles of the cradle. It is without any ribs or projections of any
kind, and quite plain in all its parts.
The cradle, which may be made of yellow metal or any suitable material to
resist the action of the acid or compound, is formed of two sides, either of a solid
plate or bars, and bottom, and in the latter are fixed a number of upright pins to
support the plates to be operated upon in a vertical position, and on each side is
fixed a spindle, one of which carries a crank which is made to fit into the rod
working from an engine, and by which the rocking movement is communicated
to it.
This rocking creates a strong agitation in the acid, compound, or water, and
which, with the movement of the plates, cause them to open freely and admit a
a strong current of the liquid between them.

page_text: Suitable fastenings are fixed to the cradles to enable them to be raised up
bodily out of and into the troughs.
A similar trough is made for swilling the plates, and the movements are
the same.
The plates are first placed vertically in the cradle, which is then put into the
trough containing the liquid, which may be heated to the required degree of steam
or any other suitable means. They are there rocked until they are cleaned; they
are then removed and placed in the swilling trough containing water, and there
rocked in the same way as the first trough until the acid is removed from the
plates, and are then removed to a stand where they are taken out of the cradle and
passed on to the next process in the manufacture. I propose to work the cradle by
fixing the crank to the piston rod of an engine which will work backwards and
forwards, but any other suitable means may be adopted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Llewelyn Howell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
November 1880.
LLEWELYN HOWELL, of Taibach, in the County of Glamorgan.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN PICKLING AND SWILLING METAL PLATES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention is more particularly to be applied to the process of pickling and
swilling as practised in the tiuplate trade, and consists in the manufacture and uso
of a cradle, suspended in a bath in a vertical position by means of a spindle fixed
on each side, and resting in bearings fixed on the sides of the pickling trough.
The trough should be long enough to enable the cradle with the plates to be rocked
backwards and forwards, and may be made in any convenient form, but I prefer
to make it of an oblong form, with the ends raised and covered over, so as to
prevent the acid, or water, or compound from running over during the time the
cradles are in motion and the contents are agitated. On each side an open bearing
is made to receive the spindles of the cradle. It may be without any ribs or
projections, and is preferably made quite plain in all its parts.
The cradle, which may be made of yellow metal or any suitable material to
resist the action of the acid or compound, is formed of two sides, either of a solid
plate or bars, and bottom, and in the latter are fixed a number of upright pins to
support the plates to be operated upon in a vertical position. The cradle obtains
its rocking motion by means of two spindles, one of which carries a crank which is
made to fit into the rod worked from an engine, and by which the rocking
movement is communicated to it.
This rocking creates a strong agitation in the acid, compound, or water, and
which, with the movement of the plates, causes them to open freely and adinit a
strong current of the liquid between them.
Suitable fastenings are fixed to the cradles to enable them to be raised up bodily
out of and dipped into the troughs.
A similar trough is made for swilling the plates, and the movements aro
the same.
The plates are first placed vertically in the cradle, which is then put into the
trough containing the liquid, which may be heated to the required degree by steam
or any other suitable means. They are there rocked until they are cleaned; they
are then removed and placed in the swilling trough containing water, and there
rocked in the same way as in the first trough until the acid is removed from the
plates, and are then removed to a stand where they are taken out of the cradle and
passed on to the next process in the manufacture.
I propose to work the cradle by a crank and connecting rod driven by
an engine which will work backwards and forwards, but any other suitable means
may be adopted.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate an apparatus embodying my Invention.
Figure 1 is a plan, A being the pickling and swilling troughs; B are the cradles ;
Care spindles upon which the cradles are fixed; Ď are two standards to
support the levers which communicate the oscillating movement to the cradles ;
F are two rods connecting the two spindles which carry the levers; E and Gare two
spindles upon which the levers are fixed; H is a lever connected with the engine;
I is a triangle for lifting the cradles out of and into the troughs.
Figure 2 is an end elevation; A, pickling and swilling troughs; B, cradles;
b, upright pins for supporting the plates; C, spindles; D, levers fixed to the spindles of
the cradles; E, levers which carry the pins upon which the levers of the cradle are
fixed; e, pins to receive the levers of the cradles; F is a steam cylinder for lifting
the triangle with the cradles; G is a triangle; H are connecting rods from the

page_text: triangle to the cradles; I is a piston rod, made long enough to pass through the
guide O, so as to give greater stability to the lift; K are sheaves; L is a chain,
and M are balance weights to assist the lift; N is a beam to support the balance
gearing and the guide of the piston rod.
Figure 3 is a side elevation; A is the trough; B, standards to support connecting
rods; C, connecting rod; D, lever of cradle; E, bearing for spindle of cradlo ;
F, connecting rod to engine; G, crank disc on engine shaft; H, forked suspension
rod; I, triangle; K, steam cylinder; L, piston rod; M, cross pieco to which
chain of balance weights is fastened; N, pulleys for balance weights; O, spindle;
P, guide for piston rod; Q, beams; R, bearings for pulley axle; S, spindle of
cradle.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of trough, shewing the cradle and its motion;
A, trough; B, cradle; c, bearing to support cradle; D, D, line of oscillation.
Figure 5, side view of cradle, shewing the lever which communicates the motion
to the cradle; A, cradle; B, lever.
Figure 6, end view of cradle; A, cradle; B, lever; C, spindle; D, rod which
connects cradle to triangle.
Figure 7 is a side view of cradle.
I do not claim the device for lifting the cradles, as this may be effected in many
ways, nor do I confine myself to the exact shape and arrangement of parts shown
in the Drawings as an illustration of my Invention.
What I claim is, an oscillating cradle or frame, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Llewelyn Howell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of November, 1880.
Witness to the signature of
Llewelyn Howell,
D. R. DAVID,
Margum,
LLEWELYN HOWELL. (L.S.)
Taibach.