Improved Construction of Thimble-pins for Use in Supporting Pottery-ware whilst being Fired.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Construction of Thimble-pins for Use in Supporting
Pottery-ware whilst being Fired.
We, THOMAS ARROWSMITH HENRY THOMAS ARROWSMITH and JOHN
ARROWSMITH Wedgwood. and Moorland Road Works, Burslem, Staffs, Stilt and
Spur Manufacturers, 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 our invention has reference to an improved construction or form of thimble-
pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst being fired, the object of our said
invention being to make such thimble-pins so as to greatly reduce the liability of
adhesion of such thimble-pins to one another whilst in use to facilitate the separa-
tion of such thimbles after the firing of pottery-ware, and to prevent the breakage
of such thimbles when drawing the ware.
In carrying our said invention into practice we first make thimble-forms of or
from clay, marl or the like suitable material by means of a suitable metallic "form
die" attached to a suitable press, and then finish the shape of such thimbles by
means of a steel or other suitable metallic die attached to a suitable machine or
press, the thimbles whilst in their clay or green state are laid aside to dry for a
convenient length of time, or dried by steam or other suitable heat, such thimbles
are then placed in suitable seggars and fired for an adequate length of time, after
which firing such thimbles are ready for use.
In order that our said invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail we have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings on which letters of
reference are marked on corresponding parts on all the figures alike.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of four stacked thimble pins as ordinarily used
socketting well into each other, so that the said thimbles will remain rigid and
upright, the disadvantage of this deep socketting being that the weight of ware
placed upon such thimbles for firing causes the tapering portion of such thimbles
to fit tight or wedge into each other, so that when drawing ware after firing it is
generally found that the evaporated glaze from the ware together with the weight
of the ware will cause such thimbles to adhere or stick firmly to each other, so that
whilst withdrawing the ware either the arm b or body a of such thimbles, or the
ware itself will be damaged and rendered useless.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the thimbles shewn at Figure 1, illustrating the
frequent, result arising from the deep socketting and adhesion of such thimbles
when withdrawing ware after firing.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of similarly shaped thimbles to those shewn at
Figures 1 and 2 but with a shallow socket, shewing that ordinarily shaped thimbles
made with shallow sockets when placed in position for use will not remain rigid or
upright thus rendering ware placed upon them liable to injury.
Figure 4 is a side sectional elevation of four of our improved conical thimble-pins,
shewing one method of reducing the area of contact of such thimbles with each
other, thus lessening the liability of such thimbles to stick or wedge, and enabling
such thimbles to be readily separated when withdrawing ware after firing..
Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the thimbles shewn at Figure 4 when.in.an
| upright or normal position.

page_text: Figure 6 is an elevation partly in section of four similar thimbles to those shewn
at Figure 4, but with a curved or rounded upper bearing surface d instead of a flat
bearing surface c as shewn at Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a sectional plan view through the line Y-Y on Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an elevation partly in section of four improved thimble-pins with flat
tapering sockets, and flat bearing surface c, and rounded bearing surfaces d.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan view through the line Z-Z on Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of four improved thimble-pins having a similar
transverse section to that shewn at Figure 9, flat bearing surfaces c, and rounded
bearing surface d, the outer front part of each thimble having different tapering
portions e, f for preventing such thimbles becoming detached or separated whilst
placing upright piles or columns of such thimbles within, seggars for use, the
reduced area of contact of such thimbles admitting of their ready separation after.
firing ware.
Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the thimbles shewn at Figure 10 when in an
upright or normal position.
Figure 12 is a modified form of the thimbles illustrated at Figures 4, 6, 8 and 10,
the bearing edge of the arm of each thimble being uppermost as in the ordinary'
construction of thimble pins.
Figure 13 is a plan view of one of the thimbles shewn at Figure 12 when in an
upright or normal position..
Figure 134 is a side elevation of a modified form of the bearing surface of the
thimbles shewn at Figures 4, 6, 8, 12, 13 and 15.
Figure 13B is a plan view of thimbles having the modified form of bearing surface
shewn at Figure 13A, the bearing surface of the thimbles at Figures 4, 6, 8, 12, 13
and 15 being indicated by the letter e, and the reduced bearing surface of the
modified thimbles shewn at Figures 13 and 13B by the letter g.
Figure 14 is an inverted plan view of one of the thimbles shewn at Figure 12
when in an upright or normal position."
1
Figure 15 is a side elevation of a pile of six thimbles similar to those shewn at
Figure 12.
Figure 16. is a modified form of the thimbles shewn at Figure 10, the bearing
edge of the arm of each thimble being uppermost as in the ordinary construction of
thimble-pins, and the bearing surface rounded as d; ör flat as c.
Figure 17 is a plan view of one of the thimbles shewn at Figure 16 when in an
upright or normal position.
Figure 18 is a front elevation, Figure 19 a side elevation, and Figure 20 a plan
view of a modified form of the thimbles shewn at Figures 1, 11, 16 and 17, the
bearing, surface e being reduced as indicated.
The several figures on the drawings are about full size.
We would have it understood that the "thimbles shewn at the several
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 134, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. may
be made round, square or rectangular in transverse section, and with a flat bearing
surfaceic, or a rounded, bearing surface d.
::
On reference to the Figures 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 16 it will be seen that the
upper thimbles in each of those figures are shewn as if pushed aside when
withdrawing ware,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in
in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
"
:i
1st. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of, any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section,
with a flat bearing surface e and. Hat bearing surface c for the purpose of lessening
the liability of adhesion of such thimble-pins to one another when in use by reason
of the reduced area of contact as herein substantially described, set forth and
illustrated at Figures 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 14 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
:

page_text: 2nd. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section,
with a flat bearing surface, e, and flat bearing surface c or a rounded bearing
surface d for the purpose of lessening the liability of adhesion of such thimble-pins
to one another when in use by reason of the reduced area of contact as herein
substantially described, set forth and illustrated at Figures 6, 8 and 12 of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
3rd. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section,
with a flat bearing surface e, a flat bearing surface c or a rounded bearing surface d
for the purpose of lessening the liability of adhesion of such thimble-pins to one
another when in use by reason of the reduced area of contact as herein substan-
tially described, set forth and illustrated at Figure 15 of the drawings hereunto
annexed.
4th. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section,
with a flat bearing surface c, or a rounded bearing surface d, the front outer surface
of each thimble-pin being made with different tapering portions e, f for preventing
such thimbles becoming detached or separated whilst being placed in upright piles
or columns within seggars, and for lessening the liability of adhesion of such
thimble-pins to one another when in use by reason of the reduced area of contact as
herein substantially described, set forth and illustrated at Figures 10 and 11 of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
5th. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section
with a flat or rounded bearing surface e, and a flat or rounded under bearing
surface as in Figures 12, 15 and 16 as indicated by the letters c and d, the upper
bearing surface e of each thimble-pin being reduced in area to lessen the liability
of adhesion of such thimble pins to one another when in use by reason of the
reduced area of contact as herein substantially described, set forth and illustrated.
at Figures 13 and 13 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
6th. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section
with a flat or rounded bearing surface as indicated by the letters c and d, the front
outer surface of each thimble-pin being made with different tapering portions e, f,
for preventing such thimbles becoming detached or separated whilst being placed
in piles or columns within seggars for use, and for lessening the liability of adhesion
of such thimble-pins to one another when in use by reason of the reduced area of
contact as herein substantially described, set forth and illustrated at Figures 16
and 17 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
7th. The construction of thimble-pins for use in supporting pottery-ware whilst
being fired of any suitable size, round, square or rectangular in transverse section,
with a flat or rounded bearing surface as indicated by the letters c and d on several
of the figures, the front outer surface of each thimble being made with different
tapering portions e, f similar to Figures 10 and 16, the area of contact surface e
being reduced in area to lessen the liability of adhesion of such thimble-pins to one
another when in use as herein substantially described, set forth and illustrated at
Figures 18, 19 and 20 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 8th day of December 1894.
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Staffs, Agent for Applicants.