An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Galvanizing Metal Strips or Ribbons, Wire, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Galvanizing Metal Strips
or Ribbons, Wire, and the like.
I, NEVILLE VIBART of 9 Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this inventfon to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for galvanizing metal strips
or ribbons, wire and other articles made of iron, steel, or the like. This invention
is more especially designed for galvanizing strips or ribbons used for manufacturing
flexible metallic pipes.
To ensure good results the metallic strips, ribbons or the like which are to be
galvanized must be slightly moistened with oil for the purpose of obviating
oxidation which may take place if they are stored for some time before they are
galvanized.
These strips or ribbons are preferably placed upon a reel or roller whence they
are caused to pass into a vessel containing a bath of boiling potash. This vessel
is mounted upon a suitably constructed furnace to enable it to be heated. In order
to properly immerse the strip or ribbon in the said bath it is guided first over a
roller and then round the under side of a drum which is only a short distance
above the bottom of the vessel. On leaving the bath of potash the strip or ribbon
is wiped by passing between two cushions or bolsters of linen, cotton, india-rubber
or the like, and thence moves to a second vessel consisting of lead or other suitable
material, containing hydrochloric or other suitable acid. Before entering this bath
the strip or ribbon has to pass over a roller from which it proceeds to move
round the under side of a drum arranged in the said vessel. On leaving this
drum the strip or ribbon is caused to move upwards on an inclined plane so that
the acid can drop from the same into a channel or the like connected with the
vessel before it is wiped off between two cushions or bolsters of linen or asbestos
which are arranged at some distance in front of another vessel containing a bath
of molten zinc to which the said strip or ribbon is next conducted.
The vessel containing this bath is preferably made of cast iron or refractory
material, and is mounted upon a furnace of suitable construction so that heat can
be applied to it. At or near its front end is usually mounted a roller over which
the said strip or ribbon passes before it is immersed in the bath of zinc. In this
bath is provided an adjustable guide which conducts the strip or ribbon to be
coated with zinc to within a short distance from the bottom of the said vessel.
In order to obviate explosions which may be caused by some moisture being
left upon the strip or ribbon it is expedient to place upon the molten zinc a layer
of ashes, cinders or the like, the heat of which will remove any such moisture,
and which will at the same time prevent the oxidation of the zinc by contact with
air. As pure zinc is not sufficiently fusible it is generally mixed with about
five per cent. of tin.
On leaving the zinc bath the strip or ribbon is caused to pass upward between
two cushions or bolsters of asbestos which are placed a short distance above the
surface of the zinc, and between which the said strip or ribbon is pressed through
the medium of a screw provided with a hand wheel, or other equivalent means.
The pressure of the said cushions or bolsters upon the strip or ribbon can be so
regulated that the exact quantity of zinc which is necessary to form the coating will
be left upon the said strip or ribbon. The latter is then guided over a roller above
го

page_text: the aforesaid cushions or bolsters and next through a water bath. in which it is cooled.
After leaving the water bath the strip or band is wound upon a reel or roller which
is rotated at the desired velocity by any suitable mechanisın.
Dated this 7th day of September 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
'An Improved Process of and Apparatus for Galvanizing Metal Strips
or Ribbons, Wire, and the like.
I, NEVILLE VIBART, of 9, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Gentleman,
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 relates to the galvanizing of iron steel and other metal strips or
ribbons, wire and the like and is more especially designed to provide for the produc-
tion of galvanizing strips or ribbons for use in the manufacture of flexible metallic
pipes.
Heretofore it has been found impracticable to galvanize strips or ribbons of steel
or iron in such a manner that they can without stripping off portions of the zinc, be
corrugated or bent to the required shape in transverse section to adapt them for use
in making such flexible metallic pipes. The present invention has for its main object
to overcome the difficulty hitherto experienced in accomplishing this result.
The said invention comprises an improved method or process of galvanizing
wherein the ribbon or wire to be galvanized is wound upon a drum, reel or roller and
is delivered or caused to pass therefrom into a vessel containing a bath of boiling
solution of potash.
On leaving the bath of potash the ribbon or wire is passed into a second vessel of
lead or similar material, containing hydrochloric or other suitable acid. On leaving
this bath the strip or ribbon is conducted to another vessel containing a bath of
molten zinc or of zinc and tin. The strip or ribbon is then passed through a bath of
water or other suitable liquid in which it is cooled, and after leaving the water or
cooling bath, the said strip or ribbon is wound upon another reel or roller which is
rotated at the desired velocity by any suitable mechanism.
The said invention, moreover, comprises improved apparatus wherein both the vessel
containing the potash and that containing the zinc or zinc and tin are provided
with furnaces beneath them for maintaining them at the required temperature.
Suitable roilers, cushions or bolsters are provided for wiping the said strip or
ribbon after leaving the said baths for the purpose of removing any superfluous
material therefrom, and guides or rollers are also provided for directing the said strip
or ribbon during its passage through the said baths.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan showing the general arrangement of my improved apparatus.
Figure 3 is a vertical section showing the tank or receptacle for the boiling
potash.
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the tank or receptacle for the hydrochloric
or other acid.
Figure 5 is a vertical section showing the tank or receptacle for the molten
zinc, and
Figure 6 is a vertical section showing the tank or receptacle for the water or
other cooling liquid.
Figure 7 is a plan showing a detail of construction.

page_text: Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the metal strip or ribbon to be treated, B is the drum reel or roller carrying
the said strip or ribbon, C is the bath or receptacle for the potash which is preferably
in the form of a strong solution, D is the bath or receptacle intended to contain the
hydrochloric or other suitable acid, E is the bath, yessel, or receptacle intended to
contain the molten zinc, F is the bath, or receptacle intended to contain the water or
other liquid for cooling purposes, and G is the drum, reel, or roller for receiving the
galvanized strip or ribbon.
The bath or receptacle C for the potash is provided with a roller a supported in
suitable brackets a¹ firmly secured to or formed on the said bath or receptacle. b is
another roller of larger diameter, than the roller a and the spindle 61 of which is
supported in suitable bearings 62 upon the sides of the said bath or receptacle.
The strip or ribbon A passes over the said roller a and under the roller 6 the latter
dipping into or extending to within a short distance of the bottom of the tank or
receptacle C, thus ensuring the said strip or ribbon being properly immersed in the
bath of boiling potash contained in the said tank or receptacle. cc are rubbers
cushions or bolsters of linen, cotton, india-rubber or the like between which the
strip or ribbon A passes and by which the latter is wiped before passing to the tank
vessel or receptacle D containing the hydrochloric or other acid. For heating the
bath of potash contained in the tank or receptacle C I provide beneath the latter a
furnace or combustion chamber C¹ as more clearly shown in Figure 3.
The
The bath or receptacle D for containing the hydrochloric or other acid is provided
with rollers d and e substantially similar to the rollers a and b on the tank C.
roller e which dips into the said acid is formed of lead or other material not liable
to be injuriously affected thereby and the said bath or receptacle D is also provided
with a lining D' of lead or other material that will not be injuriously affected by the
action of the acid. f is an inclined plane or surface up which the strip or ribbon A
passes to rubbers cushions or bolsters g of linen asbestos or other suitable material as
more clearly shown in Figure 4. The superfluous acid carried up by the strip or
ribbon A out of the bath in the tank or receptacle D is thus permitted to drain
or run on to the said inclined plane or surface f and is returned to the said tank
or receptacle before the strip or ribbon is wiped between the said rubbers cushions or
bolsters g.
The tank or receptacle E for the bath of molten zinc is fitted with a roller h over
which the strip or ribbon A passes thereto. The said tank or receptacle is formed of
cast iron or other suitable material and is provided with a furnace or combustion
chamber E¹ (Figure 5). i is a guide which conducts the strip or ribbon A to within
a short distance of the bottom of the tank or receptacle E and adjustably supported
by means of a screw ; or in any other suitable manner upon a cross-bar or cross
piece jsecured to the said tank or receptacle E. are cushions or bolsters of
asbestos or other suitable material one of which is fixed and the other adjustably
supported in a bracket ¹ secured to a column or upright E attached to the side of
the tank or receptacle E. is a screw provided with a hand wheel m by means of
which the movable or adjustable cushion or bolster can be moved or adjusted to or
from the fixed or stationary cushion or bolster as inore clearly shown in Figure 7.
The strip or ribbon A passes between the said cushions or bolsters k and the pressure
of the latter can be regulated by means of the said hand wheel m and adjusting
screw so that the exact quantity of zinc which is necessary to form the coating
will be left upon the said strip or ribbon. n is a roller supported in suitable bearings
n the upper extremity of the column or upright E2 and over which the strip or
ribbon A passes after leaving the cushions or bolsters k.
To obviate explosions which might otherwise be caused by moisture being left upon
he strip or ribbon it is expedient to place upon the molten zinc a layer of ashes,
inders or the like, the heat of which will remove any such moisture and which will
it the same time prevent the oxidation of the zinc by contact with air. As pure zinc
s not sufficiently fusible it is generally mixed with about 5 per cent. of tin.
The tank or receptacle F which contains the bath of water or other liquid for

page_text: cooling the strip or ribbon A is also provided with a roller o for guiding or directing
the said strip or ribbon, into the said bath and with a larger wheel, or roller p for
causing it to dip therein as more clearly shown in Figure 6.
The said strip or ribbon A is then wound upon the drum, reel or roller G which is
provided with a pulley 9 for receiving power by means of belt gearing from any
available source as herein before mentioned.
By my improved method. I provide for galvanizing metal ribbon or strip in a more
effectual manner than heretofore.
The metallic strips ribbons or the like which are to be galvanized are preferably
slightly moistened with oil for the purpose of obviating oxidation which might
otherwise take place if they were stored for any length of time before being
galvanized.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. The herein described improved method or process of galvanizing metal
strips, ribbons, wire or the like.
Second. The improved apparatus for galvanizing metal strips, ribbons, wire or the
like constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 8th day of July 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.