IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES AND TERNE PLATES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hatton, of Kidderminster, in the County of Wor-
cester, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO
BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES AND TERNE PLATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hatton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1878.
GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES
AND TERNE PLATES."
This Invention relates to apparatus applicable to those processes in the manu-
facture of tin plates and terne plates, known as the black pickling process and the
white pickling process.
I employ a series of circular frames or racks made of copper, brass, or any metal
which is only slightly acted upon by acids. These racks are constructed to receive
the black plate to be pickled in such a manner that each plate stands separately
in a vertical position, and forms a nearly radial line from the centre of the rack to
its circumference.
Each rack has or is capable of a horizontal rotary motion upon a vertical axis.
The whole series of racks are arranged in a circle, and may also be revolved at
will horizontally round a central and cominon axis.
All the racks in the series are connected by framework, which supports them
through their vertical axes. This framework is carried or supported upon a central
vertical shaft, and by means of a "rack-and-pinion" motion attached thereto, the
framework with the series of racks may be raised or lowered at the will of the
operator.
Attached to the bottom of the central vertical shaft is a disc having upon its
-

page_text: outer edge a series of holes at equal distances from each other, and corresponding in
number to the number of racks used.
Fixed in the carriage supporting the vertical shaft is a bolt actuated by a spring,
so that as the disc revolves with the shaft and framework the bolt is thrust into the
holes in the disc, preventing further revolution until the bolt is released, when
the apparatus may be moved round again until the bolt is thrust into the next hole.
The holes in the disc are so arranged that the bolt enters them just as the racks
assume an exactly vertical position over the vats, herein-after mentioned.
On the upper part of the vertical shaft revolves a hollow shaft driven from its
upper end by a pulley on a feather key. On the lower end of the hollow shaft is
fixed a bevel wheel, which by means of other bevel wheels and horizontal shafts
fixed in the framework causes the racks containing the plates to revolve upon their
own axes.
I employ a series of vats made of wood, iron, lead, or other suitable material,
which are placed vertically under the above-mentioned racks, and are so arranged
that when by means of the "rack-and-pinion" motion the racks are lowered, all
the racks in the series except one fall into a corresponding vat, the remaining rack
is lowered into an open space, where it receives the plates to be pickled, also pre-
viously discharging those which have been already pickled..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Hatton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
November 1878.
GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES
AND TERNE PLATES."
This Invention relates to apparatus applicable to those processes in the manu-
facture of tin plates and terne plates, known as the black pickling process and the
white pickling process.
I employ a series of circular frames or racks made of copper, brass, or any metal
which is only slightly acted upon by acids. These racks are constructed to receive
the black plates to be pickled in such a manner that each plate stands separately
in a vertical position, and forms a nearly radial line from the centre of the rack to
its circumference.
Each rack has or is capable of a horizontal rotary motion upon a vertical axis,
The whole series of racks are arranged in a circle, and may also be revolved at
will horizontally round a central and common axis.
All the racks in the series are connected by framework, which supports them
through their vertical axes. This framework is carried or supported upon a central

page_text: vertical shaft, and by means of a "rack-and-pinion" motion attached thereto, the
framework with the series of racks may be raised or lowered at the will of the
operator.
Attached to the bottom of the central vertical shaft is a disc having upon its
outer edge a series of holes at equal distances from each other, and corresponding in
number to the number of racks used.
:
Fixed in the carriage supporting the vertical shaft is a bolt actuated by a spring,
so that as the disc revolves with the shaft and framework the bolt is thrust into the
holes in the disc, preventing further revolution until the bolt is released, when
the apparatus may be moved round again until the bolt is thrust into the next hole.
The holes in the disc are so arranged that the bolt enters them just as the racks
assume an exactly vertical position over the vats, herein-after mentioned.
On the upper part of the vertical shaft revolves a hollow shaft driven from its
upper end by a pulley on a feather key. On the lower end of the hollow shaft is
fixed a bevel wheel, which by means of other bevel wheels and horizontal shafts
fixed in the framework causes the racks containing the plates to revolve upon their
own axes.
I employ a series of vats made of wood, iron, lead, or other suitable material,
which are placed vertically under the above-mentioned racks, and are so arranged
that when by means of the "rack-and-pinion" motion the racks are lowered, all
the racks in the series except one fall into a corresponding vat, the remaining rack
is lowered into an open space, where it receives the plates to be pickled, also pre-
viously discharging those which have been already pickled.
Figure 1, Dheet 1, Shews the appar av
Figure 2, Sheet 2, shews the plan of the apparatus.
Figure 3 shews the enlarged plan at various heights of one of the racks employed,
And Figure 4, Sheet 2, details of portion of the elevation shewn in Figure 1.
(B, B) (E and F) are the racks, which I construct of copper, brass, or any
suitable metal which is only slightly acted upon by acids, and these revolve on their
own axes (B2) and (E²).
(H) is the central vertical shaft forming the central axis, round which all the
racks in the series revolve at intervals when required.
(G, G, G,) is the framework supporting the racks through their own axes (B2) and
(E), and connecting them to the central shaft (H).
(H) is an annular rack into which the pinion (U) engages, the pinion (U) being
driven by the wheel (V) and screw (W), so that by this means the whole of the
circular racks with the framing (G) can be raised or lowered simultaneously.
At the bottom of the central vertical shaft (H) is the disc (I), having on its outer
edge a series of holes at equal distances apart, and corresponding in number to the
number of circular racks employed.
"
(J) is the carriage supporting the central vertical shaft and the "rack-and-pinion'
motion; in the foot of the carriage is the bolt (K), which by means of the spring (K¹)
is thrust into each of the holes in the disc in their turn when the apparatus is being
revolved on the central axis, preventing further revolution until the bolt is with-
drawn by means of the treadle (K2), after which the apparatus may be revolved on
the axis (H) until the bolt (K) falls into the next hole in the disc (I). The holes in
the disc (I) are so arranged that the revolution of the apparatus round its central
axis is always arrested just at a point when the racks are exactly over the centre of
their respective vats, as herein-after described.
The annular toothed rack (H') is cylindrical and hollow, and by means of feather
keys fixed in this rack and engaging in the key bed (H2) on the central shaft (H),
it is free to rise and fall upon the central shaft, but can only revolve in connection

page_text: with that shaft and the disc (I). The rack (H¹) is also securely attached to the
framework at (G), so that the whole apparatus can only revolve on its central
axis in union with the shaft (H) and disc (I), and is consequently always under the
control of the bolt (K).
(L) is a hollow shaft which is always free to revolve on the vertical shaft (H),
and rises and falls on the vertical shaft (H) in connection and in union with the
racks and framework.
(M) is a pulley revolving horizontally, and driving the hollow shaft (L) by means
of a feather key which engages in the key bed (L), leaving the hollow shaft (L)
free to rise or fall through the centre of the pulley at the same time that it is being
revolved by it. By means of the supports (N, N,) the pulley (M) is always kept at
the same height and in the same position, irrespective of the position of the shaft (L)
or the framework (G).
Upon the lower end of the hollow shaft (L) is fixed a bevel tooth wheel (O),
which is geared into other bevel wheels (P, P), and by means of these and the shafts
(Q, Q) and the bevel wheels (R, R,) motion is conveyed to the racks (A, B, C, D, E, F).
The pulley (M) is actuated by a belt from shafting in connection with the prime
mover.
I construct my racks for holding the plates, as shewn (at A, B, B¹, C, D, E, E¹,
and F), by preference in such a manner that the upper part of the rack (B'), which
contains as many pins or forks (B³) as the rack can contain plates, may be raised up
when the plates are being extracted, so that the plates are liberated and fall together
against the supports (B) in such convenient numbers as to facilitate their quick
removal. The upper parts of the racks (B¹ and B³) are again lowered into position
previous to being again filled with plates.
In order to render the raising and lowering of the racks and framework (G) by
the "rack-and-pinion" motion more expeditious and easy, 1 employ the shoe (Y),
Figure 4, Sheet 2, which is free to rise and fall on the shaft (H), and which bears
directly under the lower end of the rack (H¹), receiving its weight and the weight
of the whole of the racks and their contents, and of the framework supporting the
racks.
The shoe (Y) is in its turn supported by the chains (Z, Z,), which pass over the
pulleys (Z, Z), and which are attached at their other end to the balance weights
(X¹), the total weight of which is made equal to the weight of racks and their con-
tents and framework requiring to be raised and lowered.
(S¹, S², S³, S4, S5,) are the vats, which are placed under the centre of the racks
containing the plates. In the vats (S' and S²) I employ sulphuric or any suitable
acid diluted with water; in vat (SS) I employ an alkaline solution; in vat (S4) I
employ clean water heated to boiling point; and vat (S) I employ as a drying vat,
in the bottom of which is fixed a coil of steam or hot water pipes of Bunsen gas
burners.
The number of vats being always one less than the number of racks, one rack is
always necessarily out of a vat at the position of rack (A), Figure 2, Sheet 2. This
position is the one for putting in the plates to be treated, and removing them after
treatment. When lowering the whole series of racks by "rack-and-pinion" motion,
the rack in this position alights upon a sharp-pointed steel or iron centre or point,
which is fixed three or four inches above the bottom level of the other racks when
at their lowest position in their respective vats. By this means the bevel wheels
(R, R,) are disengaged during the process of filling and removing plates, and the rack
is thereby enabled to be easily turned round by the hand of the workman in any
position that may facilitate the process of filling or removing.
When the series of racks are raised by "rack-and-pinion" motion, the wheels
(R, R,) are again engaged, and the rack liberated from the centre which has sup-
ported it.
The apparatus being ready for work, the rack (A), Figure 2, is first filled with
the black plates which require to be pickled or freed from their oxide. The plates are

page_text: placed in the rack vertically and singly, one plate between each pin or fork (B³)
Figure 3, Sheet 2, in such manner that the plates form nearly but not quite radial
lines from the centre to the circumference of the rack (see Figure 3; Sheet 2), the
object of this being that when the racks are revolving in the liquids in the vats a
current of liquid is set up between each plate, thereby increasing the action of such
liquids on the plates.
The rack (A) being filled with plates, the whole series of racks are now raised
by the "rack-and-pinion" motion, as previously described; the bolt (K) is with-
drawn from the hole in the disc (I) by means of pressure from the foot of the
workman on the treadle (K2); the series of racks are now set free to revolve round
the central shaft (H), and this is accomplished by pushing the rack (A) in the
direction of the vat (S), at the same time releasing the pedal (K) and the bolt (K),
when the latter is thrust into the next hole in the disc, and the series of racks
brought to a stand with rack (A) exactly over the centre of the vat (S), when by
means of the "rack-and-pinion" motion the whole series are now lowered, and the
rack (A) is immersed with the plate it contains in the acid, in which it revolves on
its own axis.
In
By the two previous movements rack (F) has now come into the position pre-
viously occupied by rack (A), and is now in its turn filled with plates; the raising
movement is now repeated, and the series moved round another stage, when rack (F)
is lowered into the vat (S'), and rack (A) into vat (S2). In this manner each rack
after being filled with plates is made to enter and leave each vat in its turn.
vats (S¹ and S) the oxide is removed from the surface of the plates, as in the
ordinary process; in vat (S³) any oxide remaining on the plates is completely
neutralized by the alkaline solution; in vat (S) the plates are swilled in clean
water, and raised to the temperature of boiling water, so that they are wholly or
partially dried on their withdrawal from this vat; and in vat (SB) the drying process
is completed. On arriving at the position of rack (A), at Figure 2, Sheet 2, they
are removed and are ready for cold rolling, or may, if preferred, be annealed previous
to cold rolling, as heretofore.
In the process of white pickling I dispense with the drying process, and prefer to
swill the plates. in vats (S' and S³) in cold water, from which they are taken wet
and handed to the tinman for immersion in the cold grease pan, as heretofore.
I do not confine myself to the use of any special number of racks or vats in a
series, having adopted the number of six racks and five vats merely by way of
illustration in the foregoing Specification; nor do I confine myself to using any
special number of vats for acid or alkaline solutions or water, as under different
circumstances and qualities of black lead these will be required to be varied; and
under some conditions I may work my apparatus with racks that are stationary
when immersed in the vats, and in that case I can dispense with the wheels
(R, R), shafts (Q, Q), and accompanying gearing, simply suspending the racks from
the framework (G).
The apparatus may be actuated by manual labour or by any power derivable from
any convenient prime mover.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to the precise
details herein described,-
Firstly. The use in the manufacture of tin and terne plates of racks which revolve
horizontally on their own axes at the same time that they are capable of revolving
round a common and central axis.
Secondly. The use in the above-named manufacture of racks, whether revolving
on their own axes or not, that are capable of revolving round a common central
axis, and have also a simultaneous raising or lowering motion.
Thirdly. The application of the "rack-and-pinion" motion, as herein described,
to apparatus for the manufacture of tin plates.
Fourthly. The general arrangement and combination of the several parts, forming

page_text: apparatus applicable to the manufacture of tin plates and terne plates, as herein
more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hatton, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE HATTON.
(L.S.)