IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINGE PLATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO GAS AND OTHER RETORTS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James William Crossley, of Brighouse, in the County
of York, Dyer and Finisher, and John Crossley, of Halifax, in the same
County. Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
LETTERS PATENT to James William Crossley, of Brighouse, in the County
of York, Dyer and Finisher, and John Crossley, of Halifax, in the same
County. Machine Maker. for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SINGE PLATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
GAS AND OTHER RETORTS."
Sealed the 11th October 1860, and dated the 13th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James William Crossley
and John Crossley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 13th April 1860.
We, JAMES WILLIAM CROSSLEY, of Brighouse, in the County of York,
Dyer and Finisher, and JOHN CROSSLEY, of Halifax, in the same County,
Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINGE PLATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO GAS AND OTHER RETORTS," to be as follows:-
Heretofore singe plates used for singeing or burning off the loose fibre in
the process of finishing textile fabrics have been made of solid metal, but
because of a greater amount of heat being necessarilly applied to the middle
than to the edges of such plates when in use, combined with the cooling
effects of the atmosphere acting more upon the edges than the middle thereof,
the expansion and contraction of the metal of which they are made is rendered
unequal in the different parts, consequently such plates are subject to crack or

page_text: become fractured, and are thus rendered unfit for further use. To remedy or
remove this evil, we construct such plates hollow or cellular, or with flues or
passages communicating with each other, and cause the flames or products of
combustion from the furnace to circulate therein, and which flues are so
arranged that the said products of combustion from the furnace shall be con-
ducted, firstly, through those cells, flues, or passages formed in the edges, and
lastly, through those in the middle of the plate; by this means we equalize
the heating or the temperature thereof, and thus prevent fracture, and thereby
render such plates more endurable. This cellular method of construction may
also be applied to gas retorts and retorts employed in the manufacture of
chemicals, whereby a more equable temperature may be obtained, and an
economy of fuel by an increase of heating surface, or by an extension of the
application of the products of combustion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Janes William Crossley and John Crossley in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 13th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
WILLIAM CROSSLEY, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Dyer and Finisher,
and JOHN CROSSLEY, of Halifax, in the same County, Machine Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James William Crossley and John Crossley, Her special license that we,
the said James William Crossley and John Crossley, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James William Crossley
and John Crossley, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Island, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINGE PLATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
GAS AND OTHER RETORTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
James William Crossley and John Crossley, our executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands

page_text: and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters:
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James William Crossley and John
Crossley, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-.
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
Heretofore singe plates used for singeing or burning off the loose fibre in
the process of finishing textile fabrics have been made of solid metal, but
because of a greater amount of heat being necessarily applied to the middle
than to the edges of such plates when in use, combined with the cooling
effects of the atmosphere acting more upon the edges than the middle, the
expansion and contraction of the metal is unequal in the different parts,
consequently such plates are subject to crack or become fractured, and are
thus rendered unfit for further use. To remedy or remove this evil, we
construct such plates hollow or cellular, or with flues or passages com-
municating with each other, and cause the flames or products of combustion
from the furnace to circulate therein, and which flues are so arranged that the
said products of combustion from the furnace shall be conducted, firstly,
through those cells, flues, or passages formed in the edges, and lastly, through
those in the middle of the plate; by this means we equalize the heating or
temperature thereof, and thus prevent fracture, and render such plates more
endurable. This cellular method of construction may also be applied to gas
retorts, and retorts employed in the manufacture of chemicals, whereby a
more equable temperature may be obtained, and an economy of fuel by an
increase of heating surface, or by an extension of application of the products
of combustion.
It will be clearly evident to anyone at all conversant with the subject, that
singe plates and gas and other retorts may be made hollow or cellular in
various ways and forms, as, for instance, when constructing such plates and
retorts of cast metal, such may be effected by introducing sand cores of any
suitable size and form, and in any desirable direction, such cores being after-
wards withdrawn therefrom; or metal tubing may be introduced or placed in
the moulds, and metal run or cast thereon; and to prevent warping of the
tubes, they may be filled with sand, which must be afterwards withdrawn or
removed, thus producing cells, flues, or passages therein for the flame or
products of combustion to pass through, so as to obtain an extended circulation,

page_text: and consequently a great amount of heating surface; and by arranging them
suitably a more equal heat or temperature may be obtained in all parts
thereof, whereby fracture will be prevented, and fuel economized. Singe plates
may be first made in this manner of cast iron, and then a surface plate of
copper cast thereon. And in constructing retorts of fire-clay the crusts may
be made hollow or cellular by introducing cores of wood or metal, and with-
drawing them when the said retorts are dry, or the said cells, flues, or
passages may be formed by any other suitable means.
Having described the nature of this our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, we would have it distinctly under-
stood that we do not confine ourselfs to any particular form or arrangement
of the flues or passages or mode of constructing such plates or retorts; but
what we claim as of our Invention is the construction and use of singe plates
and gas and other retorts with cells, flues, or passages therein for the flames or
products of combustion to pass through, substantially as herein described and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Crossley, on behalf of myself and
the said James William Crossley, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named John Crossley, in
the presence of
WM. TASKER, Patent Agent,
Halifax.
JOHN CROSSLEY. (L.S.)