IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING OR COVERING METAL SHEETS WITH METALS OR ALLOYS, AND IN-THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COATING OR COVERING METAL SHEETS WITH METALS OR ALLOYS, AND IN-THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by Xavier
Florentin Girard, of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 17th December, 1863, and dated the 1st July 1863,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st July 1863..
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING OR COVERING METAL SHEETS WITH METALS OR ALLOYS,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication from abroad
by Xavier Florentin Girard, of Paris, in the Empire of France, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode or method of and apparatus for applying
or coating of tin, zinc, lead, or other metal or alloy, in a state of fusion, to
sheets of iron or copper, whereby the operation is conducted in a more effective,
economical, and expeditious manner than heretofore, and without the necessity
for manual labor in the finishing of such coated plates.

page_text: According to this Invention it is proposed to employ a cast-iron or other
suitable vessel placed over a furnace and containing the tin or other metal to
be applied in a state of fusion. Near one end of this vessel is situate a pair
of metal rollers rotating in suitable bearings, one of such rollers being held in
contact with the other by the pressure of a weighted lever or otherwise, the
pressure being varied according to the thickness of coating to be applied. The
level of the molten metal in the vessel should coincide with the point of con-
tact between the rollers. A transverse smaller vessel or reservoir is placed in
the former one, dividing the same into two compartments, and this small
reservoir serves to contain an extra supply of metal from which the main
one is to be occasionally replenished, A guiding plate inside the main vessel,
and extending underneath the smaller reservoir (which does not reach to the
bottom of the main vessel) serves to guide or direct the plates to be coated to
the rollers. In order to assist and render more perfect the process of tinning
a layer of chloride of zinc is floated upon the surface of the tin in the fore part
of the vessel, and to prevent oxidation resin or fatty matter is 'fluated upon 'the
tin in the after part of the vessel. As the plate passes through the rollers,
which are rotated either by power or manual labor, it takes up a thin film of
the tin or other. metal or alloy in the melting vessel, and this film is evenly
spread over its entire surface by the pressure of the rollers, the surface
remaining perfectly bright and polished after it leaves the molten bath. In
some cases division pieces or partitions are fitted on to the guiding plate in
order to keep the plates out of contact with each other when several are being
passed through at the same time. When galvanizing or applying a coating
of zinc to metal plates a sufficient quantity of the zinc for immediate use only
'is to be placed in the melting vessel, such zinc being allowed to float upon the
surface of melted lead, with which the greater portion of the melting vessel
is to be filled. In this way the injurious effect of the zinc. on the.rollers and
melting vessel is obviated, and plates may be produced coated with lead on
one side and with zinc on the other. If very large sheets are to be tinned or
galvanized a narrow deep melting vessel is used capable of submerging the
entire plate when placed vertically therein; the bottom of the plate rests upon
a movable support suspended by a chain from a lever or other contrivance for
elevating the plate and bringing its upper end between the rollers, a directing
plate guiding it to the proper point of contact between such rollers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
5 HENRY. JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
O reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
5 thereafter 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 Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COATING OR COVERING METAL SHEETS WITH METALS OR ALLOYS, AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by
0 Xavier Florentin Girard, of Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I,. the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under
the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
5 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 I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to a mode or method of and apparatus for
applying a coating of tin, zinc, lead, or other metal or alloy, in a state of
fusion, to sheets of iron or copper, whereby the operation is conducted in a
more effective, economical, and expeditious manner than heretofore, and
without the necessity for manual labor in the finishing of such coated plates...

page_text: According to this Invention it is proposed to employ a cast-iron or other
suitable vessel placed over a furnace and containing the tin or other coating
metal to be applied in a state of fusion. Near one end of this vessel is situate
a pair of metal rollers rotating in suitable bearings, one of such rollers being
held in contact with the other by the pressure of a weighted lever or otherwise,
the pressure being varied according to the thickness of coating to be applied.
The level of the molten metal in the vessel should coincide with the point of
contact between the rollers. A transverse smaller vessel or reservoir is placed
in the former one, dividing the same. into two compartments, and this small
reservoir serves to contain an extra supply of metal from which the main one.
is to be occasionally replenished. A guiding plate inside the main. vessel, and
extending underneath the smaller reservoir (which does not reach to the
bottom of the main vessel) serves to guide or direct the plates to be coated to
the rollers. In order to assist and render more perfect the process of tinning
a layer of chloride of zinc is floated upon the surface of the tin in the fore part
of the vessel, and to prevent oxidation resin or fatty matter is floated upon the
tin in the after part of the vessel. As the plate passes through the rollers,
which are rotated either by power or by manual labor, it takes up a thin film
of the tin or other metal or alloy in the melting vessel, and this film is evenly
spread over its entire surface by the pressure of the rollers, the surface
remaining perfectly bright and polished after it leaves the bath of molten
metal. In some cases division pieces or partition are fitted on to the guiding
plate in order to keep the plates out of contact with each other when several
are being passed through at the same time. When galvanizing or applying a
coating of zinc to metal plates a sufficient quantity of the zinc for immediate
use only is to be placed in the melting vessel, such zinc being allowed to float
upon the surface of melted lead with which the greater portion of the melting
vessel is to be filled, the surface of the lead being just above the journals of
the lower roll. In this way the injurious effect. of the zinc on the rollers and
melting vessel is obviated, and plates may be produced coated with lead on
one side and, with zinc on the other. If very large sheets are to be tinned or
galvanized a narrow deep melting vessel is used capable of submerging the
entire plate when placed vertically therein; the bottom of the plate rests upon
a stirrup or support suspended by a chain from a lever or other contrivance
for elevating the plate and bringing its upper end between the rollers or
directing plate, guiding it to the proper point of contact between such rollers.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall

page_text: refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Fig. 1 of the Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section of one
form of the improved apparatus herein-before referred to, and Fig. 2 is a.
corresponding plan of the same; Fig. 3 represents another modification, suit-
able.for coating sheets of more than ordinary dimensions.
In Figs. 1 and 2.a is. the bath of molten tin or other metal to be applied in
the form of a coating to a sheet of metal. It consist of a cast-iron iron vessel
supported upon brickwork A, in which is formed a furnace or fire-place b,.
ash-pit c, and flues d. On the two sides of the vessel a is cast or fitted a
strong slotted bracket or bearing which carry the journals of the two rollers
,, of cast or wrought iron, between which the sheet or plate covered with
tin or other métal or alloy passes, and is rolled a so as to equalize the thickness
of the coating. The thickness of this coating may be regulated by causing
the surface of the rolls to work nearer to or further from each other by varying
the pressure of the weight g, which transmits its action through the rods h.to
the beams of the upper roll e¹; is a small .additional reservoir extending
from side to side of the main reservoir, and reaching to within a short distance
of the bottom thereof, such small reservoir being intended to supply the main
reservoir with fresh molten metal as part of it is taken out by the plates or
sheets passing through it. The axis of the upper roll is continued beyond the
side of the vessel a to receive the spur wheel k.. which gears with the. pinion Z,
keyed on to the shaft m, working in the bearings o and p. On this shaft
are fitted a fly wlieel and fast and loose driving pullies, as shewn in Fig. 2..
If it be preferred to work the apparatus by manual labor in lieu of steam or
other power, the short shaft m may be prolonged, as shewn by the red lines in
Fig. 2, and a winch handle fitted on to the end.thereof. The level of the
molten metal should be just even with the line of contact between the two
rolls and f. In the fore part X of the vessel a the molten metal is covered
by a layer of chloride of zinc for the purpose of facilitating the tinning process,.
whilst in the second part Y of the vessel the molten tin is covered by a layer of
resin, fatty matter, or other suitable material, to prevent oxidation of the
métal. The interior of the vessel a is also provided at the opposite sides with:
two curved guide bars q, q, supporting a curved metal plater which fills the
entire width of the vessel, and may have a number of parallel ribs or partitions
formed longitudinally thereon, as shewn by the red lines in the. Drawings
(Figs. 1 and 2) in order to keep the edges of the plates to be tinned from

page_text: coming in contact with each other when a number of plates, are being passed
through the machine at the same time. The plates to be tinned or otherwise
coated being introduced into the front end of the vessel a will follow the
surface of the curved guiding plate ŕ and, present themselves between the two
rolls and f, which rotate in opposite directions, and consequently draw the
plates along the lower. roll, being rotated by the action of the upper roll. The
plates coated or covered on both sides by reason of; their immersion in the
molten metal as thus, subjected to a rolling action, which equalizes the metal
coating and. imparts. a. brilliant. lustre thereto. Moreover, by reason.. of. the
capillary action of the rolls at their line of contact a small quantity of molten.
métal is conveyed above the actual line of contact, which is applied to the
surface of the: plate. as it emerges from between the rolls, and enhances it
appearance by giving a glossy effect effect thereto; the.sole function of the rolls
being to prevent any excess of tin or other coating metal or alloy from being
carried along with the plate or plates.. The journals of the upper roll are
partly immersed in the layer of fatty matter. floated on the surface. of the
molten metal, and are thus kept constantly and efficiently. lubricated... In order
to prevent the lower roll. from becoming unduly heated a passage is formed
along its axis through which cold water is caused to circulate. The water
is conveyed to the interior of the roll by an india-rubber or other suitable tube
provided with a union or other suitable joint which fits accurately on to the
end of the axis of the roll, and it escapes by the opposite journal into any
convenient receptable. In order that the tinned or coated plate may be
readily cooled on leaving the rolls it is proposed to attach to the supports of
the apparatus a tube having a long slit therein and. communicating with a fan
or blower driven from the fly wheel. A jet of cold air is thereby directed on
to the surface of the plate, which is, consequently, cooled as soon as it issues
from between the rolls. .I have not considered it necessary to illustrate this
arrangement on the Drawings, as it will be readily understood by any competent
mechanic, and the disposition of the tubes, both for the cold air and water,
may be varied according to circumstances. Moreover, I lay no claim to the
employment of such air and water pipes.
Fig. 3 represents. in vertical: section the form of vessel which it is proposed
to employ when treating plates of very large dimensions, say, six feet in length.
In this case the bottom of the vessel is provided with stirrups or moveable
supports s, upon which rests the lower extremity of the plate to be coated.
The curved guiding plate in Fig. 1 is also replaced by the inclined plater,
shewn in Fig. 3. On elevating the stirrups by any convenient arrangement,

page_text: as, for example, that shewn in the Drawing, the top edge of the plate will be
guided by the inclined plater between the rolls e, f, when the operation
is completed in the manner herein-before described in reference to Fig. 1
and 2.
Having now described and fully and fully ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
1st, the system or mode of coating or covering metallic sheets with metals,
or alloys of metals, substantially as herein-before-described.
2d, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of machinery
or apparatus for coating or covering metallic sheets with metals, or alloys of
metals, substantially as herein-before directed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.