IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA- RATUS FOR COATING IRON PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METAL OR METALS, AND FOR CLEANSING SUCH PLATES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Davies, of Crumlin, in the County of Monmouth,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR COATING IRON PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METAL OR METALS,
AND FOR CLEANSING SUCH PLATES."
Sealed the 3rd October 1879, and dated the 9th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Davies at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1879.
DAVID DAVIES, of Crumlin, in the County of Monmouth, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COATING IRON PLATES WITH TIN OR
OTHER METAL OR METALS, AND FOR CLEANSING SUCH PLATES."
The object of this Invention is to improve, simplify, and cheapen the process of
coating iron plates with tin or other metal or alloy of metals, and for cleansing such
plates both before and after they are so coated.
In carrying out the said object, I construct an efficient machine or apparatus
capable of receiving the iron plates to be coated at one end of such apparatus, and
conveying such plates through a bath of molten metal (as are sheets of paper through
a printing press), for continuous delivery as finished sheets at the other end thereof,
without any intermediate process of washing or dipping.
I first remove the oxide of iron from the plates by placing them in suitable cages
or cradles that are raised by direct-acting hydraulic cranes and lowered into acid or
water tanks placed on the bed of an ordinary planing machine, which is moved to
and fro by self-acting means, thus causing the said liquid to flow between the iron
plates, which are held suspended in cradles from crane jib in moveable tank, and
thereby cleanse the whole surfaces of the same. The water tanks may be fixed to
the floor if desired, having the circulation of water to circulate the plates caused
by the admission of compressed air or water. Or, when desirable, I remove the
impurities from off the plates by placing them in suitable cradles or cages (in gross)
which are raised by a direct-acting bydraulic or steam crane and lowered into the
acid and water tanks for pickling and swilling; the said crane then raises and
lowers the said plates vertically, by self-acting means, so as to cause the acid to
•

page_text: :
separate such plates and pass between them over their whole surfaces, and thus to
cleanse them.
These cleansed plates to be coated are fed into a grease or flux pot at one end of
the apparatus and are thence conveyed by endless bands or flat chains working
direct through the said grease pot and liquid metal bath for delivery into the
feeding, washing, and finishing rollers placed at the other end thereof. The said
grease or flux pot is made by preference with an annular space all round it to admit
of passing a constant current of cold water or air through such space, for the pur-
pose of preventing the grease or flux from being over-heated or burnt, and thus to
insure an even temperature for the wet plates to enter constantly into cold grease
at the entrance end, which is most important in insuring success in coating iron
plates continuously.
When desirable to convey the plates through the molten metal bath by disc-
wheel, I arrange it to revolve, self-acting, over the bath, having its bottom edge
just above the top of the molten metal; the periphery of which wheel is divided
into a number of spaces to suit the size of plates to be coated, on which I attach
self-acting fingers having their outer ends projecting from the disc, equal to the
depth of molten metal in the bath, and so pivotted as to take hold of the plates as
they pass the grease pot and carry them through adjustable guides direct into the
feeding, washing, and finishing rollers at the other end of the bath, when the fingers
release the plates and raise out of molten metal and pass over grease pot.
The next operation consists in applying a suitable apparatus for cleansing the
coated plates from metallic oxides, scruff, and other impurities that may be carried
forward on the plates from the grease, flux, or molten metal to the finishing end,
where I fix the said apparatus, which consists of a duplex reversible washing roller
box, formed of one or a number (by preference five) of steel, platinum, or iron
rollers inside a large hollow roller or box so constructed as to receive within it one
central and the other four (or more or less) rollers surrounding, fixed or moveable;
this large roller or box is pierced on two of its sides to allow the plates to pass
through it over or under the said central roller, on which the roller box revolves to
adjust itself or be adjusted (or may be arranged to revolve without it) to the plates,
or to reverse its action from top to bottom. By this arrangement the usual wash-
man is superceded. When desirable, lateral motion may be given to the washing
rollers or bars.
When the plates are tinned or conted, I remove the grease therefrom by placing
them in suitable self-acting, moveable, or fixed racks, as they come 'one by one
from the finishing rollers through which the bran, lime, sawdust, or other cleansing
inaterial is caused to move so as to impinge on the plates in its passage. When a
.revolving machine rack is used, the cleansing material is contained within it, and
when portable machine racks or cages are used the cleansing material is carried
inside with them and is caused to change its position as the rack revolves every
revolution on its way with the plates, thereby dispensing with the ordinary mode
of dipping in bran, and the labour of carrying the plates as they are so cleansed on
their passage inside the portable machines from the tin house to the sorting
room.
When the plates are taken from the racks they require to be dusted; for this
purpose I use a pair of rollers, having loose dusters which fly open by
centrifugal force. Or I use a pair of hollow rollers covered with suitable material
which flies open by centrifugal force and air pressure and cleansing material inside
the rollers. When desirable, I impart an oscillatory motion to a pair or pairs of
cleansers and dusters

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th October
1879.
DAVID DAVIES, of Crumlin, in the County of Monmouth, Engineer.
"IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY.OR APPARATUS FOR COATING IRON PLATES WITH TIN OR
OTHER METAL OR METALS, AND FOR CLEANSING SUCH PLATES."
The object of this Invention is to improve, simplify, and cheapen the process of
coating iron plates with tin or metal or alloy of metals, and for cleansing such plates
both before and after they are so coated.
In order that my said Invention may be more fully understood, I will explain
the same with the aid of the accompanying five Sheets of Drawings, reference being
made thereto by the numerals and letters marked thereon.
Sheet 1. Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line A, B, Fig. 2, of my improved appa-
ratus for cleansing iron plates from oxides and other matter thereon prior to coating
them, and consists of a direct-acting hydraulic or steam crane a, having four hori-
zontal jibs or arms b, suspended by the rods b¹ turning thereon for lifting the
cages, charged with the iron plates to be cleansed, off the floor c, and lowering them
into the acid and water tanks.
The cages d and plates e are suspended in each tank so that the acid and water
may freely pass between the plates as the tanks move to and fro.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, showing one tank f for acid placed on the table of
an ordinary planing machine g, working on its bed g', and the other tank h for
water placed on a similar bed g', also charged with plates e to be rinced.
The operation of cleansing the iron plates is as follows:-
The cages d, charged with iron plates directly under the jib ¹, are lifted by the
crane a and lowered into the tank of acid f, where they remain suspended with the
jib at 2, while the tank of acid is moved to and fro by self-acting means actuating
the table supporting such tank, thus causing the acid to pass freely between such
plates; they are then lifted out and lowered into the tank h containing water for
rincing; during this operation another cage charged with plates is lowered into the
acid, as before described, when the tanks f and h are put in motion simultaneously
and inove to and fro so as to remove the oxides and rince the plates at the same
time; they are then lifted free of the said tanks, when the crane revolves through
a quarter of a circle and deposits the cleansed plates at it, where they are removed
from the cage. This process is continuously repeated.
The cages d, with their plates e, are lifted, lowered, and and placed in position by
hydraulic, steam, or air power, operating through the jibs i, i², i³, i, the water
therefor entering by the inlet pipe j, and acting on the underside of the ram k,
which works in the cylinder 1, fixed to the floor c; ³ shows steam or air pipes for
the acid or water tanks.
Sheet 2. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a similar crane to that shown and
described under Fig. 1. The operation of cleansing in this case is as follows:-
The cage d, charged with plates e, is raised by the said crane and then lowered
into the fixed acid tank 6¹ by the jib b, such cage is then raised and lowered verti-
cally by the said crane for the acid to pass between the plates, the crane then
revolves horizontally and deposits the said cage in the fixed water tank b³ for
rincing the plates, when the vertical crane is put in action and lowers vertically
the cage and plates as before, thus imparting an up-and-down motion to such
plates for separating them, and thereby to admit the acid and water freely
between them.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a bydraulic ram k, working vertically in the
cylinder or case l, and fixed at its upper end to the acid tank and to the water
tank 1, for the purpose of vertically raising and lowering such tanks, instead of

page_text: dipping the cages and plates therein, as previously described. In this case the
plates to be cleansed are held suspended by the swing-crane m.
Sheet 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a straight bath containing the molton
metal. A plate e is passed between the guides o, and is carried forward by the
endless band n, working below the surface of the molten metal, until it comes in
contact with the stop n¹ on such band, which conveys it to stop n²; a second plate
e is then put in which is likewise carried forward to the stop, the first plate being
moved forward to stop n³; the third, fourth, and fifth plates are in like manner
successively carried one stop forward by each such motion, until the plate
marked e' is taken hold of by the feeding rollers p which convey the plates
continuously between the fixed washing rollers q direct to the finishing rollers p².
This process goes on continuously with six plates passing along in the molten metal
and one such plate passing out from the finishing rollers as rapidly as they can be
supplied between the guides o.
'
Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the bath on the line C, D, Fig. 5, and shows
the guides o, between which the plates e are passed, with the distance stops n on the
endless band n¹, which carries the plates forward without touching each other con-
tinuously over the pullies r.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a bath, irregular in shape, and is a modification
of the one in Fig. 5, for passing the plates e between the fixed guides o and on the
underside of the endless band n¹ with its stops n. The coating process is the same
as described for Fig. 5, and the same letters apply to each elevation and section on
this Sheet.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 9 a plan of an elongated bath for passing
the plates e vertically through the molten metal therein, the endless band n¹ working
over the pullies or guide wheels 1. In this case the plate e¹ is put down vertically
through the grease pot s into the molten metal and the hand-wheel i, working the
mitre-wheel¹ moves the endless band forward, and thereby conveys such plate
throug the guides o to the position e². The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and
seventh plates are similarly passed in succession to their respective positions, as
shown, when the furthest is taken hold of by the rollers p through the lifting of
the cradle u, and carried to the rollers p'. This process goes on continuously with
9 plates in operation at the same time.
Sheet 4. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a curved bath, and shows another
mode of conveying the plates e through the molten metal by means of a disc-wheel
rotating over the bath, and is provided with projecting self-acting fingers u. When
the said disc-wheel revolves it carries forward one plate e between each finger u,
until such plate is taken hold of by the rollers p, when the said finger u being now
in contact with the grease pot s extends the spiral spring attached to its inner
end, which allows such finger to rise out of the metal and pass over the grease pot
containing the rollers, as shown. Each successive plate is thus fed in and passed
through the molten metal continuously.
Fig. 11 is a transverse section of Fig. 10, showing the double fingers u; and Fig.
12 is also a transverse section showing a modification of the same with single
fingers u.
Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse section of a washing roller-box for cleansing the
coated plates from oxides, scruff, and other impurities thereon, and consists of three
metal rollers turned parallel and fixed in the roller-box u', two such rollers u³ on
ono side of the plate, and one u on the other side; the two rollers u being fixed
and the one roller u being adjustable by the lever u moving the eccentric u³ on
the ends of it.
Fig. 14 is a sectional plan of the same.
My object in making the washing rollers round is, firstly, the cheapness in so
making them, it being simply lathe-work;' secondly, the facility with which they
can be fitted; thirdly, the simplicity of adjustment by the said ecentric; and,
fourthly, the all-important advantage of being able to present a fresh even surface
to the passing plates, by simply turning the rollers in their bearings, when one

page_text: part of the face of such rollers is worn away by the friction of the plates in passing
between them.
Fig. 15 is an enlarged section showing a modification of the same, with four fixed
rollers u, placed two on each side of the plate e; these rollers can be turned con-
tinuously in their seats, so as to present a fresh surface to the plates, as their surfaces,
through friction with the passing plates, are flattened.
Fig. 16 is another modification thereof, showing two hexagonal-shaped bars
placed in the roller-box, in place of round rollers. It will be seen that the angular
edges of such bars, when in contact with the plates e wear away, a new edge
may be supplied by simply turning the said bar in its bearings; thus giving each
bar six working angular edges x.
Sheet 5. Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 18 a transverse section of a
portable rack for cleansing the plates e after they are coated, and consists of an
oblong box w mounted on wheels w², and having a divisional rack c inside to
receive the plates e to be cleansed. When the plates e are taken from the said
finishing rollers they are deposited by the aid of the catches inside of the said portable
rack c until it is filled, when the lid wis secured in place; the said box is then
drawn by the handle w³ to the sorting room, and as the cylindrical box wis charged
with cleansing material it will be seen that when the bottom of the box w arrives
at the upper part of its circuit, the cleansing material will fall by its own gravity
to the then bottom and will in its course strike against or impinge upon one side of
the said plutes, as indicated by the arrow; on the next half-turn of the said box,
the cleansing material will impinge on the other side of such plate, thus cleansing
both sides thereof. As the said cleansing material is confined inside the said box,
no dust can escape therefrom, thus saving the best part of the cleansing material
and cleaning the plates during their transit from the tin-houses to the sorting
room.
Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation of a machine similar to the foregoing, to rotate on
fixed bearings, and is made to contain a larger number of plates e (52, as now shown).
It will be seen that when the said plates rest upon the india-rubber rings f, Fig. 20,
all movement thereof is prevented as the edge of the said plates stick in or to such
rings, and as this cylindrical box or drum is slowly rotated by the pulley w³, the
cleansing material will fall from the upper to the lower part thereof, thus cleansing
both sides of the said plates, as indicated by the arrows w; w is a central blast
pipe which may be used for circulating the cleansing material.
Fig. 20 is a horizontal section of the same, showing four rows or sets of plates e,
and the india-rubber cord joints i under the lids w¹.
Fig. 21 is a transverse section of an elongated cylindrical box, showing a modifi-
cation of Fig. 20, having only two rows or sets of plates e, arranged to work on
fixed bearings, as in Fig. 19. All the index letters on this Fig. apply to the same
parts as in Fig. 19.
Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 23 a transverse section of an apparatus
for dusting the plates e after they are taken from the cylindrical boxes or drums,
and consists of a pair of revolving dusters; fitted on a hollow cylinder m, working
in bearings, with a central blast pipe passing through the hollow trunnions 7.
When the said dusters ; are caused to revolve the pressure of the blast inside
passing through the small holes in the said hollow cylinder m causes the said
dusters to extend or become inflated so that they come in gentle contact with the
Burfaces of the coated plates, without putting sufficient friction thereon to damage
their surfaces.
Fig. 24 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the same, showing two hollow
cylinders m, covered or partly covered with suitable brushes or other appropriate
material; the air-blast passes through these cylinders from the central nozzles 7,
for the purpose of blowing the dirty or used portion of the dust off the plates as
they pass through, and also for keeping the said dusters clear of any deposit.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not

page_text: restrict myself to the precise details or dimensions of parts now described or illus
trated, because from the nature of my said Invention, they admit of considerable
variation and modification, as herein before partially explained, without departing
from the main characteristics thereof; but I claim as new, and desire to secure by
the hereinbefore-mentioned in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. Moving the acid and the water tanks with their contents horizontally
to and fro, and the method of so moving them.
Secondly. The method of moving the acid and the water tanks up and down.
Thirdly. The raising and lowering or dipping the iron plates in the liquids con-
tained in fixed acid and water baths, and the method of performing the same.
Fourthly. The application of an endless band or flat chain with stops thereon
working below the surface of the molten metal.
Fifthly. The application of a revolving disc-wheel with self-acting fingers.
Sixthly. The application of a washing roller-box containing stationary or fixed
rollers.
Seventhly. The application of a rotating washing roller-box containing angular
reversible stationary or fixed bars.
Eighthly. The application of a rotating box or drum, arranged to rotate on port-
able wheels or in fixed bearings and containing the cleansing material and the plates
to be cleansed therein after being coated.
Ninthly. The application of dusting rollers with provision for air-blast to inflate
the dusters fitted thereon.
Each and all substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shown in
the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Davies, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
DAVID DAVIES. (L.S.)