IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING METAL PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METAL to be as follows
Year: 1885

page_text: We DANIEL EDWARDS Tin-plate Manufacturer RICHARD LEWIS Foreman and
PHILIP JONES Mechanic all of the Duffryn Iron and Tin Plate Works Morriston
Swansea do hereby declare the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COATING METAL PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METAL to be as follows:-
נן
In casting plates of iron or steel with tin in the manufacture of what is known
as tin plate it is advantageous to leave the plates for a short time immersed in the
molten coating metal.
To allow of this being done and yet to carry on the coating of the plates
continuously and uniformly we form the apparatus in which the coating process
is effected in the following manner.
We employ a bath of the molten coating metal with a grease pot above it at
one end through which the sheets to be coated are inserted into the bath and at
the opposite end of the bath we likewise provide a grease pot up through which
the coated plates are raised between pairs of rollers as in coating apparatus before
used and with such apparatus in order to allow of the plates remaining for a time
immersed in the molten coating metal we fit into the grease pot through which the
plates are introduced and along the bottom of the bath a number of parallel guide
rods or plates at a short distance apart from one another and into the spaces between
these rods we insert the plates to be coated in succession one after the other so that
the plates lie one above the other at the bottom of the bath.
At the further end of the grate so formed we provide other guide rods to guide
any one or other of the plates pushed forwards from any one or other of the com-
partments of the grate up to the pairs of rollers between which the plates are
raised up from out of the bath.
When a plate is so pushed forwards from one compartment of the grate and is
raised up out of the bath another plate is inserted into that compartment. The
plate in the next compartment is then similarly pushed forward and removed from
the bath and so on in succession for all the compartments of the grate.
In place of the guide rods forming the grate being continued down from the top
of the entrance grease pot nearly to the rollers which lift them out from the bath
the rack might be formed of guide rods descending vertically from the entrance

page_text: grease pot into the metal bath below it and the plates be moved sidewise or edge-
wise one by one in succession from the several compartments of the rack to a pair
or pairs of vertical rolls which cause them to travel along the bath to its opposite
end from whence they are raised to the rolls which are to withdraw them. The
same end may also be attained but not so advantageously by fitting into the
ordinary pots (in which a number of plates are usually placed together in bundles)
a similar rack or grate composed of guide rods so that in place of a bundle of plates
being placed all together into such pot the plates may be placed one by one into
the several compartments of the grate so that the plates may be kept apart froin
one another whilst soaking in the metal and so be acted on more uniformly than
when the process is conducted in the ordinary manner.

page_text: We, DANIEL EDWARDS Tin Plate Manufacturer RICHARD LEWIS Foreman and
PHILIP JONES Mechanic all of the Dyffryn Iron and Tin Plate Works Morriston
Swansea 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:-
In coating plates of iron steel or any other metal with tin terne or any other
alloy in the manufacture of what is known as tin or terne plates it is advantageous
to leave the plates for a short time immersed in the molten coating metal.
To allow of this being done and yet to carry on the coating of the plates
continuously and uniformly we form the apparatus in which the coating process
is effected in the following manner.
We employ a bath or chamber to contain molten coating metal which is made
deep enough to enable us at entrance end to retain grease palm oil tallow or any
other composition above the molten metal or if preferable we can fix a box or
frame in the bath or chamber above the molten metal to enable us to keep a larger
quantity of palm oil tallow or any other composition at one end through which the
sheets to be coated are inserted into the bath and at the opposite end of the bath
we likewise provide a grease hopper up through which the coated plates are raised
between a pair or pairs of rollers. We lead a flue inside or around the outside of
this grease hopper to permit of the palm oil tallow or other compound being kept
at the requisite heat or to convey cold air at our option.
We also fit into the hopper through which the plates are introduced and along
the bottom of the bath or chamber a number of bars at a short distance apart from
one another to form a grate curved or any other shape into the spaces of which the
plates to be coated may be inserted one plate into each space and after being
allowed to remain for a time one above the other in the molten metal may be
pushed forwards one by one by the workman along the bars of the grate far
enough to bring the forward edge of the plate up to the rollers at the exit end of
the bath without interfering with any of the other plates lying in the grate.
To lead the plates to the rollers as they are pushed forwards from the grate we
use an apron plate with bars rivetted on to it or made in one piece if preferable
over which the plates slide and to which they are conducted to the nip of
the rolls.
When a plate has been pushed forwards from one space or compartment of the
grate and has been raised up out of the bath through the rollers another plate is
inserted into that space or compartment. The plate in the next space or compart-
ment is then similarly pushed forward and removed from the bath and so on in
succession for all the compartments of the grate.
In place of the bars forming the grate being continued down from the top of the
entrance chamber box or frame nearly to the rollers which lift them out from the

page_text: bath the grate might be formed of bars descending vertically from the entrance
chamber box or frame into the metal bath below it and the plates be moved side-
wise or endwise one by one in succession from the several compartments of the
grate to a pair or pairs of vertical rolls which cause them to travel along the bath
to its opposite end from whence they are then raised to the rolls which are to
withdraw them. We however prefer to use the arrangement above described. The
same end may also be attained but not so advantageously by fitting into the
ordinary pots (in which a number of plates are usually placed together in bundles)
a similar rack or grate composed of grate bars so that in place of a bundle of plates
being placed all together into such pot the plates may be placed one by one into
the several compartments of the grate so that the plates may be kept apart from
one another whilst soaking in the metal and so be acted on more uniformly than
when the process is conducted in the ordinary manner.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of apparatus arranged as hereinbefore
first described.
Figure 2 a plan view and Figure 3 a transverse vertical section taken through
the hopper at the outlet end of the metal bath.
A is the pot or bath for holding the molten coating metal it is kept heated by a
fire place below it or in any suitable place in any ordinary manner by gas coal or
any heating substance-B B are bars forming a grate-C are collar bolts which
fasten grate bars together and to plates D one at one side of the metal pot the other
at the opposite side the plates D can be slidden towards or away from one another
and be retained at any desired distance apart by securing them by lock bolts or
otherwise to a bar E and can so be set at any required distance apart according to
the width of plate that is being coated-F is a plate fixed to the sides of the pot
in front of the two plates D it serves to retain palm oil tallow or any other com-
position above the surface of the metal at the entrance end of the pot-G G is the
apron plate which leads the plates to the nip of the withdrawing rolls H whenever
the workman pushes a plate forwards. To push the plate forwards the workman
uses a prong or fork at the end of a rod or uses tongs or other suitable tool.
The apron plate G and the bearings of the withdrawing rolls are
as shown
carried by a frame I which is fixed within a hopper J which contains palm oil
tallow or any other composition at the exit end of the metal pot A.
The lower pair of rollers may be submerged or dip into the coating metal whilst
the upper rollers may be in the palm oil tallow or any other composition in the
hopper above.
The hopper J is as shown formed with a flue J2 cast in conjunction with hopper
or rivetted or screwed to it--it may be of any shape or form around inside or
outside of it to convey heat or cold air at option to permit of the palm oil tallow
or any other composition being kept at the required temperature the flue is fitted
with dampers or valves for the admission of cold air whenever the temperature
rises above what is required.
· The pot is heated by a fire placed below it. Part of the products of combustion
of this fire can be allowed to pass away direct to the chimney and part be led
upwards and into one end of the flue around the grease hopper and so to the
chimney from the other end of the flue.
The rollers are driven by a driving belt working over the belt pulley K or by
other suitable means.
The plates are inserted one by one into the compartments of the grate so as in
succession to fill each compartment with one plate. Each plate after lying for a
time within the molten metal is pushed forwards by means of a prong fork tongs
or any other suitable tool until its end has reached the withdrawing rolls the plate
is then withdrawn by these rolls and a new plate is introduced to fill the
compartment from which the plate has been so taken and so on in succession.
By making the pot short and deep so that one sheet will reach the rolls the
work can be readily and easily carried on and by having a number of bars so that
Each sheet may be allowed to remain for a time in the coating metal before being

page_text: passed forward to the rolls ample time is given for the molten metal to adhere to
the plates and superior plates are obtained with considerably less labor than in
the ordinary way.
. :
Figure 4 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a similar apparatus combined
with a dipping pot and 5 roll grease pot L is the dipping pot M the 5 roll grease
pot.
Figure 5 shows a longitudinal vertical section Figure 6 a plan. view Figure 7
a transverse section Figures 5* 6* and 7* shew side elevation pland and end
view of apparatus in which the plates are first placed one by one into an ordinary
pot and then finished with apparatus such as shown at Figure 1 except that the
grate is formed with two compartments only as the plates need not remain so long
in the coating metal owing to having been previously coated.
N is the pot containing the alloy with which the plates are to be first coated.
O the grate contained in the pot and P the grease pot into which the plates are
placed before putting them one by one into the grate O in the pot. N.
In some cases we use a chain passing over two loose sheaves one at each end
with lugs on it to carry the plates forwards to the withdrawing rollers. The lugs
may be moveable to allow us to work any sized plates. When a chain is used one
compartment only of the grate would be used.
We can also insert a plate between the two plates D which we call a partition
plate this places us in a position to work two smaller plates instead of one large
one should we require to do so without changing the grate.
By coating metal plates in the manner herein before described we avoid wasto
of the coating metal and waste of fuel-the usual brushing with hemp is also done
away with,
In the old mode of working a number of coating pots were used each having a
separate fire underneath which caused a great waste of fuel as well as loss of metal
by oxidation or volatilisation from the surface of the molten metal exposed to the
air in each of the pots.
By our mode of working when there is only one pot and one fire there is a
saving in fuel and considerably less wate of metal by oxidation or volatilisation.
By our mode of working also as the plates are placed one by one into the
coating metal the coating metal remains approximately at one uniform temperature
and is not alternately first raised to a high temperature and then chilled by the
insertion into it of a large number of plates at the same time as in the old and
still common mode of working. When the metal was so chilled it was requisite to
force the fire to again heat the metal to the temperature required resulting in a
great waste of fuel and of metal.
We also claim that by our mode of working the coating metal being kept at a
practically uniform temperature we thereby avoid the deterioration in quality
which takes place in such coating metal when it is subjected to such variation of
temperature as always takes place when the old method of coating plates is
adopted.
'
By our mode of working we also obtain a better coated and superior plate than
by the old method of working. When the plates had to remain soaking for a
length of time in chilled coating metal the coating metal attacked some parts of
the surface of the plates before others and consequently unevenly or unequally
deposited on the plates causing irregularity in the depth of coating and irregularity
of surface and this irregularity could not be removed by subsequent rolling-
whereas by our method as the coating metal is always kept at one uniform
temperature and that best adapted for allowing the coating metal to unite with
the surface of the iron or steel plate and as in addition the plates remain in the
metal for one uniform length of time and are thus equally acted upon by it
perfect equality of coating is obtained and the plates come out from the pot with
a smooth uniform and equally coated surface free from scruff and impurities,
further in our mode of working the quality or toughness of the iron is not in any
way affected as it is in the old mode of working.

page_text: .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: —
1. The process of coating metal plates substantially as herein before described
consisting in inserting the plates one by one into compartments of a grate in the
bath containing the molten coating metal whereby they are kept separated.one
from the other-in also allowing the plates to remain one uniform time in the
metal and in pushing the plates forwards one by one to the withdrawing rolls
without interfering with any of the other plates in the grate. We also claim the
modification of the above process described with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7.
2.-The apparatus for coating metal substantially as herein before described and
illustrated at Figures 1, 2 and 3.
3.-The apparatus for coating metal substantially as herein before described and
illustrated at Figure 4.
4.-The apparatus for coating metal substantially as herein before described and
illustrated at Figures 5, 6 and 7.
5.-Heating the grease pot at the exit end of the bath of coating metal by a flue
to convey heat or cold air our option through or around it substantially as
described.