IMPROVEMENTS IN DECORATING SURFACES COATED WITH TIN AND OTHER METALS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: CE
LETTERS PATENT to Leon Quentin Brin, of the Borough, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DECORATING SURFACES
COATED WITH TIN AND OTHER METALS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Sealed the 12th July 1878, and dated the 28th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Leon Quentin Brin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1878.
LEON QUENTIN BRIN, of the Borough, in the County of Surrey.. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DECORATING SURFACES COATED WITH TIN AND OTHER METALS, AND IN
MACHINERY THEREFOR.'
"
The chief object of this Invention is to enable patterns to be produced and varied
indefinitely on metal plates, and the essential features of the Invention refer to
the application of machinery during the cooling of the metal in fusion on the
surfaces of plates so coated by the action thereon of air, water, or steam; these
agents being employed under pressure, varying according to circumstances,
according, for example, to the design and the effects to be produced. The air and
water may be cooled in their passage before touching the plates, and the steam may
be super-heated; these agents, water, air, or steam, act as cooling agents, and, at
same time, as regulators of the designs formed in the crystallization. Employed
under varying pressures they are easily directed, and for the same reason they are
caused to act by jets as large or small as may be required, and in this way names,
letters, and devices of very varying descriptions are capable of being produced, the.
effects of which are very good. Plates treated according to my Invention may be
subsequently coated with varnishes, oils, and be coloured or not, as desired.
Heretofore mother of pearl or pearl-like appearances have been produced on metal
plates by means of acid baths, but while fine effects have been thereby obtained the
designs soon get dull, and the work is irregular; this is not the case with my
Invention.
A convenient way of carrying the Invention into effect is as follows:-I provide
an air pump, which is in communication with an air receiver, or vessel, or vessels

page_text: for containing compressed air, and adjacent to the air vessel there is a water vessel;
these two vessels are in communication with a chamber or frame in which the
plates to be treated are placed; the design or pattern required is formed on the
frame cover communication between the air, and-water vessels, and the frame is
made or cut off by taps. The plate frame is supported in a trough which is pro-
vided with inlet and outlet pipes. Conveniently situate with respect to the plate
frame there is a gas or other suitable furnace or apparatus for heating the plates
to be treated.
The operation is as follows:-When compressed air is used it is preferably stored
in one or more receivers, although it might be obtained as required by a fan or other
convenient means, or air and water may be simultaneously used, either both under
pressure or one after the other in a state of spray at the moment of striking the
plates to be cooled. Thus arranged the air passes by a pipe, the quantity and
pressure being regulated by a tap to the plate frame when it escapes by small
orifices formed in the upper plate or cover, and in this way to strike the under side
of the plate or plates to be treated at such distances apart as may be arranged for
by the pattern, and thus instantly to cool the tin or other metal previously set in a
state of fusion either by means of a gas furnace or other suitable and convenient
means. This done the plates are cleaned in an acid bath consisting of, say, the
following ingredients in or about the proportions named :-
This bath is intended to uncover the angles of crystallization, the plates are
thrown into fresh water and varnished, if desired. The effects produced, and the
designs are then brought out with effect.
When steam is used it is applied in a similar manner to that of the air, but 30
produces different results in the designs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Leon Quentin. Brin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
July 1878.
LEON QUENTIN BRIN, of the Borough, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DECORATING SURFACES COATED WITH TIN AND OTHER METALS, AND IN
MACHINERY THEREFOR."
The object of this Invention is to enable patterns to be produced and varied
indefinitely on metal plates, and the essential features of the Invention refer to the
application of machinery during the cooling of the metal in fusion on the surfaces
of plates so coated by the action thereon of air, water, or steam; these agents being
employed under pressure varying according to circumstances, according, for example,
to the design, and the effects to be produced. The air and water may be cooled in
their passage before touching the plates, and the steam may be super-heated. These
agents, water, air, or steam act as cooling agents, and, at same time, as regulators of
the designs formed in the crystallization. Employed under varying pressures they
are easily directed, and for the same reason they are caused to act by jets as large
or small as may be required, and in this way names, letters, and devices of very
varying descriptions are capable of being produced, the effects of which are very
good. Plates treated according to my Invention may be subsequently coated with
varnishes, oils,, and be colored or not, as desired...
Heretofore mother of pearl or pearl-like appearances have been produced on metal
plates by means of acid baths, but while fine effects have been thereby obtained the
designs soon get dull, and the work is irregular; this is not the case with my
Invention.
A convenient way of carrying the Invention into effect is as follows, and as
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 being a view in side eleva-
tion, and Figure a view in plan of apparatus or machinery constructed according
to my Invention-I provide an air pump, which is in communication with an air
receiver, or vessel, or vessels for containing compressed air, and adjacent to the air
vessel there is a water vessel; these two vessels are in communication with a
chamber or frame in which the plates to be treated are placed; the design or
pattern required is formed on the frame cover communication between the air and
water vessels, and the frame is made or cut off by taps.
The plate frame is supported in a trough, which is provided with inlet and outlet
pipes. Conveniently situate with respect to the plate frame there is a gas or other
suitable furnace or apparatus for heating the plates to be treated.
Referring to the Drawings, A. is the air or water pump; B, D, are the com-
pressed air or water reservoirs or chambers; N is a cock for filling the chamber D;
C, cock for opening or shutting off communication between the two chambers; C',
pressure gauge; F, F, spring taps for admitting compressed air or water to the
chamber G, which is preferably of cast iron, the upper part being made of a plate of
copper or other metal, and perforated with apertures for the passage of fluid; this
chamber G is provided with a pipe and cock g to empty same when required;
H, vessel of wood lined with zinc or lead to receive the overflow water which is
allowed to run away by the pipe J, or is returned by means of the pump into the
compressors B, D; K, gas furnace for heating the plates; M, gas admission cock ;
L represents a coated plate laid on the furnace, and at the moment that the fusion
takes place.
When treating sheets or plates of pure tin.-The sheets of pure tin plates are.
laid on a sheet of cast iron, and the iron plate is heated slowly until it can be seen
that the, tin begins to melt. The plate of iron supporting the tin plate is heated
and treated as the coated plate, and cooled in a similar manner.
After this opera-

page_text: tion they are placed in a bath as hereafter described, and similar to those used for
coated plates. To fix them to paper they are allowed to dry, and are fixed by
means of gum and
pressure so as to render them very adherent to the paper.
Operation of this Mode of Manufacture as Illustrated in the Drawings.-The metal
coated sheet L is placed on a gas furnace K until the tin is placed in a complete state of
fusion. As soon as the surface is liquid, which is easily seen, the sheet L is quickly taken
by means of pincers arranged for this purpose, and immediately placed at the top of
the chamber G, which is provided with supports to receive it. As soon as it is in
place the valve F is opened, and water entering under pressure into the chamber G
is forced to escape by the orifices formed in the upper plate of the chamber G. It is
understood that water has been previously accumulated under pressure in one of
the reservoirs B, D.
If air is employed it is used in the same way as water. If air has been com-
pressed by means of a blower or rotary fan the effects are different, but the mode or
method of employment is the same.
A tin bath may be substituted for the heating by the gas furnace or other simple
means, and proceed immediately to the cooling indicated, as before described.
This done the plates are cleaned in an acid bath consisting of say the following
ingredients in or about the proportions named:-

page_text: manufacture, all constructed and acting substantially in manner and for the purposes
as herein-before described, together with any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Leon Quentin Brin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
.
LEON QUENTIN BRIN. (L.S.)