IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARatus fox COATING METALS.”
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Clement Crowther and Thomas Millington
Morgan, both of Stour Vale. Iron Works, Kidderminster, in the
County of Worcester, Iron and Tin Plate Manufacturers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARatus fox COATING METALS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clement Crowther and
Thomas Millington Morgan at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 28th August 1873.
We, CLEMENT CROWTHER and THOMAS MILLINGTON MORGAN, both of
Stour Vale Iron Works, Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester,
Iron and Tin Plate Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COATING METALS," to be
as follows:-
Our Invention relates to an improved bath or pot for coating iron and
other metals with metals, such for example as tin, zinc, lead, or an alloy
of lead and tin, and to a peculiar frame to be used in connection
therewith, whereby the molten metal is more efficiently protected from

page_text: oxidation, the formation of scruff or impurities on the metal in the
internal portion of the bath or pot is prevented, the sheets are delivered
in a flat state, and a considerable saving in the consumption of fuel and
tallow or other fatty matter is effected.
According to our Invention we propose to make the bath or pot of a
concave form inside, the exterior being of corresponding shape, and to
form a trough or depression longitudinally in its bottom, such central
trough forming a point of support for the bath or pot on the brickwork
when fixed for work, and also a chamber for the reception of rollers to
be herein-after described. In this bath or pot we dispose a frame of
convex form in cross section, which frame is provided with flanges to
rest upon the upper edge of the bath or pot, and dips into the molten
metal contained therein, thus taking the place of a considerable portion
of the same.
The bottom of the frame is provided with rollers which
lodge in the trough or chamber herein-before described, and the bath or
pot is also provided with rollers at the exit side, which work below the
surface of the metal; all the rollers being driven by gearing in the
ordinary manner. The bath or pot has a suitable number (according to
its size) of ribs or projections cast on its interior, and arranged
transversely, and a corresponding number of ribs or projections are cast
on the pendent frame opposite thereto at each side of the bottom rollers.
On to these ribs or projections strips of coated wrought iron are by
preference fitted, which provide a smooth and uniform surface for the
sheet in the operation of coating, but which in some cases may be
dispensed with.
In coating a sheet of iron or other metal with metals, the sheet
having been first cleaned in the ordinary way is passed twice through
the bath or pot in the following manner, namely, through flux on one
side of the bath or pot, then between the ribs or projections formed on
the exterior and interior of the frame and bath respectively into the
rollers at the bottom of the frame, then between the ribs or projections
at the other side into the finishing rollers, whence it issues completely
coated and in a flat state.
It will be seen that as the frame takes the place occupied by a con-
siderable bulk of the metal in the ordinary apparatus, and forms a
covering for a large surface, which would otherwise be exposed to the
atmosphere, oxidation is very considerably reduced, and a much less

page_text: quantity of metal and consequently of fuel is required for a given sized
bath or pot, and that as the surface for the tallow or other fatty matter
is greatly reduced, a much smaller quantity of the latter is consumed.
A further advantage resulting from our improved arrangement is that
by reason of the peculiar form of the bath or pot, and the reduced
quantity of metal contained therein, the bath or pot is much less liable
to fracture from the contraction of the metal by cooling when the fire is.
extinguished than is the case with the apparatus ordinarily employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Clement Crowther and Thomas Millington Morgan
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, OLEMENT
CROWTHER and THOMAS MILLINGTON MORGAN, both of Stour Vale Iron
Works, Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Iron and Tin Plate.
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the.
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Clement Crowther and Thomas
Millington Morgan, Her special license that we, the said Clement
Crowther and Thomas Millington Morgan, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Clement Crowther
and Thomas Millington Morgan, our executors, administrators, or.
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
COATING METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Clement Crowther and Thomas Millington Morgan, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
.

page_text: 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 Clement Crowther and Thomas
Millington Morgan, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 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 :-
Our said Invention relates to an improved bath or pot for coating iron
and other metals with metals, such for example as tin, zinc, lead, or an
alloy of lead and tin, and to a peculiar frame or core to be used in con-
nection therewith, whereby the molten metal is more effectually protected
from oxidation, the formation of scruff or impurities on the metal in the
internal portion of the bath or pot is prevented, the sheets are delivered
in a flat state, and a considerable saving in the consumption of fuel and
tallow or other. fatty matter is effected.
According to our Invention we propose to make the bath or pot of a
concave form inside, the exterior being of corresponding shape, and to
form a trough or depression longitudinally in its bottom, such contral
trough forming a point of support for the bath or pot on the brickwork
when fixed for work, and also a chamber for the reception of rollers to
be herein-after described. In this bath or pot we dispose a frame or
core of convex form in cross section, which frame or core is provided
with flanges to rest upon the upper edge of the bath or pot, and dips
into the molten metal contained therein, thus taking the place of a
considerable portion of the same.
The bottom of the frame or core is
provided with rollers which are situated in the trough or chamber
herein-before described, and the bath or pot is also provided with rollers
at the exit side which work below the surface of the metal, all the
rollers being driven by gearing in the ordinary manner. The bath or pot
has a suitable number, according to its size, of ribs or projections cast
on its interior, and arranged transversely, and a corresponding number
of ribs or projections are cast on the pendent frame opposite thereto at
each side of the bottom rollers.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we
shall now procced more particularly to describe the same, and for that

page_text: purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
Figure 1 of our Drawings is a longitudinal section of our improved
bath or pot with the internal frame or core shewn in elevation; Figure 2
is a corresponding plan of same; and Figure 3 is a transverse section.
taken along the line 1-2 (Figure 1).
A is the bath or pot which contains the molten metal with which the
metal sheets are required to be coated. This bath or pot is made
internally of a concave shape in cross section, and is provided with ribs
or projections a, a¹, cast or otherwise formed in a transverse direction on
its interior. B is the internal frame or core, which is made of a convex
shape in cross section, and is supported by flanges b, b, on the upper
edge b'of the bath or pot A, so as to dip into the molten metal contained
therein. This internal frame or core is also provided with ribs or
projections c, c³, cast or otherwise formed on its exterior, and corre-
sponding to the ribs or projections a, a¹, made on the bath or pot. The
ribs or projections may have strips of coated wrought iron fitted on to
them in order to provide a smooth and uniform surface for the sheet in
the operation of coating, but such strips may be dispensed with, and the
ribs or projections simply cast on, as shown in our Drawings. C, C', arc
rollers situate in the lower part of the bath or pot A, and beneath the
internal frame or core B, the lower roller C¹ of which is lodged in the
longitudinal central trough or cavity d, which central trough forms a
point of support for the bath or pot on the brickwork when fixed for
work; D, D³, are finishing rollers also arranged below the surface of the
metal, and situate at the exit side of the bath or pot. In our Drawings
the rollers C, D, are shewn supported in bearings e, f, in the internal
frame or core, whilst the rollers C', D', are carried by bearings e¹, f¹, in
the bath or pot, but the rollers may be otherwise arranged, and the
bearings may be made adjustable, in order to suit different thicknesses of
sheets, or the height of the internal frame or core may be rendered
capable of variation, by which means the adjustability of the rollers and
of the ribs or projections may be simultaneously obtained. The
rollers C, C, D, D³, are driven by the intervention of the spur pinion E
and spur wheels F, from any convenient source of motive power in the
ordinary manner, each pair of rollers being coupled together by means of
pinions G, so as to cause them to operate conjointly. The internal.

page_text: frame or core B is shewn as made hollow and open at the top, for the
convenience of lightness, but in lieu thereof it may be closed in or
formed solid, if desired.
In coating a sheet of iron or other metal with metals the sheet is first
cleaned in the ordinary way, and is then passed any required number of
times through the bath or pot in the following manner, videlicet :-It
enters the bath or pot through a flux box H, then passes between the
ribs or projections a, c, formed on the interior and exterior of the bath
or pot and internal frame or core respectively, into the rollers C, O³, in
the bottom or lower portion of the bath or pot, then between the ribs or
projections a³, c¹, at the other side into the finishing rollers D, D', whenco
it issues completely coated and in a flat state.
It will be seen that as the frame or core takes the place occupied by a
considerable bulk of the metal in the ordinary apparatus, and forms a
covering for a large surface which would otherwise be exposed to the
atmosphere, oxidation is very considerably reduced, and a much less.
quantity of metal and consequently of fuel is required for a given sized
bath or pot, and that as the surface for the tallow or other fatty matter
is greatly reduced, a much smaller quantity of the latter is consumed.
A further advantage resulting from our improved arrangement is that
by reason of the peculiar form of the bath or pot, and the reduced
quantity of metal contained therein, the bath or pot is much less liable
to fracture from the contraction of the metal by cooling when the fire is
extinguished than is the case with the apparatus ordinarily employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use to and in a bath or pot for coating
metals of an internal frame or core, for the purposes hercin-before
described.
Secondly. The combination of a convex internal frame or core with
a concave bath or pot, for the purposes herein-before described.
"
Thirdly. The combination with a bath or pot and an internal frame or
core of ribs or projections formed on the interior of such bath or pot, and

page_text: on the exterior of such frame or core, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The combination with a bath or pot and an internal frame
or core of a longitudinal trough or cavity, and of rollers situate in the
bottom or lower portion of such bath or pot, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Clement Orowther and Thomas
Millington Morgan, have to this our Specification set our hands
and seals, the Twenty-sixth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.