IMPROVEMENTS IN FINISHING AND POLISHING METAL TUBES AND RODS, AND IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Allcock, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Brassfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FINISHING AND POLISHING METAL TUBES AND RODS, AND IN APPARATUS OR
MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 31st October 1865, and dated the 2nd May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Allcock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd May 1865.
I, THOMAS ALLCOCK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brass-
founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FINISHING AND POLISHING METAL TUBES AND RODS, AND IN APPARATUS
OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in an improved mode of finishing metal tubes, by
which I lesson or avoid the employment of manual labor in the operation
termed "floating" the tubes, and also in an improved mode of polishing metal
tubes and rods. The apparatus I employ for these purposes consists of a
revolving drum or barrel lined internally with buff, felt, or other suitable
material, into which the tubes or rods are placed in considerable numbers at
one time, together with some sharp cutting grit or grinding medium, such as
emery, ground glass, or pounded brick; the barrel or drum is then caused to
revolve by steam or other power, by which motion the tubes or rods are
violently agitated, and the surfaces are ground and polished. The quality or
nature of the grinding material used I select according to the nature of the
operation. For floating or removing the rough coat of the tube or rod I

page_text: should employ a coarse cutting grit, whilst for polishing I should select a finer
or less cutting one. By this process I effect a considerable saving of manual
labor in finishing and polishing tubes or rods.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Allcock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALLCOCK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brassfounder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Alcock, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Allcock, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Allcock, my executors, administrators, and 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
FINISHING AND POLISHING METAL TUBES AND RODS, AND IN APPARATUS OR
MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Thomas Allcock, by an instrument in writing under my hand and.
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what 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 I, the said Thomas Allcock, do hereby declare tho
nature of my 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 being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention consists in an improved mode of finishing metal tubes, by
which I lesson or avoid the employment of manual labor in the operation
termed "floating" the tubes, and also in an improved mode of polishing metal
tubes and rods. The apparatus I employ for these purposes consists of a

page_text: revolving drum or barrel, lined internally with buff, felt, or other suitable
material, into which the tubes or rods are placed in considerable numbers at
one time, together with some sharp cutting grit or grinding medium, such as
emery, ground glass, or pounded brick; the barrel or drum is then caused to
revolve by steam or other power, by which motion the tubes or rods are
violently agitated, and the surfaces are ground and polished. The quality or
nature of the grinding material used I select according to the nature of the
operation. For floating or removing the rough coat of the tube or rod I
should employ a coarse cutting grit, whilst for polishing I should select a
finer or less cutting one. By this process I effect a considerable saving of
manual labor in finishing and polishing tubes and rods.
The annexed Drawings represent the drum or apparatus I prefer to employ
for this purpose. It consists of a cylindrical case (a) of any convenient
length, mounted on spindles (b) at either end, and hung in suitable standards
or bearings. It is caused to rotate by a driving band and pulley worked by
steam or other sufficient power, and it is lined with buff, leather, felt, or other
similar material as at (c). A door or flap (d) is provided for the insertion
of the tubes or rods, and the grinding or polishing medium, and this door
being closed and fastened the cylinder is put in rotary motion upon its lon-
gitudinal axis, which motion has the effect of grinding and polishing
simultaneously a large number of tubes or rods, and in a far more effectual
manner than can be performed by hand.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to these precise
details, the improvements in finishing and polishing metal tubes and rods by
rotary motion in a drum or cylinder lined with buff leather, felt, or other
similar material, as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Allcock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
THOMAS (L.S.) ALLCOCK.