CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MODES OF PREPARING PLATES; BARS, OR OTHER OBJECTS OF IRON FOR BEING COATED WITH METALS OR ALLOYS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fulham Parsons, Chemist, of Maindee, in
the Parish of Christchurch, in the County of Monmouth, for the Inven-
tion of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MODES OF PREPARING
PLATES; BARS, OR OTHER OBJECTS OF IRON FOR BEING COATED WITH METALS OR
ALLOYS."
Sealed the. 17th December 1863, and dated the 23rd June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fulham Parsons
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd June 1863.
I, THOMAS FULHAM PARSONS, Chemist, of Maindee, in the Parish of
Christchurch, in the County of Monmouth, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MODES OF PRE-
PARING PLATES, BARS, OR OTHER OBJECTS OF IRON FOR BEING COATED WITH METALS.
OR ALLOYS," to be as follows:-
In the process usually employed for preparing plates, bars, and other objects
of iron for being plated or coated with tin or its alloys, the oxyde and the.
cinders and other impurities adhering to the plates, bars, or other objects are
removed by the action of sulphuric acid only, whereby not only a very con-
siderable outlay is involved, but the plates or other objects made of certain
qualities of iron become corroded in the shape of minute perforations.
Now my improvements, although relating chiefly to the preparation of

page_text: plates and other objects to be coated with tin and its alloys, are likewise appli-
cable where copper, zinc, lead, or their alloys are intended to be used, and the
said improvements consist in immersing the plates or other objects to be
coated in a weak solution of sulphuric acid simply for the purpose of loosening
the oxyde, cinders, and other impurities, and in subsequently completely
removing them and thoroughly cleaning the plates or other objects by scraping
or grinding the same. The scraping may be effected by means of tools or
instruments of steel furnished with sharp edges; and for the purpose of
grinding the plates I propose to use either horizontal or vertical grindstones,
or discs, or plates made of copper, lead, or other metal, or other suitable
material acting through the instrumentality of sand, emery, or other equivalent
substances, the plates or other objects being fixed in convenient frames or
holders.
In carrying out the process of scraping or grinding, either the scraping tool
or instrument, or the grindstone or disc may have a reciprocating motion, or a
réciprocating and rotary motion imparted to it, or such motion may be
imparted to the plate holders or frames, the scraping or grinding instrument
remaining stationary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Fulham Parsons in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
FULHAM PARSONS, Chemist, of Maindee, in the Parish of Christchurch, in the
County of Monmouth, send greeting.
WHEREAS. Hér. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant. unto me, the
said Thomas Fulham Parsons, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Fulham Parsons, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Fulham Parsons, 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
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MODES OF PREPARING PLATES, BARS, OR

page_text: OTHER OBJECTS OF IRON, FOR BEING COATED WITH METALS OR ALLOYS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Fulham Parsons, my exe-.
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain tho
nature of the said Invention; and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Fulham Parsons, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
In the process usually employed for preparing plates, bars, and other objects
of iron for being coated with tin or its alloys, the oxide, cinders, and other
impurities adhering to the plates or other objects are removed by the action of
a strong solution of sulpuric acid only, whereby not only a very considerable
outlay is involved, but the plates or other objects, if made of certain qualities
of iron, become corroded in the shape of minute perforations.
Now my improvements, although relating chiefly to the preparation of plates
and other objects intended to be coated with tin or its alloys, are likewise
applicable where copper, zinc, lead, or their alloys are intended to be used; and
the said improvements consist in firstly immersing the plates or other objects
in a weak solution of sulphuric acid, simply for the purpose of loosening the
oxide, cinders, and other impurities, and in subsequently completely removing
them and thoroughly cleaning the plates or other objects by scraping. or
grinding the same. For grinding the plates or bars I propose to employ
either horizontally or vertically revolving stones, discs, or plates of copper,
lead, or other suitable metal or material acting through the instrumentality of
sand, emery, or other equivalent substances; the plates or other objects being
fixed or held in suitable frames or holders. A to-and-fro or reciprocating
movement may be imparted to these revolving grindstones or discs, whilst the
plate under operation remains stationary, or such motion may be imparted to
the plate, the scraping or grinding instrument remaining stationary. Such parts
of the plates, bars, or other objects as may not be accessible to the revolving
discs may be scraped by hand by steel scrapers.
The machine or apparatus which I have by experience found as most suit-
able for grinding the plates and for effectually removing from them the oxide,
cinders, and other impurities after they have been, in accordance with my
improved process, immersed in a dilution of sulphuric acid, is constructed as

page_text: frilows:-The said mechanism consists of two pairs of grinding cylinders or
discs, revolving at a considerable velocity, the two discs of each pair being so
placed one above the other that their respective points of contact shall be in
the same plane. The plates to be operated upon are held fast and passed to
the first pair of grinding discs by a pair of feed rollers, whose circumferential
velocity is such as to allow the grinding discs sufficient time for action. As
the plate emerges from this first pair of grinding discs it enters and is taken
hold of by a second pair of feed and guide rollers, which will pass it on to the
second pair of grinding discs, and passing through these it will be seized by a
third pair of guide or delivery rollers. The circumferential speed of the
several guide rollers is the same. The first set of grinding discs is coated or
supplied with what is called No. 1 emery, and the second or finishing set with
emery powder. The grinding discs as well as the guide rollers are made
adjustable to suit various thicknesses of plates, and the guide rollers are
weighted to such an extent as may be necessary for holding the plate steady
whilst under the operation of grinding.. The guide rollers are placed in such
close proximity to the grinding discs that the plate will always be held by at
least one pair of guide rollers.
.. Having now discribed the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I
do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details of the mechanism or
apparatus herein-before described; but what I claim as the Invention to be
secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the scraping or
grinding of the plates or other objects intended to be coated with tin or its
alloys, after having immersed the same in a weak solution of sulphuric acid for
the purpose of removing therefrom any oxide, cinders, or other impurities
adhering to them.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Fulham Parsons, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.