Improvements in the Treatment of Iron or Steel Plates or Sheets to be afterwards Coated with Tin or Terne Metal or other Coating Metal or Alloy, or to be otherwise Coated, or used Uncoated, and in Apparatus Employed in the said Treatment.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
Improvements in the Treatment of Iron or Steel Plates or Sheets to be
afterwards Coated with Tin or Terne Metal or other Coating Metal
or Alloy, or to be otherwise Coated, or used Uncoated, and in
Apparatus Employed in the said Treatment.
We, RICHARD BEAUMONT THOMAS, of Dennel Hill, near Chepstow, in the County
of Monmouth, Gentleman, and HOBERT SPENCE THOMAS, of The Cottage,
Lydbrook, in the County of Gloucester, Tin Plate Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to the first or black pickling of iron or steel plates
or sheets whether to be afterwards coated with tin, terne metal, lead or other
coating metal or alloy or otherwise coated or to be used uncoated; that is, to
that stage of the treatment or manufacture of black plates at which the plates
immediately after rolling and opening out are pickled and washed, and our in-
vention consists in conducting the said first or black pickling stage in the manner
and by the use of the apparatus hereinafter described.
In conducting the first or black pickling stage as ordinarily practised the
plates or sheets after leaving the rolling mill are placed in bulk or handfuls in
a suspended rack or cradle and the cradle containing the plates in bulk is im-
mersed in a vessel or bath of dilute sulphuric acid whereby the film or
coating of oxide of iron is removed from the plates. The cradle containing the
cleaned or pickled plates is then raised and swung round so as to remove it from the
pickling bath and bring it over and immerse it in a water or swilling bath to
remove the acid adhering to the plates.
According to our invention we pickle and swill the black plates by passing
them continuously, one by one, first through the pickling bath and afterwards
through the water or swilling bath or we make the pickling and swilling of the
black plates separate processes instead of a continuous process, that is, the black
plates are one by one passed separately through the pickling and swilling baths.
Or we may pickle the black plates one by one by passing them through the
pickling bath and swill the pickled or cleaned plates in bulk in the ordinary
way: or we may swill the pickled or cleaned plates, one by one by passing them
through the swilling bath after they have been pickled in bulk in the ordinary
way.
When the pickling and swilling of the plates one by one is made a continuous
process as first described the pickling and swilling baths are arranged side by,
side so that the plates after leaving the pickling bath are readily passed through
the swilling bath.
of an
The metal sheets may be conducted through the pickling and swilling baths
or through the separate pickling bath or through the separate swill-
ing bath by means
endless travelling band provided on its
outer surface with projecting prongs or carriers which push or propel
or carry the plates through the bath or baths; or when a separate pickling bath
D
077

page_text: or a separate swilling bath is employed a revolving disc having projecting prongs
or carriers on its periphery may be used for pushing or propelling or carrying
the plates through the bath. But we wish it to be understood that other
mechanical means, such for example as pairs of rotating rollers, for carrying the
plates through the compound bath or through the single baths may be employed 5
in conducting our improved process or combination of processes.
Dated this Sixteenth day of October 1897.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in the Treatment of Iron or Steel Plates or Sheets to be
afterwards Coated with Tin or Terne Metal or other Coating Metal
or Alloy, or to be otherwise Coated, or used Uncoated, and in
Apparatus Employed in the said Treatment.
We, RICHARD BEAUMONT THOMAS, of Dennel Hill, near Chepstow, in the County
of Monmouth, Gentleman, and HUBERT SPENDE THOMAS, of The Cottage,
Lydbrook, in the County of Gloucester, Tin Plate Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Our invention has reference to the first or black pickling of iron or steel plates
or sheets whether to be afterwards coated with tin, terne metal, lead or other
coating metal or alloy or otherwise conted or to be used uncoated; that is, to
that stage of the treatment or manufacture of black plates at which the plutes
immediately after rolling and opening out are pickled and washed and our in-
vention consists in conducting the said first or black pickling stage in the manner
and by the use of the apparatus hereinafter described.
In conducting the first or black pickling stage as ordinarily practised the
plates or sheets after leaving the rolling mill are placed in bulk or handfuls in
a suspended rack or cradle and the cradle containing the plates in bulk is im-
mersed in a vessel or bath of dilute sulphuric or other neid whereby the film or
coating of oxide of iron is removed from the plates. The cradle containing the
cleaned or pickled plates is then raised and swung round so as to remove it from the
pickling bath and bring it over and immerse it in a water or swilling bath to
remove the acid adhering to the plates. Or the plates are pickled and swilled by
the older manual method.
According to our invention we pickle and swill the black plates by passing
them continuously one by one, first through the pickling bath and afterwards
through the water or swilling bath, or we make the pickling and swilling of the
black plates separate processes instead of a continuous process; that is, the black
plates are one by one passed separately through the pickling and swilling baths.
Or we may pickle the black plates one by one by passing them through the
pickling bath and swill the pickled or cleaned plates in bulk in the ordinary
way; or we may swill the pickled or cleaned plates one by one by passing them
through the swilling bath after they have been pickled in bulk in the ordinary
way.
When the pickling and swilling of the plates one by one is made a continuous
process as first described, the pickling and swilling baths are arranged side by
side so that the plates after leaving the pickling bath are readily passed through
the swilling bath.
The metal sheets may be conducted through the pickling and swilling baths

page_text: its
or through the separate pickling bath or through the separate swill-
ing bath by means of endless travelling band provided on
an
outer face with projecting prongs or carriers which push or propel
or carry the plates through the bath or baths: or when a separate pickling bath
or a separate swilling bath is employed a revolving disc having projecting prongs
or carriers on its periphery may be used for pushing or propelling or carrying
the plates through the bath. But we wish it to be understood that other
mechanical means such for example as pairs of rotating rollers, for carrying the
plates through the compound bath or through the single baths may be employed
in conducting our improved process or combination of processes.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively in longi-
tudinal section and plan, apparatus constructed according to our invention for
conducting the first or black pickling of iron or steel plates or sheets by: a con-
tinuous process.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent in longitudinal section modifications, wholly or
in part, of the apparatus represented in Figures 1 and 2.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
The apparatus Figures 1 and 2 consists essentially of a pickling or acid bath a
in which rotates a series of wheels b, b, b, bhaving upon their peripheries studs or
carriers, by which the black plates or sheets are carried singly, that is, one
by one, through the pickling hath a. The series of rotating carriers, are
mounted upon a common shaft which may be driven by gearing or by bands and
pulleys as will be well understood. The pickled plates are received by rolls c, c
being guided thereto by guides d, d by which rolls c, c and further guides dª³, dª
the said pickled plates are carried to rolls e, e in a swilling bath or water
"bosh" f.
C
We prefer to heat the pickle or acid in the bath a and swilling water in the
bosh" by external heat obtained by burning fuel in the fire places g, h or
by internal heat obtained by passing steam or hot water by means of the steam
or hot water inlet pipes marked respectively, & into the said baths a and f.
Or the said heating of the baths a and f may be effected by external heat con-
bined with internal heat obtained in the ways described and represented.
The swilling of the acid from the plates may be facilitated by jets of water
or steam delivered on to the said plates as they pass through the "bosh" f. Or
the water bosh may be lengthened and be 'fitted with additional rolls to increase
the travel of the plate through the swilling water.
In Figure 3 the rotating 'carriers b, and rolls c, e and c, e in the pickling
or acid bath and water bosh f are replaced by an endless travelling band 7
with fingers of a straight or bent form as illustrated in the said Figure 3, the
plates travelling between the parallel guides s, s.
In the pickling bath a, Figure 4, a series of rolls m in conjunction with guides n
are employed for carrying the plates or sheets, one by one, through the said
pickling bath.
the
In the pickling bath a Figure 5 the plates are received by a rising and falling
trough which is operated through a crank q and connecting rod r.
The plates
are passed into the bath a at the place indicated by the arrow in the said
Figure 5 singly, that is, one by one, and are received by the said trough
plate when the trough reaches its lowest position falling over to the other sido
of the bath until it bears against the guide which guides the plate on the rising
of the trough y to the rolls u, u.
In using a separate pickling process the plates may he passed through either
of the pickling baths represented and be subsequently swilled in bulk in the
ordinary way: or the pickled plates may be swilled one by one by passing them
through a separate swilling bath of either of the kinds represented in Figures 1
and 2, combined with mechanical means for carrying the said plates through the
said swilling bath.

page_text: Or the plates may be pickled in bulk in the ordinary way and swilled con-
tinuously or one by one in the way described with respect to plates pickled
according to our invention.
our
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the sanie is to be performed we declare that
we claim as our invention of "Improvements in the treatment of iron or steel
plates or sheets in the afterwards coated with tin or terne metal or other coating
metal or alloy or to be otherwise coated or used uncoated and in apparatus em-
ployed in 'the said treatment":-
First Effecting the first or black pickling of iron or steel plates or sheets
by passing them continuously one by one through an acid or pickling bath and
the use in the said treatment of an acid bath provided with guides in combination
with mechanical means for carrying the sheets singly, that is, one by one through
the said acid bath substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Secondly Effecting the swilling of plates or sheets black pickled either in
the way herein before described and claimed in the prior claim or black pickled
in bulk in the ordinary way by the use of a swilling bath or water bosh pro-
vided with guides and combined with mechanical means whereby the plates or
sheets are caused to travel through the water in the said bosh singly, that is, one
by one substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings.
Thirdly In the first or black pickling of iron or steel plates and sheets.
treating the said plates or sheets by passing them continuously one by one
through an apparatus consisting essentially of an acid bath in combination with
nswilling bath or water bosh the said baths being provided with guides and
mechanical means for carrying the plates or sheets singly through the combined
baths substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings.
Fourthly In the first or black pickling of iron or steel plates and sheets in
the ways and by the use of the apparatus claimed in the prior claims-heating
the acid or pickling bath and water bath or one or other of the said baths by
the application to the said bath or baths of external heat or internal heat or
partly by the one and partly by the other substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the First day of July 1898.
RICHARD BEAUMONT THOMAS.
HUBERT SPENCE THOMAS.