Improvements in Apparatus for use in Chilling Armour Plates.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Chilling Armour Plates.
I, TOLMIE JOHN TRESIDDER, Captain late of H.M. Royal Engineers, now of
Atlas Iron and Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for use in chilling armour plates by means of
spray after the manner described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me No. 5551 of 1891 and No. 22177 of 1891 and the principal objects of my present
invention are to secure still greater uniformity of the chilling fluid, easy access to
enable the apparatus to be cleared of any obstruction and ready adaptation of
the apparatus to suit various sizes and shapes of armour plates.
According to my invention I provide what I will term main pipes made up of
preferably straight lengths joined together to suit the various lengths of plate to be
treated. The cross section of these main pipes is preferably square. A main pipe
for a "top douche "for flat or nearly flat plates, is drilled and tapped at right
angles to its sides for branch pipes which may conveniently be one inch gas pipes
two inches apart along the whole of the lower edge of the sides of the main pipe which
latter may carry eyes on the top side for suspending the main pipe as hereinafter
described.
The lower side of the main pipe is drilled with numerous small holes say about
inch diameter and about one inch apart from which the jets of cooling fluid under
pressure issue.
For a 66
top douche" for curved plates a main pipe like that hereinbefore.
described may be used, except that it has along its lower edges longitudinal ribs
which are canted more or less so as to be readily drilled and tapped at an angle
with the perforated under side of the main pipe. Three or four varieties of this
class with ribs of different cant will usually suffice for all ordinary curvatures of
plates.
For a "lower douche" for curved plates a main pipe like that. last described
turned upside down may be used except that the cant of the ribs is reversed in the
casting. Three or four varieties of this form may be required.
The main pipes for the upper douche are suspended from above, but those for
the lower douche are supported from below. The said "main pipes" have their
flanges carried only partly round, so that the side which carries the perforations
has no flange, and the sides adjoining the perforated side have the flanges carried
only so far as will not allow them to interfere with the "branch pipes" which must
be evenly spaced along the main pipes at the joints as well as elsewhere.
End pipes which may be of the same form in section as the "main pipes" but
without their perforations are attached to the ends of the main pipes and are closed
at their outer ends by stop plates or dummy flanges and carry curved branches
which preferably sweep from the section of the main pipe to a circular section of
say 6 inches interior diameter and are connected to the pump deliveries or other
pressure service.
Between these end pipes and the maiu pipe at one end of the system two annular
discs representing the thickness of two "stop plates" are inserted. By substituting
a "stop plate" for one of these annular discs the chilling fluid can be supplied from
one end only of the "main pipes," and by removing the other of the said discs and
inserting another "stop plate" at any joint between the lengths of "main pipes’
part of the apparatus can be put out of action.
"

page_text: This will often be more convenient than the alternative of substituting undrilled
pipes for as many of the lengths of "main pipe" as it may be desired to put out of
action when a small plate is to be treated and supply from one end will suffice.
As aforesaid the "branch pipes" of the douche may be pieces of inch gas pipe.
They should be straight and are threaded externally at one end or equivalently
formed so that they can be secured into the "main pipes" and internally at the
other end they are fitted to receive a plug. They are of small diameter or
sectional area as compared to the main pipe and are drilled along one side with
numerous holes for instance as described in my Specification of my Patent
No. 5551 of 1891. These holes are of course turned downwards for a "top
douche" and upwards for a "lower douche." The length of the "branch pipes
for a "top douche" is conveniently such that the "douche" may serve for the
widest plates, as the width of the active-portion is easily reduced by inserting plugs
in as many of the outermost holes as may be.necessary. For a "lower douche"
the length of the "branch pipes" may be determined more or less by the width of
curved plate to be treated.
<6
Carrying bars" may be provided for placing on the "branch pipes" they
having in them holes fitting the "branch pipes" and they serve to keep the said
branch pipes parallel and to stiffen the structure generally.
The "top douche" may be suspended from a pair of light girders or rails any
suitable arrangement being employed that admits of its height being varied so as
to suit the thicknesses and curvature of various plates, it being always desirable to
bring the douches pretty close to the plate to be treated.
The aforesaid light girders may be carried on cross girders which rest in turn on
supporting columns.
A large shallow iron tray or similar vessel is provided which is larger than the
largest armour plate to be dealt with. The said tray or vessel may rest on cross
girders carried by longitudinal girders which may form the top of a bogie or truck
which runs on rails parallel to the "main pipe" of the douche.
The said tray or vessel is provided at one end with a trough for discharging the
chilling liquid either to waste or preferably to a tank or reservoir from which it
may be again pumped. This trough is provided with a flap or "weir-plate"
capable of being fixed at any inclination or height for which purpose it may be
hinged at its lower end. This is let down when the "lower douche" is in use, but
in other cases it is raised to such position that the tray or vessel retains the chilling
liquid to such level as will cause the immersion to any desired amount of the lower
side of a flat or nearly flat plate.
Light girders may be arranged inside the said tray or vessel for the support of
flat or nearly flat plates which do not require the lower douche, but these are
preferably removed when curved plates are being treated in order to keep the
weight as low as possible. At the other end of the tray or vessel a pipe is fixed in
such a manner that it can be adjusted in height and be jointed water-tight to the
tray or vessel.
The inner end of this pipe is flanged for coupling to the "main
pipes" of the "lower douche," and the outer end is reduced and screwed or fitted
to take the union coupling of a flexible hose or other connection from the pump
delivery or other pressure service. The "lower douche" is supplied from this end
and has a "stop-plate" at its other end. The said pipe is plugged at its outer end
when the lower douche is not in use.
The hot plate to be treated is lifted into its place in the tray or vessel while the
bogie or truck is out in the open and it is then run along the rails to its exact
position under the "top douche." When the hot plate is in its place in the tray or
vessel and the bogie or truck has been run into position the "top douche" is started
and the "lower douche" (if it is to be used) is also started.
.
In hardening flat or nearly flat plates the upper side, which will be the high
carbon side, is to be chilled by the "top douche" while the lower, or low carbon
side is immersed in the chilling liquid contained in the tray or vessel.
In hardening plates of a curvature too great to allow of their being dealt with

page_text: in this way the lower douche is placed in position and coupled to the aforesaid pipe
provided for it before the hot plate is placed in the tray or vessel.
11802
J. H. JOHNSON & CO.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Chilling Armour Plates.
I, TOLMIE JOHN TRESIDDER Captain, late of H.M. Royal Engineers, now of
he Atlas Iron and Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby
eclare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
erformed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
tatement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for use in chilling armour plates by means of
pressure spray after the manner described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me No. 5551 of 1891 and No. 22177 of 1891 and the principal objects of
ny present invention are to secure still greater uniformity of distribution of the
chilling fluid, easy access to enable the apparatus to be cleared of any obstruction
and ready adaptation of the apparatus to suit various sizes and shapes of armour
plates.
According to my invention I provide what I will term main pipes made up of
preferably straight lengths joined together to suit the various lengths of plates to
be treated and branch pipes connected therewith constructed and arranged as
hereinafter described.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate what I consider the best arrangements according to my invention.
Figure 1 is a general top plan of an apparatus or douche arranged according to
my invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation with a plate (shewn as being slightly curved) in
position for chilling and Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in section of the same.
Figure 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a curved plate in position for
chilling and of the modifications in the apparatus to fit it to suit the curvature-of
the plate and Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a part of the
apparatus shown in Figure 4.
Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, A is the main pipe of the douche. It is
made up of lengths joined together (for instance by bolts passed through the
It will be
flanges a) so as to suit the particular lengths of plate to be treated.
generally convenient to keep several sizes of such lengths of main pipe A in stock.
They may be of various lengths but two feet and four feet will be found convenient
lengths in practice. The general cross section of this main pipe A is preferably
square. The main pipe for a top douche for flat, or nearly flat, plates is drilled
and tapped at or about right angles to its sides with holes (as at 3 Figure 2) for
the reception of branch pipes C. (as shewn clearly in Figure 3) which may
conveniently be one inch gas pipes two inches apart from centre to centre along the
whole of the lower edge of the sides of the main pipe the lengths of which latter
5 may carry eyes a² on the top side for suspending the main pipe as hereinafter
described. The lower side of the main pipe A is drilled with numerous small holes
say about inch diameter and about one inch apart (as shown at a³ in Figure 3)
from which the jets of cooling fluid under pressure issue.
For a top douche for curved plates a main pipe (see A2 Figure 4) like that
0 hereinbefore described may be used except that it has along its lower edges
longitudinal ribs (a' Figure 4) which are canted more or less so as to be readily
drilled and tapped at an angle with the perforated underside of the main pipe A
corresponding to the inclination of the pipes C rendered necessary by the curve of
ha lato

page_text: For a lower douche for curved plates a main pipe (see A³ Figure 4) like that
last described turned upside down may be used except that the cant of the ribs is
reversed in the casting as shown at a Figure 4.
Three or four varieties of this class of lengths for the main pipes A² A³ with ribs
of different cant will usually suffice to be kept in stock for all ordinary curvatures
of plates.
The main pipe (A or A²) for the upper douche is suspended from above but
that (A³) for the lower douche is supported from below which may be done by its
resting on the ends of its branch pipes or by the main pipe resting on blocks or
supports.
The lengths of the main pipes have their flanges a carried only partly round
so that the sides which have the perforations a³ in them have no flanges, and
the sides adjoining the perforated side_ have the flanges carried only so far as
will not allow them to interfere with the branch pipes C (as seen clearly in
Figures 2, 3 and 4) which branch pipes should be evenly spaced along the main
pipes at the joints as well as elsewhere to give equal distribution of the fluid all
over the plate.
End pipes B (Figures 1 and 2) which may be of the same form in section as the
main pipe A but without its perforations are attached to the ends of the main
pipe A the said pipes B being closed at their outer ends by stop plates or dummy
flanges d and carrying curved branches B² which preferably sweep from the section of
the main pipe to a circular section of say 7 inches interior diameter and are connected
to the pump deliveries or other pressure service by which the chilling fluid is
supplied.
Between these end pipes B and the main pipe A. at one end of the system two
annular discs e e² representing the thickness of two stop plates are inserted. By
substituting a stop plate for one of the annular discs the chilling fluid can be supplied
from one end only of the main pipe, and by removing the other of the said discs
and inserting another stop plate at any joint between the lengths of the main
pipe A part of the apparatus can be put out of action. This will often be more
convenient than the alternative of substituting undrilled lengths of pipe for as
many of the lengths of main pipe as it may be desired to put out of action when a
small plate is to be treated and supply from one end will suffice.
As aforesaid the branch pipes C of the douche may be pieces of inch gas pipe.
They should be preferably straight and are threaded externally at one end or
equivalently formed so that they can be secured into the main pipe and at the
other end they are closed, which may be done by fitting them to receive a plug.
They are of small diameter or sectional area as compared to the main pipe A and
are drilled along one side with numerous holes for instance as described in the
Specification of my Patent No. 5551 of 1891. These holes are of course presented
downwards for a top douche and upwards for a lower douche. The length of the
branch pipes C for a top douche is conveniently such that the douche may serve
for the widest plates, as the width of the active portion is easily reduced by inserting
long plugs into the pipes sufficient to. cover any desired number of the outermost
holes, or plugs may be placed in as many of the outermost holes as may be necessary.
For a lower douche the length of the branch pipes should preferably be such that
when the main pipe is at its proper height (depending on the curvature of the
particular plate to be treated) above the bottom of the tray I, the ends of the
branch pipes may touch or nearly touch the tray bottom as shown at 2 Figure 4.
The holes in these branch pipes will not usually be in excess of requirements but,
should they be so, any portion can be closed by plugs or otherwise as hereinbefore
described.
Barse may be provided for placing on the branch pipes C they having in them
holes or slots fitting the branch pipes and they serve to keep the said branch pipes
parallel and to stiffen the structure generally.
The top douche may be suspended from a pair of girders or rails F any suitable
arrangement being employed that admits of its height being varied so as to suit

page_text: he thicknesses and curvature of various plates, it being always desira
he douches pretty close to the plate to be treated. This adjustment may be
ffected by means of screw rods g jointed at one end to the eyes a² and at the other
nd passing through a hole in a plate g² resting on the rails F and being fitted with
screw nut g³.
The connection of the branches B2 with the pump or pressure service to allow of
djustment may be effected in any suitable way for instance the connection may be
nade by a flexible hose.
The girders or rails F may be carried on cross girders H at each end which rest
n supporting columns G.
A large shallow iron tray or similar vessel I is provided which is larger than the
argest armour plate to be dealt with. The said tray or vessel may rest on cross
girders J carried by longitudinal girders K which may form the top of a bogie or.
truck L which runs on rails parallel to the main pipe or pipes of the douche.
The said tray or vessel I is provided at one end with a trough M (see Figure 2).
for discharging the chilling-liquid after use either to waste or preferably to a tank
or reservoir from which it may be again pumped and made use of. The said
trough M may be provided with a flap or weir-plate N capable of being fixed at
any inclination, or height, for which purpose it may be hinged at its lower end and
engage in notches in a retaining bar as shewn. The said weir-plate is let down
when the lower douche is in use, but in other cases it may be raised to such position.
that the tray or vessel I retains the chilling liquid to such level as will cause the
immersion to any desired extent of the lower side of a flat or nearly flat plate.
Light girders i may be arranged inside the said tray or vessel I for the
support of flat or nearly flat plates which do not require the lower douche, but
these are preferably removed when curved plates are being treated in order to
keep the weight as low as possible. As an alternative, cast iron blocks of
suitable height and form, resting on the tray and rising between the branch
pipes of the lower douche, may be used to support the armour plate. At the
inauner that it
other end of the tray or vessel I a pipe P is fixed in such a
can be adjusted in height and be jointed water-tightly to the tray or vessel,.
this may be done by passing it through a vertical slot in the end of the tray
and securing it to a plate p capable of being raised and lowered so that it always
closes the opening in the tray or vessel I through which the pipe P passes...
The said plate is secured by bolts or in any suitable way. The inner end of
the pipe Pis flanged at p for coupling to the main pipe A3 of the "lower-
douche," and the outer end is reduced and screwed or fitted to take the union
coupling of a flexible hose or other connection p³ from the pump delivery or
other pressure service. The main pipe of the lower douche is supplied with the
chilling fluid from this end and has a stop-plate at its other end. The said
pipe P is plugged or otherwise closed when the lower douche is not in use.
The hot plate to be treated is put in place in the tray or vessel I while the-
bogie or truck L is out in the open the lower douche (if required) having
previously been put in place and connected with the pipe P. The bogie or truck
5 is then run along the rails preferably by the use of a hydraulic windlass until the
plate is in its exact position under the top douche. The top douche is then started
and the lower douche if it is to be used is coupled to the flexible hose p³ and is also
started.
Instead of placing the tray I upon a bogie or truck as above described, it may
0 as an alternative have a permanent location, and in that case the lower douche
may be rigidly connected with the supply pipe but the top douche must be
capable of motion so that it may be shifted out of the way while the armour
plate is being lowered into position. To effect this the top douche may, for
instance, be fed from a vertical pipe at one end so arranged as to form a pivot
55 for it to turn upon, its centre of gravity being brought over the pivot by the
use of a counterbalance; or the top douche may be suspended from a light
carriage moveable horizontally on rails or otherwise, and its connection with the

page_text: supply pipe may be made by means of flexible hose, or in any other suitable
manner, so as to permit the necessary movement.
In hardening flat or nearly flat plates the upper side, which will be the high
carbon side, is generally to be chilled by the top douche, while the lower, or
low carbon side is either immersed in the chilling liquid contained in the tray
or vessel I, or subjected to the action of the lower douche as may be preferred.
In hardening plates of a curvature too great to allow of the uniform immersion
of the lower side the lower douche must be used.
In either case the tray I with its discharging trough M performs the function
of collecting the fluid and conveying it in any desired direction without waste or
mess.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for use in chilling armour plates the combination of a main pipe
connected with the supply of chilling fluid and perforated at the side presented
towards the plate and having in connection with it straight or approximately
straight branch pipes arranged on either side at right or other angles thereto and
of a capacity relatively to the main pipe such that all are supplied with fluid there-
from all being combined and disposed substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for use in chilling armour plates the combination of a main
pipe made up of lengths which can be joined together and perforated on the side
presented towards the plate and suspended or supported as described and equi-
spaced perforated branch pipes in connection therewith the whole being arranged
so that they can be readily altered to suit any required size of plate substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for use in chilling armour plates the combination with an
upper douche of a tray or vessel for containing the plate to be treated and
provided with an adjustable outlet (MN) for regulating the height of liquid in
which the plate is partly immersed and conveying the used liquid to any desired
destination substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In apparatus for use in chilling armour plates the combination with an upper
douche of a tray or vessel for containing the plate and provided with an attachment
for the connection of a lower douche and supply pipe for fluid and with an outlet
trough for conveying the used liquid to any desired destination substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting apparatus for chilling
armour plates and fitted so that it can be adapted for either flat or curved
plates of various sizes and for douching either from one or from both sides as
required substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1893