Improvements in Machines for Black-leading Electrotype Moulds.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Black-leading Electrotype Moulds.
I, SILAS PARTRIDGE KNIGHT of No. 65 Seventh Avenue, in the city of Brooklyn, in
the state of New York, United States of America, Mechanician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to machines for blackleading electrotype moulds by what is
known as the "wet process." According to this process, the moulds are prepared for
the reception of the electro-deposit by treatment with a mixture of plumbago &
water.
The invention consists in the combination with a tank & a holder therein for the
reception of the mould to be treated, of a spray or current wheel provided with
blades or buckets, by the revolutions of which with the wheel, fluids contained in the
tank may be driven in currents or spray against the face of the mould. It further
consists in certain details of construction hereinafter described.
I will proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, and point out the novel features in claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1. represents a longitudinal sectional view on the line a, a
of Figure 2, of a machine embodying my invention; Figure 2 represents a transverse
vertical sectional view of the same machine on the line y, y, of Figure 1; Figure 3
represents a face view of a holder for the reception of the mould; Figure 4 repre-
sents a face view of a brush-bucket which may be employed interchangeably with, or
substituted for, the digitated blades or buckets represented on the current wheel in
Figures 1 & 2; Figure 5 represents an end elevation of the same brush; Figure 6 is
a detail view, on a larger scale, illustrating the method of attaching the bucket.
Similar parts are indicated by like letters of reference in the several Figures.
A is a tank of suitable form, represented as provided with a horizontal lid a, and a
vertically sliding shutter b, by which it can be completely closed, to prevent tho
contained mixture of blacklead & water, when in a state of agitation, from escaping.
It may be of wood, and lined with sheet metal. The lower corners are filled in solid,
as represented in Figure 1, to prevent the collection therein of the solid particles of
the mixture.
B is a holder or frame for the reception of the mould. It may have any form
suitable for bolding or retaining the clectrotype mould during the process of black-
leading, as, for example, of a Hat plate, as represented in the drawings, having
projections c & d, for retaining the mould in position. In this example, the plato is
made adjustable in position by being firmly attached by lugs e to a horizontal shaft
or axle C, one end of which is journalled in a bearing f inside of the tank, and the
other end of which is journalled in and passos through a water-tight bearing or
stuffing-box g in the opposite side of the tank, and is provided, at its outer extremity,
with a handle or lever D, by which the axle C may be turned by the operator, to
bring the holder B into any desired position.
E is a spray or current wheel so constructed and placed relatively to the holder B,
that when revolved, the fluid contained in the tank will be forced into rapid circula-
tion or agitation, and the currents and spray thereby produced be driven against the
face of a mould placed in the holder B. The axle F of this wheel traverses the
interior of tank A, parallel with the axle C of the holder. To this axle are secured,
by set-screws, two hubs i with radial arms, to the outer extremities of which arms,
buckets G or H are attached. The buckets G shown in Figures 1 and 2, consist of
metal plates having their inner and outer edges digitated. The digitated buckets G
and the brush-buckets H, of which one is shown in Figs. 4 & 5, are represented as
interchangeable, being provided with bolt holes j,, corresponding in position to similar

page_text: bolt holes, in the extremities of the radial arms, the buckets being attached to the
arins by bolts & nuts j² (see Figure 6) passing through the bolt holes j & j¹.
The brush-buckets H are made of long fine hair, as, for example, badger hair,
which is represented in the drawings as clamped between plates of copper or brass k, k,
rivetted together to form a stock. The mould-holder B must be at such a distance
from the spray or current wheel, that the extremities only of the hairs of the brush
buckets will come.in contact with the face of the mould when placed thereon.
One end of the axle F of the wheel has its bearing in a box 1, attached by a water-
tight joint to the outside of the tank, but opening inward to receive the end of the
axle. The other end of the axle has its bearing in, and projects through a stuffing
box m in the side of the tank. Power to rotate the wheel is applied to this projecting
end of the axle &, which is represented as provided with a pulley n for that purpose.
To use the machine, the tank A is filled to a convenient height, say, up to about,
or a short distance below the level of the axle of the wheel, with the fluid mixture.
The mould to be black-leaded is placed.upon or in the holder B facing the wheel.
The wheel being then caused to revolve in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the
liquid mixture is thereby thrown into rapid circulation and agitation, & strong
currents and heavy showers of the liquid are driven against the face of the mould,
causing the desired fine film of black lead to be deposited upon the surface of the
mould. Contact with the hairs of the brush serves to solidify the film and make it
uniform. By turning the handle or lever of the holder axle, and by shifting the
position of the mould on the holder in accordance with any observed unevenness or
inequality in the deposit, every part of the mould may be equally metallicized.
It is not necessary, or even desirable to immerse the mould entirely in the liquid.
I find, in practice, that the best effect is obtained by throwing the fluid against the
surface of the mould.
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 an apparatus for black-leading electrotype moulds, the combination with a
tank containing a liquid, and a holder therein for the reception of the mould, of
a spray or current wheel arranged within said tank, substantially as described, to dip
into the liquid therein, for the purpose of taking up said liquid & throwing it in
currents or spray against the face of the mould as herein set forth.
2. In an apparatus for black-leading electrotype moulds, the combination with a
tank and an adjustable holder therein for the reception of the moulds, of a spray or
current wheel, by the revolutions of which, liquid contained in the tank inay.be
driven in currents or spray against the face of the mould, substantially as herein
described & set forth.
3. In an apparatus for black-leading electrotype moulds, the combination with a
tank and a holder therein for the reception of the mould, of a spray or current wheel
having digitated blades or buckets, by the revolutions of which, fluid contained in the
tank may be driven in currents or spray against the face of the mould, substantially
as herein described and set forth.
4. In an apparatus for black-leading electrotype moulds, the combination with a
tank and a holder therein for the reception of the mould, of a spray or current wheel
having interchangeable digitated and brush buckets, substantially as herein set
forth.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.