IMPROVED APPLIANCES OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATE GLASS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Windle Pilkington, of St. Helens, in the County
of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPLIANCES
OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATE GLASS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Windle Pilkington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
WILLIAM WINDLE PILKINGTON, of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Glass
Manufacturer. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PLATE GLASS."
:
11
In the manufacture of plate glass as heretofore carried on, the operations of
raising the molten metal, of pouring the same on the table, of rolling the cast glass,
and of conveying the rolled sheets into, along, and out of the annealing ovens, have
been performed by hand labour at great expense.
The object of my Invention is to provide means whereby the above mentioned
operations, and also the removal of the roller carriage, may be performed by the aid
of fluid power in a manner more satisfactory and economical than has been possible
hitherto, both as regards the efficiency of the work done, the rapidity of the
manipulation, and the reduction in labour and working expenses.
For the above purposes I proceed as follows:-
First. I construct a crane or elevator with one or more cylinders, pistons, and
connecting appliances, so arranged and operated by fluid pressure that the pot or
cistern containing the molten metal shall be raised the required height and turned
over until the contents flow at the desired speed on to the casting table.
In one modification two cylinders, pistons, and connecting appliances, say, rods
or chains are used, each of which acts upon one side of the pot or cistern so as to
raise it to the required height, after which a difference of speed in the motion of the
two pistons and connections, or one stationary and the other moving, gives the
requisite turning motion to the pot or cistern.
When one cylinder with piston and connections is used the motion for turning
would usually be from one centre.
Second. I support the carrier on which the roller for rolling the cast glass rests
by means of fluid pressure acting on a piston or pistons, so that the said carrier and
31

page_text: rollers may be raised and lowered at the required times to allow the glass to pass
over it after the plate is rolled.
Third. I provide a winch or pulley blocks operated by any suitable fluid power,
whereby the said roller may be hauled along the table over the surface of the glass.
The said winch or pulley blocks may be used for moving the cast glass from the
table into the annealing kiln, and placing or stowing the glass in the annealing
kiln.
Fourth. To ensure movement of the cast plate from the casting table into the
annealing kiln In the annealing kiln, and from the same at the desired speed, I so
construct two cranes or winches that one such crane or winch shall be suitable and
used for hauling the cast and rolled glass from the casting tables into and along the
annealing oven, whilst the other shall be adapted and used for removing the annealed
plates from the oven. The two cranes or winches would be placed on trucks, so
that each may be placed before any one of the annealing ovens according as the
plates of glass are to be placed or moved therein, or removed therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Windle Pilkington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd April 1880.
WILLIAM WINDLE PILKINGTON, of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Glass
Manufacturer. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES OR MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PLATE GLASS."
In the manufacture of plate glass as heretofore carried on, the operations of
raising the molten metal, of pouring the same on the table, of rolling the cast glass,
and of conveying the rolled sheets into, along, and out of the annealing ovens, have
been performed by hand labour at great expense.
The object of my Invention is to provide means whereby the above mentioned
operations, and also the removal of the roller carriage, may be performed by the aid
of fluid power in a manner more satisfactory and economical than has been possible
hitherto, both as regards the efficiency of the work done, the rapidity of the
manipulation, and the reduction in labour and working expenses.
For the above purpose I proceed as follows:-
First. I construct a crane or elevator with one, two, or more cylinders, pistons,
and connecting appliances, so arranged and operated by fluid pressure that the pot
or cistern containing the molten metal shall be raised the required height, and
turned over until the contents flow at the desired speed on the casting table.
In one modification two cylinders, pistons, and connecting appliances, say, rods or
chains are used, each of which acts upon one side of the pot or cistern so as to raise
it to the required height, after which a difference of speed in the motion of the two
pistons and connections, or one stationary and the other moving, gives the requisite
turning motion to the pot or cistern.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of machinery or appliances constructed under the first
part of my Invention for raising the pot containing the molten metal to the required
height, and pouring its contents on the casting table.
1, standard of crane; 2, portion of jib; 3, pulleys at top of standard; 4, pulleys
at end of jib; 5, 6, cylinders containing pistons, the rods of which are attached to
chains 7, 8, passing over the pulleys 3,4; 9, 10, valves for controlling the admission
and emission of the operating fluid to and from the cylinders 5 and 6; 11, wheel
truck for carrying the crane. The piston in the large cylinder 5 acts on the chain 7
to effect the lifting of the pot containing the metal, and the piston in the small
cylinder 6 moves the chain 8 so as to turn the pot and allow its contents to ow
over the table. The chains 7, 8, are provided at their ends with suitable clips or
hooks for taking hold of the pot. The pistons are caused to move at the proper
times by the attendant actuating the valves 9, 10.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 an end view of a modification of appliances
or machiney under the first part of my Invention, in which only one cylinder and
piston is used to effect both the operations of lifting and turning. The pot after.
being brought from the furnace to the crane is fastened by the screws 12 in the
clasps 13 hanging by the pulleys 14 in the double crane chain 15. Fluid pressure
is applied to the top of the cylinder 16 so as to cause the piston to descend and
carry with it the pulley 17 around which the chain 15 passes; by the above means
the pot is raised to the required height. When the pulley 17 has descended the
full distance it is caught by catches 18, and the crane is turned so as to carry the
pot over the casting table. Fluid pressure is then applied to the lower end of the
cylinder and the piston rises and causes the pulley 17 to partially rotate on its axis
on account of the one of the connecting rods 19 between the piston and the pulley
being jointed to the pulley at the point 20 out of the centre thereof, whilst the other
connecting rod 21 is only hooked over the stud 22 on the said pulley, and therefore
does not interfere with the rotation in the direction shown by the arrow.
rotation of the pulley 17 gives motion to the chain 15 and to the pulleys 14, so as
to cause the pot 23 to turn and deposit its contents on the casting table. Fluid
pressure is now applied to the top of the cylinder so as to act. on the piston and
The

page_text: turn the pulley 17 back again to its normal position, after which the catches 18 are
withdrawn and pressure applied beneath the piston until the pot is lowered on the
truck.
In the three views above described the pistons are shown acting directly on the
lifting and turning chains. Such pistons are, when desirable, arranged to give
motion to drums or barrels on and from which the chains are wound and unwound
at the desired times.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, and Fig. 5 a plan view of appliances or machinery
constructed under the third and fourth parts of my Invention; 24, carriage placed
between the end of the casting table 24a and the mouth of the annealing kiln 25;
26, motive power engines connected to and actuating the drums 27; 28, chains
(ropes or belts may be used) attached to the drums 27 and to the pole or baton 29,
or under the third part of my Invention to the ends of the cylinder for rolling the
glass. The pole or baton 29 is placed on the casting table against the end of the
plate glass furthest from the annealing kiln; the engines 26 are set in motion and
the pole or baton 29 is drawn along the table bringing with it the glass and forcing
such glass off the table into the kiln. When the glass has been carried sufficiently
far into the kiln, the pole or baton strikes against and moves the reversing lever 30
and stops the engines. In order to stow or place the glass after it has been pushed
into the kiln, the pole or baton is carried to the end of the casting table furthest
from the kiln and placed against the end of the ordinary stowing tool. The engines
are then started and the plate pushed forward the required distance.
To withdraw the glass from the kiln a steam winch of ordinary or any desired
construction mounted on a truck, so that it can be moved from one kiln mouth to
another, is used in combination with appliances or machinery constructed as above
described.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and illustrated the same
in such manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect
I claim,
First. Appliances or machinery constructed and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth under the first part..
Second. Appliances or machinery combined and operating substantially as setforth
under the third and fourth parts.
Third. Appliances or machinery constructed, arranged, combined, and operating,
substantially as herein setforth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Windle Pilkington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. W. PILKINGTON. (L.B.)