IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COATING WAGON COVERS AND OTHER FABRICS AND MATERIALS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter M'Ilwraith, of the Firm of James M.Ilwraith
and Company, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Railway Wagon Cover Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COATING WAGON COVERS AND OTHER FABRICS AND
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 6th November 1866, and dated the 8th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter MoIlwraith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
May 1866.
I, WALTER MILWRAITH, of the Firm of James M'Ilwraith and Company,
of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Railway Wagon Cover
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COATING WAGON COVERS AND OTHER FABRICS AND
MATERIALS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to apparatus designed more particularly for coating
wagon covers and similar articles of large size, but which is also applicable
for coating various fabrics or materials when the nature of the coating sub-
stance, which may be fluid, semi-fluid, or pulverulent; and the object in view
require a brushing or rubbing action to obtain a thorough incorporation of
the coating substance with the fabric or material.
The improved apparatus, namely, consists of a machine combining three
simultaneous operations, feeding or moving forward the cover or other article in a
regular manner, supplying the coating substance, and brushing, spreading, or
working in the coating substance by imparting to the brushes a rapid recipro-

page_text: cating motion in a direction transverse to the forward motion of the cover.
The precise mechanical details for imparting these combined motions may be
variously modified, as will be evident to any competent mechanic, but in one
simple and convenient arrangement there are two end standards fitted with
bearings to receive the end journals of à long horizontal roller over which
the cover is laid, and the motion of which carries the cover slowly forward.
When the main roller is of considerable length one or more antifriction rollers
are adapted below it to give it intermediate support. Above the main roller
and parallel to it there is a horizontal bar to which a number of brushes or
-rubbers are attached, and this bar is fitted to slide in guide blocks in the end
standards, whilst it is made to reciprocate rapidly by a revolving crank
situated beyond one end of it. The coating substance is supplied by a vessel
placed behind the brush bar and fitted with a number of taps or discharge
outlets. This vessel is by preference set upon end journals so that it can be
turned up to stop the discharge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter MoIlwraith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
MILWRAITH, of the Firm of James M.Ilwraith and Company, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Railway Wagon Cover Manufac-
turers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Wer reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Walter M'Ilwraith, Her special licence that I, the said Walter McIlwraith,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Walter MIlwraith, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COATING WAGON COVERS AND OTHER FABRICS
AND MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Walter
M'Ilwraith, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under

page_text: my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, 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 Walter M'Ilwraith, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say:
My said Invention relates to apparatus designed more particularly for
coating wagon covers and similar articles of large size, but which is also
applicable for coating various fabrics or materials when the nature of the
coating substance, which may be fluid, semi-fluid, or a pulverulent, and the
object in view require a brushing or rubbing action to obtain a thorough
incorporation of the coating substance with the fabric or material.
In my improved apparatus three operations are combined and carried
on simultaneously; the feeding or moving forward of the cover or article
in a regular manner; the supplying of the coating substance, and the
brushing, spreading, or working in of the coating substance by imparting to
the brushes a rapid reciprocating motion in a direction transverse to the
forward motion of the cover. The precise mechanical details for effecting
these combined operations may be variously modified as will be evident to a
competent mechanic.
But in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood I have hereunto appended a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing a
simple, convenient, and practically successful modification of apparatus con-
structed with my improved arrangements.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a side elevation of the machine with
portions broken away to reduce the length, which is of course adapted to the
size or width of the wagon covers or other articles to be operated upon;
Figure 2 is an end elevation, and Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section.
The framing of the machine consists principally of two end standards 1, 2,
fitted with bearings to receive the end journals 3, 4, of a long horizontal
roller 5, over which the cover 6 is laid, and the motion of which carries the
cover slowly forward. When the main roller 5 is of considerable length one
or more antifriction rollers 7 are adapted below it to give it intermediate
support. The main roller 5 is driven by means of a spur wheel 8 on one, 3,

page_text: of its journals, and in gear with a pinion on a short shaft 9, which last is
actuated by bevil wheels from a first motion shaft 10, carrying fast and loose
pulleys and driven from an overhead shaft 11. Above the main roller 5 and
parallel to it there is a horizontal bar or beam 12, to which a number of
brushes 13 or rubbers are connected, and this bar is fitted to slide in
guide blocks 14 in the end standards 1, 2, whilst it is made to reciprocate
rapidly by a revolving crank pin on a shaft 15 beyond one end of the machine,
and to which crank pin it is connected by a rod 16. The shaft 15 is fitted
with fast and loose pulleys and is driven from the overhead shaft 11. The
brushes 13 are not fixed directly to the bar or beam 12, but. to a bar 17,
connected thereto by screw spindles and. nuts admitting of accurate adjustment.
Screw spindles 18 with hand wheels are provided in the tops of the
standards 1, 2, for raising or lowering the bar 12 with the brushes, as
required for entering the covers and for adjusting the pressure of the brushes.
The coating substance is supplied by a vessel 19 placed at the side of the
brush bar 12, at which the covers are entered under the brushes; this vessel
is fitted with a number of discharge outlets 20, and it is set upon end journals
and supported on brackets 21 on the end standards, so that it can be turned
up to regulate or stop the discharge by means of a lever. 22.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described or delineated.; but that what I
believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the constructing or
arranging of apparatus, for coating wagon covers and other fabrics and
materials substantially in the manner herein described and delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter M'Ilwraith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
W. MILWRAITH. (L.S.)