Improvements in the Manufacture of Tanks or Boxes and other Articles of Glass, and in Mechanism or Appliances to be used in the said Manufacture.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Tanks or Boxes and other
Articles of Glass, and in Mechanism or Appliances to be used in
the said Manufacture.
I JOHN ARMSTRONG of Phenix Works Albion West Bromwich in the County
of Stafford Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of improvements in an invention for which Letters Patent
were granted to me dated May 2nd 1889 No. 7346 and has for its object to facilitate
the manufacture of the glass tanks or boxes referred to in the Complete Specifi-
cation of the said Patent and other articles of glass and to improve the mechanism
or appliances used in the said manufacture.
I will describe my invention in connection with the manufacture of glass tanks
or boxes such as are commonly used in electrical storage batteries or accumulators.
In order that my improvements may be the more readily understood I remark
that in making one of the said tanks five sheets or plates of glass of the desired
thickness and having approximately the respective sizes of the four vertical sides
and bottom of the tank to be made are temporarily supported in the positions of
the said sides and bottom and heated to a low red heat. The opposed edges are
fused by an ordinary blow pipe flame or by the flame of an oxyhydrogen blowpipe
or by the electric arc and their junction effected by pressure. Or instead of
employing five separate sheets of glass one cruciform sheet may be employed or two
or three sheets may be employed.
The furnace in which the heating and joining of the plates is effected is made of
ordinary brick or fire brick or iron lined with fire brick and heated either by solid
liquid or gaseous fuel. I prefer to employ two fireplaces in the furnaces one at
cach side and to conduct the heated air and products of combustion through flues at
the sides and top of the heating chamber in which the heating and joining of the
sheets is effected.
On the bottom of the heating chamber is a turntable capable of rotating on a
fixed centre and supported on rollers. This turntable has rails which by turning
the table can be brought into line with fixed rails outside the chamber. The hollow
block on which the tank is formed travels on the rails described and can be run-
into or out of the heating chamber. The said block is made preferably of cast iron
and the glass plates which form the sides of the tank are supported on ledges at the
bottom of the block against the vertical sides of the said block by means of flaps
hinged to the bottom of the block. These flaps have a padding of asbestos or other
yielding material not injured by heat and the vertical plates are held between the
said flaps and the sides of the block. The flaps are fixed in their vertical
position by eccentric buttons or other fastenings. The plate to form the bottom of
the tank is placed on the top of the block the tank being formed in an inverted
position that is bottom upwards.
The heating chamber has a door at one side through which the block charged
with the plates to be heated and joined is introduced and the finished tank removed.
This door has two slots one vertical and the other horizontal. The fusing and
joining of the horizontal opposed edges of the glass plates is effected through
the horizontal slot and the fusing and joining of the vertical edges through the
vertical slot.
I prefer to bevil one or both of the inner edges of the opposed plates so that
there shall be a wedge shaped space between them. The flame by which the edges
are fused is directed into this space and the heating by the blowpipe is mainly
confined to the surfaces to be joined.

page_text: Instead of employing a single blowpipe flame I prefer to employ a series of four
or more flames in a row. This compound jet rapidly effects the required heating
of the surfaces to he joined and expedites the manufacture. After the edges to be
joined have been sufficiently heated the blowpipe is withdrawn and a tool consisting
of a small roll carried by a holder is introduced and passed rapidly backwards and
forwards by the workman on that edge of the partially formed tank under operation.
The small roll has on its periphery a groove the configuration of which is the
counterpart of the configuration to be given to the edge operated upon. After one
pan of edges have been fused and joined the turntable is moved through a quadrant
and the next pair of edges is fused and joined all the horizontal edges being
preferably joined in succession and all the vertical edges in succession.
In effecting the junction of the edges of the plates the blowpipe or series of jets
or the electric arc or arcs are passed backwards and forwards until the edges to be
joined are in a state of incipient fusion when the jets or arcs are withdrawn from
the heating chamber and the small roll described quickly introduced and passed
rapidly backwards and forwards over the opposed heated edges which are thereby
pressed closely together and effectually joined. When the junction of all the edges
has been effected the block carrying the inverted tank is removed from the heating
chamber and passed into a lear or annealing kiln.
Instead of heating the edges to be joined prior to the application of pressure the
pressing tool or roll may be connected to the blowpipe or electric heating apparatus
so that the heating and pressing are effected by one operation.
The application of my improvements to the manufacture of vessels or articles
having plane or flat sides differs in no essential respect from their application to the
manufacture of a tank or box as herein before described.
In making tubular articles or vessels of a cylindrical figure one or more plates
may be bent around a vertical block and the opposed edges joined in the manner
described. Where a cylindrical vessel is to be made a circular disc is joined to the
top of the tube by the slow rotation of the turntable during the heating and
pressing operations.
In making tubular articles a flat sheet may be employed which after having
been sufficiently heated is wound around a horizontal roll one end of the sheet being
connected to the roll by a clip. The turning of the roll winds the sheet upon it
and the opposed edges are fused together by the blowpipe jets or electric arcs.
Dated the 19th day of June 1891.
F. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Tanks or Boxes and other
Articles of Glass, and in Mechanism or Appliances to be used in
the said Manufacture.
I, JOHN ARMSTRONG of Phoenix Works, Albion, West Bromwich in the
County of Stafford, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of improvements in an invention for which Letters Patent
were granted to me dated May 2nd 1889 No. 7346 and has for its object to facilitate
the manufacture of the glass tanks or boxes referred to in the Complete Specifi-
cation of the said Patent and other articles of glass and to improve the mechanism
or appliances used in the said manufacture.
I will describe my invention in connection with the manufacture of glass tanks
or boxes such as are commonly used in electrical storage batteries or accumulators.
In order that my improvements may be the more readily understood I remark
that in making one of the said tanks, five sheets or plates of glass of the desired,

page_text: thickness and having approximately the respective sizes of the four vertical sides
and bottom of the tank to be made are temporarily supported in the positions of
the said sides and bottom and heated to a low red heat. The opposed edges are
fused by an ordinary blow pipe flame or by the flame of an oxyhydrogen blow pipe
or by the electric arc, and their junction effected by pressure. Ŏr instead of
employing five separate sheets of glass, one cruciform sheet may be employed or
two or three sheets may be employed.
The furnace in which the heating and joining of the plates is effected is made of
ordinary brick or fire brick or iron lined with fire brick and heated either by solid
liquid, or gaseons fuel. I prefer to employ two fireplaces in the furnaces one at
cach side and to conduct the heated air and products of combustion through flues
at the sides and top of the heating chamber in which the heating and joining of the
sheets are effected.
On the bottom of the heating chamber is a turntable capable of rotating on a
fixed centre and supported on a carriage travelling on rollers. The carriage runs
on rails on the bottom of the furnace in line with fixed rails outside the chamber.
The hollow block on which the tank is formed travels on the rails described and
can be run into or out of the heating chamber. The said block is made preferably
of cast iron and the glass plates which form the sides of the tank are supported on
ledges at the bottom of the block against the vertical sides of the said block by
means of Haps hinged to the bottom of the block. These flaps have a padding of
asbestos or other yielding material not injured by heat and the vertical plates are
held between the said flaps and the sides of the block. The Haps are fixed in their
vertical position by eccentric buttons or other fastenings. The plate to form the
bottom of the tank is placed on the top of the block, the tank being formed in an
inverted position, that is, bottom upwards.
The heating chamber has a door at one side through which the block charged
with the plates to be heated and joined is introduced and the finished tank
removed.
This door has three slots, two vertical and the other horizontal. The fusing
and joining of the horizontal opposed edges of the glass plates are effected through
the horizontal slot and the fusing and joining of the vertical edges through the
vertical slot.
1 prefer to bevil one or both of the inner edges of the opposed plates so that
there shall be a wedge shaped space between them. The flame by which the edges
are fused is directed into this space and the heating by the blowpipe is mainly
confined to the surfaces to be joined.
Instead of employing a single blowpipe flame I prefer to employ a series of four
or more flames in a row. This compound jet rapidly effects the required heating
of the surfaces to be joined and expedites the manufacture.
After the edges to be joined have been sufficiently heated the blowpipe is with-
drawn and a tool consisting of a small roll carried by a holder is introduced and
passed rapidly backwards and forwards by the workman on that edge of the
partially formed tank under operation. The small roll has on its periphery a groove
5 the configuration of which is the counterpart of the configuration to be given to
the edge operated upon.
After one pair of edges has been fused and joined, the
turntable is moved through a quadrant and the next pair of edges is fused and
joined, all the horizontal edges being preferably joined in succession and all the
vertical edges in succession.
0
In effecting the junction of the edges of the plates the blowpipe or series of
jets or the electric arc or arcs are passed backwards and forwards until the edges to
be joined are in a state of incipient fusion when the jets or arcs are withdrawn from
the heating chamber and the small roll described quickly introduced and passed
rapidly backwards and forwards over the opposed heated edges which are thereby
5 pressed closely together and effectually joined. When the junction of all the
edges has been effected the block carrying the inverted tank is removed from the
heating chamber and passed into a lear or annealing kiln.

page_text: Instead of heating the edges to be joined prior to the application of pressure
the pressing tool or roll may be connected to the blowpipe or electric heating
apparatus so that the heating and pressing are effected by one operation.
The application of my improvements to the manufacture of vessels or articles
having plane or flat sides, other than the tanks described, differs in no essential
respect from their application to the manufacture of a tank or box as herein before
described.
In making tubular articles or vessels of a cylindrical figure, one or more plates
may be bent around a vertical block and the opposed edges joined in the manner
described. Where a cylindrical vessel is to be made a circular disc is joined to the
top of the tube by the slow rotation of the turntable during the "heating and
pressing operations.
In making tubular articles a flat sheet may be employed which after having been
sufficiently heated is wound around a horizontal roll, one end of the sheet being
connected to the roll by a clip. The turning of the roll winds the sheet upon it
and the opposed edges are fused together by the blowpipe jets or electric arcs.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawing the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1. represents in cross-section and Figure 2. in horizontal section, the
furnace in which the heating fusing and formation of the joints of the glass plates
of which the tanks or boxes and other glass articles to be made are effected. The
cross section Figure 1. is taken on the line A. A. Figure 2. and the horizontal
section, Figure 2. is taken on the line B. B. Figure 1.
Figure 3. represents in vertical section, the block or mould and the appliances
connected therewith which I use in the making of small rectangular glass tanks or
boxes.
Figure 4. represents in section the roll or drum and appliances which I employ
in making the bodies of cylindrical articles by a rolling operation.
Figures 5. and 6. represent two forms of oxyhydrogen blowpipes, combined with
pressing tools or rolls, which I prefer to use in making glass tanks or boxes and
other glass articles according to my invention.
The
I will first describe the manufacture of small rectangular glass tanks or boxes
by the use of the furnace and appliances represented in Figures 1. 2. and 3. and
the combined blowpipe apparatus and pressing-roll represented in Figures 5. and 6.
a. a. are the walls of the heating-furnace, the said furnace having a fire place b.
at each end; the said fire places being separated by the wall or division as seen
in Figure 1. 3, is the heating chamber in which the glass plates to form the tanks
are heated and united together; a is the floor of the heating chamber.
heating chamber d³ is heated from the fire places b. b in the following manner.
The heated air and products of combustion pass by the side flues c. c. under the
floor a' of the heating chamber and up the vertical flues c'e' and over the baffle
plate e. under the arch of the furnace and from thence to the chimney d. By the
circulation of the heated air and products of combustion around the heating
chamber d³ in the manner described and represented a uniform heating of the said
chamber is effected but in order still further to equalize the heat of the said
chamber it is furnished with vertical flues f. f. in the end walls, the said flues f.j
opening at bottom into the fire places b. b. and at top into the flue above the
baffle plate e.
The baffle plate e. of the furnace may be dispensed with and the
heat from the side flues c'c and end flues f. f. pass to the heating chamber and
from thence to the chimney d.
In each end of the furnace are two iron framed doors g. g. slightly tapered so as
to be readily introduced into and removed from the openings in the walls of the
furnace made to receive them. At the openings in which the iron frame doors g. y. are
fitted the blocks or moulds and the articles made on them are introduced into and
removed from the heating chamber d³. The said iron framed doors are secured in
their places by the latch fastenings represented, or by other suitable fastenings.
In each door g. are two vertical passages gi and a horizontal passage ².

page_text: hrough these passages the blowpipe apparatus and the pressing roll are intro-
uced into the heating chamber d³ for operating upon the edges of the glass plates
o be formed into tanks or boxes, as hereinafter described, the blowpipe apparatus
nd roll being introduced through the horizontal passage for operating upon the
orizontal edges and through one or other of the vertical passages for operating
pon the vertical edges of the articles being manufactured. It is only during
he operation of the blowpipe and roll that the passages g' and g² are opened.
At other times the said passages are closed by blocks or by swing doors or
hutters.
The block or mould which I use for supporting the glass plates while they are
eated in the heating chamber and during the heating and pressing of their
edges by the blowpipe and pressing roll, is represented, in conjunction with its
ravelling carriage, drawn to a large scale in Figure 3. and the position which the
block or mould occupies at each end of the heating chamber d³ is indicated in
Figure 2. The block or mould is marked k. and is made hollow and preferably of
cast iron and is used in an inverted position, that is, bottom upwards. Across the
mouth of the hollow block or mould k. is a cross bar m. provided with a pivot p.
projecting downwards. The block or mould k. is supported on the travelling
carriage n. mounted on wheels o. o. the said carriage being furnished with a hole or
socket at its middle into which the pivot p. on the block or mould takes, so that
the said block or mould is made capable of rotating motion on the carriage
supporting it. The sheets or plates of glass to form the sides and bottom of the
tank or box are arranged about and fixed to the block or mould k. in the manner
seen in Figure 3. That is to say, on the top of the block the sheet of glass v.
which is to form the bottom of the tank or box is placed, its edges being bevilled
as seen in the drawing, and on each of the four sides of the block a piece of glass
is placed and supported, the said pieces of glass resting on the flange of the
block k. Two only of the pieces of glass to form the sides of the tank are shown
in the drawing and are marked v It will be seen that the edges of the side
pieces of glass extend slightly beyond the level of the glass plate or piece v. which
is to form the bottom of the tank in order that by a bending down of the projecting
parts of the said side pieces against the bevilled edge of the bottom piece, the
joining of the several plates may be securely effected.
The vertical plates are fixed in their places against the sides of the block k. by
the holding clamps t. t., the latter being held in their positions by the uprights s. 8.
which are bolted, wedged or hinged to the flange k of the block k. Asbestos
packing u is placed between the clamps and plates of glass for steadying the latter;
or other imperfect conductor of heat, such as plaster of paris, may be substituted
for the asbestos packing u.
Having arranged and fixed the sheets of glass on the block k. in the positions
represented in Figure 3, the said block on its travelling carriage or platform n is
transferred to one end of the heating chamber d³ Figures 1. and 2., the door g.
being removed, the said carriage or platform travelling on rails outside the furnace
in connection with rails on the floor of the heating chamber.
Or the wheels o. o. of the travelling carriage or platform n. may be without
flanges and be run onto the floor of the heating chamber without rails.
The block and carriage and parts supported by them having been introduced into
the heating chamber the door g. is replaced, the block being capable of motion
through the required angle to bring the parts to be operated upon opposite the
slots or passages in the door y. for the fusing and pressing operations.
In making large tanks or boxes the block or mould is not pivotted on the
travelling carriage, the said travelling carriage and its block or mould and parts
upon it being arranged in the heating chamber in the position shown at x. a.
Figure 2.
The heating chamber represented is fitted to make four small tanks or boxes,
or two small tanks or boxes and one large tank or box as illustrated in the
'

page_text: In making, say, a small tank or box according to my invention, the five sheets or
plates of glass to form the sides and bottom of the tank are arranged on and
clamped to the block or mould k. and transferred on the carriage n. to the heating
chamber of the furnace. The furnace is then closed and gradually heated until
the glass has a dull red heat and ceases to be brittle. The sheets of glass having
been so heated their edges are united in the following manner. One of the
apertures or in the door g. being opened the workman introduces through the
said aperture an oxyhydrogen blowpipe having one or more jets and by means of
the flame or flames of the said blowpipe he heats to incipient fusion a pair of the
edges of the adjacent sheets to be united; a pressing roll is now introduced and
passed backwards and forwards over the heated top edge of the vertical plate
which edge is thereby pressed down upon the inclined edge of the horizontal plate
and thereby united thereto. When the blowpipe carries with it a pressing roll,
the independent pressing roll described is not required, the flame of the blowpipe
being slowly passed over the edge to be heated and the roll immediately following
it joins the heated edges.
After one pair of edges has been fused and joined the carriage is moved on its
pivot through the required angle to bring another pair of edges opposite the
opening in the door, when the last named edges are fused, pressed upon and united
as before described. In this way all the edges of the five sheets are fused and
joined together and a tank formed, all the horizontal edges being preferably joined
in succession and all the vertical edges in succession.
In making large tanks of the kind shown at in Figure 2. the operator fuses and
presses upon the adjacent edges of the sheets to be united from either end of the
heating chamber of the furnace, no pivotting of the block or mould upon its
carriage taking place.
In manufacturing a tank from a cruciform piece of glass, the said piece of glass
is heated and pressed upon a block or mould, the middle part of the piece of glass
resting on the top of the block to form the bottom of the tank and the four arms
of the cross being bent down into vertical planes upon the four sides of the block
to form the sides of the tank and their opposed edges united as before described.
Hexagonal tanks and tanks of other forms in cross section may be made in the
manner hereinbefore described with respect to rec.angular tanks.
I have represented in Figures 5. and 6. two forms of combined oxyhydrogen
blow pipes and grooved pressing rolls which I prefer to use in fusing and uniting
the edges of the sheets to be joined, the nozzle of the blow pipe being marked y
and the grooved pressing roll s. The blow-pipe Figure 5. is fitted for heating and
uniting the horizontal edges of the tank. By moving the jet backwards and
forwards, a length of, say, three or four inches of the edges is heated. By turning
the blowpipe through a semi-rotation, the roller is brought down on the heated
edges and by moving the said roller . backwards and forwards the edges are
thoroughly joined and the joined edges shaped. Figure 6. represents the form of
blow-pipe I prefer to employ in heating and joining the vertical edges of the tank.
The jet having heated the said edges the blowpipe is brought into the proper
position and the roller passed backwards and forwards until the heated edges are
joined and the joined edges properly shaped.
In making cylindrical or tubular articles according to my invention, I use the
apparatus represented in section in Figure 4. This apparatus consists of a roll or
hollow drum having a slot in it through which the reciprocating gripper works.
This gripper is operated by ceccentrics, one of which is marked . at the ends of
the roll or drum a. The roll or drum a' turns on axes or pivots fitted in bearing
and rotation is communicated to it by a winch or handle outside the furnace or
heating chamber in which the bending and joining operations are conducted.
The sheet of glass to be made into a cylinder is placed on the table k² and one
of its ends is bound to the roll or drum by the gripper . The sheet of glass
having been heated to a bending heat in the heating chamber a complete rotation
is given to the roll or drum so as to bend the sheet around it and form an unjoined

page_text: hollow cylinder. The gripper being released by the action of the eccentrics, the
edge of the glass cylinder is liberated. The gripper is then withdrawn into the
drum its curved end closing the slot in and completing the drum. The edges of
the open jointed tube or hollow cylinder are then heated and joined in the manner
hereinbefore described.
Or the drum may be without the slot and gripper and eccentrics and the sheet of
glass temporarily fixed by clamps to the ends of the roll or drum while being bent.
The clamps being removed the edges of the hollow cylinder are joined as herein-
before described. When the glass cylinder is to be made into a cylindrical vessel
a circular disc of glass is joined to one of its ends to form the bottom of the vessel,.
by fusion and pressure as before described.
Hollow cylinders greater in length than in diameter and suitable for use for gas,
water and other pipes may be made by bending into a cylindrical figure upon a
roll or block sheets of glass the opposed edges of which are joined in the manner
before described. -
Although I have described and prefer to use the flame of an oxyhydrogen blow-
pipe for heating the edges of the glass sheet or sheets to be joined yet the flame
of a blow-pipe in which a mixture of atmospheric air and coal gas or hydrogen, or
the vapour of a volatile liquid hydrocarbon may be employed in place of an
oxyhydrogen blow-pipe.
The electric are may be used for fusing the edges of the sheet or sheets to be
joined instead of the flame of an oxyhydrogen blow-pipe or the flames of the other
blow-pipes described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed f declare that I claim as my
invention of Improvements in the manufacture of tanks or boxes and other
articles of glass and in mechanism or appliances to be used in the said
manufacture
23
First. Making the said tanks boxes or articles by the use of a furnace and
appliances of the kinds hereinbefore described and illustaated in the accompanying
drawing that is to say, a furnace in which the heated air and products of com-
bustion are conveyed to or directed about the exterior or into the interior of the
heating chamber in which the tanks or articles are to be made and furnished with
vertical and horizontal openings or passages for the introduction of the superheating
appliances and pressing tools, the said heating chamber being either with or
without rails for the reception of the travelling carriage or platform carrying the
block or mould on which the tank or article to be formed and its edges united is
supported substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The construction and combination of the parts of the swivelling block
or mould and its supporting carriage hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figure 3. of the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly. The arrangement or combination of parts of the apparatus herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 4. of the accompanying drawing for
making cylindrical vessels, pipes and other cylindrical articles from flat sheets of
glass.
Lastly. The combination with the oxyhydrogen or other blow-pipe of the kinds
described or with the electric-arc used for raising to the heat of incipient fusion
the glass edges to be united of a roll or pressing tool which following the said blow-
pipe or electric-arc joins and presses into the required shape the opposed edges of
the glass plate or plates to be united substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Deted the 16th der of Naval 1902