Apparatus for Automatically Indicating, or Indicating and Recording, the Warping or Change in Form of Armour Plates, or the like, During the Process of Chilling or Hardening them.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Automatically Indicating, or Indicating and Recording,
the Warping or Change in Form of Armour Plates, or the like,
During the Process of Chilling or Hardening them.
1, TOLMIE JOHN TRESIDDER, Captain, late of H.M. Royal Engineers, now of
The Atlas Iron and Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of hard faced armour plates or the like where the final
hardness of the face is produced by chilling, in the manner for instance described
in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 5551 of 1891 granted to me, it is
necessary to pay close attention to progressive alterations of form, produced during
the chilling, in order that these alterations may be checked, reversed, encouraged,
or modified as desired. It has hitherto been the practice to frequently test the
shape of the plate, with a template, while the chilling is in progress, and to regulate
the amount of water applied to either side of the plate according to the result of
these tests.
This is however very unsatisfactory as the workmen can only form an
approximate idea of the shape of the plate at intervals and is greatly inconvenienced
by being wetted by the chilling water which together with the steam also prevents
him from properly estimating the amount of deviation from the template. The
object of my invention is to obtain a continuous, automatic and accurate indication
or both indication and record, of the changes of form each plate undergoes in order
thereby to enable the warping, or change of form, to be most effectually controlled,
as it goes on, and the final inaccuracy to be minimised.
According to my invention I employ a device, which rests on the plate, at points
suitably selected, and as the form of the plate varies, the relative positions of these
points of rest alter and the changed position is conveyed to an indicator, or indicator
and recorder or to indicators, or indicators and recorders.
It
The following is a convenient form of apparatus according to my invention.
consists of a long bar, or frame, from which two feet project. These feet can be
moved along the bar, or frame, and be clamped rigidly to it. These two feet
are adjusted so that they will rest on the face of the armour plate near its edge,
and form two, out of three, points of support of the bar, or frame, respectively at, or
towards, the opposite extremities of the edge of the plate, which is under treatment
and whose behaviour is to be observed. The third point of support is a third foot
which projects away from the armour plate from a point about midway between the
other feet, and rests on the ground, or other support. Thus arranged it will be
seen that the bar, or frame, partakes of the motion of the corners of the plate, on
which two of its feet rest. The bar, or frame, carries parallel with itself, an axle
which can turn easily in bearings attached to the bar or frame. To this axle a
fourth foot is clamped projecting towards the armour plate about midway between
the other two and on the same side of the bar. This foot rests on the face of
the armour plate in line with the other two, and, if it rises, or falls it has no effect
on the bar but twists the axle. At one end this axle carries an iudicator such as a
pointer reading against an index, attached to the bar, and so adjusted as to read
zero when the three feet on the armour plate are in one straight line every way
(ie. when that part of the plate is flat if flatness be desired) or when the three
feet are all points in the correct curve when the edge is to finish with a beud.

page_text: Any deviation from the desired form in that part of the plate must cause the two
feet attached to the bar to alter their position in relation to the one attached to
the axle, whereby the axle rotates, and the indicator or pointer indicates the
movement continuously. The attendant can watch by means of the iudications of
this apparatus the warping, or movements of the plate, and be able without being
incommoded by the water or steam to tell accurately whether the plate is becoming
rounded or hollowed, and to what extent it is so, at any moment, and whether it is
getting, and at what rate it is.getting, more rounded or hollowed: In order that
a record may be kept of the behaviour of any plate, to be utilised in forecasting the
behaviour of other plates, and determining the-laws governing the warping or
movement, I. attach to the index arm of the bar or framera cylinder carrying a
paper and driven by clockwork and to the pointer I attach a pencil or marker, so
that the cylinder being started when the douching begins, the pencil, or marker
makes on the paper a diagram of the warping or movement.
For edges that are intended to finish flat, or to a uniform curve, three feet
resting on the armour plate (two being clamped to the bar and one to the axle) as
described, are preferred; but should it be desired to watch the movement of a
greater number of points in the same edge, then the axles as well as the two
extreme feet should be clamped rigid with the bar, and as many intermediate feet as
desired should be placed to turn loose on the axle as a pivot, each of such intermediate
feet having its own indicator or pointer attached to or connected with it to indicate
(or indicate and record) separately as herein before described.
Dated the 27th day of April 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.
Apparatus for Automatically Indicating, or Indicating and Recording,
the Warping or Change in Form of Armour Plates, or the like,
During the Process of Chilling or Hardening them.
I, TOLMIE JOHN TRESIDDER, Captain, late of H.M. Royal Engineers, now of
The Atlas Iron and Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is 'to he
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
In the manufacture of hard-faced armour plates, or the like, where the final
hardness of the face is produced by chilling, in the manner, for instance, described
in the Specification of Letters-Patent No. 5551 of 1891 granted to me, it is
Lecessary to pay close attention to progressive alterations of form, produced during
the chilling, in order that these alterations may be checked, reversed, encouraged
or modified as desired, in so far as they are controllable. It has hitherto been the
practice to frequently test the shape of the plate with a template, while the chilling
is in progress, and to regulate the amount of water applied to either side of the
plate according to the result of these tests. This is however very unsatisfactory as
the workman can only form an approximate idea of the shape of the plate at
intervals and is greatly inconvenienced by being wetted by the chilling water,
which, together with the steam, also prevents him from properly estimating the
amount of deviation from the template. The object of my invention is to obtain
a continuous automatic and accurate indication, or both indication and record,
of the changes of form the plate undergoes, in order thereby to enable the warping,
or change of form, to be most effectually controlled as it goes on and the final
inaccuracy to be minimised.

page_text: According to my invention I employ a device which rests on the plate at
points suitably selected so that as the form of the plate varies the relative positions
of these points of rest alter and the changed position is conveyed to an indicator,
or indicator and recorder, or to indicators, or indicators and recorders.
It is generally advisable to ascertain what is the amount and nature of that
portion of the change of form which is inevitable in plates of various shapes and
proportions in order that this inevitable change may be allowed for in the original
bend of subsequent similar plates, i.e. in the design of the false templates referred
to in the aforesaid Specification of Letters Patent 5551 of 1891. The apparatus
according to this invention is also useful in enabling this to be done, as by it there
can be obtained a rapid and accurate indication of the change of form which the
plate has undergone in the furnace or while being removed therefrom and conveyed
to and placed in position for the application of the douche.
The apparatus may consist for example of a long bar or frame from which two feet
project. These feet can be moved along the bar or frame and be clamped rigidly
to it. These two feet are adjusted so that they will rest on the face of the armour
plate near its edge and form two, out of three, points of support of the bar or
frame, respectively at, or towards the opposite extremities of the edge of the plate
which is under treatment and whose behaviour is to be observed. The third point
of support is a third foot which projects away from the armour plate from a
point about midway between the other feet, and rests on the ground, or is
therwise supported. Thus arranged it will be seen that the bar, or frame,
partakes of the motion of the corners of the plate, on which two of its feet rest.
The bar, or frame, carries, parallel with itself, an axle which can turn easily in
bearings attached to the bar or frame. To this axle a fourth foot is clamped
projecting towards the armour plate about midway between the other two, and on
the same side of the bar. This foot rests on the face of the armour plate in line
with the other two, and if it rises, or falls, it has no effect on the bar but twists the
axle. At one end this axle carries an indicator such as a pointer, reading against
an index or scale attached to the bar, and so adjusted as to read zero when the
three feet on the armour plate are in one straight line every way; (ie. when that
part of the plate is flat, if flatness be desired,) or when the three feet are all points
in the correct curve when the edge is to finish with a bend. Any deviation from
the desired form in that part of the plate must cause the two feet attached to the
bar to alter their position in relation to the one attached to the axle, whereby the
axle rotates, and the indicator or pointer indicates the movement continuously.
The attendant can watch by means of the indications of this apparatus the warping,
or movements of the plate, and be able, without being incommoded by the water,
or steam, to tell accurately whether the plate is becoming rounded, or hollowed,
and to what extent it is so, at any moment, and whether it is getting, and at what
rate it is getting, more rounded or hollowed. In order that a record may be kept
of the behaviour of any plate, to be utilised in forecasting the behaviour of other
plates and determining the laws governing the warping or movement, the indications
of the pointer may be noted at intervals, or, if it be desired to make the record
automatic, I attach to the index arm of the bar, or frame, a cylinder carrying
a paper and driven by clockwork, and to the pointer I attach a pencil, or marker,
so that the cylinder being started when the douching begins, the pencil or marker
makes on the paper a diagram of the warping or movement.
For edges that are intended to finish flat, or to a uniform curve, three feet resting
on the armour plate (two being clamped to the bar and one to the axle) as described,
are preferred; but should it be desired to watch the movement of a greater number
of points in the same edge, then the axle, as well as the two extreme feet, should
be clamped rigid with the bar and as many intermediate feet as desired should be
placed to turn loose on the axle as a pivot, each of such intermediate feet having
its own indicator, or pointer, attached to or connected with it, to indicate (or
indicate and record) separately as hereinbefore described.
And in order that my invention may be well understood I will describe with

page_text: reference to the accompanying drawings two forms of apparatus which are the best
means with which I am acquainted for carrying my invention into effect. The
same letters of reference are employed to indicate like parts in the several figures.
Figures 1 to 10 illustrate an apparatus suitable for plates in which the curvature of
the edges to be indicated does not deviate more than say about 18 inches from a
straight line, and Figures 11 to 17 illustrate a modified form of the apparatus for
use with plates in which the curvature of the edges to be indicated deviates more
than about 18 inches from the straight line.
Referring first to the arrangement shewn in Figures 1 to 10-Figure 1 is a rear
elevation and Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus. Figures 3 and 4 are an end
view and plan respectively of the index and pointer arrangement. Figure 5 is a
partial end elevation shewing how the apparatus is carried when in use on an
armour plate, and Figure 6 is a partial end elevation shewing how the apparatus
hangs when hooked up for travelling.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and a plan of a form of adjustable
foot suitable for use in cases where the edges to be indicated do not deviate from
the straight line more than say about 6 inches. Figures 9 and 10 are respectively
an elevation and a plan of a modified form of foot suitable for use when the
curvature of the edge to be indicated deviates from the straight line from about
6 to 18 inches.
a is a frame which may be of angle iron and of a length of say from 15 to 20 feet.
bare two projecting feet which may be of mild cast steel. They are capable of
being adjusted upon and rigidly fixed to the frame a by means of the clamping
screws c. d are blocks (say of cast iron) secured to the frame a at short intervals
and provided with caps forming a series of bearings in true alignment. e is a shaft
(which may be hollow) extending the whole length of the frame a and capable of
turning in the bearings d the said shaft having a pointer fixed at one end and a
foot in any suitable position upon it. is a terminal bearing for the shaft e the
said bearing being shaped so that a scale g (graduated say in eighths of an inch)
can be carried or marked upon it, so that the pointer moves in proximity to the
said scale and indicates the movement of rotation of the shaft e to right or left
from the initial or zero position.
-
The foot may be of mild steel and can be clamped by clamping screws k to any
part of the shaft e to which it is adjusted.
1 are adjustable stops which can be clamped to each of the feet to ensure that
they rest on the armour plate at equal distances inwards from its edge, which
distance should be as small as possible consistent with the avoidance of any holes
or inequalities the plate may have near its edge. m is an attachment for a
suspending chain clamped to the frame a, at a suitable point on the side away from
the plate. n are two flat hooks fitting loosely the lower edge of the frame a
nearest the plate and attached to light tackles by which the apparatus can he
quickly lowered on to the plate, or raised so as to clear it. o is an attachment with
chain and hook by which the foot j can be fastened back so as to be clear of the
plate when the apparatus is in the travelling position.
The tackles from the hooks nn, and the chain from the attachment m m, are
preferably hung from some portion of the framework carrying the upper douche, so
that that douche can travel freely, and take the apparatus with it, when the tackles
of n n, and the books of o, o, are tightened and hooked up, while the disengagement
of the tackles and of the hook of o, o, when the top douche is in its working
position over the plate, is all that is necessary to throw the apparatus into action.
Comparing Figures 5 and 6, it will be observed that the working position is
a thoroughly stable one because the apparatus is so hung that in its working
position the feet have no tendency to slip off the plate, but on the contrary
would slide further on to it, if they were not prevented from so doing by the
stops. The resting points of the feet b b should be the same distance from the
centre line of the shaft e e as that of the foot; i, and it is convenient that
the effective length of the index h h should equal this distance.

page_text: This apparatus is used as follows :— -While the armour plate is being heated the
true template or mould for the shape of the edge to be "indicated" is supported in
a convenient position, and the apparatus is lowered on to it by releasing the tackles
of n n until the feet bb (previously clamped at suitable points on the frame a a)
rest upon it at, or near, its extremities. The attachment m m should be shifted if
necessary so that the apparatus supported on one side by the template under the
two feet bb, and on the other side suspended from mm, is in stable equilibrium.
(This will be its position when at work, except that the edge of the armour plate
will replace the template.) The foot ; j is next moved along the shaft e e till it is
niidway er about midway between the two feet and while it rests upon the
template, and the index h is brought to the zero of the scale g g, the foot j is
clamped rigidly to the shaft e by the screws.kk. This completes the adjustment.
The foot is next hooked up (now carrying the pointer h h with it) to o, o, so as
not to hang down and foul the plate when the douche moves over it, and the tackles
are hauled up and secured to tilt up the frame a a and its attachel feet for the
same reason.
When the hot. armour plate has been placed over the lower douche, and the
upper douche has been brought into position over it, the tackles are cast off and the
feet brought to their proper position on the plate, and the hook of o o is
released allowing the foot jj also to rest on the plate; the reading of the
pointer h h is then noted to shew what change of form has taken place up to this
stage, and the water turned on. The pointer is watched and its reading recor.led,
say for example, every five minutes during the chilling operation, or the record
may obviously be easily made automatic by means of a cylinder and pencil, as is.
well understood.
If two edges of the same plate are to be indicated, as is generally desirable,
two complete sets of apparatus will enable this to be done. Although plates of
high curvature on two parallel edges usually have their two remaining edges
straight, and the straight edges and not the curved ones, (as being those in which
the greatest accuracy is required) would generally be selected for indication, it may
sometimes occur that edges of high curvature require to be indicated. In such
cases the indicating apparatus may take the form illustrated in Figures 11 to 17
in which a is a short tubular structure and is a shaft capable of turning in the
said tubular structure a². f is an attachment to the said tubular structure
and his a pointer attached to the shafte by an adjustable arrangement shewn in
detail in Figures 16 and 17.
bare feet in rigid connection with the tubular structure a² and capable of
adjustment as to the distance apart of their points of contact with the plate
and j is a foot in rigid connection with the shaft and capable of adjustment as
to the distance from the said shaft of its point of contact with the plate. For
edges of moderate curvature and may be straight as shewn in full lines.
in Fig. 11; but for edges of very quick curvature it will be convenient to introduce
a crank or bend into and as shewn in dotted lines in the same figure.
In the preceding description of the apparatus Figs. 11 to 17. I have marked the
parts which are analogous to those of the arrangement Figures 1 to 10 with the
same letters but with the affix "2."
p p¹ are attachments from which the apparatus is suspended and lifted into place;
when in place its weight is allowed to rest on the plate with a slight tendency to
tilt over outwards which is checked by the suspender p'. 9 is a slot in the
pointer with marks to shew the proper position for the pivot of the connecting
link in order that the pointer may register correctly whatever is the distance of the
extreme feet from each other.
is a slot in a connecting link between the shaft, and the pointer to allow the
pointer to be set at zero on the scale when the feet rest on the true template of
the edge to be indicated. s is a radius arm rigid with the shaft e*, and so partaking
of the motion of the foot . t is a connecting link between the said radius arms,
and the pointer h². It will be observed that the principle of this form of

page_text: "
apparatus is precisely the same as that of the form already described, namely, that
three "feet are made to rest on the plate; that two of these feet are in rigid
connection, while the third, in hinged connection is free to move in an arc of a
circle-upwards if the point it rests on rises, or downwards by its own gravity
if the point it rests on falls; and that to the fixed feet a pointer or a scale, and to
the loose foot a scale or a pointer, is attached or connected, so arranged that any
change of the relative positions of the three feet is indicated by the movement of
the pointer relatively to the scale. In using this form of apparatus, it is
convenient that it should be suspended from a point independent of the upper
douche, say the end of a light arm or derrick capable of swinging into suitable
position when the armour plate is ready for chilling. This form of apparatus is
is set
on the true template of the edge to be indicated in a manner analogous to
that described for the other more usual form.
"
1f, it is desired that the movement of the pointer against the scale shall be the
same in amount as the movement of the foot it is connected with relatively to the
other two feet, this result can be arrived at by suitably adjusting the pivoting points
of the connecting link in relation to the distance apart of the extreme feet.
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. Apparatus for the purpose described, the said apparatus consisting essentially
of parts capable of relative movement and arranged so as to have contact at
different points on the article to which the apparatus is applied so. that change of
position of the points of contact relatively to each other causes the aforesaid
relative movement of the said parts to take place and to give indication of this
change of position and consequently of alteration in the shape of the said article
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Apparatus for the purpose described the said apparatus being constructed or
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.
3. Apparatus for the purpose described the said apparatus being constructed or
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 11 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of January 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.