Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Hollow-ware from Glass and similar Material.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1889-Accep:1, 30th Nov., 1389
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Hollow-ware from
Glass and similar Material.
We, JOHN BENEDICT CURTIS 21 Fifth Street, Cambridge, County of Middlesex
State of Massachusetts, United States of America Glass Worker, and JOHN WILLIAM
MACKINTOSH 87 Milk Street, in Boston, County of Suffolk in said State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Banker, 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:-
Our invention relates especially to means for forming or moulding hollow glass
ware or articles composed of glass and similar vitreous materials, such for instance,
as bath tubs, caskets, battery jars, and the like and it consists in the novel features
hereinafter set forth whereby articles of this character may be readily produced which
are less frangible than when formed in the ordinary manner.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all con-
versant with such matters from the following explanation:
In carrying out our process, we take the required quantity of ordinary glass in a
molten state and transfer it to a flat iron table, where it is rolled into a blank of
uniform thickness throughout in substantially the same manner as employed in the
manufacture of plate-glass, the blank being of suitable size to form the article
desired.
The blank, while in a plastic condition, is then laid into an iron former or mould
constructed in the shape of the article to be made, and allowed to contract and cool,
thereby shaping itself to the mould.
The glass is then removed from the former and cut trimmed and annealed in the
usual manner.
The uniformity in the thickness of the glass equalizes the contraction as it cools,
thereby enabling the article to be annealed more perfectly and rendering it much
tougher and less liable to be accidentally chipped or broken than when formed in the
ordinary manner.
When it is necessary to produce particularly nice work, we employ a hollow core
adapted to receive the former and glass blank, which are inserted therein, thus causing
the blank to shape itself to the former more quickly and perfectly than when con-
traction alone is relied upon.
In constructing flat forms, such as plaques, bas-relief work, and the like, the blank
is laid onto the former or mould and rolled with an iron roller, the mould acting as a
die to shape the glass.
It is our intention in practice to construct the table upon which the blank is
made in such a manner that the mould or former may be forced upward through the
middle thereof and under said blank, so that particularly in constructing flat forms,
the work may be greatly facilitated.
The accompanying drawing shows a perspective view of an apparatus for carrying
out our process in the making of bath tubs."
The glass rolling table A comprises supporting legs a grooved rails and the sliding
leaves d which are adapted to slide in said grooved rails, said leaves constituting the
rolling table or board.
A truck B adapted to travel under said table carries a hollow mould C in the shape
of a bath-tub.
The hollow plunger D is suspended by a chain E from an overhead pulley F. This
plunger is of a shape corresponding with the shape of the mould C, but of smaller
size adanted in fit into said mould

page_text: The molten glass is taken from the glass furnace and placed on the leaves of the
table, which are closed together, and rolled thereon. When sufficiently rolled the
leaves are drawn apart and the sheet of pliable glass is dropped into the mould.
The plunger is then lowered into the mould and serves to support the sheet glass on
the sides of the mould until it is sufficiently hardened. The plunger is then with-
drawn and the glass article removed and annealed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
The process of making hollow glass-ware direct from the molten glass composition
which consists in rolling the molten glass material into a flat blank of uniforin
thickness and then placing said blank before cooling and while in a plastic con-
dition onto a former or mould, and permitting it to cool and contract on said former,
whereby it assumes the shape thereof, and finally removing the so-shaped blank from
the former and annealing it, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.