IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PICKLING OR PREPARING IRON OR OTHER PLATES PREVIOUS TO THEIR BEING COATED WITH TIN, TERNE, OR OTHER COATING MATERIAL." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Williams and George Lockwood Morris, of Millbrook
Iron Works, Landore, in the County of Glamorgan, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PICKLING OR PREPARING
IRON OR OTHER PLATES PREVIOUS TO THEIR BEING COATED WITH TIN,
TERNE, OR OTHER COATING MATERIAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Williams and George.
Lockwood Morris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
26th March 1881.
JOHN WILLIAMS and GEORGE LOCKWOOD MORRIS, of Millbrook Iron Works,
Landore, in the County of Glamorgan. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PICKLING OR PREPARING IRON OR OTHER PLATES PREVIOUS TO
THEIR BEING COATED WITH TIN, TERNE, OR OTHER COATING MATERIAL."
The principal objects of this Invention which relates to improvements in
machinery or apparatus for pickling and swilling or preparing iron or other metal
plates for being coated with tin, terne, or other coating material are to simplify
the construction of such apparatus, to render it self-contained, and to obtain an.
efficient agitation of the pickling and swilling liquids with a relatively small move-
ment of the parts, an avoidance of much wear and tear of the machine due to the
improved construction of the apparatus, and to the small movements of the moving
parts.
We would here remark that we are aware of the arrangements of apparatus designed
for the above mentioned purpose which are respectively described in the Specifi-
cations of certain Letters Patents, No. 11717, granted to Richard James Hutchings,
and dated March 18th, 1876, and No. 20697, granted to David Grey, and dated
May 23rd, 1879, and we wish it to be understood that our improved arrangement
of apparatus is specially designed (as hereinbefore stated) to be self-contained and
independent of exterior actuation or appliances, a feature which is wanting in
each of the arrangements forming the subject of the above mentioned Letters
Patents.
Our improved mechanism is constructed with a central support consisting
preferably of a hollow pillar, though it may consist of a series of solid pillars, or of
any equivalent therefor, and upon the top of which a circular plane or travelling
way is concentrically supported. Upon the travelling way rests a framing

page_text: consisting of or provided with (preferably) three, though it may be of or with
more radiating arms, each of which in properly disposed bearings carries two
grooved pullies, and an intervening coned or other travelling wheel which rests
upon the correspondingly conformed travelling way and supports the framing
clear thereof, so that it can be freely rotated about the centre of the supporting
pillar. Centrally of the supporting pillar an ordinary single acting steam cylinder
is secured, the piston-rod of which is prolonged through and guided by the centre
of the said framing, and has suitably connected to its upper end (one to each of
the radiating arms of the framing) a series of chains, which pass thence one over
the grooved pullies of each arm, and are each connected at their outer depending
ends to a light metallic cradle which is composed of cross strips of metal rivetted
to each other, and of other strips which are bent diagonally and rivetted to an
upper cross-bar, the ends of which carry two guiding pullies, the said chains being
connected to the central or intervening part of the bar. The cradles are thus
suspended centrally over tanks placed around the supporting pillar and resting on
the ground, and which contain the pickling and swilling liquids respectively.
The weight of the cradles is balanced by removable weights supported by and
around the piston rod. On the opposite sides of each of the tanks two helically
formed guides are secured, in such a position as to engage with the said guiding
pullies of the suspended cradles, the object and effect of this arrangement being to
cause the cradles and their contents to receive a twisting or lateral turning
movement as they are raised and lowered in the said tanks; and when they are
loaded with metal plates to be pickled and swilled, a desirable agitating movement
is thus imparted to the pickling and swilling liquids which is efficacious in causing
their more complete action. The pitch of the helix may be made, as desired, and
according to the degree of agitation thought most beneficial. Thus as the steam,
water, air, or other motive agent is admitted above the piston in the cylinder the
piston rod is caused to descend, and the cradles and their contents are accordingly
raised in or from their respective tanks, and have a lateral turning (or as combined
a helical motion) imparted to them by the said guides and guiding pullies, or by
other suitable and equivalently acting means with the advantageous effect above
mentioned, the tanks being made preferably square or oblong, as the impulse thus
given by the cradles and plates to the pickling and swilling liquids against the
sides will create a greater agitation of the liquids between the plates being treated.
Upon the steam being exhausted from the cylinder the cradles and plates descend
by their own weight with the same helical motion, and thus a small vertical
movement of the cradles is rendered sufficient to cause a comparatively great and
desirable agitation of the pickling and swilling liquids, and which has not been
hitherto so simply effected, and thus much wear and tear of the movable parts is
avoided, and by the above described means the apparatus is rendered self
contained and independent of any external actuation, the method of working being
as follows: With a triangular frame two tanks and three cradles are used, two
cradles being worked simultaneously, the one in the pickling tank and the other
in the swilling tank, the third being loaded ready for pickling. When sufficient
time has elapsed for the proper pickling and swilling of the plates, the three cradles
are simultaneously lifted by the piston rod, and when high enough the triangular
framing is turned by the attendant or by any suitable mechanical means, until the
cradle containing the plates to be pickled is suspended over the pickling tank, the
cradle containing the plates which have been pickled being now over the swilling
tank, and the cradle containing the plates which have been pickled and swilled
being over the table on which it will be unloaded. The cradles are then simul-
taneously lowered into their now respective tanks, the one which is lowered onto
the table being then unloaded and re-filled with fresh plates when the above
described operation is repeated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Williams and George Lockwood Morris in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th September 1881.
JOHN WILLIAMS and GEORGE LOCKWOOD MORRIS, of Millbrook Iron Works,
Landore, in the County of Glamorgan. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PICKLING OR PREPARING IRON OR OTHER PLATES PREVIOUS TO
THEIR BEING COATED WITH TIN, TERNE, OR OTHER COATING MATERIAL."
The principal objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in
machinery or apparatus for pickling and swilling or preparing iron or other metal
plates for being coated with tin, terne, or other coating material, are to simplify
the construction of such apparatus, to render it self contained and independent of
exterior actuation or appliances, and to obtain an efficient agitation of the pickling
and swilling liquids, with a relatively small movement of the parts, and an
avoidance of much wear and tear of the machine, due to the improved construction
and compact arrangement of the apparatus, and to the small movements of the
moving parts.
We desire it should be understood that we are aware of the arrangements of
apparatus for preparing metal plates for being coated, which are respectively
described in the Specifications of certain Letters Patents, No. 11717, granted to
Richard James Hutchings, and dated 18th March, A.D. 1876, and No. 2069,
granted to David Grey, and dated 23rd May, A.D. 1879, and we wish it to be
understood that we lay no claim to any such arrangements of apparatus as are
described in such Specifications, as our improved arrangement of apparatus is
specially designed, as hereinbefore stated, to be self-contained and independent of
exterior actuation or appliances, a feature which is wanting in each of the arrange-
ments forming the subject of the above mentioned Letters Patents.
And since the filing of our Provisional Specification we have also become aware
of the arrangements of apparatus which are described in the Provisional Speci-
fication of certain Letters Patent, No. 48378, granted to Richard James Hutchings
and others, and dated 22nd November, A.D. 1880, and in respect of which or of
proper developments of the principle of which the said Letters Patent were sealed
unto the said Richard James Hutchings and his co-patentees, and also of the Final
Specification lodged by the said Richard James Hutchings and his co-patentees on
the 21st May, A.D. 1881, and in which are described and claimed various arrange-
ments, which in the said Provisional Specification are expressly disclaimed, and
which also includes various arrangements of apparatus totally dissimilar to anything
in any way described or referred to in the Provisional Specification lodged in
respect of the said Letters Patent, and amongst which are improperly included
arrangements constructed according to the principle clearly set forth in our said
Provisional Specification lodged by us on the 26th March, A.D. 1881, and in respect
of which the herein before in part recited Letters Patent have been sealed unto us,
being dated as of the 26th March, A.D. 1881, between which date and the 21st May
1881, the date on which the said Final Specification of the said Letters Patent,
No. 483780, was filed, our apparatus was open to inspection at our works, and was
fully inspected, amongst others, by a personal and mechanical friend of the said
Richard James Hutchings, such friend at the time being employed in the works
where Hutchings' Patent pickling machine was being erected.
An improved pickling machine constructed according to the principle of our
Invention is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of explanatory Drawings
in Figures 1 and 2, which respectively represent an elevation and a plan view
thereof.

page_text: The improved apparatus is constructed with a central support 1, consisting
preferably of a hollow pillar, though it may consist of a series of solid pillars, or of
any suitable central frame-work or equivalent therefor, made of cast iron, wrought
iron, or any other suitable material. Upon the top of the support 1 is con-
centrically arranged a circular plane or travelling way 2, and upon this rests a
framing 3, which consists of or is provided with preferably three, though it may
be of or with more, radiating arms 4, each of which in properly disposed bearings 5
carries two grooved pullies 6, and an intervening coned or other travelling wheel 7,
which rests upon the correspondingly conformed travelling-way 2, and supports
the framing 3 clear thereof, and so that it can be freely rotated about the centre
of the supporting pillar 1. Centrally of the pillar 1 an ordinary single-acting
steam cylinder 8 is secured, the piston-rod 9 of which is prolonged through and
guided by the centre of the framing 3, and has suitably connected to its upper end
a series of chains 10, which pass thence one over the grooved pullies 6 of each
arm 4, and are each connected at their outer depending ends to a light metallic
cradle 11 (shown detached in Fig. 3), which is composed of cross strips 12 of
yellow metal rivetted to each other, and of other bent strips 13, which are
rivetted to an upper cross-bar 14, the ends of which carry two guiding pullies 15,
the chains 10 being connected to the central or intervening part of the bar 14.
The cradles 11 are suspended thus, centrally over tanks 16 which are placed
around the central supporting pillar 1, and rest on the ground or floor, and contain
the pickling and swilling liquids respectively. The weight of the cradles is
balanced by removable or cheese weights 17, which are supported by and around
the piston-rod 4.
On the opposite sides of each of the tanks 16 two helically formed guides 18 are
secured in such a position as to engage with the guiding pullies 15 of the suspended
cradles 11, the object and effect of this arrangement being to cause the cradles and
their contents to receive a twisting or lateral turning movement as they are raised
and lowered in the tanks 16, and thus to impart a desirable agitating movement to
the pickling and swilling liquids, and which is efficacious in causing the more
complete action thereof. The pitch of the. helix may be made as desired, and
according to the degree of agitation thought most beneficial.
Thus as the steam, water, air, or other motive agent is admitted above the
piston in the cylinder, the piston rod is caused to descend, and the cradles and their
contents are accordingly raised in or from their respective tanks, and have a lateral
turning (or as combined, a helical motion) imparted to them by the guides 18 and
pullies 15, or by other suitable and equivalently acting means, with the advan-
tageous effect above mentioned, the tanks being made preferably square or oblong,
as the impulse thus given by the cradles and plates to the pickling and swilling
liquids against the sides will create a greater agitation of the liquids between the
platos being treated. Upon the steam being exhausted from the cylinder, the
cradles and plates descend by their excess of weight, and receive the same helical
motion, and thus a small vertical movement of the cradles is rendered sufficient to
cause a comparately great and desirable agitation of the pickling and swilling
liquids, and which has not been hitherto so simply effected, and thus much wear
and tear of the movable parts is avoided; and by the above described means the
apparatus is rendered self-contained and independent of any external actuation, the
method of working being as follows:-
With a triangular frame 3, as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings, two
tanks 16 and three cradles 11 are used (the suspension of one only of the cradles
being illustrated to avoid confusing the Drawings), two cradles being worked
simultaneously, the one in the pickling tank and the other in the swilling tank,
while the third is being loaded ready for pickling. When sufficient time has
elapsed for the proper pickling and swilling of the plates, the three cradles are
simultaneously lifted by the piston-rod; and when they are clear of the tanks, the
framing 3 is turned or partly rotated by the attendant, or by any suitable
mechanical means, until the cradle containing the plates to be pickled is suspended

page_text: over the pickling tank, the cradle containing the plates which have been pickled
being now over the swilling tank, and the cradle containing the plates which have
been pickled and swilled being over the table on which it will be unloaded, and
again loaded with fresh plates. The cradles are then simultaneously lowered into
the tanks now respectively underneath them, the one which has been both pickled
and swilled, and which is now lowered onto the table, being then unloaded and
refilled with fresh plates. The above described operation is continuously repeated.
Having now described the nature and objects of our said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, we would remark in conclusion that what we consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to
us by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
-
The improved combined general arrangement and construction of apparatus or
machinery for pickling and swilling or preparing iron or other metal plates for
being coated with tin, terne, or other coating material, substantially as herein before
described and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and as
principal parts or features of which we especially claim the placing of the motive
agent centrally of or so as to be surrounded by the pickling and swilling tanks
and loading and unloading table, thus enabling all the work to be done from one
common centre, whereby the apparatus is rendered self-contained and independent
of exterior actuation or appliances, and its construction is much simplified and
rendered compact, avoiding much wear and tear, and the provision of suitable
means, substantially as hereinbefore described for causing an officient agitation of
the pickling and swilling liquids with a relatively small movement of the parts.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Williams, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.