IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OR MANU- FACTURE OF TIN, TERNE OR OTHER METAL PLATES OR SHEETS, WIRE OR THE LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Bowen and Esau Jenkins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1882.
THOMAS BOWEN and ESAU JENKINS, both of Morriston, in the County of
Glamorgan, IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OR MANU-
FACTURE OF TIN, TERNE OR OTHER METAL PLATES OR SHEETS, WIRE OR THE LIKE
Our invention relates to the treatment or manufacture of tin, terne or other
metal plates or sheets, wire or the like, and has principally for its object economy
in such manufacture.
In the process, as usually practised, the ordinary mode of procedure is, after
receiving the plates or sheets from the rolling mill, to transfer them to the acid
pickle for what is commonly known as black pickling, in order to remove the
oxide or "scale" formed on the surface during the exposure by the process of
rolling, more or less exposure to the action of atmospheric oxygen causing a greater
or lesser degree of oxidation and a consequent more or less tenacious deposit of
"scale." After this such plates or sheets are immersed in a pickle or acid bath to
remove such "scale
or oxide deposit, the strength and expense of the pickle
varying with the amount of "scale or deposit to be removed.
"
Now, our invention consists, firstly, in annealing the plates or sheets, wire or the
like, as taken from the rolls, by which means we soften the "scale" or oxide
formed thereon, and we then pickle-thus reversing the process. By annealing
first we considerably soften the "scale" or oxide, thereby allowing a weaker pickle
to be used, and so considerably economizing the quantity of acid required.
Further, much less metal is taken up in solution by the acid, as compared with the
amount taken up by the ordinary process.
Again, the texture or character of the plates, sheets or wire is rendered softer
and more homogeneous by reason of the softening of the fibrous structure before
being treated by the acid, thus rendering them more capable of being readily
manipulated, and more susceptible to the action of the acid in pickling.
After pickling, the plates, sheets or wire are swilled or washed in water to
remove the acid held by cohesion, and then dried.
As an excess of moisture adheres to such plates or sheets, they are liable to rust.
To obviate this, our invention consists, secondly, in passing the plates, sheets or

page_text: wire on their way from the swilling tub or tank to the furnace, stove or drying
apparatus, between rubber or like resilient rolls, preferably placed at one or both
ends of, and outside the furnace or stove, and driven by endless chain, belt or other
device, so that the plates or sheets are continually traversed.
Rollers may be fitted covered with felt or other suitable material, and internally
heated by steam or hot gases, and the bed of the stove or furnace may be traversed
to carry along the plates, sheets or wire, in any desired manner.
The plates being squeezed between the rolls, have the superfluous moisture
removed, are more readily dried, and, so, not so liable to rust.
Instead of rolls we may use pads or scrapers, or rubber or other suitable material,
on the principle of the well-known squeegee, the plates or sheets passing between
them or we may, if desirable, simply anneal a second time after pickling before
cold rolling, which mode, although more expensive, will be found safe.
As the maintenance of a regulated temperature in the annealing furnace is
essential to the treatment of the plates, sheets or wire, we advantageously enclose
the ashpit with a door or doors and use a blower or other device to promote a
forced draft instead of using the natural one, and to actuate such device we may
place a boiler between the smoke stack and the furnace, thereby utilizing waste
products of combustion. The artificial draft may be independently supplied, and
a damper or regulator may be placed in or near the smoke stack. Such furnaces
may be utilized for annealing or roasting or calcining other materials.