IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRINDING PLATE GLASS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Windle Pilkington, of St. Helen's, in the County
of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR GRINDING PLATE GLASS."
Sealed the 9th December 1879, and dated the 19th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Windle Pilkington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1879.
WILLIAM WINDLE PILKINGTON, of St. Helen's, in the County of Lancaster, Glass
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRINDING PLATE GLASS."
17
The well known three runner apparatus for grinding plate glass, although well
suited for the purpose in some respects, is defective, minly, in that it forms or
leaves ridges on the plates of glass.
The object of my Invention is to provide apparatus which cannot possibly form
ridges, and which generally will be better adapted to effect the desired results.
Apparatus according to my Invention consists, under the first part, in making
the grinding runner with a continuous iron faced grinding surface, sufficiently large
to cover or nearly cover the whole of the plate or plates to be ground, and in
imparting to such runner a rotary and oscillating or other suitable motion, so that
when in operation the whole of the surface of the plate or plates being ground is
acted upon.
The second part of my Invention consists in effecting by mechanical contrivances
the work heretofore performed by hand of moving the runner to its work and
again removing it after a plate or plates has or have been ground. A screw or
BCrews, pulley blocks, such as Weston's, cranes, or other appliances, are placed over
or to reach over the runner, and by being attached thereto are adapted to raise and
move it laterally. By preference, the connection is made to the ends of the runner,
so that it can, when required, be canted or turned over. Instead of overhead or
over-reaching appliances, wheeled trucks or sliding carriers may be arranged to
inove the runner sidewards or endwards.
The third part is intended to preventbreakage of glass during grinding. Springs
or yielding carriers, or carriers adjustable by screws or like means, are attached to
the back of the runner and bear a portion of the weight of the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Windle Pilkington in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th December 1879.
WILLIAM WINDLE PILKINGTON, of St. Helen's, in the County of Lancaster, Glass
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRINDING PLATE GLASS."
The well known three runner apparatus for grinding plate glass, although well
suited for the purpose in some respects, is defective, mainly, in that it forms or
leaves ridges on the plates of glass.
The object of my Invention is to provide apparatus which cannot possibly form
ridges, and which generally will be better adapted to effect the desired results.
Apparatus according to my Invention consists, under the first part, in making
the grinding runner with a continuous iron faced grinding surface, sufficiently large
to cover or nearly cover the whole of the plate or plates to be ground, and in
imparting to such runner a rotary, or rotary and oscillating, or other suitable
motion, so that when in operation the whole of the surface of the plate or plates
being ground is acted upon.
The second part of my Invention consists in effecting by mechanical contrivances
the work heretofore performed by hand of moving the runner to its work and
again removing it after a plate or plates has or have been ground. A screw or
screws, pulley blocks, such as Weston's, cranes, or other appliances, are placed over
or to reach over the runner, and by being attached thereto are adapted to raise and
move it laterally. By preference, the connection is made to the ends of the runner,
so that it can, when required, be canted or turned over. Instead of overhead or
overreaching appliances, wheeled trucks or sliding carriages may be arranged to
move the runner sidewards or endwards.
The third part is intended to prevent breakage of glass during grinding. Springs
or yielding carriers, or carriers adjustable by screws, or like means, are attached to
tion of the right of the sAINA
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINUD
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 a plan view of apparatus
for grinding glass, constructed under my Invention. Under the first part, a is the
grinding runner with a continuous iron shod surface b, sufficiently large to cover
the whole or nearly the whole of the plate or plates c to be ground; d, bed or table.
A circular motion is imparted to the said runner a through the arm e which receives
motion from the crank pin factuated from the shaft g receiving motion from any
convenient source of power; f', guide cranks. Rotary, oscillating, or other motion
may be given to the said runner if desired.
Under the second part, h is an overhead tramway; i, wheels running thereon
and carrying the screw jacks j coupled to the ends of the runner by means of the
pins . When it is desired to remove the runner from the grinding bed or table,
the said runner is raised by means of the said screw jacks j until it is freely
suspended from the overhead tramway. Such runner is then run along the tram-
way until it is clear of the bed or table. The runner, when clear of the table, may
be turned on the pins k into any required position for examination and repairs.
The above described operation is reversed when it is desired to replace the runner
on the bed or table.
Under the third part, I are rods attached to the back of the runner and to adjust-
able hooks m. The said hooks m are raised and lowered by means of the chain
wheel n, through which motion is given to the screw wheel o. By adjusting the
height of the hooks m the strain on the rods and cross bars p is made greater or
less, as desired, and the pressure of the runner on the plate or plates to be ground is
increased or diminished at will. If the rods and cross bars have not sufficient

page_text: elasticity to produce the desired effects, springs may be interposed in any suitable
position.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,—
First. Constructing and operating grinding runners, substantially as herein
specified for the purposes set forth.
Second. Apparatus or appliances for raising, transporting, and lowering grinding
runners constructed substantially as set forth.
Third. Adjustable springs or yielding carriers operating in combination with
grinding runners, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Windle Pilkington, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
W W PILKINGTON (29)