Improvements in or relating to the Application of Silvering or Gilding Solutions to Glass, Porcelain, or other like Material, and Means for Mechanically Effecting the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Application of Silvering or
Gilding Solutions to Glass, Porcelain, or other like Material, and
Means for Mechanically Effecting the same.
We, THE IMPROVED ELECTRIC GLOW LAMP COMPANY, LIMITED, Manufacturers,
of 103, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., and ALBERT BARNES, Electrical
Engineer, of 7, Great Newport Street, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the application of silvering or gilding solutions to
glass, porcelain, or other like material, and has for its object the provision of
special means for effecting the same.
The application of silvering or gilding solutions to incandescent lamp bulbs or
to other glass, porcelain, or kindred surfaces has hitherto been effected by hand
process, the different solutions being mixed in their proper proportions and
applied from a suitable vessel.
Hitherto great difficulties have been experienced in the attempts to effect the
application of these combined solutions in bulk by mechanical means in con-
sequence of the rapid decomposition of the liquids employed in a mixed condition
and the blocking up of jets and nozzles by the silver or other metallic deposits
and the deposition of the metals on the various vessels employed, these. effects
necessitate constant and direct personal attention, besides causing considerable
loss from the metals being deposited on the various vessels employed. In addi-
tion the resultant silver or other metal film varies considerably in its interior
composition by reason of the variation in the chemical composition of the solu-
tions employed due to the continual decomposition going on in the containing
vessels. For example the first contact of the solution with the glass or other
material produces a layer of pure silver or other metal, but the subsequent layers
necessary to obtain the correct density, vary in their composition by reason of the
ever varying character of the mixed liquids. A composite film is therefore ob-
tained consisting of layers of metal in different states, with traces of oxides
between, the whole film being more or less in a state of tension and when applied
to incandescent lamps making the deposition of metallic copper upon it a process
requiring the greatest nicety and skill.
The purpose of this invention is to obviate these difficulties so as to obtain a
metallic film that shall be pure metal all through and at the same time to render
the mechanical or automatic application of the solutions possible by reason of the
absence of any of the drawbacks hereinbefore mentioned.

page_text: To carry this invention into effect we place into suitable containing vessels
which can be made of glass or any other material unaffected by the liquids em-
ployed, the two separate solutions in separate vessels, the silver or other metallic
solution in one and the reducing agent in the other, and we so mix the two solu-
tions at the point of application so that the combination shall bring about the
desired result when mixed. To these vessels we attach an arrangement of nozzles
or jets. of proper areas each controlled by a tap or other suitable regulating appar-
atus, and by the particular arrangement of the nozzles or jets we preferably cause
the two streams of solution to impinge on a pointed glass rod which acts as a
conductor for the liquids causing them to intimately mix or mingle by capillary
attraction and we so direct the pointed glass rod that the resultant mixture is
delivered in any direction necessary to feed it upon the articles to be placed be-
neath, or we may cause the stream from the two jets to impinge upon each other
so that providing the volume of each jot be equal, and the level of the liquids in
the receptacles the same, the jets mix at their point of contact and fall in drops
or a stream upon the articles to be placed beneath. We mount the whole appar
atus, or the delivery nozzles or jets alone as may be best suited to requirements.
on a movable carriage with suitable mechanical attachments, so that the mixed
solutions are delivered on the articles to be plated in proper rotation. It is
obvious that the mechanical arrangements can be actuated by a slow movement
with a quick return or by any other well known device that may be suitable,
either vertically or horizontally or in any way best suited to our requirements.
We may equivalently apply the solutions by means of a special spray diffuser
having two jets each connected with either of the two vessels containing the
solutions, and by means of compressed air cause the resultant sprays to mingle
and mix in their proper proportions, before being delivered to the articles to be
plated.
It is obvious that we can apply the same mechanical contrivance to the spray
jets and cause them to travel to and fro over the articles to be plated in the best
and most suitable manner for effecting our purpose.
In connection with the herein before mentioned process when applied to the
silvering or gilding of electric incandescent lamp bulbs or other similar articles,
we use the following mechanical arrangements.
Each lamp or other object to be silvered or gilded is attached to a suitable
holder with a spindle attached which are fixed in suitably constructed chucks or
kindred devices mounted on the face of a wheel and so arranged that when
motion is imparted to the wheel, the lamps etc. mounted in the special chucks
have a slow rotary motion round their own axis imparted to them which we
obtain by cog gearing or any other suitable means. On revolving the wheel the
articles to be silvered have thus two motions in the same plane; one motion a
rotation on their own axis and the other a translating motion. At any point
most suitable for requirements, we apply the solutions for silvering or gilding
by means of the apparatus already described, and thus obtain a great saving in
the working by reason of the simplicity of application which is sufficiently
obvious.
At other points around the circumference we cause a spray or jet of water to
play upon the articles to be silvered or gilded or we apply other arrangements
for washing or any other necessary operation that may be part of the silvering
process. The whole apparatus is mounted on a central axis and is rotated by any
suitable power available.
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Application of Silvering or
Gilding Solutions to Glass, Porcelain, or other like Material, and
Means for Mechanically Effecting the same.
We, THE IMPROVED ELECTRIC GLOW LAMP COMPANY, LIMITED, Manufacturers,
of 103, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., and ALBERT BARNES, Electrical
Engineer, of 7; Great Newport Street, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statements.
'
This invention relates to the method and means for mechanically supplying
known solutions, one being a salt of the required metal and the other a reducing
solution for silvering or gilding glass, porcelain and the like, applicable to the
silvering of incandescent electric globes or bulbs or of any form of mirror or re-
flecting surface.
The application of such solutions has hitherto been effected by hand, the diverse
solutions being mixed in their proper proportions in a suitable vessel before appli-
cation, and thence applied by hand, causing great difficulties and deterioration
to the finished metallic coating and to the hand tools used, by the rapid decom-
position of the mixed solutions before reaching the surface to be silvered or gilded,
causing deposition of the metal on the tools and vessels employed, and want of
purity or homogeneity of the plated film on the finished article. A composite
film is obtained consisting of layers of metal in different conditions with traces
of oxides between, the whole film being more or less in a state of tension and
when applied to incandescent lamp globes preventing a perfect and lasting depo-
sition thereon of a covering film of copper which is the practice for the protection
of the silvering.
To obviate these difficulties my invention consists in the mode of application
of the diverse reacting solutions permitting them to mix only in the necessary
regulated quantities, by liquid or spray jets at the point where they impinge
upon the article to be silvered or gilded, thus preventing deposition of the metal
upon the tubes or vessels carrying the solutions only in a separated condition,
and giving a pure and homogeneous film upon the required surface.
And further, this invention consists in the appliances employed to direct, feed
and control the solutions in a combined liquid or spray jet, and in mechanical
appliances, whereby the said operation of gilding or silvering may be quickly
and cheaply mechanically applied to a series of articles, such as the globes of in-
candescent electric lamps.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of the jet appliance with compressed air duct by
which the combined solutions may be directed upon the required surface either.
as a liquid jet or as a spray.
Fig. 2 is an outside plan of the same, showing air control cock.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an appliance in which the process may be mechan-
ically and cheaply applied to a large number of small articles, such as incan-
descent electric lamp globes.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same.
The metallic and reducing solutions are contained in separate receptacles A, A¹
Fig. 3, from which they may be fed to the issue jets, either by compressed 'air, or
other pressure or by gravitation
The jet tubes B, B1 receiving the said solutions terminate in fine nozzles b, b¹
converging to one another, so that the jets of the two solutions meet and mix
close to and are thrown in such mixed condition upon the surface to be plated.

page_text: When it is desired that the jet shall be in the form of fine spray, a supply of
compressed air is introduced through the duct C which is controlled by a cock 1)
and branches the supply of compressed air about each of the solution tubes by
an annulus & between the inner tubes B & B carrying the solution and an outer
casing, thus having the effect of spraying the solution at its issue from the
nozzles b, b¹.
This jet appliance having flexible connections to the solution jars, and to the
source of the compressed air may be applied by hand over any surface which it
is desired to silver or gild, such surface being either stationary or moved under
the stationary jets.
.
Where however the objects to be plated are small, similar to one another and
numerous, such as the globes of incandescent electric lamps, I mount these globes a
upon a wheel frame E adapted to revolve upon a suitable pin bearings
driven at a slow speed by reducing gearing f (conveniently frictional gearing)
from a first motion shaft F.
e and
The jet appliance BB' is mounted upon any fixed part of the framing or bed
of the rotating wheel, by a standard and ball and socket joint so that the jet
tubes BB can be directed and fixed at any desired angle to the article a carried
upon the slowly revolving wheel E. At the same time, if the plating has to be
effected around the circumference of the article a as in the case of a lamp globe,
the said globe is caused to revolve about its own axis at considerable speed by a
speed gearing H, conveniently driven by cone pullies from the first motion
shaft. Only such part of the article as it is desired to plate is left bare and clean,
the other part of the article which is not to be plated is protected by such a cover-
ing as is well known in the silvering trade.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim
is-
1st. A method for the application of a mixed metallic and a reducing solution
in silvering or gilding consisting of the keeping apart of said solutions in separ-
ate reservoirs, the discharge or supply of both solutions from said reservoirs by
pressure or gravitation by distinct ducts to a point of mutual impingement at or
close to the surfaces to be plated, substantially as described.
2nd. To carry out a process of silvering or gilding, a combined double jet pipe
having converging detachable nozzles, means of attachment for a supply of dis-
tinct solutions to either nozzle; a duct receiving compressed air controlled by a
cock and an annulus about each solution tube connected to said air duct, sub-
stantially as described.
3rd. To carry out a process of silvering and gilding, a slowly rotating wheel;
holders for small articles adapted to the periphery of said wheel; gearing con-
nections to said holders from first motion shaft adapted to rotate said holders
upon their own axis in combination with a fixed double jet tube appliance
adapted to direct a mixed jet of metallic and reducing solution, upon prepared
surface of articles rotating in said holders, mounted upon said slowly revolving
wheel substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of Janua 1900
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.