Improvements in the Treatment of Sheet Iron and Steel in the Manufacture of Polished Sheets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COME LEIE
Improvements in the Treatment of Sheet Iron and Steel in the
Manufacture of Polished Sheets.
We, JOHN DAVID GREY, of Rock Fawr House, near Bridgend, Glamorgan-
shire, Iron and Tin Plate Manufacturer, and THOMAS GWYNNE, of the Gwalia
Tin Plate Works, Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire, Tin Plate Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in-what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of sheet iron and steel
in the manufacture of polished sheets, the invention having for its objects to
reduce the cost and generally to simplify the treatment of the sheet iron and steel
with the view of turning out a largely increased quantity in any given time over
that which can be turned out with the methods and means in present use and to
attain an improved result.
In carrying out the manufacture, we adopt the usual treatment until the sheets
have been pickled and washed, and we then, in carrying out the improved
treatment, immediately dip the sheets into a bath of lime water for the purpose of
neutralising any traces of the acid, and then, immediately dry the sheets, by
passing them, while separated apart, through a drying stove, to prevent them from
oxidising or becoming, discoloured, and then, immediately pass the sheets separately
through cold rolls for smoothing and polishing their surface, and then, immediately
anneal the sheets for making them soft and malleable, and then, after they have
become cold, again pass the sheets, while separated apart, slowly through a stove
or furnace heated to a temperature sufficient to raise the sheets to a dark cherry-
red colour for the purpose of forming a thin film of oxide on and imparting a blue
polished surface to the sheets, which will be effective in preventing the sheets
from rusting, after which the sheets may be passed through a pair of gum rolls
with oil on.
A suitable arrangement of stove or furnace in which the aforesaid drying and
re-heating operations may be carried out, is represented, in sectional elevation, on
the accompanying drawing, but these operations may be carried out in any other
suitable stove or furnace.
In using the apparatus represented, the sheets, immediately they are taken from
the lime bath, are placed, separated apart, on a carriage c, resting on rails d, running
through the stove e, (which may be heated in any convenient manner,) and the
carriage is drawn slowly through the stove by an endless chain 9, (to which it may
be detachably secured by a hook h, or in any other convenient manner) actuated
by sprocket wheels i, operated by any convenient means, until the carriage emerges
from the stove, when it may be disconnected from the chain by one of the teeth of
the forward sprocket wheel striking against the lower side of the hook or in any
other convenient manner.
The stove is preferably arranged close adjacent to both the lime-water bath and
to the cold rolling mill, so that the described operations may be conducted in
immediate succession. In continuing the treatment, the dried sheets are unloaded
from the stationary carriage and passed through the cold rolls for the purpose
aforesaid. The sheets are then placed, or an annealing stand and covered by an
annealing box, in an annealing furnace for the purpose aforesaid, after which they
are allowed to become cold.

page_text: The sheets are then, again passed, while separated apart, slowly through the
stove or re-heating furnace, for the purpose aforesaid, care being taken that the
temperature is not higher than that above indicated.
In this lastly referred to treatment, it is essential that the sheets should be
separated apart, so that both sides thereof will be heated equally and to the same
temperature while passing through the furnace, and so that a thin film of oxide
will be formed on and a blue polished surface will be imparted to each side of the
sheet, serving to prevent the same from rusting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In the treatment of sheet iron and steel in the manufacture of polished sheets ;
1. The hereinbefore described improved treatment, consisting in dipping the
sheets, immediately they come from the pickling and washing tanks, into a bath of
lime water, and immediately thereafter drying them by passing them, while
separated apart, through a drying stove, and immediately thereafter cold rolling
them, and then annealing them, as set forth.
2. The hereinbefore described improved treatment or method of creating a thin
film of oxide and a blue polished surface on the sheets serving to prevent the same
from rusting, consisting in slowly traversing the sheets, after being annealed, while
separated apart, through a furnace heated to a temperature sufficient to raise the
sheets to a dark cherry-red colour, as set forth.
3. The herein before described improved treatment consisting in the carrying out
successively of the processes referred to in the two preceding claims."
Dated this 1st day of January 1897.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.