Metal coating method and apparatus

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT AND COATING OF TUBULAR ELEMENTS COMPRISING FIRST TANK MEANS FOR CONTAINING FLUX SOLUTION, SECOND TANK MEANS FOR CONTAINING MOLTEN METAL FOR PREHEATING THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS, AND THIRD TANK MEANS FOR CONTAINING THE MOLTEN COATING METAL, CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CONVEYING THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS THROUGH EACH SAID TANK MEANS, AND PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE MEANS FOR SAID SECOND AND THIRD TANK MEANS AND AT LEAST PART OF SAID FIRST TANK MEANS FOR ENCLOSING ABOVE THE CONTENTS OF EACH TANK MEANS A PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INCLUDING FIXED PLATES EACH HAVING A CUTAWAY PORTION PROVIDING AN EDGE OVER WHICH THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS ARE MOVED, ROTATABLY MOUNTED COOPERATIVE MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH TUBULAR ELEMENT-RECEIVING SURFCE PORTIONS PREDETERMINATELY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED PLATES SO AS TO SPECEDLY HOLD SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS, SAID COOPERATIVE MEMBERS HAVING DRIVING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ELEMENTRECEIVING SURFACE PORTIONS RELATIVE TO SAID PLATES, SAID FIXED PLATES BEING DISPOSED IN SUCCESSIVELY STEPPED RELATION AND THE COOPERATIVE MEMBERS BEING MOUNTED ON AN INCLINED AXIS SO AS TO CONVEY THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS IN SLIGHTLY INCLINED RELATIONSHIP, AND SAID PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING A DEPENDING SEALING WALL PROJECTING INTO THE FIRST TANK MEANS BELOW THE LEVEL OF ITS CONTENTS OF THE FIRST SPACED RELATION TO ONE END WALL THEREOF SO THAT UPON ENTRY OF THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS INTO THE CONTANTS OF THE FIRST TANK MEANS BETWEEN SUCH ONE END WALL AND THE SEALING WALL THE AIR IS PURGED FROM THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS AND UPON EXIT FROM SAID FIRST TANK MEANS THE TUBULAR ELEMENTS FILL WITH PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR PASSAGE INTO THE SECOND TANK MEANS.