IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STONES, BRICKS, TILES, SLABS, STATUARY, AND SUCH LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR CLEANSING AND INDURATING THE SAME WHEN EMPLOYED IN BUILDINGS OR FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND FOR PRESERVING THEM FROM ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cane Coombe and James Wright, Civil
Engineer, both of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STONES, BRICKS, TILES,
SLABS, STATUARY, AND SUCH LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND
MEANS FOR CLEANSING AND INDURATING THE SAME WHEN EMPLOYED IN
BUILDINGS OR FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND FOR PRESERVING THEM FROM
ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES"
caled the 14th January 1862, and dated the 19th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cane Coombe and
James Wright at the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th September 1861.
WE, JAMES CANE COOMBE and JAMES WRIGHT, Civil Engineer, both of
42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STONES, BRICKS,
TILES, SLABS, STATUARY, AND SUCH LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND
MEANS FOR CLEANSING AND INDURATING THE SAME WHEN EMPLOYED IN BUILDINGS
OR FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND FOR PRESERVING THEM FROM ATMOSPHERIC AND
OTHER INFLUENCES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
Our Invention consists in mixing with the materials usually employed in
the maniacture of bricks, tiles, slabs, artificial stones and marbles, a portion
of lime or chalk, being proportioned to the chemical equivalents of the
composing bstances or any alkaline earth, or their salts, being also the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: chemical equivalents requisite to combine with the substances, and then adding
to the whole a quantity of fluo silicic acid similarly proportioned to the
quantities of basic bodies made use of in the manufacture. We propose to
make use of, as preservers, cleansers, and indurators of stone, stonework, or
such materials as contain carbonate of lime or other alkaline earths or their
salts certain acids which possess the property of combining with the natural
constituents of the stone, and forming new compounds, which are less soluble
than the original,and less liable to be acted upon. bychemical or atmospheric
agencies. When magnesia is present with the limestone, forming what is
known as magnesia limestone, we then use the fluo-silicicacid, which may be
applied as before. We propose also, in all cases where the stone does not
contain sufficient potash to apply a solution of the same or of its salts previous
to or even after using the fluo-silicic acid upon it. We premise in using the
word fluo-silcic acid we mean hydro-fluo-silicic acid in combination with
inter
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent; filed
by the said James Cane Coombe and James Wright in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th March 1862..
2.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
CANE COOMBE and JAMES WRIGHT, Civil Engineer, both of 42, Bridge Street,
Blackfriars, London, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
Ono thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said James Cane Coombe and James Wright Her special licence that
we, the said James Cane' Coombe and James Wright,our executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Cane Coombe
and James Wright, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter duringthe term therein expressed, should and lawfullymight make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Cliannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STONES, BRICKS, TILES, SLABS, STATUARY, AND
SUCH LIKE MATERIALS, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR CLEANSING AND
INDURATING THE SAME WHEN EMPLOYED IN BUILDINGS OR FOR BUILDING PUPROSES,
10 09

page_text: AND FOR PRESERVING THEM FROM ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Cane Coombe and James.
Wright, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
.:
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Cane Coombe and Jaines
Wright, do hereby declare 'the 'nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
1 .
We propose to make use of a solution of silicate of potash, weak or strong,
as required by circumstances, and then to add to this solution a sufficient
quantity of hydro-fluo-silicic acid, weak or strong, as required, but pre-
ponderating in its equivalent, so as to leave the mixture decidedly acid. If
the stone employed in the structure of the building or edifice comeunderthe
category as what is known as limestone; oolite or magnesian limestone, or any
stone containing a sufficiency of lime to render the operation efficient, we
first of all act upon the surface with hydro-fluo-silicic acid,so as to render the
lime insoluble as far as the acid penetrates, and then, when the stone has
become dry,we apply to saturation the above mixed solution immediately it is
made, and whilst it remains in a soluble state, and allow the stone or surface
to again become dry. This process is repeated if required. Whatever super-
fluous matter remains on the surface is readily removed by brushing. We
sometimes subsequentlyapply an additional coating of hydro-fluo-silicic acid,
and continue to do so as long as effervescence takes place. The object is to
render the constituents of the stone or material acted upon insoluble in those
acids and salts, which frequently float in the atmosphere according to the
locality, and one of which (carbonic acid) is a normal constituent. When
hydro-fluo-silicic acid is added to a solution of silicate of potash in proper
proportions, a thorough and complete precipitation or deposition of all the
silica and fluo-silicate of potash results so that sooner or later as evaporation
takes place, the interstices of the stone become filled up with a perfectly
insoluble and bindingmaterial, which renders it muchlesspervioustomoisture.
Sandstones previously acted on by potash or lime and hydro-fluo-silicic acid,
as proposed in the Specification of our Patent No. 626, dated March 14th,.
1861, are likewise acted on in the same manner, using lime or its carbonate
in lieu of the silicate of potash in combination with hydro-fluo-silicic acid,

page_text: When veryfinely powdered or precipitated carbonate of limei: added to hydro-
fluo-silicic acid early to the poinf eutralization,a solution is formed which
soon becomes gelatinous, and eventually perfectly insoluble. This solution we
sometimes employ whilst it remains in that state, irst, in the samo way that
we employ the silicate of potash, and hydro-fluo-silicic acid mixture.
All statuary, elaborate carving, or ornamental work of any kind, cut out of
Caen, Bath, or dolomite stones, or any sort of soft or hard limestone, may be
treated in every way similar to the above detailed process as regard sstone for
buildings.
In the manufacture of artificial stones, bricks, tiles, terra cotta casts of
statuary, we propose to mix with the materials usually employed equivalents
of lime or chalk, or carbonate of lime with hydro; iluo-silicic acid, the acid
being slightly in excess, and then to render the whole mazs of a proper
consistence with the fluo-silicate of potash solution, as above detailed. We
then fashion the object required according to nrt.
Having now explained as clearly as we can the nature of our Invention,
and its application to the induration, preservation, and cleansing of stonework
and its applications, we claim and desire secured to us by the before in part
recited Letters Patent, the exclusive right of using silicate of potash in com-
bination with hydro-fluo-silicic or hydro-fluoric acid, according to the process
and after the manner here-within described:
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wright, havo hereunto, on behalf
of myself and the said James Cane Coombe, ret my hand and seal,
this Nineteenth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two.
JAMES WRIGHT. (L.S)