New or Improved Metallic Alloys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
*PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Metallic Alloys.
I JAMES HENRY PRATT, of No. 27 Bennett's Hill Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Stock and Share Broker do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :—
My invention has reference to metallic alloys composed essentially of nickel,
copper and zinc and consists in alloying the said metals in the proportions herein-
after described and in the method of treating the said alloys as hereinafter described.
When great ductility in the alloy is required I introduce aluminium and manganese
in small proportions as hereinafter described.
In the table given below I give in the first vertical column the per centages of
nickel which I employ in the alloys constituting my invention, in the second vertical
column I give the per centages of copper I employ; and in the third vertical
column I give the per centages of zinc I employ the several indicated quantities
being parts by weight. The quantities in the said table read horizontally give the
proportions of the several alloys; for example in the top horizontal row of figures
in the said table are the quantities four parts of nickel, fifty-five parts of copper
and forty parts of zinc. These are the per centage quantities of metals of oue of
the alloys constituting my invention; that is, the alloy containing the lowest pro-
portion of nickel. It will be observed by an examination of the table that in the
several alloys the compositions of which are given in the horizontal rows of figures
the proportions of nickel and zinc respectively increase while the proportion of
copper diminishes.
"
With respect to the alloys constituting my invention 1 remark that the first
three of the said alloys are superior kinds of brass or bronze but are superior to
"cleaner
ordinary brass in the respect that when cut, filed or turned they give a
that is a smoother surface than ordinary brass. The fourth, fifth and sixth alloys
possess the same property of giving a cleaner cut as the first alloy but are somewhat
harder. The hardness of the alloy increases in the alloys following the fifth. The
last five alloys are sufficiently white to be used in place of German silver.

page_text: I do not confine myself to any particular method of working, in the manufacture
of the said alloys; but ordinarily I first melt the copper and nickel together and
then add the zinc; or I first make an alloy of copper and nickel which may be kept
in ingots and melting this alloy add to it the requisite amount of zinc. The metals
being kept in a state of fusion and stirred for a few minutes become thoroughly
alloyed.
Although I prefer the proportions given in the table I do not limit myself thereto
as the proportions may in some cases be varied without materially affecting the
character of the alloy.
The alloys described have sufficient ductility to permit of their being hammered
or forged but when it is desired to roll the said alloys I communicate to them
additional ductility by importing into them a small per centage of aluminium and
manganese. This I effect by adding to the melted alloy made as hereinbefore
described from one half to two per cent. of metallic aluminium. I add the
aluminium with a flux, composed of one part of black oxide or carbonate of
manganese from one half to one part of ferrocyanide of potassium and about one
half part of carbon. By the addition of the mixture to the melted alloy and well
stirring it into the melted alloy for about ten or fifteen minutes the aluminium
together with a small quantity of manganese is taken up by the alloy, and the said
alloy thereby acquires a ductility which permits it to be readily rolled and treated
by the processes employed in working metals without fracture or injury.
In place of ferrocyanide of potassium an equivalent quantity of cyanide of
potassium may be employed.
Dated this 10th day of October 1891.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Metallic Alloys.
I JAMES HENRY PRATT of No. 27 Bennett's Hill, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Stock and Share Broker do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to metallic alloys composed essentially of nickel,
copper and zinc and consists in alloying the said metals in the proportions herein-
after described and in the method of treating the said alloys as hereinafter described.
When great ductility in the alloy is required I introduce aluminium and manganese
in small proportions as hereinafter described.
In the table given below I give in the first vertical column the per centages of
nickel which I employ in the alloys constituting my invention; in the second
vertical column. I give the per centages of copper I employ, and in the third vertical
column I give the per centages of zinc I employ, the several indicated quantities
being parts by weight. The quantities in the said table read horizontally give the
proportions of the several alloys; for example in the top horizontal row of figures
in the said table are the quantities four parts of nickel, fifty five parts of copper
and forty parts of zinc. These are the per centage quantities of metals of one of
the alloys constituting my invention; that is, the alloy containing the lowest pro-
portion of nickel. It will be observed by an examination of the table that in the
several alloys the compositions of which are given in the horizontal rows of figures
the proportions of nickel and zinc respectively increase while the proportion of
copper diminishes,

page_text: With respect to the alloys constituting my invention I remark that when they
are cut, filed or turned they have a clean or smooth surface; and that the alloys
containing not less than 7 per cent. of nickel may be used for many of the purposes
to which German silver is usually applied.
Although I prefer the proportions given in the table I do not limit myself thereto
as the proportions may in some cases be varied without materially affecting the
character of the alloy. For example, the second, third fourth, fifth and sixth
alloys given in the foregoing table may for many purposes be modified in the
following manner.
The proportion of copper may be reduced from three to five parts and the pro-
portion of zinc may be increased from one to five parts.
The alloys thus modified will have the following composition.
10
3
With respect to the alloys thus modified I remark that they may all be rolled
and forged and otherwise worked either hot or cold; but when it is intended to
work them cold the ingot must be rolled while hot in order to give the grain or
structure to the alloy necessary to its satisfactory working when cold.
The last five alloys given in the first table are not suited for rolling but may be
forged while hot and are well suited for the manufacture of cycle fittings and other
small forgings.
I do not confine myself to any particular method of working, in the manufacture
of the said alloys but ordinarily I first melt the copper and nickel together and
then add the zinc; or I first make an alloy of copper and nickel which may be
kept in ingots and melting this alloy add to it the requisite amount of zinc. The
metals being kept in a state of fusion and stirred for a few minutes become
thoroughly alloyed. Or the nickel may be first introduced into the crucible and
heated to incipient fusion when the copper together with the flux may be added.
When the nickel and copper are thoroughly alloyed by stirring I add the zinc and

page_text: where aluminium and manganese are employed for the purpose hereinafter described
I add them last.
When the alloys are to be wholly or principally worked by rolling I communicate
to them additional ductility by importing into them a small per centage of aluminium
and manganese. This I effect by adding to the melted alloy made as hereinbefore
described from one half to two per cent. of metallic aluminium-I add the aluminium
with a flux composed of one part of black oxide or carbonate of manganese, from
one half to one part of ferrocyanide of potassium and about one half part of carbon.
By the addition of the mixture to the melted alloy and well stirring it into the
melted alloy for about ten or fifteen minutes the aluminium together with a small
quantity of manganese is taken up by the alloy, and the said alloy thereby acquires
a ductility which permits it to be readily rolled and treated by the processes employed
in working metals without fracture or injury.
In place of ferrocyanide of potassium, an equivalent quantity of cyanide of
potassium may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention of "New or improved metallic alloys"
Alloys composed essentially of nickel, copper and zinc having the composition
and properties and prepared by the method of manufacture and treatment herein-
before described.
Dated the 28th day of July 1892.
JAMES HENRY PRATT.