IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTING IRON AND WOODEN SHIPS, CAISSONS, DAMS, AND OTHER WOODEN OR IRON STRUCTURES FROM DECAY AND FROM FOULING BY VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL MATTERS, AND IN PREPARING THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Hay, of Southsea, in the County of
Hants, Experimental Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROTECTING IRON AND WOODEN SHIPS, CAISSONS, DAMS, AND OTHER WOODEN OR
IRON STRUCTURES FROM DECAY AND FROM FOULING BY VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL
MATTERS, AND IN PREPARING THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 9th May 1862, and dated the 12th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Hay at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th November 1861.
I, WILLIAM JOHN HAY, of Southsea, in the County of Hants, Experimental
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROTECTING IRON AND WOODEN SHIPS, CAISSONS, DAMS, AND OTHER WOODEN OR IRON
STRUCTURES FROM DECAY AND PROM FOULING BY VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL MATTERS,
AND IN PREPARING THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in an improved method of treating the oxides of
copper and other metals to prevent the uncertainty of their action by imperfect
or not uniform application when used for keeping ship's bottoms or other
structures free from animalculæ and other animal and vegetable matters, also
when used to preserve woods and other materials from decay and the ravages
of insects. For which purposes I grind in linseed oil the black or protoxide of

page_text: copper, and then boil it with linseed oil until it is reduced to the suboxide,
and by thus oxygenating the oil I form a quick drying cupreous oil, which
suspends the oxide in the form of a paint or varnish. To this I sometimes add
a small portion of silver or other metals, and oxides. The paint or varnish
may be thinned by spirits of turpentine, naphtha, or any other cheap spirits.
When it is to be applied to iron one or two protective or non-conducting
coats should be first applied. This may be red or white lead paint or asphalte
varnish, or what has proved the best application and the one I prefer using,
the patent waterproof glue (patented by me 28th February 1861, No. 513) in
its liquid state.
My Invention also consists in the use of zinc, either amalgamated or not, in
contact with the inside or outside of the iron vessels, ship's iron casings and
other structures, as a protection against electro-chemical action arising from
any imperfect application of the protective varnish, paint or other material, or
from the accidental abrasion of the said protective coatings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William John Hay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHN HAY, of Southsea, in the County of Hants, Experimental Chemist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William John Hay, Her special licence that I, the said William
John Hay, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William John Hay, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROTECTING IRON AND WOODEN SHIPS, CAISSONS, DAMS, AND OTHER WOODEN OR
IRON STRUCTURES FROM DECAY AND FROM FOULING BY VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL
MATTERS, AND IN PREPARING THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William John Hay, my executors

page_text: or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 I, the said William John. Hay, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in an improved method of treating the oxides of
copper and other metals to prevent the uncertainty of their action by imperfect
or not uniform application when used for keeping ships' bottoms or other
structures free from animalculæ and other animal and vegetable matters; also
when used to preserve woods and other materials from decay and the ravages
of insects. For which purposes I grind in linseed oil the black or protoxide of
copper and then boil it with linseed oil until it is reduced to the suboxide, and
by thus oxydising and oxydating the oil I form a quick drying cupreous oil
which suspends the oxide in the form of a paint or varnish. To this I
sometimes add a small portion of silver or other metals and oxides. In those
cases where greater durability is required from ships being in foreign stations,
or not able to be docked periodically I add to the above mentioned paint an
additional quantity of finely ground suboxide of copper, or when the paint
is required to be black, I add the black oxide of copper in the same manner.
The paint or varnish may be thinned by spirits of turpentine, naphtha, or any
other cheap spirits.
When it is to be applied to iron one or two protective or non-conducting
coats should be first applied. This may be red or white lead, paint or
asphalte varnish, or waterproof glue in its liquid state, or other suitable
material.
My Invention also consists in the use of zinc, either amalgamated or not,
in contact with the inside or outside of iron vessels, ships' iron casings and
other structures, as a protection against electro-chemical action arising from
any imperfect application of the protective varnish, paint, or other material, or
from the accidental abrasion of the said protective coatings or otherwise.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that the paint
or varnish hereinbefore described may be used independently of the zinc, also

page_text: that the zinc may be employed with other materials than those first herein
described, and I declare that I claim,
First, protecting iron and wooden ships, caissons, dams, and other wooden
or iron structures from decay and from fouling, by coating or covering the
same with the materials and in manner herein-before described.
And, second, preparing the materials for the purposes aforesaid in manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William John Hay, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
WILLIAM JOHN HAY. (L.S.)
WILLIAM JOHN HAY. (L.S.)