AN IMPROVED REFRACTORY OR FIRE-RESISTING COM- POUND
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roger William Wallace, of the Chemical Works, Now
Road, Battersea Park, in the County of Surroy, Manufacturing Chemist,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED REFRACTORY OR FIRE-RESISTING COM-
POUND."
Sealed the 28th October 1876, and dated the 4th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roger William Wallace at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1876.
ROGER WILLIAM WALLACE, of the Chemical Works, New Road, Battersea Park,
in the County of Surrey, Manufacturing Chemist. "AN IMPROVED REFRACTORY OR
FIRE-RESISTING COMPOUND."
My Invention relates to a compound for the manufacture of fire-bricks, gas
retorts, crucibles, glass pots, and other articles which in uso have to resist a very
intense heat. This compound consists essentially of fire-clay and the peculiar kind
of sand found at Mow and Henley, in Staffordshire, or sand possessing similar
properties.
In preparing this compound for the manufacture of fire-bricks and other articles
the quantity of the sand is much greater than the quantity of fire-clay used,
but in forming the said compound the ingredients above named are so mixed
or incorporated with each other, as hercin-after described, that the firo-bricks,
although consisting chiefly of sand, will not be liable to crumble under pressure,
and their particles will bo adhesive at all temperatures throughout the process of
baking.
The manner of making the said compound is as follows, that is to say, I add
to the aforesaid sand and fire-clay a small quantity of horse dung or other similar
animal excrement and ground bone or bone dust, and incorporate them well
togeather by any suitable means or apparatus for mixing such materials, and in or
about in the following proportions:-Mow or Henley, or similar sand, 64 pounds;
fire-clay, 28 pounds; horse dung, 6 pounds; bone dust, 2 pounds. If a brick or other
article of a very refractory or infusible character is required, I increase the
proportion of sand and add to the compound a small quantity of dilute milk of
lime.
Bricks made of this improved compound may be moulded and baked in the
manner ordinarily employed in the manufacture of fire or refractory bricks, but
they will not require to be baked in moulds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Roger William Wallace in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1876.
ROGER WILLIAM WALLACE, of the Chemical Works, New Road, Battersea Park,
in the County of Surrey, Manufacturing Chemist. "AN IMPROVED REFRACTORY OR
FIRE-RESISTING COMPOUND."
My Invention relates to a compound for the manufacture of fire-bricks, gas
retorts, crucibles, glass pots, and other articles which in use have to resist a very
intense heat. This compound consists essentially of fire-clay and the peculiar
kind of sand found at Mow and Hanley, in Staffordshire, or sand possessing similar
properties.
In preparing this compound for the manufacture of fire-bricks and other articles
the quantity of the sand is much greater than the quantity of fire-clay used,
but in forming the said compound the ingredients above named are so mixed
or incorporated with each other, as herein-after described, that the fire-bricks,
although consisting chiefly of sand, will not be liable to crumble under pressure,
and their particles will be adhesive at all temperatures throughout the process of
baking.
The manner of making the said compound is as follows, that is to say, I add
to the aforesaid sand and fire-clay a small quantity of a material found in some
parts of the United Kingdom and in Germany, and termed "infusorial silicate," or
I may use horse dung or other similar animal excrement, and ground bone or bone
dust, but I prefer to use the infusorial silicate. I incorporate these materials well
together by any suitable means or apparatus for mixing such materials, and in or
about in the following proportions:-Mow or Hanley, or similar sand, 64 pounds;
fire-clay, 28 pounds; horse dung, 6 pounds; bone dust, 2 pounds. If a brick or
other article of a very refractory or infusible character is required I increase the
proportion of sand and add to the compound a small quantity of dilute milk of
lime.
Bricks made of this improved compound may be moulded and baked in the
manner ordinarily employed in the manufacture of fire or refractory bricks, but
they will not require to be baked in moulds.
I manufacture very hard bricks by a modification of the above compound, in
which I employ a material found in Cornwall, and ordinarily known as silicious
shales, such as is found in the neighbourhood of the Chemical Porcelain Company's
Works near Callington, in combination with a fire-clay containing naturally a
larger per centage of oxide of iron, or having this material added to it. I give
these bricks a very black appearance by mixing with the above ingredients a
small quantity of black oxide of manganese.
By the addition of glauberite
in the proportion of about three to five per cent. by weight of the entire mass,
I am enabled to produce bricks which will be impervious to water under great
pressure.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim, the improved compound above described
for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Roger William Wallace, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
R. W. WALLACE. (L.S.)