AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION AND CORROSION
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Joseph Ellis and George Dobson, both
of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of.
" AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION AND CORROSION
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Joseph Ellis
and George Dobson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 25th January 1872.
We, ROBERT JOSEPH ELLIS and GEORGE DOBSON, both of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for." AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION AND
CORROSION IN STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM," to
be as follows :-
Our Invention for an improved composition for preventing incrus-
tation and corrosion in steam boilers and other apparatus for generating
steam consists of a fluid composed of silica, sand, and carbonate of soda

page_text: in about equal parts, if anything a slight preponderance of the former,
fused to vitrification in a suitable furnace, then dissolved by boiling
water, and afterwards concentrated by dessication to suitable strength,
which will vary with the properties composing the water in the boiler
to be treated. This is known as silicate of soda. Previous to concen-
tration the silicate of soda 'is mixed with Carrageen or Irish moss,
in the proportion of one part of concentrated solution of moss to. four
parts of the vitrified silicate of soda in solution. This composition or
fluid is injected or otherwise introduced and becomes mixed with the
water in the interior of steam boilers or other steam generating
apparatus, its effect being to mix with the water and to prevent the
"scaling" on the plates of the boiler of salt or other foreign matters
that may be in the water; also the composition is deposited in a kind of
film or skin on the plates of the boiler, and thus prevents corrosion of
the plates by injurious properties of the water.
The proportions of the composition depend in most part on the
water to be treated, also upon the extent of concentration of the
silicate of soda and Irish moss. With some waters it will be sufficient
to use the concentrated silicate of soda as first described without the
addition of the Irish moss.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Joseph Ellis and George Dobson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
JOSEPH ELLIS and GEORGE DOBSON, both of Liverpool, in the County of 2
Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give a
and grant unto us, the said Robert Joseph Ellis and George Dobson, Her
special licence that we, the said Robert Joseph Ellis and George Dobson,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others, as we, the
said Robert Joseph Ellis and George Dobson, our executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION
FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION AND CORROSION IN STEAM BOILERS AND OTHER
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Robert Joseph Ellis and George Dobson, 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

page_text: position to render them perfectly harmless in all cases to the boiler and
non-adherent as crustaceous deposit.
The proportions of the composition to be used depend in most part
upon the water to be treated, also upon the extent of concentration of
the silicate of soda and Irish moss.
With some waters it will be sufficient to use the concentrated silicate
of soda as first described without the addition of the Irish moss, more
particularly with water obtained by surface condensation, for it is
evident by observation that water obtained by distillation, through the
loss of some chemical ingredient becomes highly corrosive, and acts
most destructively upon boilers and tubes where such water is used.
By the application of silicate of soda alone an exceedingly thin film or
scale is at once deposited on the plates and around the surface of the
tubes, which substantially protects the boiler and tubes from the àction
of this corrosive water.
The quantity of fluid composition used, and which will be effective in
most cases where earthy carbonates have to be encountered, is from
forty to sixty pounds per month for a boiler of thirty horse power,
steaming twelve hours a day, but where sulphates and impregnations
of chloride of sodium or common salt are present (which have a
corrosive as well as an incrustaceous tendency) a larger quantity of
composition is necessary. An analysis of the water to ascertain the
nature of the impregnated impurity is unnecessary, as the engineer
can easily ascertain the progress of the remedy by continuous additions,
there being no injurious effects resulting from too large a quantity being
used.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of our

page_text: ceous and corrosive tendency, substantially in the manner herein-before
described and set forth.
Secondly. The application and use of the fluid composition described
in the before-going Specification, being a concentrated composition of
silica, sand, and carbonated soda ash in solution, and in or about the
proportions mentioned, for the purpose of overcoming the injurious
effects to steam boilers caused by the water being impregnated with
earthy salts and sulphates, baving an incrustaceous and corrosive
tendency, substantially in the manner herein-before described and set
forth.
Thirdly. The application and use of the fluid composition described
in the before-going Specification, being a concentrated composition of
silica, sand, and carbonated soda ash in solution, and in or about the
proportions mentioned, for the purpose of overcoming the injurious
effects to steam boilers caused by the use of surface condensed water
having a corrosive and injurious tendency, substantially in the manner
herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Joseph Ellis and George
Dobson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth
day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy two.
Witness,
ROBERT JOSEPH (L.S.) ELLIS.
GEORGE
(L.S.) DOBSON.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH,
of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool.