A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS OF GALVANIZING IRON."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julia Elmore, of 98, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Spinster, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS OF
GALVANIZING IRON."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julia Elmore at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March 1881.
JULIA ELMORE, of 98, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Spinster. "A NEW
OR IMPROVED PROCESS OF GALVANIZING IRON."
This Invention has for object a new or improved process for galvanizing iron
articles, and consists in the employment of powerful dynamo-electric machines and
solutions of zinc salts to produce the galvanizing result, as hereinafter set forth, in
contradistinction to the present costly process of immersion of the articles in
molten metal.
In carrying the Invention into practice I proceed as follows:-The iron work to
be galvanized must be first immersed in a pickling bath of sulphuric acid and
water, or sulphuric acid and muriatic acid and water, or muriatic acid and water,
until all the oxide is dissolved and the surface cleansed from impurities; it is then
thoroughly rinsed in one or more rinsing baths of clean water. In some cases it is
necessary to use scratch brushes and re-immerse in the acid pickle in order to
remove every trace of oxide, or grease, or foreign element, and leave the surface of
the iron to be galvanized chemically clean. When this is done to the satisfaction of
the operator, and the piece of work is well washed, it is to be then plunged into a
solution of salts of zinc (sulphate is the best), and connected by a copper rod with
the cathode pole of a powerful dynamo electric machine (such as the one patented
to my father, Mr. William Elmore, by Letters Patent bearing date and numbered
respectively 4th September 1879, No. 3565, and 22nd September 1880, No. 3832).
Sheets of zinc or sheets or blocks of spelter are hung in the same solution and
connected with the anode rod or pole of the same dynamo electric machine, which
is now set to work, and immediately the iron to be galvanized receives a coating
of zinc, which may be produced of any desired thickness by allowing it to remain
for a longer or shorter time in the bath under the action of the current from the

page_text: dynamo electric machine. When the iron is sufficiently galvanized or coated
by the zinc it is to be taken out of the galvanizing tank, drained for a few
moments, and plunged into boiling water, and immediately afterwards thoroughly
dried off in a hot room or chamber.
The surfaces so galvanized, which may be of very large extent, receives a very
perfect and bright colored surfacing of reguline zinc almost immediately upon being
properly immersed, and this surface when dried presents an appearance very much
resembling frosted silver.. If however a metallic lustre be desired to be imparted to
the work, the galvanized objects are passed rapidly over a bright fire or red
hot plate, or they are subjected for a few minutes to the heat of a hot chamber
heated to a temperature sufficient to melt zinc (but not higher, otherwise the zinc
will blacken and volatilize), whereby is imparted to the work a beautiful smooth
bright surface. If during this latter operation a slight movement be given to the
articles a mottled appearance is given to the metallic surface, which would be very
suitable for fancy zinc work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Julia Elmore in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd September
1881.
JULIA ELMORE, of 98, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Spinster. "A NEW
OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR GALVANIZING IRON."
This Invention has for its object a new or improved process for galvanizing iron
articles, and consists in the employment of powerful dynamo-electric-machines and
solutions of zinc salts to produce the galvanizing result, as hereinafter set forth, in
contradistinction to the present costly process of immersion of the articles in
molten metal.
In carrying this Invention into practice I proceed as follows:-
The iron work to be galvanized must be first immersed in a pickling bath of
sulphuric acid and water, or sulphuric acid and muriatic acid and water, or
muriatic acid and water (in the proportion of one volume of acid to ten of water I
find the best), until all the oxide is dissolved, and the surface cleansed from
impurities; it is then thoroughly rinsed in one or more rinsing baths of clean
water. In some cases it is necessary to use scratch brushes and reimmerse in the
acid pickle in order to remove every trace of oxide, or grease, or foreign element,
and leave the surface of the iron to be galvanized chemically clean. When this is
done to the satisfaction of the operator and the piece of work is well washed, it is
to be then plunged into a solution of salts of zinc (sulphate is the best), and
connected by a copper rod with the cathode pole of a powerful dynamo-electric-
machine (such as the one patented to William Elmore by Letters Patend bearing
date and numbered respectively the 4th September 1879, No. 3565, and 22nd
September 1880, No. 3832).
Sheets or blocks of zinc or sheets or blocks of spelter are hung in the same
solution and connected with the anode rod or pole of the same dynamo-electric-
machine, which is now set to work, and immediately the iron to be galvanized
receives a coating of zinc, which may be produced of any desired thickness by
allowing it to remain for a longer or shorter time in the bath under the action of
the current from the dynamo-electric-machine.
When the iron is sufficiently galvanized or coated by the zinc it is to be taken
out of the galvanizing tank, drained for a few moments, and then plunged into
boiling water, and immediately afterwards thoroughly dried off in a hot room or
chamber, or in hot sawdust.
The surfaces so galvanized, which may be of very large extent, receives a very
perfect and bright colored surfacing of reguline zinc almost immediately upon its
having been properly immersed, and this surface when dried presents an appearance
very much resembling frosted silver. If however a metallic lustre be desired to be
imparted to the work, the galvanized iron objects are passed rapidly over a bright
fire or red hot plate, or they are subjected for a few minutes to the heat of a hot
chamber heated to a temperature sufficient to melt zinc (but not higher, otherwise
the zinc will blacken and volatilize), whereby there is imparted to the work a
beautiful smooth bright surface.
If during the latter operation a slight movement be given to the articles a
mottled appearance is given to the metallic surface, which would be very suitable
for fancy zinc work.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in such
wise that the same may be readily carried into practical effect, I claim,-
First. The new or improved process for galvanizing iron work articles or objects
founded upon the electro-deposition of zinc through solution of that metal, in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: Second. For the surfacing or finishing of iron work articles or objects galvanized
as set forth, the subjecting of such articles to a surface heat, as and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julia Elmore, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
In the presence of
WALTER A. BARLOW,
Patent Agent & Engineer,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, E.C.
JULIA ELMORE. (L.S.)