An Improved Composition of Metals.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
An Improved Composition of Metals.
I, PHILIP INCH, Chief Engineer, United States Navy Yard, Washington,
District of Columbia, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this 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 is a composition of metals having special qualities hereinafter set
forth. It is designed mainly for covering the bottoms of ships, to prevent fouling,
but it is not limited to this special use. It consists of a composition of tin and
zine, mixed with sal ammoniac, to which composition, a small portion of aluminum
is added, under some conditions, for the purpose of increasing the hardness or
tensile strength of the composition. This composition is applied to all classes of
vessels and when applied to iron or steel ships, while it protects them from fouling,
it has no injurious action upon the iron or steel to which it is applied.
The proportions which I have found to be best adapted to the main purpose
sought to be accomplished by me, are as follows; I take of the tin, two (2) pounds
and two thousand one hundred and forty-three ten thousands (2.2143) of a pound.
With this I take one pound of zinc, and a half ounce of sal ammoniac. When
aluminum is used I add about one penny-weight (avoirdupois) of this metal.
In preparing the composition of these ingredients, I have found it better first to
melt the zinc, and then pour into it the melted tin, finally adding the sal ammoniac
and thoroughly stirring the mass. If aluminum is used I next add this metal, in a
melted condition, and with similar stirring.
I do not confine myself strictly to the proportions above stated since I may vary
the proportions without essential change in the result.
In preparing the composition for the bottom of ships, I roll it into sheets and
properly secure these sheets so as to cover the whole submerged surface of
the ship.
Instead of sheathing the bottom of the ship with sheets of this composition of
metal, I may coat the metal plates or sheathing of the ship or other water craft, by
dipping the plates or sheathing in molten metal of my composition before they are
applied to the bottom.
The action of the water causes a slight exfoliation or decomposition, which
loosens the hold of barnacles or fouling of any sort, and causes it to fall or be
washed off, leaving the metal clean and bright-and this action is greater in salt
water.
This composition, in addition to the quality of keeping clean, when applied to
the bottom of ships, as above explained, is electro-positive relatively to the iron or
steel and can cause no injury thereto. The composition is also useful for other
purposes such as articles exposed to atmospheric influences, culinary vessels and
the like.
It also possesses in a remarkable degree, the property of taking ink like
magnesian limestone used in photolithography, and it may be used in the form of
plates in the same manner as that stone, to transfer drawings, printing and
the like.
This composition also forms an excellent solder for itself, brass, aluminum,
copper and iron, either with or without a flux. It may be cast, drawn or rolled
with perfect facility.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
The composition of metals, either with or without the aluminum, in substantially
the proportions hereinbefore specified, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 19th day of November 1894.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.