Improvements in Soldering, Melting, and Coating Metals by the Aid of Electricity.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Soldering, Melting, and Coating Metals by the Aid
of Electricity.
I, NICHOLAS BENARDOS of Mourinskoy Prospect 23, St. Petersburg, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in soldering melting and coating
metals by the aid of electricity, and it is applicable to the soldering of joints, the
filling of cavities or blow holes, the plating of metal sheets or articles with a
coating of a more fusible metal or alloy and to the supply of melted metal to
moulds. I employ a vessel of funnel like form which in some cases is provided
with a handle; at the bottom of the vessel in the neighbourhood of the orifice
there are lips of refractory non-conducting material. The funnel is charged with
the solder or other metal to be employed and is connected with one of the terminals
of an accumulator or other source of electricity. The other terminal is connected
with the article to be soldered or with the plate to be coated or other receiving
surface. When the apparatus is in use the electric circuit is completed by the
metallic fragments in the funnel like vessel making contact with the receiving
surface at the opening between the refractory non-conducting lips. The current
employed is of great density although of small intensity, and when it passes through
the metallic fragments it fuses them. The refractory lips are preferably so formed
that when they rest upon the work or receiving surface they leave only a small
lateral outlet for the melted metal.
Sometimes I provide the funnel like vessel with wheels to facilitate movement
along the surface of the work.
Sometimes I arrange the vessel to traverse on guide rails along a bench upon
which the work may be clamped with the edges to be soldered in the positions in
which they are required or with the work otherwise arranged as may be necessary.
I also provide gearing so that the required movement may be given to the vessel
by turning a crank handle.
The same handle may serve to actuate a mechanical hammer the blows of which
consolidate the joint.
Sometimes I so arrange the work bench that the work traverses whilst the funnel
like vessel remains stationary.
The refractory lip piece may be variously formed and fitted into sockets or
recesses made to receive it.
The socket may have a screw thread within it or a button may secure the lip
piece in position.
Sometimes it may be necessary to make the funnel shaped vessel with more
than one exit orifice.
For melting metals for the supply of moulds or for like purposes I provide a
partition within the funnel like vessel separating the metallic fragments into two
sets isolated the one from the other excepting near the bottom of the vessel where
the sets meet in a narrow passage. The two electric terminals are placed in con-
nection with the two sets of fragments, and fusion occurs where the sets meet.
The melted metal passes away by an outlet passage and other fragments descend
by gravity to replace those which are fused.
The outlet orifice may be at the bottom or it may be lateral.
The orifice may be formed in a piece separate from the vessel and fitted into a
cavity in the lower part thereof so as to be readily renewable.
Dated this 7th day of January 1892.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Soldering, Melting, and Coating Metals by the Ald
of Electricity.
I, NICHOLAS BENARDOS, of Mourinskoy Prospect 23, St. Petersburg,
Gentleman, 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
:-
The present invention has for its object a method of soldering, melting and
coating metals by the aid of electricity.
The method is applicable to various sorts of work, as for example pouring into
moulds, soldering of joints, filling cracks, cavities and blowholes, coating or plating
metallic surfaces with other metals or alloys &c.
The method in question is illustrated by Figure 1 of the annexed drawings
which represents in section a metallic crucible Å of funnel like form within and
fitted at the lower part with a piece B in which is a conical opening C. This
pieee B is of refractory material as magnesite or lime and is a non conductor of
electricity.
The metal to be fused, in small pieces M is thrown into the crucible A which
is connected with one of the poles of a current generator, the other pole being put
into communication with the piece P intended to be operated upon. On the
passage of the current after the crucible has been filled the small pieces of metal
contained in the opening C commence to melt at the point of contact with the
surface P and the metal flows over the latter. In order that the metal may flow
in the direction desired the under surface of the refractory piece B is provided
near to the opening with a mouth which directs the melted metal in accordance
with the movement imparted to the crucible which to suit the nature of the work
may be horizontal or otherwise.
Thus for filling blow holes the crucible at the same time that it is raised
vertically should be moved over the surface for a certain space; in soldering
joints the movement should be in the direction of the joint. For supplying
molten metal to moulds the crucible remains at rest.
In certain cases to increase the density of the cast metal I forge or roll the
plating layer by means of a forging ram, hammers or rollers receiving movement
from apparatus which also moves the crucible.
These mechanisms may be operated by the hand of the workman or by gearing;
the speed of the movement of the crucible should be regulated according to the
quantity of metal to be run; also the number of blows of the forging ram is
regulated as required.
:
Hand crucibles of small dimensions are employed as simple soldering irons for
soldering joints by means of fusible metals.
For the fusion of metals according to the method above set forth I employ a
current of large quantity but feeble intensity.
The regulation of the current is effected by rheostats or regulators.
The pieces of metal in the crucible may vary in form and dimensions according
to the size of the crucible and the strength of the current.
The preparation of the fragments of metal may be performed in different ways;
for example, by cutting up metallic wires, sheets and rods, by breaking up cast
metal by the aid of hammers or by employing metallic filings or borings.
The charge of broken metal has flux added to it.
In certain cases the pieces to be operated on are to be heated in a forge fire or
in a reverberatory furnace or by gas.
Also crucibles may be constructed with appliances for heating by gas the
surfaces to be soldered as the soldering goes on.

page_text: 1. The melted metal is not burnt and does not oxidise to the same extent as in
other processes.
2. The melted and cast metal presents a completely uniform mass, without
parting layers and scoria.
3. The degree of perfection of the work depends solely upon the skill of the
workman.
4. Neither light, gas or heat generated during the work can have a prejudicial
influence upon the health of the operator.
5. The method does not require any great expenditure of electric energy.
The drawings show different types of apparatus based upon the principle above
set forth; and they are susceptible of modification according to the purpose for
which they are intended.
Figure 2 shows a hand apparatus employed in soldering joints in tin plate copper
or other metal.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a hand crucible for soldering and plating metals; this.
crucible is placed upon a carriage T with two wheels R R to permit easy movement
during work. Such a crucible may be made of larger size than that which is
represented by Figure 2.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 represent a bench for soldering end to end joints in plates or
sheets of metal. The crucible is moveable on rollers rrrr along guides on the
frame D which frame at the same time serves to hold upon the anvil the plates to
be soldered. To the crucible A' forging apparatus Q is adapted, it is put in
motion by a crank handle K which serves at the same time to move the crucible by .
turning the axes of the rollers r. By means of this apparatus perfectly uniform
joints are obtained and as strong as the metal of which they are made.
Figures 8 and 9 show a bench for soldering upon pieces which are to be fixed
upon a support S by the clamps i i. In this apparatus the crucible A is stationary,
whilst the support moves and plays the part of a moveable anvil. The forging
apparatus is not fixed to the erucible but forms a separate organ and is driven
by gear independently of the movement of the support which is moved in the
direction of the seam by means of a screw and handle as in a turning lathe. This
machine may be used to solder tyres, hoops, cylinders and cones.
Figures 10 and 11 represent a crucible A' formed of refractory material and
specially designed for electric melting. The crucible A' has within it a partition E
also of refractory non conducting material which divides it into two compartments
of which each is lined within by a metal plate L L. At the lower part of the
partition E a horizontal hole O is formed which communicates with the vertical
outlet m in the centre of the conical bottom of the crucible. The hollow of
the crucible is filled with the metallic fragments to be melted. The plates L
have at their upper parts terminals for the attachment of conducting wires
coming from the current source. When the circuit is closed the current passes
from the terminal 1, by the positive plate L, traverses the metal contained in
one compartment, then passes by the metal to the other compartment and so by
the negative plate L to the terminal and returns to the current source. In thus
traversing the divided metal the current meets with the greatest resistance in the
opening of the partition E where the pieces of metal contained in the two com-
partments of the crucible are in contact. According to the strength of the current
and the diameter of the opening O the pieces of metal commence to fuse more or
less rapidly and the fused metal being displaced by fragments from the two com-
partments of the crucible, runs out in a continuous stream and passes into a mould
placed beneath. The crucible A¹ can be fixed upon a support provided with a
jacket in which the crucible may be heated by a gas flame or otherwise before and
during the work.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 represent modifications of the lower part of the crucible A¹.
The crucible represented by Figure 12 is distinguished by the employment at the
lower part of the crucible of a bottom F which can be changed or replaced. As to

page_text: Figures 13 and 14 the crucible here shown also has a separate bottom piece F with
a modified pouring outlet m arranged beneath the partition E and communicating
with the opening O. The bottom F forms a continuation of the partition E and
can be replaced without difficulty in case of damage. The flow of fused metal
takes place very regularly, the pouring opening m being placed higher than the
opening O where the fusion is produced. Such crucibles offer great conveniences
and real advantages in the melting of the precious metals. They will also be of
great utility when it is required to provide fused metal rapidly.
Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 represent two different forms for the refractory lower
part of crucibles intended to be employed for plating metals.
Figures 19, 20 and 21 represent a modified arrangement of the refractory part B
of crucibles for soldering joints and the mode of fixing this part of the crucible.
The block B furnished with a funnel like opening C is let into the lower part
of the metallic crucible. This block is of quadrangular form and enters a corre-
sponding recess formed at the lower part of the metallic crucible; it is retained by
the aid of a turn button q.
The refractory blocks for soldering crucibles may be of various forms with outlets
differently shaped according to the forms of the joints to be soldered; they can also
be attached in different ways to the metallic crucible.
For soldering joints of sheet metal which are not arranged horizontally the
refractory blocks may be provided with a side opening, the crucible remaining
during the soldering of joints of this sort always in a vertical position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The method of electric soldering, melting and coating metals in which the
metal intended to be melted is placed in a divided state in a crucible of refractory
matter or furnished with a refractory block at its lower part and having an outlet
aperture; the metal contained in the crucible being connected with one of the poles of
a sufficiently powerful electric source, and the other pole being put in communication
with the article to be soldered or coated or with another part of the metal in the
crucible; in this latter case the interior space of the crucible being divided by a
refractory partition a non conductor of electricity as is described above.
2. The different apparatus for electric soldering, melting and coating of metals
substantially as described, viz.,
a. Soldering or plating crucibles with or without carriage.
b. Benches for simultaneous soldering or plating and forging, the crucible
being moveable and the work fixed or the contrary.
c. Crucibles for melting metals as described with a central or lateral opening
for the exit of the metal and with a fixed or renewable bottom.
d. Crucibles in cast iron with the bottom a separate piece of refractory
material.
Dated this 4th day of October 1899
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.