IM- PROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND SUBMERGED STRUCTURES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wilson and William Henry Wilson, of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Paint Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND
SUBMERGED STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 2nd December 1879, and dated the 10th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wilson and William
Henry Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patonts on the 10th June
1879.
THOMAS WILSON and WILLIAM HENRY WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Paint Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING
THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND SUBMERGED STRUCTURES."
The object of our Invention is to provide compositions, which when applied to
the bottoms of ships and navigable vessels or to submerged structures, shall more
thoroughly prevent fouling, or the formation thereon or adherence thereto of
objectionable matter, whether of vegetable or animal origin, than has been possible
with the compositions heretofore in use.
For that purpose, we form suitable compositions by dissolving bees' wax, solid
paraffine, ozokerit, or similar wax-like substance, or a mixture of any two or more
of the said substances in turpentine, or a hydro-carbon liquid, with or without
heat, and mixing the compound so obtained with a varnish or carrier made from one
or more gum resins dissolved in oil or spirit, or a combination thereof. To the said
compositions, for the purpose of giving body, we add a pigment or colouring matter;
oxide or sulphide of zinc, white lead, ferruginous, silicious, or argillaceous matters
being suitable.
The compositions obtained as above described are not only efficient in preventing
fouling, but are of such consistency when applied, that they are lasting, and have
the further merit that they prevent water from lodging or passing between them
and the skin of the ship.
A further part of our Invention consists in using for protecting the surfaces of
ships and vessels in water, a foundation coating and the above described or any
suitable protecting, usually “exfoliating" composition. The foundation coating
consists of shellac, gum, resin, or either of them dissolved in a hydrocarbon or
spirit. This, when set, is covered with the necessary protecting composition.
In waters where ships are not liable to foul, the foundation coating above
described may be used by itself as the sole protecting composition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Wilson and William Henry Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th December 1879.
THOMAS WILSON and WILLIAM HENRY WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Paint Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING
THE BOTTOMS OF SHIPS AND SUBMERGED STRUCTURES."
The object of our Invention is to provide compositions, which, when applied to
the bottoms of ships and navigable vessels or to submerged structures, shall more
thoroughly prevent fouling, or the formation thereon or adherence thereto of
objectionable matter, whether of vegetable or animal origin, than has been possible
with the compositions heretoforo in use.
For that purpose we form suitable compositions by dissolving bees' wax, Japan,
carnauba, or vegetable wax, solid paraffine, ozokerit, mineral wax, or similar wax-
like substance, or a mixture of any two or more of the said substances, in turpen-
tine or a hydrocarbon liquid, with or without heat, and mixing the compound so
obtained with a varnish or carrier made from one or more gum resins resins or
resin balsams dissolved in oil or spirit, or a combination thereof. To the said com-
positions for the purpose of giving body, we add a pigment or colouring matters;
oxide or sulphide of zinc, white lead, ferruginous, silicious, or argillaceous matters
being suitable.
In practice, we find that the following proportions by weight of materials make an
excellent composition, although the proportions and the materials may be varied
within the limits above set forth to suit special circumstances. We melt 560 parts
of bees wax, and 224 parts of Venice turpentine together in a steam heated pan,
then add 112 parts of linseed oil, and 336 parts of spirits of turpentine. The above
ingredients are placed in a pug or other grinding and mixing mill, with 560 parts
of oxide of zinc or other pigment, and are treated until thorough admixture has
taken place. The composition so prepared is thinned with about 448 parts of a
liquor made of colophony dissolved in petroleum spirits.
The compositions obtained as above described are not only efficient in preventing
fouling, but are of such consistency when applied, that they are lasting, and have
the further merit that they prevent water from lodging or passing between them
and the skin of the ship.
A further part of our Invention consists in using for protecting the surface of
ships and vessels in water a foundation coating, and the above described or any
suitable protecting, usually "exfoliating" composition. The foundation coating
consists of shellac and gum resin, resins or resin balsams, or any of them dissolved
in a hydrocarbon or spirit. This, when set, is covered with the necessary protecting
composition.
A foundation coating under the above part of my Invention is advantageously
made from 3 cwt. of shellac, one cwt. of Venice turpentine, and from one to two
cwt. of resin dissolved in 100 gallons of methylated spirits; 5 cwt. of yellow ochre
or suitable pigment may be added to give colour to the mass.
In water where ships are not liable to foul, the foundation coating above described
may be used by itself as the sole protecting composition.
Having now described our said Invention in such manner that others will be
enabled to carry our improvements into effect, we claim,―
First. A composition for coating ships and submerged structures prepared and
applied substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. A foundation coating prepared and applied in combination, substantially
as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM HENRY WILSON. (L.S.)