AN IMPROVED ALLOY CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED ALLOY CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME" to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an alloy of aluminum, copper and
phosphorus, adapted, by reason of its great ductility and malleability, to numerous
uses in which such qualities are desirable, and more especially, as it possesses great
tensile strength, and is an excellent electrical conductor for conducting wires for
telegraph, telephone and other electrical uses.
The conductivity of this alloy is greater than that of iron, steel or phosphor-
bronze.
I use alloys of copper containing from less than one per cent to five per cent or
more of aluminum and from one twentieth to one per cent of phosphorus ;
intermediate proportions within this range may be used successfully.
The amount of tensile strength required will regulate the proportions within the
above limits.
My method of making the aluminum copper-phosphorus alloy is as follows, that
is to say:-
I first melt the copper and then add the aluminum, a little at a time, with a
flux consisting of palm oil, stirring well all the time with a pine stick, I then add
the phosphorus, stirring again, and then pour into chill moulds.
It is of the greatest importance to watch the progress closely in order to get the
proper heat, which can only be done by experience.
The relative conductivity and strength vary with the proportions of aluminum
and phosphorus used.
I have obtained very good results with from one third to three, or even five,
per cent of aluminum, and from one-twentieth to one per cent of phosphorus; but
these proportions may be varied slightly above or below, according to the purpose
for which the metal is to be used.

page_text: Other oils may be used in place of the palm oil above spoken of, but I have
found that they are not as effective; the palm oil materially assists the metals in
mixing uniformly and this seems to be owing to some peculiar physical and
chemical properties of the oil, and not merely to the well known action of oils
and grease in preventing the oxidation of the surface of molten metals.
A few ounces of palm oil suffice for, say, a hundred pounds of copper.
The above described alloy has remarkable working qualities; it can be worked
cold without annealing, and can be drawn down rapidly without injury.
It works so readily that it can be run through two, or even three, holes of the
rolls at once.

page_text: E
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED ALLOY, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS, AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME and in what. manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
"
The object of this invention is to produce an alloy of aluminum, copper and
phosphorus, adapted, by reason of its great ductility and malleability, to numerous
uses in which such qualities are desirable, and more especially as it possesses great
tensile strength and is an excellent electrical conductor, for conducting wires for
telegraph, telephone and other electrical uses.
The conductivity of this alloy is greater than that of iron, steel, or phosphor-
bronze.
I use alloys of copper containing from less than one per cent to five per cent or
more of aluminum and from one twentieth to one per cent of phosphorus ;
intermediate proportions within this range may be used successfully.
The amount of tensile strength required will regulate the proportions within the
above limits.
My method of making the aluminum copper-phosphorus alloy is as follows, that
is to say:
I first melt the copper and then add the aluminum, a small quantity at a time,
with a flux consisting of palm oil, stirring well all the time with a pine stick,
I then add the phosphorus, stirring again, and then pour into chill moulds.
It is of the greatest importance to watch the process closely in order to get the
proper heat, which can only be done by experience.
The relative conductivity and strength vary with the proportions of aluminum
and phosphorus used.
I have obtained very good results with from one third to three or even five per
cent of aluminum, and from one twentieth to one per cent of phosphorus ; but these
proportions may be varied slightly above or below, according to the purpose for
which the metal is to be used.
Other oils may be used in place of the palm oil above named, but I have found
that they are not as effective; the palm oil materially assists the metals in mixing
uniformly, and this seems to be owing to some peculiar physical and chemical
properties of the oil, and not merely to the well known action of oils and grease in
preventing the oxidation of the surface of molten metals.
A few ounces of palm oil suffice for, say, a hundred pounds of copper.
The above described alloy has remarkable working qualities; it can be worked
cold without annealing, and can be drawn down rapidly without injury.
It works so readily that it can be run through two or even three holes of the
rolls at once.

page_text: 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
•
First. An alloy composed of phosphorus, copper and aluminum, in or about in,
the proportions above set forth.
Second. The above described process of producing an alloy of copper, phosphorus,
and aluminum, in which process palm oil is used for the purpose above specified.
Dated with J
Car
100%
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.