Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Artificial Stone and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1895-Accepted, 6th July,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Artificial Stone and
the like.
We, ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD, of No. 2 Princes Street, Doctor of Science,
Electrical Engineer, and GEORGE HACKFORD, of No. 6 Queen Anne's Gate,
Architect and Surveyor, both in the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of artificial stone,
firebrick, or like substances from finely subdivided sand, flints, or other forms of
silica.
Hitherto the plastic mass of powdered silica required for the said purposes has
been made by admixture with a solution of silicate of soda or other soluble alkaline
silicate.
It has been found in practice that on the prolonged heating at a high
temperature of such mixtures slow disintegration of the mass takes place.
To remedy this, kaolin, fuller's earth, or any other suitable form of hydrated
silicate of alumina is added to the solution of silicate of soda in forming the plastic
mass with silica the result being on firing a body more capable of resisting exposure
to high temperatures without softening or disintegrating in a sensible degree and
one much less porous than has been obtained hitherto.
In carrying out our invention the powdered sand, flint or other silica employed
is in the first place reduced to the requisite crystalline condition and degree
of fineness by successive firings of the powdered mass after admixture with silicate
of soda in the usual way and then finally mixing with sufficient solution of silicate of
soda and kaolin or fuller's earth to form a mass of the required plasticity for
moulding the articles to be made therefrom.
On firing the said mixture the silicate of soda combines with the silicate of
alumina to form, with the silica of the sand, flint, or the like, a more refractory
mass than that obtained by using silicate of soda alone as the cementing agent.
Sometimes powdered mica or other similar double silicates of alumina may be
mixed with the kaolin or its equivalent to advantage.
1004
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Artificial Stone and
the like.
We, ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD, of No. 2 Princes Street, Doctor of Science,
Electrical Engineer, and GEORGE HACKFORD of No. 6 Queen Anne's Gate,
Architect and Surveyor, both in the City of Westminster, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of artificial stone,

page_text: firebrick, or like substances from powdered or finely subdivided
forms of silica.
1, tits, or other
s been made by
Hitherto the plastic mass required for the said manufacture
mixing with such silica a solution of silicate of soda or other soluble alkaline
silicate.
It has been found in practice that on the prolonged heng at a high
temperature of such mixtures slow disintegration of the mass takes place.
To remedy this, a suitable form of hydrated silicate of alumina such as
china clay or kaolin or other suitable clay, pumice stone, or fuller's earth is added
to the silicate of soda or potash or a combination of the two in forming the plastic
mass with silica. The result, on firing, is a body more capable of resisting
exposure to high temperatures without softening or disintegrating in a sensible
degree and one much less porous than has been obtained hitherto.
'
In carrying out our invention the powdered sand, flint or other silica cimployed
is in the first place reduced to the requisite crystalline condition and degree of
fineness by successive firings of the powdered mass after admixture with silicate of
soda in the usual way and then finally mixing with sufficient solution of silicate
of soda and suitable hydrated silicate of alumina to form a mass of the required
plasticity for moulding the articles to be made therefrom.
On firing the said mixture the silicate of soda combines with the silicate of
alumina to form a double silicate of alumina and soda and to produce with the
silica of the sand, fint, or the like, a more refractory mass than that obtained by
using silicate of soda alone as the cementing agent. The greater the quantity of
alumina which is present in the mixture with the alkaline silicates to form the
cementing body and the smaller the quantity of the silica of the silicates in
proportion to the alumina the more refractory is the resulting mass.
Sometimes powdered mica or other similar double silicates of alumina may be
mixed with the kaolin or its equivalent to advantage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. As a cementing medium in the manufacture of artificial stone and the like, a
mixture containing silicate of soda or other alkaline silicate and a suitable form of
hydrated silicate of alumina.
2. In the manufacture of artificial stone and the like, the combination, with
powdered sand or other form of silica, of a mixture containing silicate of soda or
other alkaline silicate and a suitable form of hydrated silicate of alumina,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The manufacture of artificial stone and the like consisting in the employment,
as a base, of powdered sand or other form of silica, of an alkaline silicate as a flux,
and the addition of a suitable form of hydrated silicate of alumina, with or without
powdered mica, for the purpose of increasing the refractory qualities of the
composition substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of June 1895.
A. F. SPOONER,
124 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.