Improvements in Surfaces for Skating and Sliding upon in Substitution for Real Ice.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surfaces for Skating and Sliding upon in
Substitution for Real Ice.
I JOHANNES AVETICIAN CALANTARIENTS, Doctor of Medicine, of 15 York
Place, Scarborough, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-,
This invention relates to the preparation of surfaces of artificial ice for skating
and sliding purposes, composed of crystalline substances such as salts of sodium,
melted and moulded into sheets, which, when set, are slippery, and suitable for
skating.
The object of the present invention is to obtain a greater degree of hardness and
slipperiness, and a more ice-like appearance and brilliancy than heretofore, as well
as to obviate any prejudicial effect which some of the chemical substances used
have upon the colouring matter of clothing, and also to diminish the tendency to
efflorescence.
In carrying out my invention, I make use of the additional crystalline substances,
magnesium sulphate and sodium biborate, in certain combinations.
In preparing a skating surface, I first melt, by heat, one of those crystalline
substances which are capable of being fused in their own water of crystallization,
allow the powder to settle at the bottom of the vessel, and decant the clear
liquor.
In this liquor I melt, by heat, one or more of the chemicals I have named.
Then, by the addition of a small quantity of water (preferably distilled) to the
powder that was allowed to fall to the bottom of the vessel, and by means of heat,
dissolve it. Then I mix the two liquids together, and raise the temperature of
the mixture to nearly the boiling point of water. I then pour the liquid on the
floor, and allow it to congeal into an ice-like surface.
By way of example, I would mention the following mixture, which, treated in
the manner described, produces a wonderfully ice-like floor.
I take about 20 parts of the crystals of sodium sulphate, melt it by heat, decant
the liquor, and melt in it, by further heat, if necessary, four parts of the crystals
of magnesium sulphate, and one part of the crushed crystals of sodium biborate.
When quite melted, I add to it the liquid obtained by dissolving the powder deposited
from the sodium sulphate, raise the temperature of the mixture to the required
degree, and pour it on the prepared floor."
Another example:-I take 30 parts of the crystals of sodium sulphate, and
10 parts of the crystals of sodium carbonate, mix the two together, and melt by
heat, decant the clear liquid, and dissolve in it one part of the crushed crystals of
sodium biborate. Then add to it the liquid obtained by dissolving the powder
deposited from sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate, mix well together, and raise
the temperature of the mass to the required degree, and pour on the floor.
These substances may be used in other proportions, and combinations made
with other substances, taking care that the mixtures are not incompatible.
Dated this 24th day of December 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surfaces for Skating and Sliding upon in
Substitution for Real Ice.
I JOHANNES AVETICIAN CALANTARIENTS Doctor of Medicine of 15 York
Place Scarborough in the County of York, 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:-
This invention relates to the preparation of surfaces of artificial ice for skating
and sliding purposes composed of crystalline substances such as salts of sodium
melted and moulded into sheets which when set are slippery and suitable for
skating.
The object of the present invention is to obtain a greater degree of hardness and
slipperiness and a more ice like appearance and brilliancy than heretofore as well
as to ensure quick setting and to obviate any prejudicial effect which some of the
chemical substances used have upon the coloring matter of clothing and also to
diminish the tendency to efflorescence.
In melting the salts of sodium or other crystalline substance to form a skating
surface it is difficult to prevent the precipitation of certain solid or powdery particles
the loss of which causes the clear liquid which remains to contain an excess of
moisture and consequently to take an undue time to set and get hard when poured
out to form a skating surface.
In preparing a skating surface according to my invention I first melt by heat
one of those crystalline substances which are capable of being fused in their own
water of crystalization, allow the powder to settle at the bottom of the vessel and
decant the clear liquor.
In this liquor melt by heat magnesium sulphate or sodium biborate taking care
that magnesium sulphate is not used when sodium carbonate is one of the crystalline
substances melted. Then by the addition of a small quantity of water (preferably
distilled) to the powder that was allowed to fall to the bottoin of the vessel and by
means of heat I dissolve it. Then I mix the two liquids together and raise the
temperature of the mixture to nearly the boiling point of water and there will
afterwards be no further precipitation of powder. I then pour the liquid which
will contain but little moisture in excess on the floor and allow it to congeal into
an ice-like surface.
By way of example I would mention the following mixture which treated in the
manner described produces a wonderfully ice-like floor.
I take about 20 parts of the crystals of sodium sulphate melt it by heat decant
the liquor and melt in it by further heat if necessary four parts of the crystal of
magnesium sulphate and one part of the crushed crystals of sodium biborate.
When quite melted I add to it the liquid obtained by dissolving the powder
deposited from the sodium sulphate, raise the temperature of the mixture to the
required degree and pour it on the prepared floor.
Another example:-I take 30 parts of the crystals of sodium sulphate and
10 parts of the crystals of sodium carbonate, mix the two together and melt by
heat, decant the clear liquid and dissolve in it one part of the crushed crystals of
sodium biborate. I then add to it the liquid obtained by dissolving the powder
deposited from sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate, mix well together and raise
the temperature of the mass to the required degree and pour on the floor.
These substances may be used in other proportions and in combinations made
with other substances, taking care that the mixtures are not incompatible.
The deposition of the powder in the course of fusion of any of the crystalline
substances such as carbonate and sulphate of soda used for making my ice substitute
may be avoided by procuring their fusion in a gradual manner at such comparatively
low temperatures as would suffice to fuse and raise to the highest temperature

page_text: possible without causing any dissociation of the molecules of water from the chemical
substances with which they are combined. For this purpose I effect the fusion of
the crystalline salts by means of a water bath or other suitable means the
temperature of which is not allowed to rise above 105° F. or thereabouts.
I some-
times purposely allow some of the crystalline substances to remain unfused in a
large mass of fused or melted crystals and pour it on the floor so as to effect a
quicker and more even crystallisation on setting. When the liquified crystals are
poured on at such comparatively low temperatures if the previous layer poured on
the floor has become too dry I damp it slightly before pouring on the fresh layer
so as to ensure a perfect contact between the two layers.
Sometimes when the temperature of the melted crystals has been raised high and
powder has become deposited I cut off the supply of heat and proceed to stir the
mass until it cools in order to re-dissolve the powder more or less. Under these
circumstances sometimes in addition to stirring pump also air through the
liquified crystals so as to drive off any superfluous water it might contain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :
The method of preparing crystalline substances for the formation of skating
surfaces whereby the presence of excessive moisture in the material is avoided
substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of Santamber 1891
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.