AN IMPROVED. SOLUTION OR PREPARATION TO BE USED WITH PORTLAND AND OTHER CEMENTS. THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL. STONE OR FOR BUILDING PURPOSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Bennett, of 21, Millbank Street, in
. the City of Westminster, Manager, for the Invention, of "AN IMPROVED.
SOLUTION OR PREPARATION TO BE USED WITH PORTLAND AND OTHER CEMENTS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Bennett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th March 1862.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BENNETT, of 21*, Millbank Street, in the City of West-
minster, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED SOLUTION OR PREPARATION TO BE USED WITH PORTLAND AND OTHER CEMENTS
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL. STONE OR FOR BUILDING PURPOSES," to be, as,
follows:-
The object of this Invention is, by the admixture of certain chemical ingre-
dients with cement, to cause the latter to set more quickly than heretofore
when the cement is bydrated, with water alone. The ingredients which I
propose to employ for the purposes of my Invention are principally carbonate
of soda or carbonate of potash, or pearlash dissolved in water, with the addition
of a little alum, sal ammoniac, or other acid salt, and a solution of indigo in

page_text: sulphuric acid in order to improve the color of the compound when added to
the dry cement.
In carrying out the Invention I find that a useful compound may be pre-
pared by mixing the above ingredients in about the following proportions,
viz., 16 lbs. of carbonate of soda or 20 lbs. of pearlash or carbonate of potash
dissolved in water with an ounce or two of alum or other salt of alumina and a
smaller quantity of sal-ammoniac. The addition-of-a-small quantity of a
solution of indigo will be found to improve, the colour of the artificial stone or
cement, but, perhaps, does not otherwise have any chemical effect on the
compound. When required for use this solution may be still further diluted
with water and then used for mixing the cement and sand or other ingredients;
of course, the quantity of the solution to be mixed with the cement must in a
great measure depend upon the character and quality of the cement and its
capability of absorbing water. -For-plastering-the cement must be mixed to a
proper consistence, as is well known to practical men; and for casting in
blocks or figures to represent.stone:cór sculptured articles the same. observation
applies. In this latter case; however, it will be: found advantageous to wash
the castings over with the solution after they have been removed from the
mould, as by this means a better and smoother surface will be produced..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William John Bennett in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHN BENNETT, of 21%, Millbank Street, in the City of Westminster, Manager,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William John Bennett, Her special license that I, the said
William John Bennett, 'my executors, administrators," and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William John Bennett, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time:
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom

page_text: of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for..." AN IMPROVED SOLUTION OR PREPARATION TO BE USED WITH
PORTLAND AND OTHER CEMENTS FOR THE PRODUCTION. OF ARTIFICIAL STONE OR FOR
BUILDING PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William John Bennett, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe. and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filedi in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William John Bennett, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow
ing statement (that is to say)::
In manufacturing figures, vases, mouldings; and other articles of artificial
stone or cement, it has been usual, aftericasting the same, to leave the filled
moulds for several hours and even for days in order: that the cement. might
thoroughly set and the cast 'bear handling. This tardy setting of the cement
has rendered the use of a large number of moulds necessary when! workmen
are required to be kept in continuous employment.
Now the main object of the present Invention is to expedite the setting of
the cement and thus to permit of the speedy removal of the casts from the
moulds. This I effect by introducing into the water used to saturate the
cement and bring it to a plastic istate ready for moulding: a fluid compound
consisting of a solution of carbonate of soda or its equivalent with sal ammoniac
and alum. By the combination of these substances with the cement I not
only cause theifcement, toiset quickly, butit Io reduce its. absorbent, power
when set; and thereby render the moulded article less liable to be affected by
frost than the ordinary Portland or other cement.castings, while its strength is
materially increased..
The proportions in which Ivemploy the chemical substances above mentioned
as forming the fluid compound may be varied according to circumstances,; but
those which I usually prefer are as follows: Supposing thirty gallons of water
are intended to be prepared for mixing with the cement to .be used for
moulding purposes, I take one pound weight of carbonate of soda, or in lieu
thereof one and a half pounds of carbonate of potash, and: dissolve the same in
one quart. of "water; to which add half an ounce of sal ammoniac and one
ounce of alum 'or' other equivalent salt of alumina; this mixture I throw into

page_text: the thirty gallons of water, and then use the water in the ordinary way for
reducing the cement to a plastic state. When the improvement of the color
of the cement is an object, I introduce for. this purpose. into the fluid com-
pound a small quantity of an acid solution of indigo which will neutralize the
natural yellow hue of the cement. The proportion of indigo, employed will
depend upon the colour desired to be obtained, and must therefore be deter-
mined by the judgment of the workman.
I also propose to apply the Invention to the mixing of cements for plastering
purposes. When preparing the cement according to my Invention for
plastering walls, I mix therewith washed sand or river gravel, as is usual,
and employ a larger proportion of water to allow for the suction of the
surfaces to which the cement is to be applied.. If, however, the mixed
cement is to be used for hydraulic purposes, I increase the amount of
fluid compound. Thus, for example, I find it advisable in mixing cement for
hydraulic work to add the proportion of fluid compound above mentioned
to twenty gallons of water, which will naturally saturate a proportionately
smaller amount of cement than that added to the above-mentioned quantities
of water prepared for moulding and for plastering purposes. I would,
however, here remark that the varying qualities and the state of cement will
render it desirable to vary the relative proportions of the fluid compound and
cement. Thus, when the cement to be mixed is fresh; the proportions given
above for the three several uses enumerated will suffice to ensure a quick
setting of the cement, but when the cement has by age arrived at the
stage known to the trade as: "dead," it will require a somewhat increased
proportion of the fluid compound. The weather and climate also affects
the proportions, an excess of the fluid compound being required in cold
latitudes, and a smaller proportion in warm weather or hot climates. Besides
using the fluid compound for mixing with Portland, Roman, and other
cements used in buildings or for moulding purposes, I propose to steep the
moulded work in a bath of that fluid after being trimmed or finished, and also
to pay over coated wall or other surfaces with the fluid, as I thereby
improve the appearance of the surface so treated and ensure a more
complete filling of the pores of the cement and enable it the better to resist
the moisture.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved
Solution or Preparation to be used with Portland and other Cements for the
Production of Artificial Stone and for Building Purposes," and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-

page_text: stood that I claim the treatment of cements in the manner and for the purpose
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William John Bennett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. J. BENNETT. (L.S.)