IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Alexander Dick, of Caunou Street, in the City
of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS." Partly a communication from abroad
by Charles James Adolph Dick, of Philadelphia, in the United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Alexander Dick at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1880.
GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK, of Cannon Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS."
Partly a communication from abroad by Charles James Adolph Dick, of
Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in the manufacture of improved metallic alloys or
compounds, which are specially applicable for castings, and which are mainly
composed of wrought iron or mild steel, which is combined, as hereinafter described,
with tin and copper with or without the addition of lead, a small quantity of
phosphorus being in all cases present.
The quantity of iron or steel contained in the perfected alloy or compound must
always exceed 50 per cent., and the proportions of copper and tin can vary, but
the quantity of either must not exceed 25 per cent. in the perfected alloy or
compound, and the lead if used should not exceed 10 per cent. of the perfected
alloy.
The presence of phosphorus in the perfected alloy or compound is essential, but
the quantity thereof must not exceed two per cent.; it is either contained in the
iron or steel which is used, or it is introduced in combination with the copper, or
tin, or both.
I sometimes find it beneficial that the perfected alloy or compound contains a
small proportion of carbon, and I then select for use iron which contains a small
proportion of carbon, or I add a small proportion of iron containing carbon, but
the perfected alloy or compound must under no condition contain more carbon than
about 0.5 or 0-6 per cent.

page_text: I also find that the presence of small proportions of silica, or of manganese, or of
both, improves the quality of the castings made of the said alloy or compound.
I prefer to effect the manufacture of the said alloys or compounds in the
following manner:-Having melted the copper and tin either pure or combined
with phosphorus, as the case may be, with or without the lead, and cast into ingots.
I add the said ingots to the iron or steel when the latter is heated in a crucible or
furnace to a bright red heat; the whole then remaius exposed to the action of the
heat until the desired combinations have taken place, when the alloy or compound
thus produced is well stirred and run into ingots or moulds.
The alloy or compound manufactured, as herein before described, will be found
a very superior and cheap metal for the casting of bearings or other frictional
parts of machinery, and amongst other advantages it will be found to melt at a
comparatively low temperature and not to materially change the proportions of its
component parts in remelting.

page_text: '
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letter's Patent filed by
the said George Alexander Dick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th June 1881.
GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK, of Cannon Street, in the City of London,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS."
Partly a communication from abroad by Charles James Adolph Dick, of
Philadelphia, in the United States of America,
This Invention relates to improvements in part founded on those described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me, and dated the Eighth day
of June 1880, No. 2306, and consists in the manufacture of improved metallic
alloys or compounds which are specially applicable for castings, and which are
mainly composed of wrought iron, mild or ingot steel, or iron sponge, combined, as
hereinafter described, with comparatively small proportions of copper and tin,
which when necessary are added in the form of phosphurets, so that a small
quantity of phosphorus is in all cases present in the manufactured alloy. In some
cases lead is also combined with the other metals which form the alloy.
The amount of copper, and tin, and lead when present must vary according to
the desired qualities of the perfected alloy, and also according to the degree of
purity of the iron used, and I have found as a rule that the alloy containing a
comparatively large proportion of tin, copper, and lead possesses the best wearing
properties. The purer the iron used the more ductile the perfected alloy will be
found, thus with iron sponge a maximum quantity of tin, copper, and lead, in
combination with the phosphorus can be used and a soft ductile alloy will
be obtained. From this it will be seen that the proportions of copper and tin
must be varied according to circumstances, but the quantity of either must not
exceed about 12 or 15 per cent. in the perfected alloy or compound, or the lead
if used should not exceed 10 per cent. in the perfected alloy, nor in any case should
it exceed the amount of tiu present..
The presence of phosphorus in the perfected alloys or compounds is essential, but
the quantity thereof must vary with the quantity of copper and tin increasing
with these, and vice versa, but in no case must it exceed two per cent.; it is either
contained in the iron or steel which is used or it is introduced in combination with
the copper, or tin, or both.
In order to increase the soundness of the castings made of the perfected alloy
the presence of a small quantity of carbon, or silica, or a combination of the two
will in some cases be found advantageous, but the quantity of either or of the two
combined must not exceed about 06 per cent. of the iron or steel used for the
purposes of this Invention, the carbon or silica being contained in the iron used
or added in combination with iron during the smelting process as convenient.
The presence of a small proportion of manganese is not injurious especially
when silica is present.
I produce the said alloys or compounds in the following manner :-Having
melted the copper and tin, which are used pure, when phosphoras is present in the
iron in the requisite quantities, or combined with phosphorus when sufficient is
not found in the iron, as the case may be, I cast the same into ingots, which I add
to the iron or steel, when the latter is heated in a crucible or furnace to a bright
red heat, or when it is actually melted; the whole then remains exposed to the
action of the heat until the desired combinations have taken place forming a
uniform liquid, when the alloy or compound thus produced is well stirred and ran
into ingots or moulds. When it is desired to add lead to the alloy it is introduced
together with the copper and tin.

page_text: The alloys or compounds manufactured as herein before described will be found
to constitute very superior and cheap metals for the castings of bearings and other
frictional parts of machinery, and amongst other advantages, such as great wearing
capacity and cheapness, it will be found to melt at a comparatively low tempe-
rature and not to materially change the proportions of its component parts in
remelting.
Useful alloys or compounds will be found to be produced by the employment of
the ingredients in the following proportions:
(I.) 16 lbs. of iron sponge.
11/2"
,, copper.
"
"
1
"
"
tin, containing 4 per cent. of phosphorus.
lead.
(II.) 80 lbs. of mild steel containing 0.4 silica, 0·2 carbon, and 0.3 phosphorus.
"
,, copper.
tin.
8
9
33
"
"
3
ور
lead.
(III.) 16 lbs. of iron sponge.
1 " » copper.
2+ tin, containing per cent. of phosphorus.
وو
در
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured
to me by the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent are,-
First. The manufacture of the alloys or compounds consisting of iron or steel,
copper, tin, and phosphorus, substantially as hereinbefore described.
And, Secondly. The manufacture of the alloy or compound consisting of iron,
or steel, copper, tin, phosphorus, and lead, substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Alexander Dick, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
G. A. DICK. (L.S.)