Solder and Flux for Aluminium.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
COMPLETE DIEULTICATION.
Solder and Flux for Aluminium.
We, GRANT HAMMOND, of 44, Chronicle Building, in the City and County of
San Francisco, Chemist, and THOMAS FLINT, Junior, of San Juan, County of San
Benito, Chemist, all in the State of California, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for solder and flux for aluminium, 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 a compound which is especially adapted for the solder-
ing or uniting of articles made either wholly of aluminium, or partly of aluminium
and partly of other metals to which it is desired to solder or secure the aluminium.
It also relates to a flux to be used in the process of soldering aluminium.
It has been found difficult to produce a solder which would serve to unite
aluminium, because the aluminium is a strongly electro positive metal and the use
of the common solders produces an electrical action which soon destroys any joint
made with them.
There has also been a difficulty in producing a flux which would be satisfactory
in conjunction with any solder for uniting aluminium.
In our invention we have produced both a solder and a flux therefor, both of
which are exceedingly efficient for the purpose designed.
In the preparation of our solder, we employ various proportions of tin, silver,
zinc and aluminium. We have found that a very good proportion is, by weight-
These materials are melted and intimately mingled, and when a surface is to be
soldered therewith, it is first scraped thoroughly clean and bright with some sharp
instrument, or the thin oxidation which forms the dullness on the surface must be
otherwise removed.
The metal having been prepared, the parts are then coated with the flux that
we employ for the purpose, and the solder is also laid upon the joint or between the
lap or joint of the metal.
The flux which we employ for this purpose consists of iodine, or the iodides of
tin and mercury, either singly or combined with a hydrocarbon, such as vaseline
or other suitable form which it may be found desirable to use with the iodine.
In case we employ a mixture of iodine, or an iodide or iodides, with a hydro-
carbon, the proportion of the latter may be any one from one to five-tenths of the
mass, although the proportions can be varied more or less widely.
When the joint is in readiness to be soldered or brazed the flux is applied to the
joint and the solder laid upon or between the parts where the joint is to be made,
and the parts are afterwards heated in a clean flame, such as a flame from a
Bunsen burner, gasoline blow pipe, or any flame free from smoke or soot.
The flux may be prepared by mixing a hydrocarbon and the iodine or iodide.
077

page_text: together, so as to form a sort of paste, and then apply it along the seam or joint to
be united, or the iodine alone may be sprinkled along the joint or otherwise applied
if preferred, without the use of the hydrocarbon.
Our method of making aluminium joints is of especial importance in the mak-
ing of aluminium tubing. The metal after being rolled into shape, can be brazed
together and the manufacturing cost of the operation considerably cheapened.
It is preferable to apply heat to the full length of the joint at once, although
the work can be done by passing it backward and forward through a smaller
flame.
Small work can be convenient brazed or united by using a blow pipe.
Blow holes in the metal can also be filled by scraping clean and laying on a
piece of the solder with the flux and heating until the cavity is perfectly filled,
then it may be polished down with the rest of metal.
By the use of this flux aluminium can be soldered to itself or almost any other
metal except iron, without any of the so called tinning or other preliminary pro-
cesses, and the joint can be made easily and as strong as any solder joint.
Match-boxes, cigar cases and like small implements may be thus made of
aluminium, and the meeting edges successfully soldered. Brass springs, hinges
and other small articles of other metals can in the same manner, be soldered to the
aluminium.
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:-
1st. A solder for aluminium consisting of tin, silver, zinc and aluminium, the
proportion of tin being in excess of the silver and the proportion of silver in
excess of the zinc,
2nd. A solder for aluminium consisting of tin, silver, zinc and aluminium in
about the proportions herein described.
3rd.-Iodine as a flux for soldering and brazing aluminium.
4th. Iodine and iodides of tin and mercury as a flux for soldering and brazing
aluminium.
5th. A flux for soldering aluminium consisting of iodine, or iodides of tin
and mercury, and a hydro-carbon of the character herein described.
Dated this First day of February 1898.
Dated this First day of February 1898.
For the Applicants,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.