Improvements in the Production of Aluminium and Aluminium Bronze.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 22nd June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Aluminium and Aluminium
Bronze.
We CHARLES ANTHONY BURGHARDT of King Street in the City of Manchester
County of Lancaster, Analytical Chemist and WILLIAM JAMES TWINING of St. Bees
Street in the same city Electro Plater do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to former Inventions for which we have made applications for
the grant of Letters Patent such applications boing dated the nineteenth day of
February and the second day of July in this current year and being numbered 2602
and 9389 respectively. In the specification of the first named of our said former
inventions we described a process whereby we obtained a solution containing double
cyanides of Copper and Aluminium and we stated that in the preparation of such
solution we employed potassium cyanide in excess and that in cases wherein the
solution was required for the obtainment of a bright electro deposit we added to the
solution a quantity of a solution of hydrocyanic acid gas or passed hydrocyanic acid
gas into the solution. In the specification of the second of the said former inventions
we described a similar use of the potassium cyanide in the production of Aluminium.
Since making the said applications for Letters Patent we have discovered that the use
of the potassium cyanide may be dispensed with by using the hydrocyanic acid
gas or a solution of the same at an earlier stage of the process or otherwise by
substituting the use of the said gas or solution of the gas for the use of the potassium
cyanide. By this improvement or variation in the processes we reduce the cost of the
products by substituting for the potassium cyanide a more cheaply obtained agent and
also we obtain more simply constituted solutions having less excess of alkali or of
alkaline salts which solutions we believe will be better adapted to the purposes of our
inventions. After the solutions are made a small quantity of Potassium cyanide is
added to cause action in the bath, the metal separating out more easily than when this
small addition of Potassium cyanide is omitted.
1007
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Aluminium and Aluminium
Bronze.
We CHARLES ANTHONY BURGHARDT of King Street in the City of Manchester,
County of Lancaster, Analytical Chemist and WILLIAM JAMES TWINING of St. Bees
Street, in the same City Electro Plater 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, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates to a former Invention for which Letters Patent bearing date
the nineteenth day of February in the year 1887 and further designated by the Official
Number 2602 have been granted to us and also to a second former invention for
which we made application for the grant to us of Letters Patent such application being
dated the second day of July in the same year and numbered 9389. In the specification
of the first named of our said former inventions we described a process whereby we
obtained a solution containing double cyanides of copper and aluminium and we stated
that in the preparation of such solution we employed potassium cyanide in excess and
that in cases wherein the solution was required for the obtainment of a bright electro
deposit we added to the solution a quantity of a solution of hydrocyanic acid gas or passed
hydrocyanic acid gas into the solution. In the specification of the second of the said
former inventions we described a similar use of the potassium cyanide in the production
of aluminium. Since making the two applications for Letters Patent we have
discovered that the use of the potassium cyanide may be wholly or partially dispensed
with by treating the solution with hydro-cyanic acid gas or a solution of the same at
an earlier stage in the process as compared with the directions for the use of such gas
or solution contained in the specifications of our said former inventions. When
carrying our present invention into effect we proceed in accordance with the directions
in our said former specifications with the exception that at the times when it is
directed that cyanide of potassium or a solution of the same shall be added to the
solution we now pass hydro-cyanic acid gas into the solution or add a solution of such
gas to the solution in course of preparation. In the first edition of the printed copies
of our specification number 2602 aforesaid we proceed according to the directions
contamed in page 3 down to the end of the sentence ending in line 36. We then pass
the said gas into 'the solution in place of adding the potassium cyanide. In the case
of the second of our said former inventions we commence the treatment of gas at the
time when in the specification of such former invention we state "To the contents of
the vessel we add a solution of 4lbs. of potassium cyanide." In either case we pass
the gas into the solution in such a manner as shall ensure its absorbtion as for example
we deliver it into the solution through a finely perforated pipe or coil or false bottom.
We continue the treatment with the gas until the liquid commences to become
decidedly apalescent, this being the indication that the treatment with gas should be
discontinued. Further treatment would throw out aluminium. Another indication is
the decided or increasing smell of the gas. In place of the gas we may employ a solution

page_text: of the gas that is to say water saturated with the gas the solution being gradually
added until the opalescent stage is reached. By this improvement or variation in the
process we reduce the cost of the products by substituting for the potassium cyanide a
more cheaply obtained agent and also we obtain more simply constituted solutions
having less excess of alkali or of alkaline salts which solutions we believe will be better
adapted to the purposes of our inventions. We do not propose to entirely dispense
with the use of potassium cyanide as in some or in all cases we add a small quantity of
the said salt to the solution or bath before using it in electro deposition as the presence
of the salt assists the process, the metal or alloy separating from the bath more freely
thau when the small addition of the said salt is omitted.
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) The improvement in the preparation of solutions for use in the production of
aluminium and aluminium bronze substantially as herein set forth.
(2) In the preparation of solutions or baths for use in the electro deposition of
aluminium bronze the preparation of a double cyanide solution by the treatment with
hydrocyanic acid gas or with a solution of such gas of solutions containing hydrated
oxide of copper and hydrated oxide of aluminium the latter being dissolved in an
excess of caustic soda, or caustic potash substantially as set forth herein and with
reference to the specification of a former invention.
(3) In the preparation of solutions or baths for use in the electro deposition of
aluminium the treatment with hydrocyanic acid gas or with a solution of the same of
solutions of hydrated oxide of aluminium in caustic soda or caustic potash, substantially
as set forth herein with reference to the specification of a former invention.
Tata T
1000
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.