IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING COMPOUNDS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING COMPOUNDS."- A commu-
nication from abroad by Eli Emery Hendrick, of the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 31st July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st July 1862.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING COMPOUNDS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention of improvements in lubricating compounds consists of a
lubricating compound or fluid, the principal part of which is composed of coal
oil obtained in a natural state, or simply by artificial distillation, combined
with caoutchouc in about the proportion of one ounce more or less of
caoutchouc to every gallon of the coal oil. In addition to these ingredients
water may sometimes be advantageously employed for some purposes, and
animal or vegetable oils, lampblack, gamboge, sulphur, and plumbago may also
be used with the other ingredients; but the proportions of these ingredients is
not important, nor is their presence absolutely necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, 1, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special license, that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING COMPOUNDS," being a communication from
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward
Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, should par-
ticularly 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 filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said 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) :-
This Invention consists of a lubricating compound or fluid composed of
coal oil obtained in a natural state, or simply by artificial distillation, com-
bined with caoutchouc, and with or without the addition of water.
In carrying out the Invention I dissolve one ounce or more or less of
caoutchouc in one gallon of the material commonly known as "coal oil,"
"rock oil," and "petroleum," in its state of nature, or in the state it is in
when it is simply distilled from hard natural products, and before it has been
"refined" by being treated with acid or alkali. To facilitate the dissolving of
the caoutchouc by the oil, it is well to pare off the caoutchouc into fine thin
shavings, and then immerse the shavings in the oil; and if a very rapid

page_text: dissolution of the caoutchouc is desirable it may be effected by applying about
200° of heat. The solution or compound thus produced is now ready for use
as a lubricator for machinery or mechanical movements. I would here state
that although other substances such as the animal and vegetable oils, lamp-
black, gamboge, plumbago, sulphur, or the like might be added to my lubri-
cator, yet they are not by any means essential, while they would enhance the
cost, and can without detriment be dispensed with.
I am aware that purified oil, such as "paraffine" and "coup oil," have been
placed in a vessel and heated by surcharged steam, and thereafter that
caoutchouc placed in a wire basket has been suspended therein and subjected
to a heat of 220° to 280°, until they so intermix that when cool the fluid will
not "string." But this is an expensive process, requiring much care and time,
besides the time and expense required to refine the oil in the first instance, to
say nothing of the residuum of salt and acid retained by the oil in the process
of its purification, which acts detrimentally on the axles of machinery when
applied thereto.
"
I am also aware that "paraffine" oil or other oils procured from coals have -
heretofore been used as a solvent for caoutchouc, and that other oils or fatty
matter have been added thereto to constitute the main fluid portion for lubri-
cating purposes. But even in such case the "paraffine" oil or other oils
procured from coals were used merely as solvents for the caoutchouc, and not
to constitute the main fluid portion of the lubricator. But the refining of
coup" oil, first by distillation, and then by treatment with sulphuric acid
and caustic soda, and the preparation of "paraffine" oil by a similar treat-
ment with acids and salts, leaves more or less of the acid and salt as an
element in such oils after they are manufactured, all of which is deleterious to
the metals or journals of machinery; hence it is that I discard the use of all
oils treated with acids and alkalies after distillation. When using water in
the lubricating compound I dissolve one ounce or more or less of caoutchouc
in one gallon of the material known as "coal oil," "rock oil," also as petro-
leum, as produced in a natural state or simply by artificial distillation, and
add to this solution an equal quantity of water; and then violently agitate the
whole by stirring, shaking, or otherwise, until a union of the ingredients takes
place, and a mucilaginous compound formed thereby. The compound thus made
is now ready for use for the purpose of lubricating the bearings or journals of
machinery, in like manner and proportion as in the use of other lubricators.
I do not confine myself to dissolving the caoutchouc in the coal oil used, as
nearly as good results will be attained by dissolving the caoutchouc in any
other solvent of that gum, and then mixing such solvent with the coal oil.

page_text: The superior lubricating properties of the compound are in a great measure
due to the caoutchouc used; the solvent compound also possesses the peculiar
property of causing the oily substance to unite with the water under a
mechanical action. Neither do I confine myself to any specific proportions of
either of the component parts of the compound described, as I find those
named to answer the purpose excellently.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to me,
as aforesaid, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent, as
aforesaid, manufacturing lubricating compounds or liquids, the bulk of which
consists of coal oil obtained in a state of nature, or simply by artificial dis-
tillation combined with caoutchouc, and with or without the addition of
water, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)