IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the firm of Herbert and Com-
pany, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR LUBRICATING AND
OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Peter Sweeney, Engineer,
and William Edward Cooper, Merchant, both of New York, United States of
America
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 30th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May 1877.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMPOUNDS FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Peter Sweeney, Engineer, and William Edward Cooper, Merchant, both
of New York, United States of America.
This Invention consists of a lubricating compound made of plumbago and collodion
mixed together in proportions of, plumbago, 8 parts; pyroxiline, 1 part.
Also of a compound made of plumbago, collodion, and camphor, mixed together.
Also of a compound of plumbago, collodion, and mercury, mixed together.
And lastly, of a compound of plumbago, collodion, and paper pulp mixed together.
In all the mixtures the proportions of plumbago and pyroxiline are about the
same, the camphor being about 2 parts; mercury, 1 part. The use of paper pulp
renders the mixture capable of being cast in molds, & forming journals or bearing
which are self lubricant.
The pyroxiline is dissolved in aether and alcohol or other equivalent, and the
solution is then placed with the other ingredients in an air-tight vessel and stirred
until a homogenous mass is formed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
November 1877.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents, of
67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMPOUNDS FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Peter Sweeney, Engineer, and William Edward Cooper, Merchant, botli
of New York; United States of America.
This Invention consist in a compound, the basis of which is a mixture of plum-
bago and collodion. With this basis are mixed camphor, mercury, and paper pulp,
either one or more of these, according to the purpose for which the compound is to
be used.
In carrying out this Invention the ingredients are used in about the following
proportion: Plumbago, 8 pounds; pyroxiline, 1 pound. The pyroxiline is dissolved
in about one gallon of ether and alcohol or any other equivalent solvent, and the
solution thus obtained is placed together with the plumbago into a vessel which is
closed air tight, and which contains an agitator of any suitable construction for the
purpose of stirring the ingredients together, until a homogenous mass is formed.
During this operation it is essential that the atmospheric air shall be excluded.
After the ingredients have been stirred together for a sufficient length of time,
which must be determined by experience, the mass is removed from the mixing
vessel, and subjected to pressure between pads of felt, sponge, or other absorbent
material, in suitable press boxes, from which the atmospheric air is excluded. By
this pressing operation, which is continued for 3 or 4 hours, the surplus moisture
contained in the compound is absorbed by the press pads, and after having been
removed from the press boxes, the compound is left to harden, which requires-a
term of several weeks.
If the compound is to be used as a lining for journal boxes or for other definite
purposes, it may be pressed at once into the required shape, but if it is to be employed
as a filling material for cells or recesses in the bearing surfaces of journal boxes or
pulleys, it may be pressed into cakes of suitable thickness, which are afterwards cut
up in pieces of the required shape.
When camphor is to be added to the plumbago and collodion, the compound is
prepared in the following manner:- One pound of pyroxiline is dissolved in about
one gallon of ether and alcohol, or in any other equivalent solvent which will produce
a solution of like consistency. When this solution is ready, two pounds of camphor
are broken up into fine particles and mixed with eight pounds of plumbago, and this
mixture is finally added to the above-named solution of pyroxiline, the whole being
placed into a vessel, which can be closed air-tight, and which contains a suitable
agitator as previously described. After the ingredients have been well stirred
together, the mass is pressed and treated in the same manner as above described.
By the action of the camphor a certain pliability is imparted to the compound which
is desirable for particular purposes, but if desired the hardness of the compound may
be increased by the addition of a small quantity of castor oil.
For some purposes a certain quantity of mercury may be added to the compound
of plumbago and collodion. In this case the collodion is prepared as above described,
and to eight pounds of plumbago is added one pound of mercury, and this mixture
is added to the collodion, and treated as ve described.
12
For other purposes it is desirable to add a quantity of paper pulp to the compound
of collodion and plumbago. In this case the collodion is prepared as above described,
and then plumbago and paper pulp are mixed together in about equal parts by
weight and stirred together with the collodion in the manner above described, the
quantity of collodion used being about equal in weight to the weight of the plumbago.

page_text: This compound is of great tenacity, and it can be moulded in any desired form. It
is used with advantage in journal boxes for light and heavy machinery.
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-
-
1. A lubricating compound made of plumbago and collodion mixed together in
about the proportion and substantially in the manner herein specified.
2. A lubricating compound made of plumbago, collodion, and camphor, mixed
together in about the proportion and substantially in the manner herein specified.
3. A lubricating compound made of plumbago, collodion, and mercury, mixed
together in about the proportion and substantially in the manner herein specified.
4. A lubricating compound made of plumbago, collodion, and paper pulp, mixed
together in about the proportion and substantially in the manner herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
H. J. HADDAN. (L.S.)