IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRESERVING STONES, BRICKS, SLATES, WOOD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS MATERIALS FROM THE ACTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES, AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MORTAR, CEMENT, ARTIFICIAL STONE, AND SUCH LIKE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cane Coombe, Chemist, and James Wright,
Civil Engineer, both of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, City of London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRESERVING STONES,
BRICKS, SLATES, WOOD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS MATERIALS FROM THE ACTION
OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES, AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MORTAR, CEMENT, ARTIFICIAL STONE, AND SUCH LIKE SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 15th August 1861, and dated the 14th March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cane Coombe and
James Wright at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 14th March 1961.
We, JAMES CANE COOMBE, Chemist, and JAMES WRIGHT, Civil Engineer,
both of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRESERVING
STONES, BRICKS, SLATES, WOOD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS MATERIALS FROM THE ACTION
OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES, AND ALSO IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MORTAR
CEMENT, ARTIFICIAL STONE, AND SUCH LIKE SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
We propose to make use of a solution of fluo-silicic acid in coating or cover-
ing stones, bricks,slates, wood,or other analogous inaterials, in order to retard
the effects of atmospheric or other influences; the action of the fluo-silicic
acid as a coating will be most advantageous upon those stones which contain
lime, magnesia, or other alkaline earths, for on applying the same the lime,
[Price 8d.1

page_text: enters into combination with the acid and forms an insoluble compound;
hence in applying it to other materials or other substances as a coating we
prefer, first, to treat them with a solution of lime or other alkaline earth, and
then apply the hydro-fluo-silicic acid. In the formation of fluo-silicic acid, or
hydro-fluo-silicic acid, a certain quantity of the silica is deposited in the form
of a gelatine. We propose to use this substance in combination with mortar
and cement, which contain lime or other alkaline earth as the chief ingredi-
ent. Furthermore, we propose to form artificial stones to be used principally
for artisticor ornamental purposes bycombiningwith it the before-mentioned
gelatinous silica, which has the effect of forming with the lime a perfectly
hard and insoluble compound.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Cane Coombe and James Wright in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
CANE COOMBE, Chemist, and JAMES WRIGHT, Civil Engineer, both of 42,
Bridge Street, Blackfriars, City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said James Cane Coombe and James Wright, Her special licence
that we, the said James Cane Coombe and James Wright, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, thesaid James Cane Coombe,
James Wright, our 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
THE MEANS OF PRESERVING STONES, BRICKS, SLATES, WOOD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS
MATERIALS FROM THE ACTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OTHER INFLUENCES. AND ALSO
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MORTAR. CEMENT, ARTIFICIAL STONE, AND SUCH LIKE
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we the said James
Cane Coombe, James Wright, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or 'one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,

page_text: 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
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Cane Coombe and James
Wright, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say:--
We operate upon stones, bricks, slates, wood, and other analogous materials
by means of fluo-silicic acid according to their respective compositions, and
the precise object in view in each particular instance. Sometimes we operate
upon the aforesaid materials without impregnating them with any alkaline
earth; but sometimes we impregnate the different materials, which we propose
to subject to the action of fluo-silicic acid with a solution of lime, magnesia,
or other alkaline earth by means of hydraulic pressure, or by the aid of
exhaustion, whether by the air-pump or other means, or by immersing them
in a solution of the said earth, or by washing them with a solution of the same.
We then subject them to the drying action of the atmosphere, or to various
degrees of temperature by means of artificial heat in ovens or otherwise, and
when they are sufficiently dry we either wash them with a solution of fluo-
silicic acid, or steep them in a solution of the same, or impregnate them with
the same by means of hydraulic pressure or by the aid of exhaustion, whether
produced by the air-pump or otherwise. The fluo-silicic acid enters into com-
bination with any salt or any alkaline earth, which is present naturally in the
stone, or with any alkaline earth which is artificially introduced into its sub-
stance, and forms with it an insoluble compound, thereby hardening the
material and preserving it from atmospheric and other agencies; and in the
case of wood and other inflammable materials previously impregnated with a
salt of baryta rendering them uninflammable. The precipitated silica which
is obtained during the manufacture of the hydro-fluo-silicic acid we mix in
various proportions with cements, mortars, and other admixtures of such like
materials containing alkaline earths, for which silica has an affinity, and with
which, whether with or without the aid of artificial heat, it enters into com-
bination. We are thus enabled to improve the quality of such cements and
mortars, whether employed simplyfor building purposes or in the manufacture
of artificial stone, terra cotta, and such like materials.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the best mode we
are acquainted with of employing it, we wish it understood that what we claim
and desire secured to us by the before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the exclusive use of a solution of fluo-silicic acid for the purpose of

page_text: indurating and preserving stones, bricks, slates, wood, and other analogous
materials.
Second, the exclusive use and application of precipitated silica in the manu-
facture of cements and mortars, whether employed for building purposes or in
the manufacture of artificial stone, terra cotta, and such like materials.
Having made these claims, we wish it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the details given in this Specification, so long as the peculiar
character of the Invention is retained. Neither do we make any claim to the
mode of manufacturing the fluo-silicic acid or the silica, uor to the method or
methods of impregnating the materials to be operated upon with the alkaline
earths or with the solution of fluo-silicic acid.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Cane Coombe and James Wright,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
September, in the year One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JAMES WRIGHT.
(L.S.)
JAMES CANE COOMBE. (L.S.)