IMPROVED COMPOUNDS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR COATING SHIPS' BOTTOMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED COMPOUNDS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR COATING
SHIPS' BOTTOMS.”-A communication from abroad by John Henry.
Bloodgood, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, Merchant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 29th August 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM.
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVED COM-
POUNDS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR COATING SHIPS' BOTTOMS," and have petitioned
ว

page_text: Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that it, has been communicated to me from abroad by John
Henry Bloodgood, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, Merchant.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the
following statement :—
The compounds which form the subject of this Invention are made
of the residuum of palm oil or tallow after distillation mixed with
pulverized slate or sand and asphaltum, or with spirits of turpentine,
and to this mixture may also be added linseed oil or other equivalent
substance mixed with arsenic and verdigris:
.
I'take' the gummy residuum of palm oil or tallow after distillation and
mix it with pulverized slate or sand in about the following proportion,
viz. :-Residuum of palm oil, 75 parts; pulverized slate, 25 parts; or
if asphaltum is to be used, the proportion is about as follows:-
Residuum of palm oil, 50 parts; pulverized slate, 25 parts; asphaltum,
25 parts. In place of slate, ochre or any other refractory earthy sub-
stance may be used, and the ingredients are, by preference, mixed when
hot, and then spread on the surface to be protected; or the compound
may be spread on paper or muslin or other textile fabric. When the
residuum of palm oil or tallow is to be mixed with arsenic and verdigris
the ingredients are used in about the following proportion, viz. :—
Residuum of palm oil or tallow after distillation, 4 lbs.; verdigris, 9 lbs. ;
arsenic, 18 lbs.; spirits of turpentine, 7 lbs.; linseed oil, 7 lbs. These
ingredients are thoroughly and intimately mixed, and a compound is
thereby produced which serves to protect the bottoms of ships or other
structures exposed to the action of the sea water, also the timbers of
piers, docks, and the like...
In applying the compound to the sheathing of a vessel the metal
surface.is. first painted with one or more coats of the residuum of palm
oil or tallow after distillation, and thereby the said metal is effectually
kept from coming in contact with the water, and any galvanic action or
oxidation is prevented, and furthermore the metal salt and the arsenic
contained in the compound are kept from coming in direct contact with

page_text: the metal, whereby an injurious chemical or galvanic action would be
produced. When properly coated in the manner above specified a vessel
may remain for months in waters noted for the destructive effect of their
animalculae without being injuriously affected in the slightest degree,
and when so protected there is no accumulation whatever upon the
bottom of the vessel of barnacles or of vegetable deposit. The metal
surface or sheathing when coated with this composition has also been
found to be free from oxidation, and is unaffected by galvanic action.
When this composition is to be applied to the timbers of piers.or
other structures exposed to the influence of sea water, the preliminary
coats of residuum of palm oil or tallow should be applied in a melted
state, either pure or mixed with ground slate, fine sand, or equivalent
substances.
It is well known that arsenic has been heretofore used in protective
compositions for the purpose of destroying animalculae, but it has
never before been found possible to prevent the water's dissolving the
arsenic and removing it from the composition. The residuum of palm
oil or tallow mixed with the above described composition acts as a
perfect shield for the arsenic, and effectually prevents the action of the
water on it in any manner; the greater portion of the arsenic however
combines with the acetate of copper and forms what is known as
"Scheele's" green which is not only a very active poison but is also
almost insoluble in water.
The compound of the residuum of palm oil and pulverized slate with
or without asphaltum when applied to paper or other flexible material
serves as a superior roofing composition.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination of acetate of copper and arsenic with the
residuum of palm oil or tallow after distillation, spirits of turpentine,
and linseed oil or their equivalents to form a composition for protecting
ships and other structures or articles exposed to the action of sea water
from fouling or corrosion, as set forth.
Second. The use of the residuum of palm oil or tallow after distillation
in combination with arsenic or with arsenic and copper compounds in
a protective composition, substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: .
Third. The insulating or protecting coating composed of the pure gum
or residuum from palm oil or tallow after distillation and turpentine
or its equivalent mixed together, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. A compound consisting of the residuum from palm oil or
tallow after distillation mixed with pulverized slate or its equivalent, &
substantially as described.
Fifth. A compound consisting of the residuum from palm oil or tallow
after distillation mixed with pulverized slate or its equivalent and with
asphaltum, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
CHAS. J. GOOCH.
W, ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)