Year: 1895

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 15th day of March 1897.
We, EMERY COULON and JEAN JOSEPH DEFALQUE of Blaton in the
Kingdom of Belgium, both Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is a process for making artificial stones.
It consists in thoroughly mixing, in a dry state, eighty-five per cent. of sand with
fifteen per cent. of lime or cement.
These proportions may be varied according to the results which it is desired to
obtain.
The mixture thus made is put into tubs which are introduced into digesters.
The latter are then filled with water which is heated by jets of steam and, at
certain calculated intervals, successive electrical discharges are directed by means
of a suitable electrical apparatus, into the mass to be agglomerated.
After 60 to 72 hours have elapsed, the actual period depending on the product
desired, the stone is allowed to cool in the tubs, after which the said product, or
stone, may be worked or employed without fear of damage either by climate, or
inclemency of weather.
The tints or colours which cannot be obtained by means of a mixture of the
chief substances, may be obtained with the help of ochres and various oxides
introduced into the mixture.
Instead of sand, such substances as ashes, cinders, brick-dust, ground chippings
of stone, marble, alum, glue, and such like materials may be used.
The lime or cement may also be replaced by another binding material for
example plaster, clay kneaded in linseed oil, sulphate of potass and other
substitutes, may be used for the lime or cement.
Dated this 30th day of November 1895.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: Manufacture of Artificial Stones.
EMERY COULON of Blaton, Belgium and JEAN JOSEPH DEFALQUE, of Uccle,
late of Blaton Belgium, both Manufacturers, 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 :-
The object of our invention is a process for making artificial stones.
It consists in thoroughly mixing, in a dry state, eighty five per cent. of sand
with fifteen per cent. of lime or calcareous cement.
These proportions may be varied according to the results which it is desired to
obtain.
The above-named mixture being placed in trollies or tubs is introduced into
digesters, which are subsequently filled with water and by direct heating, the
admission of steam, or other means, brought to a pressure, the intensity of which
varies with the degree of resistance which it is desired to give to the finished
product.
The whole mass is then penetrated by an electric current produced by any
electricity generator. These current may be a continuous current or an inter-
mittent one.
On the intensity and the power of this current, as an electromotor,
will depend the length of time occupied by the operation and also the texture of
the product itself.
It is evident that the effect of the electric current is to favour the chemical
reactions, which take place among the elements brought together, and especially
the formation of the silicate of lime. While rendering the chemical reactions
more complete, the electric current gives increased homogeneousness and
consequently greater resisting power to the stone.
•
By introducing metallic oxydes into the mixture, any desired tint may be
obtained and any kind of natural stone may be imitated.
Instead of sand, one may use cinder or slag, ground brick-waste, or refuse of
stone, marble, alum, glue and the like, in fact, any substance suited to this kind of
mixture.
For the limes and cements, any other binding material may be substituted, for
instance gypsum, clay kneaded with linseed oil, potassium sulphate, or any
substance of this nature.
By the above described process, the mixture is petrified in 6 or 8 hours and
even in less time; after 4 hours' operation, in fact, the mass will have already
attained a resisting power superior to some natural building stones.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood
that we are aware that it has been proposed to make artificial stone by heating
a mixture of sand or other silicates and lime, chalk, clay or the like, with steam or
with hot water or with water and steam, and we make no claim to any such process
nor to any product derivable therefrom, but we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A process of manufacturing artificial stone, distinguished by the mixture, in
various proportions, of suitable mineral substances of which an agglomeration is
made in digesters, by means of steam-heated water and an electric current
promoting the chemical reactions.

page_text: 2. The use of electricity as a petrifying agent in the manufacture of artificial
or any kind of conglommerate stones.
3. The products obtained by the process claimed and described above.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicants.