IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OXIDES OF ZINC AND TIN
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martyn John Roberts, of Gerrards Cross, in
the County of Bucks, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OXIDES OF ZINC AND TIN."
Sealed the 30th March 1858, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martyn John
Roberts at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st October 1852.
I, MARTYN JOHN ROBERTS, of Gerrards Cross, in the County of
Bucks, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OXIDES OF ZINC AND TIN" to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists of an improved mode of producing the oxides
of zinc and tin by passing steam or air over the metals, tin and zinc,
while in a heated state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Martyn John Roberts in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
MARTYN JOHN ROBERTS, of Gerrards Cross, in the County of Bucks,
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Martyn John Roberts, Her special licence that
I, the said Martyn John Roberts, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Martyn John Roberts, my execu-
tors, 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 MANUFACTURE OF OXIDES OF ZINC AND TIN,"
upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Martyn John Roberts, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE; that I, the said Martyn John Roberts, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:
My Invention consists, first, in an improved mode of producing: the
oxide of zinc. I place either zinc alone or combined with other bodies,
such as sulphur, in a suitable furnace or reservoir, and I heat the
metal or the metallic compound to a high degree, in order to aid the
combination thereof with any oxygen that may be presented to it.

page_text: While in this heated state I pass over or through it a current of steam
or a rapid current of air. The effect of the steam will be to impart to
the heated matter a portion of its oxygen, which combining with the
zine forms oxide of zinc, while the hydrogen of the steam will either
pass off in a free state if the zinc be employed alone, or if the zinc be
combined with other matters, such as sulphur, it will form with the
sulphur sulphuretted hydrogen, and pass off, and may be utilised. The
effect of the air will be to impart its oxygen to the zinc, forming oxide
of zinc. But in both cases of steam and air the rapid current will carry
away the light oxide of zinc with it into a suitable reservoir (and may
there be condensed), leaving the heated matter with a fresh surface for
the further action of the steam or air upon it; whereas if no current of
steam or air were introduced, the oxide would remain upon the heated
matter, and thus shield it from the influence of the oxygen, and a good
and rapid conversion into oxide would not be obtained. Having obtained
the oxide of zinc, it may be used as a paint, or smelted into metallic
zinc in the usual manner.
I claim the manufacture of the oxide of zinc in the manner herein-
before described.
My Invention consists, secondly, in passing steam or air over metallic
tin while in a heated state in the manner before described, though the
oxide in this case being more heavy than that of zinc will not be
blown off so with the current.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martyn John Roberts, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
MARTYN J. ROBERTS. (L.S.)