A New or Improved Process and Material for the Production of Articles of Metal.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process and Material for the Production of
Articles of Metal.
I, WALTER FRANCIS REID, of Fieldside, Addlestone, in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the processes hitherto in use for the production of articles of metal by casting,
it has been necessary in the case of closed moulds to provide an outlet or outlets for
the escape of the air or gases enclosed in the moulds as well as an opening or
openings for the admission of the fluid metal. In carrying out my invention I
construct a mould of such a texture that it will allow the air or gases, which occupy
the space it is desired to fill with metal, to escape through its pores while retaining
the fluid metal. The material which I employ for this purpose is known as
"kieselguhr " or "fossil meal" and consists chiefly of the silicious remains of
diatoms. I first calcine the kieselguhr to remove organic matter and then pulverize
and wash it to remove coarse sand. For metals having a melting point below that
of zinc the kieselguhr is then ready for use. For metals having a higher melting
point than zine I treat the washed kieselguhr with a dilute mineral acid such as
sulphuric, hydrochloric or nitric acid, and by this means I extract from it such basic
substances as might increase its fusibility. After a second washing or calcination to
remove traces of the acid the kieselguhr thus prepared is practically infusible,
being composed of almost pure silica.
The kieselguhr prepared by either of the above methods is mixed with sufficient
water to form a stiff paste or mass of the consistency of moist earth, and with this
paste the moulds are made in the usual and well known way with the exception
that one hole only need be left for the admission of the fluid metal, the air or gases
escaping through the pores of the mould. The moulds are then dried or heated and
are ready for use in the usual way.
After the cooling of the metal the material of the mould may be removed by the
well known mechanical means.
Dated this 24th day of February 1894.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process and Material for the Production of
Articles of Metal.
I, WALTER FRANCIS REID, of Fieldside, Addlestone, in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer, 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 :-
In the processes hitherto in use for the production of articles of metal by casting,
it has been necessary in the case of closed moulds to provide an outlet or outlets for
the escape of the air or gases enclosed in the moulds, as well as an opening or
openings for the admission of the fluid metal. In carrying out my invention I
construct a mould of such a texture that it will allow the air or gases which occupy
the space it is desired to fill with metal to escape through its pores while retaining
the fluid metal. The material which I employ for this purpose is known as
n .
B

page_text: 66
'kieselguhr" or "fossil meal," and consists chiefly of the silicious remains of diatoms.
I first calcine the kieselguhr to remove organic matter, and then pulverize and wash
it to remove coarse sand.
For metals having a melting point below that of zinc the kieselguhr is then ready
for use.
For metals having a higher melting point than zinc, I treat the washed kieselguhr
with a dilute mineral acid such as sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric acid, and by
this means I extract from it such basic substances as might increase its fusibility.
After a second washing or calcination to remove traces of the acid, the kieselguhr
thus prepared is practically infusible being composed of almost pure silica. Certain
varieties of kieselguhr contain so small a proportion of basic substances that the
treatment with acids becomes unnecessary, and they may be used, after calcination
and levigation, even for metals of high melting points.
The kieselguhr prepared by either of the above methods is mixed with sufficient
water to form a stiff paste or mass of the consistency of moist earth, and with this
paste the moulds are made in the usual and well-known way, with the exception
that one hole only need be left for the admission of the fluid metal, the air or gases
escaping through the pores of the mould.
In the case of very delicate articles or such as are of intricate shape, for the
production of which my invention is particularly applicable, the kieselgubr may be
mixed with sufficient water to form a liquid of the consistency of cream which will
be found to penetrate the deeper portions of the model better than the stiffer paste.
The moulds are then dried or heated and are ready for use in the usual way.
After the cooling of the metal, the material of the mould may be removed by the
well known mechanical means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In casting articles of metal, the use of moulds made of calcined kieselguhr
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The preparation of kieselguhr containing basic substances by means of mineral
acids as described.
Dated this 6th day of October 1894.