Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Tungsten Articles, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Tungsten Articles,
and to Apparatus therefor.
I, ARMAND MIEG, of 24 Ecke Hirschgasse, Heidelberg, in the Empire of
Germany, Retired Major, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of tungsten articles and to apparatus
therefor.
Whereas solid articles of tungsten, owing to the difficulty of fusing this metal,
can be manufactured only with the greatest difficulties, the method. forming the
subject of my aforesaid invention enables tungsten articles to be produced without
special practical difficulties in the most varying forms and sizes suitable for
numerous purposes, for instance projectiles, weights; pendulum balls.
These metallic articles of high specific gravity consist of a mixture of
disintegrated or pulverized tungsten and another metal or alloy, the several
particles of tungsten being surrounded by the other metal and soldered together to
form a solid whole.
The method of manufacturing such metallic articles may be carried out in various
manners; it is however assumed that the metal serving as a binding: agent has a
lower melting point than the tungsten, and that the latter will not chemically-unite
with the binding. metal at the melting temperature of the latter, as otherwise
tungsten alloys would-be produced which are. distinguished by difficult. fusibility;
in the present case the tungsten remains in the article as such.
I may manufacture the improved tungsten articles in the following, manner.
Tungsten in a chemically pure state or rendered more or less impure-by other
metals is mixed and rubbed in the form of a fine powder with an easily fusible
metal, likewise reduced to the form of a fine powder, such as for instance with
lead, tin, zinc, bismuth, antimony, or with alloys of these metals, alloys of mercury,
or with other easily fusible alloys, until a mixture has been obtained. To this
mixture may be added in special cases a finely pulverized harder and tough metal,
for example-copper, bronze, nickel, brass.
The compression of this mixtureito formausolid-article may take place in
appropriate moulds by pressing. In this case the moulds or-stamps musti.have
been heated; or must be heated during the pressing, to such a temperature that the
admixed fusible metal or the alloy is brought near the melting point, assumes a
pulpy condition and puites under the action of the pressure-in nsuch a mannen that
a fine skeleton penetrating the tungsten article is produced which surrounds and
solders together the densely compressed tungsten particles and also the small grains
of the metal which may have been added and melts with difficulty. After the
cooling the article forms a dense, hard metallic-mass-which is tough up to a certain
degree. For the mixture I may appropriately take the proportion of 10 parts of
pulverized tungsten for 1 part of pulverized metal or alloy. According to the
quantity of pulverized tungsten the article becomes of course heavier.or lighter,
and more or less; hard and strong.
This improved method is adapted for example for the manufacture of projectiles
of-high-specific gravity, it being possible. to obtain projectiles: having definite
properties by suitably proportioning the quantities of the constituents..

page_text: a
The pressing of round projectiles may take place in a matrice, having
cylindrical bore of a diameter equal to the ball to be produced, between two stamps
possessing spherical cavities. These spherical cavities do not embrace the entire
halves of the ball to be pressed, so that their edges, after the cavities are brought
together to a distance corresponding to the diameter of the ball, will not meet each
other but will leave between them a cylindrical band of a certain height in the
middle of the ball produced. By the further forward movement of the upper
stamp the ball, after the removal of the lower stamp or simultaneously with the
same after the withdrawal of its support, is pressed from the matrice. The band
is then taken off in a lathe and if necessary the ball is rounded by rolling in a
rotary drum and smoothed or polished.
The pressing of round projectiles may also be effected in two-part matrices,
hollowed out spherically, and having intermediate pressing jaws, between two
pressing stamps adapted to be moved towards each other and provided with
spherical cavities. In this case I produce perfectly round projectiles. without a
band. Any burr which may be formed can be removed by rolling in a drum.
In the described manner I may advantageously press, besides projectiles of the
most varying forms, the hexagonal or other prismatic bodies which serve for filling
shrapnels. The feed in definite quantities of the mixture of pulverized metal to be
pressed may take place in any desired manner, for example, by hand by means of
funnels in measured quantities, or for production on a large scale from a reserve
receptacle by mechanical division-and admission.
Instead of heating the mould only so far that the admixed fusible metal or alloy
is brought only just near enough to its melting point for a metallic union to take
place the heating may also be increased to such an extent, that the fusible metal or
alloy becomes fluid...
I may also effect the mixing in such a manner that the tungsten metal is brought
- together in the pulverulent state with the fusible metal or alloy. in the liquid state,
- whereby a mixture of metal with. as high a percentage as possible of tungsten in
the form of a very dense conglomeration of pulverulent particles of tungsten with
a metal surrounding them can be obtained. As metals or alloys, adapted to be
utilized for..this purpose may be mentioned for example lead, tin, zinc, antimony,
copper, nickel, brass, cast iron or the like.
The tungsten metal which, as. also in the before-described method, may be used
in the chemically pure or more or less impure state, is heated or rendered red hot
in the pulverulent or granular.state in. a crucible or in moulds if necessary. with
addition of suitable binding agents in a more or less compressed state, the soldering
metal being likewise heated till it becomes fluid and being then poured over the
same. While the heating is continued the fluid metal slowly penetrates into the
pulverized. tungsten which is well metallized or.io to the porous article of tungsten,
completely soaks the same, forces out the enclosed air or gases.and so surrounds
the particles of tungsten métal that: they will be intimately soldered together. The
fluid metal in excess is at once..poured off.
:
.. If the before mentioned moulding is to: be dispensed with, the pulverized tungsten,
metal may also be introduced. in the heated or red. hat state: into the metal heated
to fluidity... Whereas, other pulverized metals would in, this case, become alloyed
with the metallic bath or float on the same, the. pulverized tungsten by reason of
its specific gravity gradually sinks.in.the.metallic bath, settles in layers in the
interior.of-the same until all the liquid.metal has become intermixed, thus forming
a 'mixture which as in. thé :before-described. method. intimately unites particles of
pulverized. tungsten by means of a soldering metal surrounding them. During
this process. the-metallic bathi is to be kept in a. fluid state by continued heating.
Tho fluid metal. may be kept prepared. in crucibles.or. moulds and intermixed in
the same with the pulverized tungsten metal. This is necessary when pulverized
ulterior
tungsten is added so. amply or such a soldering metal is used that an.
moulding, owing to the hardness of the mixture-produced, is rendered impossible or
that the mixture will not become plastic.

page_text: In all the methods of mixing hereinbefore described the pulverulent or granular
form of the tungsten metal is not changed, there is no dissolution of the tungsten
metal in the fluid binding metal.and therefore no alloying of the two metals. Only
the particles of pulverized tungsten are soldered together by the binding metal to
form a homogeneous and dense mass of great specific gravity, which according to
the properties of the binding metal is more or less soft or hard, adapted to be
moulded or resistant. For instance when equal parts of pulverized tungsten metal
and lead are united they give a material which is very soft, fluid, ductile and
adapted to be moulded, because the properties of the binding metal, such as the
easy fusibility, the softness and ductility, are preserved in the same, whilst all
alloys of tungsten containing a high percentage of this metal are with difficulty
fusible, hard and brittle. By melting off the surrounding metal the pulverized
tungsten metal may be obtained again in its original state.
Dated this 27th day of July 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Tungsten Articles,"
and to Apparatus therefor.
1, ARMAND MIEG, of 24 Ecke Hirschgasse, Heidelberg, in the Empire of
Germany, Retired Major, 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 :—
My invention relates to the manufacture of tungsten articles and to apparatus
therefor.
Whereas solid articles of tungsten, owing to the difficulty of fusing this metal,.
can be manufactured only with the greatest difficulties, the method forming
the subject of my present invention enables tungsten articles to be produced
without special practical difficulties, in the most varying forms and sizes
suitable for numerous purposes, for instance projectiles, weights, pendulum balls
and the like.
These metallic articles of high specific gravity consist of a mixture of
disintegrated or pulverized tungsten and another metal or alloy, the several
particles. of tungsten being surrounded by the other metal and soldered together to
form a solid whole.
The method of manufacturing such metallic articles may be carried out in
various manners; it is however assumed that the metal serving as a binding
agent bas a lower melting point than the tungsten, and that the latter will not
chemically unite with the binding metal at the melting temperature of the latter,
as otherwise tungsten alloys would be produced which are distinguished by
difficult fusibility.; in the present case the tungsten remains in the article
as such.
I may manufacture the improved tungsten articles in the following manner.
Tungsten in a chemically pure state or rendered more or less impure by other
metals is mixed and rubbed in the form of a fine powder with an easily fusible
metal, likewise reduced to the form of a fine powder, such as for instance with lead,
tin, zinc, bismuth, antimony, or with alloys of these metals, alloys of mercury, or
with other easily, fusible, alloys, until a mixture has been obtained. To this mixture
may be added in special cases a finely pulverized harder and tough metal, for
example copper, bronze, nickel, brass.
The compression of this mixture to form a solid article may take place in
appropriate moulds by pressing. In this case the moulds or stamps must have been
:

page_text: heated, or must be heated during the pressing, to such a temperature that the
admixed fusible metal or the alloy brought near the melting point, assumes a pulpy
condition and unites under the action of the pressure in such a manner that a fine
skeleton penetrating the tungsten article is produced which surrounds and solders
together the densely compressed tungsten particles and also the small grains of the
metal which may have been added and melts with difficulty. After the cooling the
article forms a dense, hard metallic mass which is tough up to a certain degree. For
the mixture 1 may appropriately take the proportion of 10 parts of pulverized
tungsten for 1 part of pulverized metal or alloy. According to the quantity of
pulverized tungsten, the article becomes of course heavier or lighter, and more or
less hard and strong.
This improved method is adapted for example for the manufacture of projectiles of
high specific gravity, it being possible to obtain projectiles having definite properties
by suitably proportioning the quantities of the constituents.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the figures of which are
hereinafter referred to.
The pressing of round projectiles as represented for example in Figure 1, may
take place in a matrice a, having a cylindrical bore a¹ of a diametër equal to the
ball to be produced, between two stamps 6, 61 possessing spherical cavities. These
spherical cavities do not embrace the entire halves of the ball to be pressed, so that
their edges, after the cavities are brought together to a distance corresponding to
the diameter of the hall, will not meet each other but will leave between them a
cylindrical band d¹ Figure 2 of a certain height in the middle of the ball d
produced. By the further forward movement of the upper stamp the ball, after
the removal of the lower stamp or simultaneously with the same after the with-
drawal of its support c, is pressed from the matrice. The band is then taken off in a
Inthe and if necessary the ball is rounded by rolling in a rotary drum and smoothed
or polished.
The pressing of round projectiles may also be effected in two-part matrices a²,
Figure 3 hollowed out spherically, and having intermediate pressing jaws, a³ between
two pressing stamps 62 62 adapted to be moved towards each other and provided with
spherical cavities. In this case I produce perfectly round projectiles without a band,
any burr which may be formed can be removed by rolling in a drum.
In the described manner I may advantageously press, besides projectiles of the
most varying forms, hexagonal or other prismatic bodies which serve for filling
shrapnels.
The feed in definite quantities of the mixture of pulverized metal to be pressed
may take place in any desired manner, for example by hand by means of funnels in
measured quantities, or for production on a large scale from a reserve receptacle by
mechanical division and admission.
Instead of heating the mould only so far that the admixed fusible metal or alloy
is brought only just near enough to its melting point for a metallic union to take
place the beating may also be increased to such an extent that the fusible metal or
alloy becomes fluid.
I may also effect the mixing in such a manner that the tungsten metal is brought
together in the pulverulent state with the fusible metal or alloy in the liquid state,
whereby a mixture of metal with as high a percentage as possible of tungsten in the
form of a very dense conglomeration of pulverulent particles of tungsten with a metal
surrounding them can be obtained. As metals or alloys adapted to be utilized for
this purpose may be mentioned for example lead, tin, zinc, antimony, copper, nickel,
brass, cast iron or the like.
The tungsten metal which, as also in the before-described method, may be used
in the chemically pure or more or less impure state, is heated or rendered red hot in
the pulverulent or granular state in a crucible or in moulds, if necessary with addition
of suitable binding agents in a more or less compressed state, the soldering metal
being likewise heated till it becomes fluid and being then poured over the same.
While the heating is continued the fluid metal slowly penetrates into the pulverized
:

page_text: tungsten which is well metallized or into the porous article of, tungsten, completely
spaks the same, forces out the enclosed air, or gases, and, so surrounds the particles
of tungsten metal that they will be intimately soldered together... The fluid metal in
excess is at once poured off.
If the before mentioned moulding is to be dispensed with, the, pulverized
tungsten metal may also be introduced in the heated or red hot state into the
metal heated to fluidity. Whereas other pulverized metals would in this case
become alloyed with the metallic bath or float on the same, the pulverized tungsten
by reason of its specific gravity gradually sinks in the metallic bath, settles in
layers in the interior of the same until all the liquid metal has become inter-
mingled, thus forming a mixture which as in the before-described method intimately
unites particles of pulverized tungsten by means of a soldering metal surrounding
them. During this process the metallic bath is to be kept in a fluid state by
continued heating.
The fluid metal may be kept prepared in crucibles or moulds and intermingled in
the same with the pulverized tungsten metal. This is necessary when pulverized
tungsten is added so amply or such a soldering metal is used that an ulterior
moulding, owing to the hardness of the mixture produced, is rendered impossible or
that the mixture is not to become plastic.
In all the methods of mixing herein before described the pulverulent or granular
form of the tungsten metal is not changed, there is no dissolution of the tungsten
metal in the fluid binding metal and therefore no alloying of the two metals. Ouly
the particles of pulverized tungsten are soldered together by the binding metal to
form a homogeneous and dense mass of great specific gravity which according to
the properties of the binding metal is more or less soft or hard, adapted to be
moulded or resistant. For instance when equal parts of pulverized tungsten metal
and lead are united they give a material which is very soft, fluid, ductile and adapted
to be moulded, because the properties of the binding metal, such as the easy fusibility
the softness and ductility, are preserved in the same, whilst all alloys of tungsten
containing a high percentage of this metal are with difficulty fusible, hard and
brittle. By melting off the surrounding metal the pulverized tungsten metal may
be obtained again in its original state.
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 :-
First. Tungsten articles consisting of pulverized or finely reduced tungsten
with or without an admixture of other barely fusible metals, the small grains
being surrounded by very fluid metal or an alloy and soldered together to form a
whole.
Second. A process for manufacturing the tungsten articles characterized in the
first claim, in which pulverized tungsten metal, if desired in conjunction with
other barely fusible pulverized metal is mixed in a pulverulent form with an easily
fusible metal or an easily fusible metallic alloy and heated to the melting point or
to fluidity of the easily fusible pulverized metal admixed to the pulverized tungsten
metal, so that the same is fused together to form a fine skeleton surrounding the
pulverulent tungsten metal or this together with admixed barely fusible pulverized
metal, the mixture being if desired pressed in moulds and kept under pressure during
the heating.
Third. A modified process for manufacturing tungsten articles characterized in
the first claim, in which the pulverized tungsten metal with or without binding
agents is heated or rendered incandescent in a crucible or in moulds, eventually in
the pressed state, and soaked with a metal or metallic alloy heated to fluidity while
continuing the heating, or a heated metallic bath is mixed with heated or incandescent
pulverized tungsten metal use being made of its greater specific gravity and small
alloying capacity, thereby soldering the pulverized tungsten metal by means of a
fine skeleton surrounding the several particles.

page_text: Fourth. For carrying out the process characterized in the second claim a pressing
mould with stamps 6b which have semispherical cavities at the pressing faces and
"which do not quite meet, for pressing round projectiles provided with bands d which
may be removed in finishing the projectiles.
Dated this 18th day of April 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.