IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOSITION AND MANUFACTURE OF PHOSPHORESCENT POWDERS, AND IN A SPECIAL MECHANISM FOR AUGMENTING THE INTENSITY AND DURATION OF THEIR LUMINOUS PROPERTIES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE COMPOSITION AND MANUFACTURE OF PHOSPHORESCENT POWDERS, AND IN
A SPECIAL MECHANISM FOR AUGMENTING THE INTENSITY AND DURATION OF
THEIR LUMINOUS PROPERTIES." A communication from abroad by Jules
Peiffer, William Fitz-Charles Mac Carty, Colonel, and Prince Talleyrand
Périgord de Sagan, all of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Morgan-Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1878.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOSITION AND MANUFACTURE OF PHOSPHOR-
ESCENT POWDERS, AND IN A SPECIAL MECHANISM FOR AUGMENTING THE INTENSITY
AND DURATION OF THEIR LUMINOUS PROPERTIES." A communication from abroad
by Jules Peiffer, William Fitz-Charles Mac Carty, Colonel, and Prince Talleyrand
Perigord de Sagan, all of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
The object of this Invention is to obtain and to utilize at night time the light
taken or absorbed during the day time from direct or indirect sunlight, or from
an artificial light, either by employing these phosphorescent powders simply after
exposure, or by augmenting their brilliancy by means of electricity.
COMPOSITION AND MANUFACTURE OF THE LUMINOUS PRODUCTS, AND THEIR
APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THE USE OF ELECTRICITY.
I take, firstly, 100 parts by weight of a carbonate of lime and phosphate of lime,
produced by the calcination of sea shells, and especially those of the genus Tridacna
and the cuttle fish bone; secondly, 100 parts by weight of lime rendered chemically
[Price 6d.

page_text: APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY FOR AUGMENTING THE BRILLIANCY OR LUMINOUS
PROPERTIES OF THE PHOSPHORESCENT POWDERS, AND SPECIAL MECHANISM
EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
It has been observed after various trials that the passage of an electric current
through the different above-described compositions of these luminous substances
augments their luminous properties or brilliancy to a very great extent; this
peculiarity is intended to be utilized by various applications which would be too
numerous to describe; it is considered therefore sufficient for instance to describe
this application for buoys conjointly with the four Figures of the annexed Sheet of
Drawing, of which Figuro 1 is a front elevation of a buoy with a sea water battery;
and Figure 2 a plan, partly in section, of the head of this buoy; and Figures 3 and
4, similar views of the luminous parts of a buoy acted upon by an ordinary
battery.
For this purpose a certain quantity of the said powders are charged between two
hemispheres 1, 1, made of transparent glass to about the height indicated, and these
two hemispheres are fastened to the head 2 of the buoy 3 by means of bolts 4; or
these two hemispheres 1, 1, are formed of one single piece with a hole 5 for charging,
which after it is charged is closed by a stopper 6, see Figures 3 and 4, and this
luminous head is fastened to the buoy 3 by means of bolts 4, as in the first case.
When these buoys are placed at sea the properties of the sea water are utilized for
creating an electric current by means of a battery formed of zinc and copper plates
7 and 8, mounted upon the buoy itself by means of insulated bolts 9. The said
plates are perforated and fitted at a certain distance from the buoy and from each
other so as to give suitable admission of the water for producing the desired chemical
effect. From each pole of this battery wires 10 and 11 are made to traverse the
luminous substance and illuminate the head of the buoy by its course from one of
the poles to the other, and in order that this augmentation of brilliancy may be
imparted to the phosphorescent powders very fine metallic powder, such as zinc,
copper, antimony, etc., are mixed therewith in the proportion of, say, 10 to 20 per

page_text: cent. of the whole mass. A battery formed in this way will maintain without any
expense, repairs, or attention until it is completely used up, i.e., until the metals
with which the battery is composed are destroyed.
The effect of different colors is also used for these buoys by charging the upper
empty part of the head with various gases, such as hydrogen, oxygen, ozone, or even
by merely abstracting the air from such part.
For buoys placed in rivers and fresh water in general the battery is fitted in the
luminous head, see Figures 3 and 4, with four elements 12 and an induction coil 13,
whereby the wires 10 and 11 are directed into the luminous head in the same
manner as has been described with regard to Figures 1 and 2. A diaphragm 14 of
hard rubber bolted between the luminous head and the buoy itself serves as a table
for the battery. When it is necessary to renew the battery it suffices merely to
remove the bolts 4, and the luminous head may be taken away.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, as well as the best means I
am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, I claim and desire to secure
by Letters Patent,—
First. The above-described compositions and manufacture of phosphorescent
powders consisting in the first case of five ingredients, and in the second case of six
ingredients.
Second. The mixture of these products with a varnish so as to form a paste, and
the application of this paste to objects in the above-described manner.
Third. The application of these powders to solid objects, such as cellulose and
other similar substances, and their incorporation into the surface of these objects as-
above described and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The conversion of these powders into translucent flexible sheets by the
addition of ether and collodion, and the application of these sheets to these objects
in the above-described manner.
Fifth. The mixture of these powders with stearine, paraffine, and other similar
products in the above given proportions, the reduction of this product into flexible
sheets, and their application to objects for the purposes above mentioned.
Sixth. The mixture of these powders into melted glass or upon glass in a plastic
state, as above described and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. The application of electricity to the said luminous products for the
purpose of augmenting the brilliancy and duration of their luminous properties as
above described. And,
Eighth. The sea water battery especially adapted to this latter use as above
described, and shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TUTT
TRAIT
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.B.)