A New or Improved Composition, applicable as a Substitute for Wood and Stone, and for the Moulding of Hollow Ware and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
A New or Improved Composition, applicable as a Substitute for Wood
and Stone, and for the Moulding of Hollow Ware and the like.
We, JAMES AUGUSTUS WHEELER, of 82, East Mohawk Street, in the City of
Oswego and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, and
STILLMAN WITT EELLS, of 276, West 70th Street, in the City and State of New
York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to artificial compositions of matter designed to be used
in the manufacture of bath-tubs, burial-caskets, various kinds of hollow ware
and other articles including flooring, wainscotting, doors, etc.
The object of this invention is to give more body to the finished product and
to increase the solidity thereof by simple and inexpensive means.
The chief material in the compound to be treated and molded is fibrous pulp,
preferably wood pulp, except in cases where the compound is to be fire-proof,
in which case we use asbestos fibre in place of wood-pulp and mix with said
asbestos fibre an equal amount in weight of pulverized incombustible material,
which may be either ashes, or talc, or both, preferably finely sifted. The asbestos
fibre with the admixture of the incombustible material, or the wood-pulp without
said admixture we moisten with water, preferably of a temperature near boiling
point to melt or dissolve other ingredients hereinafter mentioned and to expedite
the drying of the article moulded from the compound. By this moistening the
pulp is rendered pasty, and we then mix therewith sodium silicate or silicate of
potash in proportion of about two thirds of the weight of the pulp or sufficient
to produce a doughy body, which is to be thoroughly kneaded and which, by
exposure to air and heat, becomes solidified, and by combining with said doughy
body pulverized lime in proportion of about one eighth to one tenth of the mass
by measure, it is caused to solidify as hard as stone and rendered capable of
resisting chemical action.
When the finished article is to be white we mix with the aforesaid compound
either white-lead or zinc-white or slacked quick lime.
When wood-pulp is used for the fibrous material we add pulverized resins or
gums to the compound while the latter is heated sufficiently to melt said resins or
gums a homogeneous mass is obtained which hardens with a beautiful lustre.
The amount of resins or gums is to be about equal to the amount of the aforesaid
whiting material. The compound thus prepared is specially well adapted for
forming therefrom bath-tubs and other articles liable to be subjected to alkali
soaps and hot water, which does not effect said compound.
This compound is further improved by adding thereto about 10 per cent. of
calcined pulverized magnesite soaked in chloride of magnesia or other chlorides.
The mixture is to be thoroughly kneaded and then moulded in the desired shape
by means of dies or moulds made for that purpose. The material is to be allowed
to set, and harden in the mould and the moulded article may be removed from

page_text: the mould and baked in a suitable kiln, and is thereby hardened to such a degree
as to allow it to be finished by either a cutting or polishing tool.
The moulded article may be further hardened by a coat of a solution of
chloride of magnesia or other chlorides applied by a brush or other suitable
means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The treatment of the fibrous pulp by mixing therewith pulverized incom-
bustible material, then moistening the mixture with hot water, then adding to
said mixture sodium silicate, then kneading the mass and adding quick-lime
thereto, then mixing pulverized resins with the mass while heated.
2. The treatment of fibrous pulp by mixing therewith hot water, then adding
to said mixture sodium silicate, then kneading the mass and adding quick-lime
thereto, then mixing pulverized resins with the mass while heated, then adding
to said mass calcined pulverized magnesite soaked in chloride of magnesia or
other chlorides as hereinbefore stated and again kneading the mass and finally
moulding it, as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.