IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-DEPOSITING COPPER RRASS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Walenn of Delmar Villa, 520 Caledonian
Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Electrician for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-DEPOSITING COPPER RRASS AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Walenn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY WALENN, of Delmar Villa, 520 Caledonian Road, Islington, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Electrician, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRO-DEPOSITING COPPER, BRASS AND BRONZE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES,"
This Invention relates more particularly to the Improvements set forth in the
Specifications filed in pursuance of Letters Patent No. 1540, A.D, 1857, and in
No. 3930, A.D. 1868.
The first part of the present Invention relates to electro-depositing copper upon
iron or upon similar metals so that the coating may be soft and adherent.-This
part of the Invention consists in using the solution at a boiling heat or near
thereto, namely from 150° Fahrenheit to the boiling point of the solution.
The second part of the Invention is to prevent the evaporation of a solution
which is heated during deposition.-A cover with a long condensing worm tube is
used to the depositing bath.-The upper end of the tube opens into a box con-
taining materials to condense or appropriate the gases that escape.-The liquids
flow back down the tube into the tank.
The third part of the Invention consists in working electro-depositing solutions
in a closed vessel under a known pressure, the pressure being applied by heating
the solution or otherwise.
The closed vessel may be used for solutions in which there is free ammonia, or
where other conditions arise in which it is necessary to enclose the solution,
although neither appreciable increase of pressure arises, nor is heat applied.-If
there be much gas coming off, the condensing tube opening into a box, of the
second part of my Improvements, may be employed.
The fourth part of the Invention consists in adding to the charged and fully
made copper, brassing, or bronzing solution, cupric ammonide in the cold until the
solution is slightly green.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Walenn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd October 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY WALENN, of Delmar Villa, 520 Caledonian Road, Islington, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Electrician "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRO-DEPOSITING COPPER, BRASS AND BRONZE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
My said Invention relates more particularly to the improvements set forth in the
specification filed in pursuance of a certain proviso in Letters Patent, No 1540 of
the year 1857, and to those described in the specification filed in pursuance of a
similar proviso in Letters Patent, No 3930, of the year 1868, both granted to me
the said William Henry Walenn.
The Specification No 1540 of the year 1857, relates to methods of electro-
depositing certain metals and alloys in an adherent and homogeneous form upon
iron, zinc, and other electro-positive metals.-The deposit is produced either from
hot or cold solutions and with very little evolution of gas from the cathode, during
deposition, in comparison to that given off by solutions already known and in
practice.
In specification No 3930, of the year 1868, the evolution of gas from the cathode
during deposition is completely stopped, and methods are employed which tend to
give a thick coating with the ininimum amount of electro-motive force.
According to the present Invention absolute adhesion of the coating to the metal
underneath, in other words to the coated metal together with constancy of the
solution and softness and ductility of the deposited metal are the results of the
methods used.
The first part of the present Invention relates to electro-depositing copper upon
iron and similar metals so that the coating may be adherent and in a soft condition.
Preferably, the solution used, is compounded of thirty-two ounces avoirdupois of
cyanide of potassium (70 per cent real cyanide) and one ounce of neutral tartrate
of ammonium per gallon of liquid and it is charged with copper by electrolytic
means; the solution is then made complete by the addition of cupric aminonide as
set forth in specification No 3930 of the year 1868, or according to the last part of
the present invention.
According to the first part of the present Invention the above solution or any
coppering solution comprised in the two former Specifications is used at a boiling
heat, or near thereto, namely from 150° Fahrenheit to the boiling point of the
solution, whether the solution be under pressure, or not under pressure.
.The effect of heat upon these solutions is to soften the coating of copper and to
increase the rate of deposition very materially.
The following example of the application of this process produces a result which,
as far as the inventor is aware, has never been attained by any process up to the
present time. Thin sheet iron plates, treated in this manner, have the copper
coating so adherent that repoussé work may be executed on them without
interfering with the continuity of metal, or without exposing the underneath or
coated metal. If a plate be hammered to destruction, the copper coating will be
simply extended over the iron where it is cracked or broken. The preparation of
these plates, in this manner, for the market, forms a prominent feature of this
Invention.
The second part of the invention relates to a method of preventing the too great
evaporation of a solution which is heated during deposition.-The conducting

page_text: wires from the source of electricity are passed through the depositing tank, but are
insulated therefrom, and all rods or wires for suspending anodes or cathodes have
their bearings upon inside shelves mounted with slabs of non-conducting material.
Over the whole and dipping into a water seal, is a counterbalanced cover that is
removable by means of pulleys and slinging chains.-To an aperture in the cover is
adjusted a long condensing worm tube opening into an upper vessel or box that
contains materials which are capable of condensing or absorbing or combining with
the gases that escape.-The liquids flow back down the tube into the tank. This
improvement applies to cyanide coppering, brassing and bronzing solutions, to
gilding solutions, and to all electro-depositing solutions that are heated.
The third part of the Invention relates to working copper, brass, bronze, gold,
and other electro-depositing solutions, in a closed vessel under a known pressure,
the pressure being applied by heating the solution or otherwise.-This plan bas
the great advantage of preserving the purity and stability of the solution, and of
preventing its waste by evaporation; it enables the electro-deposit to be uniform
over the surface of the cathode and to be of compact and uniform quality
throughout. A high pressure is not recommended, a single atmosphere is in
general more than sufficient, but the Inventor reserves to himself the right of
using any pressure that may be found convenient. The tank and its cover may
have horizontal flanges, which, during deposition are clamped together with strong
clamps.
The closed vessel may be used for solutions in which there is free ammonia, or
where it is essential to keep the solution free from dust or where other conditions
arise in which it is necessary to enclose the solution although neither appreciable
increase of pressure arises nor is heat applied.-If there be much gas or vapour
coming off, the condensing worm tube opening into a vessel (of the kind described
in the second part of this Invention) may be employed.
The fourth and last part of the Invention relates to adjusting the depositing
solution, so as to prevent the driving off of ammonia by heat in the coppering,
brassing, and bronzing solutions described in the Inventors former Specifications
namely No. 1540 of the year 1857, and No. 3930 of the year 1868, and in solutions
used as in the present Invention. This improvement consists in adding to the
charged and finished solution in the cold cupric ammonide until the solution is
slightly green in colour. In a solution treated in this manner it is exceedingly
difficult to isolate the combination containing ammonia so as to obtain its formula,
but, from the constancy, persistency, and stability of a solution treated with cupric
ammonide as above described it seems most probable that a definite ammoniacal
salt is formed which is not decomposable (or is difficult of decomposition at a high
temperature.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is, or may be, used
or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First The electro-coppering solution set forth in the first part of this Invention
containing cyanide of potassium and neutral tartate of ammonium in about the
proportions herein named charged by electrolysis and completed by the addition of
cupric aminonide, as set forth and for the purpose herein named.
Second-Using the solutions mentioned in the first part of this invention at a
boiling heat, or near thereto, as set forth and for the purposes herein named.
.
Third. The preparation of thin sheet iron plates as set forth in the first part of
this Invention.
Fourth-The apparatus described in the second part of this Invention for
preventing the too great evaporation of the solution including the arrangement for
conducting the electric current into the tank, and insulating the tank, also
including the counterbalanced cover, worm tube and upper vessel; for the purposes
herein named.

page_text: Fifth Working the solutions mentioned in the third part of this Invention in a
closed vessel under a known pressure as set forth herein.
Sixth-The use of the closed vessel for the purposes (other than increase of
pressure) set forth in the third part of this invention.
Seventh. The addition of cupric ammonide to the solutions named in the fourth
part of this invention, in the manner stated and for the purpose named.
In witness whereof I, the said William Henry Walenn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this thirtieth day of September in the year of Our
Lord One the usand eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM HENRY WALENN (L.S.)