A New Method or Process for Covering the Bottoms of Ships, also applicable to other Structures.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1893-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Method or Process for Covering the Bottoms of Ships, also
applicable to other Structures.
1, FREDERICK HALL SNYDER, of 12 Magnolia Avenue, Jersey City in the
State of New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:---
By this invention it is rendered possible to cover the bottoms of iron or steel
ships after they are built, with lead, spelter, or other suitable metal, with the object
of preventing fouling and oxidation, and of decreasing skin friction. The invention
is also applicable to ships, the bottom plates of which have been galvanised before
being built into the ship, as it is, in such cases, desirable to cover with non-oxidising
metal, such portions of iron and steel as are left exposed after the rivetting up of
the plates.
The invention is also applicable to other structures, and is
advantageously applied to them when they require a protective covering and when
they cannot be conveniently dipped into a metal bath or into a depositing solution.
I cover the metal surfaces in the following manner :-The plates are first
thoroughly cleaned by washing with a solution of potash, by rubbing with pumice
stone, or by means of a sand blast derived from a suitable sand blast plant
provided for the purpose. I may afterwards apply an acid. The coating metal
is prepared in thin sheets of suitable dimensions and these sheets are preferably
rolled on rollers of iron so that they may be conveniently heated to a moderate
degree if required. The plates or other parts of a ship or structure to be covered,
are then rapidly heated with a powerful blow-pipe flame derived from an apparatus
adapted to the purpose, and the thin sheets of coating metal are rolled on from the
rollers or otherwise applied with or without the application of a flux, and the
coating metal partially fuses and adheres to the iron or steel:
It is only proposed to deal with comparatively small sections of surface at one
operation, and therefore a large number of sand-blasts and blow-pipes may be
simultaneously engaged upon one ship or structure.
By means of the blow-pipe apparatus the surface of the plates is very rapidly
heated without heating the body of the plate to any great extent. This rapid
heating therefore results in economy of time and heat, and avoids any buckling or
distortion of the plates or other parts of the structure under treatment.
It is preferable to have the sand-blast, the blow-pipe, and the coating rollers
under the control of separate operators so that they may rapidly follow each other
in their respective order, and thereby effect a great saving in time. In this way
the lead or other metal coating can be applied almost as rapidly as paints and other
compositions of which the ship or other structure requires several coats.
It is preferable to employ compound sheets of coating metal in some cases;
that is to say, sheets having one face composed of a more fusible metal or alloy
than the body of the sheet. By this means it is ensured that when the sheets are
applied to the hot plates or other parts of a structure to be covered the face only
of the sheet will fuse and effect the adhesion. These compound sheets can be
prepared by rolling together slabs of the required metals or alloys, after the manner
in which some kinds of tin coated foils are commonly prepared. When using these
compound sheets it may only be necessary to heat the surface of the iron or steel to
a temperature of about 300° Fahrenheit."
This invention provides for the coating of a ship in such a manner that no
renewal will ever be necessary, and no barnacles or weed will adhere, while the
plates will be perfectly protected from rust and all small leaks effectually caulked.

page_text: These advantages ultimately result in great economy in repairs, but, the most
important result attained will consist in the greatly increased speed of the vessels
so coated, owing to the enormous reduction in skin friction.
Bridges and other structures will be greatly improved in appearance when treated
in accordance with this invention, and will be absolutely impervious to atmospheric
influence.
Dated this 1st day of Santambon 1802
FRANK WM. DODD,
For the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Method or Process for Covering the Bottoms of Ships, also
applicable to other Structures.
I, FREDERICK HALL SNYDER, of 37 Walbrook, in the City of London, 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 a process or method of plating or coating metal with a
metallic composition or alloy, the object of which is to prevent oxidation and
consequent deterioration of the metal so coated.
While the primary object of the invention is the coating of iron or steel sea-
going vessels, it is also intended for coating structures on land, such as iron piers,
bridges or any other structures that require protection from atmospheric action.
My invention will add to the life and improve the appearance of said structures.
It is well known that the action of sea-water rapidly oxidizes and destroys iron
or steel, and, to preserve sea-going vessels, frequent docking and painting are
necessary. But even this does not afford thorough protection, as, with the best of
paints, oxidation will take place; moreover, the least abrasion of the paint leaves
the metal exposed, and oxidation commences immediately.
By my process this defect is overcome.
I am well aware that what is commonly known as galvanizing, viz.: dipping the
metal in a molten bath, is far superior to any coating of paint as a means of
preserving said metal. For large structures, however, this method would be
practically impossible.
By my process I plate the structure, however large it may be, more effectually
even than by galvanizing.
My invention is carried into practice as follows:
first thoroughly clean the metal to be coated, by means of a sand-blast, which
operates to thoroughly free the metal and its pores from all oxidation, paint or
other substance that may have been applied thereto, and leaves the surface bright
and ready to receive the coating or plating.
If the surface has been previously painted, may before applying the sand blast
use a solution of potash, or any acid to remove the paint, or better still, an intensely
hot flame generated by the same apparatus I employ in the plating as hereinafter
described. For structures that have not been painted this preliminary treatment
with potash, acid or flame is unnecessary.
I prepare and apply the coating or plating in the following manner, that is to
say, I first make an alloy of lead and antimony, using preferably from 90% to 92%
of lead and from 8% to 10% of antimony. The alloy may be varied, but this
proportion, for surface work in ships, makes an effective compound.
This alloy I roll into thin sheets varying in thickness from a 64th part of an inch,
to a 32nd part of an inch for plain surfaces. For irregular surfaces, thicker sheets
may be used.
I cut these sheets into strips of from two to four inches in width, and form them

page_text: into rolls. These rolls should not be so large or of such weight that the operator
cannot manipulate them singly with one hand.
I then provide a blow-pipe or caloric engine, or any suitable device which will
produce a flame of intense heat. The burner is attached to a flexible pipe so that
it can be readily moved about over the surface to be coated.
I construct the burner so as to produce a thin fan-like flame. Different sizes of
burners may be used to produce flames of any desired width.
For plain surfaces a burner giving a wider flame may be used, than for irregular
or uneven surfaces.
To apply the coating or plating, I take the burner in one hand and direct the
flame upon the surface of the metal to be covered, and hold the end of the roll of
metallic coating upon the surface immediately in rear of the flame. As soon as the
surface is sufficiently heated the coating or plating melts and amalgamates with the
surface to which it is applied. The Hame, and the coating or plating roll are
moved over the said surface as the work proceeds and in this manner the whole
surface is coated.
In order to make a perfect amalgamation I may first wash the surface to be
coated with a solution of acid salts, or I may dip the roll of coating in the salts,
which answers the same purpose.
The advantages of my process over the ordinary method of galvanizing will be
apparent, as in galvanizing, the metal to be coated is dipped, in a cold state, into
the molten compound, whereas by my process the surface to be coated is heated,
thereby opening, by expansion, all of the pores of the metal which can then absorb
the coating or plating alloy. When the plate contracts, upon cooling, the complete
coalescence of the two metals is made so perfect that it is practically impossible to
separate them. And even when the coating or plating is scraped or abraded the
homogeneity of the metals is found perfect and oxidation impossible.
It will be understood that an intense flame must be used to rapidly heat the
surface only, and not the body of the metal to which it is applied. By this means
the thinnest plates of a vessel may be coated as well as the surface of the heaviest
armoured vessel.
My invention is also applicable to coating the interior of ships, such as bulk-
heads, water-tight compartiments and the like, which it is impossible to preserve
from oxidation by any known method of painting.
For coating structures upon land, when sightliness, as well as utility, is necessary,
I may use an alloy of tin and zine, with the lead, instead of antimony, which will
give a brighter appearance than lead and antimony while ensuring equal preservation
against atmospheric oxidation. But for the outer surfaces of sea-going vessels, I
use only the mixture of lead and antimony for the reason that it not only protects
the plates against oxidation but is poisonous to all animalculæ and vegetable life.
In applying my invention to a vessel's bottom, any small leaks or defective
rivetting that may have been overlooked by the builders will become thoroughly
caulked by the coating or plating.
The surface of the plating may, with ordinary care, be made as smooth as
desirable, greatly reducing skin friction and thereby increasing the speed of the
vessel.
My improved coating of lead and antimony does not set up galvanic action which
would tend to cause corrosion. For this reason, in all cases where the coated metal
is to be submerged or brought into contact with salt water I avoid the use of zinc
in the alloy.
As applied to a vessel my invention affords the following advantages:
1st. That one application lasts as long as the life of the ship which is increased
by reason of the preservation from oxidation.
2nd. Saving of loss of time and money in docking scraping and painting.
3rd. Reduction of skin friction by the prevention of the adherence of animalculæ,
grass and the like, thereby economizing propelling power. .

page_text: 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. A process or method of coating or plating metal surfaces or structures with a
metallic plating, which consists in heating the surface to be coated by means of an
intense flame, and simultaneously applying the coating or plating.
2. A process or method of coating or plating metal surfaces or structures with
an alloy of lead and antimony, which consists in heating the surface to be coated by
means of an intense flame and simultaneously applying the alloy which has been
previously reduced to the form of a thin strip, substantially as described, for the
purpose specified.
3. In the process or method of coating or plating metal surfaces or structures
substantially as herein described, first cleansing and brightening the surface by the
use of a sand-blast.
4. The method of preparing for being coated, or plated, and then coating or
plating, a metal surface, substantially as herein described.
5. A ship or other structure which is wholly or partially coated or plated
externally or internally, or both externally and internally, by the method herein
described.
Dalhin 10 da of T1 1002
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.