An Improved Method of Coating Iron or Steel with Copper and other Comparatively Non-oxidisable Metals.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Coating Iron or Steel with Copper and
other Comparatively Non-oxidisable Metals.
Wo, GEORGE PROUT, Mining Engineer, and DAVID MURRAY, Merchant, both of
12, 13 and 14, Barbican, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to coating or facing iron or steel bars, rods, tubes, castings,
forgings and other bodies, with copper, muntz metal, brass and other comparatively
non-oxidisable metals in such a manner that perfect metallic combination is effected
between the iron or steel body and the copper or other coating metal.
In applying our invention, by way of example, to the coating of an iron bar with
copper, we heat the bar to a temperature of 2000° Fahr. or thereabouts, and after
sprinkling its surface with borax, sal ammoniac, rosin or other suitable flux, we plunge
the bar into or pass it through a bath of molten copper. Whilst the copper wherewith
the bar is coated is still in a viscid state, we pass the coated bar between rolls or
through equivalent apparatus adapted for forcing the copper into the open pores of
the iron, the coating metal being at the same time solidified and a smooth finished
surface imparted to it. The rolling or drawing treatment is continued until the copper
has become completely solidified, the ultimate result being that the copper coating is
thoroughly welded to or combined with the iron bar. The rolls or equivalent apparatus
employed for solidifying the coating metal may with advantage be heated, in order
that contact with their surfaces may not cause a too rapid cooling of the copper; it
being desirable that the viscid character thereof should be maintained during the
initial stage of the rolling or drawing process.
Iron or steel rods, tubes and similar products may be coated with copper in a like
manner.
Iron or steel castings, forgings and other bodies of irregular form and unadapted
for being rolled may be coated with copper (of ample thickness to protect the iron or
steel against the effects of exposure to the atmosphere) by heating the casting, forging
or other body to a temperature such as previously specified, sprinkling its surface
with flux and then plunging it into a bath of molten copper. In coating certain
classes of articles, the copper covering, whilst still in a viscid state, may be subjected
to the action of a press, such treatment effecting a result similar to that accomplished
by rolling or drawing.
In the manufacture of such articles as iron or steel rolls thickly coated with copper,
we prefer to employ a mould which may be arranged vertically; and, having heated
the iron or steel body of the roll as previously described, we introduce it as a core into
the mould, the surrounding space being immediately filled with molten copper.
In lining cylinders with copper the reverse operation is employed; the cylinder
being heated, a core inserted and the intervening space filled with molten copper.
For coating the internal surfaces of tubes, we prefer to arrange the heated tube at
an inclination and to run molten copper through the same, the tube being at the same
time rotated.
For coating the internal surfaces of hollow vessels generally, particularly such as
are of irregular form, we heat them as before described and introduce sufficient copper
in a molten state to cont their internal surface, or such portions thereof as may require
to be coated.
In place of copper, other metals of a comparatively non-oxidisable character may
be welded or attached in a similar manner to an iron or steel body or core; the

page_text: flux, as also the temperatures being suitably varied according to the object to be
accomplished.
Although the employment-of a suitable flux will usually be found to facilitate the
attainment of a satisfactory result, wo do not regard tho use thereof as in all cases
essential to the success of our invention. Similarly, the rolling, drawing or pressing,
of the coating material whilst undergoing solidification, although advantageous, is not
essential for effecting metallic combination between the iron or steel and the copper
or other coating metal; such combination being principally due to the chemical
affinity which exists between the two metals when brought together under conditions
admitting of metallic combination taking place.
1000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Coating Iron or Steel with Copper and
other Comparatively Non-oxidisable Metals.
We, GEORGE PROUT, Mining Engineer, and DAVID MURRAY, Merchant, both of
12, 13 and 14, Barbican, in the County of Middlesex, 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 an improved method of coating or facing iron or steel bars,
rods, tubes, castings, forgings and other bodies, with copper, muntz metal, brass and
other comparatively non-oxidisable metals whereby perfect metallic combination is
effected between the iron or steel body and the copper or other coating or facing
metal.
In applying our invention, by way of example, to the coating of an iron bar with
copper, we heat the bar to a temperature of 2000° Fahrenheit, or thereabouts, and
after sprinkling its surface with borax, sal-ammoniac, rosin or other suitable flux, we
plunge the bar into or pass it through a bath of molten copper.
Whilst the copper
wherewith the bar has thus become coated is still in a viscid state, we pass the coated
bar between rolls or through equivalent apparatus adapted for forcing the copper into
the open pores of the iron, the coating metal being at the same time solidified and a
smooth, finished surface imparted to it. The rolling or drawing treatment is continued
until the copper conting has become completely solidified, tho ultimate result being
that the copper coating is thoroughly welded to, or combined with, the iron bar. The
rolls or equivalent apparatus employed for solidifying the conting metal may with
advantage be heated in order that contact with their surfaces may not cause a too
rapid cooling of the copper; it being desirable that the viscid character thereof should
be maintained during the initial stage of the rolling or drawing process.
Iron or steel rods, tubes and similar products may be coated with copper in a
like manner.
Iron or steel castings, forgings, and other bodies of irregular form, and unadapted
for being rolled may be coated with copper (of ample thickness to protect the iron or
steel against the effects of exposure to the atmosphere), by heating the casting, forging,
or other body to a temperature such as previously specified, sprinkling its surface with
flux and then plunging it into a bath of inolten copper. In coating certain classes of
articles, the copper covoring whilst still in a viscid state may be subjected to the action
of a press, such treatment effecting a result similar to that accomplished by rolling
or drawing.
Any suitable furnace may be employed for heating the bars, rods, tubes, or other
bodies to be coated, or for melting the copper; or they may be treated immediately
after leaving the rolling or drawing mill employed in their manufacture. The heating
of the rolls may be effected by means of gas flames applied internally.

page_text: In the manufacture of such articles as iron or steel rolls thickly coated with copper,
we prefer to employ a mould which may be arranged vertically; and, after heating
the iron or steel body of the roll as previously explained, we introduce it as a core
into the mould, the surrounding space being immediately filled with molten copper.
In lining cylinders with copper the reverse operation is employed, the cylinder being
heated, a core inserted, and the intervening space filled with molten copper.
For coating the internal surfaces of tubes we prefer to arrange the heated tube at
an inclination, and to run molten copper through the same, the tubo being at the same
time rotated.
For coating the internal surfaces of hollow vessels generally, particularly such as
are of irregular form, we heat them as before described and introduce sufficient copper
in a molten state to coat their internal surface or such portions thereof as may require
to be coated.
In place of copper, other metals of a comparatively non-oxidisable character such as
muntz metal or brass may in a similar manner be attached or welded to, or combined
with, an iron or steel body or core; the flux, as also the temperatures, being
suitably varied according to the object to be accomplished.
Although the employment of a suitable flux will usually be found to facilitate
the attainment of a satisfactory result, we do not regard tho use thereof as in all
cases essential to the success of our invention. Similarly we would have it under-
stood that the rolling drawing or pressing of the coating metal whilst undergoing
solidification, although advantageous, is not essential for effecting metallic combination
between the iron or steel and the copper or other coating metal; the objects of this
treatment being more particularly to effect the even distribution of the copper, to force
it into the open pores of the iron or steel, to solidify it, and to leave the coated body
with a smooth finished surface. The combination which takes place between the iron
or steal and the copper or other coating metal is principally due to the chemical
affinity which exists between the two metals when brought together under conditions
admitting of metallic combination taking place.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
1. The improved method of coating iron or steel bars, rods, tubes, castings, forgings
and other bodies with copper, muntz metal, brass, or similar comparatively non-
oxidisable metal, substantially as herein described.
2. In conting iron or steel bars, rods, tubes or similar articles, with copper or other
comparatively non-oxidisable metal, heating the bar or other article to a high tem-
perature, plunging it into, or passing it through, a bath of copper or other coating
metal in a molten state, and forthwith subjecting the same to a rolling or drawing
process, substantially as herein described.
3. In coating iron or steel castings, forgings, and other bodies of irregular form,
with copper or other comparatively non-oxidisable metal, heating the body to a high
temperature, plunging it into a bath of molten copper or other coating metal, and
forthwith subjecting such portions as admit thereof to pressure, substantially as herein
described.
4. The improved method of coating the surfaces of iron or steel rollers with copper
or other comparatively non-oxidisable metal, substantially as herein described.
5. The improved method of coating the internal surfaces of iron or steel cylinders
with copper or other comparatively non-oxidisable metal, substantially as herein
described.
6. The improved method of coating the internal surfaces of iron or steel tubes
with copper or other comparatively non-oxidisable metal, substantially as herein
described.
7. The improved method of conting the internal surfaces of iron or steel hollow
vessels of irregular form, with copper or other comparatively non-oxidisable metal,
substantially as herein described.

page_text: 8. An iron or steel bar, rod, tube, roller, cylinder, vessel, or other article, coated
with copper or other comparatively non-oxidisable metal substantially in the manner
herein described.
Dated this 24th day of Sentombar 1889
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.