An Improved Metallic Block to be used in the Production of Hydrogen.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Metallic Block to be used in the Production of
Hydrogen.
We, WILLIAM HAWKINS and THOMAS HAWKINS, both of 38 Queen's Road,
Buckland, Portsmouth, in the County of Hants, Mechanicians, and HENRY
FULLER and WALTER HENRY FULLER, both of Commercial Road, Landport,
Portsmouth aforesaid, Drapers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of our invention is to produce a block to be used in the evolution of
gas and in carrying our invention into practice we propose to combine certain
metals which possess the property when acted upon by acidulated fluid of setting
free the gaseous element the said metals being treated in such a manner as to
produce a spongy agglomerate mass through which such fluid will percolate and
which metallic compound will present a large surface of metal to the action of the
said fluid.
The metals which we employ in the production of the block are iron, steel and
zinc and the methods which we adopt in the said production are the following:
The first method which we may employ consists in galvanizing iron and steel
scrap (preferably in the form of small borings, shavings and turnings, and which
are by preference first cleaned in the usual way) with zinc and placing the scrap in
suitable moulds which moulds together with the scrap contained therein are heated
to a suitable temperature and molten zinc is then poured over the heated scrap in
such a way and in such a quantity that the scrap will be bound together by the
zinc when the mass cools.
By another method we place the scrap iron and steel in moulds of a suitable size,
and having perforations therein, and pour the molten zinc over the moulds so that
the zinc will pass through the perforations in the mould and bind the scrap
contained therein as before described, or the moulds may be dipped in molten zinc
or in a solution of zinc and allowed to drain off in order to accomplish a like result.
By another method we heat the iron and steel scrap to a suitable temperature
and afterwards subject the scrap to pressure by placing the same in moulds and
compressing the same in a suitable press, or by blows from a steam hammer or
other means so as to cause cohesion of the particles and subsequently galvanizing
or coating the block produced with zinc by any of the methods before referred to.
The relative proportions of which the blocks are composed may be varied
according to the character and quality of the metals used in the production.
Dated this 29th day of April 1892.
WILLIAM HAWKINS.
THOMAS HAWKINS. .
HENRY FULLER.
WALTER HENRY FULLER
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Metallic Block to be used in the Production of
Hydrogen.
We, WILLIAM HAWKINS and THOMAS HAWKINS, both of 38 Queen's Road,
Buckland, Portsmouth in the County of Hants, Mechanicians, and HENRY
FULLER and WALTER HENRY FULLER, both of Commercial Road, Landport,
Portsmouth, aforesaid, Drapers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
Price 21

page_text: '
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention which is founded upon that described in the
Specification of our Patent No. 140511, is to produce a metallic block to be used
in the evolution of hydrogen and in carrying our invention into practice we employ
certain metals which possess the property when acted upon by acidulated fluid of
setting free the gaseous element, the said metals being treated in such a manner as
to produce a spongy agglomerate mass through which such fluid will percolate and
which block will present a large surface of metal to the action of the said fluid.
The metals which we employ in the production of the block are iron, steel and 1
zinc, either separately or in combination, and the methods which we adopt in the
said production are the following :-
--
The first method which we may employ consists in galvanizing or coating iron
and steel scrap (preferably in the form of small borings, shavings and turnings and
which are by preference first cleaned in the usual way) with zinc and placing the
scrap in suitable moulds which moulds together with the scrap contained therein
are heated to a suitable temperature and molten zinc is then poured over the heated
scrap in such a way and in such a quantity that the scrap will be bound together by
the zinc when the mass cools.
By another method we place the scrap iron and steel in moulds of a suitable size
having perforations therein and pour the molten zinc over the moulds so that the
zinc will pass through the perforations in the mould and bind the scrap contained
therein as before described or the moulds containing the scrap may be dipped in
molten zinc or in a solution of zinc and allowed to drain off in order to accomplish a
like result.
By another method we heat the iron and steel scrap to a suitable temperature
and afterwards subject the scrap to pressure by placing the same in moulds and
compressing the same in a suitable press or by blows from a steam hammer or other
means so as to cause cohesion of the particles and subsequently galvanizing or
coating the block produced with zinc by any of the methods before referred to.
Although we prefer to employ zinc for coating the iron and steel block produced
by the method last described we may protect the metal from oxidization by coating
the same with wax, grease or other known rust preventive coating which may be
readily destroyed or removed when the block is required for use.
The relative proportions of which the blocks are composed may be varied a
according to the character and quality of the metals used in the production.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The manufacture and use of a metallic block or cake suitable for being used in 4
the production or evolution of hydrogen gas produced by any of the methods herein-
before described.
Deted skin 20th day of Isl 1900