IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT. PREPARATION, AND COMBINATION OF METALS USED FOR SHEATHING SHIPS AND MARINE ERECTIONS, ALSO FOR ROOFING BUILDINGS AND OTHER *PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Searle, of Woodford Wells, in the County
of Essex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT. PREPARATION, AND COMBINATION OF METALS USED FOR SHEATHING
SHIPS AND MARINE ERECTIONS, ALSO FOR ROOFING BUILDINGS AND OTHER
*PURPOSES."
Sealed the 11th June, 1862 and dated the 12th December 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Searle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
December 1861.
7
I, RICHARD SEARLE, of Woodford Wells, in the County of Essex, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT. PREPARATION, AND COMBINATION OF METALS USED FOR
SHEATHING SHIPS AND MARINE ERECTIONS, ALSO FOR ROOFING BUILDINGS. AND
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The first part of my Invention.consists in the application of zinc amalga-
mated with mercury, or of iron coated, with zinc, commonly called galvanized
iron, amalgamated or treated with mercury, to sheathing of ships and marine
erections, buildings, and other purposes, also for the preparation in like
manner of bolts and nails and other fastenings used in building or sheathing
ships or marine erections, or for covering or roofing buildings, or for other

page_text: purposes, particularly those to which copper, yellow metal, galvanized iron or
zinc in its unprepared state have hitherto been applied, and I carry out this
part of my Invention, by preference, in the following manner:-I immerse the
zinc or other metal in sheets or plates, or any other form, in a bath consisting
of a dilute solution of sulphuric or other suitable acid, in which a portion of
mercury is also placed. The action of the dilute acid cleanses the surface of
the zinc or other metal by removing or dissolving any oxide of the metal
which may have been formed, and prepares it combine with the mercury,
which I gently rub over its surface with a woollen or other cloth while still
immersed in the bath, taking care to bring every portion of the surface of the
zinc or other metal into contact with the mercury. The articles so treated
are then removed from the bath, and any excess of mercury which may
adhere to their surfaces carefully wiped off, when the prepared zinc or other
metal is ready for use. When the zinc or other metal so prepared is applied
to the sheathing of ships, I place a portion of copper either in partial or
absolute contact with it, in such a manner as to produce a weak galvanic
circuit, the strength of the current being determined by the relative
proportions of the two metals so employed.
The second part of my Invention relates to a method of keeping the
bottoms of iron ships or vessels clean by the application of such proportions
of copper to their internal or external surface as shall cause a weak galvanic
action, but not sufficient to exercise a destructive influence upon the metal
of which they are composed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Searle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
SEARLE, of Woodford Wells, in the County of Essex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her Heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Richard Searle, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Searle,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Richard Searle, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT, PREPARATION, AND COMBINATION OF METALS USED FOR
SHEATHING SHIPS AND MARINE ERECTIONS, ALSO FOR ROOFING BUILDINGS AND OTHER
PURPOSES,"upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard
Searle, my executors, or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Searle, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be-particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
The first part of my Invention consists in the application of zince amalga-
mated or treated with mercury, or of iron coated with zinc, commonly
called galvanized iron, amalgamated or treated with mercury, to sheathing of
ships and marine erections, buildings, and other purposes, also for the
preparation in like manner of bolts and nails and other fastenings used in
building or sheathing ships or marine erections, or for covering or roofing
buildings, or for other purposes, particularly those to which copper, yellow
metal, galvanized iron, or zinc in its unprepared state have hitherto been
applied, and I carry out this part of my Invention, by preference, in the
following manner :-I immerse the zinc or other metal in sheets or plates,or
any other form, in a bath consisting of a dilute solution of sulphuric or other
suitable acid, in which a portion of mercury is also placed. The action of the
dilute acid cleanses the surface of the zinc or other metal by dissolving or
removing any oxide of the metal which may have been formed,aud prepares
it to combine with the mercury, which 1 gently rub over its surface with a
woollen or other cloth while still immersed in the bath, taking care to bring
every portion of the surface of the zinc or other metal into contact with the
mercury. The articles so treated are then removed from the bath, and any
excess of mercury which may adhere to their surfaces carefully removed,
when the prepared zinc or other metal is ready for use. When the zinc or
other metal so prepared is applied to the sheathing of ships, I place a portion
of copper,either in partial or absolute contact with it, in such a manner as to

page_text: produce a weak galvanic circuit, the strength of the current being determined
by the relative proportions of the two metals so employed.
The second part of my Invention relates to a method of keeping the bottoms
of iron ships or vessels clean by the application of such proportions of copper
to their internal or external surface as shall cause a weak galvanic action,
but not sufficient to exercise, a destructive influence upon the metal of
which they are composed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein described; but what I claim is, -
First, the application of zinc or other metal treated or amalgamated with
mercury to the sheathing of ships and marine erections, and also to building
and other purposes generally.
And, second, the method of keeping the bottoms of iron ships and vessels
and ships and vessels sheathed with iron clean by means of a weak galvanic
current, produced by the application of suitable proportions of copper or
brass to their internal or external surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Searle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
RICHARD SEARLE. (L.S.)