IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND COMPOUNDS FOR PRESERVING STONE
Year: 1885

page_text: I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents, 6 Brean's
Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
COMPOUNDS FOR PRESERVING STONE" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention is particularly applicable to the preservation of and prevention of
decay in building stone.
In many kinds of stone which are largely used for building and especially in
cities and large towns, the decay or deterioration is very rapid and not only
greatly mars or destroys the carving or ornamentation in stone, but often continues
until the strength of the structure is impaired.
This deterioration or decay is produced by the dissolving or wasting away of the
binding material at the surface portion of the stone, and the effect of the natural
elements on this binding material is greatly increased by the gases which are
evolved from various waste substances in populous places.
The object of this invention is to supply the place of the natural binding material
at the surface of the stone by an artificial binding material which can be applied at
small cost and will not be dissolved and wasted away by the causes which are
sufficient to destroy the natural binding material, and which will also protect the
stone from the action of the weather.
By thus preserving and protecting the stone at and for a little distance inward
from the surface, I prevent decay in the body of the stone and thereby render it
almost indestructible.
I have discovered that by combining with vegetable or mineral oil which has
been brought to the condition commonly known as "fat oil," any suitable petroleum
products, such as paraffine or vaseline, and preferably also sulphur, a compound
may be produced which will, when applied to the stone have the desired effect in
preserving it

page_text: In carrying out my invention I now prefer to employ linseed or other vegetable
oil, but I may employ any suitable mineral oil. Linseed oil when exposed to the
air has the lighter elements removed from it or burnt out of it by the oxygen of
the air. This ordinarily requires a very long time because the surface of the oil only
is exposed, but if air either cold or warm under a slight pressure be blown through
the oil from a jet or jets, the intimate contact of the oxygen with the oil will be
secured and the oil will soon be brought to the condition desired. By this
treatment the nature or state of the oil is greatly changed and from a com-
paratively thin fluid it is converted into a viscous semi-fluid mass or gum, which is
commonly known as "fat oil."
In this fat oil prepared as above described, many of the heavier products of
petroleum such as paraffine or vaseline may be dissolved, and in such oil sulphur
will also dissolve very readily and in large quantities. I add to the fat oil such
products of petroleum and I also prefer to add sulphur, though I do not now
consider the latter indispensible.
The petroleum products and sulphur may be added in any suitable quantities
and may be advantageously varied for treating different kinds of stone.
I may for some stone employ to each hundred pounds by weight of fat oil,
twenty pounds of paratline and thirteen pounds of sulphur, and these may be mixed
with the oil by stirring or otherwise and by it be dissolved.
The compound having been thus prepared is ready for use. It may be applied
to the surface of the stone by a brush, it being slightly warm to render it more
fluid. When applied, the compound forms a gum impervious to atmospheric
influences which saturates the stone from its surface slightly inwards and forms as
it were, an artificial binding material which will not wash out or be dissolved.
also renders the stone waterproof and protects its surface.
It
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my Foreign Correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1st The method of preserving stone, consisting in saturating its surface with fat
oil, substantially as herein described.
2nd The method of preserving stone consisting in saturating its surface with
petroleum products dissolved in fat oil, substantially as herein described.
3rd The method of preserving stone consisting in saturating its surface with a
compound of fat oil, petroleum products and sulphur, substantially as herein
described.
4th The compound for preserving stone consisting of fat oil having in solution
petroleum products and sulphur, substantially as herein described.
DJ: 01
1
T
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.