New or Improved Metallic Alloys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1592
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Metallic Alloys.
We SAMUEL PEARSON of George Street West Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Engineer and JAMES HENRY PRATT of No. 27 Bennett's Hill
Birmingham aforesaid Stock and Share Broker do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to metallic alloys composed essentially of nickel
copper and zinc and consists in alloying the said metals in the proportions herein-
after described and in the method of treating the said alloys as hereinafter
described.
In the table given below we give in the first vertical column the percentages of
nickel which we employ in the alloys constituting our invention; in the second
vertical column we give the percentages of copper we employ; and in the third
vertical column we give the percentages of zinc we employ the several quantities
being parts by weight. The quantities in the said table read horizontally give the
proportions of the several alloys; for example in the top horizontal row of figures
in the said table are the quantities one half part of nickel; fifty nine and a half
parts of copper and forty parts of zinc. These are the per centage quantities of
metals of one of the alloys constituting our invention; that is the alloy containing
the lowest proportion of nickel. It will be observed by an examination of the.
table that in the several alloys the compositions of which are given in the horizontal
rows of figures the proportion of nickel and zinc respectively increase while the
proportion of copper diminishes.
With respect to the alloys constituting our invention we remark that the first
three of the said alloys are superior kinds of brass or bronze but are superior to
ordinary brass in the respect that when cut filed or turned they give a
" cleaner "
that is a smoother surface than ordinary brass. The fourth fifth and sixth alloys
possess the same property of giving a cleaner cut as the first alloy but are some-
what harder. The hardness of the alloy increases in the alloys following the
fifth.
The last five alloys are sufficiently white to be used in place of German
silvan

page_text: We do not confine ourselves to any particular method of working in the manu-
facture of the said alloys; but ordinarily we first melt the copper and nickel
together and then add the zine; or we first make an alloy of copper and nickel
which may be kept in ingots and melting this alloy add to it the requisite amount
of zinc. The metals being kept in a state of fusion and stirred for a few minutes
become thoroughly alloyed.
Although we prefer the proportions given in the table we do not limit ourselves
thereto as the proportions may in some cases be varied without materially affecting
the character of the alloy.. For example in the last five alloys the proportion of
copper may be increased or diminished to the extent of from one to two parts and
the proportion of zinc may be increased or diminished to the extent of from one to
four parts without material change in the properties of the alloy.
Where we desire to give a fine and close grain to the alloy as well as to make it
tougher and more malleable and ductile we treat it with a flux composed of one
hundred parts by weight of black, oxide of manganese or carbonate of manganese
fifty parts by weight of borax and twenty five parts by weight of nitrate of potash
or nitrate of soda. These materials in fine powder are intimately mixed. Of this
mixture from one to three ounces to each pound of the alloy is put on the surface
of the melted alloy in the crucible or melting pot and vigourously stirred for from
ten to twenty minutes. By this treatment the alloy is made tougher than it other-
wise would be and its fracture shows a much finer grain.
All the alloys constituting our invention may be rolled and drawn while hot.
Dated the 12th day of May 1891.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
New or improved Metallic Alloys.
We SAMUEL PEARSON of George Street West Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, and JAMES HENRY PRATT of No. 27 Bennett's Hill
Birmingham, aforesaid Stock and Share Broker do hereby declare the nature of
our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Our invention has reference to metallic alloys composed essentially of nickel,
copper and zinc and consists in alloying the said metals in the proportions herein-
after described, and in the method of treating the said alloys as hereinafter
described. Where great ductility in the alloy is required we introduce aluminium
and manganese in small proportions as hereinafter described.
In the table given below we give in the first vertical column the per centages of
nickel which we employ in the alloys constituting our invention; in the second
vertical column we give the per centages of copper we employ; and in the third
vertical column we give the per centages of zinc we employ, the several indicated
quantities being parts by weight. The quantities in the said table read horizon-
tally give the proportions of the several alloys; for example in the top horizontal
row of figures in the said table are the quantities one half part of nickel, fifty nine
and a half parts of copper and forty parts of zinc.
These are the per centage quantities of metals of one of the alloys constituting
our invention, that is, the alloy containing the lowest proportion of nickel.
It will
be observed by an examination of the table that in the several alloys the com-
positions of, which are given in the horizontal rows of figures the proportions. of
nickel and zinc respectively increase while the proportion of copper diminishes.

page_text: With respect to the alloys constituting our invention we remark that the first
three of the said alloys are superior kinds of brass or bronze, but are superior to
ordinary brass in the respect that when cut, filed or turned they give a
cleaner,"
that is, a smoother surface than ordinary brass. The fourth fifth and sixth alloys
possess the same property of giving a cleaner cut as the first alloy but are some-
what harder. The hardness of the alloy increases in the alloys following the
fifth. The last five alloys are sufficiently white to be used in place of German
silver.
We do not confine ourselves to any particular method of working in the manu-
facture of the said alloys; but ordinarily we first melt the copper and nickel
together and then add the zinc; or we first make an alloy of copper and nickel
which may be kept in ingots and melting this alloy add to it the requisite amount
of zinc. The metals being kept in a state of fusion and stirred for a few minutes
become thoroughly alloyed.
Although we prefer the proportions given in the table we do not limit ourselves
thereto, as the proportions may in some cases be varied without materially affecting
the character of the alloy. For example in the last five alloys the proportion of
copper may be increased or diminished to the extent of from one to two parts and
the proportion of zinc may be increased or diminished to the extent of from one to
four parts without material change in the properties of the alloy.
Where we desire to give a fine and close grain to the alloy as well as to make it
tougher and more malleable and ductile we treat it with a flux composed of oue
hundred parts by weight of black oxide of manganese or carbonate of manganese;
fifty parts by weight of borax and twenty five parts by weight of nitrate of potash
or nitrate of soda. These materials in fine powder are intimately mixed. Of this
mixture from one half to three ounces to each pound of the alloy is put on the
surface of the melted alloy in the crucible or melting pot and vigourously stirred
for from ten to twenty minutes.
The same effect, namely, the communication of a fine and close grain to the
alloy as well as making it more malleable and ductile may be obtained by replacing
the nitrate of potash or nitrate of soda by an equal weight of carbon. By this
treatment the alloy is made tougher than it otherwise would be and its fracture
shows a much finer grain.
Where great tensile strength is required we add from one quarter per cent. to
one per cent. by weight of aluminium to the alloy. This addition of aluminium
may be made to any of the alloys the compositions of which are contained in the
table hereinbefore given, the tensile strength of any of which will be increased by
the addition of the aluminium.

page_text: All the alloys.constituting our invention may be rolled and drawn while hot.
The furnaces and appliances we use in carrying our invention into effect differ
in no essential respect from those ordinarily used in metallurgical operations and
we therefore do not consider it necessary to describe the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim
as our invention.
First New or improved metallic alloys composed of nickel copper and zinc in
the relative proportions indicated in the table hereinbefore given.
Secondly Treating the metallic alloys referred to in the preceding claim with
a flux or fluxes having the respective compositions hereinbefore given for the
purpose of giving a fine and close grain to the alloy and making it more malleable
and ductile and of greater tensile strength.
Dated the Fourth day of February 1892.
SAMUEL PEARSON.
JAMES HENRY PRATT.