Improvements in Alloying Aluminium with other Metals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Alloying Aluminium with other Metals.
I, GEORGE LEONARD ADDENBROOKE, of 14, Keppel Street, Bloomsbury, in the
County of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In working pure aluminium with tools it is found that its nature resembles
copper, inasmuch as it is soft, easily bent, pulls or plucks out on the lathe or other
machine tools employed; and therefore much skill, labour, and care, is required in
working, polishing and finishing the metal for the many purposes for which it is
otherwise well suited.
My object has been to obtain an alloy of aluminium which-while preserving the
lightness and other well known characteristics of that metal-would render it hard
and better adapted for working under cutting tools, without adding unduly to its
cost; and therefore would not require so much skill and care in tooling.
It is well known that aluminium can be alloyed with nickel, and that the addition
of the latter increases the hardness of the compound. But I have found in practice
that such an alloy tears in working, and that it is extremely difficult to obtain a
good surface upon it.
Alloys of aluminium with tin, are also known; the result being an improvement
in the working qualities of the product; but I find in practice that the metal is
weak and short, as well as soft, so that it is easily put out of shape; and there is
also a very strong tendency to combine with the cutting edge of the tool 'with
which it is worked..
In my experiments I have found that an alloy of aluminium, containing both
nickel and tin, preserves the good qualities imparted by each metal separately, while
eliminating the bad ones. Furthermore, the qualities of the compound are still
further improved by the addition of a little copper. Such an alloy, mixed in the
right proportions, has the following characteristics.
1. In the form of a cast bar it is stiffer than ordinary cast brass, and nearly as
hard.
2. It can be turned and worked in the lathe with the same facility as brass, but
without the short grain of cast brass, the turnings coming off the tool in smooth
polished even spirals in lengths of several inches, or even of feet with ordinary
care.
3. The tendency to amalgamate with the tool is practically eliminated.
4. The alloy is easily and rapidly polished.
5. The colour is whiter and more brilliant than aluminium alone.
6. It casts better than plain aluminium.
7. The fracture of the alloy is a fine even grey colour, with a close texture.
I find that to secure the best properties in the product, not only must the pro-
portions of the constituents be correct, but they must be carefully combined.. For
castings, I find the best proportions to be as follows:
A 1
'

page_text: and dissolve therein. The resultant metal should be poured into an ingot mould,
and be re-melted twice before use, to render it homogeneous.
I do not confine myself to the exact proportions given above, nor to the addition
of copper, though I consider them the best for most castings. If a softer or more
malleable metal is required the nickel may be reduced to 1 per cent., and the tin
in about the same proportion. Under these conditions a hard, springy, sheet can
be produced.
If much more than 4 per cent. of nickel is introduced the resultant metal is very
hard but too brittle for most purposes, and does not work quite so well as when
'there is less.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.
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:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Alloying Aluminium with other Metals.
I, GEORGE LEONARD ADDENBROOKE, of 14 Keppel Street, Bloomsbury, in the
County of London, Electrical Engineer, 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:--
In working pure aluminium with cutting tools it is found to resemble copper
inasmuch as it is soft, bends easily, and pulls or plucks out when turned or other-
wise treated in the lathe or other machine tool employed. Much skill, labour
and care is required, therefore, in working, polishing and finishing the metal for the
many purposes for which it is otherwise well suited.
My object has been to obtain an alloy of aluminium which (while preserving the
lightness and other well-known characteristics of that metal) would render it hard
or stiff, and better adapted for working under cutting. tools, without adding unduly
to its cost; and would therefore not require so much skill and care in tooling.
It is well known that aluminium can be alloyed with nickel, and that the addition
of the latter increases the hardness of the compound. But I have found in practice
that such an alloy tears in working, and that it is extremely difficult to obtain a
good surface upon it.
Alloys of aluminium with tin are also known, the result being an improvement
in the working qualities of the product, but 1 have also found in practice that such
alloys are weak and short, as well as soft, so that they are easily put out of shape.
They have also a very strong tendency to combine with the edge of the cutting
tool employed in working the material.
In my experiments I have found that an alloy of aluminium, containing both
nickel and tin, preserves the good qualities imparted by each metal separately,
while eliminating the bad ones. Furthermore, the compound may have a little
copper added with advantage; and such an alloy-mixed in the right proportions-
has the following characteristics.
1. In the form of a cast bar it is stiffer than ordinary cast brass, and nearly as
hard.
.
2. It can be turned and otherwise worked in the lathe with the same facility as
brass, but without the short grain of cast brass; the turnings coming off the tool
in smooth polished even spirals in lengths of several inches-or even of feet-with
ordinary care.
3. The tendency to amalgamate with the tool is practically eliminated.
4. The alloy is easily and rapidly polished.
5. The colour is whiter and more brilliant than aluminium alone..
6. It casts better than plain aluminium.
7. The fracture of the alloy is a fine even grey colour, with a close texture.
To secure the best properties in the product, the proportions of the constituents

page_text: upper
The nickel is first brought to a white heat, and a little aluminium is then added
to it; the two metals combine with incandescence. The remainder of the
aluminium (which has been previously melted) is then added. The tin and copper
are also melted together, then cast into the form of sticks, and subsequently stirred
in the molten aluminium and dissolved therein. The resultant metal should be
poured into an ingot mould, and be remelted twice before use, to render it
homogeneous.
I do not confine myself to the exact proportions given above, or to the addition
of copper, although I consider them the best for most of the castings now made. If
a softer or more malleable mixture is required, the nickel may be reduced to
14 per cent. and the tin in about the same proportion. Under the conditions, a
hard, springy sheet can be produced.
If much more than 4 per cent. of nickel is introduced, the resultant metal is
very hard, but too brittle for most purposes, and does not work as well as when
there is less.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The herein described improvements in alloying aluminium with other metals,
consisting of the combination of nickel and aluminium with tin and copper,
substantially in the manner, and in the proportions specified.
2. The herein described improvements in alloying aluminium with nickel and tin,
substantially in the manner, and in the proportions specified.
3. The herein described improvements in alloying aluminium with other metals,
consisting of the combination of from 1 to 4 per cent. of nickel with from
1 to 3 per cent. of tin, and the remainder of aluminium, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein specified.
4. The herein described improvements in alloying aluminium with other metals,
consisting of the combination of 4 per cent. of nickel with 92 per cent. of aluminium,
and of 3 per cent. of tin with one per cent. of copper, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein specified.
Dated this 16th day of June 1800
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.