Improvements in the Covering or Coating of Surfaces with Paint or the like, and in Surfaces so Treated
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Covering or Coating of Surfaces with Paint or
the like, and in Surfaces so Treated.
A communication from abroad by MELVIN BATCHLOR CHURCH, of Grand Rapids,
in the County of Kent and State of Michigan, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the covering or coating of surfaces
with paint, distemper, or the like, and in surfaces so treated, such process being an
improvement upon the present method of covering surfaces by the process of
painting same with a brush. One manner of carrying out my invention consists in
covering or coating the surface with paint or the like applied by means of a hose,
the liquid being under a suitable pressure, or the liquid may be distributed over the
surface by means of a blast of air or the like, the spray so produced being regulated
by suitable means.
Suitable apparatus may be employed for the purpose of
producing the blast or pressure, such apparatus being of a portable nature or
otherwise.
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1
D
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1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Covering or Coating of Surfaces with Paint or
the like, and in Surfaces so Treated.
A communication from abroad by MELVIN BATCHLOR CHURCH, of Grand Rapids,
Michigan, U.S.A., Manufacturer.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 54, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
My invention is designed for applying substances in a plastic or approximately
plastic condition to walls, ceilings, or other surfaces in order to spread upon such
surfaces in a divided condition a protecting or ornamental covering or coating.
The especial object which I have had in view of this invention is to lessen the
cost of the covering of large or uneven surfaces and the exterior surfaces of
buildings, and especially rough exterior surfaces for fire proofing &c. and to
provide a substitute for the ordinary handwork.
My invention is especially adapted for surfaces on which relief work is used. The
material which I have especially used in the practice of my invention is a mixture
or composition of pulverised calcined gypsum and other substances, known in the
trade as "alabastine" but I do not limit myself to this material.
It is essential to my invention that the material be in a soft condition, in which
condition it may be forced by an air blast or by pressure directed against the wall
or surface which is to be coated. I have found in practice that a good job can be
done with an air pressure of thirty pounds to the square inch. For the best effect
I have found that the material should be in a condition a little softer than ordinary
plastic material. It may be in such condition that it may be applied with a brush
and not thicker than ordinary paint if the surface it is applied on is of an absorbent

page_text: nature. The especial limitations when the material is applied to a non absorbent
surface is that the material should not be so soft or so nearly in a liquid form
that when driven in a divided condition against the wall it would run upon the
surface.
My invention consists, essentially, in directly projecting a material suited to
thus coat a wall or other surface in a divided condition against such wall or
surface.
In preparing the material for coating a non-absorbent surface I take alabastine,
for example, and mix it with water to a soft plastic condition as such material as
is ordinarily used with a brush and as is used in low relief work. The substance
being so mixed, it is then placed in a receptacle and pressure is applied thereto,
by air, or any suitable pressure or I may force it direct from a pressure pump, and
the material is forced through a pipe having a suitable nozzle upon its end. This
nozzle is directed by the workman towards the surface to be covered. The
material is thus thrown forcibly in a divided condition from the nozzle directly
upon the surface and is distributed upon the surface, to which it adheres and does
The size of the opening in the nozzle and the thickness of material must
be arranged, for the surface these points and pressure must be arranged each to
suit the other to produce the best results also, the pressure must be stronger
where a broad spread is required or where the material is to be first raised some
distance in a standpipe and also if it is to be thrown far from the nozzle.
not run.
When I use a plastic material to form the coating I prefer to use very heavy
pressure 100 lbs. to the square inch or more. I have found that increased pressure
helps to more thoroughly divide the material as it leaves the nozzle. Heavy
pressure is also desirable and a great assistance in reaching high surfaces without
using scaffolding as for example, the ceilings of high rooms, or the exterior
surfaces of high buildings, I have found that the best means for producing this
high degree of pressure is a suitable hydraulic pump-any ordinary pump will
do the work very well. I have employed a rotary hydraulic pump for this work,
also for producing air pressure which is sometimes used as explained.
I vary the means for carrying out this invention according to the kind of
surface to be coated, and employ such power for the purpose as is most convenient
or best adapted to the particular work in hand, that is, I may simply work a
pump by hand or by steam or other power to produce hydraulic pressure, to simply
pump the material through a pipe or hose direct to the surface, to which it is
projected from the nozzle at a greater or less distance as required, or I may employ
a tank sufficiently strong to hold the pressure required. This tank I fill with
material, (either partially or wholly filled with the material) and when only
partially filled I usually leave an air space above the point where the material is
to leave the tank. In carrying this out, 1 either open the tank and pour the
material in, after closing it tight then applying air pressure of sufficient power.
to force the material out as required, or pump the material with a hydraulic
pump into the tank, using air in the vacant space mentioned as a sort of cushion
to regulate the pressure. It is obvious that the amount of pressure I would
employ here would be regulated or limited only by the strength of the tank
and the power of the pump producing the pressure, and that by varying
pressure etc. as explained. I adapt this method to any kind of surface to be
coated. A safety valve should be used to prevent bursting pipes.
Where a rigid pipe is used leading from a tank or directly from a pump,
I
employ a piece of flexible hose attached to the rigid pipe which may be directed
by the workmen towards the wall. A nozzle suitable for the kind of work to be
done, is attached to the pipe or hose and should be supplied with a suitable means
for cutting off the flow instantly and preferably near the point of delivery. It is
advantageous to have the nozzle so made that the aperture or apertures, through
which the material flows, may be opened and closed readily to free them from any
obstruction. For ordinary work I free the nozzles of any obstructions by shutting
off the flow, and then inserting any convenient instrument, and by dipping the end

page_text: of the nozzle in water. The number, size, and shape of these apertures in the
nozzle I vary according to the kind of work to be done. To produce fine decorative
work and for tinting relief work, I use air to assist in dividing the material as it
leaves the nozzle, this I do by providing an air pipe independent of the one the
material is forced through this air pipe may be within or by the side of the latter,
or may be run from any other point to discharge either in or at the delivery end
of the nozzle, to mingle with the material as it leaves the nozzle or it may be let
in and impelled along with the material while both are under the same pressure.
This air pipe should be provided with means for controlling the air under pressure
at the end or discharging point. Where a tank is used containing air under
pressure as explained, I may take the air from the tank through the air pipe
keeping up
the supply in the tank by any suitable air pump.
I sometimes use air compressing apparatus separate from that employed to force
the coating material, this I find especially desirable when I wish to coat surfaces
requiring high pressure with air and a fine division of the material. It is obvious
that to compress the amount of air required would necessitate the use of much
more highly speeded machinery and greater friction than to force under high
pressure the comparatively small amount of material to project with it and that
while this can be done by putting both air and material through one apparatus
suitable for the purpose, and that the wear would be much less to use smaller and
slower motioned machinery to force the material separated from the air. This may
be done through the same or separate pipes.
The material, applied as above described, is sufficient for interior work and will
withstand exposure on exterior surfaces for a long time, but to increase its
durability and to give it a very high degree of resistance to atmospheric influences
I have adapted the same method to fill or cover the plastic coat, applied as above
stated, by a spraying of oil or paraffin in a liquid form or by any such well known
materials. Such materials thus applied to a hard or non-absorbent surface or only
moderately absorbent surface in the form of spray would run, and produce an
uneven and unsightly effect, but so applied upon the surface of a highly absorbent
material such as that above described-the oil solution of paraffin or like substance
is instantly absorbed and held and will not run, and another part of my invention
consists in the method of combining with the process described above this further
step consisting in spraying a waterproof and weather resisting liquid upon the
surface of the plastic coat after the latter has become hard.
I claim as my invention.
1. The hereinbefore described mode of applying a plastic or semi-plastic material
to walls or other surfaces, the same consisting in impelling said material through a
pipe and directing it in a divided condition upon the said surfaces.
2. The hereinbefore described mode of applying a plastic or semi-plastic
material to walls or other surfaces, the same consisting in impelling said
material through a flexible pipe and directing it in a divided condition upon the
said surfaces.
3. The herein before described mode of applying a plastic or semi-plastic
material to walls or other surfaces, the same consisting in impelling said material
through a pipe and distributing it over the said surfaces by varying the discharging
flexible end of the pipe and nozzle.
4. The herein before described mode of applying a plastic or semi-plastic
material to walls or other surfaces, the same consisting in impelling said material
together with a jet of air through a pipe and varying the end of the pipe and
nozzle so as to spread the material while it is being impelled against the said
surfaces.
5. The herein before described mode of applying a plastic or semi-plastic
material to walls or other surfaces, the same consisting in impelling said material
through a pipe while it is kept under a pressure in the pipe of 30 lbs. to the square
inch, or more, and directing it in a divided condition upon the said surfaces.

page_text: 6. The hereinbefore described mode of applying a plastic or semi-plastic
material to walls or other surfaces, the same consisting in impelling said material
through a pipe under pressure and at the same time impelling compressed air
from an air pump or reservoir which is separate from and independent of the
one employed to force the material, and directing the air and material upon 5
such surfaces.
Dated the 15th day of September 1893.
MELVIN BATCHLOR CHURCH,
Agent.