AN IMPROVED MIXTURE OR COMPOUND TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF STEEL AND OTHER METALS, AND PROCESS OR METHOD OF USING THE SAME
Year: 1881

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of the Firm of Wm. P. Thompson
and Company, Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323, High Holborn,
London, County of Middlesex, and of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED MIXTURE OR
COMPOUND TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF STEEL
AND OTHER METALS, AND PROCESS OR METHOD OF USING THE SAME."
A communication from abroad by John Conant, M.D., of Prairie du Chien,
County of Crawford, State of Wisconsin, United States of America.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1881.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the Firm of Wm. P. Thompson and Company, Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323, High Holborn, London, County of Middlesex,
and of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
" AN
IMPROVED MIXTURE OR COMPOUND TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OR
TREATMENT OF STEEL AND OTHER METALS, AND PROCESS OR METHOD OF USING
THE SAME. A communication from abroad by John Conant, M.D., of Prairie
du Chien, County of Crawford, State of Wisconsin, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in manufacturing, tempering, hardening,
refining, toughening, welding, and working steel, iron, and other metals, and for the
restoration of burnt steel; and it consists in the use of a compound or mixture, and
the process or method of using it.
The compound is made of sulphate of copper three and a half parts, rosin four
parts, and salamoniac two and a half parts. I do not of course bind myself to these
exact proportions, which are merely those preferably used by me in making this
compound, and they may be varied within reasonable limits to suit the circum-
stances under which it is employed, the nature or condition of the metal, and so
forth, or even for different temperatures of the same metal. Usually the salamoniac
is mixed with borax in any desired quantity, but in some instances the borax can

page_text: The
be dispensed with without in any important degree changing the result.
compound may be prepared at will in any convenient form of solution or powder,
as the special use it is designed for may require.
The usual method of manipulating this compound is as follows:-In small work,
where the metal can readily be handled with tongs, the metal properly heated is
rubbed or dipped into the powder or solution as often as the required temper or
hardness demands, and during this process the metal becomes more
thoroughly impregnated with the compound. If desired the process can be repeated
over and over until the metal shall have practically a new body or condition as well
as a new surface.
or less
When this treatment has been finished the metal may be chilled or hardened by
the ordinary methods or in a bath of this solution.
In surface or plane work, such as plates, ploughshares, and mould boards, it will be
found best to heat each piece a little and then sprinkle powdered borax over it; this
will hold the powder or compound which is afterwards sprinkled evenly over its
surface while baking or heating in the oven, and it will all be fused alike and the
whole sheet be evenly tempered through and through, so that the surface on both
sides is hard and smooth. Then chill as before.
In work that is large and heavy, or where there are inconvenient surfaces that must
be heated and treated at the same time, the mass can be immersed in a solution or
bath of the compound and then burned dry, that is, until no more of the compound
is left on the surface of the metal, or until the metal refuses to take any more of the
compound. This can be repeated as often as necessary or desired, and the work
then chilled as before explained. By this process the metal is not merely case
hardened according to the usual acceptation of the term, but is equally and evenly
incorporated throughout with this compound or solution; nor is it merely a tempering
process, for the metal is improved in quality by incorporating it with this compound
or solution independently of the tempering, though it is auxiliary to the tempering,
and the compound or solution can be used effectively and successfully in and from
the fusion of metals up and through their formation into manufactured goods and
the finishing up of the same. By using the above compound in substantially the
above manner the sulphate of copper is unified with the other metals.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 21st
May 1881.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the Firm of Wm. P. Thompson and Company, Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323, High Holborn, London, County of Middlesex,
and of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. AN
IMPROVED MIXTURE OR COMPOUND TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OR
TREATMENT OF STEEL AND OTHER METALS, AND PROCESS OR METHOD OF USING
THE SAME. A communication from abroad by John Conant, M.D., of Prairie.
du Chien, County of Crawford, State of Wisconsin, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in manufacturing, tempering, hardening,
refining, toughening, welding, and working steel, iron, and other metals, and for the
restoration of burnt steel, and it consists in the use of a compound or mixture and
the process or method of using it.
The compound is made of sulphate of copper three and a half parts, rosin four
parts, and salamoniac two and a half parts, all by weight. I do not of course bind
myself to these exact proportions, which are merely those preferably used by me in
making this compound, and they may be varied within reasonable limits to suit the
circumstances under which it is employed, the nature or condition of the metal, and
so forth, or even for different temperatures of the same metal. Usually the
salamoniac is mixed with borax in any desired quantity, but in some instances,
such as in small work done on the anvil, the borax can be dispensed with without
in any important degree changing the result. The compound may be prepared at
will in any convenient form of solution or powder as the special use it is designed
for may require.
The usual method of manipulating this compound is as follows:-In small work,
where the metal can readily be handled with tongs, the metal properly heated (that
is, within the limits of a dull red and a white heat sufficient to melt the copper and
absorb it or the compound, the exact degree of heat may vary with almost every
case) is rubbed or dipped into the powder or solution, or the powder or solution may
be applied in some other convenient manner, such, for instance, as throwing it by
hand or otherwise upon the hot metal or upon the anvil, so that while the metal is
being pounded it is worked in as often as the required temper or hardness or
other desired advantage demands, and during this process the metal becomes more
or less thoroughly impregnated or incorporated with the compound. If desired the
process can be repeated over and over until the metal shall have practically a new
body or condition as well as a new surface. No precise rule can be laid down for
the number of dippings or for the time occupied in that part of the process, as they
vary with the circumstances of each case, but the skilled operator quickly knows
when the operation is completed, and uses his own judgment in deciding.
When this treatment has been finished the metal may be chilled or hardened by
the ordinary methods or in a bath of this solution.
In surface or plane work, such as plates, ploughshares, and mould boards, it will
be found best to heat each piece a little and then sprinkle powdered borax over it;
this will hold the powder or compound which is afterwards sprinkled evenly over
its surface while baking or heating in the oven, and it will all be fused alike and the
whole sheet be evenly tempered through and through, so that the surface on both
sides is hard and smooth. Then chill as before.
In work that is large and heavy, or where there are inconvenient surfaces that
must be heated and treated at the same time, the mass can be immersed in a
solution or bath of the compound and then burned dry, that is, until no more of the
compound is left on the surface of the metal, or until the metal refuses to take any

page_text: more of the compound. This can be repeated as often as necessary or desired, and
the work then chilled as before explained. By this process the metal is not merely
caso hardened according to the usual acceptation of the term, but is equally and
evenly incorporated throughout with this compound or solution; nor is it merely a
tempering process, for the metal is improved in quality, incorporating it with this
compound or solution independently of the tempering, though it is auxiliary to the
tempering, and the compound or solution can be used effectively and successively in
and from the fusion of metals up and through their formation into manufactured
goods and the finishing up of the same. By using the above compound in
substantially the above manner the sulphate of copper is unified with the other
metals.
Other salts of copper can be used in place of the sulphate, but they are mostly
more expensive or more difficult to use, and I therefore prefer the sulphate.
Similarly other resinous matters can be used instead of rosin, but rosin being cheap
and suitable I prefer it.
My correspondent adds: "By using the above compound in substantially the
above way the sulphate of copper is unified with the other metals, and, to coin a
phrase to express the result, incopporated' therewith.
"Nor do I mean to limit myself to the process above mentioned for carrying out
my Invention or using this compound, since in the mere details of its use the
facilities or skill of the workman will chiefly direct how that shall be
accomplished."
Having now described this Invention as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, and the method of performing the same, I wish it to be understood
that what I claim and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The herein described compound consisting of sulphate or other equivalent
salt of copper, rosin, and salamoniac, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Second. The hereindescribed process for the treatment of steel and other metals
by means of a compound or mixture of sulphate or other equivalent salt of copper,
rosin, and salamoniac, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Julius Boult, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
"
מינח
T BANT