IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING WITH COPPER, BRASS, OR OTHER METALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi, of No. 1, South
Villas, South Street, Greenwich, in the County of Kent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING WITH COPPER, BRASS, OR OTHER METALS THE
Sealed the 29th July 1864, and dated the 10th February 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marie Celeste de Casteras
Sinibaldi at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition,
on the 10th February 1864.
I, MARIE CELESTE DE CASTERAS SINIBALDI, of No. 1, South Villas, South
Street, Greenwich, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of
the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING WITH COPPER, BRASS, OR OTHER
METALS THE SURFACES OF SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES OF IRON OR STEEL," to be
as follows:-
My improvements relate to the coating or covering the surfaces of the
sides and bottoms of iron vessels or other structures with a protecting coat of
copper, brass, or other metal. For this purpose the ship or other structure
to be covered is placed on a "gridiron " or other position where it can be
kept perfectly dry. The surface to be coated is then cleaned free from scale
or other impurities, and the copper, brass, or other covering metal is applied
and held to the surface to be coated, and by the application of heat is fused
thereon. For the cleaning I prefer to employ some mechanical means, such
as scraping or rubbing, and for this purpose I propose to employ rollers

page_text: covered with emery or other substance of a like nature, the rollers to work in
a moveable frame which can be adjusted to the form of any part of the ship or
other structure, the roller, spindle, or shaft to be connected by suitable
gearing or by means of straps and pulleys to a portable or other steam engine.
In some cases where it is necessary, such as in a very rough and uneven
surface or a narrow opening or joint, I employ a process of "pickling," by
means of vitriol or other acid diluted with water, taking care that the part is
afterwards thoroughly cleansed from all acid before putting the coating
thereon. When the surface is sufficiently cleaned I apply thereto a solution
of borax or other suitable flux. It is made perfectly dry, and is then ready for
receiving the coating of copper, brass, or other metal:
For applying the coating to ships or other structures under ordinary
circumstances, I employ a portable furnace provided with suitable apparatus
to be easily and quickly. moved from one part to another of the surface of the
ship or other structure being coated, by means of which I melt the
copper or
brass, which is applied by pouring to the surface to be coated, which is
previously made hot in order to prevent the molten copper or other metal
from cooling by contact therewith before it is thoroughly fused thereon.
One method of heating the surface to be coated is to throw thereon a strong
blast of heated air and flame from the portable furnace, taking care to interpose
between the cleaned surface and the flame a thin sheet of iron or other metal
to prevent its becoming dirty. Each section or portion of the surface intended
to be coated is previously surrounded with a covering of fire-clay or loam or
other suitable surface, or a box or frame of iron, and means are to be used
by which a stream of metal is made to flow through between the covering and
surface to be coated till it is ascertained that a perfect adhesion has taken
place. The flow of metal is then to be stopped, and the superfluous metal
returned to the furnace, the fire-clay, loam, or box or frame to be of a sufficient
height to confine the metal while in a molten state. After the metal has
become sufficiently cool the covering of fire-clay or other material is removed,
to allow of examination with regard to the perfect adhesion of the copper or
other covering metal, and if any portion thereof should be found to be imper-
fectly united to the surface of the ship or other structure coated, the part so
found can be cut out, the underlying surface recleaned, heated, and covered
with borax, and molten metal again applied as above' described. .
In some cases, instead of employing the portablé furnace as above described,
it may be found preferable to employ a stationary furnace of ordinary con
struction, and by means of suitable apparatus convey the molten metal in
ladles or "shanks," as used in the ordinary work of a foundry.

page_text: Another method is as follows:-After cleaning the surface and applying the
borax as above described, I take a plate or sheet of copper or other metal of
the thickness required, and clean and apply borax to one of the surfaces thereof,
which surface I apply to the clean surface of the object to be coated. The
plate or sheet of copper or other metal must then be secured in its required
position by means of an iron framing of a rectangular figure or of other shape,
depending on the form of the part of the vessel or other structure about to be
coated. This framing may be covered with fire-clay or other suitable substance,
and a sufficient heat applied at the back of the plate or sheet by means of a
portable furnace until the plate or sheet is melted and caused to adhere.
Another method is by means of the first-described method to apply a
thin layer of the coating metal, and then, in order to obtain an additional
thickness of the coating metal (after cleaning the surface and applying borax
or other suitable flux), I place thereon a plate or sheet of metal as described;
in the second method.
It can easily be ascertained when the sheet of copper or other metal is
melted. The blast can then be stopped, the metal allowed to cool, and an
examination can take place as before described. The iron frame above
mentioned is so constructed as to move easily from one part to another of
the surface being coated. In all cases where the plates to be coated are
fixed upon a ship or other structure built of wood, care, must, be taken that
the timber or joints and caulking thereof are not, injured by the heat of
the molten coating metal at, the time it is applied to the surface of the
plates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters, Patent, filed
by the said Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARIE
CELESTE DE CASTERAS SINIBALDI, of No. 1, South Villas, South Street, Green-
wich, in the County of Kent, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing, date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in, the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi, Her special licence that
I, the said Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channe!
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING WITH
COPPER, BRASS, OR OTHER METALS THE SURFACES OF SHIPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES
OF IRON OR STEEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said. Marie
Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements relate to the coating or covering the surfaces of the sides
and bottoms of iron vessels or other structures with a protecting coat of
copper, brass, or other metal. For this purpose the ship or other structure
to be covered is placed on a "gridiron" or other position where it can be
kept perfectly dry. The surface to be coated is then cleaned free from scale
or other impurities, and the copper, brass, or other covering metal is applied
and held to the surface to be coated, and by the application of heat is fused
thereon. For the cleaning I prefer to employ some mechanical means, such as
scraping or rubbing, and for this purpose I propose to employ rollers covered
with emery or other substance of a like nature, the rollers to work in a
moveable frame, which can be adjusted to the form of any part of the ship or
other structure, the roller, spindle, or shaft to be connected by suitable
gearing or by means of straps and pulleys to a portable or other steam
engine.
Figure 1 represents an end view of apparatus for cleaning the surface of a
vessel constructed as above described.
a is a wooden roller covered with leather and having emery or other
substance of a like nature applied thereto. Rotary motion is communicated
thereto in the following manner :-6 is a shaft, which receives motion from a
steam engine or other suitable power in any convenient manner, this shaft b
has formed therein a groove, into which takes a feather projecting from the

page_text: boss of the bevilled toothed pinion c in such manner that the pinion c may be
traversed along the shaft b, and still have rotary motion communicated thereto;
the bevilled pinion c takes into a bevilled pinion d, carried by the carriage A,
which is capable of being traversed along the rails B, arranged parallel or
nearly so with the side of the vessel to be coated; d¹ is a toothed wheel on
the axis of the bevilled pinion d, taking into the toothed wheel e, on the axis of
which is a bevilled pinion f, which takes into the bevilled pinion g, and thereby
gives motion to the roller a; the timbers C may be adjusted to the height required
by blocks, jacks, or other suitable means. The roller a is capable of being
forced against the side of the vessel by means of the lever h, the bevilled
pinion being kept in gear with the bevilled pinion g by the clutch i, as
shewn. In some cases where it is necessary, such as in a very rough and
uneven surface or a narrow opening or joint, I employ a process of "pickling,"
by means of vitriol or other acid diluted with water, taking care that the part
is afterwards thoroughly cleansed from all acid before putting the coating thereon.
When the surface is sufficiently cleaned I apply thereto a solution of borax
or other suitable flux. It is made perfectly dry, and is then ready for receiving
the cig of copper, brass, or other metal.
For applying the coating to ships or other structures under ordinary cir
cumstances, I employ a portable furnace, such as that shewn at Figures 2
and 3, which is supported on wheels and has a break applied thereto, as shewn;
in order that it may be easily and quickly moved from one part to another of
the surface of the ship or other structure being coated, by means of this furnace
I melt the copper or brass, which is applied by pouring to the surface to-be
coated; which is previously made hot in order to prevent the molten copper or
other metal from cooling by contact therewith before it is thoroughly fuzed
thereon. One method of heating the surface to be coated is to throw thereon a'
strong blast of heated air and flame from the portable furnace, taking care to
interpose between the cleaned surface and the flame a thin sheet of iron or
other metal to prevent its becoming dirty. Each section or portion of the surface'
intended to be coated is previously surrounded with a covering of fire-clay or'
loam or other suitable substance, or a box or frame of iron, and means are to be
used by which a stream of metal is made to flow through between the cover-
ing and surface to be coated till it is ascertained that a perfect adhesion has
taken place.
:
Figure 3 shews the furnace in connection with a box or frame of iron,'
which is fitted to the side of the vessel in such manner as to leave a
space between its lining of fire-clay or loam and the surface of the ship or

page_text: 2
7
other structure.to the thickness of the coating to be applied. Figures 4 and 5
shew two views of the box or framej to a larger scale. The box or frame j
is adjusted against the surface of the vessel, loam or fire-clay is rammed in
between the flanges j2 and the surface of the vessel to be coated, a holek being
left in the loam or fire-clay, in order that when a stream of metal is allowed to
flow into the space lit, may be caused to flow out at the hole k until it is
found than the coating metal has adhered firmly to the surface of the vessel,
when the hole k is stopped and the space filled up with the coating metal.
The flow of metal is then to be stopped and the superfluous metal returned to
the furnace, the fire-clay, loam, or box or frame to be of a sufficient height to
confine the metal while in a molten state. After the metal has become suffi-
ciently cool the covering of fire-clay or other material is removed to allow of
examination with regard to the perfect adhesion of the copper or other
covering metal, and if any portion thereof should be found to be imperfectly
united to the surface of the ship or other structure coated, the part so found
can be cut out, the underlying. surface recleaned, heated, and covered with
borax, and molten metal again applied as above described.. The box or frame
may from time to time be readily adjusted and secured in the desired
position on the timber D, as shewn.,
い
In some cases, instead of employing the portable furnace as above described,
it may be found preferable to employ a stationary furnace of ordinary con-
struction, and by means of suitable apparatus convey the molten metal in
ladles or "shanks," as used in the, ordinary work of a foundry.
Another method is as follows:-After cleaning the surface and applying the
borax. as above described, I take a plate or sheet of copper or other metal of
the thickness required and clean and apply borax to one of the surfaces thereof,
which surface I, apply to the clean surface of the object to be coated. The
plate or sheet, of copper or other metal must then be secured in its required
position by means, of an iron framing of a rectangular figure or of other shape,
depending on the form of the part of the vessel or other structure about to be
coated. This framing may be covered with fire-clay or other suitable sub-
stance and a sufficient heat applied at the back of the plate or sheet by means
of a portable furnace until the plate or sheet is melted and caused to adhere.
For this purpose I employ a similar box or frame to that shewn at Figures
3, 4, and 5, except that instead of the back being made of cast iron, a thin 3
wrought-iron plate would be employed, the hole k in this case would not be
required. In this case the frame or box would be held to the surface of the
vessel or other structure by clamps or rods screwed or otherwise connected

page_text: with the surface to be coated, so that the back of the frame or box j may be
left free for the application of heat.
Another method is by means of the first-described inethod to apply a thin
layer of the coating metal, and then, in order to obtain an additional thickness
of the coating metal (after cleaning the surface and applying borax or other
suitable flux), I place thereon a plate or sheet of metal as described in the
second method. It can easily be ascertained when the sheet of copper or
other metal is melted. The blast can then be stopped, the metal allowed to
cool, and an examination can take place as before described. The iron frame
above mentioned is so constructed as to move easily from one part to another
of the surface being coated. In all cases where the plates to be coated are
fixed upon a ship or other structure built of wood, care must be taken to raise
the heat of the surface to be coated to the desired degree as quickly as possible,
in order that the timber or joints and caulking thereof may not be injured by
the heat of the molten coating metal at the time it is applied to the surface
of the plates.
j
In witness whereof, I, the said Marie Celeste de Casteras Sinibaldi,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
MARIE CELESTE SINIBALDI,
née de Casteras.
(L.S.)