Iss- PROVEMENTS IN TREATING COPPER, AND PRODUCING THEREBY A NEW METAL OR ALLOY."
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Annie Getchell at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1881.
ANNIE GETCHELL, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
# Iss-
PROVEMENTS IN TREATING COPPER, AND PRODUCING THEREBY A NEW METAL OR
ALLOY."
My Invention relates to a process for treating copper to produce a metal especially
adaptable for boxes and other bearings in machinery and for other purposes for
which a metal having the qualities of hardness, density, toughness, and lubricity is
desirable.
My Invention consists in adding to the copper when at or near a red hoat a
composition composed of potash (or soda), aluin, bone dust (or other phosphate),
and zinc (or tio).
My object is not to harden the metal alone, which is a simple thing to do, but to
produce a metal which shall possess those properties which will render it most
valuable, being anti-frictional and practically indestructable. The metal I produce
being so complete a conductor that it will not heat or ruck up under any
circumstances, and its natural oiliness being increased by my process, makes n
great saving in oil, only one quarter of the oil being needed that is used on any
other metal. For the boxes of railway carriages, steam engines, and particularly
those of ocean steamers, which require constant running and constant care, its non-
heating qualities render it invaluable. My object is therefore to produce a metal
that will wear away slowly, not only hard but tough, so it will not break or
crumble easily; densc, so it will not be open or spongy, and to have lubricity (a
smoothness like oiliness), so as to render it practically non-frictional. The process
is simple; all useless waste of time and material are dispensed with to bring about
the above results with the greatest economy.
Having thus set forth in general terms in what my Invention consists, I shall
now proceed to so more fully explain that any one skilled in the art to which it
appertains may treat copper according to my Invention.
The copper is first heated in a crucible or furnace, and is brought to a red heat
or thereabouts, and then the following given composition is added.
Said composition in the proportion for twenty five pounds of copper consists of
the following named ingredients in or near the proportions given, namely, potash
.....מ

page_text: (or soda), one and one half pounds; alum, one pound; bone dust (or other
phosphate), one fourth of a pound; zinc (or tin), one fourth of a pound.
After the mixture of copper and said composition is melted, the slag is removed
and then the whole is ready to pour. It is desirable to have the metal covered
with charcoal after the slag has been removed, and while pouring to prevent
oxidation. The metal after being thus treated may be run directly into moulds.
The copper treated as above set forth will not only be hardened but will have
density and toughness in a marked degree. The resulting metal will have
lubricity, that is, a smoothiness like oiliness. All of these qualities, and the last
named particularly, make the metal especially useful for boxes and other bearings
in machinery as mentioned above.
Having thus fully set forth my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to precise details of pro-
portions of the ingredients employed, as these may be somewhat changed and my
Invention be embodied in such modified process, and I claim,-.
First. The above described process for treating copper which consists in adding
to the same when brought to a suitable heat a composition composed of potash
(or soda), alum, bone dust (or other phosphate), and zinc (or tin), substantially as
set forth above.
Second. The within described metal. having the qualities of density, hardness,
tougliness, and lubricity, substantially as set forth.