Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of, or containing Iron and Nickel
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of, or containing
Iron and Nickel.
A communication from abroad by La Societe Anonyme de Commentry-Fourcham
bault, of 16, Place Vendome, Paris, France, Manufacturers.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis, of 55
and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My foreign correspondents have discovered that alloys of iron and nickel
expand or contract under the influence of heat, in accordance with laws which are
peculiar to such alloys, and which are generally very different from the laws
governing the expansion and contraction of iron or nickel separately.
My correspondents have found from numerous experiments that by varying
the proportions of nickel and iron in the alloy, products are obtained whose co-
efficients of expansion vary within considerable limits. When the proportion of
nickel is less than about 20 per cent., the coefficient of expansion lies between
that of iron and that of nickel; but this coefficient of expansion increases when
the proportion of nickel is raised, until with 22 to 24 per cent. of nickel, it closely
approximates that of brass, when it attains its maximum. The coefficient of
expansion then progressively diminishes with further increase of nickel and it
is practically nil when the content of nickel reaches about 37 per cent. Beyond
this proportion the coefficient of expansion again increases and becomes approxi-
mately equal to that of platinum when the proportion of nickel reaches 45 per
cent.
The coefficient of expansion of ferro nickel alloys thus varies between a maxi-
mum and a minimum, the minimum being zero or approximately zero, and this
minimum expansion being attained by alloying about 37 per cent. of nickel with
the iron.
It is this practically non-expandible alloy obtained by alloying nickel and iron
in the proportions specified which forms the subject of the present invention.
The improved alloy may be produced in crucibles or Martin furnaces by any of
the ordinary processes employed in the steel manufacture. The alloys produced
in accordance with this invention may contain, besides iron and nickel, varying
quantities of the metals and metalloids which ordinarily enter into the composi-
tion of steel.
The improved non-expandible alloy is particularly adapted for the construction
of standard and geodesic rules level rulers and all astronomical instruments and
in general for all exact instruments or tools for which it is desirable to avoid
deformation. It will also be of great service in the construction of compensating
pendulums and balances where it is desirable to maintain constant the distance
between the point of suspension and the centre of oscillation of the instrument.

page_text: The alloy may also be employed with advantage for invariable springs for clock-
work movements.
By employing this improved alloy for the tubes of steam boilers or other
apparatus or parts, of apparatus exposed to a greater heat than other parts the
deterioration and excessive tension which result from too great expansion are
avoided. Conversely, by making certain elements of apparatus of non-expandible
alloy systematic tension or deformation may be produced which are much
stronger than have been hitherto possible. As examples there may be mentioned
bimetallic thermometers, the expansion plates of thermal variation galvano-
meters, fire alarms and compensators,
It will be understood that the non-expandible alloy may be mixed in suitable
proportion with other metals or alloys for the production of alloys having the
same expansion as other substances with which they are combined or connected,
such as glass, crystal &c., and this will be of particular advantage for the manu-
facture of incandescence lamps, Crookes tubes and the like, spectacle frames,
mirrors and optical instruments in general.
Dated this 11th day of May 1897.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Alloys of, or containing
Iron and Nickel.
A communication from abroad by La Societe Anonyme de Commentry-Fourcham-
bault, of 16, Place Vendome, Paris, France, Manufacturers.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of F. C. Mewburn and Ellis, of 55
and 5ti, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, de
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 foreign correspondents have discovered that alloys of iron and nickel
expand or contract under the influence of heat, in accordance with laws which are
peculiar to such alloys, and which are generally very different from the laws
governing the expansion and contraction of iron or nickel separately.
My correspondents have found from numerous experiments that by varying
the proportions of nickel and iron in the alloy, products are obtained whose co-
efficients of expansion vary within considerable limits. When the proportion of
nickel is less than about 20 per cent., the coefficient of expansion lies between
that of iron and that of nickel; but this coefficient of expansion increases when
the proportion of nickel is raised, until with 22 to 24 per cent. of nickel, it closely
approximates that of brass, when it attains its maximum. The coefficient of
expansion then progressively diminishes with further increase of nickel and it
is practically nil when the content of nickel reaches about 37 per cent. Beyond
this proportion the coeflicient of expansion again increases and becomes approxi-
mately equal to that of platinum when the proportion of nickel reaches 45 per
cent.
The coefficient of expansion of ferro nickel alloys thus varies between a maxi-
mum and a minimum, the minimum being zero or approximately zero, and this
minimum expansion. being attained by alloying about 37 per cent. of nickel with
the iron.

page_text: It is this practically non-expandible alloy obtained by alloying nickel and iron
in the proportions specified which forms the subject of the present invention.
The improved alloy may be produced in crucibles or Martin furnaces by any of
the ordinary processes employed in the steel manufacture. The alloys produced
in accordance with this invention may contain, besides iron and nickel, varying
quantities of the metals and metalloids which ordinarily enter into the composi
tion of steel.
The improved non-expandible alloy is particularly adapted for the construction
of standard and geodesic rules, level rulers and all astronomical instruments and
in general for all exact instruments or tools in which it is desirable to avoid
deformation. It will also be of great service in the construction of compensating
pendulums and balances where it is desirable to maintain constant the distance
between the point of suspension and the centre of oscillation of the instrument.
The alloy may also be employed with advantage for invariable springs for clock-
work movements.
By employing the improved alloy for the tubes of steam boilers or other
apparatus or parts of apparatus exposed to a greater heat than other parts the
deterioration and excessive tension which result from too great expansion are
avoided. Conversely, by making certain elements of apparatus of non-expandible
alloy systematic tension or deformation may be produced which is much
greater than has been hitherto possible. As examples, there may be mentioned
bimetallic thermometers, the expansion plates of thermal variation galvano-
meters, fire alarms, and compensators.
It will be understood that the non-expandible alloy may be mixed in suitable
proportion with other metals or alloys for the production of alloys having the
same expansion as other substances with which they are combined or connected,
such as glass, crystal &c. and this will be of particular advantages for the manu-
facture of incandescence lamps, Crookes tubes and the like, spectacle frames,
mirrors and optical instruments in general-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The manufacture of an alloy of, or containing, iron and nickel which does
not expand under the influence of heat, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. As a new product a non-expandible alloy of iron and nickel containing
approximately 37% of nickel.
Dated this 28th day of January 1898.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.