Improvements in the Production of Copper Alloys.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Copper Alloys.
We, GUSTAV PALIS, of 79, Wiesenstrasse, Elberfeld, in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, and HEINRICH RUGGE, of 6, Brandenburgerstrasse, Dortmund, in
the Empire of Germany, Merchant, 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:-
The object of this invention is to obviate the powerful generation of gases,
the partial oxydising and liquation, which has been observed hitherto in the
production of copper alloys and casts made therefrom.
The process is as follows:-
A certain quantity by weight of copper, iron, and manganese is melted down
with or without an addition of nickel or cobalt. After the melting has been
effected, a certain quantity of some suitable de-oxydising material is added
thereto for the purpose of effecting partial de-oxidation. This material consists
of a combination or preparation in equal proportions of phosphorus, ammonium
chloride, soda, magnesium and boracic acid. As soon as this addition is absorbed
by the fluid metal bath, zinc is introduced and the melting process continued
until the zinc is volatilised.
Hereupon, in order to eliminate the residue of the gases and oxides present,
the metal bath is removed from the melting furnace and placed on a rotating
apparatus, which is moved in a suitable manner alternately forwards and back-
wards, until the whole of the gas and oxide residues are eliminated from tlie
metal bath, this being ascertained by means of suitable apparatus for gauging the
time or temperature arranged on the rotating apparatus. For instance a watch
o clock of any preferred kind, on which the time previously ascertained in
which the complete separation of the gas and oxide residue is effected, is read
off, or a thermometer, which is arranged above the rotating apparatus, and
over which the ascending gas passes. On the thermometer the previously
ascertained degree is marked, which indicates when the mercury has reached this
grade that the separation of the residue of the gases and oxides is completely
effected.
Hereupon the usual casting in moulds follows.
The metal casts produced by the above process are entirely free from gas,
oxides, and liquation.
Suitable proportions of the metals for an alloy of copper, zinc, iron and man-
ganese are as follows:-
-

page_text: Copper
Zinc
Nickel
Cobalt
1,000 parts by weight.
550
500
25
do.
do.
do.
When the zinc begins to become volatile the melting process is at once stopped.
Thus the zinc is intended to be retained in the alloy. The beginning of the
volatilising, which is recognisable by the greenish-blue colour of the steam that
appears above the melting pot, is immediately interrupted upon the appearance
of the steam, so that only the very smallest quantity of zinc can become
volatile.
The volatilising thus indicates merely that the zinc is completely melted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
:-
1. In the production of copper alloys consisting of copper in combination with
zinc, zinc and iron, "zinc, iron and manganese," nickel or cobalt, the means for
eliminating gas and oxides and preventing liquation consisting in adding to the
metals during the melting process a combination or preparation of phosphorus
ammonium chloride, soda, magnesium, and boracic acid and afterwards rotating
the crucible on a suitable apparatus until the alloy is entirely free from gases,
oxides and liquation substantially as described.
2. The improved method of producing copper alloys substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of August 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.