A NEW AND USEFUL COMPOSITION OF MATTER, TERMED METALLIC OIL,' TO BE USED FOR LUBRICATING THE AXLES OF WHEELS AND THE RUBBING OR WORKING PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES, AND EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING HEMP AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES PREPARATORY TO SPINNING THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Auguste Edouard Lora-
doux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 2nd February 1853.-A communi-
cation.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within the
time prescribed by the Act.)
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of the United Patent
Offices, 16, Castle Street, Holborn, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW AND USEFUL COMPOSITION OF
MATTER, TERMED METALLIC OIL,' TO BE USED FOR LUBRICATING THE AXLES
OF WHEELS AND THE RUBBING OR WORKING PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES, AND
EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING HEMP AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES PREPARATORY TO SPINNING THE SAME, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The nature of this Invention consists in forming a base for the
lubricating mixture by combining potash or other alkaline substance
with fresh water and oil, lard, or resin, or other oily, fatty, or re-
sinous substance, in such or nearly such proportions as will neutralize
the alkaline properties, and then combining or mixing with the said

page_text: base more fresh water and pulverized steatite or other analagous
substance.
The usual proportions of the several ingredients which are em-
ployed, and the manner in which it is best to compound them: First,
dissolve common potash in hot water till the specific gravity of the
solution is indicated by about 12° (twelve degrees) of Baumé's Hydro-
meter. Into this solution put a quantity of quicklime equal in weight
to about one third of the potash contained in the solution, and boil
the whole together about fifteen minutes; then allow the insolluble
matters to subside, take off the liquid portion and boil it again till
the specific gravity is about 15° (fifteen degrees) of Baumé. Then
take twenty-four gallons of crude whale oil, and raise its tem-
perature to about 150° (one hundred and fifty degrees) Fahren-
heit; with this oil mix about one gallon of the above-described
concentrated solution, and raise the temperature of the mixture to
about 212 degrees, then gradually add about six gallons of water,
and raise the temperature to (or nearly to) the boiling point of the
mixture. The above described process produces the base for the
metallic oil. To this base add (so slowly as not to lower the tempera-
ture materially) more water (about twelve gallons) until the mixture
assumes a whitish opaque appearance, and keep at or near its boiling
point for about three hours, then mix with it about sixty pounds.
of steatite, the steatite being previously pulverized and mixed with
about double its own weight of water. If when the steatite is added
the union of the previous ingredients appears to be disturbed, more
heat should be applied till they reunite. Other substances ana-
lagous to steatite may be used instead of it, or with it, and
pulverized plumbago may also be added to the mixture.
To make metallic oil for lubricating machinery we prefer to use
lard or lard oil, instead of crude whale oil, for forming the base.
The quantity of any kind of oil or grease required to make the
said base exactly neutral may be determined by the following test:-
When the alkaline solution and the oil (or grease) have been boiled
and stirred together with the six gallons of water as above described,
the mixture or compound ought to be nearly transparent, and if

page_text: litmus paper reddened by an acid be then dipped in the mix-
ture the color of the paper ought not to be changed. If the
mixture gives the paper a bluish tinge, more oil or grease should be
added. To ascertain whether there is an excess of oil or grease in
the mixture dip out a small quantity and mix it with cold water;
if
any oil or grease rises to its surface then more of the alkaline
solution may be added. For most purposes, however, a slight
excess of either ingredient of the base is not important. The
proportions of water and steatite (or other analagous substance)
to be added to the base may be varied considerably according to
the use to which the mixture is to be applied.
To make metallic oil with resin take two and a half gallons of
the alkaline solution at 12° degrees Baumé, and raise its tempera-
ture to about 212 degrees Fahrenheit; then add about sixteen
pounds of common resin pulverized, and heat till all the mixture
becomes of the consistence of paste; then gradually add about
three gallons of water, boil about one hour, and then mix in about
ten pounds of pulverized steatite and three pounds of plumbago.
Oil or lard may also be used with the resin.
Instead of forming the base as above described, a part of the
ingredients may be first combined into ordinary soap, and the soap
afterwards rendered neutral by the addition of more oil, grease, or
resin.
This lubricating mixture is more durable than others theretofore
in use, is less liable to burn or to become gummy on machinery,
and causes greater reduction of friction and wear.