US801489A - Protecting metal surfaces. - Google Patents

Description

UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PnoTEcTINe mE-TAL SURFACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application mea october a, 1904. serial No. 227.643.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH UTHEMANN, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at Heiligenbrunner Weg 6, Langfuhr, near Dantzie, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Protecting Metal Surfaces, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the protection of bodies having surfaces containing copper or other corrodible metal-for instance, copper pipes-from the action of sea-Water or other corroding Huid. j

According to the preferred form of the present invention as applied to the' protection of copper or surfaces containing copper against corrosion due to the action of salt water the surface of the metal is covered at as uniformlyrecurring distances as possible with a more electroposltve metal-for example, iron-in such form as to leave spaces between the portions of the applied metal. Wire-netting, helically-wound wire, perforated sheets, or other suitable forms of the electropositive-metal may he used. 'Such metal is brought into electrical contact with the surface to be protected. The electrolytic action taking place on salt water having access to the corrodible surface brings about a destruction of the electropositive metal, a firmly-adhering uniform layer of iron oxid being simultaneously formed on the copper or other surface. This deposit is not acted upon by the salt water-that is to say, it is proof against the latter-so that even after the complete consumption of the more electropositive metal ample protection is afforded. Copper or other pipes which are used to conduct the salt Water are preferably provided internally with a helically-Wound resilient iron or steelY wire, the wire being of such thickness as to amount to about a one hundred and fiftieth part of the surface of the pipe to be protected. The Wire helix or spring is contracted diametrically and introduced into the pipe, and when released its elasticity causes it to lie so tightly against the inner wall of the pipe that an ordinary current of water cannot drag the helix with it. In long pipes and those having many bends the helices may be introduced from both ends. The protective oxid layer 'is deposited even on those places which are not directly reached by the wire, so that such places are protected from corrosion. Other corrodible metals which are exposed to corroding fluids may be treated in a similar manner to that in which the surfaces containing copper are treated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a surface of copper-for instance, a

sheet a-which is covered with netted wires b of iron or steel on that side which comes in contact with the water. The netting may be fixed to the sheet in any suitable manner, as by clamping, riveting, or otherwise. Fig. 2 shows a pipe d in longitudinal section` which pipe is covered on its interior with helicall ywound wire f of iron or steel.

It will be noted that the electropositive material s'hould be applied in such manner as to leave spaces between its parts through which the water may reach the surface to be protected, and any form, whether of netted wires, perforated plates, helices, or otherwise, which permits this action is included within the term .network, which I have used in the claims to designate such form of the electropositive metal.

While I have specifically described my invention in its preferred form as applied to protecting surfaces containing copper from corrosion from salt water, it will be understood that I do'not wish to be limited thereto,

as my invention is susceptible of use with other materials and in other Ways than those thus described.

What I claim is-' 1. The method of protecting a surface containing a metal which is liable to be attacked by a corroding fluid, which consists in depositing upon such surface a coating from a more electropositive metal by distributing it at intervals over said surface, supportingv it in electrical contact with said surface and permitting such uid to act upon such metals.

2. The method of protecting the surface of a tube containing a metal which is liable to bel attacked by a uid, which consists in applying a helical strip of electropositive metal thereto, and permitting such fluid Ato act upon said metals.

3. The method of protecting a surface containing copper from the corroding action of salt water, which consists in depositing thereon a coating from iron, by supporting a network of iron in electrical contact with said surface, and permitting such fluid to act upon said metals.

4. A body for use in contact with a corroding Huid having a surface containing a corrodible metal and having a more electropositive metal distributed at intervals over said IOO surface and supported in electrical Contact electropositive material in Contact; with said .IO with said surface. i interior surface.

5. A tube for use in Contact with a coi'rod- In witness whereof I have hereunto signed ing fluid, having a surface containing a eormy name in the presence of two subscribing rodible metal and a helical strip of more eleewitnesses.

tropositive metal supported upon said surface. I FRIEDRICH U'IHEMANN.

6. A tube for use in conveyinga corroding Witnesses:

iuid having an interior surface containing a ERNST GRUMSKI,

corrodible metal, and a helical strip of more ERIK BLMNER.

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