IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE OBTAINMENT OF PHOSPHOROUS AND PHOSPHIDES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Townsend, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention
of " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE OBTAINMENT OF PHOSPHOROUS
AND PHOSPHIDES.”
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Townsend at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st May 1875.
I, JOSEPH TOWNSEND, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE OBTAINMENT OF
PHOSPHOROUS AND PHOSPHIDES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has principally for its object the obtaining of phos-
phorous at a much less cost than heretofore, and so that it may be sold
and applied for numerous purposes from which its hitherto comparatively,
high cost has excluded it to a greater or less extent. An important-

page_text: feature of the Invention consists in the utilisation, as a source of the
phosphorous and phosphides, of an inexpensive material not hitherto
applied for that purpose; this material is phosphate of alumina, and
the kind known as Rodonda phosphate answers quite well, although other
varieties will do so also.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification one
hundred parts of phosphate of alumina are mixed with twenty-five parts
wood charcoal or other suitable carbon, and the mixture is submitted
in retorts or other suitable vessels to a high temperature, say upwards of
1000 degrees Fahrenheit, when the phorphorous is volatilised, and is to 1
be condensed by the usual means.
By a second modification phosphate of alumina and carbon are made
into blocks with the aid of an adhesive substance, such as clay, or with
chloride of sodium, chloride of potassium, chloride of calcium, chloride
of barium, or chloride of strontium, or with any mixture of these 1
chlorides. On the compound being heated, as before, the phosphorous
is separated and volatilised.
By a third modification silicate or carbonate of soda or of potash is
mixed with phosphate of alumina and carbon, and on the compound
being heated, as before, phosphide of sodium or of potassium is formed.
SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Townsend in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
TOWNSEND, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, 2
Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes- 3
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Townsend, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Townsend, my executors administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Townsend, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO THE OBTAINMENT OF PHOSPHORUS AND PHOSPHIDES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Townsend, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
1
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Townsend, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the samo is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, that is to say :-
My said Invention has principally for its object the obtaining of
phosphorus at a much less cost than heretofore, and so that it may be
sold and applied for numerous purposes from which its hitherto com-
paratively high cost has excluded it to a greater or less extent. An
important feature of my Invention consists in the utilisation, as a source
of the phosphorus and phosphides, of an inexpensive material not
3 hitherto applied for that purpose. This material is known as "Redonda
phosphate," which although it also contains phosphate of iron answers
quite well. Other varieties of phosphate, including pure or nearly pure'
phosphate of alumina, obtained or prepared in any convenient way will
also answer.
In carrying out my said Invention according to one modification onc
hundred parts by weight of the Redonda phosphate are mixed with
twenty-five parts by weight of wood charcoal or other suitable carbon,
and the mixture is submitted in retorts or other suitable vessels to a
high temperature, say at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and by pre-
ference 2000 degrees Fahrenheit or upwards. The operation causes
phosphorus to be separated in a volatile form, and it may be condensed
and collected by well known means.

page_text: tion, use, and sale of the phosphorus and phosphides thus obtained,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Townsend, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the
yoar of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-
five.