An Improvement in the Method of Preparing Carbide of Calcium.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1900--Accepted, 7th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Method of Preparing Carbide of Calcium.
I, CHARLES HENRY WORSNOP, of 6, Carlton Place, Halifax, in the County
of York, Metal Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to a new method of preparing carbide of calcium so that
it can be transported from place to place without danger, and may even be left
in the open air without danger.
But even a more important result of this invention is that owing to its being
unaffected by the ordinary atmosphere, or even by a damp atmosphere, when in
use generation of gas ceases as soon as the material is removed from absolute
contact with the water: this result renders carbide of calcium appreciable in
many cases where hitherto it could not be used to advantage.
"
To prepare the new substance, to which I have given the name acetyloid,"
I first dip the carbide of calcium into melted sugar, and then into melted wax.
These two ingredients form a set coating as soon as the whole is allowed to cool,
thus rendering it impervious to water.
Dated this Seventeenth day of August One thousand eight hundred and
An Improvement in the Method of Preparing Carbide of Calcium.
I, CHARLES HENRY WORSNOP, of 6, Carlton Place, Halifax, in the County
of York, Metal Worker, 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:—
This invention relates to a new method of preparing calcium carbide so that
it can be transported from place to place without danger and may even be left
in the open air without danger.
My method of preparing calcium carbide consists in the impregnation thereof
with a composition of the following ingredients, viz. -wax, cocoa butter and
sugar. The composition may best be produced as follows:-
The wax, preferably paraffin wax, cocoa butter and sugar in equal parts are
mixed and heated-sufficiently to melt the mixture at this point add a com-
paratively weak organic acid, such as tartaric acid, until the sugar becomes of
the same consistency as the wax and the cocoa butter. Then immerse the carbide
of calcium in the hot liquid mixture and allow it to remain for a sufficient

page_text: period of time to become thoroughly impregnated. The impregnated carbide of
calcium may then be withdrawn and placed on trays in a cooling chamber and
when cold the new composition is complete. This new composition of matter I
term acetyloid, and I will so speak of it herein.
Acetyloid can be transported from place to place without danger and may be
left in the open air without danger, being unaffected by the ordinary atmosphere,
or by a damp atmosphere. When acetyloid is used for the generation of gas,
which is done by subjecting the acetyloid to the action of water under pressure,
the by-product does not cling to the good material, as moist lime does, to calcium
carbide, but it falls entirely away leaving the unused clean material to continue
its work of generation.
Acetyloid possesses not only the merits which have been indicated but it also
possesses special merits in the way of self-regulation in generating gas, as may
be understood from the following:-
-
Let a quantity of acetyloid be supported in an inverted bell-glass set down in
but free from the bottom of a vessel. Pour water into the vessel till it rises in the
bell-glass so as to immerse more or less of the acetyloid. The pressure exerted
by the water upon the acetyloid will cause the water to attack the acetyloid and
evolve gas.
Continued evolution of the gas results in pressure over the water in
the bell-glass, the result being that the water is pressed down in the bell-glass;
the water rising in the vessel around the bell-glass. When the water shall have
been pressed down free of contact with the acetyloid, then generation of gas
ceases, the pressure of the gas and the pressure due to the exterior column of
water being in equilibrium. The generation ceases under these conditions because
acetyloid will not generate gas by reason of mere wetness, direct contact of water
under pressure being requisite. If gas be withdrawn from the bell-glass, then
the pressure of gas becomes lessened and the water rises and attacks the lower-
most portion of the acetyloid and generation of gas begins again.
Assuming an illuminating burner to be connected with the bell-glass, it follows
that the mere act of closing the burner to turn out the light causes the pressure
to increase and the water to descend below the acetyloid, and further generation
of gas to cease until the pressure of gas is again lessened by withdrawal.
Acetyloid requires for its utilization special generating apparatus based on
the demonstrating example just suggested. Gas evolved from acetyloid and
burned in suitable burners gives a peculiarly brilliant and pervasive though soft
and pleasing light.
. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described method of treating calcium carbide by impregnating
it with a material capable of resisting the attack of water upon the carbide,
except when under pressure.
2. The herein described composition of matter, consisting of calcium carbide,
wax, grease and sugar, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. The herein-described composition of matter for generating gas, consisting
of carbide of calcium, paraffin wax, and cocoa butter, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.