An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Production of Calcium Carbide.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Production of
Calcium Carbide.
We, FREDERICK HENRY HAVILAND, of St. Peter's Chambers, Solicitor,
ARTHUR HOLLOWAY, of "Hagley," Drummond Road, Science Master, JOHN
BRUCE COLLIER, of Delphi Chambers, Electrical Engineer, and. WILLIAM
HENRY MURCH, of. Upper Terrace Road, Engineer, all of Bournemouth,.in the
County of Hants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of calcium carbide from carbon and
oxide of calcium by means of heat. This operation, as at present conducted is
effected by electrical means the subject materials being placed between and around
the poles which set up the electric arc. This system has the disadvantage that
(the lime being an imperfect conductor); the greater portion of the heat and energy
is expended in heating the mass to a temperature which is below that required for
the chemical re-action desired.
Now in this invention we heat the mixture of carbon' and oxide of calcium up to
a moderate temperature by means of a furnace (surrounding the vessel employed)
in which either solid or gaseous fuel is'used, or by means of hot air or other gases
forced into flues surrounding the vessel. As soon as the preliminary heating is
effected the current is switched on and this almost instantaneously raises the
temperature sufficiently high to ensure the chemical re-action between the carbon
and the oxide of calcium, which results in the production of calcium carbide.
The details of the apparatus necessary to the carrying out of our invention may
obvicusly be varied, but a simple form consists as follows: A pot of plumbago or
other suitable material is employed to contain the materials to be treated, and this
pot either serves as one of the poles, or has a suitable strip or portion of conducting
material inserted in its walls for that purpose. The other pole is inserted into the
pot, and is preferably composed of carbon;' each of these poles being connected to
a dynamo or other source of electricity in the usual manner. The pot is either
inserted into a furnace in which solid or gaseous fuel is burnt, or it is surrounded
by flues into which either the 'products of combustion pass, or into which heated
air or other gas, or mixture of gases is or are forced.
A worm revoluble in a casing connects the pot with the receptacle which
contains the mixed materials, in such manner that the rotation of the worm: feeds
the mixture to the pot at any desired rate. The casing of this worm, and
preferably the receptacle itself is surrounded by flues or passages which
communicate either with the furnace, or. with the source of supply of the heated
air or other gases, thus securing a gradual heating of the mixed niaterials before
reaching the pot. A hole is provided in the bottom of the pot through which the
calcium carbide flows as soon as it is fused; and the pot has a cover, which closes
it, and through which a passage is formed for the escape of the gaseous products
resulting from the chemical re-action produced by the heat of the electric arc.
These products consisting principally of carbonic oxide and other products; may
be carried either to a treatment chamber for the recovery of any useful waste

page_text: products, or returned to the furnace for the purpose of assisting in the production
of the preliminary heating.
Dated this Eleventh day of July 1896.
FREDERICK HENRY HAVILAND.
ARTHUR HOLLOWAY.
JOHN BRUCE COLLIER.
WILLIAM HENRY MURCH.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Production of
Calcium Carbide.
We FREDERICK HENRY HAVILAND of St. Peter's Chambers, Solicitor,
ARTHUR HOLLOWAY of "Hagley" Drummond Road, Boscombe, Science
Master, JOHN BRUCE COLLIER of Delphi Chambers, Electrical Engineer, and
WILLIAM HENRY MURCH, of Upper Terrace Road, Engineer, all of Bourne-
mouth in the County of Hants, 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 the manufacture of calcium carbide from mixtures of
carbon and oxide of calcium by means of heat. This operation as at present
conducted is effected by electrical means, the subject material being placed between
and around the poles which serve to set up the electric arc, and a suitable electric
current passed through them.
This invention consists of improvements in such electric furnaces by means of
which the carbon and oxide of calcium can be mixed, fed to the pot, and can be
heated before or while being fed to such pot.
In order that our invention may be fully understood and ascertained we append
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of an apparatus according to our
invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form of the same.
Fig. 3 shews a granulating arrangement.
The operating pot or vessel which contains the materials is indicated by the
letter A, aud it is preferably made of plumbago. It rests upon and closes the
upper part of a furnace B, in which firebars 6 are placed, and into which fuel may
be fed through the doorway b¹.. The pot is insulated from the furnace walls by
non-conducting strips 62, and it has a cover a through the centre of which passes
the carbon electrode C, this being insulated from the cover a by non-conducting
material c. From the cover a flue or chimney a' leads to any convenient
chamber, into which the gaseous products resulting from the chemical reaction
may be led for the purpose of recovering any useful constituents they may
contain.
To one side of the vessel A a tube D is attached, and this is preferably inclined
in such manner that any substance dropped into its upper end from a receptacle E
through the opening e, will be moved downwards by the revolution of a worm G
until it reaches and falls into the vessel A. The worm tube D is surrounded by a
jacket d, which is open to the furnace B; this jacket is also open to a space or
chamber e which surrounds the receptacle E. From the chamber el a flue e³ leads
off the products of combustion, and a pipe e inserted through the cover e³ connects
the interior of the receptacle E with the flue e. The spindle of the worm G runs
in bearings formed in brackets g, and is rotated by means of a belt pulley g' upon
its outer end.

page_text: The electrode C (preferably formed of carbon) is balanced and supported by
a weight c', the cord of which runs over a pulley c; the pot itself for.ning the
other electrode; a pipe a is inserted in the bottom of the vessel through which
the calcium carbide can escape.
The apparatus is operated as follows:-
The receptacle E being filled with a mixture of carbon and lime reduced to
powder, and a sufficient heat being obtained by means of a fire in the furnace B,
the worm G is rotated and the mixture of carbon and lime is gradually pushed
downwards until it falls into the vessel A in à highly heated condition, caused by
the temperature of the receptacle E and worm tube D. As soon as the mixed
materials reach the bottom of the vessel A the current is switched on and entering
the carbon electrode A sets up the electric are between its lower end, and the pot
itself which forms the other electrode. The materials having been previously
heated, the electric current almost instantaneously gives sufficient additional heat
to produce the chemical reaction which results in the production of calcium
carbide; and this as soon as formed flows out of the pipe as into any suitable
receptacle. The gaseous products pass off through the flue a' to any convenient
chamber for further treatment.
Air or other gas or gases may be heated in any convenient manner outside the
apparatus, and forced into the jackets d and e' for the purpose of heating
the pot A, the worm tube D, and the receptacle E; thus dispensing with the
furnace B.
In the apparatus shewn in Fig. 2 the worm G is dispensed with, and the tube D
being mounted in roller bearings J, itself rotates, and by its rotation gradually
feeds the mixed materials into the pot A in the same manner as the worm G shewn
in Fig. 1. It will be understood that any other suitable form of worm, creeper, or
conveyor may be used instead of the forms shewn.
When the molten carbide of calcium flows from the tube a³, we find it
advantageous to cause it to fall upon a device which granulates, and delivers it in
a form suitable for use. This apparatus consists of two gridirons M and N
disposed the one beneath the other, the bars m and n of which are arranged
transversely to each other. By giving each of these gridirons a motion so that
the bars cross each other the molten material is reduced to any convenient and
desired size of granule.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The method of manufacturing calcium carbide from a mixture of carbon and
lime, which consists in subjecting the mixed materials to a preliminary heating
while being fed into the electric furnace; such preliminary heating being effected
by means of a furnace or flues surrounding or partly surrounding the apparatus
used for conveying the materials to the electric arc, substantially as shewa and
described.
2. An apparatus for manufacturing calcium carbide from a mixture of carbon
and lime consisting essentially of a vessel which forms one electrode, a carbon or
other rod which forms a second electrode, the electric arc being set up between the
two, a receptacle for containing the mixed carbon and lime, and a conveyor and
casing for carrying it to the vessel, both the conveyor, and receptacle being
surrounded by a furnace or by a jacket for containing heated products of
combustion, substantially as shewn and described.
3. In an apparatus for manufacturing calcium carbide from a mixture of carbon
and lime, the combination of the vessel A. forming one electrode, and having a
cover a, an outlet flue al and an outlet pipe a³, the electrode C, a furnace B, the
conveyor G and casing D surrounded by the flue d, the receptacle E surrounded
by the jacket e', and the flue e substantially as shewn and described.
4. An apparatus for manufacturing calcium carbide from a mixture of carbon

page_text: and lime, consisting essentially of a vessel which forms one electrode, and into
which a carbon or other rod which forms a second electrode is inserted the electric
arc being set up between the two, a receptacle for containing the mixed carbon and
lime, and a conveyor and casing for carrying it to the vessel, the whole being
surrounded or partly surrounded by flues-into which air or gases heated externally
may be forced, substantially as shewn and described.
5. For use in granulating molten calcium carbide, the gridiron device, substan-
Itially as shewn and described with reference to Fig. 3.
Dated this 30th day of November 1896.
FREDERICK HENRY HAVILAND.
ARTHUR HOLLOWAY.
JOHN BRUCE COLLIER.
WILLIAM HENRY MURCH.