Improvements in Furnaces for Producing Carbide of Calcium and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification, Left, 23rd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces for Producing Carbide of Calcium and
the like.
I, ERNEST GEARING, of Penshurst, Clarence Drive, Harrogate, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In an electric furnace, for producing carbide such as carbide, of calcium according
to my invention the electric arc is automatically struck and one of the electrodes, is
caused to travel in a path about the vertical axis or, centre. of, and within the
melting chamber in order that the material in the said, chamber, may, be more
effectually and completely acted upon. The feeding hopper is or may, be also
caused to travel in a similar path for the purpose of feeding the materials in the
proper zone.
According to one arrangement the travelling electrode depends into the melting
chamber from a suitable holder. to which by worm and wheel or equivalent gear
motion is imparted in such a manner as to cause the axis of the depending electrode
to travel in a circular path around that of the melting chamber; automatic
apparatus of some known or suitable kind is provided for, striking the arc; a
hopper-like shoot for supplying to the melting chamber the materials, to be treated,
is caused to travel round with but in advance of the electrode, and there, is
a suitable opening in the lower part of the crucible, for, the discharge of the
carbide.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in Furnaces for Producing Carbide of Calcium and
the like.
:
I, ERNEST GEARING, of Penshurst, Clarence Drive, Harrogate, in the County
of York, Engineer, 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 :-
In an electric furnace for producing carbide, such as carbide of calcium,
according to my invention, the electric arc is automatically struck and one of the
electrodes is caused to travel in a path about the vertical axis or centre of, and
within, the melting chamber in order that the material in the said chamber may be
more effectually and completely acted upon. The feeding hopper is or may be
also caused to travel in a similar path for the purpose of feeding the materials in
the proper zone.
According to the arrangement shown in vertical section in the accompanying
illustrative drawing, the travelling electrode (a carbon rod) depends into the
melting chamber 2 from a suitable holder 3 to which by worm 4 and wheel 5 (for

page_text: which equivalent gear might obviously be substituted) motion is imparted in such a
manner as to cause the axis of the depending electrode 1 to travel in a circular
path around that of the melting chamber 2; automatic apparatus of some known or
suitable kind (which it is not necessary to show) is provided within the casing 6 for
striking the arc and feeding the electrode as well understood; a hopper-like shoot 7
for supplying to the melting chamber 2 the materials to be treated, is caused to
travel round with, but in advance of, the electrode 1; and there is a suitable
opening 8 in the lower part of the melting chamber 2 for the discharge of the
carbide.
The melting chamber is shown as a crucible of conducting material, such as
carbon, resting on a slab or plate 9 of conducting material such as carbon or iron,
supported by an insulating base 9*. The worm wheel 5 carries the casing 6 with
the holder 3 and hopper-like shoot 7, and is itself carried by a bracket 10 on which
it is mounted in such a manner that it can be easily rotated by the worin 4 and thus
caused to carry the electrode 1 and hopper-like shoot 7 in a circular path as
aforesaid. The arrangement is preferably such, as shown, that the interior of the
melting chamber can be readily inspected when necessary. 11 represents diagram-
matically a generator of electricity, and 12 a conductor, which may be connected
with the casing 6 through a ball and socket joint 13, or by other suitable means
that will permit of the rotation of the casing with holder and electrode without
breaking the electrical connection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
☐ I. An electric furnace for producing carbide such as carbide of calcium
⚫ constructed with a movable electrode and means for causing it to travel within the
melting chamber in such a path as to change the position of the arc in relation to
the vertical axis or centre of the melting chamber in order that the material
in the said chamber may be the more effectually and completely acted upon.
2. An electric furnace for producing carbide such as carbide of calcium in which
an electrode and a feeding hopper for supplying the material to be treated are
arranged to travel one in advance of the other around within the melting chamber
for the purposes indicated.
3. My improved electric furnace for producing carbide such as carbide of calcium
as described and shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1895.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.