Improvements in the Means for Manufacturing Carbides.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means for Manufacturing Carbides.
We, JEANNOT WALTERS KENEVEL, of 198 Madison Street, Brooklyn, King's
County, State of New York, Civil Engineer, CHARLES AINSWORTH SPOFFORD, of
180 West 59th Street, in the City, County, and State, of New York, Financier,
and JOSIAH HOWARD MEAD, of 366A Grand Avenue, Brooklyn, King's County,
State of New York, Contractor, all in the United States of America, 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, and accompanying drawings, that is to say:-
Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference letters indicate
like or corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved apparatus ;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the driving mechanism;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a partial end view of the end 4 of Fig. 3, in partial section;
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the preferred electrode roll;
Fig. 6 is a view partially in section of a modified form of roll;
Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same; and
Fig. 8 is a horizontal section in line 8-8 of Fig. 1.
This invention relates to an improved means for the manufacture of carbides.
To this end it consists broadly in passing the prepared material consisting of
carbon and a base, such, for example, as lime, between movable or rotatable
electrodes which are suitably connected to a source of electricity to secure the
necessarily high temperature.
It also consists in the peculiarly constructed electrodes herein described.
It also consists in such other novel construction and combination of parts as are
shown and described and are particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring now to the drawings, A represents a wall or casing enclosing a furnace
with a funnel or. hopper, B, extending upward thereform. A gate, b, regulates the
feeding of the material through the funnel. the lower end of which terminates
above the electrode rolls, C, C, which are arranged in a substantially horizontal
plane and are caused to rotate preferably toward each other by any preferred form
of connecting mechanism (Fig. 2). The wires, W, W, conduct the current to the
electrodes, C, C, by suitable connections, as by the conductors and brushes D, D,
(Fig. 3).
The electrode rolls may be of any preferred construction which, properly con-
nected, will accomplish the object sought.
The mode of operation as thus far described is as follows: Taking the necessary
proportions of the desired materials, for example, substantially two parts of lime
to one of carbon or coke, we pulverize and mix them thoroughly. We then place
or feed the material into the hopper B from which it is allowed to escape at the

page_text: desired rate between the rolls C which are rotated at a speed suitable to accomplish
the best results. In passing between the electrodes the material becomes heated
to the extent necessary to transform it into a carbide, and falls to the bottom of the
furnace as such, from whence it may be removed by way of the door, A¹.
In practice we prefer to construct one or more baffle plates, E, below the rolls,
which are preferably of non-conducting material and serve to retard the too rapid
passage of the carbide and also permit it to cool slightly in its fall.
We have also found it advisable to use some means to keep the electrodes clean
and prevent any adherence of the carbide to them. For this purpose we prefer
to construct a tank or reservoir, F, near the furnace and above the rolls and by
pipes, F, F, conduct a fluid suitable for the purpose along above each roll from
whence it may be conducted at regular intervals to the surface of the rolls by
gravity through the series of small pipes, f..
The fluid we prefer to use for this purpose is coal oil or (kerosene, which we
find is satisfactory for the purpose and has no deleterious effect on the product.
This action, as we understand it, is mechanical, the oil filling the pores of the
surface of the rollers and forming an extremely thin film over the same, preventing
the falling and melting material from coming into actual contact with the surface
of the rollers, thus preventing the adhesion of the melted material to them. A
familiar example of such action is to be found in the greasing of a griddle to
prevent the adhesion of batter to it. While it is obvious that the rolls may be,
on their exterior, of a single electrode sleeve or barrel of carbon or other suitable
material, the preferred construction is shown at Fig. 5 in which the shaft, G, is
first provided with a sleeve, H, of non-conducting material, as, for example, glass,
which is in turn covered by a sleeve, I, which is of good conducting material. as,
for example, copper. Upon the latter are placed alternately discs, K, of material
suitable for electrodes for example, carbon, and non-conducting discs, L, of glass,
mica, or other suitable material. The wires, W, W, conduct the current to the
rolls by means of suitable conductors and brushes, D, D, or other equivalent means,
and the conducting sleeve, I. Each disk, K, is thus an electrode, and the roll is
thus, in effect, a multiple electrode of simple form.
In practice we prefer to support the rolls in such a manner that they may be
adjusted relatively to each other at will, to secure the best results. Any preferred
means may be employed for this purpose, that shown in Fig. 4 proving very
satisfactory. In this form the ends of the shafts G are supported in the movable
blocks, M. The springs, N, hold them resiliently to their inner limit, while the
bolts, O, and nuts, o, regulate the distance desired for them to approach each other.
The train of gears, P, R, S, T (Fig. 2) permits such adjustment.
As a modification of the multiple electrode roll just described, we may use the
form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which an outer cylinder, X, of non-conducting
material, as, for example, fire brick or clay. encircles the conducting sleeve, I,
while sticks or pencils, Z, of carbon or other suitable material radially extend from
the conducting sleeve, I, to the exterior.
It is obvious that after pointing out our invention, various immaterial modifi-
cations may be suggested without departing from the spirit of our invention;
hence, we do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise form
or construction herein shown.
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. Means for manufacturing carbides. consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a substantially hori-
zontal plane, mechanism for rotating the same, and means for connecting the
electrodes with a source of electricity; in combination with means for conducting
the prepared material between the electrodes, substantially as described.
2. Means for manufacturing carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within

page_text: which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a substantially hori-
zontal plane, mechanism for rotating the same, and means for connecting the
electrodes to a source of electricity; in combination with means for conducting the
material between the electrodes and means for preventing the adherence of the
material to the same substantially as set forth.
3. Means for manufacturing carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a substantially
horizontal plane, mechanism for rotating the electrodes, and means for connecting
the electrodes with a source of electricity, in combination with a receptacle
arranged above the electrodes, adapted to conduct the material between them, and
means for controlling the discharge from the receptacle substantially as, and for
the purpose set forth.
4. Means for manufacturing carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a subtantially hori-
zontal plane, means for adjusting the electrodes relatively to each other,
mechanism for rotating the electrodes, and means for connecting them with a
source of electricity; in combination with a receptacle arranged above the
electrodes adapted to conduct the material between them, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. Means for the manufacture of carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a substantially
horizontal plane, mechanism for rotating the electrodes, means for connecting them
with a source of electricity, and means for conducting the material to be treated
between them; in combination with a reservoir and means for conducting the con-
tained material in the reservoir to the electrodes, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. Means for the manufacture of carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a substantially
horizontal plane, mechanism for rotating the electrodes, means for connecting
them to a source of electricity, and means for conducting the material to be treated
between them; in combination with a reservoir and conducting pipes extending
from the reservoir to the electrodes, whereby the fluid material is conducted to
the surface of the electrodes at a plurality of points, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
'
7. Means for manufacturing carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable electrodes arranged in a substantially hori-
zontal plane, mechanism for rotating the same, means for connecting the
electrodes to a source of electricity, und means for conducting the prepared
material between them; in combination with one or more baffle plates arranged
below the electrodes upon which the treated material will fadl, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
8. Means for manufacturing carbides, consisting of a suitable casing within
which are positioned a pair of rotatable multiple electrodes arranged in a substan-
tially horizontal plane, mechanism for rotating the same, and means for connecting
the electrodes with a source of electricity; in combination with means for conduct-
ing the prepared material between the electrodes; substantially as described.
9. A multiple, rotatable electrode, consisting essentially of the following
elements in combination; a suitable supporting shaft provided with a sleeve of
non-conducting material, an outer sleeve of conducting material, and a plurality of
conductors in electrical contact with the outer sleeve, but otherwise insulated from
one another, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. A multiple rotatable electrode, consisting essentially of the following
elements in combination: a suitable supporting shaft surrounded by a
sleeve of non-conducting material, a second sleeve of conducting material
surrounding the first, disks of conducting and non-conducting material arranged
alternately upon the outer sleeve in connection therewith, and means for connect-

page_text: ing the whole with a source of electricity; substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 24th day of August, 1897.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 & 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.