IMPROVE- MENTS IN OBTAINING, PRESERVING, AND PACKING SODIUM AND POTASSIUM, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN PART APPLICABLE IN OBTAINING ZINC
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Anderson Smith, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturing Cheinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING, PRESERVING, AND PACKING SODIUM AND POTASSIUM, AND
IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN PART APPLICABLE IN OBTAINING ZINC."
Sealed the 25th July 1876, and dated the 29th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Anderson Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1876.
WILLIAM ANDERSON SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturing Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING, PRESERVING, AND
PACKING SODIUM AND POTASSIUM, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN PART
APPLICABLE IN OBTAINING ZINC."
This Invention has principally for its objects the obtaining of sodium and
potassium more economically and conveniently than heretofore, and the preventing
of the oxidation or waste of those metals when being obtained, and when packed
or stored, but the improvements are also in part applicable in obtaining zinc.
One improvement consists in using pitch as the carbonaceous agent for reducing
soda and potassa to the metallic state, pitch having the advantage over substances
hitherto used in the process of forming a more intimate and adherent mixture,
and thereby rendering the operation more certain and rapid. The pitch employed
may be such as is obtained from wood or coal, but the natural product known as
asphalt is to be preferred. The quantity of pitch employed should be about fifty.
parts by weight for every one hundred parts of potassa or soda.
A second improvement consists in constructing and arranging the retorts so as
to be heated to the very nozzles, in order that the metal may flow freely therefrom.
Each retort is made with one end tapered or conical to form the nozzle, and the
other end is fitted with a movable iron dise or stopper in which a small hole is
formed for introducing gas; and the process is carried on in a practically con-
tinuous manner, the stopper being removed for the introduction of fresh charges of
materials without disturbing the nozzle end.
A third improvement relates to the condensing apparatus which comprises a con-
ductor or condenser for each retort, such condenser being by preference conical;
and having its lower and wider end dipping down beneath the surface of hydro-
carbon liquid in a receiver, extending along beneath a series of retorts. The con-

page_text: denser is not formed with an opening opposite the retort nozzle, which opening
although indispensable in existing apparatus would admit air to oxidise some of
the metal; but a small outlet tube is fitted to the base of the cone, just above the
surface of the liquid hydrocarbon, for the egress of uncondensed gas or vapor.
The liquid in the receiver is, by preference, continually changed by being poured in
fresh at one end and withdrawn at the other end, so that what is in the receiver is
always cool.
The improved condenser or conductor and the receiver are the parts which are
advantageously applicable in obtaining zinc.
The part of the Invention relating to the preservation and packing of the sodium
and potassium consists in coating them with hydrocarbons which are solid at
ordinary temperatures, such as paraffin wax, ozokerit, rubber, gutta percha, and the
like. By this part of the Invention also lead tubing of any shape or diameter is
to be used for holding and preserving the sodium or potassium; the lead tubing
may be closed by a screwed or other close fitting cap, and when a portion of the
metal is required it is to be cut off with the part of the tubing encircling it, and
the cap is to be placed upon the cut end. The potassium being softer and less
manageable than sodium may be packed in lead bottles fitted with screwed or
other close fitting caps, and the small portions wanted from time to time may be
expressed by compressing the sides of the bottle, the screwed cap being afterwards
replaced.
the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Anderson Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
28th July 1876.
WILLIAM ANDERSON SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Manufacturing Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING, PRESERVING, AND
PACKING SODIUM AND POTASSIUM, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN PART.
APPLICABLE IN OBTAINING ZINC."
My said Invention has principally for its objects the obtaining of sodium and
potassium more economically and conveniently than heretofore, and the preventing
of the oxidation or waste of those metals when being obtained, and when packed
or stored, but the improvements are also in part applicable in obtaining zinc.
One improvement consists in using pitch as the carbonaceous agent for reducing
soda and potassa to the metallic state.
A second improvement consists in constructing and arranging the retorts
employed in obtaining sodium and potassium, so as to permit of their being heated
to the very nozzles.
And a third improvement relates to the condensing apparatus, which is also
applicable in obtaining zine, and which comprises a separate conductor or con-
denser for each retort dipping down beneath the surface of hydrocarbon liquid
in a single receiver, whilst a fourth part of the Invention relates to the preservation
and packing of sodium and potassium.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
to be herein-after referred to, representing two modifications of my improved appa-
ratus to be used in obtaining sodium and potassium, and partly applicable in obtaining
zinc.
In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out the first part of my said Invention, pitch is used as the car-
bonaceous agent for reducing soda and potassa to the metallic state, pitch having
the advantage over substances hitherto used in the process of forming a more
intimate and adherent mixture, and thereby rendering the operation more certain
and rapid. The pitch employed may be such as is obtained from wood or coal

page_text: but the natural product known as asphalt is to be preferred. The quantity of
pitch employed should be about 50 parts by weight for every 100 parts of potassa
or soda.
In applying the parts of my said Invention relating to the obtaining of sodium,
potassium, and zinc, and herein-before referred to as my second and third improve-
iments, apparatus of the kind shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings
is used and comprises a furnace 3, directly over the fire of which are placed in a
horizontal or slightly inclined position one or more retorts 4, supported by the
brickwork and containing the materials to be acted upon. Each retort 4 is made
with one end tapered or conical to form a nozzle 5, and the other end is fitted with
a movable iron disc or stopper G, in which a small hole is formed for introducing
gas, and the process is carried on in a practically continuous manner, the stopper G
being removed for the introduction of fresh charges of materials without disturbing
the nozzle end; or the retorts may be simply cylindrical tubes closed at one end, and
immediately connected at the other end to the condensers, the charge being iu
this case introduced by temporarily removing the condensers. The brickwork of the
furnace 3 is reduced in thickness at the parts supporting the ends of the retorts 4, and
the retorts may thus be heated to the very nozzles 5 in order that the metal may
flow freely therefrom. The nozzles 5 of the retorts 4 fit closely into the upper ends
of conductors or condensers 7 which are provided for the retorts, such condensers
being by preference conical, and having their lower and wider ends dipping down
beneath the surface of hydrocarbon liquid, in a receiver 8 extending along beneath a
series of the retorts 4. The condensers 7 are not formed with openings opposite
the retort nozzles 5, which openings although indispensible in existing apparatus
would admit air to oxidise some of the metal, but small outlet tubes 9 are fitted
to the condensers just above the surface of the liquid hydrocarbon for the egress of
uncondensed gas or vapor, but in some cases these tubes 9 may be dispensed with.
The liquid in the receivers 8 is by preference continually changed by being
poured in fresh at one end and withdrawn at the other end, so that what is in the
receiver is always cool.
The improved condenser or conductor 7 and the receiver S are the parts which
are advantageously applicable in obtaining zinc.
Figure 2 of the Drawings shows a modification of apparatus in which the
retorts 4 are bent over near their discharging ends to form the conductors or
condensers 7, and dip directly into the hydracarbon liquid in the receiver 8, siphon
pipes 9 passing under the condensers being provided for carrying off uncondensed
gas or vapor. Instead of placing the retorts 4 directly over the fire of the furnace
a reverberatory furnace may be employed, and the retorts may be placed on the
hearth, provision being made for the furnace flame reaching the nozzle ends of the
retorts by cutting away the brickwork.
The part of the Invention relating to the preservation and packing of the
sodium and potassium consists in coating them with hydrocarbons which are solid
at ordinary temperatures, such as paraffin wax, ozokerit, rubber, gutta percha, and
the like. By this part of the Invention also lead tubing of any shape or diameter
is used for holding and preserving the sodium or potassium; the lead tubing may
be closed by a screwed or other close fitting cap, and when a portion of the metal
is required it is cut off with the part of the tubing encircling it, and the cap is
placed upon the cut end. Potassium, particularly when more or less alloyed with
sodium, being softer and less manageable than sodium, may be packed in lead
bottles fitted with screwed or other close fitting caps, and the small portions wanted
from time to time may be expressed by compressing the sides of the bottle, the
screwed cap being afterwards replaced.
Having thus particulary described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-

page_text: 1. The using of pitch as the carbonaceous agent for reducing soda and potassa
to the metallic state, as herein-before desoribed.
2. The constructing of a retort for obtaining potassium or sodium, with one end
tapered or conical, and the arranging of the retort so as to be heated to the very
nozzle, and in immediate connection with the condenser, as and for the purposes
herein-before described.
3. The constructing and arranging of the condenser or conductors of retorts for
obtaining sodium, potassium, or zinc in the improved modes, herein-before described
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
4. The preserving and packing of sodium and potassium by coating them with
hydrocarbons which are solid at ordinary temperatures, as herein-before described.
5. The packing of sodium or potassium in lead tubing or bottles, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Anderson Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. ANDERSON SMITH. (L.S.)