IMPROVE- 65 MENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC ALUMINIUM AND ALUMINIUM ALLOYS Communicated to him from abroad
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustavus Baron de Overbeck of N° 23 Ryder Street
Saint James's in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVE-
65
MENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC
ALUMINIUM AND ALUMINIUM ALLOYS Communicated to him from abroad
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustavus Baron de Overbeck
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd January 1883.
GUSTAVUS BARON DE OVERBECK of N° 23 Ryder Street St James's in the
County of Middlesex " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF METALLIC ALUMINIUM AND ALUMINIUM ALLOYS [A com-
munication to him from abroad by Hermann Niewerth of Hanover in the Empire
of Germany]
"
This Invention has for its object Improvements in the process and apparatus for
the production of Metallic Aluminium and Aluminium alloys
For the production of Aluminium alloys silicate of iron is mixed with fluoride
of aluminium in proper proportions and the mixture is subinitted to a suitable red
or melting heat, the charge is decomposed into volatile silicon fluoride, iron, and
aluminium the two latter bodies forming an alloy-In order to obtain the valuable
alloy of aluminium aud copper from this iron-aluminium alloy, the latter is melted
with metallic copper, the copper will then-by reason of greater affinity unite with
the aluminium while the iron will retain but an insignificant amount of
aluminium-On the mass cooling the copper-bronze and iron separate out in such
a manner that both bodies can be readily isolated.
In lieu of the pure aluminium fluoride, cryolite which occurs in nature, may be
advantageously employed or aluminium chloride may also be used-In the latter

page_text: case silicon chloride and iron-aluminium alloy are formed-Or again pure silicon
and aluminium fluoride, or cryolite or aluminium chloride may be used, when pure
aluminium is obtained.
According to another method the compound of aluminium with chlorine or
fluorine in a volatile state is brought, strongly heated, into contact with a mixture
of 62 parts of Carbonate of Soda, 28 parts of Coal, and 10 parts of chalk which is
also in a highly heated condition-From this mixture sodium is disengaged, and
this reduces the gaseous fluoride or chloride of aluminium in such a manner that
the nascent sodium liberates aluminium from the fluoride or chloride as the case
may be Other like mixtures may be employed or mixtures may be advantageously
used from which Potassium is formed, and reduces the aluminium
The process as above may also be modified and a newly invented furnace
hereinafter described may be advantageously employed but the modified process
can also be carried on in a crucible or other furnace.
The furnace in question consists, as will be seen from the annexed drawing, of
three parts, A. B. C are three shaft-furnaces inade of fire-resisting material, A
and B are made to shut by means of some contrivance--in the drawing by a convex
cast iron cover-The furnaces A and B communicate with furnace C by the
channels D and E, which can be closed by the slides F and G-K and L, are blast-
pipes for the admission of the blast, M. N. and O, are discharge apertures-H
and I are short tubes connected with a steam-reservoir which admit steam to the
furnaces.
In place of the construction shewn in the drawing the work may be carried on,
intermittently with two furnaces only, or with four, or more, outer furnaces as on
the sketch A. R, B, S--The furnaces A and B may also be of some other form, and
may be horizontally arranged &c &c.
The mode of operation of the furnace is as follows:
Furnaces A and B are filled with some suitable fuel, e; g; coke, and by the
admission of a blast through the blast-pipes K and L are blown very hot-The
covers P, Q, are meanwhile lifted up-The middle furnace C is charged with three
charges in proper order-The first charge consists of a mixture of carbonate of
soda (Na O, C. O₂) + Carbon (C) + Sulphur (S) + Alumina (Al, O,); the second
charge is sulphate of alumina; the third charge a flux-preferably a mixture of
the Chlorides of Soda and Potash-The furnace C must of course be strongly
heated at the beginning of the operation; it is best to fill with Coke first and as
soon as that is warm to put the charge on to the coke, so that it comes to the
bottom with the burning Coke-A mixing of the charges with Coal is not excluded,
but is usually not necessary.
The process then continues as follows:
The cover P on furnace A, is shut down; the slide G drawn up; the slide F
closed; and the blast cut off from furnace A,-A suitable quantity of steam is now
admitted through H which spreads itself over the glowing coke, and penetrates
downwards through it in the direction of the arrow, breaking up into its
constituent parts-oxygen and hydrogen-The oxygen forms with the carbon of
the Coke-Carbonic oxide gas, while the hydrogen remains uncombined-The gases
thus formed, during their passage through the extremely hot Coke, themselves
acquire a very high temperature, and at length pass by the channel D into furnace C
where the charge lies The highly heated gases, carbonic oxide and hydrogen, act
upon the charge so that the first charge breaks up into a combination of sodium
sulphide and aluminium sulphide, from which, then, by means of the second charge
(Sulphate of alumina) free metallic aluminium is formed-Passing into the
melting-zone, the aluminium will melt and be drawn off at N-The flux added will
assist the fusion of the aluminium together; it is however not absolutely
necessary.
When the gases generated in furnace A are too cool, furnace B is closed by the
cover its coke is kept hot by the blast; the slide F and the steam-pipe I are

page_text: penca, and the slide G and steam-pipe H close--The hot gases are now generated
in furnace B and act as just described upon the charge in the furnace C-The
cover P on furnace A is now lifted up, and the coke contained therein again made
very hot by the blast, and prepared for the next turn-When furnace B becomes
cold, furnace A is again placed in operation, and so on-As coke is consumed in the
mass in furnaces A and B fresh coke is added, as also with the charge in furnace C.
The process may be also conducted in such wise that the alumina + Carbonate
of Soda+Sulphur + Carbon are previously heated and the Bi-metallic sulphide is
brought ready formed to the furnace-Instead of the Bi-metallic sulphide pure
aluminium sulphide may be employed, or a mixture from which it is generated, or
again pure sulphide of soda or analogous compounds producing the same effect.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustavus Baron de Overbeck in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st July 1883.
ני
GUSTAVUS BARON DE OVERBECK of No 23 Ryder Street Saint James's in the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE 5
County of Middlesex
A communication
PRODUCTION OF METALLIC ALUMINIUM AND ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
to me from abroad by Hermann Niewerth of Hanover in the Empire of Germany
1 Process Ferro-silicium is mixed with fluoride of aluminium in proper
proportions and the mixture is submitted to a suitable red or melting heat, when
the charge is decomposed into volatile silicon fluoride, iron and aluminium the two
latter bodies forming an alloy.
In order to obtain the valuable alloy of aluminium with copper from this iron-
aluminium alloy the latter is melted with metallic copper; the copper will then by
reason of greater affinity unite with the aluminium while the iron will retain but
an insignificant amount of aluminium. On the mass cooling the copper-bronze
and iron separate out in such a manner that both bodies can be readily isolated.
In place of the pure aluminium-fluoride, cryolite, which occurs in nature, may
be advantageously employed or aluminium chloride may also be used. In the
latter case silicon chloride and iron aluminium alloy are formed.
Or again pure silicon and aluminium fluoride or cryolite or aluminium chloride
may be used when pure aluminium is obtained.
2nd Process-The compound of aluminium with chlorine or fluorine decomposed
by any means into a volatile state is brought, strongly heated, into contact with a
mixture of 62 parts of carbonate of soda 28 parts of coal and 10 parts of chalk
From this mixture sodium is
which is also in a highly heated condition.
disengaged and this reduces the gaseous fluoride or chloride of aluminium in such
a manner that the nascent sodium generates free aluminium from the fluoride or
chloride as the case may be. In place of the above mixture other suitable mixtures
which produce sodium may be employed or mixtures may be also advantageously
used from which potassium is formed.
3rd Process. For this process the newly invented furnace hereinafter described
may be advantageously employed but the process may also be carried on in a
crucible or other furnace. The furnace in question consists, as will be seen from
the annexed drawing, of three parts. A. B. C. are three shaft furnaces inade of
fire resisting material. A and B are made to shut by means of some contrivance
The furnaces A and B communicat
in the drawing, a convex cast iron cover.
with furnace C by the channels D and E which can be closed by the slides F and G
K and L are blast pipes for the admission of the blast. M N and O are discharg
apertures. H and I are short tubes connected with a steam reservoir which admi
steam to the furnace. In place of the construction shewn in the drawing the wor
may be carried on, intermittently with two furnaces only or with four or mor
outer furnaces as on the sketch A RB S. The furnaces A. B. C. R. S and par
connected with them may also be of some other form and may be arrange
horizontally.
The mode of operation of the furnace is as follows.
Furnaces A and B are filled with some suitable fuel c. g. coke, and by tl
admission of the blast through the blast pipes K and L are blown very hot. T
covers P. Q. are meanwhile lifted up. The middle furnace C is charged with thr
charges in proper order. The first charge consists of a mixture of carbonate
soda (Na O, CO.) + Carbon (C) + Sulphur (S) + Alumina (Al, O). The seco

page_text: charge is sulphate of alumina, the third charge a flux preferably a mixture of the
chlorides of soda and potash.
The furnace C must of course be strongly heated at the beginning of the
operation; it is best to fill with coke first and as soon as that is warm to put the
5 charge on the coke so that it comes to the bottom with the burning coke. A
mixing of the charges with coal is not excluded but is usually not necessary.
The process then continues as follows:-The cover P or furnace A is shut down,
the slide G drawn up, the slide F closed and the blast cut off from furnace A.
A suitable quantity of steam is now admitted through H which spreads itself
over the glowing coke and penetrates downwards through it in the direction of
the arrow breaking up into its constituent parts oxygen and hydrogen. The
oxygen forms with the carbon of the coke carbonic oxide gas while the hydrogen
remains uncombined. The gases thus formed during their passage through the
extremely hot coke themselves acquire a very high temperature and at length pass
by channel D into furnace C where the charge lies. The highly heated gases
carbonic oxide and hydrogen act upon the charge so that the first charge breaks
up into a combination of sodium sulphide and aluminium sulphide from which by
means of the second charge (sulphate of alumina) free metallic aluminium is
formed. Passing into the melting zone the aluminiuni will melt and if it be drawn
off at N the flux added thereto will assist the fusion of the aluminium together;
it is not however absolutely necessary.
When the gases generated in furnace A. are too cool furnace B is closed by the
cover Q, its coke having been kept hot by the blast, the slide F and the steam
pipe I are opened and the slide G and steam pipe H are closed.
The hot gases are now generated in furnace B and act as just described upon
the charge in furnace C. The cover P on furnace A is now lifted up and the coke
contained therein again made very hot by the blast and prepared for the next
turn. When furnace B becomes cold furnace A is again placed in operation and
so on.
As coke is consumed in the mass in furnaces A and B fresh coke is added,
as also with the charge in furnace C. The process may also be conducted in such
wise that the alumina + carbonate of soda + sulphur + carbon are previously
heated and the bimetallic sulphide is brought ready formed to the furnace, and in
the same way by means of a proper mixture the sulphide of soda may be replaced
by other bodies producing the same effect or other mixtures may be taken which
act in the same manner.
Instead of the bimetallic sulphide pure aluminium sulphide may be employed or
mixture from which it is generated, or again pure sulphide of soda, sulphide of
potash, sulphide of copper or other metallic sulphides or analogous compounds
producing the same effect alone. In the latter case aluminium is obtained in com-
ination with the metal of the sulphide. Instead of the one charge alumina +
arbonate of soda + sulphur + coal, a mixture of alumina, sulphur and coal only
nay be introduced; or further the sulphate of alumina may be replaced by alumina.
The one charge may also be formed out of sodium sulphide, potassium sulphide and
ther metallic sulphides and the others may be produced from alumina or sulphate
f alumina.
The first charge may also be composed of aluminium sulphide, or aluminium-
odium sulphide, or other bimetallic aluminous sulphide, or a mixture of bodies
om which these bodies are formed, and a second charge may consist of a metallic
xide or a metal.
What I claim is
First. The process of production of metallic aluminium or aluminium alloys by
e fusion together of silicon or ferro silicium with compounds of aluminium with
lorine or fluorine.
Second. The process of production of aluminium and copper bronze by the fusion
an alloy of aluminium and iron with copper.
Third. The process of production of metallic alumini

page_text: fluoride or chloride of aluminium into contact with a mixture of bodies from which
when heated to redness, sodium or potassium is developed which, while nascent,
reduces aluminium out of the first mentioned substances.
Fourth. The process for the production of metallic aluminium in which a shaft
furnace is charged with '/a mixture of alumina + sulphur + carbon + carbonate
of soda or with some other like mixture from which a bimetallic sulphide-
(sulphide of aluminium and sodium, or sulphide of aluminium and potassium) is
formed and is also charged with sulphate of alumina or some other similarly acting
body so that by the reaction which takes place free metallic aluminium is
disengaged.
Fifth. The same process as in 4 only that instead of a charge from which the
bimetallic sulphide is to be formed this sulphide is added ready made having been
produced by a separate process.
Sixth. The same process as in 4 only that instead of the limetallic sulphide
pure aluminium sulphide is added or a charge from which it is formed.
Seventh. The same process as in 4 only that instead of the bimetallic sulphide
and aluminium sulphide sodium sulphide potassium sulphide copper sulphide some
other metallic sulphide alone or a similarly acting substance is added.
Eighth. The processes described in 4-7 carried on in a crucible or other
furnace.
Ninth. The furnace herein described for the generation of aluminium and other
metals as described.
Tenth. The same process as in 4 with the difference that instead of sulphate of
alumina, alumina alone is added. The first charge may then consist of one of the
other bodies respectively mentioned (sodium sulphide, potassium sulphide &c)
Eleventh. The same process as in 10 carried on in a crucible or other furnace.
Twelfth. The same process as in 4 with the difference that instead of the second
charge another metallic oxide or metal or similarly acting body is added. The
first charge must then consist of a compound of aluminium sulphide.
Thirteenth. The same process as in 12 carried on in a crucible or other furnace..
In witness whereof I the said Gustavus Baron de Overbeck have hereunto
set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
OVER RECK