Improved Manufacture of Incandescence Mantles, Filaments, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
Improved Manufacture of Incandescence Mantles, Filaments,
and the like.
A communication from ACHILLE MARIE PLAISSETTY, Chemical Engineer, of
105, Rue Lafayette, Paris, in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Nitrates, azotates, and similar compounds obtained by the combination of rare
earths or metals such as thorium, lanthanium, zirconium, cerium, erbium, silver,
platinum etc. either alone, or mixed together and heated to a high temperature
become decomposed into oxides, and owing to the contraction that they undergo
under the influence of heat, give under the action of a flame from a Bunsen
burner etc. a powerful light, and by the application of the process to be described
a considerable economy of gas as compared with that used in incandescence gas
burners hitherto used, is effected.
The process is chiefly based on the transformation of these nitrates, or azotates,
into the state of oxide before the incineration of the mantles, thus doing away with
the preliminary burning off by blow-pipes in order to remove the water which the
constitutive filaments of said mantles contain, before the dentrification of the
pyroxyl mixed with said nitrates or azotates in the shape of baskets, sets of threads,
ordinary mantles, single threads, etc. so that the very fact of submitting, for the first
time, the lighting body thus constituted to the action of the burner, causes the
instantaneous disappearance of every organic impurity and an instantaneous pro-
duction of incandescence, resulting in an intense light, the colour of which may
be varied according to the nature of the salts or mixtures of salts employed.
In the practical application of the process filaments are used made of a syrupy
solution of "incandescence" salis mixed with collodion consisting of nitrocellulose
or pyroxyl dissolved in crystallizable acetic acid, acetone, etc. and transformed into
oxide filaments by dentrification by means of hydrated sulphate of ammonia or
calcium, said transformation being effected after having submitted said filaments
in a water bath for several hours and dried. them at a temperature of 150° to 175° C.
for 4 to 5 hours. These filaments thus transformed into oxide no longer require
the long and expensive operation of incineration or calcination by means of a
blow-pipe as required by ordinary incandescence mantles. An ordinary burning
off for a few minutes on any Bunsen burner or even on an ordinary burner is
Bufficient to make them ready for producing an incandescence light."
In this way mantles prepared according to this invention can and ought prefer-
ably to be supplied in a flexible and not fragile state, their fragility being only
produced by the burning off for the purpose of rendering them ready for use.
Once burnt, as explained the filaments prepared according to this invention, do
not undergo any contraction under the action of the flame of the burner on which

page_text: they are used, as there is only the organic impurity to be removed whilst the
rare earths are in the state of oxide owing to the dentrification of the pyroxyl after
the spinning or manufacture of the mantle and a light equal to that of azotates
or nitrates transformed into oxide according to the burning processes hitherto
known is obtained.
Two constructions for carrying this invention into effect will now be described.
A mantle is formed of depending threads or cords, constituted by filaments made
from the above mentioned syrupy solution of "incandescence" salts, mixed with
collodium, consisting of nitrocellulose or pyroxyl dissolved in crystallisable acetic
acid, acetone, etc., and transformed into oxide filaments by dentrification by means
of hydrated sulphate of ammonia or calcium, said transformation being effected
after having soaked said filaments for several hours in water and dried them at a
high temperature.
These threads of suitable length and folded back or hooked are supported by
their hooked portions on a ring forming the upper end of a rod or bracket, the
lower end of which is placed in a sheath or projection on a socket, which serves to
secure the mantle and its support on the burner. The threads are uniformly dis-
tributed around the socket and held in position by each of them being placed in a
corresponding notch made in the upper edge or flange of said socket, which edge
is preferably horizontal and projects outwards.
The holding of the threads in the notches may be completely ensured by a ring
which, after the threads have been in place in said notches, closes the notches and
so secures the threads against lateral displacement.
In order to facilitate the manipulation of the mantle, the supporting vehicle
bracket or rod which may be within or close to the series of threads
may be provided at a suitable height with an outwardly bent portion by means of
which it can be taken hold of by the fingers or by pincers, without danger of
touching the threads and injuring them.
The invention may be applied to mantles of ordinary shape. In this case a
socket is employed which forms the support for said mantle which is secured in
the usual manner to the bent end of a supporting rod so that the lower portion of the
mantle surrounds said socket which is sufficiently high in order that, under the
action of the flame from the burner used for lighting the lower edge of said
mantle should be always maintained and guided by said socket until the completion
of the contraction produced by the burning. Said socket comprises besides suitably
arranged on its surface at the bottom, radial branches or projections on which the
mantle rests, before the burning operation just mentioned takes place, by its lower
edge, so that not being able to pass beyond the lower edge of the socket, the
mantle cannot, under the action of the flame, contract under said edge, thus
avoiding the breaking of its filaments at that place. Mantles prepared according
to this invention and made either of threads or like ordinary mantles are supplied
in an absolutely flexible state which makes them practically unbreakable. It
is only after they have been burnt off on the burner for which they are destined,
which burning off is effected instantaneously, that they become fragile, and must be
handled with care.
The described process has great advantages over all other hitherto known pro-
cesses for obtaining incandescence light by gas, petroleum, etc. Some of these
advantages are as follows:-
Great intensity of light,
Great economy of gas.
:-
5
The removal of serious drawbacks, inherent to the extraordinary fragility and
to the breaking of the ordinary mantles during the manufacture of the fabric, the
incineration by blow-pipes, the application of collodium, the removal of the
collodium, the putting into boxes, packing, and placing said mantles on the burners.
Great facilities of transport and ease of application without the necessity of the 5
numerous precautions required in the manipulation of ordinary mantles,

page_text: The process may be used for incandescence lighting by gas, petroleum, alcohol,
etc., whether it be for public or private use. For public use it enables very
powerful burners to be arranged, by adding to the burners already used, a crown of
filaments suspended over the flame of various burners, which enable a double
illuminating power to be obtained without increasing the expenditure of gas, and
without in any way changing or altering the burners in uso."
Dated this 2nd dex of January 1800
Improved Manufacture of Incandescence Mantles, Filaments,
and the like.
A communication from ACHILLE MARIE PLAISSETTY, Chemical Engineer, of
105, Rue Lafayette, Paris, in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
Nitrates, azotates, and similar compounds obtained by the combination of rare
earths or metals such as thorium, lanthanium, zirconium, cerium, erbium, silver,
platinum, etc., either alone, or mixed together, and heated to a high temperature
become decomposed into oxides, and owing to the contraction that they undergo under
the influence of heat, give under the action of a flame from a Bunsen burner, etc.,
a powerful light, and by the application of the process to be described a consider-
able economy of gas as compared with that used in incandescence gas burners
hitherto used, is effected.
The process is based on the transformation of these nitrates, or azotates, into
the state of oxide before the incineration of the mantles, thus doing away with
the preliminary burning off by blow-pipes, in order to remove the water which the
constitutive filaments of said mantles contain, before the denitrification of the
Pyroxylin mixed with said nitrates or azotates, in the form of baskets, sets of
threads, ordinary mantles, single threads, etc., so that the very fact of submitting,
for the first time, the lighting body thus constituted to the action of the burner,
causes the instantaneous disappearance of every organic impurity and an instan-
taneous production of incandescence, resulting in an intense light, the colour of
which may be varied according to the nature of the salts or mixtures of salts
employed.
In the practical application of the invention filaments are used made of a syrupy
solution of "incandescence" salts mixed with collodion consisting, say, of nitro-
cellulose or pyroxylin dissolved in crystallizable acetic acid, acetone, etc., and
transformed into oxide filaments by denitrification by means of hydrated sulphate
of ammonia or calcium, said transformation being effected after having submitted
said filaments to a water bath for several hours and then drying them at a
temperature of 150° to 175° C. for 4 to 5 hours. These filaments thus transformed
into the oxide state no longer require the long and expensive operation of incinera-
tion or calcination by means of a blow-pipe or the like, as required by ordinary
incandescence mantles. An ordinary burning off for a few minutes on any
Bunsen burner, or even on an ordinary burner, is sufficient to make them ready for
producing an incandescence light,

page_text: In this way mantles prepared according to this invention can and ought prefer-
ably to be supplied in a flexible and non-fragile state their fragility being only
produced by the burning off for the purpose of rendering them ready for use.
Once burnt, as already explained, the filament or mantles prepared according to
this invention do not undergo any contraction under the action of the flame of the
burner on which they are used, as only the organic impurity has to be removed,
whilst the rare earths are in the state of oxide owing to the denitrification of the
pyroxylin after the spinning or manufacture of the mantle and a light equal to that
of azotatos or nitrates transformed into oxide according to the burning processes
hitherto known is obtained.
By way of example, in the accompanying drawings, various forms of practical
constructions are shown for the application of my invention.
Figure 1 shows a mantle formed of depending threads strands or cords A,
constituted by filaments made from the above mentioned syrupy solution of
incandescence" salts, mixed with collodion, consisting, say, of nitrocellulose or
pyroxyl dissolved in crystallisable acetic acid, acetone, etc., and transformed into
oxide filaments by denitrification by means of hydrated sulphate of ammonia or
calcium, said transformation being effected after having soaked the filaments for
several hours in water, and dried them at a high temperature.
These threads or strands A of suitable length and folded back or hooked at their
upper ends are supported by their hooked portions B on a ring C forming the upper
end of a rod or bracket D, the lower end of which is placed in a sheath or pro-
jection E on a socket ', which serves to secure the mantle and its support over the
burner. The threada A are uniformly distributed around the socket F and held in
position by each of them being placed in a corresponding notch G made in the
upper edge or flange H of said socket F, which edge is perfectly horizontal and
projects outwards.
The retention of the threads A in the notches G may be completely ensured by
a ring I which, after the threads A have been put in place in said notches, closes
the latter, and so secures the threads against lateral displacement.
In order to facilitate the manipulation of the mantle the supporting vertical
bracket or rod D) which may be within or close to the series of threads may be
provided at a suitable point with an outwardly bent portion J by means of which
it can be taken hold of by the fingers or by pincers, without danger of touching
the threads and injuring them.
The detailed view Figure 2 clearly shows the herein before described arrange-
ment of mantle support or fitting, constituted by the socket F with flange H having
notches G, and the ring I. The supporting rod or bracket D, which has an
upper ring C being bent so as to coincide approximately. with the line or direction
of the threads extending from its ring C to the outside of the socket F', although as
stated above the ring support may be vertical and in the centre of the conically
shaped mantle in a similar manner to the well-known forks, the mantle however in
this case resting on the ring.
The invention may be applied to mantles of ordinary shape. In this case as
may be seen in Figure 3 (in which the mantle is shown in its uncontracted
condition) a socket is employed which forms the bottom support or guide for
the mantle, which is secured in the usual manner to the bent end of a supporting
rod K so that the lower portion of the mantle surrounds said socket F which is
sufficiently high in order that, under the action of the flame from the burner used
for lighting, the lower edge of said mantle should be always maintained and guided
by said socket until the completion of the contraction produced by the burning.
The socket F preferably comprises, besides, suitably arranged on its surface at the
bottom, radial branches or projections L on which, as may be seen in Figure 3, the
mantle M rests, before the burning operation just mentioned takes place, by its
lower edge, so that not being able to pass beyond the lower edge of the socket F,
the mantle cannot under the action of the flame, contract under said edge, thus
avoiding the breaking of its filaments at that point.

page_text: As regards mantles of ordinary shape, (Figures 3, 4, and 5) I have found that
the chances of their breaking is diminished to a great extent by employing the ring
suspender described, in place of the ordinary asbestos cross thread. This ring
may be formed in any suitable manuer at the end of the supporting rod 1), as
shown in two examples in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
"
Figure 4 represents, in elevation, a mantle of ordinary shape and a ring'
supporting rod. Figure 5 is a similar view with the front top part of the mantle
broken away to enable the arrangement of the upper part to be seen and its com-
bination with the "ring" supporting rod.
Figure 6 is an elevation of a "ring" rod for supporting a mantle, in the same
manner as Figures 4 and 5, but so constructed as to be placed in the centre of the
burner, instead of at the side, as in the Figures 4 and 5. As is easily seen, the ring
support C, for supporting the mantle, permits the ordinary cross bar or loop as
employed in ordinary mantles, to be done away with, the upper portion of the
mantle N, being contracted or drawn in, by means, say, of two threads O and 1.
although leaving a central space or passage Q, through which the gas can easily
pass; these threads are of the same nature as those of the mantle M, and are
respectively contracted to the degree required, so as to produce a circular surface R,
adapted to fit upon the ring C of the support D.
This manner of suspension of the mantle ensures a rational disposition of the
weight of the latter, over the whole of its head, which considerably decreases the
chances of breakage of the mantle; moreover, by this arrangement, the necessity
of the ordinary asbestos threads S (Figure 3) is obviated which threads, being
necessarily thick, are often the cause of breakage in the head of the mantle, the
solidity and durability of which thereby becomes very much impaired.
Finally, whether it is a question of mantle constructed according to this inven-
tion, as shown in Figures 1, 3, or 4 and 5, I secure a really practical and economical
use of the mantles, by applying to their mounting devices on the burner to the
supporting rod A and to the surfaces of the sockets F, as well as to those of the
supplemental devices, with which the lower rim of the mantle is likely to come in
contact a coating having asbestos as its base, whereby the rods are protected
against the oxidising and destructive action of the flame, and the sockets F and
their supplemental devices are prevented from adhering to the mantle when the
latter is being burnt off on the burner, which adherence may cause the rupture of
the mantle when it contracts under the action of the burning.
According to this invention the arrangements and applications which have been
described above, whether it is a question of a mantle formed of depending threads
as in Figure 1, or in the ordinary manner, as in Figure 3, or with suspension by
means of a ring as in Figures 4 and 5, the mantles are formed in an absolutely
pliable and unbreakable state and it is only after they have been burnt off on the
burner for which they are destined, which burning off is effected instantaneously,
that they become fragile, and must be handled with care.
The described process has great advantages over all other hitherto known pro--
cesses for obtaining incandescence light by gas, petroleum, etc. Some of these
advantages are as follows:
Great intensity of light.
Great economy of gas.
-
The removal of serious drawbacks, due to the extraordinary fragility and to
the breaking of the ordinary mantles during the manufacture of the fabric, the
incineration by blow-pipes, the application of collodion, the removal of the
collodion, the putting into boxes, packing, and placing said mantles on the burners:
Great facilities of transport and ease of application without the necessity of the
numerous precautions required in the manipulation of ordinary mantles before use:.
The process may be used for any incandescence lighting by gas, petroleum,
alcohol, etc., whether it be for public or private use. For public use it enables
very powerful burners to be arranged, by adding to the burners already used,.
a crown of filaments suspended over the flame of various burners, which enable

page_text: a double illuminating power to be obtained without increasing the expenditure
of gas, and without in any way changing or altering the burners in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The manufacture of incandescence mantles, filaments and the like by sus-
pending in the flame of a Bunsen or other burner filaments or mantles prepared
from syrupy solutions of "incandescence" salts mixed with collodion
consisting preferably of nitrocellulose or pyroxyl dissolved in a suitable solvent,
and transforming them into oxide filaments by denitrification by means of hydrated
sulphate of ammonia or calcium, said transformation being effected after said fila-
ments have been submitted for several hours to a water bath and dried at a high
temperature.
2. A mantle support comprising a ring for holding a series of depending threads
of incandescence material, a depending rod, connected to said ring, having prefer-
ably an outward bend, a socket for mounting the rod on the burner said socket
being provided with notches in its horizontal flange for receiving the depending
threads, and means for preventing the displacement of said threads, substantially
as described.
3. A socket such as F with radial projections at the bottom for supporting the
base of the mantle before it is burned off so as to guide the base of the mantle
during the burning off, on the socket and thus prevent the breaking of the bottom
of the mantle, substantially as described.
4. A mantle of the kind described provided with a contracted head adapted to
rest upon a ring support so that the whole weight of the mantle is equally dis-
tributed around the ring substantially as described.
5. An incandescence mantle manufactured in the manner hereinhefore described.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete device
for supporting incandescence mantles substantially as described or illustrated in
Figure or in Figure 3 or in Figure 4 or in Figure 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
.
Date this 10th day of Auril 1800