Improvements in Incandescent Mantles for Gas Burners.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897 ·
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Incandescent Mantles for Gas Burners.
I, FREDRICK RANDOLPH FOSTER, of 126 Mason Street Milwaukee in the County
of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, United States of America, Engineer, and doing
business at 126 Mason Street, in said City of Milwaukee, 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:-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in Incandescent Mantles
for Gas Lights, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in
the appended claims.
Heretofore, incandescent mantles have been commonly made from the combined
oxides of Lanthanum, Yttrium and Zirconium, and have been largely used for the
purpose of intensifying the light emitted by gas burners with the consumption of a
very small amount of gas. Such devices have however, proven in service, to be
exceedingly fragile, and have, therefore, in many instances been entirely
unsatisfactory because of the fact that with the least jar or vibration, the
incandescent mantle will fall to pieces or break down and be therefore useless. It is
the object of this invention to provide an improved incandescent mantle which shall
effectually remedy this defect, and for this purpose I have found that by treating a
combustible base with graphite or other suitable medium, and the oxide of chemically
pure platinum, and the oxide of ruthenium, I am enabled to produce a much more
durable and substantial form of mantle than has been heretofore possible and one
which when in use, may be subjected to severe vibration or jar, without harm, or may
be freely handled at will, without liability of fracture.
To this end, I manufacture my improved device as follows:-
I prepare a suitable combustible base, which may be of any desired form or
structure, preferably a skeleton or network hood, by applying to the outside of said
base, a thin layer of graphite. I then deposit upon the graphite coating, a light
layer of copper, this deposit being made by the well known electro-plating process.
I then similarly apply a coating of platinum and finally apply a somewhat heavier
coating or layer of ruthenium upon the outside of the platinum coating.
After the several coatings or layers have been applied to the combustible base, the
mantle may be heated to such a temperature as to consume the combustible material
which forms said base, so as to leave only the exterior composite covering, consisting
of the aforesaid metals.
I have found in practice, that mantles thus constructed are very durable and will
stand a great deal of rough usage without damage, and that the same may be freely
handled without danger of fracture.
The drawing illustrates the construction and shape of the mantles as ordinarily
used, and to the preparation of which this invention relates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
I. An incandescent mantle for gas burners consisting of lavers of conner Platinu

page_text: and ruthenium, which have been electrically deposited upon a suitable base or hood
and said base or hood subsequently destroyed by heat.
II. The hereindescribed method of forming incandescent mantles, for gas burners,
consisting in successively depositing or electroplating upon a fusible base, having the
shape and proportions of the described mantle, layers or films of copper, platinum
and of ruthenium, and subsequently destroying or driving off the combustible base
by heat.
11th day of May 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C, Agents for the Applicant.