Improvements in and relating to Mantles for Incandescent Gas and Oil Lamp3.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mantles for Incandescent Gas and
Oil Lamp3.
I, JOSEPH BLASCO DE LERY of 58 Pine Street, in the City, County, and State
of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 the mantles used for producing incandescence in gas
and oil lamps and consists in constructing the mantles from threads composed of a
solution of nitro-cellulose, containing the substances which are intended, upon
being exposed to the flame of the lamp, to produce incandescence. Mantles
constructed according to these improvements are more flexible, more resisting in
use, and give a superior light effect.
I prefer to employ that particular kind or kinds of nitro-cellulose soluble in
crystallisable or concentrated acetic acid and to dissolve it in that acid or in other
organic acids which will also dissolve the nitro-cellulose, such as propionic acid,
valeric acid, butyric acid, and the like. The reason why I prefer to employ an
acid solvent is that thereby I am enabled to bring into solution the salts or oxides
which are ultimately relied upon to produce the incandescence. If however it be
not considered necessary to bring the salts or oxides into solution, then I may use
the ordinary solvents such as acetone or alcohol-ether. But, inasmuch as solution
in the organic acid produces a more homogeneous and generally superior result,
I prefer to employ such solvent. I will therefore describe my method of procedure
with reference to an acid solution, it being assumed that analogous methods are
employed for other solutions as will be readily understood.
I first produce a thick syrup, dough, or jelly, consisting of the dissolved nitro-
cellulose and containing the salts or oxides in solution or suspension. The salts or
oxides which I employ may be those generally used in constructing the mantles, or
I may preferably use salts or oxides obtained from monazite sands and containing
the metals and earths of the cerium group, alone or combined with other suitable
salts. In carrying out this part of my invention I may take 100 parts of the
nitro-cellulose and dissolve it in 1200 parts of crystallisable or concentrated acetic
acid, adding 30 parts of the salts or oxides, the salts being preferably acetates or
nitrates. In order that their mixture with the syrup dough or jelly may be
complete, it is well to dissolve the salts or oxides previously in a small quantity
of water or of the acid. The syrup dough or jelly free from gritty and unsuitable
foreign substances, is then squirted through capillary tubes or small orifices,
producing fine threads which are repeatedly washed to deprive them of their free
acetic acid or other solvent. By preference they are, on leaving the capillary
tubes or orifices, treated with an alkaline solution or with a solution of an alkaline
sulphide, in order to transform the salts and oxides into insoluble substances which
thus remain fixed or imprisoned in the artificial thread.
The threads which result from this operation can serve directly in the manufacture
of the mantle, but it is preferred first to denitrify them.
The denitrification can be carried out by any of the known processes for the
denitrification of nitro-cellulose but with the condition of o; erating in a neutral
solution, by preference alkali. For this purpose, 1 may make use of sulphuretted
hydrogen or an alkaline solution such as that of sulpho-hydrate of ammonium.
D....oll

page_text: I can succeed equally with sulpho-hydrate of sodium, zinc, or zinc in the presence
of an alkali.
After denitrification, it is well to subject the threads to numerous washings in
clear water.
The threads are utilised in the manufacture of mantles of the desired form and
dimensions by weaving knitting or braiding, as at present, and have a greater
durability than those now in use besides giving a greater capacity for resisting
wear and tear in packing and use.
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 :-
1. Mantles composed of threads of artificial material containing the oxides or
salts which, after incineration, produce incandescence when the mantles are used
in gas or oil lamps, the threads being composed and constructed substantially as
herein before described.
2. The hereinbefore described process for obtaining threads to be used in the
construction of mantles for incandescent gas and oil lamps, which consists in
combining nitro-cellulose, a suitable solvent, and salts or oxides such as are derived
from monazite sands, forming the mixture into threads, and fixing the oxides in
these threads by passing them through an alkaline or equivalent solution,"
substantially as herein before set forth.
3. The hereinbefore described process for obtaining threads to be used in the
construction of mantles for incandescent gas and oil lamps, which consists in
combining nitro-cellulose, a suitable solvent, and salts or oxides such as are
derived from monazite sands, forming the mixture into threads, fixing the oxides
in these threads by passing them through an alkaline or equivalent solution, and.
denitrifying them, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture, artificial threads for use in the construction
of mantles for gas and oil incandescent lamps, constructed by the process set forth
in the two preceding claiming clauses and as hereinbefore fully described.
Dated this 7th day of April A.D. 1896
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.