IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AT HIGH TEMPERATURE OF ALKALINE SALTS AND METALS AND IN APPARATUS SUITABLE TO SUCH TREATMENT
Year: 1882

page_text: 1.
LETTERS PATENT to Camille Alphonse Faure of Paris in the Republic of
France for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AT HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF ALKALINE SALTS AND METALS AND IN APPARATUS SUITABLE
TO SUCH TREATMENT"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Camille Alphonse Faure at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1882.
CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE of Paris in the Republic of France.-" IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT AT HIGH TEMPERATURE OF ALKALINE SALTS AND
METALS AND IN APPARATUS SUITABLE TO SUCH TREATMENT
"
The object of my invention is the manufacture of metallic sodium; of the
Cyanides by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and in general the treatment at high
temperature of alkaline salts or metals.
Up to the present the commercial production of metallic sodium and of the
cyanides by fixing atmospheric nitrogen has been performed in apparatus such as
tubes, retorts and crucibles in which are placed the alkaline composition and the
carbon or other composition; and these tubes, retorts and crucibles are placed in
furnaces and heated by heat applied externally.
In my process of manufacture I also employ the method of external heating, but
only to raise the material to a moderate temperature relatively to the high
temperatures necessary to obtain the desired decompositions and effects which I
effect by other means.
'
The principal means consists in the application of the heat of electric arcs
currents or discharges. by means of which I can obtain a temperature which
having no theoretical limit and being applied directly to the alkaline matter
permits me to operate rapidly and consequently economically
In order that my combined means may be the better understood I shall proceed
to explain the same with the aid, for greater clearness of the annexed drawing
which represents by way of illustration a vertical section of a furnace on my
avstem

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REFERENCES
A metallic casing supporting the structure. B block or lump of very refractory
brick. cavity like that of a draw furnace and with an opening at the bottom
corresponding to a like opening in the casing A
Da metallic tube forming a continuation of C. it is closed by a moveable cover
at the upper part, in this tube the materials to be treated are placed, E a flue or
jacket almost completely enveloping the metalli tube D. F fire grate where heat
is devolped which passing to the flue or jacket E heats the tube D and the matters
which it contains, G lateral passage from the cavity C intended to lead the.
vapours produced during the reaction to suitable condensors placed outside
H grating in the form of a drum placed at the bottom of the cavity C and
- worked from the outside; by turning it upon its axis the carbonaceous.matters
are evacuated after treatment from the bottom of the cavity C. I. I radial
openings pierced in the block or lump B. J. J electrodes or pencils of carbon or
iron or other proper material suitably adjusted in the orifices I. I to slide
longitudinally as the resistance to the electric current demands
This description and drawing will render evident the economy of my
arrangements
It will be seen that the matters contained in the tube D which are already
heated by the heat of any combustible solid liquid or gaseous burnt in the grate F
on their arrival in the cavity C are by the electric arc or by the passage whatever
it may be of the current brought under the influence of an additional very high
temperature
The operation is semi-continuous as in a draw furnace such as a lime kiln-After
having charged by the upper orifice of the tube this is closed by means of its cover
or stopper-The lower casing is also hermetically closed so that the vapours which
result from the operation have to pass by the discharge passage. to the condensor
mentioned above.
To aid this movement I sometimes introduce at the bottom and top a gentle
current of a suitable gas adapted to the product which it is desired to obtain,
thus I send oxide of carbon or hydro-carbon gas if I treat an alkaline matter.with
the object of obtaining the alkaline metal and I send in principally nitrogen gas
if I desire to obtain a cyanide.
Sometimes I dispense with the heating tube and sometimes the furnace cavity is
arranged for alternate and discontinuous operations
The movement of the electrodes is generally automatic and regulated by the
passage of the current itself by the well known use of electro magnet bobbins
which being traversed by a small part of the current permit a movement of the
electrodes co-ordinated with this movement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Camille Alphonse Faure in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th June 1883.
CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE of Paris in the Republic of France
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT AT HIGH TEMPERATURE OF ALKALINE SALTS AND
METALS AND IN APPARATUS SUITABLE TO SUCH TREATMENT"
The object of my invention is the manufacture of metallic sodium, of the
cyanides by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and in general the treatment at high
temperature of alkaline salts or metals.
Up to the present the commercial production of metallic sodium, and of the
cyanides by fixing atmospheric nitrogen has been performed in apparatus such as
tubes, retorts and crucibles in which are placed the alkaline composition and the
carbon or other composition, and these tubes, retorts and crucibles are placed in
furnaces and heated by heat applied externally.
:
In my process of manufacture I also employ the method external heating, but
only to raise the material to a moderate temperature, relatively to the high
temperatures necessary to obtain the desired decompositions and effects, which
I effect by other means.
-
The principal means consists in the application of the heat of electric arcs,
currents or discharges, by means of which I can obtain a temperature which
having no theoretical limit and being applied directly to the alkaline matter
permits me to operate rapidly and consequently economically.
In order that my combined means may be the better understood I shall proceed
to explain the same with the aid, for greater clearness of the annexed Drawing
which represents by way of illustration a vertical section of a furnace on my
BETERENCE
A metallic casing supporting the structure. B block or lump of very refractory
brick. C cavity like that of a draw furnace and with an opening at the bottom
corresponding to a like opening in the casing A. Da metallic tube forming a
continuation of C, it is closed by a moveable cover at the upper part; in this tube
the materials to be treated are placed. E a flue or jacket almost completely
enveloping the metallic tube D. F fire grate where heat is developed which
passing to the flue or jacket E heats the tube D and the matters, which it contains.
G lateral passage from the cavity C intended to lead the vapours produced during
the reaction to suitable condensors placed outside. H grating in the form of a
drum placed at the bottom of the cavity C and worked from the outside; by
turning it upon its axis the carbonaceous matters are evacuated after treatment
from the bottom of the cavity C. I. I. radial openings pierced in the block or
lump B. J. J. electrodes or pencils of carbon or iron or other proper material
suitably adjusted in the orifices I. I. to slide longitudinally as the resistance to the
electric current demands.
This description and Drawing will render evident the
arrangements.
economy of my
It will be seen that the matters contained in the tube D which are already
heated by the heat of any combustible solid liquid or gaseous fuel burnt in the
grate F, on their arrival in the cavity C are by the electric arc or by the passage
whatever it may be of the current, brought under the influence of an additional
very high temperature.

page_text: .
"
.
The operation is semi-continuous as in a draw furnace such as a lime kiln.
After having charged by the upper orifice of the tube, this is closed by means of its
cover or stopper. The lower casing is also hermetically closed so that the vapours
which result from the operation have to pass by the discharge passage to the
condensor mentioned above.
To aid this movement I sometimes introduce at the bottom and top a gentle
current of a suitable gas, adapted to the product which it is desired to obtain.
Thus I send oxide of carbon or hydro-carbon gas if I treat an alkaline matter with
the object of obtaining the alkaline metal, and I send in principally nitrogen gas if
I desire to obtain a cyanide.
Sometimes I dispense with the heating tube and sometimes the furnace cavity
is arranged for alternate and discontinuous operations.
The movement of the electrodes is generally automatic and regulated by the
passage of the current itself, by the well known use of electro-magnet bobbins
which being traversed by a small part of the current permit a movement of the
electrodes co-ordinated with this current.
What I claim is:-
First. The practical application substantially as described of the beat produced
by the electric arc discharge or passage to the reduction of the alkaline metals or to
the production of other chemical combinations of these metals.
Second. The application in a furnace substantially as described of the heat
produced by the electric arc discharge or passage operating in conjunction with
the lower heat resulting from the combustion of fuel.
Third. The method herein described for the manufacture of metallic sodium and
also of cyanides by the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen and generally of the
alkaline metals by the developement of a high temperature.
Fourth. The preliminary heating of the matters under treatment before their
arrival at the electrical focus and the regulation of this focus and furnace in
accordance with the production.
In witness whereof I the said Camille Alphonse Faure have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand ciglit hundred and eighty three.