Metals and their Alloys and Operating the same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
Metals and their Alloys and Operating the same.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the county of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by The Schweizerische Metallurgische Gesells-
chaft, of Lauffen, Neuhausen, Switzerland,) to be as follows
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing aluminium
and other metals and their alloys, by electrolysis, and operating the same. Apparatus
according thereto is applicable for electrolytically treating those metals which can
be separated only with difficulty from their compounds. The apparatus is arranged
to operate continuously, and is therefore particularly adapted for the manufacture
or industrial production of such metals or of alloys of the same.
Apparatus according to this invention is shown by way of illustration in the
annexed drawing.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, the series of carbons B being, however, in
elevation.
Fig. 2 is a plan on the line Y, Z, Fig. 1, showing the carbons B in horizontal
section.
The positive pole is formed by a series of carbon plates (marked collectively B),
At the
and the negative pole by molten or liquid metal in a carbon crucible A.
bottom of the crucible A is an outlet C which renders possible the continuous operation
of the apparatus.
Situated on the ground but insulated from it is a box a of iron or other metal,
and open at the top; it is provided with a thick lining of carbon plates united
together by means of a carbon cement, and which form the crucible A. The carbon
cement may consist of tar, sugar syrup, or fruit sugar. The box a must be a good
conductor of electricity. Very intimate contact and consequently very great con-
ductivity between the exterior of the carbon walls of the crucible A and the internal
surface of the box a, may be obtained by casting the box a around the crucible A.

page_text: In the wall of the box a nearest the negative lead or conductor are inserted a
number of copper pins a which conduct the electric current with slight resistance
into the interior of the carbon crucible A. The lateral channel C can be closed by
means of a carbon rod c. The positive electrode B, whose several carbon plates /
are arranged side by side, dips into the crucible A. In some cases the arrange-
ment might be varied by providing between the carbon plates 6 intermediate spaces
that could be filled with conducting metal, such as copper, or with soft carbon.
The carbon plates are fastened at their upper ends by a frame furnished with an
eye e that can engage with a chain, by which means the electrode B can be placed
into position and raised and lowered as required. A frame surrounds the electrode B
and is provided with means, such as screws or the like, for making connection
with the positive (+) lead or conductor. The opening of the crucible A is with
the exception of the space occupied by the electrode B and of a space
to permit of its vertical movement, covered in with plumbago bricks
formed openings a through which material can be charged. Recesses m corresponding
with the openings », are formed in the sides of the crucible; these channels m, n
also serve as outlet passages for the gases produced in the crucible.
i
necessary
in which are
Movable plates o each having a frame o and a handle of serve to close the holes »
during the various phases of the melting process.
Between the bricks and the
edge of the box a is a filling of powdered plumbago.
At the commencement of the operation, copper, by preference in a pulverized
condition, is first placed in the crucible A; the carbon bundle or electrode B is
then brought towards the copper and the current passes through the copper and
causes it to melt.
As soon as the bath of molten copper, serving as the negative pole, is thus produced,
clay or alumina is placed in the crucible and the electrode B is somewhat raised.
The current will then pass through the alumina and will melt and reduce it. The
oxygen passes to the carbons h, b, band burns them, whereupon carbonic oxide gas
escapes from the crucible, whilst the aluminium is reduced from its oxide and passes
to the copper, so that aluminium bronze is directly produced. The crucible is then
charged, according to the progress of the electrolytic production of the metal, with
copper and alumina, either continuously or at intervals the electrode B being of
course raised or lowered according to the resistance. This regulation of the height
of the electrode B can be effected automatically by connecting the chain which carries
it with for example a reversible dynamo-motor (regulated by means of an Ampere
meter) which acts as an electric governor.
The liquid aluminium bronze is run into an ingot mould t, lined with carbon,
brought under the conduit C, the carbon rod c being drawn back to open the passage.
When the ingot mould is filled, the carbon rod c is allowed to move back by the
action of a spring plate d into its former position so as to close the aperture.
The process just described and upon which the arrangement of this improved
apparatus is based, renders possible the production of the various aluminium alloys,
with the exception of those metals which are vaporized at the melting point of
aluminium; in these cases it is only necessary to replace the copper by the metal
required to form the desired alloy with the aluminium.
Mixed compounds can also be produced direct (such as a combination of copper
with silicium and aluminium) by using any desired kind of silicious clay (silicate
of alumina) instead of clay alone.
If the metal bath be not employed, the apparatus will nevertheless act, and will
serve for the direct production of aluminium.
Dated this 7th day of December 1887.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Aluminium and other
Metals and their Alloys and Operating the same.
I WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer and 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing (on a commercial
scale) by electrolysis aluminium and other metals that can only be reduced with
difficulty from refractory compounds thereof and also for producing alloys of such
metals, and it can be used with advantage in electrolytically producing such metals
and alloys by the process described and claimed, in the specification of Letters Patent
granted to A. C. Henderson, the 21st day of May 1887 No. 7426.
Apparatus according to this invention arranged to operate in a continuous manner
is shewn by way of illustration in the annexed drawing.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, the series of carbons B being however, in
elevation.
Fig. 2 is a plan on the line Y, Z, fig. 1, shewing the carbons B in horizontal
section.
The positive pole consists of a series of carbon plates & (marked collectively B),
and the negative pole is molten or liquid metal in a carbon crucible A, but the
erucible itself may in some cases constitute the negative pole at starting.
a is a box or container of iron or other metal that contains the carbon crucible;
it can be placed on the ground but insulated therefrom and in such a manner that
air can circulate beneath it; or it may be mounted on trunnions to enable the crucible
to be inverted when desired. The crucible is built up of plates or blocks of carbon
united by means of a suitable carbon cement, that may be such as is employed
for uniting pieces of carbon and which, as is well known may consist for example
of coal-tar and sugar with or without addition of powdered carbon to give the desired
consistance.
The box a must be a good conductor of electricity and there should be intimate
contact and consequently very great conductivity between the exterior of the carbon
walls of the crucible A and the internal surface of the box a.
This can be obtained by casting the box a around the carbon crucible A.
In the wall of the box a nearest the negative lead or conductor are inserted a
number of copper pins a' (with or without plates J) which conduct the electric
current with slight resistance to the interior of the carbon crucible A. At G is a
taphole for withdrawing molten metal or alloy, and c is a plug, it may be of carbon,
for closing the same. Čis a carbon conduit through which the molten metal may flow
when the tap hole is opened.
This tap hole renders possible the continuous operation of the apparatus.

page_text: The positive electrode B whose several carbon plates are arranged side by side,
dips into the crucible A. In some cases the construction of the positive electrode
might be varied by providing between the carbon plates intermediate spaces and
filling the same with some conducting metal such as copper, or with soft carbon
to increase the conductivity of the positive electrode and at the same time increase
its solidity.
The carbon plates are held at their upper ends in a frame or clamp that is
furnished with an eye that can engage with a chain, by means of which the
electrode B can be placed in position and raised and lowered as required. A frame
or clamp h surrounding the electrode B and provided with means such as screws or
the like, serves for making connection with the positive (+) lead or conductor.
The top of the crucible A is covered with a cover of suitable refractory material
such as plumbago bricks in which is provided an opening of sufficient size to permit
of the passage of the positive electrode B and of its being vertically adjusted. In
the cover openings are formed through which material to be treated can be charged.
Recesses m corresponding with the openings n, are formed in the sides of the crucible;
these recesses m, and openings also serve as outlet passages for the gases produced
in the crucible. Movable plates o each having a frame of and a handle o serve to
close the holes during the various phases of the melting process.
Between the bricks or cover and the edge of the box a is a filling of powdered
plumbago. At the commencement of the operation, copper, by preference in a
granulated condition, is first placed in the crucible A; the carbon positive electrode B
is then brought lightly in contact with the copper and a current is passed
through it thereby melting the copper and making it ready to serve as the negative
électrode.
As soon as the bath of molten copper, serving as the negative pole, is thus produced,
clay or alumina either in powder or small lumps is placed in the crucible and the
electrode B is somewhat raised. The current will then pass through the alumina
(when alumina is used) and will melt and electrolytically decompose it into its con-
stituent elements namely oxygen and aluminium. The oxygen will pass to the
carbons of the positive electrode and combine therewith producing carbonic oxide
gas which escapes from the crucible, and the aluminium will pass to the copper and
become alloyed therewith and produce aluminium bronze. The crucible is charged
according to the progress of the electrolytic production of the metal, with an
additional quantity of copper and alumina, either continously or at intervals the
positive electrode B being raised or lowered according to the resistance. This
regulation of the height or position of the electrode B can be effected automatically
by connecting the chain which carries it, with winding machinery which may be
operated in one direction or the other (as required to raise or lower the electrode) by
a reversible dynamo electric motor the direction of rotation of which is controlled by
the movement of the needle of an ampere meter located in the electric circuit of the
furnace and which in moving from one position to another reverses the direction of
an electric current through the said motor. The ampere meter thus acts as an electric
governor.
This ampere meter also enables an operator to know the condition of matters with
respect to the distance apart of the electrodes whether reducing oxide to produce
simple metal or to produce an alloy or a compound and by watching it the operator
can tell whether the proper distance between the electrodes is being maintained as if
not the needle of the meter will be affected. If the needle has slight oscillations or
deflections, oxide must be added, and the positive electrode must be slightly raised
until such indications cease to be given by the meter. If when producing an alloy
there be greater oscillations or deflections of the needle some of the copper or other
metal that forms the negative electrode must be added, and the positive electrode should
be slightly raised.
The molten aluminium bronze may when required be run into an ingot mould t,
lined with carbon, and brought below the outer orifice of the conduit C, the carbon
plug c being drawn back to open the passage.

page_text: When a sufficient quantity of the alloy has been withdrawn the carbon plug c is
allowed to be moved back into its former position so as to close the taphole by the
action of a spring plate d.
If a
The process just described and for which the arrangement of this improved apparatus
is designed, renders possible the production of the various aluminium alloys, with the
exception of those metals which are vapourized at the melting point of aluminium.
For this purpose it is only necessary to replace the copper by the metal required to
form the desired alloy with the aluminium. Mixed compounds can also be produced
direct (such as a combination of copper with silicon and aluminium) by using any
suitable kind of silicious clay (silicate of alumina) instead of alumina alone.
molten metal bath, of an alloying metal such as copper be not employed the apparatus
will nevertheless act to electrolytically reduce refractory compounds; thus it will serve
for the direct production of aluminium from refractory compounds thereof, such as
alumina, in the manner described in the hereinbefore mentioned former specification,
Other metals such as manganese and wolfram may be similarly obtained from
their oxides, the metal electrolytically reduced from such oxide, in each case, serving
as the negative electrode.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. For the production of aluminium and other metals and their alloys by electrolysis,
the use of a crucible built of carbon with a surrounding or enclosing metal box or
container cast around and in good electrical connection with it, and a positive
carbon electrode substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
2. For the production of aluminium and other metals and their alloys by electrolysis
the use in conjunction with a carbon crucible of a positive electrode such as B com-
posed of carbon plates held or clamped together with or without intervening spaces
in each of which metal is cast or in which soft carbon is placed substantially as herein-
before described.
3. The improved apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
annexed for producing aluminium and other metals and their alloys by electrolysis.
Dated this 5th day of September 1888.
W. LLOYD WISE.