Improvements relating to the Treatment of Calcium Carburet.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Calcium Carburet.
I, CHARLES EMMANUEL YVONNEAU, of 62, Rue Condorcet, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a process of treatment of calcium carburet whereby the
calcium carburet is so combined with other bodies as to produce a substance possessing
the characteristic property of calcium carburet, namely that of producing acetylene
gas when brought into contact either with water or with an aqueous liquid, while at
the same time it is capable of being used far more readily than ordinary calcium
carburet, as the water only acts upon it in proportion as it permeates it; the novel
product being capable moreover of taking the form of solid bodies of prismatic or
other shape which may be readily manipulated, are convenient to use whilst being
protected from the influence of the hydrometric state of the atmosphere, and on the
whole constitute a novel article of manufacture which I propose to term "safety
carburet."
In order to dispel any doubt concerning the nature of my invention I will
hereinafter give a full description of the manner in which I effect the preparation of
the novel product.
In the first place I heat 16 parts of glucose or a similar body and 4 parts of a fatty
substance such as any suitable oil in any convenient pan or receiver heated by steam
and preferably fitted with a stirring device. I do not desire to be limited to the
employment of any specific fatty body and would point out that according to the
composition of the glucose used I may within certain limits vary the proportions
herein stated which refer to one hundred parts of the product to be prepared. The
two bodies thus beated to about 100 deg. Centigrade should be thoroughly mixed so
as to form a perfectly homogeneous product.
I next heat in a suitable receiver 80 parts of calcium carburet, previously broken
up by any convenient appliance into pieces of from about 2 to 4 millimetres each, to
a temperature of about 300 deg. Centigrade.
And thirdly I transfer the small fragments of carburet thus heated to the mixture
of glucose and oil, or similar bodies, having undergone the treatment described in
the first place, which mixture is maintained in a state of ebullition at a temperature
approximating 100 deg. Centigrade.
The fragments of heated carburet combine chemically with the above-mentioned
mixture, previously prepared, and there sets in a keen reaction which gives rise to a
new body the chemical formula, Ca C, of which differs from that of ordinary calcium
carburet in this, that it contains a larger proportion of carbon.
The reaction which takes place in the process of formation of this body may be
accounted for by the partial decomposition of the saccharine matters and oil at a
high temperature, the intensity of the reaction having the effect of partly dissolving
he sugar molecules into carbon which becomes fixed in the nascent state upon-the
alcium carburet already formed, thus-

page_text: After the reaction this novel body forms a mass which upon having been well
"safety
stirred and inade homogeneous constitutes the product which I call
carburet."
Being in the condition of a paste this product may be moulded and compressed in
any desirable form and manner, so as to suit operations of this kind, and thus may
have imparted to it the shape of prisms, cylinders, pencils, or other solid bodies
fitted for the class of apparatus wherein it is to be used; when it can be utilized
in gas producers either at works or in the household, or in portable lamps, and
the like.
The solid bodies thus prepared are then steeped in a liquid so as to become
covered with a coating which, when dry, will form a kind of sheath enveloping each
fragment and protecting it from the action of the moisture contained in the
atmosphere or even from contact with water in case of an accidental immersion.
When thus protected from the action of moisture, the said solid bodies are free
from any odour as no slow production of gas takes place.
I do not limit myself to any particular agent for rendering the lumps or blocks of
the new product damp-proof, as there exists a very great number of hydrofuge agents
varying in their nature; the essential condition being that the film formed on the
lumps should adequately protect their surfaces.
The novel manufactured article called "safety carburet," of which I have just
described the method of preparation, presents important advantages over ordinary
carburet, which rapidly decompose, even when protected from air as effectually as it
can be protected in practice; the consequence of such decomposition being that an
offensive odour is evolved, while the product itself is at the same time gradually
destroyed.
Ordinary carburet, also, can but with difficulty be broken up into lumps, whereas
"safety" carburet may be prepared in blocks ready for immediate use, it being only
necessary to scrape off the protecting film or coating from the blocks-which may be
done very rapidly, or to break to pieces the said blocks-which break very readily, and
then to place them in the apparatus. The gas-production brought about by such
ineans will prove to be very uniform, taking its course without any hitch and without
sudden over-productions detrimental to the safety or reliableness of the preparation.
Besides, the safety "carburet leaves but a very slight deposit whereby the necessity
While a
of resorting to the cumbersome inachinery hitherto used is obviated.
further very remarkable feature of the new product is that its decomposition ceases
the moment it is removed from contact with water, wherein it differs from ordinary
carburet; for whenever a fragment of ordinary carburet has been momentarily allowed
to come into contact with water it becomes completely decomposed even though
it is no longer in contact with the liquid; as the water adhering to the piece of
carburet travels from one molecule to the next until the whole piece is destroyed.
In the case of the "safety" carburet this phenomenon does not take place as here
the action of the water is localized within the area in immediate contact with the
water..
I, CHARLES EMMANUEL YVONNEAU, of 62, Rue Condorcet, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: nanner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
n and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a process of treatment of calcium carburet whereby
his substance is so combined with other bodies as to produce a substance
possessing the characteristic property of calcium carburet, namely that of producing
cetylene gas when brought into contact either with water or with an aqueous
iquid, while at the same time it is capable of being used far more readily than
ordinary calcium carburet, as the water only acts upon it in proportion as it
permeates it; the, novel product being capable moreover of taking the form of
solid bodies of prismatic or other shape which may be readily manipulated, are
convenient to use whilst being protected from the influence of the hygrometric state
of the atmosphere, and on the whole constitute a novel article of manufacture which Í
propose to term "safety carburet."
.
In order to dispel any doubt concerning the nature of my invention, I will
hereinafter give a full description of the manner in which I effect the preparation of
the novel product.
i
In the first place I heat 16 parts of glucose or a similar body and 4 parts of a fatty
substance such as any suitable oil in any convenient pan or receiver heated by steam
I do not desire to be limited to the
and preferably fitted with a stirring device.
employment of any specific fatty body and would point out that according to the
composition of the glucose used I may within certain limits, vary the proportions
herein stated which refer to one hundred parts of the product to be prepared. The
two bodies thus heated to about 100 deg. Centrigrade should be thoroughly mixed
so as to form a perfectly homogeneous product.
I next heat in a suitable receiver 80 parts of calcium caburet, previously broken
up by any convenient appliance into pieces of from about 2 to 4 millimetres each
to a temperature of about 300 deg. Centigrade.
And thirdly I transfer the small fragments of carburet thus heated to a mixture of
glucose and oil, or similar bodies, having undergone the treatment described in the
first place, which mixture is maintained in a state of ebullition at a temperature
approximating 100 deg. Centigrade.
The fragments of heated carburet combine chemically with the above-mentioned
mixture, previously prepared, and there sets in a keen reaction which gives rise to a
new body the chemical formula, Ca,C,, of which differs from that of ordinary
calcium carburet in this, that it contains a larger proportion of carbon.
The reaction which takes place in the process of formation of this body may bé
accounted for by the partial decomposition of the saccharine matters and oil at a high
temperature, the intensity of the reaction having the effect of partly dissolving the
sugar molecules into carbon which becomes fixed in the nascent state upon the
calcium carbide already formed, thus―
After the reaction this novel body forms a mass which upon having been well
stirred and made homogeneous constitutes the product which I call "safety
carburet."
Being in the condition of a paste this product may be moulded and compressed in
any desirable form and manner, so as to suit operations of this kind, and thus may
have imparted to it the shape of prismns, cylinders, pencils, or other solid bodies fitted
for the class of apparatus wherein it is to be used, when it can be utilized in gas
producers either at works or in the household or in portable lamps, and the
like.
The solid bodies thus prepared are then steeped in a liquid so as to become
covered with a coating which, when dry, will form a kind of sheath enveloping each
fragment and protecting it from the action of the moisture contained. in the atmos-
phere or even from contact with water in case of an accidental immersion.

page_text: When thus protected from the action of moisture, the said solid bodies are free
from any odour as no slow production of gas takes place.
I do not limit myself to any particular agent for rendering the lumps or blocks of
the new product damp-proof, as there exist a very great number of hydrofuge agents
varying in their nature, the essential condition being that the film formed on the
lumps should adequately protect their surfaces.
The novel manufactured article called "safety carburet," of which I have just
described the method of preparation, presents important advantages over ordinary
carburet, which rapidly decomposes, even when protected from air as effectually as it
can be protected in practice, the consequence of such decomposition being that an
offensive odour is evolved, while the product itself is at the same time gradually
destroyed.
Ordinary carburet, also, can but with difficulty be broken up into lumps, whereas
"safety" carburet may be prepared in blocks ready for immediate use, it being only
necessary to scrape off the protecting film or coating from the blocks-which may be
done very rapidly-or to break to pieces the said blocks-which break very readily,-
and then to place them in the apparatus. The gas-production brought about by
such means will prove to be very uniform, taking its course without any hitch and
without sudden over productions detrimental to the safety or reliableness of the
preparation. Besides, the "safety "carburet leaves but a very slight deposit whereby
the necessity of resorting to the cumbersome machinery hitherto used is obviated.
While a further very remarkable feature of the new product is that its decomposition
ceases the moment it is removed from contact with water, wherein it differs from
ordinary carburet; for whenever a fragment of ordinary carburet has been momentarily
allowed to come into contact with water it becomes completely decomposed even
though it is no longer in contact with the liquid; as the water adhering to the piece
of carburet travels from one molecule to the next until the whole piece is destroyed.
In the case of the "safety" carburet this phenomenon does not take place as here
the action of the water is localized within the area in immediate contact with the
water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what, manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The novel manufactured product termed "safety carburet" the formation
whereof has been hereinbefore described and specified.
2. The method of manufacture of the novel manufactured product referred to
mainly consisting in the preparation of a homogeneous mixture of a glucose and a
fatty body at a temperature of about 100 deg. Centigrade in the approximate propor-
tions hereinabove indicated such mixture being combined with an alkalino-earthy
carburet reduced to small fragments and raised to a temperature of about 300 deg.
Centigrade the whole being then heated for a period of time sufficiently to form a
paste which may be moulded and compressed into solid bodies of diverse shapes which
are covered with a bydrofuge substance as hereinabove set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.