Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 13th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1896--Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
We, JEAN MICHEL CANELLOPOULOS, formerly of 6 Rue des Ecoles, but now of
37 Boulevard Magenta, Paris, France, Chemist, and HENRI OTHON KRATZ-BOUSSAC,
of 3 Rue St. Laurent, Paris, aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
Various attempts have been made to effect the ignition of gas jets particularly those
from incandescence gas lamp burners, by the mere contact of the gas with a substance
capable of condensing or occluding a sufficiently large amount thereof, and of thus
acquiring such an increase of temperature as to produce incandescence and effect
ignition of the gas.
For this purpose there have been employed, platinum and other metals of the same
group, either in the form of "sponge" or in the form of "black," with suitable
supports, sometimes of porous texture, such as meerschaum, pumice stone, and
asbestos.
The use of "sponge" is open to the disadvantage that it has to be heated as a
preliminary to its use for causing ignition of the gas brought into contact with it.
By the use of the "black" although ignition is produced, the "black" undergoes
change, being converted into a state such that it no longer possesses the property of
absorbing or occluding gases to the same extent as in the "black" condition so that
after a number of ignitions have been effected the substance is no longer capable of
causing ignition of gas.
Now this invention has reference to an igniter capable of producing the two-fold
effect of igniting illuminating gas without having to be itself preliminarily heated, as
the "sponge
"has to be, and without losing its catalytical properties as the "black"
does.
We attain this result by the following means which are based, among others, on the
possibility of obtaining a very considerable increase in the number of the pores in
retort carbon, that is to say, of converting retort carbon into a substance capable of
effecting a considerable condensation of gases.
For this purpose retort carbon is divided into small pieces each of which has
imparted to it the desired form and size, for example that of a small pellet or drop of
2 to 3 millimetres in diameter. It is then washed in a large quantity of distilled
water with the object of freeing it from the grosser impurities, after which it is dried.
It is then heated to redness in a porcelain tube, through which a current of chlorine
is simultaneously passed, say for about 15 to 30 minutes according to the quality of
the carbon used. After this treatment the carbon is cooled down to the ordinary
temperature and again washed and dried. The current of chlorine, by acting upon

page_text: the various substances, and in particular upon metallic compounds which obstruct the
pores in the carbon, produces a great multiplication of pores or cells that are of minute
volume.
By the treatment described, the carbon will be no longer in its original state, but
will have acquired a capacity for absorbing gases. In this condition however, it is
not by itself capable of becoming incandescent, by absorption of gases therein. For
the purpose of increasing its absorbing power so that it can be used for the ignition
of illuminating gas, it is impregnated with one or other of the following preparations
or solutions of palladium.
1. Palladium is combined with chlorine to produce palladium chloride which is
dissolved in water, the quantity of which may be variable.
2. Palladium is dissolved in highly concentrated aqua regia (nitro-muriatic acid),
whereby palladic chloride PdCl is formed.
The carbon, in the condition of pellets, is immersed in one or other of the
two preparations or solutions mentioned, after which it is taken out and dried. This
operation is repeated several times until the carbon has absorbed a sufficient quantity
of palladium. The carbon is finally allowed to dry, at a temperature below 80° C.
The carbon pellets thus treated are then subjected to the action of a current of
hydrogen, taking care to raise the temperature sufficiently high (say about 170° C.)
to compel the hydrogen to combine with the chlorine, and to penetrate into the, pores
of the carbon, so as to convert the palladium chloride into metallic palladium in a state
of very fine sub-division.
In order to facilitate the ignition of the gas the carbon pellet prepared as described,
is placed upon a small block of refractory material that is a bad conductor of heat so
that the pellet will retain practically the whole of the heat produced therein at the
instant of absorption and condensation of the gas brought in contact with it.
Through the centre of the carbon pellet are passed one or more wires of platinum,
palladium, or like metal or of an alloy consisting of platinum and iridium say in the
proportion of 90% of platinum to 10% of iridium. The wire or wires, which are
preferably bent into a loop, facilitate the ignition of the gas.
The complete device consisting of the combination of the prepared carbon pellet,
the refractory non-conducting block, and the wire or wires, is mounted on a burner
in such a manner that the issuing gas will come in contact with it.
The operation of the device is as follows:-On opening the cock of the gas
burner, the issuing gas impinges upon the prepared carbon pellet and becomes
condensed therein to such an extent as to produce a rise of temperature sufficient
to cause ignition of the gas. The metallic wire or wires in contact with the
prepared carbon pellet also become heated in their turn; they absorb and condense
a certain quantity of gas and are very quickly rendered incandescent.
instant the issuing gas ignites.
At this
In order to avoid turning the cock that supplies the gas to the burner, and to
enable ignition from a distance to be effected more readily, the igniting device
herein before described may be arranged to ignite a small bye-pass or pilot jet
provided near the main burner. The burner for the pilot jet is constructed on the
Bunsen's principle for simultaneous admission of air and combustible gas for
supplying the mixture necessary for bringing the carbon pellet and the platinum
wires to redness. In this case in place of the ordinary burner cock there would be
employed a small valve adapted to be operated by the expansion of a
piece of metal
that receives its heat from the pilot flame.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Igniting Gas in Incandescence Gas Lamps.
We, JEAN MICHEL CANELLOPOULOS, formerly of 6 Rue des Ecoles, but now of
37 Boulevard Magenta, Paris, France, Chemist, and HENRI OTHON KRATZ-BOUSSAC,
of 3 Rue St. Laurent, Paris, aforesaid, Engineer, 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 :-
Various attempts have been made to effe t the ignition of gas jets particularly those
from incandescence gas lamp burners, by the mere contact of the gas with a substance
capable of condensing or occluding a sufficiently large amount thereof, and of thus
acquiring such an increase of temperature as to produce incandescence and effect
ignition of the gas.
For this purpose there have been employed platinum and other metals of the same
group, either in the form of "sponge or in the form of "black," with suitable
supports, sometimes of porous texture, such as meerschaum, pumice stone, and
asbestos.
The use of "sponge" is open to the disadvantage that it has to be heated as a
preliminary to its use for causing ignition of the gas brought into contact with it.
By the use of the "black" although ignition is produced, the "black" undergoes
change, being converted into a state such that it no longer possesses the property of
absorbing or occluding gases to the same extent as in the "black" condition so that
after a number of ignitions have been effected the substance is no longer capable of
causing ignition of gas.
Now this invention has reference to an igniter capable of producing the two-fold
effect of igniting illuminating gas without having to be itself preliminarily heated, as
the "sponge" has to be, and without losing its catalytical properties as the "black"
does.
We attain this result by the following means which are based, among others, on
the possibility of obtaining a very considerable increase in the number of the pores in
retort carbon, that is to say, of converting retort carbon into a substance capable of
effecting a considerable condensation of gases.
For this purpose retort carbon is divided into small pieces each of which has
imparted to it the desired form and size, for example that of a small pellet or
drop of 2 to 3 millimetres in diameter. It is then washed in a large quantity of
distilled water with the object of freeing it from the grosser impurities, after which it
is dried. It is then heated to redness in a porcelain tube, through which a current of
chlorine is simultaneously passed, say for about 15 to 30 minutes according to the
quality of the carbon used. After this treatment the carbon is cooled down to the
ordinary temperature and again washed and dried. The current of chlorine, by
acting upon the various substances, and in particular upon metallic compounds which
obstruct the pores in the carbon, produces a great multiplication of pores or cells that
are of minute volume.
By the treatment described, the carbon will be no longer in its original state, but
will have acquired a capacity for absorbing gases. In this condition however, it is
not by itself capable of becoming incandescent by absorption of gases therein. For
the purpose of increasing its absorbing power so that it can be used for the ignition
of illuminating gas, it is impregnated with one or other of the following preparations
or solutions of palladium.
1. Palladium is combined with chlorine to produce palladium chloride which is
dissolved in water, the quantity of which may be variable.
2. Palladium is dissolved in highly concentrated aqui regi (nitro-muriatic acid),
whereby palladic chloride PdCl, is formed.

page_text: The carbon, in the condition of pellets, is immersed in one or other of the two
preparations or solutions mentioned, after which it is taken out and dried. This
operation is repeated several times until the carbon has absorbed a sufficient quantity
of palladium. The carbon is finally allowed to dry at a temperature below 80° C.
The carbon pellets thus treated are then subjected to the action of a current of
hydrogen, taking care to raise the temperature of the pellets sufficiently high (say
about 170° C.) to compel the hydrogen to combine with the chlorine, and to penetrate
into the pores of the carbon, so as to convert the palladium chloride into metallic
palladium in a state of very fine sub-division.
In order to facilitate the ignition of the gas, the carbon pellet prepared as described,
is placed upon a small block of refractory material such as steatite, clay, amianthus
or other suitable material that is a bad conductor of heat so that the pellet will retain
practically the whole of the heat produced therein at the instant of absorption and
condensation of the gas brought in contact with it.
Through the centre of the carbon pellet are passed one or more wires of platinum,
palladium, or like metal or of an alloy consisting of platinum and iridium say in the
proportion of 90% of platinum to 10% of iridium. The wire or wires, which are
preferably bent into a loop, facilitate the ignition of the
gas.
The complete device consisting of the combination of the prepared carbon pellet,
the refractory non conducting block, and the wire or wires, is mounted on a burner
in such a manner that the issuing gas will come in contact with it.
The operation of the device is as follows:-On opening the cock of the gas burner,
the issuing gas impinges upon the prepared carbon pellet and becomes condensed
therein to such an extent as to produce a rise of temperature sufficient to cause
ignition of the gas. The metallic wire or wires in contact with the prepared carbon
pellet also become heated in their turn; they absorb and condense a certain quantity
of gas and are very quickly rendered incandescent. At this instant the issuing gas
ignites.
In order to avoid turning the cock that supplies the gas to the burner, and to
enable ignition from a distance to be effected more readily, the igniting device
hereinbefore described may be arranged to ignite a small bye-pass or
pilot jet
provided near the main burner. The burner for the pilot jet is constructed on the
Bunsen's principle for simultaneous admission of air and combustible gas for
supplying the mixture necessary for bringing the carbon pellet and the platinum
wires to redness. In this case in place of the ordinary burner cock there would be
employed a small valve adapted to be operated by the expansion of a piece of metal
that receives its heat from the pilot frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The herein described improved means or material for igniting gas in incan-
descence gas lamps, comprising carbon and palladium combined to form a body
capable of absorbing or condensing gases and of being thereby brought into a state
of incandescence substantially as described.
2. In the manufacture of the igniting material referred to in the preceding claim,
the herein before described treatment of the carbon to increase its porosity consisting
in heating the carbon after being previously washed and dried, to redness in a
current of chlorine, substantially as described.
3. In the manufacture of igniting material of the kind referred to in Claim 1,
impregnating carbon previously treated as referred to in Claim 2, with palladium
by immersing the said carbon, in the form of pellets or drops, in a solution of
chloride of palladium and subsequently subjecting the treated carbon to the action
of hydrogen whereby the palladium is deposited in a finely divided and metallic
state in the pores of the carbon, substantially as described.
4. The hereinbefore described improved construction of igniting device comprising
a pellet of material prepared as described, platinum or platinum iridium wire

page_text: inserted in said pellet, and a small block or support of refractory material that is
also a bad conductor of heat and whereby said prepared pellet can be readily and
easily mounted in position for igniting jets of gas, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of November 1896.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.