Improved Apparatus for Forming Electrothermal Plates, Tubes, Conductors, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1893-Accepted 13th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Forming Electrothermal Plates, Tubes,
Conductors, and the like.
1, Sir CHARLES STEWART FORBES, Baronet, 28, Queen's Gate Terrace,
London, S.W. East India Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for forming electrothermal plates,
tubes, conductors, and the like, and is carried out as follows. In a former Specifi-
cation I have described the use and employment of plates, tubes and the like formed
of refractory materials such as lime, clay, unbaked porcelain, asbestos, &c., saturated
with carbon obtained by volatilization, for the purpose of boiling, heating, warming
air, and like purposes, when heated by an electric current. Such plates, tubes, &c.,
may be made by heating the absorbent refractory material and plunging it out of
My.
contact with air into coal or other hydro-carbon gas, benzole, turpentine.
present invention however, consists in special apparatus for rapidly producing such
plates or tubes at one operation. It is constructed as follows: A metallic cistern
having a removeable cover or lid is mounted upon legs or in such manner as that
heat may be applied by a Bunsen flame, furnace or other means to its base or sides.
Upon the lid or cover preferably are fixed two tubes furnished with cocks; one of
these tubes is connected to an aspirator air or mercury pump capable of dealing
with the waste products of volatilization or the contained air, so as to produce a
good vacuum. The other pipe is connected to the reservoir containing the gaseous
liquid or other hydro-carbon. The plates, grids, tubes or like basic or other
material are first dried in an oil or water oven so as to expel as far as possible the
contained air and moisture. The lid or cover of the cistern is now unclamped,
luted with asbestos cement, or fire clay or like suitable material, and the plates,
tubes or the like packed in the cistern so as to permit free circulation. Heat is now
applied and the pump or aspirator started; by this means the remaining contained
air, or moisture is removed and eventually a good vacuum obtained. The gas or
other hydro-carbon is now admitted and the carbon volatilized and absorbed by
the heated plates. At a suitable time depending upon the size of the plates, tubes
or grids the supply of hydro-carbon is stopped, and if fluid, drawn off by means of
a cock or syphon provided for this purpose or if gaseous, by means of the pump or
aspirator. The heat is now moderated or withdrawn and the process of exhaustion
continued until all products other than the deposited carbon are removed. The
The apparatus
plates, grids or tubes are then removed and are ready for use.
described may also be used for preparing matrices suited for incandescent or other
electric lamps.
Dated January 21st. 1893.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Forming Electrothermal Plates, Tubes,
Conductors, and the like.
I Sir CHARLES STEWART FORBES Baronet, 28 Queen's Gate Terrace
London S. W. East India Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for forming electrothermal plates,
tubes, conductors and the like, and is carried out as follows:-In a former Specifi-
cation No. 1354/93 I have described the use and employment of plates, tubes,
and the like, formed of refractory materials, such as lime, clay, unbaked porcelain,
asbestos &c., saturated with carbon, obtained by volatilization; for the purpose of
boiling, heating, warming air, and like purposes when heated by an electric
current. Such plates, tubes &c. may be made by heating the absorbent refractory
material and plunging it, out of contact with air, into coal or other hydrocarbon
gas, benzole, turpentine. My present invention however consists in special
apparatus for rapidly producing such plates or tubes at one operation.
It is constructed as follows:-
-
A metallic cistern having a removable cover or lid is mounted upon legs or in
such manner as that heat may be applied by a Bunsen flame, furnace or other
means, to its base or sides.
Upon the lid or cover preferably are fixed two tubes furnished with cocks, one
of these tubes is connected to an aspirator, air or mercury pump, capable of dealing
with the waste products of volatilization, or the contained air, so as to produce a
good vacuum.
The other pipe is connected to the reservoir containing the gaseous liquid or
other hydrocarbon. The plates, grids, tubes or like basic or other material are
first dried in an oil or water oven so as to expel so far as possible the contained air
and moisture. The lid or cover of the cistern is now unclamped, luted with
asbestos, cement or fire clay, or like suitable material, and the plates, tubes, or the
like packed in the cistern so as to permit free circulation.
Heat is now applied, and the pump or aspirator started. By this means the
remaining contained air or moisture is removed, and eventually a good vacuum
obtained. The gas or other hydrocarbon is now admitted, and the carbon volatilized
and absorbed by the heated plates.
At a suitable time, depending upon the size of the plates, tubes or grids, the
supply of hydrocarbon is stopped, and if fluid, drawn off by means of a cock or
syphon provided for this purpose, or if gascous, by means of the pump or aspirator.
The heat is now moderated or withdrawn, and the process of exhaustion continued
until all products, other than the deposited carbon are removed.
The plates, grids or tubes are then removed and are ready for use. The
apparatus described may also be used for preparing matrices suited for incandescent
or other electric lamps.
To enable the construction and operation of my invention to be clearly
understood I will now describe the same by means of the accompanying drawing in
which :-
Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of metallic cistern.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a part-sectional view of air pump.
In the drawing, a, is a metallic cistern or chest mounted upon legs b, and fitted
with a removable cover c, fastened by bolts and nuts d, passing through lugs e, formed
in a suitable position upon the cover. A groove'f, is cast or formed in the lid or
cover, a little wider than the walls of the cistern or chest, and when placed upon

page_text: .
this, it is luted on with asbestos, fire clay or like suitable cement for preventing
the entrance of air or the escape of volatile products.
In any suitable position upon the lid or cover are fixed two metallic tubes g, g¹,
furnished with cocks h, h', one of these tubes communicates with a tank or vessel i,
which may be placed in any convenient position, this tank contains the liquid
hydrocarbon.
In the bottom of the cistern is screwed a cock A", connected preferably with a
flexible tube j, for emptying the fluid contents of the cistern when required. The
tube or pipe gl, is connected by means of a flexible rubber tube J, with the air
pump K, Fig. 3, which is constructed as follows
:-
In the base of the cylinder is a conical plug l, which is kept in position by the
cover m, fastened to the base of the cylinder n, by bolts o; holes p, are drilled in
the conical plug which are covered by an india-rubber flap 9, secured in position by
the screw .
The cylinder of the pump may be made of iron, brass or any other suitable
metal.
The piston r, is formed of metal, a grooves, being cut at its central part which
is packed with india-rubber t, held in position by the plate or cover m²; holes u, are
drilled through the body of the piston and cover, which are inclined towards the
top, and these are covered by the india-rubber valve q', kept in position by the
flanged piston rod v, passing through the guide, gland or stuffing box. to, holes u, are
also drilled through the cover of the cylinder n, the piston rod is connected by
a pin, with the lever y, which is fulcrumed upon a link z, flexibly mounted on
lug s
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
The lid or cover of the cistern is unclamped by removing the nuts d, and the
plates, tubes or like electro-thermal conductors 2 and 3, placed in the bottom, or
packed go as to permit perfect circulation of the fluid hydrocarbon. Heat is now
applied by means of the Bunsen burner 4, or by equivalent means, and the pump or
aspirator, as the case may be, is now started; by this means, the contained air and
moisture from the tubes is removed, and a good vacuum obtained.
This may be indicated if desired by the gauge 5, shewn on the end of tube g¹.
Coal gas from the house service, or any equivalent gaseous hydrocarbon is now
admitted, or a fluid hydrocarbon may be permitted to pass from the tank i, by
opening the cock h, until the plates are covered. Some of the carbon is volatilized,
and part of the liquid hydrocarbon absorbed by the heated plates. At a suitable
time, dependent upon the size of the plates, tubes or grids, the supply of hydrocarbon
is stopped, and the remaining fluid drawn off by means of the cock h, or if the
hydrocarbon employed be gaseous, by means of the pump or aspirator, the heat
of the Bunsen burner or its equivalent is now moderated or withdrawn altogether,
and the process of exhaustion continued until all products other than the deposited
carbon are removed. After drying, or baking in an ordinary furnace, the plates,
grids or tubes are ready for use. The apparatus may also be employed for
preparing any form of matrices made from absorbent and refractory material, such
as may be employed for incandescent lamps or the like. When it is desired to
carry the process of exhaustion to a very high degree, the air pump sbewn in
Fig. 3, may be replaced by an aspirator or mercury pump.
In the case of solids capable of producing carbon in a volatile form, such as
camphor, resin or the like; it is merely necessary to place these substances in the
carbonizing chamber and exhaust the contained air, the cocks are now closed and
gentle heat applied until the plates, grids or tubes have absorbed sufficient carbon
for the required purpose.
I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement or construction of the
apparatus shewn; as for instance, the legs b, may be dispensed with, and the
cistern a, built into brickwork over an ordinary furnace; again the air pump shewn
may be replaced by a similar device actuated by steam or mechanical power, the
flexible rubber connecting tubes may also be replaced with tubes of metal. The

page_text: apparatus described may also be used for preparing matrices or filaments of refractory
materials suitable for incandescent lamps.
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. The improved apparatus herein described for forming electro-thermal plates,
tubes, conductors and the like, by the means, and in the way and manner
described.
2. In apparatus for forming electro-thermal plates, the combination of a closed
cistern or vessel a, having a removable lid, luted on and fastened as described, the
tubes and cocks mounted thereon and connected as shewn.
3. The air pump or equivalent for exhausting said vessel with or without
application of heat by means of the Bunsen burner, furnace or the like,
replacing it.
Da
001 1000
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.