An Improved Method of Heating Metals and Metallic Objects.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Heating Metals and Metallic Objects.
I, ROBERT DEISSLER, of 2, Elsenstrasse, of Treptow, near Berlin, Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, civil-engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of heating metals and metallic
objects, and is characterised by using a chemical reaction as source of heat. The
chemical substances employed are, first, carbides of metals, especially carbide of
calcium (either singly or together with easily oxydizable metals, such as mag-
nesium or aluminum), and, second, compounds of metals or metalloids, such,
for instance, as oxides, sulphides, halogenides, or salts. The chemical reaction
is brought about by causing the compounds mentioned in the first place to act
upon those mentioned in the second place.
If a mixture of pulverised carbide of calcium, gypsum and sand, or a mixture
of all said substances together with either magnesium or aluminum, is ignited
in the way hereinafter described, the reaction initiated by the ignition produces
a very high temperature, and proceeds automatically from its point or place of
commencement, so that finally the whole quantity of the mixture or mass assumes
the temperature mentioned.
It is a peculiar feature of my present invention that on initiating the reaction
at a point or place of the mixture or mass the reaction proceeds automatically to
all other portions of the latter, irrespective of what particular components may
have been chosen for composing the mass. In any case the heat generated by the
reaction is to be used for heating metals, especially such that are to be deformed in
any special way.
If, for instance, rivets of a small size are to be heated, they may be placed into
a suitable crucible, together with the reaction mass, and then exposed to the heat
produced by and during the reaction. The crucible need not indispensably con-
sist of fire-clay but may, for instance, be produced by manufacturing a suitable
mould from wire-netting, and covering said mould with moisted magnesia. The
latter should be allowed to dry when the crucible thus produced will be ready for
use.
If desired, the rivets or other parts may be placed into the mass after this latter
has been put into reaction; the reaction may be prolonged for any desired time
by constantly (or preferably intermittently) adding fresh mass to the burning one.
If large rivets are to be heated by aid of my novel reaction-mass, the latter is
not placed into a crucible but is mixed with a solution of a cementing medium and
is laid around the rivet so as to form a sort of mantle for the same. In this case,
as well as in that first mentioned, the mass need be ignited only at a point or
place, when the ignition will propagate automatically upon and through all the
other portions of the mass.
If pieces of metal are to be united by forging or welding, the mass may be placed

page_text: between said two pieces so as to form a layer between them. The mass is then
ignited so as thereby to produce the heat requisite.
The method may further be employed for connecting pieces of metal by hard
soldering; the pieces of metal are prepared with borax and hard solder in the usual
way, and the heat requisite is then produced by the reaction mass described.
Instead of connecting the pieces of metal by hard soldering, they may be con-
nected by aid of copper or any other suitable metal, in that the latter is caused to
get separated by the reaction. If, for instance, the reaction mass contains oxide
of copper, there results during the reaction a separation of molten copper which
may well be used for said connection or union."
Another application of my novel method consists in perforating plates of metal
by means or by aid of the great heat generated during the reaction. In such a
case the point or place where the hole is to be formed is covered with a layer or
column of the reaction-mass; the latter is then ignited, and the portion of metal
subjected to the heat is removed either by melting or by a punch.
Igniting the reaction mass at a point or place may be effected in different ways.
The ignition may be performed for instance by means of a blow flame directed
against the respective point or place until the commencement of the reaction
occurs. I prefer, however, to make use of a special igniting mass, which is kept
in contact with the reaction mass proper, and causes in its turn the ignition of
the same.
Said special igniting mass consists preferably of a mixture of aluminum, or mag-
nesium, or carbide of calcium, with bodies containing oxygen, and are adapted easily
to give off the same. I name as an example a mixture of carbide of calcium with
peroxyde of barium. In any case the special igniting mass may be mixed with
a cementing medium, and may be formed into bodies, such as pills or the like.
The latter are then put upon, and partly into, the reaction-mass proper, and they
are ignited themselves by means of a piece of band-magnesium and a match.
The temperature produced by and during the reaction may well be regulated by
letting a specially selected compound come into reaction with a specially selected
carbide. If a comparatively low degree of temperature is desired, the compound to
co-operate with the respective carbide should be oxide of iron or of copper, whereas
a high degree of temperature may be obtained by using the carbide together with
peroxide of barium. In any case, the re-action propagates automatically from a
point throughout the whole mass.
Dated this 2nd day of December, 1896.
ROBERT DEISSLER.
Engineer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Heating Metals and Metallic Objects.
I, ROBERT DEISSLER of 2, Elsenstrasse, Treptow near Berlin, Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Civil-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:-
This invention relates to an improved method of heating metals and metallic
objects, to be welded, soldered, riveted, repaired or the like and is characterised
by using a chemical reaction as source of heat. The chemical substances employed
are, first, carbides of metals, especially carbide of calcium (either singly or to-
gether with easily oxydizable metals, such as magnesium or aluminum) and,
second, compounds of metals or metalloids, such, for instance, as oxides, sulphides,

page_text: halogenides, or salts. The chemical reaction is brought about by causing the first
mentioned compounds to act upon the second mentioned compounds.
If a mixture of pulverised carbide of calcium, gypsum and sand, or a mixture
of all said substances together with either magnesium or aluminum, is ignited
in the way hereinafter described, the reaction initiated by the ignition produces
a very high temperature, and proceeds automatically from its starting point or
place of inception, so that finally the whole of the mixture or mass assumes the
temperature mentioned.
It is a peculiar feature of my present invention that on initiating the reaction
at a point or place of the mixture or mass the reaction proceeds automatically to
all other portions of the latter, irrespective of what particular components may
have been chosen in composing the mass. In any case the heat generated by the
reaction is for the purpose of heating metals, especially such as are to be formed
in any special manner.
If, for instance, small rivets are required to be heated, they may be placed in
a suitable crucible, together with the reaction-mass, and then exposed to the heat
produced by and during the reaction. The crucible need not indispensably con-
sist of fire-clay but may, for instance, be produced by manufacturing a suitable
mould of wire-netting, and covering said mould with moistened magnesia. When
the latter has been allowed to dry the crucible thus produced is ready for use.
If desired; the rivets or other parts may be placed into the mass after this
latter has been put into reaction; the reaction may be prolonged for any desired
time by constantly (or preferably intermittently) adding fresh mixture to the
burning one.
If large rivets are to be heated by aid of my novel reaction-mass, the latter is
not placed into a crucible but is mixed with a solution of a cementing medium,
and is laid around the rivet so as to form a sort of mantle for the same. In this
case, as well as in that first mentioned, the mass need only be ignited at one point
or place, when the ignition will propagate automatically upon and through all the
other portions of the mass.
If pieces of metal are to be united by forging or welding, the mass may be
placed between said two pieces so as to form layer between them. The mass
is then ignited so as thereby to produce the heat requisite.
The method may further be employed for connecting pieces of metal by hard
soldering; the pieces of (metal are prepared with borax and hard solder in the
usual way, and the heat requisite is then produced by the reaction-mass described.
Instead of connecting the pieces of metal by hard soldering, they may be con-
nected by aid of copper or any other suitable metal, in that the latter is caused
to separate by the reaction. If, for instance, the reaction-mass contains oxide of
copper, a separation of molten copper results during the reaction which molten
copper may well be used for said connection or union.
Another application of my novel method consists in perforating plates of metal
by means or by aid of the great heat generated during the reaction. In such a
case the point or place where the hole is to be formed is covered with a layer or
column of the reaction-mass; the latter is then ignited, and the portion of metal
subjected to the heat is removed either by melting or by a punch.
Igniting the reaction-mass at any point or spot may be effected in various ways.
The ignition may be performed for instance by means of a blow-pipe flame directed
against the respective point or place until the commencement of the reaction oc-
curs. I prefer, however, to make use of a special igniting mass, which is kept in
contact with the reaction mass proper, and effects in its turn the ignition of the
same.
Said special igniting mass consists preferably of a mixture of aluminum, or
magnesium, or carbide of calcium with bodies containing oxygen, and adapted
easily to give off the same. I name as an example a mixture of carbide of calcium
with peroxide of barium. In any case the special igniting mass may be mixed
with a cementing medium, and may be formed into bodies such as pills or the

page_text: like. The latter are then placed upon, and partly inserted in, the reaction-mass
proper, the said igniting pills or the like being themselves ignited by means of
a piece of magnesium-ribbon and a match.
The temperature produced by and during the reaction may well be regulated
by letting a special selected compound come into reaction with a specially selected
carbide. If a comparatively low degree of temperature is desired, the compound
to co-operate with the respective carbide should be oxide of iron or of copper,
whereas a high degree of temperature may be attained by using the carbide to-
gether with peroxide of barium. In any case, the reaction initiated at a given
point spreads or extends automatically throughout the entire mass.
Having not 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 method of heating metals and metallic objects to be welded, soldered,
riveted, repaired, or the like, such method being characterised by the metallic
objects being brought in contact with a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide,
and for the other part of an oxide, a sulphide or a salt, or of two or all of these
substances together, the respective substances in a divided state prior to use, and
the mixture of them being adapted to generate during its endothermic reaction,
the heat necessary for the respective treatment of the metallic objects, as set forth.
2. The method of heating metallic objects to be welded, soldered, riveted,
repaired, or the like, such method being characterised by first bringing the metallic
objects in contact with a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide; and for
the other part of an oxide, a sulphide or a salt, or of two or all these substances
together, and, second, igniting said mixtures; the respective substances in a
divided state prior to use, and the mixture of them being adapted to generate
during its endothermic reaction, the heat necessary for the respective treatment
of the metallic objects, as set forth.
3. The method of heating metallic objects to be welded, soldered, riveted,
repaired, or the like, such method being characterised by first bringing the metallic
objects in contact with a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide; and for the
other part of an oxide, a sulphide or a salt, or of two or all these substances to-
gether, and, second, heating a small portion of the mixture to the temperature of
reaction, and transferring this temperature and reaction successively and
automatically to the adjacent parts of the mixture, and thus igniting the whole
mass by the parts being already in reaction, as set forth.
4. The method of heating metallic objects to be welded, soldered, riveted,
repaired, or the like, such method being characterised by first bringing the metallic
objects in contact with a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide; and for the
other part of an oxide, a sulphide or a salt, or of two of or all these substances
together; and, second, igniting the mixture by aid of a similar, mixture adapted
to come more easily in reaction, as set forth.
5. The method of heating metallic objects to be welded, soldered, riveted,
repaired, or the like, such method being characterised by first bringing the
metallic objects in contact with the mixture, consisting for a part of a carbide;
and for the other part of an oxide, a sulphide, or a salt, or of two or all these
substances together; and second, igniting the mixture by aid of an auxilary
mixture composed of pulverised aluminum and peroxide of barium, as set forth.
6. The method of heating metallic objects to be welded, soldered, riveted,
repaired, or the like, such method being characterised by the metallic objects
being enclosed within a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide, and for another
part of an oxide, a sulphide, or a salt, or of two of or all these substances together,
and, finally, of a cementing medium for the respective substances, said substances
in a divided state prior to use, and the mixture of them being adapted to generate
during its endothermic reaction, the heat necessary for the respective treatment
of the metallic objects, as set forth.

page_text: 7. The method of heating metallic objects to be welded, soldered, riveted,
repaired, or the like, such, method being characterised by first bringing the
metallic objects in contact with a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide; and
for the other part of an oxide, a sulphide or a salt, or of two of or all these
substances together; second, heating the mixture to the temperature of reaction,
and, third, adding fresh mixture to that being already in reaction, so as to lengthen
the time of reaction necessary for the respective treatment of the metallic objects,
as set forth.
8. The method of heating metallic objects to be melted, soldered, riveted, re-
paired, or the like, such method being characterised by the metallic objects being
brought in contact with a mixture consisting for a part of a carbide and for the
other part of an oxide, a sulphide or a salt, or of two or all these substances to-
gether, the respective substances in a divided state prior to use, and second,
heating a small portion of the mixture to the temperature of reaction, the mixture
being adapted to generate during its endothermic reaction, the heat necessary for
the separaton of a metal in a molten state, added to, or extracted from the mixture,
for the purpose of soldering or otherwise repairing faulty places in the metals,
as set forth.
ROBERT DEISSLER
Civil-Engineer and Patent Agent.
Business-Address: 38, Alexander Strasse, Berlin, C., Gery.