US1327738A - Means actuated by alternating electric current eor controlling or - Google Patents

Description

l. H. REID.

MEANS ACTUATED BY ALTERNATING'ELECTRIC CURRENT FORCONTROLLING 0R OPERATING i ELECTRIC FURNACES 0R OTHER MECHANISMS.

1,327,738. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, 1914. Jan. 13,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fm Jiu L @51, J .44M )f1 T73/ r mamma MEANS ACTUATED BY l. H. REID.

ALTERNATING ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR CONTROLLING 0R OPERATING ELECTRIC FURNACES 0R OTHER MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, T914.

Patented J an. 13,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

JAMES HENRY REID, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL NITROGEN CO., A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

MEANS ACTUATED BY ALTERNTING ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR CONTROLLING OR OPERATING ELECTRIC FURNACES OR OTHER MECHANISMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed December 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HENRY REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at 352 l\Iulberry avenue, in the city of Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improve'- ments in Means Actuated by Alternating Electric Current for Controlling or Operating Electric Furnaces or other Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus actuated by electricity, and controlled by devices actuated by repulsion, induced by the action of alternating current on a core acting against a non-magnetic armature, such as aluminium, copper, etc., for the production of distillation or sublimation by direct, fractional, destructive, or other means, of hydrocarbons and production of products from residues. It has for one of its objects the provision of an apparatus for securingv products of fractional or destructive distillation of hydrocarbon, such as bituminous coal, coal tar, or other substance capable of yielding carbon by the action of heat and the making of products with what would be the nonvolatile carbonaceous residues during the process of operation, such as calcium carbid, which may be obtained by mixing calcium oxycompounds, such as calcium oxid or substances capable of forming the same such as calcium carbonate, with bituminous coal and subjecting the mixture to the action of electricity as hereinafter set forth. The invention further comprises exposing coal of the bituminous variety to the action of electricity of sufficient volume and intensity to operate against the resistance of the substance employed and produce a temperature sulficient to evolve the product desired. It further comprises subjecting a mass of material to the action of electricity of progressively varying character so that varying degrees of temperature may be generated within the charge and various products evolved and secured, such for example as the separate constituents of coal tar viz., benzol, toluol, xylol, etc., instead of coal tar per se. Or the whole of the products ma 1 be driven oftl as a coniposite composition and the constituents recovered thereafter by fractional distillation.

As an `illustration of the invention and the manner in which it may be employed the product-ion of tar and other ingredients or substances evolved by the destructive and other distillation of bituminous coal together with the production of carbid, such as calcium carbid, will be taken, reference being directed to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a furnace partly in elevation illustrating the electrodes, control device, and condenser, and,

F ig. 2 shows a diagrammatic view illustrating the control mechanism and electrical connections therefor, and illustrating the method of operation.

Similar numerals of reference represent corresponding parts in the various views.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 indicates an electric furnace in which substances are treated or converted by heat or electrical action, comprising the receptacle 2 provided with the lining 3 and supported by the supports 4 by means of the bearing extensions 5.

The receptacle 2 is provided with a top or cover 9 through which pass the electrodes 10 and 11, which are held or supported by the supports or devices 12 and 13 by means of the insulation guides 43 and 44. The said electrodes pass through the cover 9 and are provided with the insulation sleeves 16 and 17. From the cover extends the outlet 18 provided with the fluid seal 19 and the revolving or movable damper or valve control 20.

The upper section of the cover 9 is also provided with a sealed feed inlet 21, the removable seal of which may be removed and replaced for supplying ingredients to the apparatus and closing the apparatus during the operation thereof.

The lower section 2 and the upper section 9 are secured together by the clamps 22 and 23 actuated by the thumb screws 14. The lower section 2 of the converter is provided with a means 24 for making an electrical connection to the converter of a character opposite to that of the electrodes 10 and 11, and which means includes a securing and releasing member for the electrical conductor. The outlet 18 with its seal 19 communicates with a removable Conduit 25 Operating through the swinging joint 26. This conduit communicates with an outlet 27 leading to the reservoir 28 and through which the condensed volatile or volatilized products pass to the same, the reservoir 28 being provided with an outlet 29 for the permanent gases whereby said gases are conveyed to a reservoir (not shown).

The reservoir 28 for the distillate is provided with 'the outlet 3l controlled bythe valve 33 at the lower part thereof7 and the outlet 30 controlled by the valve 32 at a higher point for the removal of lighter products when the reservoir contains water.

The reservoir 28 is also provided with the legs or supports 34.

The receptacle 2 with its lining 3 is provided with the outlet or tap-hole? and the plug or closure 8 therefor, and the carbon contact base or hearth 6. The wall of the discharge opening or tap-hole is also provided exteriorly with a spirally wound wire 58 of such character' that its electrical resistance increases rapidly when heatedL and which is employed to actuate and control the electrodes in order to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the furnace and automatically adjust the electrodes for current control for this purpose as hereinmore fully set forth.

rl`he cover 9 is also provided with the electrode feed and regulating motors or devices 35 and 36 which are in circuit with the reverslng switch 49 (Fig. 2), the shaft of each motor or electrode regulating device is provided with the spiral thread or worm 37 and 38, which engage the cog Wheels 39 and 4:0, thereby revolving the screw bearing rods al and L2 which causes the guides 43 and fl-l to travel in an upward or downward direction, according to the direction of the revolution of the rod an d simultaneously carry the electrodes l0 and ll in like direction for feed or withdrawal to or from the furnace the guides being supported by the carrying rods 13 and l2 passing through the sleeves 4f( and -l-S. The electrodes l() and l1 being attached or secured to the guides 43 and 4A by the binding screws 45 and 46.

In describing the furnace control mechanisrn operated through the automatic actuation of the electrodes reference is 1directed more particularly to Fig. 2 where parts of the electric furnace are shown connected with the control device in which the numeral 68 represents electrical conduct-ors leading from a source of supply (not shown) and controlled by the switch 6l. The wires 66 and 67 are leads to the electrodes 10 and 1l and the wire 65 to the pot or receptacle l of the furnace and its carbon electrode, hearth or base 6 by means of the terminal contact 24.

The electrode control motors 35 and 36 are in circuit with a reversing switch 4Q provided with t-he repulsion devices 50 and 5l actuated by alternating current acting on non-magnetic armatures such as aluminium, copper, etc., which are in electrical connection with the contacts 52 and 5:3 respectively of the balance coils 5L): and 55, said coils having an armature between them with a contacting arm 56 extending to and adapted to contact with the terminals 52 and 53.

Each of the coils 54 and 55 is in series with the resistance coil 57 or 58 respectively and the battery 59 and switch 60 when operating.

The power circuit 6l supplies current for operating the reversing switch and motors for controlling the electrodes.

|These two circuits constitute an electrical balance so that when both are energized and the resistance coils are maintained at the same temperature, the magnetic effect ou the armature 62 is ml and the arm 56 r nains in the adjusted position shown in the drawing.

The furnace being cold the electrodes 10 and ll are lowered into contact with the hearth 6 thus establishing an electric current upon the closing` of the switch in the circuit 68 and simultaneously-f the switch 60.

The resistance of the electrodes and hearth to the current raise their temperature and consequently the resistance of the coil 58 thereby producing a greater dow of current in the resistance coil 57 and consequently disturbing the equilibrium of the armature 62 and causing` the arm 56 to contact with the terminal 52 and a flow of current through the repulsion device 50 reversing the switch i9 and changing the direction of the motors 35 and 36 thereby drawing the electrodes slowly apart and away from the hearth.

The separating of said electrodes decreases the flow of current and consequently less heating eect and drop in temperature re sults which decreases the resistance of the coil 58 and permits a balance in the coils 5i and 55 thereby bringing the arm 56 into contact with the terminal 53 at which time the current in the repulsion dev-ice 5l brings the reversing switch to its normal position. The above action reverses the motors and draws the electrodes together thus increasing` the current flow and a consequent rise in temperature. This cycle obtains so long as the furnace is in use.

The terminals 52 and 53 are provided with adjusting screws for regulation of the balance.

As an example of the process the production of calcium carbid from bituminous coal and lime or calcium oXid and the recovery of the tar or 'volatile products evolved during the action of electricity on lthe composition will be taken.

A mixture of -pulveri-zed bituminous coal llO and calcium oxid in proportion of one hundred pounds of bituminous coal to 150 pounds of calcium oxid (pulverized) is thoroughly mixed and introduced into the receptacle 2 through the opening 21, it is advisable to mix with this composition about 5% of powdered coke in order to reduce the initial resistance and provide a means for starting the passage of the electric current through the mass at a comparatively low voltage and also provide a means for initially heating the mass through the agency of electricity and also provide a means for rendering the mass more or less porous so that the volatile products produced by the action of heat may be more readily evolved and discharged from the mixture. When the mixture has beeny in` troduced into the apparatus the supply opening 21 is sealed and a current of elec` tricity passed through the mixture from the electrodes 10 and 11 through the receptacle 2 by means of said electrodes and the contact 24 of the apparatus. As the current passes through the mixture of bituminous coal and lime the heat generated by the resistance of the ingredients causes the evolution and distillation of various volatile products which condense and accumulate in reservoir 28 from which they may be recovered and the different ingredients afterward secured by fractional distillation. Or

the electric current may be so regulated that each individual volatile ingredient produced by the destructive distillation of the hydrocarbon in the converter 2 may be individually. and separately secured during the process of destructive distillation, the temperature being regulated by moving the electrodes through the insulating sleeves 16 and 17. When all the volatile products have been distilled off the residual non-volatile carbonaceous matter associated with the lime is heated to a high degree through the passage of electricity and thereby converted into calcium carbid which is finally removed from the receptacle 2 by removing the taphole plug 8, whereby the carbid is discharged while maintained in a molten condition by the heat induced by the induction current passing through the induction coil 58. The outlet 1S is provided with a damper 2O which may be regulated by revolution to suitably check the outiiow of the volatile products evolved during the process of operation, the conduit 25 may be raised and disconnected from the fluid seal device 19 which seal is preferably maintained by means of a low fusible metal.

By exposing the solid hydrocarbon, such as bituminous coal to the action of controlled electric currents, the internal resistance will produce intense heat so that the substance will be transformed throughout in a regular and complete manner and will yield a larger percentage of products of more uniform character than in processes devised heretofore, so that the lighter hydrocarbons are not disrupted or cracked and such compounds as ammonia are more largely produced and secured without decomposition.

The nonvolatile carbonaceous residue remaining after the evolution of the more volatile and less carbon-containing products produced comprises very heavy hydrocarbon which reacts with a metal oxycompound, such as calcium carbonate or oxid, at elevated temperatures and produces calcium carbid directly from the coked lime which is bonded with and by the heavy nonvolatile hydrocarbon.

Y Other metal oxycompounds may be employed instead of calcium, such as barium, or other metal a carbid of which is desired, or any nonmetal oxycompound a carbid of which is desired, such as silica for producing silicon carbid, or so called carborundum may be produced.

The metal oxycompound may be a metal oxid, such as calcium oxid, or substance capable of forming or yielding the same by the action of heat, such as calcium carbonate.

The hydrocarbon employed is of the solid variety under ordinary atmosphere conditions and preferably of the mineral species, or substances derived therefrom, such as bituminous coal, lignite, cannel coal, asphalt, or other solid mineral of organic origin.

The various volatile products produced by the action of electricity through the electrical resistance of the carbon-yielding sub stances operated on may be produced and collected as a composite composition and separated from each other by subsequent fractional distillation or each may be secured as it is produced by maintaining the electrical condition necessary and capable of producing such independently until each has been evolved and the character of electricity supplied altered to yield a next progressively higher carbon-containing product, whereby the product-s may be directly obtained separate from each other.

Silicon carbid may also be made by mixing silica or silicates with the mineral hydrocarbon or carbon-yielding substance instead of metal carbid or any mixture of metal and nonmetal carbid may be produced.

The term carbid employed herein is intended to include and does include broadly any nonvolatile carbid of a metal or nonmetal which may be produced by the action of a solid hydrocarbon and electricity on a compound of such metal or nonmetal a carbid of which is desired, as herein set forth.

The transformation of ingredients may also be induced and maintained by the action of electricity or an electric current on lil) an inert electrical resistor as a source of heat, such as silicon carbid, associated or communicating with the ingredient to be acted upon, as well as carbon, such as coke, added or produced in the process, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

By inducing internal heat by electrical action, a more perfect and controlled transformation of the material acted upon into the product desired may be accomplished, and the character of the product uniformly maintained without contamination, and also the yield of any individual product desired increased over that secured by any of the means of the prior art, which depends upon the application or employment of externally applied heat for bringing about the destructive distillation and fractional separation of similar carbonaceous substances, and the production of similar products.

As the conductivity of the mass acted upon increases by reason of the increasing non-volatile carbon residue, the electrical current is correspondingly regulated to maintain a uniform and desired temperature. The conductivity of the initial charge may be augmented by associating the carbonaceous substances to facilitate the starting of the operation by inducing internal heat, throughout the mass, whereby the transformation and evolution of volatile products may be obtained in the interior in an outward direction, thereby enhancing the porosity of the material and discharge of `volatile products without decomposition.

The control actuating device or operating member of the present invention is based upon a fact that many metals such as aluminium are repelled when subjected to the action of alternating electric currents energizing a core, and when such non-magnetic metals as aluminium are employed as armatures they are repelled with a force corresponding to the character of alternating current actuating the core of the device, and hence it will be seen that the aluminium armatures and 7l will be repelled oppositely in accordance with the energizing of the coils 5l or 50 by means of alternating current and the repulsion of the aluminium armature on either side actuates the switch 63 whereby the regulation of the electrodes in the furnace is automatically maintained by the motors 35 and 86.

Any or all substances capable of being repelled or acted upon in a manner like aluminium are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention which includes as a member vfor actuating the control of electric furnaces a means or member actuated by repulsion action on the armatures induced by coils energized by alternating current, in contradistinction to and from magnetic action director through the mediumvof a helix actuated by direct current.

Having now described my 'invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, which comprises the combination of a receptacle, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and receptacle into an electrical circuit, means including an armature of non-magnetic nature adapted to be acted upon by an alternating current for repelling the same, temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controlling the voperative distance of the electrodes when in use, and means for reversing the movement of the electrodes while communicating with the controlling member. a

2. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes andy the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means including an armature of nonmagnetic nature .adaptedto be acted upon by an alternating current for repelling the same, temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controlling the operative distance of the electrodes when in use, and'means for moving the electrodes communicating with the controlling member.

3. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes in said receptacle, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means including an armature of non-magnetic nature adapted to be acted upon by an alternating current for repelling the same, temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controlling the operative distance of the electrodes when in use, and means for moving the electrodes forward and backward while in communication with the controlling member.

4L. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes in said receptacle, means lfor bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means including an armature of non-magnetic nature adapted to be acted upon by an alternating current forV repelling the same, temperature-governed lmeans for regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controlling the operative distance of the electrodes when in use, and means for reversing the movement of the electrodes while communicating with the controlling member.

5. An apparatus for making and Securing products electrically, which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means including an armature of aluminium adapted to be acted upon by an alternating current for repelling the same, temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controlling the 4operative distance of the electrodes when in use, and means for moving the electrodes communicating with the controlling member.

6. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes in said receptacle, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrica-l circuit,

means including an armature of aluminium adapted to be acted upon by an alternating current for repelling the same, temperaturegoverned 'means for regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controlling the operative distance of the electrodes when in use, and means for moving the electrodes forward and backward while in communication with the controlling member.

7 In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode moving mechanism with means for controlling such movement including a device for actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, which comprises the combination of a non-magnetic armature With means for repelling the same, actuated by energy induced by an a1- ternating current.

8. In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode moving mechanism with means for controlling such movement including a device for actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, which comprises the combination of a non-inagnetic armature with means for repelling the same, actuated by energy induced by an alterna-ting current, and means communicating with the mechanism to be actuated and the armature for accomplishing the same.

9. In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode moving mechanism with means for controlling such movement including a device for actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, which comprises the combination of an aluminum armature with means for repelling the same actuated by energy induced by an alternating current.

10. In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode moving mechanism with means for controlling such movement including al device for actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, which comprises the combination of an aluminum armature with means for repelling the same actuated by energy induced by an alternating current, and means communicating with the mechanism to be actuated and the armature for accomplishing the same.

ll. An electric furnace, comprising a receptacle, electrodes therein, means for supplying an alternating current thereto, and means for altering the distance between electrodes including a switch actuated by repulsion to lines of force induced by the alternating current.

12. An electric furnace, comprising a receptacle, electrodes therein, means for supplying an alternating current thereto, and means for altering the distance` between electrodes including a switch actuated by repulsion to lines of force induced by the alternating current acting upon an aluminum armature.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HENRY REID. [n s] Witnesses:

JOI-IN BITTNER, PHILIP ZEFF.

Images