A Clamond basket is a kind of gas mantle, invented in the 1880s by the Parisian Charles Clamond,[1] and which he later patented in the United States.[2] It was the first economically practical gas mantle, since prior mantles had involved expensive materials like platinum and iridium.
Producing the gauze
editA dense water-based slurry of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium acetate is forced through a small hole in a metal plate. On exposure to air it solidifies sufficiently to make a thread which is shaped into the required form.
Use
editWhen exposed to a hot flame, a basket made of this composite gauze would burn away the acetate, leaving a brittle but serviceable magnesia (magnesium oxide) basket behind as the mantle. Charles Lungren subsequently patented[3] a support mechanism which allowed such fragile baskets to be employed more easily. Clamond filed a related patent[4] which deals with production, storage, and transport-proofing mantles.
References
edit- ^ "Scientific American Supplement Volumes 561, 586, 595, 598, 601, 611, 613, 620, 623 and 633".
- ^ US 261529, Charles Clamond, "Means and Apparatus for Producing Intense White Light", published 25 July 1882
- ^ US 336576, Charles Lungren, "Incandescent Gas Light", published 23 February 1886
- ^ US 631617, Charles Clamond, "Incandescent Gas Light Mantle", published 22 August 1899