Process of producing carbides

Claim 1

PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF CARBIDES OF THOSE METALLIC AND METALOID ELEMENTS WHICH FORM CARBIDES BY ELECTRIC FURNACE REDUCTION OF THE CORRESPONDING OXIDES WITH CARBON, WHICH COMPRISES FORMING A CHARGE COMPOSED OF BRIQUETTED MASSES IN WHICH SAID OXIDE IS DISSEMINATED IN THE FORM OF PARTICLES THROUGHOUT A CONTINUOUS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF COKE CARBON, SAID CARBON BEING PRESENT IN SAID MASSES IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED FOR REDUCTION OF SAID OXIDE WITH FORMATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE, AND FOR REACTION WITH THE SAID ELEMENT WITH FORMATION OF THE CARBIDE THEREOF, MAINTAINING A BODY OF SUCH MASSES WITHIN A SPACE DEFINED BY A REFRACTORY SETTING, HEATING SUCH BODY BY PASSAGE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH SAID BODY FROM ELECTRODES IN CONTACT WITH SAID BODY TO A TEMPERATURE AT WHICH REDUCTION PROCEEDS WITH FORMATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN GAS PHASE AND RESIDUAL MASSES OF COKE CARBON CONTAINING SAID CARBIDE DISSEMINATED THERIN, ADDING FRESH MASSES TO SAID BODY AT THE TOP THEREOF AND REMOVING RESIDUAL MASSES IN SOLID FORM FROM THE BOTTOM THEREOF.