Improvements in the Manufacture of Common Salt, and in the Construction of Appliances for Effecting the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Common Salt, and in the
Construction of Appliances for Effecting the same.
A communication from abroad by VICTOR CORNET, of the Ardennes, and ALICE JONES,
of 12, Rue Notre Dame des Victoires, Paris, both in the Republic of France,
Operative Chemists.
I AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE of No. 87 New Oxford Street, London in the County
of Middlesex Operative Chemist and Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
First. Economising the cost ordinarily incurred in regard to the important item
in general expences of manufacturing merchantable white salt from primary raw
material (such as-say Seawater, rock salt-or natural fluid brine pumped up from
salt springs below the surface of the earth), viz. Fuel, such economy being mainly
effected by conversion of the steam evolved from the heated brine into inflammable
gas, and utilizing such gas in turn for heating purposes, substantially in the manner
hereinafter set forth and described.
Secondly. The production of a relatively superior article at a cheaper rate by means
of appliances also hereinafter described, so constructed and arranged as in combination
with the system above mentioned to facilitate the exercise of a controllable regularity
of temperature and consequent evaporation at all periods during the process of
crystallization.
With this view I cause the liquid brine, from whatever source derived, to percolate
upwards through suitable filtering matter (grain animal charcoal preferentially-as
when the cleansing powers of this Agent are exhausted they can easily be reconstituted
at small cost) contained in an upright filter so constructed by means of an overhead
constant supply reservoir with conduit pipes therefrom leading down to the base of such
filter and fitted with shut off cocks so as to allow of the regulation of the flow in
regard to velocity and quantity or of cutting the supply off altogether. The filtered
brine cleansed in its passage through the packing material of the filter, and being
continually forced upwards by the pressure from overhead, then passes from the crown
of the filter through a bent or elbowed pipe, attached thereto into a closed
evaporating receptacle (entirely closed when in active operation with the exception
of a suitable orifice for the fixing thereto of a steam escape pipe-described below)→
partaking of the form and nature of a capacious shallow still; but differing from
stills constructed on ordinary principles as to which latter one outer shell contains the
charge and its vapour, inasmuch-as my improved receptacle is divided into two
chambers or compartments-one lower chamber intended for the receiving and
evaporation of brine-and one upper chamber intended to contain a gas heating
apparatus, described further on. This division is effected mechanically by means of a
strong internal diaphragm running horizontally through the length and breadth of
the main body.
Subjacent to the lower compartment is a furnace constructed to burn any ordinary
species of fuel. In the interior of the upper compartment are fitted a range or ranges
of atmospheric gas burners constructed with but little variation, unnecessary to
particularize from those of an ordinary cooking gas stove. The liquid brine flowing
in a sufficient quantity directly from the filter into the lower chamber-the steam
generated by the heat of the underlying furnace in lieu of being allowed at any time
to waste in the atmosphere passes through the medium of a curved escape pipe or
pipes leading from the lower chamber into one or more wrought iron or strong
porcelain tubes, or Retorts traversing the lower furnace longitudinally-with projecting
ends well luted into the brick work setting to prevent escape of heat and smoke.

page_text: The tube or tubes being charged with iron scrap or turnings the steam in its passage
is converted into inflammable gas by what is commonly known as the "
gun barrel
process" such gas being collected and treated in the usual way-and being im-
mediately (or ultimately if stored away for future use) utilized for lighting up the
atmospheric burners in the upper chamber of the still.
The roof, sides, and ends of such portion of the outer shell of the main body of the
still as admit of the process, being well and thickly lagged with some suitable
composition such as felt or fireclay-and the internal heat in the upper chamber
being thereby closely confined-and radiating equally in every direction, a great
amount of caloric is concentrated on the diaphragm forming the roof of the lower
chamber thereby producing in practice the result of steady evaporation in the lower
chamber under complete control of the operator governing the supply of gas-while
the heat of the lower furnace may be kept proportionately down by ordinary attention
in stoking At the same time oxide of iron being developed in the tubular Retorts
the realisable market value of the latter product in a perfected state tends considerably
to diminish (if not altogether to counterbalance) the original cost of fuel, necessary
in the outset to start the work by getting up steam, and during its continuance to
maintain the Retorts at the necessary temperature for generating hydrogen gas.
Both the upper and lower chambers of the Still necessarily require to be fitted with
manholes for emptying, cleaning, and lighting; and the lower chamber especially
should have the usual accessories to boilers, such as a safety valve-(in case of
accidental blocking of tubes or steam cocks)-pressure and water level gauges,
pet-cocks, &c.
In certain cases instead of the lagging on the roof of the upper chamber, a second
evaporating chamber may be superimposed thereon, and above that again a chamber
for containing gas burners with fittings to both chambers similar to those above
described, by which addition the turn out of salt may be increased at little extra
cost and if preferred the furnace traversed by the iron or porcelain tubes may be
constructed apart from the evaporating apparatus-deriving steam in the origin
from an independent boiler; in which case the process would be made to depend
entirely on the heating power of gas:-the connection between the steam escape
pipes and the heated tubes or Retorts remaining the same, so as still to utilize the
circulating action of the steam arising from the boiling of the salt towards the direct
production of gas,
Dated this Twentyfifth day of February 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Common Salt, and in the
Construction of Appliances for Effecting the same.
I, AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE, of 87 New Oxford Street, London, Operative Chemist
and Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The objects of my invention are :—
First. To economise the cost ordinarily incurred in regard to the important item of,
fuel in manufacturing merchantable white Salt from primary raw material (such as
_say_Sea water, rock Salt, or natural fluid brine pumped up from Salt springs below
the surface of the earth) such economy being mainly effected by conversion of the
steam evolved from the heated brine into inflammable or combustible gas-and
utilizing such gas for heating purposes.
Secondly, in the production of a relatively superior article at a cheaper rate, by
means of appliances so constructed and arranged, as in combination with the system
above mentioned, to facilitate the attainment of a controllable regularity of tempera-
ture, and consequent evaporation, at all periods during the process of crystallization.--
For this purpose I cause the liquid brine from whatever source derived to percolate

page_text: upwards through suitable filtering matter (preferably grain animal charcoal).-When
the filtering powers of this matter are exhausted it can easily be reinstated at small
cost; the filtering matter being contained in an upright filter, so constructed that
by means of an overhead constant supply reservoir with conduit pipes therefrom
leading down to the base of such filter, and fitted with shut off cocks to allow of the
regulation of the flow in regard to velocity and quantity, or of cutting the supply off
altogether-the brine is cleansed in its passage through the material in the filter, and
continually forced upwards by the pressure from overhead. The brine then passes
from the crown of the filter, through a bent or elbowed pipe, attached thereto, into a
closed evaporating receptacle (entirely closed when in active operation with the
exception of a suitable orifice for the fixing thereto of a steam escape pipe) partaking
of the form and nature of a capacious shallow still, but differing from stills as ordinarily
constructed.
My improved receptacle is divided into two chambers or compartments-one lower
chamber intended for the receiving and evaporation of brine-and one upper chamber
intended to contain a gas heating apparatus. This division is effected by means of
a strong internal diaphragm running horizontally through the length and breadth of
the main body.
Under the lower compartment is a furnace, constructed to burn any ordinary kind
of fuel.
In the interior of the upper compartment are fitted a range or ranges of ordinary
atmospheric gas burners, like those of an ordinary cooking gas stove. The liquid
brine flowing in a sufficient quantity, directly from the filter into the lower chamber
-the steam generated by the heat of the furnace in lieu of being allowed to flow into
the atmosphere and become wasted, passes through a curved pipe or pipes leading
fron the lower chamber into one or more wrought iron or strong porcelain tubular
retorts, traversing the lower furnace longitudinally, with projecting ends well luted
into the brick work setting to prevent escape of heat and smoke. The tubular retorts
are charged with iron scrap or turnings or other suitable materials. The steam in its
passage is converted into inflammable gas, by what is commonly known as the "Gun
barrel process "such gas being collected and treated in the usual manner, and
being immediately (or ultimately, if stored away for future use) utilised for con-
sumption in the atmospheric burners in the upper chambers of the still. The roofs,
sides, and ends of such portion of the outer shell of the main body of the still,
as can be so covered, are well and thickly lagged with any suitable nonconducting
composition.
A large amount of caloric is concentrated on the diaphragm forming the roof of
the lower chamber, thereby producing steady evaporation in the lower chamber under
complete control of the operator governing the supply of gas-while the heat of the
lower furnace may be kept proportionately down by ordinary attention in stoking―
At the same time oxide of iron (when iron is employed) being developed in the
tubular retorts, the realisable market value of the latter product in a perfected state,
tends considerably to diminish (if not altogether to counterbalance) the original cost
of fuel necessary in the outset to start the work, by getting up steam, and during its
continuance to maintain the retorts at the necessary temperature for generating
Hydrogen gas.
Both the upper and lower chambers of the still are fitted with manholes, for emptying
cleansing and lighting: and the lower chamber has the usual accessories to boilers,
such as a safety valve, water level guages, pet-cocks &c.
In certain cases, instead of the lagging on the roof of the upper chamber, a second
evaporating chamber,may be superimposed thereon-and above that again a chamber for
containing gas burners with fittings to both chambers, similar to those above described
by which addition the production of salt may be increased at little extra cost.-And
if preferred the furnace traversed by the iron or porcelain tubular retorts may be
constructed apart from the evaporating apparatus, deriving steam from an independent
boiler; in which case the process would be made to depend entirely on the heating
power of gas. The connection between the steam escape pipes and the heated tubular

page_text: retorts may remain the same, so as still to utilise the circulating action of the steam
arising from the boiling of the salt towards the direct production of combustible gas.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation (partly in section) and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 1-2 of
Fig. 1, illustrating one method of carrying out my invention.
cc are
a is an overhead supply pipe for conveying the brine to a small reservoir b.
pipes which convey the brine to the lower end of the filter d. For convenience of
cleansing and refilling with filtering materials, the filter is preferably made in
sections, bolted together. The sections dds, and (sometimes) d being filled with
filtering materials, and the sections d d² and (sometimes) d being utilised to collect
impurities. The cock d is used to withdraw the refuse from the chamber d. The
brine flows upward through the filter, and the filtered brine passes through the pipe e
to the evaporating chamber f. A stopcock is fitted at e¹ to check any back pressure
that may arise and regulate or shut off the chamber from the filter. The evaporating
chamber f is fitted with manhole doors ll, a gauge glass h, and a safety valve m, and
other ordinary fittings. g is a combustion chamber above the evaporating chamber f
from which it is divided by the plate f h is a covering of nonconducting material
to economise heat. xx are atmospheric gas burners for utilising the gas generated
as herein before referred to and hereinafter described. w is an ordinary furnace for
coals or other fuel. In this furnace retorts vvare fitted, which retorts are filled with
iron, zinc, or other clippings, or turnings, suitable for absorbing oxygen and
liberating hydrogen gas from the steam, which passes out of the evaporating
chamber through the pipe u to the retorts vv.. The liberated hydrogen gas passes
through the pipe t to the gasometers and is conveyed from the gasometer 8 by the
pipe to the burners ..
A considerable amount of the heat of the furnace w (after heating the retorts v v)
is communicated to the bottom f₁ of the evaporating chamber f, in addition to which
the chamberf receives a regulated amount of heat from the combustion of the gas in
the chamber g. Uniform temperature is readily maintained in the evaporator ƒ by
regulating the combustion in the furnace wand the amount of gas supplied to the
burners in the combustion chamber g.
The inlet pipe n is provided to admit warm air to the chamber g; and a flue p is
provided to carry away the surplus gases. The bridges o are provided to check the
draft to the chimney, and both n and p are fitted with dampers whereby, the draught
and ventilation of the chamber g may be regulated.
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 method of supplying brine to the filter, and causing the same to trave
upwards through one or more chamber or chambers containing filtering materials'
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The method of utilising the steam or vapour arising from the evaporation of
the brine, by passing the same through heated tubes containing suitable material for
and thereby obtaining hydrogen or "water "
gas, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The utilization of the last mentioned gas, in the combustion chamber g, by
imparting additional regulated heat to the upper part of the evaporating chamber,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together constituting my invention of improvements in the manu-
facture of common salt, and in the construction of appliances for effecting the same,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 19th Jul 1880
A. COLLINGRIDGE.