IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING LIQUIDS, FOR PURIFYING GAS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING
LIQUIDS, FOR PURIFYING GAS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the distillation or treatment by gases of
very thick liquid matter, and for other purposes. When liquids containing solid
matter, or producing precipitates, are treated in distilling columns as heretofore
constructed, the latter become rapidly obstructed, and if the proportion of such
solid matter to the liquid is great the distilling operation is very soon arrested and
the continuation of its performance rendered impossible.
The columns constructed according to this invention not only prevent deposited
matter from stagnating thereby avoiding the obstruction of the apparatus, but it
also permits the distillation of very thick liquids or of liquids containing a large
amount of solid matter which could not be distilled in columns as heretofore
constructed. In order to obtain such a result, I force, by mechanical means, the
solid or pasty portions of the liquids to move methodically with the said liquids,
whilst allowing gas and vapors to penetrate through these, the latter part of the
operation being the main principle upon which is based the construction of distilling
columns.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown by way of example a column
constructed according to this invention.
Figure 1 shows in sectional elevation the arrangement of a portion of one of
the said columns.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same showing the spiral scrapers of the fixed and
movable trays.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, drawn to a reduced scale, showing the arrange-
ment of a column which may be used when treating liquids having a thin
consistence.

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan of the same, the arrows indicating the direction in which the
shaft rotates.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
According to the said invention the column comprises a number of trays a and b
of conical shape alternately fixed upon the periphery of the column and mounted
upon a vertical shaft b' which passes through the whole of the column. This shaft
rotates with the trays a which it carries, the other trays 6 being fixed.
The liquids of more or less pasty consistence are poured upon the edges of the
fixed trays and run out at their centre; those poured upon the centre of the
movable trays run out at their edges. Below each movable tray a is fixed a
scraper c which scrapes the bottom of the tray immediately below it, and brings
the matter from the centre to the edges on the movable trays, and from the edges
to the centre on the fixed trays The gases and vapors penetrate through the
liquids contained in the fixed trays and traverse the liquids falling from the
movable trays upon the fixed trays. It will be easily understood that the fluid
matter is thus obliged, notwithstanding its thickness, to move methodically
throughout the column; the only condition to fulfil when treating such matter
being to cause gaseous bubbles to pass through it.
If this column becomes accidentally obstructed it is sufficient, in order to clean
it, to increase the rotary. speed of the shaft, and, if necessary, to introduce hard
bodies acting as cleaning means.
The trays and the diaphragms for the passage of gases may be made to assume
various forms and the number of diaphragms used for each tray may be increased
if desired. The diameter of the movable trays may be only a few centimetres in
length, or the said trays may be altogether dispensed with, providing the channels
or passages for the gases or vapors are made of suitable shape and dimensions; in
this case all the scrapers would have to be mounted upon the shaft. These scrapers
may be made of any suitable shape; they may be solid and have a spiral shape
with a variable pitch as shown in Figure 1, when the fluid matter under treatment
is very thick or contains a large quantity of foreign natter; or they may have a
rectangular shape and be provided with perforations when it is required to agitate
the liquid and to keep foreign bodies in suspension therein.
When the liquid matter is not, very thick the internal arrangement of the column
may be modified as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this arrangement the rotary
speed and the agitating motion must be sufficient to keep foreign matters in
suspension and the channels connecting the trays must be broad and capable of
being easily taken to pieces and inspected.
Communication is established between the compartments or trays by tubes α, a¹₁,—
a³
1
Through the said tubes the more or less thick liquids descend from one tray
into the one below it. These tubings are casily accessible and can be quickly
dismounted.
The flanged tubes h with which the said tubes are provided serve to regulate the
height of the liquid in the said trays or compartments.
The gases or vapors pass up from one compartiment to another through the central
openings d' d' and are caused by the caps f¹ƒ³ to pass through the liquid contained
in the said trays or compartments.
The caps ff carry vanes or scrapers c₁, cs and are fixed to a vertical shaft b¹
extending through the entire columu and to which rotary motion can be imparted.
In consequence of the rotation of the said shaft with the scrapers the liquid in
the trays or compartments is agitated the solid matters are kept in suspension and
every deposition is prevented.
The lateral tubes a, a¹₁—a², a¹—α¸, a³¸ may be constructed in various forms and
also the scrapers with which the caps are provided.
Amongst the many uses to which the above described column may be applied
I shall quote the following that is to say:-The distillation of all turbid and thick

page_text: liquids and of liquids containing solid matters, or to which solid matter is added,
such as wort, refuse, ammoniacal waters to which lime, pitch or the like has been
added;
the treatment of gases or vapors by liquids the reciprocal action of which
produces a precipitate, such as, for instance, the purifying of lighting gases by
means of a solution of metallic salts or earthy alkaline salts; the preparation of
bicarbonate of soda in the manufacture of soda by means of ammonia; the washing
of all kind of soot, either for the purpose of separating solid particles of dust
therefrom or for dissolving the volatile matter contained therein; the washing
of lighting gas by water and the expulsion of the naphthaline which is often
present in the former. This column can operate in the same manner as columns
heretofore constructed in which liquids are only allowed in the concave part of the
trays or the said part may be completely filled with liquids; in this case the
scraper acts also as an agitator.

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING LIQUIDS, FOR
PURIFYING GAS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES" 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 columns for the distillation or treatment by gases, of
very thick liquid matter and for other purposes. When liquids containing solid
matter or producing precipitates, are treated in distilling colums as heretofore
constructed, the latter become rapidly obstructed, and if the proportion of such
solid matter is great, the distillation becomes altogether impossible.
A column constructed according to this invention not only prevents deposited
matter from stagnating, thereby avoiding the obstruction of the apparatus, but
it also permits the distillation of very thick liquids or of liquids containing a
large amount of solid matter which could not be distilled in columns heretofore
constructed.
In order to obtain such a result, I force, by mechanical means, the solid or
pasty portions of the substances to be distilled to move methodically at the same
time as the liquids, whilst allowing gas and vapors to penetrate through these ;
this operation constitutes the main principle upon which the construction of the
improved distilling column is based.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn, by way of example, a columa
constructed according to this invention.
Figure 1 shews in sectional elevation, a portion of one of the said columns.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, drawn to a reduced scale, showing the
arrangement of apparatus which may be used when treating liquids having
a thin consistency.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same, the arrows indicating the direction in which the
shaft rotates.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
According to the said invention the column comprises a number of trays a and a'
of conical shape, alternately fixed to the periphery of the column and mounted upon
a vertical shaft b which passes through the whole of the column. This shaft rotates
with the trays a¹ which it carries, the other trays a being fixed.
The liquids of more or less pasty consistency are poured upon the fixed trays nt
the peripheries and run out at the centres; those poured upon the centre of the
movable trays run out at the peripheries. Below each tray a a' is fixed a scraper c
which scrapes the tray immediately below and brings the matter contained therein
from the centre to the periphery on the movable trays, and from the periphery to
the centre on the fixed trays. The gases and vapors penetrate through the liquids
contained in the fixed trays (fixed plates & being attached to the wall of the column
and dipping into the trays for causing them to do so) and traverse the liquids
falling from the movable trays onto the fixed trays. It will be easily under-
stood that the matter is thus compelled notwithstanding its slight fluidity, to
move methodically through the entire apparatus, the only condition to fulfil in its
treatment being to cause gaseous bubbles to pass through it,

page_text: If this column becomes accidentally obstructed, it is sufficient, in order to clean it,
to increase the speed of the rotating shaft, and if necessary, to introduce hard
bodies acting as cleaning means.
The trays and diaphragms for causing the passage of gases through the matter
may be made of various forms, and the number of diaphragms used for each tray
may be increased. The diameter of the movable trays may be reduced to a few
centimetres, or the said trays may be altogether dispensed with, providing the
channels or passages for the gases or vapors are of suitable section; in this case the
scrapers would have to be mounted upon the shaft.
The scrapers c may be made of any suitable shape; they may be solid and have
a spiral shape with variable pitch as shown in Figure 2, if the liquid is very thick
or contains a large quantity of foreign matter, or they may have a rectangular
shape and be provided with perforations when it is required to agitate the liquid
and to keep solid bodies in suspension therein.
If the liquid matter is not very thick the internal arrangement of the column
may be modified as shewn in Figures 3 and 4. In this arrangement, the rotary
speed and the agitating motion must be sufficient to keep foreign matters in
suspension, and the channels between the trays must be broad and capable of being
easily taken to pieces and inspected.
Communication is established between the compartments or trays by means of
laterally-arranged chambers a, α¹‚ àº, a¹², α¸, α¹³, a, a¹, and so on according to the
height of the column.
Through these said chambers the more or less thick liquids descend from one tray
into the one below it. These chambers are easily accessible and can be quickly
dismounted.
The flanged tubes h with which the said chambers are provided serve to regulate
the height of the liquid in the said trays or compartments.
The gases or the vapours pass up from one tray or compartment to another
through the central openings d₁ d₁ and are caused by the caps f₁ f₂ to pass through
the liquid contained in the said trays or compartments.
The caps ff carry scrapers c¹ c and are fixed to a vertical shaft b extending
through the entire column and to which rotary motion can be imparted.
In consequence of the rotation of the said shaft with the scrapers the liquid in
the trays or compartments is agitated, the solid matters are kept in suspension,
and deposition is prevented.
The laterally-arranged chambers a, a¹‚ α², a¹₂, α¸, α¹³¸ may be constructed in various
forms, as also may the agitators or scrapers with which the caps are provided.
Amongst the many uses to which the above described apparatus may be applied,
1 quote the following that is to say:-The distillation of all turbid and thick liquids
containing solid matters or to which solid matter is added such as wort refuse,
ammoniacal waters with an addition of lime, pitch or the like; the treatment of
gases or vapors by liquids, the reciprocal action of which produces a precipitate,
such as, for instance, the purification of lighting gas by means of a solution of
metallic or earthy alkaline salts; the preparation of bi-carbonate of soda in the
manufacture of soda by means of ammonia; the cleansing of all kind of smoke,
either in order to arrest the solid particles or to dissolve the volatile matter; or the
cleansing of lighting gas by water and the expulsion of the naphthaline which is
often present. This column can operate either as the ordinary columns, by
admitting the liquid only into the concave parts of the trays, or by filling it
completely with liquid. In this case the scrapers act as agitators, and at the same
time as collectors.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First In a column for distilling thick or pasty matter, the combination of conical
trays a (fixed to the periphery of the column) end al (fixed to the

page_text: turning with the latter) fixed plates d, and spiral scrapers c, substantially as
described with reference to the drawing.
Second In a column for distilling thick or pasty matters, the arrangement of
spiral scrapers c for each tray, the said scrapers conveying the matter from the
centres to the peripheries of the movable trays, and from the peripheries to the
centres of the fixed trays.
Third The arrangement of the column for distilling thick or pasty matters, and
having a number of compartments communicating with each other through the
chambers a, a¹, a α¹₂-as, a² α, a¹, etc, each of which contains a tube / for
regulating the height of the liquid in the compartment immediately above, in
combination with the caps f¹ƒ having scrapers c fixed upon the vertical shaft b,
substantially as described with reference to figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.
Dated this 11th dew of November 1884