IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR CONCENTRATING SEWAGE DEPOSIT, NIGHT SOIL, BLOOD MANURE, PEAT, AND OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Milburn, of the Hatcham Iron Works, London, in
the County of Surrey, and Henry Jackson, of 16, Park Square, Leeds, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
DRYING OR CONCENTRATING SEWAGE DEPOSIT, NIGHT SOIL, BLOOD MANURE,
PEAT, AND OTHER MATTERS."
Sealed the 16th September 1876, and dated the 20th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Milburn and Henry
Jackson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March
1876.
ROBERT MILBURN, of the Hatcham Iron Works, London, in the County of Surrey,
and HENRY JACKSON, of 16, Park Square, Leeds, in the County of York. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR CONCENTRATING SEWAGE DEPOSIT,
NIGHT SOIL, BLOOD MANURE, PEAT, AND OTHER MATTERS."
Our Invention relates to a foriner Invention for which have been granted to us
Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the
year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and numbered 2266.
In the said former Invention a frame provided with scrapers was caused to travel
to and fro over a heated floor, whereby matters fed on to one end of the floor were
moved to and fro on the heated surface, and were also gradually propelled towards
the delivery end thereof.
According to our present Invention we employ blades or stirrers to stir up the
matters, and to move them to and fro in a sideways or diagonal direction, in addition
to scrapers which move the matters to and fro in the direction of the length of the
heated floor. These blades are fixed to shafts in diagonal positions, or are so formed
as that when upon the shaft their outer extremities shall be in a plano diagonal to
the direction of motion of the aforesaid frame, that is to say, the said blades are
in formation and arrangement similar to the blades of screw propellers. As the
said frame moves to and fro the shafts carrying the said blades also travel to and
fro, and at the same time revolve or rock on their axes, whereby the aforesaid
matters are stirred up and moved to and fro across the heated floor.
In the arrangement which we prefer the said blades are fixed to square shafts.
which are supported at each end by means of wheels or discs which run upon the

page_text: floor or upon side rails or bearers, and pass through slots in the side frames which
carry the scrapers; spur wheels or pinions are fixed upon the said shafts, and gear with
a spur rack or with racks fixed on one side, or on each side of the heated floor in
an inverted position, the arrangement having the effect that the said blades move
through the matters in the same direction as the aforesaid scrapers, but at a quicker
spoed. The blades are bolted to two sides of the shaft, the centres of the blades
fixed to one sido being at an angle of about ninety degrees with the blades fixed to
the other side, so that the shaft being caused to revolve to the extent, say, of about
three quarters of an entire revolution first in one direction and then in the other
as the aforesaid frame moves to and fro the outer part of each blade is moved to
and fro into, through, and out of the matters on the heated floor.
The aforesaid frame is lifted at certain points in its stroke, as in the said former
Invention, the aforesaid slots permitting this movement to take place without
interference with the action of the said blades. We prefer to arrange a number of
the said shafts, each fitted with a suitable number of blades throughout the length
of the reciprocating frame, the aforesaid scrapers being fixed to the said frame in
the intervals between the said shafts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Robert Milburn and Henry Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th September 1876.
ROBERT MILBURN, of the Hatcham Iron Works, Pomeroy Street, New Cross Road,
in the County of Surrey, and HENRY JACKSON, of 16, Park Square, Leeds, in the
County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR CONCENTRAT-
ING SEWAGE DEPOSIT, NIGHT SOIL, BLOOD MANURE, PEAT, AND OTHER MATTERS."
Our Invention relates to a former Invention for which have been granted to us
Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the
year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and numbered 2200.
In the said former Invention a frame provided with scrapers was caused to travel
to and fro over a heated floor, whereby matters fed on to one end of the floor were
moved to and fro on the heated surface, and were also gradually propelled towards
the delivery end thereof.
According to our present Invention we employ blades or stirrers to stir up the
matters, and to move them to and fro in a sideways or diagonal direction, in addition
to scrapers which move the matters to and fro in the direction of the length of the
heated floor. These blades are fixed to shafts in diagonal positions, or are so
formed as that when upon the shaft their outer extremities shall be in a plane
diagonal to the direction of motion of the aforesaid frame, that is to say, the
said blades are in formation and arrangement similar to the blades of screw pro-
pellors
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood we have appended here-
unto a Sheet of Drawings, inade to a scale of about one inch to the foot, and marked
with letters of reference, corresponding letters indicating the same parts in the
various Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical longi-
tudinal section; Fig. 2 a plan; and Fig. 4 a vertical cross section of our improved
drying apparatus. In the said Figures, A is the drying floor, B is the reciprocating
frame, and c, c, are the scrapers.
The construction of the said floor, and the manner in which it may be heated,
will be understood when reference is had to tho Specification of our said former
Patent.
The frame B consists of two frame castings, which are connected together by the
scrapers c, and by tee-iron cross bars d, d, and also by cross bars e, e, which connect
together the upper ends of the standards f, f, which are cast upon or secured to the

page_text: frames B. Between each pair of standards a slot is formed, in which works a shaft
g, which is secured at each end to cranks h, h, which are fixed on the ends of short
cross shafts i, i. Each of the four shafts i is fitted to revolve in plummer blocks,
which are bolted to sole plates, which are secured to timbers that are mounted on
the side walls. On the outer end of each shaft i is fixed a bevil wheel 1, which
gears with a bevil pinion m which is fixed on a side shaft n. There is a side shaft
n on each side of the drying floor, and on one end of each side shaft is fixed a bevil
wheel o, which gears with a pinion p, which is fixed on the main driving shaft r.
The last-named shaft is provided with fast and loose pulleys 8, by means of which
motion is transmitted to the said shafts. When the shaft r is set in motion a
simultaneous revolving motion in the same direction is communicated to the four
shafts i, i, and the cranks and shafts g are thereby caused to rovolve, whereby
the frame B is moved to and fro over the heated floor. The two standards f, f, in
cach pair are secured together at their upper ends by means of a cap, and a screw t
is fitted to rock in a nut formed in or fixed to the said cap. The lower end of each
screw is fitted with a block against which the shaft g comes in contact when the
said shaft is approaching its highest point, the result being that the frame B is lifted
and the attached scrapers are raised from contact with the floor, and are carried
forwards some distance before being lowered on to the floor. The extent to which
the said frame is lifted can be regulated by raising or lowering the said blocks by
means of the said screws. The effect of this lifting of the said frame and scrapers
is to feed the matters towards the delivery end of the floor, as described in our
former Specification. The tee-iron bars d, d, sustain metal sheets or plates, which
form a cover to the drying floor, and enclose the space in which the stirrers and
agitators work. Slots u are formed in the frames B, B, and in these slots or in some
of them are mounted square shafts v, the portions within the said slots being
rounded so as to be capable of revolving within the slots. On each end of the shaft
is fixed a disc or wheel w, which runs on the floor and supports the shaft. On ono
end of each shaft is fixed a spur pinion, which gears with a rack x, which is secured
to the under side of the timber which is secured to one of the side walls. This
arrangement is also indicated in the detached view, Fig. 3. The space in which
tho said pinions work is shut off from the drying space by means of a metal wall,
in which are formed slots through which pass the ends of the shafts v.
A plate
or series of plates carried by the said shafts, and arranged to be as close as practi-
cably suitable to the aforesaid metal wall, is employed to prevent the passage of
matters through the said slots. The slots u permit the frames B to be lifted without
raising the shafts v. On each square shaft are secured a number of propeller blades
3. In the example each blade is secured to its shaft by means of two bolts which
pass through flanches formed on the blades, and also through a plate which is placed
on the other side of the shaft. The blades can thus be readily fixed in any desired
positions on the shafts. In the example the blades on each side are arranged in
two rows projecting at right angles from two contiguous sides of the shaft, but
this arrangement may be varied as found to be most suitable in each case.
The
proportions of the parts in the example selected for illustration are such as that the
shafts vare caused to make about three-quarters of a revolution, first in one direc-
tion and then in tho reverse direction during each revolution of the cranks, the
blades at the same time being carried to and fro by the movements of the frames B.
The outer ends of the said blades are thus moved to and fro into, through, and out
of the matters on the heated floor, whereby the said matters are stirred up and
moved to and fro in a sideways or diagonal direction, as herein aforesaid.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which we carry the same into practical effect, we would have it to
be understood in conclusion that we claim,-
First. The complete apparatus arranged and acting substantially as and for the
purposes set forth and indicated herein-before and in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The propeller blades formed, arranged, and acting substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before set forth and indicated.

page_text: And, lastly. The method of mounting the blade shafts in the reciprocating frames,
and of imparting motion to the said shafts, substantially as set forth and indicated
herein-before and in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Milburn, for myself, and on behalf of
the said Henry Jackson, have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Sixth
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
ROBT. MILBURN. (LS.)