IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL PRODUCTS FROM AIR AND WATER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Israel Swindells, of Warrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Analytical Chemist, and Robert Lancaster, of Widnes, in the
same County, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL PRODUCTS FROM AIR AND
WATER."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 21st June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Israel Swindells and Robert
Lancaster at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st Juno
1876.
ISRAEL SWINDELLS, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Analytical
Chemist, and ROBERT LANCASTER, of Widnes, in the same County, Manufacturing
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
FROM AIR AND WATER,"
In manufacturing ammonia according to our improved process we take atmo-
spheric air and separate the oxygen in the form of carbonic acid. This result wo
produce by injecting atmospheric air combined with water converted into steam
through a highly heated tube or tubes, and through any incandescent fuel or
material; the gases thus generated are passed through lime water or other caustic
base to absorb the carbonic acid. The nitrogen and hydrogen thereby formed are
passed through a heated chamber filled with fire-bricks or other broken materials
for combining the two gases to produce ammonia, which is then condensed by any
usual known process. In making carbonate of ammonia we add carbonic acid to
the ammonia produced by the process above described in any convenient vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Israel Swindells and Robert Lancaster in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th November 1876.
ISRAEL SWINDELLS, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Analytical
Chemist, and ROBERT LANCASTER, of Widnes, in the same County, Manufacturing
Prine 971

page_text: Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
FROM AIR AND WATER."
The chemical products which we produce from air and water are ammonia and
the various well-known compounds of ammonia.
In performing our Invention we take from any convenient steam boiler all the
water converted into steam that may be required and conduct it from the boiler
through suitable pipes into an injector, as shewn and described in the Specification
of former Letters Patent granted to us on the 26th day of February, 1873,
Number 714. The injector thus employed conveys the steam, in combination with
the requisite quantity of air, into a pipe or a series of pipes through which the
combined steam and air are passed, the pipes being placed within a highly heated
furnace. The pipes and furnace are constructed like those now employed at iron
smelting furnaces for heating the hot blast.
When the steam and air have been superheated by the latter process they are
further conducted in any convenient form of pipe to a tuyere or tuyeres affixed on
the exterior of a closed retort or clay furnace of suitable form and dimensions, and
placed in an upright or other position into which incandescent fuel is placed. The
action of the superheated steam and air in passing through this fuel will cause the
whole to become intensely heated to a temperature of about 800° Fahrenheit, or
more or less, and the gases emitted at this high temperature are further conveyed
in any convenient form into a solution of lime water, cream of lime, or other
caustic base when it is found needful to absorb all or any portion of carbonic acid
which may exist in conjunction with the hydrogen and nitrogen. In some cases it
may be desirable to place a fire outside the retort or clay furnace to increase the
heat therein. The residue of these gases is then further conducted through suitable
pipe material into a heated vessel or chamber filled with broken bricks or other
substance to effect the combination of the gases and thereby to produce ammonia
which may be condensed by any known process.
In making carbonate, muriate, sulphate, or other salt of ammonia we add
carbonic acid, muriatic acid, sulphuric acid, or any other acid to the ammonia
produced by the process above described in any convenient vessel or chamber. By
this means ammonia or any salt of ammonia can be manufactured in large
quantities and at a small cost, thereby rendering them available for commercial
and manufacturing purposes.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention in the
manufacture of certain chemical products from air and water is, the production of
ammonia and salts of ammonia in the manner described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Israel Swindells and Robert Lancaster, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of November One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
ISRAEL SWINDELLS. (L.S.)
ROBT. LANCASTER.
(L.S.)