IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASH, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1876

page_text: Filed 2nd July 1877.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN CAMMACK
and ALEXANDER WALKER, both of St. Helen's in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal Letters
Patent, bearing. date the Third day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six, and numbered 903, did for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said John Cammack and Alexander Walker, Her special license,
that we, the said John Cammack and Alexander Walker, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Caminack and Alexander
Walker, our executors, administrators, or assigns should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of
Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF
SODA AND POTASH, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Cammack and Alexander
Walker, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent:
And whereas we, the said John Cammack and Alexander Walker, in pursuance of
the said condition in the said Letters Patent contained, did, by a Specification, being
an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and did cause the same instrument to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the second day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six :
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification we have been advised that
the claims in the said Specification may be construed as being too wide and general,
and therefore we are desirous of limiting the same as herein-after mentioned:

page_text: And whereas it has not been found useful to pass the heated products of a furnace
through the cylinder described in the said Specification; we are therefore desirous of
disclaiming that mode of heating the said cylinder:
And whereas we have not found it advantageous to treat nitrate of soda or
potash according to the said Invention, we are therefore desirous of disclaiming the
use of such nitrates of soda and potash.
NOW KNOW YE that we, the said John Cammack and Alexander Walker, by
and with the leave of Her Majesty's Attorney General, and for the reasons aforesaid,
do disclaim and alter parts of the said Specification in manner following:-
We strike out the words "by the passage of the flame and heated products of a
furnace through the said cylinder or which occur at lines 25 and 26 of page 2 of
the Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification, published in One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
We also strike out the words "or by any other means," which occur at lines 26
and 27 of same page 2 of the said Queen's Printers' copy.
We also strike out the words or nitrate of soda or potash," which occur at
line 28 of the saine page 2, and we substitute the word sulphuric for the word
sulphurous" inserted by a clerical error at the same line 28 of the of the said
page 2.
"
We also strike out the words "or nitrate" which occur at line 32 of the same
page 2.
We also insert the words "employment of a" between the word "the" and the
word "revolving" which occur at line 42 of the same page 2.
We also strike out the words "salt or potash" which occur at line 43 of the same
page 2 and substitute therefor the words " above-mentioned chlorides."
"
We also strike out the paragraph commencing with the words "We do not con-
fine" at line 24 of page 3 of the said Queen's Printers' copy, and terminating with
the word "Invention at the end of line 27 of the same page 3, and we strike out
the words "or nitrates" which occur at line 30 of the same page 3, and we insert
the words "in the manner and by the means between the word "stirring" and
the word "substantially" which occur at line 32 of the same page 3.
"
We also insert the words "by the agency of the within-mentioned chlorides and
sulphuric acid" between the word "sulphates" and the word "a" which occur at
line 33 of the same page 3 of the said Queen's Printers' copy.
And in order that the effect of the said Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration
may be better understood we annex hereto a copy of the said Specification as it
will appear when so altered and amended, the preamble and testing clause being
omitted.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of sulphate of soda or sulphate of potash
by a continuous or almost continuous process whereby the manufacture is con-
siderably expedited, the evolution of the volatile hydrochloric acid gases is also
more continuous and much more regular, and hence they become more manageable
and readily condensed or otherwise disposed of, and the whole process is greatly
improved and more certain in its action.
The Invention consists principally in the use for such manufacture of a revolving
cylinder or receptacle formed of iron or other suitable material and either lined
with fire-clay or otherwise, the said cylinder being mounted horizontally or slightly
inclined and heated or by being enclosed in a chamber above a furnace and caused
to revolve.
The chlorides of sodium or potassium and sulphuric acid are admitted at or near
one end of the revolving cylinder by means of a hopper or otherwise, and as they
pass on gradually to the other end, over the heated surface, the volatile gases are
driven off and are carried away by a pipe or flue and disposed of in the usual
manner, and the chloride used becomes converted into a sulphate and is delivered
at the other end of the revolving cylinder in that state.
A revolving worm or fixed inclined or revolving scrapers or other suitable method
may be used inside the cylinder to prevent the mass from becoming "caked” on

page_text: to the inner service thereof, and to impel it gradually forwards towards the delivery
end; this latter object may also in some cases be facilitated by inclining the cylinder
or revolving receptacle slightly downwards at that end, or by making the form
thereof conical instead of cylindrical.
Other modifications may be made so long as the peculiar characteristic features of
our Invention are retained, which consist in the employment of a revolving heated
cylinder or receptacle into one end of which the above-mentioned chlorides and
sulphuric acid are caused to be supplied in a continuous or almost continuous
manner, the sulphate of soda or of potash being discharged continuously or almost
continuously from the other, or the chlorides may be only partially converted into
sulphate, and then finished in any ordinary furnace used for such purpose.
Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2, a sectional plan; and Figures 3 and 4, end
views of cylindrical horizontal apparatus disposed and arranged for the effective
carrying into practice of our continuous sulphate process, the heat being applied
to the exterior of the cylindrical apparatus.
each
A
1 is a revolving cylinder supported at each end on rollers 2, and enclosed in the
furnace 3; the cylinder may be supported at more points than at end; 4, driving
gear for causing the cylinder 1, and also the scrapers, stirrers, or agitators, and
bar 5 to revolve; 6, fire-grate; the products of combustion pass in the direction of
the arrows to the uptake 7; 8, hopper from which the chlorides are fed to the
cylinder 1 by means of the worm 9; 10, inlet pipe for sulphuric acid; 11, outlet for
the finished salt cake; 12, waste gas exit.
In some cases it is desirable to employ stationary scrapers, as well as the rotating
scrapers 5.
The hydrochloric acid and waste gases may be conducted to con-
densing apparatus of ordinary construction, or led away and utilized in any desired
manner.
In carrying our Invention into practice, the chlorides and sulphuric acid are fed
by preference continuously and simultaneously into the cylinder through the hopper
8 and way 10, and are gradually carried towards the outlet 11 by means of the
rotation of the cylinder 1 and scrapers, stirrers, or agitators 5. During the passage
from one end of the cylinder to the other, the said chlorides and sulphuric acid,
under the action of heat from the furnace 3, are converted into sulphates and
hydrochloric acid. The finished sulphates pass out at the opening 11, and the
hydrochloric acid is conveyed away through the waste pipe 12.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be carried into practice by others, we would have it understood that
what we do claim is,-
First. The production or manufacture of sulphates by bringing a continuous, or
nearly continuous, supply of chlorides into contact and admixture with a stream
of sulphuric acid when the said materials are subjected to the action of heat
and agitation or stirring, in the manner and by the means substantially as set
forth.
Second. Employing in the production or manufacture of sulphates, by the agency
of the within mentioned chlorides and sulphuric acid, a revolving cylinder and
scrapers or agitators, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for
the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Cammack and Alexander Walker, have,
to this Disclaimer set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.

page_text: To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named John Cammack and
Alexander Walker to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to
which the same relates, the above mentioned Disclaimer and Memorandum of Al-
teration.
30th June 1877.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cammack. and Alexander Walker, both of St.
Helen's, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASH, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 9th May 1876, and dated the 3rd March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cammack and Alexander
Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March
1876.
JOHN CAMMACK and ALEXANDER WALKER, both of St. Helen's, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA
AND POTASH, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of sulphate of soda or sulphate of
potash by a continuous or almost continuous process, whereby the manufacture is
considerably expedited; the evolution of the volatile hydrochloric acid gas is also
more continuous and much more regular, and hence they become more manageable
and readily condensed or otherwise disposed of, and the whole process is greatly
improved and more certain in its action.*
The Invention consists principally in the use for such manufacture of a revolving
cylinder or receptacle formed of iron or other suitable material, and either lined
with fire-clay or otherwise, the said cylinder, being mounted horizontally or slightly
inclined and heated either by the passage of the flame and heated products of a
furnace through the said cylinder or by being enclosed in a chamber above a
furnace, or by any other means, and caused to revolve.
The chlorides of sodium or potassium and sulphuric acid are admitted at or near
one end of the revolving cylinder by means of a hopper or otherwise, and as they
pass on gradually to the other end over the heated surface the volatile gases are
driven off and aro carried away by a pipe or flue and disposed of in the usual
manner, and the chloride used becomes converted into a sulphate, and is delivered
at the other end of the revolving cylinder in that state.
A revolving worm or fixed inclined or revolving scrapers or other suitable method
may be used inside the cylinder to prevent the mass from becoming "caked" on to
the inner surface thereof, and to impel it gradually forwards towards the delivering
end; this latter object may also in some cases be facilitated by inclining the cylinder

page_text: slightly downwards at that end or by making the form thereof conical instead of
cylindrical.
Other modifications may also be made so long as the peculiar characteristic
features of our Invention are retained, which consist in the revolving heated
cylinder, into one end of which the salt or potash and sulphuric acid are caused to
be supplied in a continuous or almost continuous manner, the sulphate of soda or of
potash being discharged continuously or almost continuously from the other; or
the chlorides may be only partially converted into sulphates and then finished in
any ordinary furnace used for such purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Cammack and Alexander Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd September 1876.
JOHN CAMMACK and ALEXANDER WALKER, both of St. Helen's, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA
AND POTASH, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of sulphate of soda or sulphate of
potash by a continuous or almost continuous process, whereby the manufacture is
considerably expedited; the evolution of the volatile hydrochloric acid gases is also
more continuous and much more regular, and hence they become more manageable
and readily condensed or otherwise disposed of, and the whole process is greatly
improved and more certain in its action.
The Invention consists principally in the use for such manufacture of a revolving
cylinder or receptacle formed of iron or other suitable material, and either lined
with fire-clay or otherwise, the said cylinder being mounted horizontally or slightly
inclined and heated by the passage of the flame and heated products of a furnace
through the said cylinder, or by being enclosed in a chamber above a furnace, or by
any other means, and caused to revolve.
The chlorides of sodium or potassium, or nitrate of soda or potash, and sulphurous
acid are admitted at or near one end of the revolving cylinder by means of a
hopper or otherwise, and as they pass on gradually to the other end over the heated
surface the volatile gases are driven off and are carried away by a pipe or flue and
disposed of in the usual manner, and the chloride or nitrate used becomes converted
into a sulphate, and is delivered at the other end of the revolving cylinder in that
state.
"
A revolving worm or fixed inclined or revolving scrapers, or other suitable
method, may be used inside the cylinder to prevent the mass from becoming
"caked
on to the inner surface thereof, and to impel it gradually forwards towards
the delivering end; this latter object may also in some cases be facilitated by
inclining the cylinder or revolving receptacle slightly downwards at that end, or by
making the form thereof conical instead of cylindrical.
Other modifications may be made so long as the peculiar characteristic
features of our Invention are retained, which consist in the revolving heated
cylinder or receptacle, into one end of which the salt or potash and sulphuric acid
are caused to be supplied in a continuous or almost continuous manner, the sulphate
of soda or of potash being discharged continuously or almost continuously from
the other; or the chlorides may be only partially converted into sulphate and then
finished in any ordinary furnace used for such purpose.

page_text: into practice of our continuous sulphate process, the heat being applied to the
exterior of the cylindrical apparatus.
1 is a revolving cylinder supported at each end on rollers 2, and enclosed in the
furnace 3; the cylinder may be supported at more points than at each end; 4,
driving gear for causing the cylinder 1 and also the scrapers, stirrers, or agitators
and bar 5 to revolve; 6, fire-grate; the products of combustion pass in the direction
of the arrows to the uptake 7; 8, hopper from which the chlorides are fed to the
cylinder 1 by means of the worm 9; 10, inlet pipe for sulphuric acid; 11, outlet
for the finished salt cake; 12, waste gas exit.
In some cases it is desirable to employ stationary scrapers as well as the rotating
scrapers 5. The hydrochloric acid and waste gases may be conducted to condensing
apparatus of ordinary construction, or led away and utilized in any desired
manner.
In carrying our Invention into practice the chlorides and sulphuric acid are fed
by preference continuously and simultaneously into the cylinder through the hopper
8 and way 10, and are gradually carried towards the outlet 11 by means of the
rotation of the cylinder 1 and scrapers, stirrers, or agitators 5. During the passage
from one end of the cylinder to the other the said chlorides and sulphuric acid
under the action of heat from the furnace 3 are converted into sulphates and hydro-
chloric acid. The finished sulphates pass out at the opening 11 and the hydrochloric
acid is conveyed away through the wasto pipe 12.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into practice by others, we would have it under-
stood that we do not confine ourselves to any particular shape of apparatus nor to
the means for producing or directing the heating gases, and we would further have
it understood that giving intermittent motion to the apparatus or receptacle when
the periods of rest are not of long duration is within the scope of our Invention;
what we do claim is,―
First. The production or manufacture of sulphates by bringing a continuous or
nearly continuous supply of chlorides or nitrates into contact and admixture with
a stream of sulphuric acid when the said materials are subjected to the action of
heat and agitation or stirring, substantially as set forth.
Second. Employing in the production or manufacture of sulphates a revolving
cylinder and scrapers or agitators arranged and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Cammack and Alexander Walker,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twenty-sixth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
JOHN CAMMACK. (L.S.)
ALX. WALKER. (L.S.)