Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for the Treatment of Bituminous Rock and like Substances to Adapt the same for Paving and other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for the Treatment of
Bituminous Rock and like Substances to Adapt the same for
Paving and other Purposes.
I, GEORGE ERNEST BELMOR, of Mission Street San Francisco in the county of San
Francisco and State of California, United States of America, Boilermaker, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to bo performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object to produce a portable Apparatus for melting and
reducing Bituminous Rock and other like substances that are being used at the present
time or are adapted for paving-material to cover the surfaces of streets and roads ; and
my invention embraces and consists of certain novel construction and combination of
a reducing-tank divided by a grate-surface into an upper melting or reducing
chamber and a lower heating-space with steam-coils or pipes in each space and
connecting-pipes from them to a steam-supply outside; also, in certain novel
construction of rocking grate-surface; also, in the general combination of parts,
producing an improved portable apparatus for reducing Bituminous rock and like
substances for making roadways, all as hereinafter fully set forth and shown in the
accompanying drawing.
I have represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing a portable
apparatus constructed according to my invention for reducing and softening bituminous
rock for covering the surface of a street or road, and also certain details of the
construction and arrangement of the rocking grate-surface and other parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation the apparatus mounted on a wheeled truck for
convenience of moving from place to place as the work progresses.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation.
Figure 3 is a top view of the tank with a portion of the top broken away to expose
the parts inside.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the parts of the rocking grate-surface,
Figure 4 being a top view of several bars and the connections, Figure 5, a perspective
view, and Figures 6 and 7 side and end views of the rocking mechanism.
Figura S is a tan view of the unner steam-coil.

page_text: The same letters of reference in the different figures are used to denote the same
parts of the apparatus.
In constructing my apparatus for carrying on operations on a scale of ordinary
magnitude I make a steam-tight tank about six feet in diameter and about seven feet
high and either with or without double walls and bottom for a surrounding steam-
jacket.
The interior of this tank (A) is divided horizontally by grate-bars (B) placed at a
point below the center of the space, upon which is supported the bituminous rock
introduced through the opening in the top of the tank. The cover (D, D*.) is held
down tightly to the seat around this opening by a clamp-bar (D) that is pivoted at
one end (d) and held at the other end by a screw-rod (d) and nut (d) as shown in
figure 1. A steam-pipe (L) is carried from the outside into the tank above the
grate-surface and another pipe or coil (L') is placed in the lower steam-space and just
under the grate-bars.
By making use of the construction of steam-coil shown in figure 8 there is secured an
uniform distribution of steam-pressure through the entire coil, as well at the extreme
ends of the coil as at the outlet-apertures in the coil which are nearer the supply end.
These coils being suitably perforated to discharge the steam in jets, they are connected
by the pipe (L) with a steam-supply convenient to the tank, such as a portable boiler,
and steam in sufficient quantity is directed through the charge of rock or substance
being treated both in the principal space above the grate and up through the grate.
The substance or material when sufficiently reduced drops through the grate into the
space below, from which it is withdrawn from time to time as needed through the
outlet (C) at the back of the tank. This outlet (C) is closed by a hinged cover (C*)
which is held down to a tight seat against the mouth of the opening by means of a
hinged clamp or other-suitable fastening. A tight joint may be secured by placing a
gasket or packing between the joint.
The material when drawn from the lower part of the tank is in condition for use, as
it is both moist and soft by virtue of the treatment received in the tank above the
grate, and is suitably disintegrated by passing through the grate-bars.
To treat the material in this way and furnish it in suitable heated condition on the
spot, I mount my apparatus on a wheeled truck (W) and also provide a steam-boiler
similarly mounted for furnishing steam as the apparatus is kept at work. These parts
can thus be moved forward from point to point as the work of laying the pavement
progresses. The boiler is not represented in the drawing, but the manner of connecting
it will be readily understood.
In most cases, and especially with the harder kinds of rock or material, the reduction
and disintegration will be facilitated by using a shaking or rocking grate-surface; and
for this purpose I have constructed and produced a grate-surface of this character
which is particularly adapted for the treatment of bituminous rock. This grate-surface
is produced by suspending the grate-bars (B) by links (M, M,) from hooks (mx) that
are riveted to the inside of the tank above the level of the grate-surface, and setting
each bar between two blocks (P, P*,) which are set upon a rocking-bar (R). There
are two of these rocking-bars (R, R*) placed transversely under the grate having
their ends carried out through the side of the tank, and on these ends are crank-
arms (1, 1) to which connection is made by connecting-rods (H, H) with two
cranks (T) on the shaft (T) of a small engine (X) which may be mounted on the
same truck with the tank, as shown in figure 1.
Connection is made of one half the number of grate-bars to one of these rocking-
bars (R) and of the remainder to the other rocking-bar in an alternate manner so
that every other guate-bar is connected to the same rocker. The blocks (P) are
formed with open sockets (p) on the inner faces and the grate-bar is furnished with
lug or pin () on each side to fit loosely into the socket, as shown in figures 6 and 7.
The blocks are also slotted to set astrido of the rocking-bar, which is rectangular in
cross section.
a
By the rotations of the crank-shaft these two bars (R) are caused to rock in
opposite directions, so that each bar oscillates in a direction contrary to its neighbor,

page_text: and by virtue of the pivoted connections the bars rise and fall as well as oscillate.
This movement of the grate-surface facilitates the passage of the material through it
and prevents choking.
By means of an elevator formed of an endless chain of buckets (Y, Y) the rock
or material to be treated can be raised from the ground up into the opening in the
top of the tank so as to save time in charging the apparatus. Such an elevator can be
mounted for use upon the truck at one side where it will be always in position for
use, and power for running it can be taken from the engine (X) by means of suitable
shafts and gearing. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the manner in which this elevator is
set and operated. The upright shaft (V) is arranged to be driven by miter-gears (s)
from the crank-shaft (T) and a counter-shaft (Sx) driven from the end of the upright
shaft by miter-gears is carried over to the upper wheel or drum (Y*,) of the elevator.
This shaft (S) has bearings in the brackets (U) and the upright shaft is supported by
the post (0) that is bolted to the side of the frame.
The lower end of the elevator is carried by the side bars (Z), and braces (Z*) extend
from the lower end of this support to the tank or the truck.
As thus constructed and arranged my said apparatus is particularly adapted for
working bituminous rock, a natural substance which is being used at the present
time in many localities to a considerable extent as a paving material, and which in the
present mode of working it is first reduced to a soft and homogeneous mass and then
spread in its heated condition over the surface of the street or road.
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 :
1. An apparatus for reducing and preparing bituminous rock and other like
substances, consisting of a steam-tight tank (A) with an inlet in the top and a draw-off
opening in the side at the bottom, which are fitted with steam-tight covers, and
having its interior divided by a grato-surface into an upper melting or reducing space,
and a lower receiving and heating space and having a steam-coil in each space,
and connection of the same outside the tank with a steam-supply, as hereinbeforo
described.
2. An apparatus for reducing and preparing bituminous rock and other like
substances, consisting of a steam-tight tank (A) having a grate-surface composed of
grate-bars (B) to which a rocking or oscillating motion is imparted, and having in
the spaces above and below said grate-surface a steam-coil and connection thereof
with a steam-supply outside, as hereinbefore described.
3. The rocking grate-surface, consisting of the separate suspended grate-bars (B)
the rocking-bars (R, 1) slotted blocks (P,P) and the crank-shaft and connecting-rods
having connection with said rocking bars by crank-arms, for operation, as set
forth.
4. The combination and arrangement of the whole apparatus as hereinbefore
described and represented by the drawing.
تيمم
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.