Process and Apparatus for Producing Artificial Stone.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 18.90
Process and Apparatus for Producing Artificial Stone.
I, BRUNO MERTELMEYER, of Kochstrasse No. 3, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany
Doctor at Law and Bank Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to produce artificial sandstone equal to the natural
stone in solidity and durability by depriving the materials to be employed of the air
contained therein. To this end the dry pulverized cement, washed gravel sand or
other material is exhausted, together with the corresponding colours in a receptacle
hereafter described by means of an air pump and subsequently mixed with the like-
wise air-exhausted water contained in a reservoir.
The mixture obtained is cast in any suitable shapes and results in a stone consti-
tuting in every respect an equivalent of the natural sandstone but excelling the same
in homogeneity and cheapness.
The exhausting device consists of an upright cylindric receptacle terminating at
the bottom in a cone and hermetically closed at top and bottom. Within the receptacle
is centrally provided a vertical shaft having a suitable number of alternately placed
vanes or wings and passes through the top cover, where it is packed by means of a
stuffing box. Said cover carries two pillow blocks for supporting the driving shaft
whose revolutions are imparted through pinions to the vertical shaft. The cover is
furthermore provided with an aperture for filling in the material which is adapted to
be tightly closed by means of a lid, or bow and pressing screws. Into the cover
terminates an air cock communicating with a pipe leading to the air pump. The water
is supplied to the receptacle through a pipe provided at the bottom thereof, while the
material is removed through the bottom cover, which is pressed air-tight onto the
aperture by means of a pressing screw device suitably attached to the receptacle.
The pipe connecting the receptacle with the air pump is made to pass through a
suitable dust collector to prevent any particles of dust from the receptacle to enter the
air pump.
The water reservoir is likewise connected through pipes with the air pump and
receptacle respectively and receives its supply of water through a inuffle adapted to be
closed by means of a screw and having at the top an air cock, while a water gauge is
provided on the side of a reservoir.
The new apparatus works as follows:
The material having been introduced, the receptacle is brought in connection with
the air-pump all openings having previously been hermetically sealed.
When the required vacuum is attained a suitable quantity of airless water is let
into the receptacle from the reservoir, which had also been previously exhausted of
air. At the same time the stirring device of the receptacle is actuated until a perfect
mixture is produced. Subsequently the air pipe is closed the air cock opened and the
pasty mass filled through the disclosed bottom aperture of the receptacle into the
moulds.
Tinted this 4th day of Cantambar 1900

page_text: reservoir C which has also been previously exhausted of air, the quantity of water to
be fed into the receptacle A being determined by means of the water gauges.
Simultaneously the agitating device is worked until a perfect mixture is attained.
Subsequently the pipe k is closed, the air cock opened and the pasty mass
discharged through opening the flap b into the mould or receptacle placed
underneath.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A process for producing artificial stone consisting in exhausting the powdered
constituents, in a hermetically closed receptacle, of the inherent air, subsequently
mixing them, by means of a stirring device within the receptacle, with air-exhausted
water and casting the product into moulds substantially as set forth.
2. A mixing apparatus consisting of a receptacle A adapted to be closed air-tight
by covers a and b and having a stirring device c d, driving mechanism fy¹², feed
aperture h, air cock i, and pipe leading to an air pump, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination of the apparatus forming the subject of claim 2 with an air
pump B, reservoir C connected therewith, and a dust collector D, for the purpose of
performing the process constituting the subject of claim 1, substantially as illustrated
and described.
Tinted thin with dan of Win 1900