IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WICKSTEED, of Old Ford, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of
February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the fourteenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Wicksteed, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Wicksteed, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Wicksteed, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREIN;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas
Wicksteed, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Wicksteed, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My improvements in the manufacture of manure have reference to obtaining
the fertilizing ingredients of sewage water, or of other liquids containing
fertilizing salts and organic matter, in a more or less decomposing state. For
this purpose
the sewage or other fluid is first acted on, while liquid, and is
then subjected to centrifugal force by means of appropriate machinery, whereby
the whole or nearly the whole of the moisture is driven off, and the manure
or fertilizing matter is obtained in a state commodious for transport. I begin
by mixing the sewage or other fluid intimately with milk of lime, made by
putting into a cistern a certain weighed or measured quantity of lime, and
adding to it a known quantity of water, the whole being mixed together and
kept in motion by an agitator. A sufficient quantity of lime should be used to
render the mixture of milk of lime and sewage water clear and free from smell
after the precipitate has subsided. The sewage fluid and milk of lime may be
blended together, by allowing the sewage fluid and milk of lime to flow on together
in a continuous stream into a common reservoir. Or when it is necessary to
raise the sewage water by means of a pump, I employ the following method of
mixing it with the milk of lime. For this purpose I have two pumps differing
in bore, the larger of which is used for lifting the sewer water, and the smaller
one for lifting the milk of lime. These two pumps are driven at the same or
at a proportionate velocity, and are so arranged that while the sewage water is
flowing away from the larger pump it shall receive from the small pump a
stream of milk of lime during the whole time of its passage. To admit of the
proper proportions of sewage water and milk of lime being kept, the supply of
the latter may be regulated in different ways; thus, the milk of lime may be
varied in strength, or the relative velocity of the two pumps may be altered.
Another method of regulating the supply of lime consists in applying a return
pipe, with a cock, on the delivery pipe of the lime pump, so that no more than
a regulated quantity of milk of lime may be allowed to pass into the stream of
sewer water, the excess being returned to the mixing cistern. The strength of
the milk of lime or quantity of lime employed will vary with every different
kind of sewage fluid; but it will be unnecessary to employ more lime than is
sufficient to render the mixture free of smell and clear, by causing the salts and
organic matter to be precipitated. An excess of lime will not be prejudicial,

page_text: as such excess will be precipitated, and subside with the other solid matter.
The precipitation of the salts, and the presence of an excess of lime, can be
ascertained by turmeric paper or other tests well known to practical chemists.
In arranging. a manufactory for this artificial sewage manure, I employ the
pumps already mentioned to raise and mix the sewage water with the milk of
lime, which mixture is then delivered into the reservoirs, of which there may
be any convenient number. Thus the mixed liquids may be flowing into No. 1,
while No. 2 is depositing, and No. 3 is being worked off. When the precipi-
tate produced by the line has subsided the liquid deposit is conveyed by a
drain or pipe to a well, where it is again allowed a certain time for subsidence,
and the superfluous water drawn off. To cause the deposit to flow into the
well without the danger of its choking up the drain, I apply a screw of one or
more turns within the drain, and of a diameter nearly equal to it, which screw
is caused to revolve upon its axis, and thus to propel or draw the deposit
through the drain. In Figure 13 of the annexed Drawings p is the pipe, and
s the screw. The deposit is raised from the well by an endless chain of buckets,
or Jacob's ladder, or by a centrifugal pump or screw, which delivers it into a
horizontal trough running over or under a range of the centrifugal drying
machines, into which the liquid deposit is introduced by means of valves or
sluices in the trough, or a screw, as herein-after described. To cause the
liquid deposit to travel along the horizontal trough, I apply a revolving screw
similar to that in Figure 13 within the trough, the bottom of which is semi-
cylindrical, or, instead of an open trough, a cylindrical pipe may be used. Speed
pullies are provided to regulate the supply in the trough, according to the
demand of the machines.
My improved drying machinery is represented in the Drawing hereunto
annexed, in which the same letters indicate similar parts in all the
Figures. Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 is a vertical section, and Figure
8 an elevation with the outer case and sheet iron cylinder removed.
A is a vertical shaft turning in the bearing B and step C, and carrying
a circular liorizontal plate D of cast or wrought iron firmly keyed upon
it. E, E, is a circular ring or cylinder of wire gauze or other perforated
material, which is supported by a series of vertical rods or wires F, F, fixed in
the wrought iron rings G, G, H, H, which are connected at intervals by the
frames I, which are not shewn in Figure 2, but are shewn in Figure 3, and on
a larger scale in Figures 4, 5, and 6. A hollow cylinder of sheet iron, J, J,
is fixed to the ring G, G, and to projections on the ring H, H. K, K, K, K,
are four wrought-iron arms which connect the ring G, G, to a collar L, capable
of sliding up and down on the pipe M. N, N, are frames fixed to the plate D,

page_text: which serve to guide the wire gauze cylinder by means of the pieces O, O.
These are not shewn in Figure 2, but are shown on a larger scale in Figures
4, 5, and 6. P, P, (Figures 1 and 2) is an annular plate fixed to the plate D
by the frames N (Figure 4). Q is a forked lever, by means of which the
collar L, and with it the wire gauze cylinder E, E, and the sheet iron
cylinder J, J, may be raised or lowered without stopping the motion of the
machine. R, R, is a grating fixed to the guides N (Figure 4). E', E',
Figure 2, is a second cylinder of wire gauze similar to E, E, but smaller in
diameter. It is attached to two rings G', G, H, H', and frames I¹, not shewn
in Figure 2, but shewn on a larger scale in Figure 7, and is supported by
vertical wires or rods F, F¹, in the manner already described with reference
to E, E. It is surrounded by a ring of sheet iron J, J', fixed to the ring
G', G', and to projections on the ring H¹, H. K', K', K', are three or more
arms, which connect the ring G, G', with the collar L', which is fixed to the
pipe M. N', N', are frames fixed to the plate D, and guiding the cylinder
E', E', by the pieces O', O'. These are not shewn in Figure 2, but are shewn
on a larger scale in Figure 7. P1, P1, is an annular plate fixed to the plate D
by the frames N', N. By raising the pipe M, the wire gauze cylinder E', E',
will be raised while the plate P1, P1, remains stationary. S is a collar attached
to the pipe M for receiving a forked lever Q', for raising and lowering the
pipe M. T is a conical cap on the end of the shaft for distributing the
materials which are introduced by the pipe M. U, U, is a wrought or cast
iron casing fixed to the floor of the building, which floor is cut away within
the casing, so as to allow a free passage for the fall of the dried materials.
The ring J, J¹, enters a groove in the plate D, from which a number of
channels V, V, pass to the outer circumference of the plate. The edge of the
plate and the ring J, J, run in a circular channel W, W, which receives the
water extracted by the machine, and delivers it into the pipe X. Y is a pulley
on the shaft A, which is driven by a strap; or the shaft may be driven by friction
pulleys, or in any other convenient manner.
Figure 4 is an elevation, and Figures 5 and 6 are plans, partly in section, of
one of the frames N, shewing the mode of guiding the wire gauze cylinder.
These frames are made alternately right and left handed, so as to prevent the
cylinder from turning round without the plate D. Figure 7 is an elevation of
one of the frames N¹.
The mode of using the machine is as follows:-The shaft A and plate D being
caused to revolve with rapidity, the sewage manure above mentioned, which is in
a state of liquid mud, is introduced by the pipe M into the cylinder E', E. aud
the centrifugal force causes the water to fly out while the solid: matter is

page_text: retained by the wire gauze. The water or liquid strikes against the ring J, J',
and drops into the groove in the plate D, and then passes through the chan-
nels V, V, to the edge of the plate and into the circular channel W, W, from
whence, if found free from manure, it will be discharged as waste water, but
if there be still some manure in it, it will be returned to the sewer or engine
well. When the manure has been partially dried in this manner, the rings
G', G', H', H', and with them the cylinder E¹, E', and J', J', are raised by
means of the lever Q¹; and the manure, being prevented from rising by the
fixed plate P¹, P', is thrown out from under the ring H, H', as it rises by the
centrifugal force against the outer wire gauze cylinder E, E. The manure in
its passage to such outer cylinder is divided by passing through the grating
R, R. The drying is completed at the surface of the outer cylinder E, E, the
liquid from which strikes against the ring J, J, and falls at once into the
circular channel W, W. When the manure is thus sufficiently dried the
rings G, G, H, H, and with them the cylinders E, E, and J, J, are raised by
means of the lever Q, and the manure flies out into the casing U, whence it
falls upon the floor, or, if required, through the floor into the chamber below;
immediately after having discharged the contents the rings are lowered so as
to be ready for the next following charge from the cylinder E', E'. As soon
as the first charge of manure has been allowed to pass from the inner cylinder
E', E', to the outer cylinder E, E, the inner cylinder is again lowered, and a
fresh charge of wet manure is run into it. The operation is thus com-
mencing on one charge of manure while it is terminating on the previous
charge. The advantage of having two rings is, that the inner provides a
moderate velocity in the first stage when the mud is very liquid, and the outer
ring finishes the process by the greater lineal velocity of its surface. The
thickness of the ring of manure formed in the outer cylinder will be also much
less than that in the mud, so that the moisture from this cause will suffer
less obstacle to the outward passage. Moreover the grating R, R, by dividing
up the partially dried material, exposes as it were a fresh surface to the drying
process.
Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of a method of suspending the
plate D from a universal joint a instead of supporting it by the shaft A, as
already described. The shaft 6 (Figure 8) has flanges or collars which work
in the bearing c, and support the weight of the machine and its contents;
dis a pipe descending from the centre of the plate D, and dipping into a cistern
of the sewage manure. Two turns, more or less, of a screw d' are formed
within the mouth of the tube, and the machine is made to revolve in such
a direction that the screw. may cause the manure to rise up the pipe and

page_text: enter the machine through two or more passages cut in the boss e for
this purpose.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section of the boss through the line w, x, in
in Figure 8, shewing four of these passages through it. Figure 10 is a hori-
zontal section through the line y, z, in Figure 8, shewing the shaft 6 keyed into
the boss e. Figure 11 is a sectional plan of the universal joint, and Figure 12 is a
vertical section of the same. a is hollow cylindrical piece of metal; ¹ is the
shaft hung to the piece a by a pin f. 6 is the driving shaft, to which the
cylinder a is suspended by the pin h, placed at right angles to the pin f. The
shaft bis driven by means of a conical friction wheel running in contact with
the conical friction pulley i. The other parts of the machine are similar to
those of the machine already described. The cistern in which the pipe d
dips is filled with a quantity of the wet manure sufficient for one charge,
which is immediately taken up by the machine itself by means of the screw d.
The dried sewage as it falls from the machines is scraped into or slides down
a sloping board into a long trough, in which revolves a long screw, and the
dried manure is thus carried along to a chamber where it is either immediately
packed in bags or casks, or where it is spread out for a few hours to remove
the slight quantity of moisture, if any, which might still remain in it. If
necessary or convenient, the dried manure, after being brought by the screw
from the machines, passes into another endless chain of buckets, which raises
it to any required height. It will thus be seen that very little manual labour
is required in the manufacture, the whole machinery being driven by steam or
other power.
Drying machines may, if desired, be made with one moveable cylinder
or ring of gauze, and to discharge the manure as above described, or another
moveable cylinder or ring of gauze may be added, but the two moveable
cylinders or rings of gauze will be found most convenient in practice in
ordinary cases.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the
manufacturing of manure by mixing sewage water or other fluid with lime or
milk of lime, except in combination with the application of centrifugal force,
as above described. But I claim,-
Firstly, the manufacturo of manure from sewage water and other fluid, by S
subjecting the same to the action of lime and centrifugal force, as herein-before
described.
Secondly, I claim the constructing centrifugal drying machinery with one or
more moveable rings or cylinders of wire, gauze, or other perforated material,

page_text: so as to admit of discharging the contents in the manner berein-before
described.
Thirdly, I claim the constructing centrifugal drying machinery, whereby the
drying of the manure is commenced at one velocity or distance from the centre
of rotation, and completed at another velocity or distance from the centre of
rotation, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the constructing centrifugal drying machinery, in which
the manure is supplied, dried, and discharged during the continuous rotation of
the apparatus, as herein-before described.
Fifthly, I claim the general arrangement and combination herein-before
described of apparatus for manufacturing artificial sewage manure.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wicksteed, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid Thomas Wicksteed came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.