AN IMPROVEMENT IN AND FURNACE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wigg, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Alkali Manufacturer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN AND FURNACE
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wigg at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1880.
"
CHARLES WIGG, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN AND FURNACE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIES."
My said Invention has reference to those operations carried on in the manufacture
of alkalies in which a revolving (usually cylindrical) furnace is used, with the
heating agents or products of combustion caused to pass or travel therethrough in
direct contact with the material or materials to be acted on, such furnaces being
commonly used in roasting black ash and the like.
The main objects to be obtained are (1) to prevent waste of the material or
materials under treatment; (2) to reduce wear and tear of the parts of the furnace;
(3) to afford easy means of regulating the admission of air; (4) to augment the
heat at the point or place where it acts beneficially; and (5) to reduce the chimney
or exhaust draft.
For these purposes I subject the alkali material or materials to the action of
heating gases or products of combustion at a relatively high pressure, by pre-
ference at a pressure over that of the atmospheric column, as such heating gases or
products of combustion are passing through the furnace.
The furnace has the fire grate, air admission regulator, and chimney or outflow
arranged and combined in a novel manner. The fire grate is placed much lower
in relation to the revolving furnace than has been usual. Apparatus for regulating
the inflow of air into the fire place, or a fan or other means for forcing air into the
fire place or furnace are provided. The chimney or outflow is controlled by
dampers or otherwise, so that there may be, as before mentioned, a high pressure in
the furnace, due largely to the heated ascending column of gases. The inflow of
air is, by preference, through passages in the walls of the furnace, so that in its
passage it becomes heated before admixture with the heating gases.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Wigg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd December
1880.
CHARLES WIGG, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN AND FURNACE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIES."
My said Invention has reference to those operations carried on in the manufacture
of alkalies in which a revolving (usually cylindrical) furnace is used, with the
heating agents or products of combustion caused to pass or travel therethrough in
direct contact with the material or materials to be acted on, such furnaces being
commonly used in making black ash and the like.
The main objects to be obtained are (1) to prevent waste of the material or
materials under treatment; (2) to reduce wear and tear of the parts of the furnace;
(3) to afford easy means of regulating the admission of air; (4) to augment the
heat at the point or place where it acts beneficially; and (5) to reduce the chimney
or exhaust draft.
For these purposes I subject the alkali material or materials to the action of
heating gases or products of combustion at a relatively high pressure, by preference
at a pressure over that of the atmospheric column, as such heating gases or products
of combustion are passing through the furnace.
The furnace has the fire grate, air admission regulator, and chimney or outflow
arranged and combined in a novel manner. The firegrate is placed much lower in
relation to the revolving furnace than has been usual. Apparatus for regulating
the inflow of air into the fire place, or a fan or other means for forcing air into the
fire place or furnace are provided. The chimney or outflow is controlled by
dampers or otherwise, so that there may be, as before mentioned, a high pressure
in the furnace due to the heated ascending column of gases.

page_text: manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I
claim,―
First. The manufacture of alkalies, substantially as set forth.
Second. Constructing furnaces for the manufacture of alkalies, substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wigg, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CHARLES WIGG. (LS.)