IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUM
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Spence, of Pendleton, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUM."
Sealed the 18th February 1859, and dated the 20th August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
August 1858.
I, PETER SPENCE, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALUM," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the application of the waste gas arising
from the manufacture of sulphuric acid to the purpose of treating schale, and
in the manufacture of alum.
Secondly, my Invention refers to a method of obtaining small crystals or
powder of alum. For this purpose I connect to the pan, in which the liquor
is placed, suitable machinery for causing a rake or stirrer to revolve or
reciprocate within the fluid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Spenco in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
SPENCE, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Peter Spence, Her especial license that I, the said Peter Spence, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter
Spence, my executors, administrators, and 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ALUM," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said
Peter Spence, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Spence, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists, firstly, in a method of obtaining small crystals or
powder of alum, and consists in accomplishing this object by the adaptation to
the pans, which contain the solution, of mechanism which by a rotatory or
reciprocating action keeps the fluid in agitation. In the accompanying
Drawing I have shewn two methods of carrying out my Invention. In Fig. 1,
a is the pan which contains the solution of alum, within this is fixed a pedestal
of lead b, supporting a shaft c, which has its other bearing on a beam d, the
shaft is provided with arms e, which extend into the fluid and keep it in
agitation by their rotatory motion communicated from a pulley f. In Fig. 2
there are two arms 9 extending into the fluid, which arms are mounted, so as
to vibrate upon centres at h, such vibration being effected by cranks i. The

page_text: fluid thus to be operated upon may be the solution of alum first produced,
that is before a crytallization has been effected, or it may be that which has
been derived from crystals in the ordinary manner, and it will be found that
in the former of these cases an article of considerable purity will be produced
without the expense attendant upon a second crystallization.
The second part of my Invention consists in treating shale or other such
matters used in the production of alum with the waste gases arising from the
manufacture of sulphuric acid.
In carrying out my Invention I use apparatus similar to that known as the
dry lime purifier in gas works, within this I place the shale or other such
substance, and pass through it the waste gases aforesaid, the effect of which
will be a partial decomposition of the shale to be completed as in the process
of making alum by digestion, according to that method for which a Patent was
granted to me, bearing date Twenty-seventh November, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-five, or other methods to which it may be applicable,
and the manufacture of that substance will therefore be so far economised, in
addition to which, the vapours arising from the manufacture of sulphuric acid
will be rendered less injurious.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the adaptation to alum pans or coolers of rotatory or reciprocating
mechanism for the purpose above set forth.
Secondly, treating shale or other such substance, used in the manufacture of
alum with the waste gases arising from the manufacture of sulphuric acid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Spence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
PETER SPENCE. (L.S.)