IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASSA
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hargreaves, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemist, and Thomas Robinson, of the same Place, Iron-
founder, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR
APPLIANCES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND
POTASSA."
Scaled the 26th October 1875, and dated the 29th April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hargreaves and
Thomas Robinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 29th April 1875.
We, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemist, and THOMAS ROBINSON, of the same Place, Ironfounder, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA
AND POTASSA," to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to our process for the manufacture of
sulphate of soda and sulphate of potassa by the direct action of sul-
phurous acid, and consists,―

page_text: First. In the employment of an overhead steam or other crane for
elevating and carrying the chlorides required to fill or charge the con-
verting chambers.
Second. In the further use of the said crane for loosening and dis-
charging the sulphates from the converting chambers. The loosening
of the sulphate is effected by dragging an anchor-shaped instrument,
expanding tool, or other suitable apparatus, over the surface of the
sulphate so as to dig into and loosen such sulphate ready for discharging.
A weighted bar carrying a series of chisels may be employed for the same
purpose.
Third. As further means for loosening the finished sulphate we employ
a revolving shaft provided with cutters. The said revolving shaft is
placed in the sulphate chambers, and the cutters are caused to expand so
as to effectually loosen the sulphate. The opening for the introduction
of the revolving bar is obtained by the withdrawal of a tube or mandril,
which is maintained in the chamber during the filling and converting
processes.
Fourth. As means for removing the sulphate from the chambers we
discharge such sulphate into a trough or channel, preferably placed
along the line of the chambers. The sulphate is carried along the said
trough or channel by means of an endless band, archimedian screw,
scrapers, or other suitable means, to the mill, warehouse, wagons, or
other desired place. In some cases we dispense with the trough or
channel and use an endless belt or apron of woven wire, or a series of
light iron plates or dishes to carry the said sulphate.
Fifth. To prevent loss of heat from the tops of the chambers we pro-
vide short tubes, which form continuations of the feed necks and fill
the spaces between such necks with ashes or non-conducting material
to form a working floor.
Sixth. To prevent leakage in the hydrochloric acid gas flues we provide
iron tubes instead of brick flues to convey the said hydrochloric acid from
the exit of the sulphate chambers to the exhausting apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
HARGREAVES, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist, and
THOMAS ROBINSON, of the same Place, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas
Robinson, Her special licence that we, the said James Hargreaves
and Thomas Robinson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thercafter 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 APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASSA," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or
one of their or our hands and seals, 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 we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas
Robinson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of illustrative Drawings and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to our process for the manufacture of

page_text: sulphates of soda and sulphate of potassa by the direct action of sul-
phurous acid, and consists,-
First. In the employment of an overhead steam or other crane for
elevating and carrying the chlorides required to fill or charge the con-
verting chambers.
Second. In the further use of the said crane for loosening and dis-
charging the sulphates from the converting chambers. The loosening
of the sulphate is effected by dragging an anchor-shaped instrument,
expanding tool, or other suitable apparatus over the surface of the
sulphate so as to dig into and loosen such sulphate ready for discharging.
A weighted bar carrying a series of chisels may be employed for the
same purpose.
Third. As further means for loosening the finished sulphate we employ
a revolving shaft provided with cutters. The said revolving shaft is
placed in the sulphate chambers, and the cutters are caused to expand so
as to effectually loosen the sulphate. The opening for the introduction
of the revolving bar is obtained by the withdrawal of a tube or mandril,
which is maintained in the chamber during the filling and converting
processes.
Fourth. As means for removing the sulphate from the chambers we
discharge such sulphate into a trough or channel preferably placed along
the line of the chambers. The sulphate is carried along the said trough
or channel by means of an endless band, archimedian screw, scrapers, or
other suitable means to the mill, warehouse, wagons, or other desired
place. In some cases we dispense with the trough or channel and use
an endless belt or apron of woven wire, or a series of light iron plates or
dishes to carry the said sulphate.
Fifth. To prevent loss of heat from the tops of the chambers we
provide short tubes, which form continuations of the feed necks, and fill
the spaces between such necks with ashes or non-conducting material to
form a working floor.
Sixth. To prevent leakage in the hydrochloric acid gas flues we.
provide iron tubes instead of brick flues to convey the said hydrochloric
acid from the exit of the sulphate chambers to the exhausting
apparatus.

page_text: The first part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 1, where the
operation of charging the chambers is performed by the overhead
travelling steam crane a, which is shown carrying the body of a truck
or wagon, the contents of which have been emptied into the chamber b.
The second part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Here the operation of loosening the sulphate is performed by crane a,
which drags the anchor-shaped expanding tool e up through the sulphate
so as to loosen the same, or for the same purpose the said crane may be
employed to raise the weighted bar d, which is allowed to fall so that
the cutters e shall dig into and loosen the sulphate.
The third part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5, where
the operation of loosening the sulphate is effected by the rotating barf
provided with expanding cutters g. The barf is caused to rotate by any
convenient means. h is a tube or mandril fitted down the centre of the
chamber during the filling and converting process and withdrawn there-
from to allow of the insertion of the shaft f for loosening the salt cake
when converted.
The fourth part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 1, where the
sulphate is discharged from the doors i on to the endless travelling band j,
or from the doors into the trough k, in which operates the archimedian
screw, and is so carrying off from the chambers to the mill, warehouse,
wagons, or other desired place. Scrapers may be used instead of the
archimedian screw.
The fifth part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 1, where the
filling necks mare prolonged above the top covering plate n of the con-
verting chambers, and the spaces between the said necks filled with
ashes or non-conducting material, so as to form a working floor and
prevent radiation.
The sixth part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 1, where the
hydrochloric acid and waste gas flue is formed of the cast-iron tube n
instead of brickwork.
Having now fully and clearly described our said Invention, so that
others will be enabled to carry our improvements into effect, we
claim,―

page_text: First. Charging sulphate chambers, substantially as and in the manner
set forth.
Second. Loosening sulphates in the converting chambers, substan-
tially as and in the manner set forth.
Third. Loosening sulphate by the means and apparatus substantially
as set forth under the third head.
Fourth. Removing the sulphate as discharged from the sulphate
chambers to the mill, warehouse, or desired place, substantially as and
in the manner set forth.
Fifth. Forming a working floor and preventing radiation, substantially
as and in the manner set forth under the fifth head.
Sixth. Constructing hydrochloric acid gas flues, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hargreaves, have hereunto
set my hand and seal; the Twenty-seventh day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
JAMES HARGREAVES. (L.S.)