Improvements in Apparatus for obtaining Salt from Brine and for similar purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for obtaining Salt from Brine and for
similar purposes.
I, WILLIAM SHEDLOCK, of 9, Austin Friars, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is chiefly designed to simplify and improve the construction and
increase the efficiency of apparatus of the kind or class described in the Specifica-
tion of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 13th April 1896, No. 7796,
that is to say, apparatus in which brine or other liquid is heated in a vessel on
pan and the salt or the like, as it is deposited therein, is automatically and con-
tinuously removed therefrom and elevated into moulds.
An important feature of my present invention is the provision which I mako
for facilitating the filling and removal of the said moulds, and for permitting the
draining of the liquid from the said moulds into the evaporating vessel or pan.
For this purpose I provide a revolving frame or carrier within or above the
evaporating vessel or pan, which frame or carrier is supported and runs upon
suitable wheels or rollers so that it can easily be revolved by hand, either with
or without the aid of suitable mechanism, such, for instance, as a rack and pinion.
Upon this frame or carrier, the moulds are placed one after another; and I so
arrange the elevator for the salt in combination with the pan and the said frame
or carrier that the salt discharged from the elevator will fall into the said pan
except when caught by the moulds as hereinafter mentioned. By revolving the
same frame or carrier intermittently, the said moulds can be successively brought
under the buckets or under the discharge-aperture or spout of the elevator so as to
receive the salt discharged therefrom, and, after each mould is filled, it will remain
off the said frame or carrier during the filling of other moulds. As each mould,
after being filled, arrives at a certain point in the revolution of the said frame
or carrier, it is to be removed from the latter, and the block of salt formed in
the said mould can then be immediately removed therefrom, since the liquid will
have been sufficiently drained from it to ensure its retaining its shape. As each
mould is filled and the frame or carrier is revolved to bring other moulds into
position to be filled, any surplus salt can be scraped from the top of the mould and
will fall into the pan.
It will be seen that, by the above-mentioned improvement, I obviate the liability
to waste of salt and brine and loss of heat, as all the liquid draining from the
moulds and the surplus salt scraped therefrom are returned directly to the
evaporating vessel or pan. I therefore effect great economy in the working of
the apparatus and in the consumption of fuel.
For actuating the revolving scrapers in the evaporating vessel or pan, instead
of arranging the vertical shaft on which the said scrapers are fixed so that it
extends upward through a cross-piece or bridge-piece above the pan, I arrange the
said shaft so that it extends downward through a stuffing-box in the bottom of the
pan. And I fix on the said shaft below the pan, a worm-wheel or a bevel-wheel
which is geared with a worm or a bevel-pinion on a driving-shaft, which -haft
is preferably also used for driving the elevator. I find it advantageous to use two

page_text: or more curved scrapers, one extending about half the distance from the centre to
the circumference of the pan, and the other extending from the centre to, or nearly
to, the inner circumference thereof.
I prefer to make the pan with heating chambers on its under side, and to arrange
a heating coil or serpentine pipe in the said pan above the said scrapers.
Datad the 5th love of Vov 1897
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for obtaining Salt from Brine and for
similar purposes.
T, WILLIAM SHEDLOCK, of 9, Austin Friars, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
My invention is chiefly designed to simplify and improve the construction and
increase the efficiency of apparatus of the kind or class described in the Specifica-
tion of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 13th April 1896, No. 7796,
that is to say, apparatus in which brine or other liquid is heated in an evaporating
pan, and the salt or the like, as it is deposited therein, is automatically and con-
tinuously removed therefrom and elevated into moulds.
My improvements are, however, partly applicable to apparatus in which the
deposited crystals are removed from the evaporating pan by hand.
An important feature of my present invention is the provision which I make
for facilitating the filling and removal of the moulds, boxes or cages, whilst
ensuring the draining of the liquid from the said moulds, boxes or cages into the
evaporating pan.
For this purpose I employ, in conjunction with the evaporating pan, suitable
means for suspending or otherwise supporting over the said pan the moulds, boxes
or cages into which the crystals removed from the same are to be delivered, in such
a manner that they can be readily moved along one after another into and away
from the filling position, and the liquid draining from the said moulds, boxes or
cages and any crystals that may fall therefrom will return to the said vessel or pan.
By these means waste of the brine or salt and consequent loss of heat are avoided,
and the removal of the filled moulds, and the bringing of empty moulds into
position for filling can be easily and rapidly effected."
I preferably construct my improved apparatus in such a manner that the
deposited crystals, as they are removed from the pan, will be automatically and
continuously elevated and discharged into moulds, boxes or cages supported in or
over the pan. In this case all the work that has to be done by hand is simply
the removal of the filled moulds and the bringing of empty moulds under the
buckets or discharge-spout of the elevator.
In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a vertical central section showing one form of my improved apparatus.
Figure 3 is an interior view of part of the pan and mould-carrier, drawn to an
enlarged scale, showing two of the moulds, and
Figure 4 is a section on the line, r, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical section showing suitable gearing for facilitating the
rotation of the mould-carrier.

page_text: Figure 6 is a vertical central section illustrating another form or modification of
my improved apparatus, and
Figure 7 is a plan illustrating a detail of construction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the evaporating vessel or pan, in which the brine or other liquid is heated
by means of a steam-coil B and a series of steam-chambers B. Within the pan A
are arranged revolving scrapers C, C¹ whereby the deposited crystals are removed
into an external trough, channel or conduit A¹ in which works an elevator D.
The coil B is supported on bars B' secured to the wall of the pan A so as to leave
a clear space beneath them for the revolving scrapers C, C¹.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, a circular frame or mould-carrier E
is supported and runs upon suitable wheels or rollers F in the pan A so that it can
easily be revolved by hand. This frame or carrier comprises a lower ring
whereby it is supported on the rollers F, and two upper rings E rigidly connected
at intervals with each other and with the ring E by bent or curved ribs E. In this
frame or carrier, the empty moulds or boxes G are placed one after another. The
elevator I for the salt is so arranged in combination with the pan A and mould-
carrier E, that the salt discharged from the buckets D¹ of the elevator D, if not
caught in the moulds G, will fall back into the pan A. By revolving the mould-
carrier E intermittently, the said moulds can be successively brought under the
buckets D of the elevator D or under the discharge-spout thereof (if such be
employed) so as to receive the salt discharged therefrom, and then moved away
from the said elevator. After each mould is filled it will remain on the said
carrier during the filling of several other moulds, so that the liquid may drain
from it into the pan. As each mould, after being filled, arrives at a certain
point in the revolution of the said carrier, it is to be lifted from the latter, and
the block of salt formed in the said mould can then be immediately removed
therefrom, since the liquid will have been sufficiently drained from it to ensure
its retaining its shape. As each mould is filled and the carrier is revolved to
bring other moulds into position to be filled, any surplus salt can be scraped
from the top of the mould and will fall into the pan.
The revolving scrapers C, C¹ in the evaporating pan A are mounted on a shaft C³
which extends downward through a stuffing-box A3 in the bottom A3 of the pan.
And on the said shaft, below the pan A, is fixed a worm-wheel C³ geared with a
worm L on a driving-shaft L'; this shaft is also arranged to drive the elevator D
by means of bevel-gearing L, L³, suitable clutches C and L being provided for
throwing either the scrapers C, C' or the elevator D into and out of gear as desired.
I find it advantageous to use two or more curved scrapers, one C extending about
half the distance from the centre to the circumference of the pan, and the other C¹
extending from the centre to or nearly to the inner circumference thereof.
In the modification shown in Figure 5, the ring E is provided with a circular
rack which is geared with a bevel-pinion H mounted on a shaft H; this
shaft extends through and turns in a stuffing-box H in the wall of the pan,
and is provided at its outer end with a hand-wheel H³, so that the mould-carrier
can be readily rotated from the exterior of the pan.
In Figure 6, I have illustrated a modification of my invention in which the
moulds, boxes or cages, instead of being placed in a revolving carrier arranged
within the pan, are suspended from travellers J provided with rollers J' and
running upon an overhead rail or track K suitably arranged above the pan, so that
any brine or crystals draining or falling from the said moulds will be received
in the pan, and so that the filled moulds can be easily moved away from the
elevator and empty moulds brought into position for filling.
The arrangement shown in Figure 6 is more particularly adapted for dealing
with coarse or large crystals such as are produced when the evaporation takes
place at comparatively low temperatures, say from 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
In this arrangement, the crystals are delivered by the elevator D successively
into the perforated moulds or cages G suspended from the travellers J. The

page_text: :
overhead rail or track K is sometimes so arranged that the filled moulds or cages
can be run down an inclined part thereof and their contents unloaded into trucks
and they can then be run up again into the loading position..
It will be seen that, by my improvements above described, I obviate not only
the liability to waste of salt and brine, but also the consequent loss of heat, as all s
the liquid draining from the moulds and the surplus salt scraped therefrom are
returned directly to the evaporating vessel or pan. I therefore effect great
economy in the working of the apparatus and in the consumption of fuel, and also
expedite the process.
I sometimes provide the end of the scraper with a supporting roller Cas'i
shown in Figures 6 and 7, so as to avoid undue friction between the scraper and
the bottom of the pan.
It is obvious that I can somewhat further modify the construction of my
improved apparatus without departing from the nature of my said invention; and
that I can apply my improvements herein set forth to the apparatus described in '1
my said former specification, or to other apparatus for the same purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained. the nature of my said
tinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
First. An apparatus for the manufacture of salt or the like from brine or other 2
liquid, wherein the moulds, boxes or cages for the reception of the deposited crystals
removed from the evaporating pan are supported in or over the said pan in such
a manner that they can be readily moved along to bring them successively into
and away from the filling position, for the purposes above specified.
:
Second. An apparatus for the manufacture of salt or the like from brine or 2
other liquid, wherein suitable provision is made for automatically and continuously
elevating the deposited crystals from the evaporating pan and delivering them into
*moulds, boxes or cages suspended or otherwise supported in or over the said pan,
for the purposes above specified.
3
Third. The combination, with an evaporating pan provided with an external
trough or conduit and with means for continuously removing the deposited crystals
from the said pan into the said trough or conduit, of suitable means for supporting
the moulds, boxes or cages in or over the said pan so that they can be readily.
moved successively into and away from the filling position, and suitable means for
continuously elevating the said crystals from the said trough or conduit and 3
discharging them into the said moulds, boxes or cages, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Fourth. A mould-carrier arranged within the evaporating pan in such a manner
that it can be intermittently rotated for the purpose of moving the moulds
successively into and away from the filling position, (with or without gearing for 4
facilitating its rotation) substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with refer-
ence to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
:-
Sixth. The modification of my invention wherein I employ an overhead rail or 4
track arranged above the evaporating pan and provided with travellers from which
the moulds, boxes or cages are suspended, substantially as described with refer-
ence to Figure 6 of the drawings and for the purposes above specified.
Datod the 5th day o
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.