IMPROVEMENTS IN CONCENTRATING SULPHURIC ACID AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson Fel. Inst. P.A. of the
Liverpool and London Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street
Liverpool in the county of Lancaster Civil Engineer for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN CONCENTRATING SULPHURIC ACID AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.
A communication from William West a person resident at Denver Colorado
United States America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street. Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster. Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONCENTRATING SULPHURIC ACID
AND APPARATUS THEREFOR A communication from William West a person
resident at Denver Colorado United States America
"
This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus for con-
centrating Sulphuric Acid so as to much cheapen the production, and making the
apparatus continuous working, and more durable, and lessening the injurious effects
on the operative, as hereinafter described.
Fig 1-Is a front elevation in section showing the furnace, the kettle or retort,
the tanks and receivers the pipe connections and flue.
Fig 2-Is a view in Section of the enameled or porcelain-lined retort.
Fig. 3 Is a view in Section of the enameled or porcelain-lined pipe and funnel.
Fig 4-Is a top view of the kettle or retort showing the flange A¹ and outlet
spout or pipe D
A Fig 1. Is a cast iron kettle or retort enameled or lined inside with porcelain
or other vitreous substance, it is made nearly round or oval as shown. The retort
has a cover B enameled or lined inside the same as the retort. The retort A has
a flange around it near the top as shown at A' The cover B has a corresponding
flange, so that the body and cover can be firmly secured together by bolts or other
At one side of the retort below or at the flange is an outlet spout or
means.

page_text: pipe D also enameled or lined with porcelain In the top of the cover B is an
opening B', around this opening the casting is raised up a short distance and a
flange is made on it as shown at B. O. is an enameled or porcelain lined curved
tube with a flange formed on it corresponding to the flange shown at B³ to which
it is bolted. The curved tube or pipe O is connected to a lead condenser of any
convenient form. In the cover B near the flange is an opening for the Syphon
pipe H to enter the retort as shown at H¹ E. is an enameled or porcelain lined
pipe to convey the concentrated acid into the lead receiver or tank G. F is an
enameled or porcelain lined funnel in the top of the lead receiver or tank G. G is
a receiver or tank constructed of lead and of any size or shape required. Through
and around the receiver or tank G a stream of cold water circulates to cool the
lead of the acid cooler. The concentrated acid can be syphoned off from the
receiver or tank G through the syphon or pipe L into other receivers or vessels ng
shown. His a syphon pipe made of lead to convey the acid from tho lead pan
I
to the retort A. I is a pan made of lead and is in the usual form used in all acid
works. J is a furnace constructed of the usual brick or fire proof materials and
with a fire box, grate bars and ash pit. In the top of the fire box is an arched
fire-proof wall J', this wall protects the bottom of the retort and also causes the
flame and heat to circulate around the retort, it then passes into the flue K and
under the pan I heating both the retort and pan with one fire The retort. A is
held in position by the flanges A' on the top or in the furnace walls as shown.
The spout or pipe D at one side of the kettle or retort extends out four inches more
or less beyond the flange. The pipe E is fitted on the pipe or spout D and extends
beyond the brick wall to and directly over the funnel F as shown.
The operation is as follows-
The Sulphuric acid having been collected in the usual manner and run into the
lead pan I, the strength of the acid as collected being from 48 to 50 Baumé. The
fire having been ignited in the furnace J the heat passes up and around the kettle
or retort A and through the flue K-under the lead pan I by this heat the strength
of the acid in the pan I is brought up to and maintained at a uniform strength of
60 Beaumé, it is then run into the kettle or retort A through the lead syphon H
where it falls upon the acid in the retort and where it is concentrated to 66 Baumé,
It then flows through the Spout or pipe D, and pipe E, and funnel F, and into the
tank or receiver G. The quantity of acid run into the retort is regulated by the
capacity of the syphon, and the intensity of the heat or fire used. The operation
is a continuous one, the fire is maintained until the kettle or retort is destroyed.
When acid is not required pure, cast iron kettles or retorts and pipes can be
used without being enameled or porcelain lined
Although a number of different plans have been used for concentrating Sulphuric
Acid, such as boiling in pans and allowing them to cool and syphoning off into
glass globes set in sand in iron kettles with a fire under each, and boil up to
66 Baumé, then allow them to cool, and syphon them the next morning, and
proceed again in the same manner. Also, that a continuous process using glass
globes has been used, but both are equally objectionable on account of waste
of fuel, labor, breakage, and waste of acid, which is equal to 75 per cent. It is
also known that Platinum stills have been used, but their great expense and
liability to accidents make them impracticable for general use; but I am not
aware that any apparatus has been made or used for concentrating Sulphuric-Acid
in which Iron kettles or stills, and iron pipes enameled inside, or without enamel
and arranged and operated substantially the same as this invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd October 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Liverpool and London
agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors 6. Lord Street Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONCENTRATING SULPHURIC ACID
AND APPARATUS THEREFOR "
a communication from William West, a person
resident at Denver, Colorada United States America
This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus for concen-
trating sulphuric acid so as to much cheapen the production, and making the
apparatus continuous working, and more durable, and lessening the injurious effects
on the operative, as hereinafter described.
Fig. 1., Is a front elevation in section showing the furnace, the kettle or retort,
the tanks and receivers, the pipe connections and flue.
Fig. 2, Is a view in section of the enamelled or porcelain lined retort.
Fig 3. Is a view in section of the enamelled or porcelain lined pipe and funnel.
Fig 4. Is a top view of the kettle or retort showing the flange A' and outlet
spout or pipe D.
A, Fig 1, is a cast iron kettle or retort enamelled or lined inside with porcelain
or other vitreous substance; it is made nearly round or oval as shown. The retort
has a cover B enamelled or lined inside the same as the retort. The retort A. has
a flange around it near the top as shown at A¹. The cover B. has a corresponding
flange so that the body and cover can be firmly secured together by bolts or other
means. At one side of the retort below or at the flange is an outlet spout or pipe D.
also enamelled or lined with porcelain. In the top of the cover B is an opening B',
around this opening the casting is raised up a short distance and a flange is made
on it as shown at B³. C is an enamelled or porcelain lined curved tube with a
flange formed on it corresponding to the flange shown at B2 to which it is bolted.
The curved tube or pipe Ċ is connected to a lead condenser of any convenient form.
In the cover B near the flange is an opening for the syphon pipe H to enter the
retort as shewn at H. E is an enamelled or porcelain lined pipe to convey the
concentrated acid into the lead receiver or tank G. G. is a. receiver or tank
constructed of lead and of any size or shape required. Through and around the
receiver or tank G a stream of cold water circulates to cool the lead of the acid
cooler. The concentrated acid can be syphoned off from the receiver or tank G
through the syphon or pipe Linto other receivers or vessels as shown. H is a
syphon pipe made of lead to convey the acid from the lead pan I to the retort A.
1. is a pan made of lead and is in the usual form used in all acid works. J. is a
furnace constructed of the usual brick or fire proof materials and with a fire box,
grate bars and ash pit. In the top of the fire box is an arched fireproof wall J³,
this wall protects the bottom of the retort and also causes the flame and heat to
circulate around the retort, it then passes into the flue K. and under the pan I,
heating both the retort and pan with one fire. The retort A is held in position by
the flanges A¹ on the top or in the furnace walls as shown. The spout or pipe D.
at one side of the kettle or retort extends out four inches more or less beyond the
Bange. The pipe E is fitted on the pipe or spout D and extends beyond the brick
wall to and directly over the funnel F as shown.
The operation is as follows:-
:-
The sulphuric acid having been collected in the usual manner and run into the
lead pan I, the strength of the acid as collected being from 48 to 50 Baumé. The

page_text: fire having been ignited in the furnace J, the heat passes up and around the kettle
or retort A and through the flue K under the lead pan I, by this heat the strength
of the acid in the pan I is brought up to, and maintained at a uniform strength of
60 Baumé, it is then run into the kettle or retort A through the lead syphon H
where it falls upon the acid in the retort A. and through the lead syphon H where
it falls upon the acid in the retort and where it is concentrated to 66 Baumé, it
then flows through the spout or pipe D, and pipe E, and funnel F and into the
tank or receiver G. The quautity of acid run into the retort is regulated by the
capacity of the syphon and the intensity of the heat or fire used. The operation
is a continuous one, the fire is maintained until the kettle or retort is destroyed.
When acid is not required pure, cast iron kettles or retorts and pipes can be used
without being enamelled or porcelain lined.
Although a number of different plans have been used for concentrating sulphuric
acid, such as boiling in pans and allowing them to cool and syphoning off into
glass globes set in sand in iron kettles, with a fire under each, and boil up to
66 Baumé, then allow them to cool, and syphon them the next morning, and
proceed again in the same manner. Also, that a continuous process using glass
globes has been used, but both are equally objectionable on account of waste of
fuel, labor, breakage, and waste of acid, which is equal 75 per cent. It is also
known that platinum stills have been used, but their great expense and liability
to accidents make them impracticable for general use; but I am not aware that
any apparatus has been made or used for concentrating sulphuric acid in which
iron kettles or stills and iron pipes enamelled inside, or without enamel, are arranged
and operated substantially the same as this invention.
Having fully described the invention, what I desire to claim and secure by letters
patent is
First. The kettle or retort A constructed of any suitable metal, enamelled or
porcelain lined inside, with its flange A', spout or pipe D, cover B, top
opening B', flange B and syphon opening H¹, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the enamelled kettle or retort A, the enamelled
curved pipe C, the enamelled pipe E, and the enamelled funnel F,
substantially as described.
Third. The kettle or retort A, the curved pipe C, and pipe E, either enamelled or
plain cast iron, substantially as described.
Fourth. The furnace J with its arched wall J' in combination with the flue K,
whereby both the retort A and the pan I is heated by one fire, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Fifth. In an apparatus for concentrating sulphuric acid from 60 to 66 Baumé,
and for the continuous working thereof, the combination of the following
elements:
The enamelled or porcelain lined kettle or retort A, furnace J, flue K, pan I,
syphon H, curved pipe C, pipe E, funnel F, receiver G and the pipe or
syphon L, all arranged substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of September in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Wч, P. THOMPSON (L.S.)