IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS FOR PROTECTING IRON SURFACES, AND IN SEPARATING AND EVAPORATING APPARATUS TO WHICH SUCH ALLOYS ARE APPLIED TO PROTECT THE SAME FROM OXIDATION OR CORROSION
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS FOR
PROTECTING IRON SURFACES, AND IN SEPARATING AND EVAPORATING APPARATUS
TO WHICH SUCH ALLOYS ARE APPLIED TO PROTECT THE SAME FROM OXIDATION
OR CORROSION."-A communication from abroad by Oliver Holden,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 23rd December 1875, and dated the 30th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th October 1875.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ALLOYS OR
COMPOUNDS FOR PROTECTING IRON SURPACES, AND IN SEPARATING AND EVAPORATING
APPARATUS TO WHICH SUCH ALLOYS ARE APPLIED TO PROTECT THE SAME PROM
OXIDATION OR CORROSION," a communication, to be as follows:-
-

page_text: First. The production of an alloy of metals or alloys of metals which
are in themselves electro-positive and electro-negative to iron, or some
may be electro-positive to the iron, and one or more electro-negative to
the other, so as to serve when properly applied to produce a galvanic
action on iron surfaces to protect the same from rust or the reception of
injurious deposits, as lime, salt, and the like.
Secondly. Improvements in separating or evaporating apparatus which
may be used with said alloys, by which solid materials, as salt, borax,
and the like may be separated from a liquid solution, as will also herein.
after appear.
And, Thirdly. An evaporating apparatus, which may be rendered
exceedingly effective by the use of said alloys, and which is so. con-
structed as to utilize the heat from evaporation in one chamber for the
next one above it, and so on in a series, according to the point of
admission of the materials to be treated, as will herein-after appear.
To accomplish the first part of my Invention I use for the alloys or
compounds of metals, zinc, tin, bismuth, and antimony in varying pro-
portions to suit the objects to be treated, but the following is about the
proper combination to be made and for the several substances to be acted
unon when in solution :-
1

page_text: or as nails or hooks, or simply as bars or ingots laid in contact with the
metal from which the deposits are to be kept free, or when the separation
is to be made. Metal tanks also filled with a solution of any of the
above-mentioned elements when charged at various points with the
proper alloy above specified for them will cause a separation of the
solution, and it will be precipitated to the bottom, whence it may be
removed in any convenient manner.
As an additional aid to this part of the operation I have also provided
the aforesaid apparatus, by which heat may be applied to the materials
under treatment.
Upon any suitable base or framework are mounted two supports or
bearings for receiving and supporting an axis or shaft, and upon said
axis or shaft is supported a metal cone or cylinder or a tube of conical
shape; this is made steam-tight as a boiler and receives steam into its
interior through the axis, which is hollow and constructed similar to
those of calendar rolls. Upon the same axis a second cone or cylinder
of similar shape, though considerably larger, is mounted, and so fastened
as to revolve with the first, but its large end is placed to surround the
small end of the first cone or cylinder; and at a suitable point in the
small end of the said outer cone or cylinder there is an opening, through
which the substance to be treated is introduced to the machine. Upon
the inner surface of said cone or cylinder are fastened wings or ribs
projecting inward towards the centre to assist in carrying up the
materials, so that they may fall upon the inner cone, and at the larger
end of said outer cone are openings to allow the substance after treat-
ment to leave the machine.
Couplings with flexible packings may be used to connect the steam
pipes with the hollow shaft or axis of the inner cone, and to permit the
entire apparatus to be tilted upon the rockers which support the base of
the machine. Upon various points of the said cones or cylinders are
fastened certain metals, which are electro-positive or electro-negative
to the metals of which the cones or cylinders are composed, and an
electrical action is obtained which greatly assists in keeping the surfaces
of the cones clear, and also assists in the separation of the borax and the
like from the water, as the case may be.
In the operation of this Invention the substances to be treated are
introduced into the small end of the outer cone or cylinder while the

page_text: machine is at rest. I then turn on the steam to heat the inner conc,
and set the machine revolving. The materials will be carried up towards
the top of the large cone, and then be allowed to fall upon the inner or
small cone which is heated by the steam, and is also electrically excited,
and the result will be to separate by evaporation and electrical action
the borax, salt, and the like from the semi-liquid mass as it travels by
When the
its own gravity towards the large end of the outer conc.
operation is to be retarded or hastened in its action the cones may be
tilted by the operator to suit the action desired, either to hasten the
material through the operation or to delay it, as the case may be.
The third part of this Invention, which pertains to the evaporating
apparatus, comprises a series of chambers or evaporating pans, arranged
one above another in a tank, and the several pans are formed therein by
being attached to the sides of the said tank in any suitable manner, by
which the joint may be steam-tight, as by riveting. Said pans or
divisions are also slightly inclined alternately to each other, so that the
liquid will tend by its gravity to circulate from one to the other. In
the bottom or lowest division of said compartments is placed a coil of
pipe, one end of which is connected with a steam generator, and the
other end is provided with a stop-cock, from which the condensed steam
may be drawn. In the next chambers or pans above a layer of tubes
near the bottom is provided, and both ends of the tubes are open, so that
a free circulation is permitted through them, and from them to the
chambers above.
By such an arrangement it is evident that whatever heat is generated
in the lower section will impinge upon the bottom of the pan above,
and also circulate through the tubes above, and in this manner the heat
arising in cach lower chamber will in combination with the vapours be
carried to the next chamber above, and so on to the top, where the
liquid is introduced.
A vertical pipe with short connections leads to the several sections,
whereby the liquid to be treated is conveyed to the sections or pans, and
may also be drawn from one to the other as the operation proceeds to
the lowest, where the greatest heat is given from the coil direct from
the steam generator.
A perforated diaphragm of metal is inclined to one side or corner to
catch the condensed water from the vapors impinging upon the bottom

page_text: of the next chamber above. Said diaphragm is so perforated that the
vapors can pass up through it, but the liquids flowing upon it will
converge to the lowest end or corner, and be drawn off by a cock.
Syphon cocks are also provided in the several compartments, through
which the liquids can be drawn off as desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, 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 METALLIC ALLOYS OR COMPOUNDS FOR PROTECTING IRON
SURFACES, AND IN SEPARATING AND EVAPORATING APPARATUS TO WHICH SUCH
ALLOYS ARE APPLIED TO PROTECT THE SAME FROM OXIDATION OR CORROSION," a
communication to me from abroad by Oliver Holden, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America, upon tlie condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
|panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
:-
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :
This Invention relates to,-
Firstly. The production of an alloy of metals or alloys of metals
which are in themselves electro-positive and electro-negative to iron, or
some may be clectro-positive to the iron, and one or more clectro-
negative to the other, so as to serve when properly applied to produce a 1
galvanic action on iron surfaces to protect the same from rust or the
reception of injurious deposits, as lime, salt, and the like.
Secondly. Improvements in separating or evaporating apparatus,
that may be used with said alloys, by which solid materials, as salt,
borax, and the like may be separated from a liquid solution, as will also 1
herein-after appear.
And, Thirdly. An evaporating apparatus which may be rendered
exceedingly effective by the use of the said alloys, and which is so con-
structed as to utilize the heat from evaporation in one chamber for the
next one above it, and so on in a series, according to the point of 2
admission of the materials to be treated, as will herein-after appear.
To accomplish the first part of my Invention I use for the alloys or
compounds of metals, zinc, tin, bismuth, and antimony in varying pro-
portions to suit the objects to be treated, but the following aro about the
proper combinations to be made and for the several substances to be acted a
unon when in solution

page_text: These several elements are combined by melting them either separately
or in combination, and formed into a single mass, which is then placed
at various points of the surface to be protected, and in about the pro-
portion of a cubic inch of the alloy to every twenty-five superficial feet
of plane surface, but if the surfaces are broken or very irregular then a
greater quantity may be used, and, for example, as rivets or couplings,
or as nails or hooks, or simply as bars or ingots laid in contact with the
metal from which the deposits are to be kept free, or when the separation
is to be made. Metal tanks also filled with a solution of any of the
above-mentioned elements when charged at various points with the
proper alloy above specified for them will cause a separation of the
solution, and it will be precipitated to the bottom, whence it may be
removed in any convenient manner.
As an additional aid to this part of the said operation I have provided
the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing, by which
heat may be applied to the materials under treatment, and which I will
now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; and Figure 2, a transverse section
of the said apparatus.
Upon any suitable base or framework A are mounted two supports
or bearings B, B', for receiving and supporting an axis or shaft C, and
upon said axis or shaft is supported a metal cone, or a cylinder or tube D
of conical shape, made steam tight as a boiler, and which receives steam
through the axis, which is hollow, and is constructed similar to those of
calendar rolls. Upon the same axis a second cone or cylinder E of
similar shape, though considerably larger is mounted and so fastened
as to revolve with the first, but its large end is placed to surround the
small end of the cone or cylinder D, as shown in Figure 1, and at a
suitable point in the small end of the said outer cone or cylinder, as
at F, there is an opening through which the substance to be treated is
introduced to the machine. Upon the inner surface of said cone or
cylinder, say, at five points, are fastened wings or ribs G projecting
inwards toward the centre to assist in carrying up the materials, so that
they may fall upon the inner cone D, and at the larger end of said
outer cone E at various points are openings H to allow the substance
after treatment to leave the machine.
Couplings with Alexible nackings M
mav
ha used to connect the

page_text: steam pipes with the hollow shaft or axis to the inner cone, and to
permit the entire apparatus to be tilted upon the rockers L which
support the base of the machine. Motion is given to the two cones in
any suitable manner, as by a belt or gearing, or universal coupling.
Upon various points of the said cones or cylinders, as at K, are fastened
metals which are clectro-positive or electro-negative to the metals of
which the cones or cylinders are composed, and in this manner an
electrical action is obtained, which greatly assists in keeping the surfaces
of the cones clear, and also assists in the separation of the borax and
the like from the water or other fluid, as the case may be.
In the operation of this Invention the substances to be treated are
introduced into the small end of the outer cone or cylinder while the
machine is at rest, I then turn on the steam to heat the inner conc, and
set the machine revolving. The materials will be carried up towards
the top of the large cone, and then be allowed to fall upon the inner or
small cone, which is heated by the steam, and is also electrically excited,
and the result will be to separate by evaporation and electrical action
the borax, salt, and the like, from the semi-liquid mass as it travels by its
own gravity towards the large end of the outer conc. When the
apparatus is to be retarded or hastened in its action the cones may be
tilted by the operator to suit the action desired, either to hasten the
material through the operation or to delay it, as the case may be.
The third part of this Invention, which pertains to the evaporating
apparatus, is represented in longitudinal and transverse section in
Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawing, and comprises a series of chambers or
evaporating pans arranged one above another in a tank, as shown at A,
and the pans B are formed therein by being attached to the sides of the
said tanks in any suitable manner, by which the joint may be made steam
tight, as by riveting. The said pans or diversions are also slightly
inclined alternately to each other, so that the liquid will tend by its
gravity to circulate from one to the other. In the bottom or lowest
division of said compartments is placed a coil of pipe C, one end of
which is connected with a steam generator, and the other end is provided
with a stop cock, from which the condensed steam may be drawn. In
the next chambers or pans above a layer of tubes D near the bottom is
provided, and both ends of the tubes are open, so that a free circulation
is permitted through them, and from them to the chambers above, as
indicated by the arrows in Figure 3.

page_text: By such an arrangement it is evident that whatevor heat is generated
in the lower section will impinge upon the bottom of the pan above, and
also circulate through the tubes above, and in this manner the heat
arising in each lower chamber will in combination with the vapours be
carried to the next chamber above, and so on to the top, where the
liquid is introduced from a tank E, or in any other convenient manner.
F is a vertical pipe with short connections leading to the several
sections, whereby the liquid to be treated is conveyed to the sections or
pans, as described; it may also be drawn from one to the other as the
operation proceeds to the lowest, where the greatest heat is given from
the coil direct from the steam generator.
G is a perforated diaphragm of metal inclined to one side or corner
to catch the condensed water from the vapors impinging upon the
bottom of the next chamber above. The said diaphragm is so perforated
that the vapors can pass up through it, but the liquids flowing upon it
will converge to the lowest end or corner and be drawn off by a cock,
as at H, Figure 4. Syphon cocks K are also provided in the several
compartments, through which the liquids can be drawn off as desired.
To increase the efficiency of the said apparatus some of the above
mentioned alloys may be used in the several compartments in the
manner already described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. An alloy or compound of metals for producing electrical action
in the manner above described and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The means for separating or precipitating substances held
in solution as above described.
Third. The combination of the two conoidal cylinders operated upon
by steam and electricity for the purpose of separating mineral solutions
from water or other liquids, as above described.
Fourth. In combination with the subject matter of the third claim
the rockers for retarding or increasing the action of the operation, as
above described.
Fifth. The combination of a tank provided with partitions forming

page_text: chambers and a heating apparatus with connections thereto from the
several chambers, as above described and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. In an evaporating apparatus having a series of chambers, one
above another, the use of tubes with open ends leading into spaces at
the ends of the evaporating pans, as above described.
any
Seventh. In combination with the evaporating apparatus the use of
of the alloys, as above described and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)