Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Two or More Granular or Pulverulent Materials in Approximately Definite Proportions.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Dec., 1887
Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Two or More Granular or
Pulverulent Materials in Approximately Definite Proportions.
We, JOHN CROSFIELD of Warrington in the County of Lancaster, Soap Manu-
facturer, and EDWARD BECK of Warrington, aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the intimate mixture of two or more granular or
pulverulent or fragmentary materials in somewhat definite proportions.
It was designed especially for mixing soda ash and oxide of iron for caustic making,
but can be used for mixing other materials. The various materials are placed each in
a separate hopper. Each of these hoppers, by means of a feed apparatus capable of
being regulated, empties into a mixer.
The mixture leaving the mixer at the end is preferably elevated or carried by a
chain clevator, or a travelling band connected to the mixer, to where it is to be used.
The feed apparatus preferably consists of a feed wheel and screw regulated slide
below it. The feed wheels are placed in the neck of the hopper, and are preferably
spindles with arms or stirrers thereon, and having long bearings at the driving end so
as to carry their pitch wheels close to the bearings, and yet overhung so much as to
be driven from the mixer shaft hereafter described beyond its bearing in or near the
end of the mixer. To enable two or even three hoppers to open near together into
the mixer, the sides next each other are vertical, if only two hoppers be required, they
are side by side with only a plate between; if three be required, two can be side by
side in a line at right angles to the vertical centre plane of the mixer, and the third
immediately behind them on the centre line. The necks being clear of each other,
the spindle of the third one could come out between the other two, and all be geared
together by pitch chains as a rule however, but two hoppers are required.
The spindles of the feed wheels are preferably geared together by pitch wheels and
pitch chains driven from the mixer shaft which can be driven by a cross shaft and
engine along side or in any other convenient manner.

page_text: The mixer is preferably a horizontal or nearly horizontal cylinder fitted with man
holes and with a central axial shaft. This shaft is armed with stirrers-archimedean
blades cast on or fitted to bosses threaded on the shaft. The shaft is square or angular
inside the cylinder, and between the bearings. These are carried on each end of the
mixer or a little beyond on brackets.
The mode of action is as follows:
The materials being fed into their respective hoppers and the pitch wheels being
arranged to give approximately the proportionate feeds, the machinery is set in motion.
If one material appears being fed out too rapidly, or too slowly, the screw slide of the
hopper is adjusted accordingly as the feeds appear to require. For very different
proportions the pitch wheels are changed for others of requisite dimensions.
Dubad thin 11th dan af Wahu 1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Pulverulent Materials in Approximately Definite Proportions.
We, JOHN CROSFIELD of Warrington in the County of Lancaster, Soap Manu-
facturer and EDWARD BECK of Warrington, aforesaid 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 :-
:-
This invention was specially designed for the purpose of making an intimate
mixture of soda ash and oxide of iron for caustic making purposes; it is, however,
useful besides for mixing almost any two or more granular, pulverulent, or fragmentary
materials, so as to obtain a practically uniform mixture of definite proportions.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section.
Figure 2 a plan as constructed in our first experimental apparatus.
Figure 3, a transverse section.
Figure 4, a small sectional view through hopper, showing the latest improvement in
exit therefrom.
worm,
A A¹ are two hoppers placed side by side, both having a feeding wheel B B' at the
bottom and opening by a short neck, C, C, into a mixing cylinder D. In place of
two hoppers, three, four or more can be used all placed as near each other as practicable
and each having a spout or neck CC leading into the mixing cylinder. In our first
machines this was made as set forth in Figures 1 to 3, but we have found that it is
preferable to deliver by a spout horizontal for a short distance, at the end of the
and then descending vertically, or at a steep angle. The horizontal part should
be long enough to allow the stuff to stand at its ordinary angle of repose, so that no
stuff can run out of the hopper when the feed is stopped. In cases such as mixers in
phosphate works, where a troublesome gas such, as fluoride of silicon is apt to escape
from the mixed material, it is of advantage to have the horizontal portion of the spout
still longer than that necessary to accommodate the angle of repose of the material,
in order to form a seal for the gas. In other cases it could be a little shorter than
shown in the drawing.
Each feed wheel is driven by gearing, belting or chains and pulleys E E' from the
main shaft of the mixer. The speed of the feed wheels can he regulated by the use
of change or cone pulleys of different diameters. F F is a regulating slide below
each feed wheel. This is drawn in or out by screw G, gearing, 9, 9, 9, and hand
wheel g. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the feeding mechanism is shown feeding through the
entire area of the bottoin uncovered for the time being by the slide, these drawings
have been taken from actual machines constructed by us. These work very well, but
for some purposes it would be desirable to make the feed wheel feed into a spout at
one end of the bottom to one side as set forth in Figure 4. Also in some cases the

page_text: regulating slide could be placed vertically or obliquely at the side instead of horizon-
tally. In the mixing cylinder or trough D are one or more worms or stirrers. We
prefer one, formed of a series of archimedean stirrers d, d, d, as shown, threaded on
a square shaft d¹. This shaft is turned at or near the ends, and is carried at H in
bearings Hattached to the cylinder or trough D. It is driven by bevel gearing I
and engine J or band from shafting or other convenient motive power.
The paddles of the mixer, force the material to the further end, while at the same
time mixing them, and they are discharged by neck K into the bottom M of elevator N,
where they are taken to the furnace, or wherever the mixed material is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to he performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The apparatus for mixing two or more materials in substantially uniform or
regulated relative quantities, constructed and arranged as a whole substantially as
described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for mixing two or more materials in substantially definite pro-
portions, the combination of two or more hoppers placed close together, one hopper
being used for each material, a regulated discharge feed apparatus to each hopper and
a mixing chamber into which the hoppers discharge, preferably at one end, and in
which a stirrer is kept working, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination of two or more hoppers having feeding and regulating devices
and openings into one end of the mixing chamber, the cylindrical mixing chamber D
having archimedean stirrers d, d, d, and the elevator N, substantially as described.
Deted this 11th day of November 1887
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.