AN IMPROVED CAUSTIC SODA BOILER OR CONCENTRATOR
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Robinson, of Widnes, in the County
of Lancaster, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
CAUSTIC SODA BOILER OR CONCENTRATOR."
Sealed the 17th July 1874, and dated the 19th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Robinson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th January 1874.
I, THOMAS ROBINSON, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Iron-
founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED CAUSTIC SODA BOILER OR CONCENTRATOR," to be as follows:-
A boiler or concentrator constructed in accordance with my Invention
is, by preference, of cast iron open at the top, and has external and
internal shells of cylindrical or other desired form. The space between
the external and internal shells is the main space for containing the
caustic soda liquor to be concentrated. Within the internal shell at a
distance from the bottom of the boiler is a fire-grate, and over the said
grate is the combustion chamber. Through the combustion chamber,
.

page_text: preferably diagonally and crossing each other, are tubes open at both
ends to the main space between the shells. Centrally or nearly so with
the shell and leading from the combustion chamber is the combustion
products up-take. Around the said up-take is a feed-heating chamber,
whereunto the liquor to be concentrated is fed so as to become heated
and utilize what would otherwise be waste heat. The space between the
shells underneath the level of the fire-grate serves as a space in which
to collect any solid deposit; from that space such solid matter can
easily be withdrawn by long handled scoops. A boiler of this kind
is economical, as regards fuel, durable, and not liable to damage in
ordinary working.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ROBINSON, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Robinson, Her special licenco
that I, the said Thomas Robinson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Robinson, 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 "AN IMPROVED
CAUSTIC SODA BOILER OR CONCENTRATOR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Robinson, my executors, or admini-
strators, 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 Seal

page_text: Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent...
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Robinson, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying Sheet of
illustrative Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
A boiler or concentrator constructed in accordance with my Invention
is, by preference, of cast iron open at the top, and has external and
internal shells of cylindrical or other desired form. The space between
the external and internal shells is the main space for containing the
caustic soda liquor to be concentrated. Within the internal shell at a
distance from the bottom of the boiler is a fire-grate, and over the said
grate is the combustion chamber. Through the combustion chamber,
preferably diagonally and crossing each other, are tubes open at both
ends to the main space between the shells. Centrally or nearly so with
the shell and leading from the combustion chamber is the combustion
products up-take. Around the said up-take is a feed-heating chamber,
whereinto the liquor to be concentrated is fed so as to become heated
and utilize what would otherwise be waste heat. The space between the
shells underneath the level of the fire-grate serves as a space in which
to collect any solid deposit; from that space such solid matter can
easily be withdrawn by long handled scoops. A boiler of this kind is
economical, as regards fuel, durable, and not liable to damage in
ordinary working.

page_text: 9, combustion products up-take; h, up-take protecting cover; i, inclined
cross tubes passing through the combustion chamber f. These tubes
serve for circulation of caustic liquor between different parts of the
annular space j; from their position heat, is efficiently abstracted from
the combustion chamber and conveyed to the liquor to be concentrated.
It will be evident the tubes may be arranged horizontally or otherwise.
k is a chamber where the liquor to be supplied to the space between the
external and internal shells is heated by the waste heat passing upwards
through g. The heated feed flows through the pipe 7 downwards. The
space underneath the level of the fire-bars, at and about m, serves to
retain any solid deposit; said solid deposit can be removed by long
handled scoops or otherwise, as desired.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and par-
ticularized the same in such manner that others will be enabled to carry
my improvements into effect, I claim a caustic soda boiler or concen-
trator constructed with external and internal shells and tubes, and, when
desired, with feed-heating chamber, all substantially as herein described
for the purposes mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Robinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
In the presence of
J. T. KING,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
THOMAS ROBINSON. (L.S.)