IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE AGITATING, INCORPORATING, AND COMBINING OF MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Burnard Welch and Henry Bowes Scott, both of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE AGITATING, INCORPORATING,
AND COMBINING OF MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES."
Scaled the 5th December 1876, and dated the 6th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Burnard Welch and
Henry Bowes Scott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th
June 1876.
FRANCIS BURNARD WELCH and HENRY BOWES SCOTT, both of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE AGITATING, INCORPORATING, AND COMBINING OF MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates to the mixing and incorporating of substances, liquids, or
matters, or of combinations of liquids and substances, or of matters in a dry or
semi-liquid form, and also to means whereby liquids or combinations of liquids and
matters may be maintained in a state of agitation.
For the said purposes we employ revolving screw propellors or propellor blades
enclosed or surrounded in or by, or acting in conjunction with, shells or partitions
so arranged as that the matters to be incorporated or agitated are caused to cir-
culate and to flow or move in one direction from the propellor or blades, and to
return in the other direction to be again acted upon by the said propellor or blades.
In one form of apparatus the propellor or the propellor blades is or are fixed
upon a vertical shaft, which is arranged to revolve within a tank, cistern, or chamber,
within which is fixed a cylindrical or partly cylindrical casing or shell, which
surrounds the said propellor or blades, or is situated above or below the said
propellor or blades. The bottom of the said tank is or may be curved, or inclined,
or otherwise formed. The propelling blades are arranged and formed to lift any
of the matters placed in the tank so as to cause them to flow over the top of the
internal casing in a constant stream, or to depress the said matters so as to cause
them to flow out of the lower end and into the upper end thereof.
In lieu of this arrangement the axis of the propellor or blades may be arranged
to be horizontal or inclined, as, for example, propelling blades may be fixed upon
a horizontal shaft mounted within a tank, and the matters be caused to circulate
to and fro from one end to the other of the tank.
Duinn G1

page_text: We may employ blades of different pitches on the same shaft, or right and left-
hand screw blades varying in pitch, so as to have a propelling effect proportionate
to the difference between the two pitches, or we may employ beaters or agitators
which have no propelling effect, that is to say, which are not formed to have a
screwing action in combination with the said propelling blades, or we may fix
propelling blades either with or without beaters or agitators on the outside of the
said shell, and attach the said shell to a shaft so that the said shell can be caused
to revolve within the tank or cistern. In lieu of the aforesaid cylindrical shell
the tank or cistern may be divided by means of a partition or of partitions into
two or more chambers communicating at their upper and lower ends, a propellor
or propellors being mounted within one of the said chambers or within two or
more of the said chambers, the other chamber or other chambers serving for the
flow of the return current or currents.
Our improved inethod and apparatus are especially suitable to be employed in
effecting certain chemical unions and combinations in the refining of oil, in the
treatment of sewage matters or products, and for other similar or useful purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Francis Burnard Welch and Henry Bowes Scott in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 6th December 1876.
33
FRANCIS BURNARD WELCH and HENRY BOWES SCOTT, both of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE AGITATING, INCORPORATING, AND COMBINING OF MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES.
Our Invention relates to the mixing and incorporating of substances, liquids, or
matters, or of combinations of liquids and substances, or of matters in a dry or
semi-liquid form, and also to means whereby liquids or combinations of liquids and
matters may be maintained in a state of agitation.
For the said purposes we employ revolving screw propellers or propeller blades
enclosed or surrounded in or by or acting in conjunction with shells or partitions,
so arranged as that the matters to be incorporated or agitated are caused to
circulate to and fro, that is to say, to flow away from the propeller or blades and
to return to be again acted upon by the said propeller or blades, and to return to
be again acted upon by the said propeller or blades.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood. we have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of various arrangements whereby our
said Invention may be carried into effect, the said Drawings being marked with
letters of reference.
Referring to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a mixing
tank, wherein A is a cylindrical tank, and b is a cylindrical shell or casing which
is fixed within the tank at or about the centre of the same. A vertical shaft c is
fitted to revolve in a footstep d, and in a bearing e formed in or attached to a
bridge or frame f which extends across the tank. In bearings y formed in or fixed
to the said bridge a shaft h is fitted to revolve, and the inner end of the said shaft
is connected by bevil gearing i with the upper end of the shaft c. The outer end
of the shaft is furnished with fast and loose strap pulleys j, by means of which a
rapid revolving motion can be imparted to the shaft c. A screw propeller / of an
ordinary or suitable form is fixed upon the shaft c, and revolves therewith within
the casing b. The matters to be mixed, such, for example, as liquid and solid
matters, are run into or placed within the tank, and the propeller shaft c is caused
to revolve rapidly in one direction or the other, as may be preferred. When the
propeller is rotated in ono direction the matters flow in the direction indicated by
the arrows out of the bottom of the casing upwards through the annular spaco
between the casing and the wall of the tank and enter the upper end of the casing.
By rotating the propeller rapidly the matters may be kept in rapid circulation,

page_text: so that they become thoroughly mixed. In the example the casing b is represented
as attached to the bridge f, but the said casing may be attached to the bottom, or
wall, or sides of the tank, as may be preferred. The form of the tank may be
varied as desired, as, for example, it may be rectangular instead of cylindrical, and
the bottom may be rounded or he conically shaped, inclining upwards from the
centre or from a line surrounding the centre to the shell or outer wall of the tank.
The size of the tank and the proportions of the parts may vary greatly, according
to the requirements in each case, for which reason we have not considered it
necessary to indicate the scale of the Figures. It may be of advantage in some
cases to be able to vary the length of the shell or casing either in an upward
direction or in a downward direction, or in both. Fig. 2 indicates means whereby
this may be effected. The fixed shell is made shorter in proportion than in the
example illustrated by Fig. 1, and is furnished with upper and lower movable
extensions and m, which are fitted to slide or to be moved upwards or down-
wards, the one without and the other within the fixed casing.
The parts
Z and m are arranged to be raised or lowered to suit the quantity of matters
within the tank, or for other reasons. In some cases, as, for example, when there
is a deep sediment in the tank, it is of advantage to be able to lower the shell m
slowly into the said sediment during the rapid rotation of the propeller. The
shell may be fitted within, and the shell m without the casing b, or both be
within or without, or only one movable shell may be employed.
Fig. 3 illustrates a modification in the form and arrangement of the parts. In
this example the tank is formed or provided with two chambers n, n, and a
propeller is arranged to revolve within each chamber. Each chamber communicates
at the top and bottom with the tank, so that when the propellers are rotated the
matters flow in the directions indicated, or in reverse directions, according to the
direction of rotation. In the cases of large tanks more than two chambers, each
provided with a propeller, may be arranged around or on the sides of a single tank,
and a tank so fitted may also be provided with a central casing and propeller.
Fig. 4 illustrates another modification. In this example the lower end of the
casing b, in which the propellor revolves, is made of a trumpet-mouth shape,
so as to direct the issuing currents towards the wall or outer shell of the tank, and
the bottom of the tank is curved. This form of apparatus is more especially
applicable in cases wherein matters have to be kept in suspension which would be
liable to settle at the bottom or in the corners of the tank illustrated by Fig. 1.
In the remaining example illustrated by Fig. 5 a propeller fixed upon a
horizontal shaft o is arranged to revolve within a chamber or passage p formed
below a tank or chamber c, which is divided by partitions r, r, which are arranged
to leave passages for the flow of liquid or matters above and below alternately, so
that matters flowing from one end to the other of the tank are caused to move in
a circuitous direction, as indicated by the arrows, whereby a rapid current is
maintained throughout the tank. Matters can be kept in suspension which would
settle if the partitions were not employed. This arrangement is particularly
applicable in cases wherein large quantities of matters have to be operated upon.
Arrangements suitable to each case are made for discharging the tanks.
Other modifications may be made in the apparatus to suit varying requirements
without departing from the nature and intent of our Invention, as, for example,
we may employ blades of different pitches on the same shaft, or right and left hand
screw blades varying in pitch, so as to have a propelling effect proportionate to the
difference between the two pitches, or we may employ beaters or agitators which
have no propelling effect, that is to say, which are not formed to have a screwing
action in combination with the said propelling blades, or we may fix propelling
blades either with or without benters or agitators on the outside of a hollow
cylinder and fix this cylinder to a shaft so that the said cylinder can be caused to
revolve within the tank or cistern, as, for example, the casing b in Fig. 1 might
be attached to the shaft c, and propeller blades be fixed to the outer circumference
of the said casing, but we do not recommend this arrangement.

page_text: Our improved method and apparatus are especially suitable to be employed in
effecting certain chemical unions, reactions, and combinations in the refining of
oil in the treatment of sewage matters or products, and for other similar or useful
purposes.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
arrangements for carrying the same into practical effect, we would have it to be
understood in conclusion that we claim
First. The several forms of apparatus substantially as and for the purposes set
forth and indicated horein-before and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The employment of screw propellers or propelling blades revolving
within shells, casings, or passages, to produce rapid circulating currents, substantially
as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The employment of propellor blades attached to revolving cylinders
or shells, through which the return current of matters is permitted to flow, and
which are arranged to revolve within tanks, cisterns, or chambers, substantially
as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Burnard Welch and Henry Bowes Scott,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifth day of December, in the
vear of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Signed and sealed by the said Francis
Burnard Welch and Henry Bowes
Scott in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentecs,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
HENRY. BOWES SCOTT.
(LS.)