IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISINTEGRATING CLAY, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Johnson, of Wood Green, in the County of Mid-
"
llesex, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING
AND DISINTEGRATING CLAY, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1876.
" IMPROVE-
SAMUEL JOHNSON, of Wood Green, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISINTEGRATING CLAY, ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to apparatus used for the purpose of washing and disin-
tegrating clay to be used for making bricks, tiles, and other articles, and it may
also be applied to the purpose of cleaning and disintegrating other substances, such
as earths, chalk, or ores, and fibrous substances, such as cotton or woollen rags
or paper.
I take a vessel of suitable material and size and circular in plan. In the centre
of this vessel I arrange a footstep or bearing upon which the lower end of a vertical
shaft rests and revolves, its upper end working (if necessary) in a bearing attached
to a suitable cross beam or frame. Upon the vertical shaft so arranged I fix one
or more cross beams which carry vertical bearings in which revolve the vertical
axes of discs or cylinders of metal or other suitable material. To the lower side
of each of these discs or cylinders I fix a sufficient number of vertical teeth or
bars so arranged that their lower ends or points reach nearly to the bottom of the
vessel first described, and into which is placed the clay or other material which is
When the central vertical shaft is made to
to be disintegrated and washed.
revolve by any convenient power, either by means of toothed bevilled wheels or
other suitable means, the cross beams being firmly attached to it revolve with it,
and the teeth or bars are forced through and thoroughly disintegrate the material
which fills the annular channel between the centre bearing and the circumference of
the vessel.
In order more thoroughly to effect the disintegrating and washing action, I
arrange a series of horizontal teeth or bars projecting laterally and at equal
distances apart from the edge of the discs or cylinders described, and I fix vertical

page_text: bars or staples round the inner edge of the circumference of the vessel in such a
position and at such distances apart that they form teeth, between which the hori-
zontal teeth or bars upon the discs or cylinders engage, and the latter are thus
caused to revolve each on its own vertical axis, when the central vertical axis is
made to revolve.
Instead of the vertical bars or staples being fixed round the inside of the circum-
ference of the vessel as described, they may be fixed round a centre column or
bearing which carries the central vertical revolving shaft.
Instead of staples or vertical bars being fixed to the vessel or to the centre
bearing horizontal teeth or bars may be fixed to it, engaging with vertical bars
fixed to the discs or cylinders, which vertical bars may themselves serve as disin-
tegrating teeth. Any convenient number may be used of the vertically revolving
discs or cylinders arranged as described, and they may be arranged so that each
alternate one is driven by the bars or staples fixed round the centre column, as
described; the others being driven by bars fixed round the vessel, and the alternate
discs or cylinders thus revolve in opposite directions. One or more pumps may be
used actuated by the same or other driving power, for the purpose of supplying
water or of adding or removing the disintegrated and washed clay or other material.
Instead of the arrangement described the cross beams carrying the discs or
cylinders may be fixed, and the cylindrical vessel may be made to revolve.
By my improved apparatus the disintegration is much more rapidly and com-
pletely effected than in such apparatus as heretofore constructed and used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th August
1876.
SAMUEL JOHNSON, of Wood Green, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISINTEGRATING CLAY, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
My Invention relates especially to apparatus used for the purpose of washing
and disintegrating clay to be used for making bricks, tiles, and other analogous
articles. Apparatus constructed according to my Invention may also be applied
to the purpose of cleaning and disintegrating other substances, such as carths,
chalk, or ores, and fibrous substances, such as cotton or woollen rags or paper; or it
may be used for the purpose of mixing together liquid or other substances, or as a
churn for churning milk or cream.
My improvements have for their objects greater efficacy in the processes of
washing, disintegrating, or mixing as above described, and saving in the time
occupied, as compared with such apparatus as ordinarily constructed and used.
In order to put my Invention into operation I take a vessel of suitable size and
circular in plan, of any suitable material, such as metal or wood, or it may be
built of brickwork or masonry. In the centre of this vessel I arrange a footstep or
bearing, upon which rests the lower end of a vertical shaft, the upper end of which
may be arranged to revolve if necessary in a bearing formed upon or attached to
a suitable cross beam or frame. I fix upon the vertical revolving shaft one or more
transverse horizontal beams carrying vertical bearings in which revolve vertical
axes, to which are fixed horizontal discs, cylinders, or wheels, of metal or other
suitable material. To the lower side of each of these dises, cylinders, or wheels, I
fix a sufficient number of teeth or bars (preferably vertical) so arranged that their
lower ends or points reach nearly to the bottom of the vessel first described, and
into which is placed or fed the clay or other material which is to be operated upon.
The central vertical shaft is made to revolve by steam or other convenient power,
by means of toothed bevilled wheels or other suitable apparatus, and the cross
beam or beams being firmly attached to it are also carried round together with the

page_text: wheels or discs, and the teeth or bars upon the latter are forced through and
thoroughly disintegrate the material which fills the annular space between the
centre bearing and the circumference of the vessel. The central vertical shaft may
be fixed, the cross beam or beams revolving upon it.
For the purpose of more thoroughly effecting the required processes of disinte-
grating and mixing, I cause the discs, drums, or wheels, which carry the teeth or
arms to revolve round their own vertical axes as well as round the central vertical
driving shaft. For this purpose I arrango a series of horizontal teeth or bars pro-
jecting laterally and at equal distances apart from the edge of the discs, cylinders,
or wheels, and I fix vertical bars or staples round the inner edge of the circum-
ference of the vessel in such a position and at such a distance apart that they form
teeth between which the horizontal teeth or bars first described engage, and the
latter are thus caused to revolve, carrying round with them (each on its own
vertical axis) the discs, cylinders, or wheels, upon the edges of which they are
fixed.
Instead of the vertical bars or staples being fixed round the inner circumference
of the vessel as described, I sometimes fix them round the outer circumference
of a central column or bearing which carries the central vertical revolving shaft
already described.
And instead of the vertical staples or bars being fixed round the inside of the
vessel or round the centre bearing as described, sometimes use horizontal teeth
or bars in their place, and fix or form vertical bars, into which they engage upon
the discs, cylinders, or wheels, or the vertical disintegrating and mixing teeth or
bars upon the latter may themselves form teeth into which horizontal teeth or
bars upon the circumference of the vessel or round the centre bearing engage. I
use any convenient number of the vertically revolving discs, cylinders, or wheels,
arranged as described; and I sometimes arrange them so that each alternate one is
driven by the bars or staples fixed round the centre column or bearing, as described,
whilst the others are driven by bars fixed round the vessel, and the alternate discs,
cylinders, or wheels are thus made to revolve in opposite directions. Instead of
moveable teeth or bars as described ordinary toothed wheels and circular racks
may be used.
Sometimes I use two or more revolving discs, cylinders, or wheels, upon each
revolving cross beam or arms described; and I couple together these discs, cylinders,
or wheels (each of which is provided with disintegrating or mixing teeth or arms
as already described), by means of toothed wheels, so that they may be made to
revolve in the same or opposite directions.
Instead of the method as described, for actuating the disintegrating teeth or arms,
I sometimes make the cylindrical vessel itself revolve, the cross beams or arms being
so fixed that they cannot revolve with it; and one or more pumps may be provided
actuated by the same or other driving power, for the purpose of supplying water
or of adding or removing the disintegrated and washed clay or other mixed material.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1 is a transverse section, and Figure 2 a plan of an apparatus having
two revolving wheels. a is the cylindrical mixing vessel of brickwork; bis a
central vertical shaft revolving in the footstep c, and carrying the cross beam or
arın d having vertical bearings e, e', in which revolve the axes of the wheels fƒ³.
These wheels f, f¹, carry horizontal teeth g, g, g, bolted to their circumference and
engaging in staples h, h, h, fixed round the inner circumference of the vessel a.
The wheels are armed with disintegrating and mixing teeth i, i, i.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, and Figure 4 a plan of another of the arrange-
ments above described. a is the mixing vessel of brickwork; b is the central
vertical driving shaft revolving in the footstep c, and carrying the three cross arms
d, d, d, each of which carries two revolving wheels e, e, e, e, e, e, arned with disin-
tegrating teeth i, i, i. These wheels are coupled together by the toothed wheels
,g, g, which are caused to revolve by the central toothed wheel h, which is fixed
and does not revolve with the driving shaft b.

page_text: By my improved apparatus the processes of disintegrating and mixing are more
quickly and completely performed than in such apparatus as heretofore constructed
and used.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be per-
formed, I claim, the general arrangement of apparatus for the purpose of washing
and disintegrating, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Johnson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six,
SAMUEL JOHNSON. (L.S.)