IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASSA, AND IN PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hargreaves, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemist, and Thomas Robinson, of the same Place,
Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASSA, AND IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hargreaves and
Thomas Robinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 4th February 1874.
We, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemist, and THOMAS ROBINSON, of the same Place, Ironfounder,. do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASSA,
AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of certain novel combinations and arrange-
ments of parts whereby the manufacture of sulphates of soda ánd

page_text: potassa, or cither of them, by our direct action process is facilitated and
rendered more economical, and consists,—
First. In using one of the up-take connecting pipes opening into a
high level flue as the hydrochloric acid and waste gas exit instead of
using a down-take and underground flue as heretofore.
Second. In making use of a steam pump to draw the gases through
the converting apparatus. The capacities of the steam and pump
cylinders are such that about one volume of steam is used for every ten
volumes of gas exhausted. The exhaust steam from the pump after
being dried and superheated by passing it through a pipe acted upon by
heat is mixed with the sulphurous acid employed in converting the
chlorides of sodium and potassium into sulphates.
Third. In facilitating the removal of finished sulphates from the
converting chambers by forming the side grids cach with a projection or
projections, which takes or take hinge-like into a cavity or cavities in
the back supports. This arrangement allows the front of each side grid
to fall when the front supports are removed.
Fourth. In preventing the chloride in a newly filled chamber from
being covered with moisture by condensation by causing heated gases or
products of combustion to pass by a syphon from between the cylinder
top and covering plate into the converting chamber being filled, thence
down through an opening in the bottom plate of one of the drawing
doors to a chimney. The chloride is thus heated by direct contact with
heated gases. The same passages are used as means for withdrawing
any sulphurous acid remaining in a chamber to be discharged.
Fifth. In making the outsides of the side grids without perforations
for from six to ten inches so as to assist in forcing a stronger current of
gas through the centre of the mass in the chamber.
Sixth. In condensing the hydrochloric acid evolved in the said manu-
facture of sulphates by employing an oblong condensing tower connected
to a set of tubular syphons, which are in their turn connected with a
second oblong tower, upon which is erected a wash tower to condense
the last traces of hydrochloric acid. The water which has done duty in
the wash tower is caused to run down the first oblong tower to condense
the strong hydrochloric acid from the converting chambers. The said
first tower is built of such bricks or stones as are unacted upon by acid,

page_text: such bricks or stones being formed with pieces or projections on their
lower and upper sides, so that when built together they form a rising
joint from the inside to the outside of the tower. They are also formed
with semicircular grooves cut diagonally across their ends so as to form
when built together tubes which can be rammed with a mixture of tar,
clay, or other suitable material impermeable to acid.
Seventh. In readily and rapidly filling the converting chambers by
employing a hopper filled with chloride placed over the chamber it is
desired to charge. A shutter is placed in the hopper, and when with-
drawn the contents are allowed to fall direct into the chamber to be
filled.
Eighth. In making the syphons, connecting the flues and chambers,
in two pieces. To make good the joint between the two pieces two
plates are provided, one with an aperture therein to allow the gases to
pass, and the other without an aperture to cut off the passage of gas
when desired.
Ninth. As means for supplying air to cool the contents of the con-
verting chambers, should they become too hot, and also to allow the
chambers to be properly filled we form a hole in the end of each of
the syphons, which enter the converting chambers. The said hole is
provided with two covers having perforations, so that by turning one the
area of inlet may be varied at pleasure.
Tenth. We build the chambers in two different rows placed at a
suitable distance apart so as to allow the chambers to be drawn on both
sides. The gas after passing through one of the rows of chambers is
taken through a connecting pipe to the other row, and if necessary back
by a second pipe to the first row.
Eleventh. To utilize the waste heat from the sulphate apparatus and
provide means for drying the chloride into hard lumps we place iron.
plates with flue spaces beneath them on the top of the arch between the
two rows of chambers described under the tenth head.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
HARGREAVES, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist, and
THOMAS ROBINSON, of the same Place, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, 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 suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said James Hargreaves and
Thomas Robinson, Her special licence that we, the said James
Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas
Robinson, our 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF
SODA AND POTASSA, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Hargreaves
and Thomas Robinson, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of our or 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 Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas
Robinson, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 :-
-
Our Invention relates to novel means and appliances whereby the

page_text: production of sulphates of soda and potassa, or either of them, by our
direct action process is facilitated and cheapened.
First. As means for preventing loss of heat by radiation from the
sulphurous acid flues we lower the arch or covering connection between
the chambers so as to allow the connecting tube between the two
sulphurous acid flues to be laid in the solid brickwork of the said arch
or covering connection, and we prefer when so laying the said con-
necting tube and conveying the heated gases therethrough to place it
under the circulating pipe at one end of the sulphate chambers.
Second. As means for keeping cool the bearings of rotary exhausting
apparatus used in the manufacture of sulphates by our said direct action
process of manufacture. We so place the bearings that they are kept
from close contact with the sides of the said exhausting apparatus. For
this purpose we employ hollow brackets, and through the said hollow
brackets we cause a stream of water to flow. To further assist in
keeping the said bearings cool we cause a stream of oil or other lubricant
to flow upon the said bearings. The said oil or other lubricant is allowed
to flow into suitable apparatus, and when cool is again pumped up and
allowed to run through the said bearings.
Third. When we heat a chloride with the products of combustion
before turning the sulphurous acid upon it we instead of using the
syphon to take the said products of combustion into the chambers
provide an annular space round one of the feed holes, and cause by
means of a circular cover the products of combustion to flow through
the said annular space and down through the feed hole. By reversing
the current of gas we cause the remaining sulphurous acid and steam to
pass through the said feed hole and annular opening previous to
discharging a chamber.
Fourth. As means for making the walls impermeable to gas when
brick chambers are used we build into the walls of the said chambers
sheets of iron or other metal rivetted, bolted, or otherwise secured
together. We prefer to place the said sheets between two brick walls
for the sides, between two courses of bricks for the bottoms, and between
two brick arches for the tops of the said chambers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The first part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 1, a view in
szontinal section showing next of converting chamber and half the anch

page_text: and connections between two series of such converting chambers.
a, arch or covering connection between the two series of chambers, such
arch or connexion is made sufficiently low to allow of the connecting
tube 6 between the sulphurous acid flues being laid in the solid brick-
work or masonry of the arch or covering connection a. The circulating
pipe at the end of the scries of chambers is not shown, but in the
modification delineated it would stand immediately above b. The arrange-
ment of the converting chambers c, ways d, flues e, and other parts are
substantially the same as in our two series arrangement of converting
chambers.
The second part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 2, which is a
view in side elevation and section of a Root's rotary exhausting apparatus
modified in accordance with this part of our improvements. Here e arc
hollow brackets attached to the framework of the exhausting apparatus.
A stream of water or other liquid is caused to flow through the hollow
brackets in the direction indicated by the arrows. f are bearings
supported by e in such manner as to be at a distance from the ends or
sides of the said exhausting apparatus. A stream of oil or other
lubricant is allowed to flow through f. g, tray to collect such oil, which
is afterwards pumped up, and when cool used again. The heat of the
gases passing through the exhausting apparatus is but slightly if at all
imparted to the bearings.
The third part of our Invention is shown by Fig. 3, a view in vertical
section of part of the top and sides of a converting chamber. hare
products of combustion flues; i, feed hole; j, annular space; k, cover
or cap. In heating a charge before conversion the products of com-
bustion travel in the direction shown by the arrows. In driving off the
sulphurous acid and other gases after sulphate has been formed the
direction of the current is reversed.
The fourth part of our Invention is shown by Fig. 4, a view in vertical
section of part of bottom, sides, and top of a converting chamber formed
of bricks and modified under this part of our Invention. j, sheets of
iron; k, l, m, brick courses, walls, and arches.
Having now described the nature of our said improvements, and
particularized the same in such manner that others will be enabled to
carry them into effect, we claim,—
First. Lowering the arch or covering connection between two series

page_text: of chambers and laying the connecting tube between the sulphurous
acid flucs in the brickwork or masonry, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Second. The brackets, bearings, and streams of water and lubricant
combined and adapted substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The cover k with annular space j, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Fourth. Placing sheets of iron or other metal between courses of
brickwork in the construction of converting chambers, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hargreaves, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, the Twenty-eighth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-.
four.
In the presence of
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Square,
L'pool.
JAMES HARGREAVES. (L.S.)