IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER PULP
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Slater Tiffany, of Newark, in the County
of Essex, and State of New Jersey, United States of America, but
at present of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
PULP." A communication from abroad by Harrison Benjamin
Meech, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States.
of America.
-
Scaled the 6th November 1874, and dated tho 29th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Slater Tiffany
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th August 1874.
I, SAMUEL SLATER TIFFANY, of Newark, in the County of Essex, and
State of New Jersey, United States of America, but at present of
Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PAPER PULP," to be as follows:-
The present Invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for the
manufacture of paper pulp in which a complete reduction of the stock

page_text: takes place, that is to say, the boiling, grinding, and maceration being
accomplished at the same time under any degree of pressure requisite,
and in which the process of bleaching can be advantageously effected by
the introduction of chlorine gas and water.
The apparatus consists of a cylindrical upright boiler into which straw,
grass, wood shavings, or other fibrous substance to be reduced to pulp is
introduced through a man-hole located at the top of the boiler. The
said boiler has a shaft which passes down its centre, on whose lower
extremity there is an agitator keyed or otherwise made fast to the said
shaft to revolve with it, and a perforated distributing disc rigidly
attached to aforesaid shaft at a point above the level of the stock about
to be operated upon.
The boiler is provided with a perforated bottom to prevent the pipe
leading to the grinding mechanism from clogging; and to the inner sides
of the boiler braces are attached leading to a thimble through which the
shaft runs, thus serving to stiffen the same.
The grinding mechanism consists of a double cone, whose most acuto
end is under the receiving pipe from the boiler, the said cones being
rigid on a horizontal shaft, which may be drawn laterally either back-
ward or forward by turning a band wheel on one end of said shaft, thus :
allowing the grinding cones to be adjusted to suit the various kinds of
stock which it may be required to reduce to pulp. A pocket is provided
to catch any hard' substance which might accidentally fall into the
grinders. A rotary pump on the horizontal shaft serves to force the
stock as fast as it is ground up a pipe to discharge the ground material :
on top of the perforated revolving disc before mentioned, which in its
turn will distribute the ground stock evenly over the material to be
treated, and by this means the stock is kept constantly circulating until
it has reached its proper consistency, when it is carried up through a
pipe and conducted into vats, a faucet being set in the boiler for the 3
purpose of testing its contents.
The operation is as follows:-The straw, wood, or other fibrous
substance to be reduced is first cut by suitable machinery into appro-
priate lengths and placed in the boiler, which is then filled with a weak
solution, say 1 degree Baumé, more or less, of alkali or other solvent. 3
Steam is then admitted, and the mass is boiled for one or two hours under a
pressure of four to six atmospheres. After this the macerating or pulping

page_text: apparatus is connected and set in operation, thus causing the stock to
pass from the boiler into the macerating machine between the grinding
surfaces of the revolving cone and the inner surfaces of the stationary
shell or casing, causing the stock to be ground before passing into the
pump, the said pump causing the ground stock to flow up a pipe on the
outer side of the boiler, and return its contents into the top of the boiler
over a perforated revolving disc, which will distribute the ground
material evenly over the stock in the boiler to be again boiled and
ground, thus making a constant circulation of the whole mass of stock,
the whole operation being performed while the fibre is under a uniform
and high heat. This continuous operation goes on rapidly until the
stock is sufficiently reduced for the purposes for which the fibre is
intended. When the valve leading into the boiler is closed, and the
valve in the pipe leading to the wash vats is opened, into which the fibro
is pumped and properly washed, when it is ready for the bleach..
In bleaching I use an apparatus similar to that above described. In
this case a weak solution of chlorino liquor and chlorine gas is intro-
duced, and the machine set in motion. As the pulp passes through
the grinders it is separated into a thin stratum, which enables the
chlorine liquor to come in contact with all the fibres, and do its work
thoroughly and evenly; also as the stock is forced back into the boiler
it passes through and absorbs the chlorine gas, which rises to the top of
the said boiler, thereby consuming all the bleaching qualities contained
in the substances used, and leaving the fibre in a fine condition to be
made into paper. When the pulp is sufficiently bleached it is forced
out through the valves, as in the reducing process before mentioned.
For making pulp for brown or Manilla paper the fibrous substanco
may be ground and boiled in the apparatus in a very weak solution of
alkali or solvent, or simply in soft water.
The grinding surfaces are put on the cones in sections, and bolted-
thereto so that they may be changed for reducing various kinds of
fibres, or for making a long or short fibre; for making a long textile
fibre the grinding surfaces are corrugated. The said cones are cast in
two parts, so that when set on the shaft with their bases against each
other the joint will be perfect, and held in such position on the aforesaid
shaft by a key at each end of the cones.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Slater Tiffany in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th February 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SLATER TIFFANY, of Newark, in the County of Essex, and State of New
Jersey, United States of America, but at present of Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Slater Tiffany, Her
special licence that I, the said Samuel Slater Tiffany, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel
Slater Tiffany, 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 "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER PULP,"
a communication from abroad by Harrison Benjamin Mccch, of
the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Slater
Tiffany, my executors or administrators, 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 Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Slater Tiffany, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for the reduction

page_text: of fibrous substances to a pulp suitable for the manufacture of paper,
but which may be used for other purposes, in which apparatus a com-
plete reduction of the stock takes place, that is to say, the boiling,
grinding, and maceration being accomplished at the same time under
any degree of pressure requisite, and in which the process of bleaching
can be advantageously effected by the introduction of chlorine gas
together with chlorine or other bleaching agents in solution in
otax
of fibrous substances to a pulp suitable for the manufacture of paper,
but which may be used for other purposes, in which apparatus a com-
plete reduction of the stock takes place, that is to say, the boiling,
grinding, and maceration being accomplished at the same time under
any degree of pressure requisite, and in which the process of bleaching
can be advantageously effected by the introduction of chlorine gas
together with chlorine or other bleaching agents in solution in
water.
The construction and operation of the apparatus of this Invention
will be fully understood from the following description :-
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a central vertical
section of the apparatus; Figure 2 is an elevation of the same; Figure 3.
is a plan of the distributing disc; Figure 4 is a plan of the device for
adjusting the grinding cones. Similar letters of reference indicate cor-
responding parts wherever they recur.
A represents a cylindrical upright boiler, into which straw, grass,
wood shavings, or other fibrous substances to be reduced are introduced
through the man-hole B which is located at the top of the boiler. Tho
said boiler has a shaft C which passes down its centre, and on whose
lower extremity there is an agitator D, which being keyed or otherwise
made fast to the said shaft will revolve with it; E is a perforated dis-
tributing disc rigidly attached to the aforesaid shaft at a point above the
level of the stock about to be operated upon.
The boiler may be provided with a perforated bottom for the purpose
of drawing off the liquor or water, and to prevent the steam pipe from
clogging; H, H, represent braces attached to the inner sides of the
boiler and leading to a thimble through which the shaft runs, thus
serving to stiffen the same.
The grinding machine consists of a double cone I (or a single cone
might be used) enclosed in a shell P connected to the bottom of the
boiler by pipe G, said cones being proportioned as represented in
Figure 1 having the most acute end under the receiving pipe G. The
said cones are rigid on the shaft J, which may be drawn laterally either
backward or forward by turning the hand wheel K, whose stem turns
loose in the cross head L, see Figure 4, and engages in the nut M, the
guide rods N, N, leading from the cross head to the movable bearing O

page_text: of the shaft J, thus allowing the grinding cones to be adjusted to suit
the various kinds of stock which it may be required to reduce. The
inner side of the shell P forms one of the grinding surfaces. Qrepre-
sents a pocket to catch any hard substance which might accidentally
fall into the grinders. R is a rotary pump on the longitudinal shaft J (or
any other kind of apparatus may be used to elevate the stock) the said.
pump serving to force the stock as fast as it is ground up the pipe S whence
the ground material is discharged on top of the perforated revolving
disc E, which in its turn distributes the ground stock evenly over the
material to be treated, and by this means the stock is kept constantly cir-
culating, while under high temperature through the grinding machinery;
the latter rubbing the fibres apart at the same time that the gummy
matters are softened by the heat. This circulation is maintained until
the material has reached its proper. consistency, when it is carried up
through the pipe T and conducted into vats wherein the liquor is drawn
off and the fibres washed; U is a faucet set in the boiler for tho
purpose of testing its contents to ascertain when they are sufficiently
reduced.
.
The operation is as follows:-The straw, wood, or other fibrous sub-
stance to be reduced is first cut by suitable machinery into appropriate
lengths and placed in the boiler, which is then filled with a weak
solution (say 1 degree Baumé, more or less) of alkali or other solvent.
Steam is then admitted into the bottom of the boiler, and the mass is
boiled for one or two hours under a pressure of four to six atmospheres,
more or less. After this the grinding or pulping apparatus is connected
and set in operation. The stock passes from the boiler into the grinding
machine between the grinding surfaces of the revolving cone and the
inner surfaces of the stationary shell or casing, causing the stock to be
ground before passing into the pump by which the ground stock is
returned through the circulation pipe to the top of the boiler over the
perforated revolving disc attached to the agitator shaft, which distributes
the ground material evenly over the stock in the boiler, to be again
boiled and ground, thus making a constant circulation of the whole
mass of stock, the whole operation being performed while the fibre is
under a uniform and high heat. This continuous operation goes on
rapidly until the stock is sufficiently reduced for the purposes for
which the fibre is intended, when the valve leading into the boiler is
closed, and the valve in the pipe leading to the wash vats is opened,

page_text: into which the fibre is pumped and properly washed, when it is ready for
the bleach.
In bleaching I use an apparatus similar to that above described. In
this case a weak solution of chlorine liquor and chlorine gas is intro-
duced and the machine set in motion. As the pulp passes through the
grinders it is seperated into a thin stratum, which enables the chlorine
liquor to come in contact with all the fibres and do its work throughly
and evenly under pressure; also as the stock is forced back into the
boiler it passes through and absorbs the chlorine gas which rises to the
top of the said boiler, thereby consuming all the bleaching qualities
contained in the substances used and leaving the fibre in a fine condition
to be made into paper. When the pulp is sufficiently bleached it is
forced out through the valve, as in the reducing process before
mentioned...
For separating fibres for some purposes, as for brown or manilla paper,
the fibrous substance may be ground and boiled in the apparatus in a
very weak solution of alkali or solvent, or simply in soft water.
The grinding surfaces are put on the cones in sections and bolted
thereto, so that they may be changed for reducing various kinds of
fibres, or for making a long or short fibre. For making a long textile
fibre the grinding surfaces are corrugated.
In do not confine myself to the particular form of boiler, grinding
machine, or pump, herein described, as these may be varied.
The grinding machine may consist of a single cone or a disc wheel
revolving in a casing, and whatever form of grinding machine be used
it might be placed on a vertical shaft whose upper end passes up insido
the boiler. I may also use in connection with the grinding machine a
different kind of pump to that shown; for example, a centrifugal, suction,
or force pump, or a screw or plunger pump; but experience has shown
that a vertical boiler, a double cone grinding machine, and a rotary
pump, as herein described and shown, are preferable to any other
form.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The employment and combination of a boiler, grinding machine,

page_text: pump, or its equivalent, and circulating or return pipe, the same being
constructed arranged, and operating in the manner and for the purpose,
substanially as herein set forth, shown, and described.
2ndly. The rotating perforated distributing disc and the agitator
applied in the boiler, as and for the purpose specified.
3rdly. The perforated bottom and test faucet when arranged as shown,
and for the purpose specified.
4thly. The circulating or return pipe leading from a rotary or other
pump connected to the casing of the grinding concs, so as to draw off
the pulp as fast as it is ground, and conduct it back into the boiler con-
tinuously over a perforated revolving disc, substantially as herein set
forth, shown, and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Slater Tiffany, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.