IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF NITRATE OF SODA
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hucks Gibbs, of 15, Bishopsgate Street, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF NITRATE OF SODA."-A communication from Pedro Gamboni.
Sealed the 23rd June 1854, and dated the 18th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hucks Gibbs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th April 1854.
I, HENRY HUCKS GIDES, of 15, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF NITRATE OF SODA" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the separation of nitrate of soda by means
of low pressure steam from the stone or earth containing it. For this purpose
the stone or carth is placed in a vessel having a perforated bottom, below
which the steam is admitted. The matters under process are kept cooled by
means of an external jacket to the vessel, in which jacket cold water is applied.
The dissolved nitrate descends through the perforated bottom of the vessel,
and is conducted by a suitable pipe into receivers.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Hucks Gibbs, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Hucks
Gibbs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Hucks Gibbs, iny 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF NITRATE OF SODA," (a communication from Pedro Gamboni),
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Hucks Gibbs, by
in instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Henry Hucks. Gibbs, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object the separation of the nitrate of soda by means
of low pressure steam (froni the stone or earth containing it). For this pur-
pose
the stone or earth is placed in a vessel having a perforated bottom, below
which the steam is admitted. The matters under process are kept cooled by
means of an external jacket to the vessel, in which jacket cold water is applied.
The dissolved nitrate descends through the perforated bottom of the vessel, and
is conducted by a suitable pipe into recesses...
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the best means I am acquainted with for performing the same.
The form of apparatus preferred to be used is as follows:-A conical or
hopper-shaped open vessel is employed, having a horizontal perforated partition
on which the crude materials. which are to be acted on by the steam rest; and
the outside of this hopper-shaped vessel above such horizontal perforated par-
tition is constructed with an external jacket to receive a supply of cold water.
Into the space below the perforated partition steam is introduced; which, rising
through the perforated partition, flows amongst the crude matters above, and
dissolves out the nitrate of soda; and the solution thereof flows through the

page_text: perforated partition, and descends a pipe in connection with the bottom of the
hopper-shaped vessel into open troughs or receivers. The steam is introduced
into the space below the horizontal perforated partition by a steam pipe from a
low pressure steam boiler, the steam pipe being provided with a stop-cock or
valve, to shut off and regulate the supply of steam. In order to examine the
fuel, the water surrounding the upper part of the hopper-shaped vessel may, as
it becomes hot, be used to supply the boiler or other uses, and may, when the
apparatus is sufficiently above the boiler, be run directly into the boiler by a
suitable pipe; or the water so heated may be pumped into the boiler, when the
apparatus for dissolving out the nitrate of soda is too low to admit of its being
run into the water directly into the boiler. At the lower part of the hopper-
shaped vessel is a perforated or other suitable bottom, to catch any earthy
matters which may fall, through the perforated partition above, and prevent the
same descending with the solution.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the details herein described, as the form of the apparatus may be varied;
but what I claim is, the dissolving out the nitrate of soda from the crude
materials by steam, as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hucks Gibbs, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
5
B. GOBEY,
12, Cursitor Street,
Chancery Lane.
HENRY H. GIBBS. (L.S.)