Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Concentrating Sulphuric Acid or the like
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec.
1897
66
TRIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Concentrating
Sulphuric Acid or the like."
I GEORGE DAVID HOWARD, of 38. Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Henry Howard, of Boston, Mass., U.S. America, Manufacturing Chemist)
to be as follows:-
5 It is the object of this invention to provide a method or process and means
whereby a product of absolutely uniform strength in the concentration of sulphuric
acid may be secured.
In carrying out my invention I make use of the varying density of the distillate
or condensed vapor, or such portion thereof as can readily be collected and employed
from the finishing still, to regulate the flow of acid from the lead pans or other
vessels to the finishing stills.
The invention consists in the art of automatically regulating the flow of sul-
phuric acid through the concentrating apparatus, by the employment of the
varying density of the condensed vapor or distillate, or a portion thereof, produced
by the acid or other fluid in the process of concentration, whereby a product of
absolutely uniform strength is obtained.
The invention also consists of an automatic regulator, for use in the concentra-
tion of sulphuric acid to oil of vitaiol, comprising in its construction a supply
vessel provided with a valve-controlled port through which the finishing stills
or retorts are supplied, a distillate-receiving vessel provided with a conduit com-
municating with the finishing still through which the latter vessel may be
supplied with the distillate or condensed vapor coming from the finishing still,
and a float in the said distillate-receiving vessel connected with the valve in the
supply vessel, whereby the varying density or specific gravity of the distillate
collected in the distillate-receiving vessel may operate to vary the degree to which
he ports are opened in the supply vessel, and so regulate the supply of acid to the
inishing retort, all as I will now proceed to describe.
According to my invention I provide a lead pan or other vessel, from which the
cid may be conducted by means of a syphon to the supply vessel divided by a
orizontal partition into two chambers, communication between which is had
rough ports controlled by frusto-conical valves, reversely arranged. The said
alves may be made of lead or of any suitable substance, and may or may not be
vered with platinum, or other substance.
Valve seats are provided which may also be of platinum or equivalent material,
hich valve-seats are suitably supported in the said ports.
The valves are connected by means of stems and other suitable devices with a
ver balanced on a knife-edge or other means.
vices may be employed for adjustably connecting the valves with the said lever.
Turn buckles or equivalent
e acid is siphoned or otherwise conveyed into the upper chamber so as to keep
e latter at all times substantially full. The said acid flows thence through the
Price 77

page_text: ports to the lower chamber and is supplied from the latter to finishing stills or
retorts of common form and construction, through a conduit.
I also provide what may be termed a distillate receiving vessel which may be
constructed of any suitable substance and in any suitable form.
The invention may be employed in connection with any known form of still.
I do not confine my invention to use in connection with the process of and means
for concentrating sulphuric acid to oil of vitrol, since it is obvious that it may be
employed in connection with other concentrating or distilling operations.
Dated this 22nd day of January, 1897.
HUGHES SON & Co.
38, Chancery Lane, W.C. Agents for the applicant.
(6
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Concentrating
Sulphuric Acid or the like."
I, GEORGE DAVID HOWARD, of 38. Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me by Henry Howard, of Boston, Mass, U.S. America, Manufacturing Chemist),
to be as follows:-
It is the object of this invention to provide a method or process and means
whereby a product of absolutely uniforin strength in the concentration of sul-
phuric acid may be secured.
In carrying out my invention I make use of the varying density of the distillate
or condensed vapor, or such portion thereof as can readily be collected and
employed from the finishing still, to regulate the flow of acid from the lead pans
or other vessels to the finishing stills.
The invention consists in the art of automatically regulating the flow of sul-
phuric acid through the concentrating apparatus, by the employment of the varying
density of the condensed vapor or distillate, or a portion thereof, produced by the
acid or other fluid in the process of concentration, whereby a product of absolutely
uniform strength is obtained.
The invention also consists of an automatic regulator, for use in the concentration
of sulphuric acid to oil of vitrol, comprising in its construction a supply vessel
provided with a valve-controlled port through which the finishing stills or retorts
are supplied, a distillate-receiving vessel provided with a conduit communicating
with the finishing still through which the latter vessel may be supplied with the
distillate or condensed vapor coming from the finishing still, and a float in the
said distillate-receiving vessel connected with the valve in the supply
vessel, whereby the varying density or specific gravity of the distillate
collected in the distillate-receiving vessel may operate to vary the degree
to which the ports are opened in the supply vessel, and so regulate the
supply of acid to the finishing retort, all as I will now proceed to describe.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon forming a part of this specification the same letters and figures
designating the same parts or features as the case may be, wherever they occur.
Fig: 1 is a side view of an apparatus which may be employed in connection with,
and in the carrying out of my improvements.
Fig: 2 is a sectional view through the supply and distillate-receiving vessels
and their adjuncts.
Fig: 3 is a perspective view of the distillate-receiving vessel and a gaging or
registering vessel connected therewith,

page_text: ()
Fig: 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the ports and valves
in the supply vessel.
Fig: 5 is a vertical sectional view of the body of the finishing still shown in
Fig 1, drawn to an enlarged scale.
In the drawings, a designates a lead pan or other vessel, from which the acid
may be conducted by means of a siphon to the supply vessel e, divided by a hori-
zontal partition into two chambers d and c communication between which is had
through ports ff controlled by frusto-conical valves gg, reversely arranged as
shown. The said valves may be made of lead or of any suitable substance, and
may or may not be covered with platinum, or other substance.
hh are the valve seats which may also be of platinum or equivalent material,
which valve-seats are suitably supported in the ports f.
The valves g g are connected by means of stems and other suitable devices with
a lever i balanced on a knife-edge or other means as at j. Turn buckles kk or
equivalent devices may be employed for adjustably connecting the valves with the
said lever. The àcid is siphoned or otherwise conveyed into the upper chamber d
so as to keep the latter at all times substantially full. The said acid flows thence
through the ports f to the chamber e and is supplied from the latter to the finishing
stills or retorts of common form and construction, through the conduit m.
of
n is what may be termed a distillate-receiving vessel which may be constructed
any suitable substance and in any suitable form.
As herein shewn it consists of a U-shaped tube, to one arm or member of
which, the distillate or fluid is supplied from the finishing stills, and in the other
arm or member p of which is arranged a float q connected by a suitable wire r,
with the outer end of the lever i. It will now be seen that as the density of the
fluid or distillate in the distillate receiving-vessel is increased in density or specific
gravity, the float q will be raised accordingly, and the valves 9 will be operated
through the medium of the lever i to open the ports f to an extent corresponding
to the degree of density of the distillate, and as the density of the said distillate
is lowered the said ports will be in like manner, and through the same means,
correspondingly closed: and in this way the finishing stills or retorts will be
supplied so as to keep the product at a uniform degree of density.
The invention may be employed in connection with any known form of still,
but as platinum stills are the more commonly used, I have chosen to represent
my invention in connection therewith, and to show the regulator as located between
the lead pans a (which always have a good supply of acid in them) and the still 7.
This still in which there is nothing new comprises in its construction a jacket or
Home s down over the outside of which water is caused to flow to cool the jacket,
the water being collected in the uppermost of the annular troughs 2 and over-
lowing therefrom to the next trough below, being finally led or drawn off from
he bottom trough in the usual way.
t is a liquid seal arranged below the bottom annular trough 2, into which the
listillate which collects on the interior surface of the dome s runs, the said dis-
illate being guided by adhesion down the interior surface of the dome into the
ute. In stills of this kind as a matter of convenience, I make make use of that
ortion only of the distillate which condenses on the water-jacket dome s (shown
a dotted lines in Fig: 1) and runs down into the liquid seal t of the still, from
hence it is conducted through the conduit u to the arm o of the distillate-receiving
essel. In cases where a platinum cover to the still is used the distillate from the
ondenser may be employed, it being a matter of no importance to my invention
om whence the distillate is collected or whether all or a portion only of the
me is employed. The distillate in any case is an exceedingly delicate indicator
the strength of the oil of vitrol in the still, since a variation of 01° Baumé in
e strength of the acid would at once produce a change of 10° to 15° Baumé in
e strength of the distillate. If desired, the overflow from the distillate-receiving
ssel may be received into a vessel provided with an indicator w to show the
nsity or specific gravity of the distillate.

page_text: I do not confine my invention to use in connection with the process of and means
for concentrating sulphuric acid to oil of vitrol, since it is obvious that it may be
employed in connection with other concentrating or distilling operations; nor
do I confine myself to the form and arrangement of devices shown, since these may
be changed to suit circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The art of automatically regulating the flow of sulphuric acid through the
concentrating apparatus, consisting in collecting the whole or a portion of the con-
densed vapor or distillate and conveying the same to a point where it may operate
upon the means of controlling the flow of the sulphuric acid or other fluid in
process of concentration and causing it to act through variations in its specific
gravity upon said means whereby a product of uniform strength is obtained.
2. An automatic regulator for use in the concentration of sulphuric acid, com-
prising in its construction a valve for governing the supply to the still, controlling
devices for actuating the said valve, and means for collecting the distillate and
conveying the same to a point where it may be adapted to act upon the acid valve-
controlling devices,, as set forth.
3. An automatic regulator for use in the concentration of sulphuric acid, com-
prising in its construction a supply vessel provided with a valve-controlled port for
supplying the concentrating apparatus, a distillate-receiving vessel, a conduit
communicating between the latter vessel and the concentrating apparatus, and a
float in the distillate-receiving vessel connected with the valve in the supply vessel
to regulate and control the said valves.
002 .
1007
HUGHES SON & Co.
38. Chancery Lane, London, W.C. Agents for the applicant.