AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCE TO BE USED IN PROCESSES INVOLVING THE FORMATION, DECOMPOSITION, AND OXIDATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MIXTURES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harry John Smith, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Doctor of Philosophy, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCE TO BE USED IN PROCESSES INVOLVING THE
FORMATION, DECOMPOSITION, AND OXIDATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR
MIXTURES."
Sealed the 12th July 1879, and dated the 21st February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harry John Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1879.
HARRY JOHN SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Jon Pritain,.
Doctor of Philosophy. "AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCE TO BE DIESEL
IN PROCESSES INVOLVING THE FORMATION, DECOMPOSITION, AND OXIDATION OF
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MIXTAPES
This Invention relates to a mechanical contrivance through whose agency
processes involving the formation, decomposition, and oxidation of chemical
compounds in connection with the alkali and other manufactures are more
expeditiously and thoroughly carried into effect.
The said mechanical contrivance consists of an arrangement by which the liquors,
liquors and precipitates, or the sludges formed in chemical operations which take
place in the alkali and other manufactures are caused to pass through a force-
pump, or its equivalent, in the discharge pipe of which they are subjected to the
action of steam, air, or to the action of other chemical substance, liquid or solid, or
mixtures of either liquid or solid substances, whilst under pressures which may be
regulated at will. The pressure is produced by making the column of the dis-
charged liquids or liquids and precipitates under treatment of any desired height,
which will give the necessary pressure, or by fitting to the discharge pipe or vessel
into which the liquids or liquids and precipitatos are pumped, a valve which may
be loaded to any desired extent. The chemical treatment of the liquors is carried
into effect by means of an opening, which is between the pump-valve and the valve
on the discharge-pipe, effecting the desired pressure, or the column which gives the
pressure, as the case may be, through which said opening is forced steam, air, or
other chemical substance, liquid or solid, or mixtures of either liquid or solid
substances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Harry Jolin Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
August 1879.
HARRY JOHN SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Doctor of Philosophy. "AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCE TO BE USED
IN PROCESSES INVOLVING THE FORMATION, DECOMPOSITION, AND OXIDATION OF
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MIXTURES."
My said Invention relates to a mechanical contrivance through the agency of
which processes involving the formation, decomposition, and oxidation of chemical
compounds in connection with the alkali and other manufactures are more
expeditiously and thoroughly carried into effect than hitherto.
The said mechanical contrivance consists of an arrangement by which the liquors,
liquors and precipitates, or the sludges formed in chemical operations which take
place in alkali and other inanufactures being caused to pass through a force-pump
or its equivalent, they are in the discharge pipe thereof (or in the equivalent
thereof, such as a chamber, vessel, or pipe constituting a continuation of tho
discharge pipe) subjected to the action of steam, or air, or to the action of other
chemical substance, liquid or solid, or mixture of either liquid or solid substances,
whilst under a pressure which may be regulated at will. The pressure is produced
by fitting to the discharge pipo or vessel into which the liquids or liquids and
precipitates are pumped a valve which may be loaded to any desired extent to
give any desired pressure. The chemical treatment of the liquids or liquids and
precipitates is carried into effect by means of an opening or openings in the dis-
charge pipe (or the chamber, vessel, or pipe constituting the continuation. thereof)
and therefore between the pump valve and the before mentined valvo effecting
the desired pressure. Through this opening these openings, steam, air, or other
liquid or solid chemical substans, or mixtures of either liquid or solid substances,
on are forced, the forcing power of course being sufficient to overcome the
pressure in the discharge pipe or its equivalent, and allow of the entry of the said
substances or matters.
And in order that my said Invention may be pregnarly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
The accompanying Drawing illustrates an arrangement of apparatus according
to my Invention. A is a vessel constituting the continuation of the discharge pipe
of a force pump, the said discharge pipe being connected at B. At the upper part
of the vessel, and between it and the smaller chamber C is an opening D covered
by a valve E, capable of being weighted to any desired pressure by a weighted
lever, as shewn, or in any other suitable manner. F is an opening to which is
attached the pipe through which is admitted steam, air, or other chemical substance
or matter.
In using the apparatus the liquors, or liquors and precipitates, or the sludges
formed in chemical operations which take place in the alkali and other manufactures
are pumped into the vessel A, and are therein submitted to a pressure regulated
by the weight upon the valve E, and whilst under this pressure the said matters
in the chamber A are submitted to the action of steam, air, or other chemical
substances or matters admitted at F. The matters under treatment in the
chamber A by the continued action of the pump pass therefrom through the valve E
and into the chamber C, thence passing by the pipe G to any suitable place. For
instance, where re-treatment is necessary the pipe G may lead back to the pump
and the substances or the product of decomposition or part of them be pumped

page_text: back into the chamber A again and again as often as may be required. Or where
this is not required and where it is necessary to collect gases and liquids separately
I may employ upon the pipe G gas collecting chambers H in any desired number,
they being connected by pipes I at their upper parts leading into one general
discharge pipe J. The pipe G may be formed with dips of various depths (to give
various pressures in the chambers H) as at g, which being filled with the liquid or
semi-liquid passing therethrough will also prevent the entry of air at the discharge
end of the pipe G. The outlet end of the pipe G may be fitted with a valve at its
escape orifice, loaded so as to maintain any desired pressure in the said pipe.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The mechanical contrivance or apparatus (fitted with a valve or its equivalent)
for the purposes and constructed or arranged essentially as herein before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harry John Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
H. J. SMITH. (L.S.)