IMPROVE- MENTS IN REFINING CAMPHOR AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Atkinson, of Camberwell Road, in the
County of Surrey, Manufacturing Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REFINING CAMPHOR AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Atkinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY ATKINSON, of Camberwell Road, in the County of Surrey,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REFINING CAMPHOR
Manufacturing Chemist.
APPARATUS THEREFOR."
AND
IN
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of apparatus
employed in the refining or subliming of camphor whereby the operation is
rendered more easy, simple, safe, and economical, and whereby the camphor may
be produced in bells, blocks, or slabs, of any desired shape.
.
In carrying out my Invention, instead of employing the ordinary glass vessels
or "bombalows," I employ vessels or boxes made of iron or other suitable metal,
and provided with a removable cover where necessary; the inner surface of the
said vessel or box is provided with a removable casing or lining of thin sheet lead
or other suitable metal or alloy, a similar lining being employed for the underside
of the cover of the box or vessel.
To make use of the hereinbefore described apparatus, the camphor to be refined
or sublimed is placed in the herein before described lined vessel or box, a sheet of
lead or the like is placed over the open top of the box or vessel, and over the sheet
of lead the lid is placed; the projecting edges of the lead lining are then lapped or
doubled one over the other so as to form a tight joint; the apparatus is placed in a
sand bath and the operation completed in the usual manner, the lid of the vessel or
box is then removed; the lead lining with the refined camphor is then drawn out
of the box and the lead peeled from the camphor, which is then trimmed in the
usual manner. The vessel or box may then be relined for the next operation.
By the employment of my improved apparatus the refining or subliming operation
is completed in less time than heretofore, and with less cost of fuel and labour as
will be well understood.
The hereinbefore described apparatus may be constructed with a jacket to allow
of superheated steam being employed in place of the sand bath.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Atkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st August 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY ATKINSON, of Camberwell Road, in the County of Surrey,
Manufacturing Chemist. " IMPROVEMENTS IN REFINING CAMPHOR AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
IN
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of apparatus
employed in the refining or subliming of camphor, whereby the operation is
rendered more easy, simple, safe, and economical, and whereby the camphor may
produced in bells, blocks, or slabs, of any desired shape.
In carrying out my Invention, instead of employing the ordinary glass vessels or
flasks known as "bomboloes," which serve for one operation only, I employ vessels
or boxes made of iron or other suitable metal or material, and provided with a
removable cover where necessary; the inner surface of the said vessel or box is
provided with a removable casing or lining of thin sheet lead or other suitable
metal or alloy, a similar lining being employed for the underside of the cover of the
box or vessel.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe. the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which I have represented
views of two forms of apparatus suitable for carrying out my Invention; but it is
to be understood that these forms of apparatus are merely for the purpose of
illustration, and that other forms of apparatus may be employed.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a rectangular shaped box or vessel with its
removable lead lining, the cover being removed; Figure 2 is a similar view with
the cover and its lining placed over the open top of the box or vessel; Figure 3 is
a similar view shewing the method of forming the joint; Figure 4, plan of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation shewing the improved apparatus constructed in
the form of the ordinary glass "bombolo."
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, a, a, a, represent a rectangular shaped box, made
preferably of suitable sheet metal, such as iron; b, b, is the removable casing or
lining of thin sheet lead or other suitable metal or alloy, the upper edges of the
casing or lining projecting beyond the upper edges of the box, as shewn; c is the
removable cover having an opening d in any suitable position to allow of the escape
of the steam, vapour, or heated air; e is the lining of the underside of the
cover.
To make use of the apparatus the camphor to be refined or sublimed is placed
in the lined box or vessel, Figure 1; a sheet of lead e is then fitted to the cover c,
and the cover c thus lined is placed on the box, as shewn in Figure 2; the pro-
jecting edges of the lead lining 6 and e are then lapped or doubled one over the
other, as shewn in Figures and 4, so as to form a tight joint; the apparatus is
then placed in a sand bath and the refining or subliming operation completed in
the usual manner; as soon as the refined camphor shall have become cool, the
cover c is removed and the lead lining band e containing the refined camphor is
drawn out of the box and the lead peeled from the camphor which it encloses,
and the camphor is then trimmed in the usual manner.
The vessel or box may
be then relined for another operation.
The lead lining peeled from the camphor may be rerolled, so that there is
practically no waste of lead.
By the employment of my improved apparatus the refining or subliming
operation is completed in less time than heretofore, and with less cost of fuel and
labour as will be well understood.

page_text: The hereinbefore described apparatus may be constructed with a jacket to allow
of superheated steam being employed in place of a sand bath, as will be understood
without further description.
"
Figure 5 shews the apparatus consisting of a vessel f of sheet lead, constructed
in the form of an ordinary glass "bombolo" (by suitable means, such as by the
use of a "form or template constructed in parts so as to allow of its removal from
the interior of the vessel), the lower half resting in a metal receiver or vessel g;
if required the upper half may be enclosed with a metal casing.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, as the same may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what
I do claim is,―
Firstly. The employment in the process of refining or subliming camphor of
vessels provided with removable linings of sheet lead or other suitable metal or
alloy, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Secondly. The construction of improved apparatus for refining or subliming
camphor consisting of boxes or vessels having removable linings made of sheet lead
or other suitable metal or alloy (and used with or without a jacket for superheated
steam), substantially as herein before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Atkinson, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South St.,
Finsbury.
W. H. ATKINSON. (L.S.)