IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Norrington, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID."
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 17th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Norrington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1878.
CHARLES NORRINGTON, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon.
IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID."
"IMPROVEMENTS
These improvements relate to means for the avoidance of the loss of gas incurred
during the time of feeding the kilns with ore in the ordinary process of working as
well as of the annoyance to the workman and to the adjacent neighbourhood from
the same cause.
For this purpose I affix to the ash-pit of each kiln air-tight doors in sliding
frames, all connected together on one system of rods moved by gear work, so
arranged that one man can with ease move every door at once and open or close to
the nicest adjustment. By thus closing all the ash-pits at once at the time of
charging the ore the escape of gas from the kilns when in course of being charged
is entirely prevented.

page_text: Figure 1 16 an elevation of the front of one of the kilns used for burning the ore;
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the front of the kiln; and
Figure 1 A shows the arrangement of gearwork by means of which the doors of
the ash-pits are operated.
In Figure 1 at a is shown the charging or feeding door constructed of cast iron,
planed and faced so as to be air-tight, fitting to the cast-iron frame, on which it
may be moved by sliding on the planed and faced upper bar on which it is hung,
as shown in the sectional elevation, Figure 2, at a.
In Figure 1 at b is shown the teasing door fitted in like manner, as also at
Figure 2 b.
In Figure 1 at c is shown the box covering the ends of the fire-bars. The door
is hinged, planed, and faced so as to fit air-tight to the faced edges, of the box. This
is also further shown in the sectional clevation at c.
In Figure 1 at d, as also in Figure 2 at d, is shown the arrangement for closing
the ash-pit..
The door is planed, faced, and fitted air-tight to the projecting frame, which is
also planed and faced, and so adjusted as to slide on the step of the box and not
hung to the top as in the two doors above a and b. On each side of the door is a
boss or lug e, c, fitted with hole and loose bolt for the attachment of a jointed rod
f, f, extending from door to door throughout the whole range of kilns.
This rod is connected with an endless screw g set in a frame and worked by
gearing, as shown at Figure 1 A, whereby the necessary adjustments may be effected
with ease in a few seconds. At the time of charging the whole of the ash-pits are
closed on both sides of the range of kilns. The charging door of each kiln to be
charged is opened in succession as the charges are delivered into the kiln. As soon
as the charging of the kilns is completed the charges of nitre and acid to the nitre
pots are also given.
Throughout these operations no escape of gas will take place from the charging
doors. Then the ash-pit doors will be nicely adjusted so as to admit the requisite
quantity of air.
When the burnt ashes have to be removed from the ash-pit the jointed bars are
removed from each door in succession as required, the door is withdrawn by hand,

page_text: the ashes removed, the door replaced and again connected up with the line of
jointed rods.
I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement of the apparatus above described,
but I claim the method of closing all the ash-pits at once at the time of charging
the kilns, substantially as described, in order to prevent the escape and loss of gas
that occurs in the usual process of charging the kilns.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Norrington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
CHARLES NORRINGTON. (L.S.)