IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EVAPORATION OF BRINE, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Thomas Lockey, of Northwich, in the County
of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EVAPORATION OF
BRINE, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 19th December 1876, and dated the 4th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Thomas Lockey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1870.
" IMPROVE-
JAMES THOMAS LOCKEY, of Northwich, in the County of Chester.
MENTS IN THE EVAPORATION OF BRINE, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention relates to the evaporation of brine for the purpose of separating
the salt from the water wherein it is held in solution; and my improved method
consists principally in the use of a heated cylinder revolving slowly in contact with
the surface of the brine in a trough or vessel, whereby a very thin film of the
brine is continually being taken up on the surface of the heated cylinder, where-
from the water is almost immediately evaporated, leaving the crystallized salt
adhering to the surface of the cylinder, whence it is also continuously removed by
a scraper or scrapers as the cylinder revolves, so that the surface of the latter is
cleaned again before entering the brine to take up a fresh filin
In carrying my Invention into effect I place the brine in a shallow vessel or
trough, in which I keep it always at or about the same level by a regulating tap
or otherwise. Above this trough I mount a large hollow cylinder of thin cast iron,
or other suitable material, at such a height that the lower circumference of the
cylinder just dips into the brine. This cylinder is supported and revolves on
small rollers or wheels carried by suitable axles or shafts, the evolving motion
being communicated to the cylinder by means of one or more of these supporting
wheels A pipe connected to a flue from a suitable furnace enters the cylinder at
one end, and a corresponding pipe leading to the uptake or chimney is connected to
the other end of the said cylinder, the ends of the latter being perforated and fitted
so as to revolve on the two pipes.
The heated gases from the furnace thus pass through the cylinder on their way
to the chimney, and in order to cause them to impinge on the inner circumference
thereof, so as to impart the greatest amount of heat, I fix a “baffle” in the interior

page_text: of the cylinder, such "baffle" consisting of a similar cylinder (of shorter length
and smaller diameter) placed inside and suitably stayed, so as to leave a space or
jacket all round between the two cylinders through which the products of com-
bustion pass.
By these means the outer cylinder becomes heated to a high temperature, and as
it dips into the brine, and is kept constantly revolving, it is continuously taking up
a very thin film of brine from which it immediately throws off the water in the
form of steam or vapor, leaving the crystallized salt adhering to the surface of the
cylinder.
Above the cylinder I mount a hood to arrest the steam as it is given off from
the former, and to conduct it into the uptake or chimney.
At the back of the cylinder I mount a scraper or scrapers (either fixed or having a
longitudinal ond wise to-and-fro motion), and as the cylinder keeps revolving the salt
is thereby scraped off the surface, which is thus prepared for re-entering the brine,
and hence the whole operation is self-acting and continuous.
As the salt falls from the scrapers it may (if quite dried) pass at once into the
"bags or be carried up by an elevator to the floor above to be filled into the same, or
if not sufficiently dried it may fall upon a second heated revolving cylinder pio-
vided with brackets which take it up, carry it round with the cylinder, and deliver
perfectly dried on the other side.
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Thomas Lockey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd March
1877.
"IM-
JAMES THOMAS LOCKEY, of Northwich, in the County of Chester.
PROVEMENTS IN THE EVAPORATION OF BRINE, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
"
This Invention relates to the evaporation of brine for the purpose of separating
the salt from the water wherein it is held in solution; and my improved method
consists principally in the use of a heated cylinder revolving slowly in contact with
the surface of the brine in a trough or vessel, whereby a very thin film of the
brine is continually being taken up on the surface of the heated cylinder, where-
from the water is almost immediately evaporated, leaving the crystallized salt
adhering to the surface of the cylinder, whence it is also continuously removed by
a scraper or scrapers as the cylinder revolves, so that the surface of the latter is
cleaned again before entering the brine to take up a fresh film.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof:—
In the annexed Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3,
a plan view; and Fig 4, a transverse section of my improved apparatus for the
evaporation of brine.
In carrying my Invention into effect I place the brine in a shallow vessel or
trough a, a, in which I keep it always at or about the same level by a regulating
tap or otherwise. Above this trough I mount a large hollow cylinder b, b, of thin
cast iron, copper, or other suitable material, at such a height that the lower circum-
ference just dips into the brine. This cylinder b, b, is supported and revolves on
small rollers or toothed wheels c, c, carried by suitable axles or shafts, the revolving
motion being communicated to the cylinder by means of one or more of these
supporting wheels c, c. A pipe d, d, connected to a flue e, e, from a suitable furnace

page_text: enters the cylinder b, b, at one end, and a corresponding pipe g, g. leading to a
second cylinder b¹, b¹, similar to the first or to the uptake or chimney h, h, is con-
nected to the other end of the said cylinder, the ends of the latter being perforated
and fitted so as to revolve either in or on the ends of the two pipes
The heated gases from the furnace thus pass through the cylinders b, b, and b¹, b¹,
on their way to the chimney h, h; and in order to cause them to impinge on the
inner circumference thereof, so as to impart the greatest amount of heat, I fix a
"baffle" i, i, in the interior of each cylinder b, b, such baffle consisting of a similar
cylinder (of shorter length and smaller diameter) placed inside and suitably stayed,
so as to leave a space or jacket all round between the two cylinders b, b, and i, i,
through which the products of combustion pass.
By these means the outer cylinder b, b, becomes heated to a high temperature,
and as it dips into the brine, and is kept constantly revolving, it is continuously
taking up a very thin film of brine from which it immediately throws off the
water in the form of steam or vapor, leaving the crystallized salt adhering to the
surface of the cylinder.
Above the cylinder I mount a hood h, k, to arrest the steam as it is given off
from the former, and to conduct it into the uptake or chimney h, h
At the back of the cylinder b, b, I-mount a scraper l, l, or scrapers (either fixed
or having a longitudinal endwise to-and-fro motion), and as the cylinder b, b, keeps
revolving the salt is thereby scraped off the surface, which is thus prepared for
re-entering the brine, and hence the whole operation is self-acting and continuous.
As the salt falls from the scrapers l, l, it may (if quite dried) pass at once down
the shoot m, m, into the bags n, n, or be carried up by an elevator to the floor
above to be filled into the same, or if not sufficiently dried it may fall upon a
second heated revolving cylinder provided with buckets which take it up, carry it
round with the cylinder, and deliver it perfectly dried on the other side.
I would here remark that if preferred instead of allowing the cylinder b, b,
to dip into a trough containing the brine, and thus take it up as it revolves, the
brine may be projected on to the surface of the cylinder in the form of a spray.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same.is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, the
construction and use of the apparatus, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated on the annexed Drawing; and more especially I claim the use of a con-
tinuously revolving heated cylinder, taking up or receiving a thin film of brine on
to its surface, in combination with a fixed or reciprocating scraper for continuously.
removing the same as it becomes crystallized on the heated surface by the evaporation
of the moisture therefrom.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Thomas Lockey, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to George Davies, C.E.,
Patent Office,
4, St. Ann's Square,
Manchester.
JAMES THOMAS LOCKEY. (L.S.)