IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF SOLID OR LIQUID BODIES TO MILLS OR OTHER APPARATUS USED IN MIXING OR PREPARING PLASTIC MATTERS
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Howie at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th October
1862.
J +
I, JOHN HOWIE, of Hurlford, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Coal
Master, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF SOLID OR LIQUID
BODIES TO MILLS OR OTHER APPARATUS USED IN MIXING OR PREPARING PLASTIC
MATTERS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
1 J 312
1.
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of machinery or
apparatus suitable for preparing mixtures of solid and fluid bodies, so as to
obtain compounds of any required consistency.
Under one modification of apparatus, as arranged according to this Invention
for preparing a plastic mixture of fire-clay and water suitable for the manufacture
of fire-clay goods, it consists of a cylinder in which is arranged a screw. This
cylinder is by preference placed in a vertical position, and the internal screw is
made a little less than the diameter of the cylinder, so as to revolve freely therein,
but without allowing the solid matters to pass down between its periphery and
the inside of the cylinder. The screw is connected by means of suitable gearing
with an engine or other prime mover, so as to impart a uniform rotatory
motion thereto. The upper part or feeding end of the cylinder being placed
in connection with a suitable receptacle of the ground.fire-clay, it passes down
through the cylinder at a uniform rate, impelled by the motion of the screw,
and is carried into the pug mill. The supply of water is regulated by means

page_text: of a valvular apparatus arranged for the purpose.. This apparatus consists of
a rectangular or other suitably shaped chamber, which is fitted with two
valves, one at the upper and the other at the lower part of the chamber. The
upper valve closes by its own gravity and the weight of the water on the upper
side, the lower valve is closed by means of a spring or other equivalent agent
which acts upon the under side. These valves are opened alternately by
means of an eccentric, which is arranged within the valve chamber, and is
carried upon a transverse horizontal spindle or shaft. The shaft of the eccen-
tric is connected by means of suitable gearing with the engine, so that the
rotatory motion of the eccentric first opens the upper valve and admits the
water to the chamber; as the eccentric rotates, the valve closes, and the lower
one is opened, which permits the escape of the water to the pug mill. The
valve chamber is fitted with a sliding end piece, which works to and fro in a
laterally projecting part of the chamber. This sliding piece or false end is con-
nected to a screwed spindle extending out through the side of the chamber and
through an internally screwed bow piece fixed to the chamber, or arranged in
any other equivalent manner. A hand wheel or a winch handle is fitted on to
the screwed spindle, by turning which the end piece is caused to traverse to
and fro, and thus reduce or enlarge the capacity of the valve chamber. In
this way the supply of water may be regulated with great ease and certainty,
so as to obtain the plastic compound in the required state of consistency. With
trifling modifications the apparatus may be arranged for preparing various
kinds of plastic compounds.