IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORIDE OF LIME
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Platt, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORIDE OF LIME."
Sealed the 10th September 1867, and dated the 13th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Platt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th March 1867.
I, BENJAMIN PLATT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORIDE OF LIME," to be as follows (that is to
say).
This Invention has for its objects certain improvements in the manufacture
of chloride of lime or bleaching powder, and in the apparatus connected
therewith.
Now the ordinary method of manufacturing chloride of lime or bleaching
powder heretofore has been by depositing powdered lime on the bottom of a
large close chamber formed of lead, to which is or are connected by means of
a pipe or pipes one or more stills containing muriatic acid and oxide of man-
ganese, which by the application of heat throw off chlorine gas into the chamber
containing the lime at a slight pressure, the said gas being absorbed by the
lime, thus forming the chloride of lime or bleaching powder; and beretofore
it has been necessary to stop the operation and open the chamber for the

page_text: purpose of mixing or turning over the lime to expose fresh surfaces to the gas,
thus losing the whole of the gas in the chamber as well as poisoning the sur-
rounding air. Now these improvements consist in certain arrangement of
apparatus whereby the manufacture may be a continuous operation, and in
feeding the powdered lime gradually into the chamber, and allowing the same
to fall through the gas from the top of the chamber in a zig-zag direction, to
accomplish which a chamber of lead of, say, 30 feet high by 60 feet long, and
about 9 feet wide will be found a convenient size, like the present chambers,
put upon its edge instead of on its flat side, but the dimensions and form may
be varied as circumstances may direct; this chamber is fitted with a number
of horizontal oblique shelves extending from end to end, springing from each
side, and intersecting each other alternately. The shelves may be of glass or
other suitable material, and may be perforated or corrugated. About two
shelves springing from each longitudinal side of the chamber will, in most
cases, be found sufficient, but of course the number may be varied to suit
the pressure of the gas. The bottom of the chamber is also formed at an
angle to the horizon, and at the lower side of the chamber there are fitted a
number of side openings or doors for withdrawing the charge, which falls
into casks ready for packing other suitable receptacle. On the top of the
chamber a floor is laid to receive the powdered lime from an elevation. The
top of the chamber is provided with a hopper or hoppers immediately above
the highest of the first upper oblique shelf. The longitudinal hopper must
extend from end to end of the top of the chamber, and is fitted in the throat
with a revolving drum or spindle which has a longitudinal or spiral slot or
groove cut or formed in the surface thereof. The hopper being filled with the
powdered lime on setting the grooved drum or cylinder in rotation on its longi-
tudinal axis it receives and lets fall the slot full of powdered lime, which falls
into the groove in each revolution and refills itself as it revolves, and is
discharged therefrom when inverted. The slot is so arranged as to be capable
of adjustment for regulating the quantity to be delivered at each revolution.
The still or stills from which the chlorine is produced being set in action the
powdered lime falls upon the upper shelf and slides down the shelf on to the
second oblique shelf on the opposite side, from which it again slides on to the
third shelf on the reverse side, and so on until it falls on to the oblique bottom
of the chamber, from whence it is withdrawn through the sluices or "doors at
the bottom of the chamber when sufficiently impregnated with the chlorine;
or the charge may be withdrawn and discharged into the troughs described,
and when not sufficiently saturated it may be elevated therefrom by means of
elevators similar to those used for raising grain and other substances, which

page_text: deliver it on to an oblique. platform, down which it slides into the supply
hopper, from whence it again, passes through the chamber, and so on, as often
as may be required. The horizontal oblique lead shelves may be perforated
or corrugated and jointed to the sides of the chamber than the angle thereof
to the horizon may be varied from the exterior of the chamber by means of
quadrants and racks working through the sides of the chamber, or in any
other convenient manner. In some cases the oblique shelves may. be sta
tionary, and in others motion may be given to them to cause the lime to trickle
from them. It is also proposed to place several panes of glass in the sides of
the chamber to enable the operator to see the progress of the manufacture.
It will be necessary during the operation to keep the supply hopper full or
nearly full of lime or chloride of lime, as the case may be, to prevent the
escape of gas. In place of the revolving slotted cylinder in the supply hopper
valves, slides, or other arrangements may be used for regulating the supply of
lime to the chamber. A small steam engine or other motive power will be
required to work the elevators for raising the powdered lime or to the floor
on the top of the chamber, and to give motion to the grooved
supply hopper.
in the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters 1a.ent, filed
by the said Benjamin Platt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SCOME, I, BENJAMIN
PLATT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Benjamin Platt, Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin Platt, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin
Platt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle for Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORIDE OF LIME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Platt, my executors or administrators, by an

page_text: instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Platt, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say) -
This my said Invention has for its objects certain improvements in the
manufacture of chloride of lime or bleaching powder, and in the apparatus
connected therewith.
Now the ordinary method of manufacturing chloride of lime or bleaching
powder heretofore has been by depositing powdered lime on the bottom of a
large close chamber formed of lead or other suitable material, to which is or are
connected by means of a pipe or pipes one or more stills containing muriatic acid
and oxide of manganese, which, by the application of heat, throw off chlorine
gas into the chamber containing the lime at a slight pressure, the said gas
being absorbed by the lime, thus forming the chloride of lime or bleaching
powder; and heretofore it has been necessary to stop the operation and open
the chamber for the purpose of mixing or turning over the lime to expose
fresh surfaces to the gas, thus losing the whole of the gas in the chamber as
well as poisoning the surrounding air. Now these my said improvements
consist in certain arrangements of apparatus whereby the manufacture may be
a continuous operation in feeding the powdered lime gradually into the
ohamber and allowing the same to fall through the gas from the top of the
chamber in a zig-zag direction, to accomplish which a chamber of lead or
other suitable material of, say 30 feet high by 60 feet long and about 9 feet
wide, will be found a convenient size, like the present chambers put upon its
edge instead of on its flat side, but the dimensions and form may be varied as
circumstances may direct; this chamber is fitted with a number of horizontal
oblique shelves extending from end to end, springing from each side and
intersecting each other alternately. The shelves may be of lead, glass, or
other suitable material, and may be perforated or corrugated. About two
shelves springing from each longitudinal side of the chamber will in most
cases be found sufficient, but of course the number may be varied to suit
the pressure of the gas. The bottom of the chamber is also formed at an
angle to the horizon, and at the lower side of the chamber there are fitted
a number of side openings, slides, or doors for withdrawing the charge, which

page_text: falls into casks ready for packing or other suitable receptacles. On the top of
the chamber a floor is laid to receive the powdered lime from an elevator.
The top of the chamber is provided with a hopper or hoppers immediately
above the highest of the first upper oblique shelf. The longitudinal hopper
inust extend from end to end of the top of the chamber, and is fitted in the
throat with a revolving drum or spindle which has a longitudinal or spiral
slot or groove cut or formed in the surface thereof. The hopper being filled
with the powdered lime on setting the grooved drum or cylinder in rotation
on its longitudinal axis it receives and lets fall the slot full of powdered lime,
which falls into the groove in each revolution and refills itself as it revolves,
and is discharged therefrom when inverted. The slot is so arranged as to be
capable of adjustment for regulating the quantity to be delivered at each
revolution. The still or stills from which the chlorine is produced being set
in action the powdered lime falls upon the upper shelf and slides down the
shelf on to the second oblique shelf on the opposite side, from which it again
slides on to the third shelf on the reverse side, and so on, until it falls on to
the oblique bottom of the chamber. When sufficiently impregnated with the
chlorine the charge is withdrawn and discharged into the casks on troughs
described, and when not sufficiently saturated with the chlorine gas it may be
carried up by means of elevators as before described, similar to those used for
raising grain and other substances, which deliver it on to an oblique platform,
down which it slides into the supply hopper, from whence it again passes
through the chamber, and so on as often as may be required. The horizontal
oblique shelves may be perforated or corrugated, and jointed to the sides of
the chamber that the angle thereof to the horizon may be varied from the
exterior of the chamber by means of quadrants and racks working through
the sides of the chamber, or in any other convenient manner.
Motion may
be also given to the oblique shelves to cause the lime to trickle from them.
It is also proposed to place several panes of glass in the sides of the chamber
to enable the operator to see the progress of the manufacture. It will be
necessary during the operation to keep the supply hopper full or nearly full of
lime or chloride of lime, as the case may be, to prevent the escape of gas. In
place of the revolving slotted cylinder in the supply hopper, valves, slides, or
other arrangements may be used for regulating the supply of lime to the
chamber. A small steam engine or other motive power will be required to
work the elevators for raising the powdered lime from the floor on to the
top of the chamber and to give motion to the grooved shaft in the supply
hopper.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood

page_text: I have hereunto annexed Drawings illustrating an apparatus for the manu-
facture of the chloride of lime constructed according to my said Invention;
like letters marked on the several Drawings are used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the
same, showing the endless band, elevators, and driving gear connected there-
with; and Figure 3 is a top view or plan of the chamber, with the hopper
and the other gear removed, showing a number of openings through which
the powdered lime passes from the hoppers into the chamber.
A, framework for supporting the chamber; B, the timber or planks for the
carcase of chamber and for supporting the inner lining of sheet lead or other
suitable material; C, oblique shelves which are jointed to the vertical sides
of the chamber, and which are fitted with D, counterbalance weights, and
E, a fixed ratchet or tooth on the end of F, counterweight levers, which are
actuated by G, revolving ratchet wheels, the shelves being supported and the
angle thereof regulated by H, quadrant bars, which work through the sides
of the chamber; J, hopper in the bottom or throat of which works K, a
revolving longitudinal grooved spindle or roller, which is used to regulate the
supply of powdered lime to be impregnated by the chlorine gas; L, endless
band working over M and M¹, revolving pulleys, which in the Drawing are
shown having octagonal surfaces; N elevating buckets, which discharge their
contents into P, an oblique spout, down which the powdered lime slides on to
the top of the chamber, from whence it is thrown into the hopper J, and
thence is caused to pass regularly into the interior of the chamber by the
revolving of K longitudinally grooved shaft or roller in the throat of the
hopper; R, sliding ports or covers for S, delivery or discharge openings in
bottom of the chamber;.T, counterweight connected to the sliding cover of
discharge openings S; V, barrels placed to receive the chloride of lime as
withdrawn from the chamber through the openings.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the relative proportions or dimensions, as it will be readily seen the same may
be considerably varied without departing from the Invention; but what
I claim as new and my Invention is,―
Firstly, introducing the powdered lime through an opening or openings in
the top of the chamber, as herein-before described and set forth.
Secondly, the use of the revolving grooved or fluted spindle in the throat of
the hopper for regulating the supply of powdered lime, as herein-before
described and set forth.

page_text: Thirdly, the use of the oblique shelves down which the powdered lime slides,
as berein-before described and set forth.
Fourthly, giving a vibrating or joggling motion to the oblique shelves, as
herein-before described and set forth.
Fifthly, withdrawing the lime after being saturated or partially saturated
with the chlorine gas from the bottom of the chamber as described.
Sixthly, the use of elevators for raising the powdered lime, whether partially
saturated or otherwise, to enable the same to pass through the chamber with
slight labor, as herein-before described.
And, lastly, the continuous manufacture of the chloride of lime or bleaching
powder, and the general combination and construction of the apparatus
therefor, as herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Platt, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
BENJAMIN (L.S.) PLATT.