IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA CLAY AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Flint Orange, of Saint Austell, in the County of
Cornwall, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA CLAY AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 21st May 1880, and dated the 5th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Flint Orange at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1879.
GEORGE FLINT ORANGE, of Saint Austell, in the County of Cornwall, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA CLAY AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention consists in certain improvements in the manufacture and drying
of china clay, ochre, umber, salt, and other substances. In the preparation of these
substances I follow the course usually adopted, so far as regards the washing and
refining; my imppovements having reference principally to the drying and finishing
processes by which the china clay or other substance is conditioned and made
marketable. The china clay or other substance having been refined is conveyed
in the usual way to the pits or tanks provided for its reception, in which it remains
until it has settled and attained a proper consistency. For greater convenience in
working such settling tanks are supplied at one end with a pump or well of
adequate size and depth. My Improvements consist, first, in the use of certain
apparatus called dippers, which are formed of a series of extended surfaces, either
of wood, metal, or other suitable material, flat or ribbed, connected together at the
top and bottom by couplings having a convenient space between each surface open
at the bottom and ends to allow. free contact with the china clay or other substance
when working, and of a free circulation of air in the subsequent drying process.
They are also provided with suitable stops or shoulders to prevent them impinging
upon each other, and abrading the mineral or other substance upon their surfaces.
The dippers when in use are worked by a crane, lever, or other suitable mechanism,
and are immersed in the wet clay or other substance, whereby they receive a
coating of it throughout their whole surfaces; and on their removal from the
clayey or other mass a portion adheres to them. When so charged or loaded the
dippers are removed from the tank or reservoir, and conveyed by a travelling crane,
carriage, or other means provided to a drying chamber where the substance is

page_text: intended to be dried and stored. Here the dippers so charged or weighted are
submitted to the action of the drying apparatus, which when useing air at atmo-
spheric temperature consists of one or more revolving fan or fans of adequate size
For this purpose
and evaporative power worked by steam, water, or other means.
the dippers with their adhering substance are placed in a case of wood, metal, or
masonry constructed to contain them, one end of such case being left open for free
admission of air, while the other end is closed, leaving only an aperture that com-
municates with the revolving fan or fans which are affixed to the caso externally.
If heated air be employed for the drying of the semifluid substances in addition to
or in substitution of the revolving fans, a tube or flue is provided connecting the
open end of the case containing the loaded dippers with a chamber from which the
heated air is supplied. Such heated air may be obtained and a drying current
generated either directly from a furnace specially constructed worked in com-
bination with the fans, or by the escaping force of a jet of steam directed into the
drying chamber containing the dippers. In useing air considerably heated, I prefer
to close the drying chamber at the top, and allow the moisture and cooled air to
escape from apertures placed at the bottom of such drying chamber. In either caso
the hot or cold air is drawn or forced through the open spaces between the loaded
dippers, and consequently over the china clay or other substance covering their
surfaces, whereby the said clay or other substance is rapidly and effectually dried.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Flint Orange in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
June 1880.
GEORGE FLINT ORANGE, of Saint Austell, in the County of Cornwall, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA CLAY AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES."
ول
The said Invention consists in certain improvements in apparatus for the manu-
facture and drying of china clay, ochre, umber, salt, and other substances. In the
preparation of these substances I follow the course usually adopted, so far as regards
the washing and refining, my improvements having reference principally to the
drying and finishing processes by which the china clay or other substances is
conditioned and made marketable. The china clay or other substance having been
refined is conveyed in the usual way to the pits or tanks provided for its reception,
in which it remains until it has settled and attained a proper consistency. When
the clay or other substance is intended to be dried at ordinary atmospheric
temperature, for greater convenience in working such settling tanks are supplied at
one end with a sump or well of adequate size and depth.
This Invention includes the use of apparatus for drying semi fluid substances,
either by means of hot or cold air.
When drying at ordinary atmospheric temperature my improvements consist in
the use of certain apparatus called dippers, which are formed of a series of extended
surfaces either of metal or other suitable materials, flat or ribbed, connected together
by couplings, having a convenient space between each surface, open at bottom and
onds to allow free contact with the china clay or other substance when immersed,
and of a free circulation of air in the subsequent drying process.
They are also provided with suitable stops or shoulders to prevent them impinging
upon each other, and abraiding the mineral or other substance upon their surfaces.
These dippers when in use are worked by a crane, lever, or other suitable mechanism
and are immersed in the wet clay or other substance whereby they receive a coating
of it throughout their whole surfaces, and on their removal from the clayey or
other mass a portion adheres to them. When so charged or loaded the dippers are
removed from the tank or reservoir and conveyed by a travelling crane, carriage,
or other means to a drying chamber where the substance is intended to be dried.
There the dippers so charged are submitted to the action of one or more revolving
fan or fans of adequate size and evaporative power worked by steam, water, or
other means; for this purpose the dippers with their adhering substance are placed
in a case of wood or other suitable material constructed to contain them, one end
of such case being left open for free admission of air while the other end is closed
leaving only an aperture that communicates with the revolving fan or fans which
are attached to the case. As these fans revolve at a high velocity, a strong current
of air is drawn or forced through the openings in the dippers and consequently over
the clay covering their surfaces. If heated air be employed for the drying of the
semifluid substances a tube or flue is provided connecting the open end of the case
containing the dippers with a chamber from which the heated air is supplied. In
either case the hot or cold air is drawn or forced through the open spaces between
the loaded dippers and consequently over the clay or other substance covering their
surfaces whereby the said clay or other substance is rapidly dried.
When drying clay or other substances by the use of air considerably heated I
employ apparatus differently constructed.
In this case I provide an extensive chamber for the admission of such heated air
constructed with great solidity to prevent radiation, closed at the top, and having
openings at the side for the admission of the highly heated air and also for the
escape of the generated vapour. Extending the whole length of such chamber I fix

page_text: a shaft secured in bearings and strengthened to resist vibration; upon such shaft I
place a number of circular discs of unoxidisable metal or other suitable material
separated from each other by collars or washers and secured at greater or less
distances according to the nature of the material intended to be dried; such circular
discs are caused to revolve by the application of steam or water power to the shaft
carrying the discs. This shaft with its connected discs I carry at the highest
available point of the hot air chamber in order that the discs may always revolve
in the highest and hottest stratum of air. At the lower part of one end of the
. chamber I provide an aperture for the admission of semi-circular troughs or wagons
of galvanized iron or other suitable material of large capacity to contain the clay or
.other substance to be dried and which are brought into and removed from the
chamber by a tramway upon wrought iron carriages from which they can be
readily detached. While the-clay or other substance is in process of drying, the
aperture opening into the hot air chamber is kept closed by means of folding iron
doors. The scini-circular troughs containing the clay or other substance brought
from the pits or tanks are raised from their travelling frames by means of lifting
screws worked by worm and wheel or by rack and pinion that are fixed underneath
the troughs and between the lines of rail; these elevate the semicircular troughs to
the level of the disc-bearing shaft above by which means the revolving discs become
.partially immersed in and transmit their heat to the clay or other substance. As
the discs during the drying process are continually revolving at each revolution the
heat absorbed by the upper half of the disc in its motion through the highest and
hottest stratum of air is given out in its descent to the clay or other mass, and this
may be done at any required velocity, and at a uniform high temperature. By
diminishing the space between the revolving discs great extension of heating surface
may be obtained and the clay or other substance will be rapidly and effectually
dried. According to the nature of the substance to be acted upon the hot air
supplied to the drying chamber may be either moist or dry; in the one case the
heat is supplied by steam injected into tubes passing through heated flues, and
admitted into an upright flue leading to the chamber, or if hot and dry beat be
required it is supplied through a coil or other arrangement of pipes passing through
a furnace, such heated air being put in motion either by an ordinary draught or
forced through the pipes by a revolving fun.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawing, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in the Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1 of the Drawing represents a longitudinal vertical section of a hot air
chamber with my said improved apparatus affixed.
A is the hot air chamber; B, B, B; are the discs; C, C, shew the semicircular
troughs; and D, D, are the wrought iron carriages to carry same; E, E, E, E, are
elevating screws to raise the troughs.; F is a worm and wheel shaft for raising and
lowering these screws; G is the disc shaft; H is a transverse beam of wrought iron
with bearing to steady disc shaft and prevent oscillation. Motion is imparted to
the disc-bearing shaft G by a pulley (L) keyed on to the same, and connected by a
belt with a pair of fast and loose pulleys fixed on the fly wheel shaft of a steam
engine or other motive power; I, I, I, are strong square metal washers to fit the
disc shaft, and they are employed to separate the discs from each other and to keep
them at regular distances apart; K, K, K, K, are wrought iron feet attached to the
semicircular troughs in such a manner that when the troughs rest upon their frames
or carriages the feet rest upon the axles of the carriage, and when the troughs are
elevated by the action of the screws to the disc shaft above the feet have a bearing
upon the ends of the risers (P) attached to the heads of the elevating screws E;
M, M, M, M, are cast iron socket bearings to carry the worms and wheels on the
shaft F that give motion to the elevating screws. E; N is a handle for turning the
worm and wheel shaft. Motion may also be imparted to this shaft by a small
pulley fixed on the fly wheel shaft of engine; 0, 0, 0, 0, are wells for the reception

page_text: of the screws when lowered; R represents one of the rails bearing the carriages
with troughs, the tramway being continued outward from the entrance of the hot
air chamber to the tanks or reservoirs containing the wet clay or other substances,
and communicating also with the shed for storing the same when dried. This
Figure shews two of the troughs, viz., one upon its travelling carriage, and the
other elevated with the contained clay or other substance into position for
drying.
Figure 2 is an end view of the hot air chamber A and apparatus; B is face view
of disc; and C is an end view of a semicircular trough; G, section of the disc shaft;
H, longitudinal view of transverse beam for support of the disc-bearing shaft; d
and e represent respectively an axle and pair of wheels forming part of one of the
carriages D, D; P indicates the forin and position of the riser attached to the head
of one of the elevating screws, which when raised above the level of the axle takes
a portion of the weight of the trough and contents, and sustains them while elevated
to the disc shaft during the drying process. Two screws with their attached risers
placed at suitable distances are employed in lifting each trough and contents, as
shewn in Fig. 1. Q is a section of the worm and wheel shaft; R, the mail carrying
the troughs on their travelling carriages. The whole of the apparatus contained in
the hot air chamber A that is in contact with the clay or other substance is of
galvanized iron or other unoxidisable substance to prevent the formation of rust
and consequent discoloration of the substance dried.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal view of one of the dippers S, of which a series
are grouped together and secured in position by the transverse bars T.
Figure 4 shews an end view of a series of the dippers S secured in position by
the transverse bars T, and also by the stops or shoulders U. These transverse bars
are also employed for lifting the groups of dippers into and out of the settling pits
and the drying case or chamber.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe that my Invention consists in the combined use of apparatus for
increasing the area of the drying surfaces of semifluid masses of mineral or other
substance, whereby such masses may be broken up into sheets or lamina, and
thereby become subjected to increased atmospheric influence, and after effecting
such enlargement or extension of drying surface by further mechanical means to
increase the velocity and temperature of the atmospheric currents acting upon
such substances, so as more rapidly and cheaply to evaporate the contained
moisture.
To accomplish these objects I do not confine myself to the particular combination
of mechanism herein described or otherwise, and I reserve the right to alter or vary
any detail of the mechanism to be applied for the purposes named, but I claim, the
application of the principle of the minute mechanical division or separation of masses
of semi fluid mineral or other substance, and of their extension of surface for the
more convenient and economical evaporation of the contained moisture, and also
the application of mechanically generated currents of hot or cold air, for further
increasing the rapidity of such evaporating action, substantially in the maoner
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Flint Orange, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
GEORGE FLINT ORANGE. (L.S.)