Apparatus for Washing and Mixing Clay and other Mineral Matter.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 27th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Washing and Mixing Clay and other Mineral Matter.
I, CARL WILHELM FRIEDRICH MAETZ, Architect, of Klausenburg,
Transylvania, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to he as follows:-
:-
The apparatus chiefly comprises a tank (preferably circular) the bottom of which
has the shape of a funnel or of a terrace descending from the circumference towards
the centre, and which is divided into any desired number of concentric compart-
ments by means of thin partitions.
The said partitions are perforated or open, either along their entire height, or
only at their lower part, and provided with corresponding sieves or woven strainers,
the meshes of which depend on the nature of the raw material to be washed and
mixed, and which are graduated so as to become finer or closer from the
circumference towards the centre of the tank.
The circumferential wall of the tank has at its upper edge either an overflow
channel or a perforated tube extending all round and serving to supply the water
necessary for washing. From the said overflow channel or perforated tube, the
water trickles over the inner circumference of the tank to the bottom and thence
flows towards the discharge opening situated in the lowest compartment. On its
downward course the water carries off the fine particles of the raw material to be
washed and mixed, and as the sieves or strainers become finer or the meshes
narrower towards the centre of the tank, the material discharged from the inner-
most or lowest compartment, under hydrostatic pressure, is necessarily of a fine
slimy nature, all coarser parts having been left behind.
The raw material, conglomerate, or mixture of mineral matter to be treated is fed
into the outer and uppermost compartment, in which all the larger stones and other
admixtures remain in a cleansed condition, and from which they can be easily
removed at the end of the operation in a cleansed condition.
In the centre of the tank is mounted a stand or pillar carrying a vertical guide
pin or pivot and a conically toothed ring surrounding the same.
The said guide
pin serves as a pivot for a framework chiefly composed of beams forming a
horizontal square situated above the tank, said framework carrying suitable breaking
and agitating appliances, which extend downward into the various compartments
of the washing and mixing tank. The said agitators or some of them are caused
to revolve on their respective axles, so as to describe a kind of sun and planet
motion around the centre of the tank, by means of suitable toothgear set in motion
by the stationary toothed ring mentioned above, when the framework is caused to
revolve on its guide pin, either by hand, or by horses or other suitable power.
the circumference the said framework runs on friction rollers.
At
To protect the inner compartments and the agitators from impurities, they are
covered with a conical roof, mounted on the framework and revolving with the
sanie. The raw material to be washed or mixed is fed to the external compartment
of the tank by causing it to drop from the said conical roof, from which any
remnants are scraped off by means of a stationary rail or beam extending down the
side of the same.
Dated this 26th day of June 1893.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Washing and Mixing Clay and other Mineral Matter.
I, CARL WILHELM FRIEDRICH MAETZ, Architect, of Klausenburg,
Transylvania, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The apparatus mainly consists of a washing and mixing tank or basin, the
interior of which tapers downwardly in the shape of a series of steps or terraces, or
in funnel shape and which is divided by thin partitions into any suitable number of
concentric compartments.
The partitions between these compartments are perforated or open, either
throughout their height, or in their lower parts only, and provided with suitable
pieces of fabric or wire gauze serving as sieves or strainers, the width of the
meshes of which gradually decreases towards the centre of the tank, according as
the raw material to be washed and mixed becomes finer.
The outer wall of the tank, at its upper edge, is either provided with an overflow
channel or groove, or surrounded by a perforated pipe, through which is admitted
the water required for washing, so that it flows down the inner wall of the tank in
a number of thin jets, and in descending towards the outlet provided in the lower-
most compartment, carries along with it the fine particles of the material to be
washed and mixed; and the meshes of the sieves or strainers becoming more and
more narrow as the lowermost compartment is approached, being narrowest at the
outlet, only material which has been sufficiently washed and stirred, is discharged
as a somewhat thick mass with the assistance of hydrostatic pressure.
The comparatively coarse pieces of stone and other impurities are retained in the
uppermost or outermost compartment, which is the only one into which the raw
material to be washed and mixed is introduced in the first instance. From this
compartment, then, the said coarse particles, after being thoroughly washed, may be
readily removed. In the centre of the tank is firmly secured upon a pillar or
standard, a guide pin or pivot having a projection or shoulder and surrounded by a
conical toothed ring. Supported by the shoulder of the pivot, and arranged to
revolve thereon, is a frame, to which are attached the breaking and stirring devices
extending downwards into the several compartments, and connected with the said
toothed ring by bevel wheels gearing therewith; so that the frame, as it rotates,
sets the said breaking and stirring devices in motion.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1. is a vertical section and
Fig. 2. a plan of the improved apparatus.
a is the washing or mixing tank, subdivided into compartments b, and b².
cc are the partitions, the bottom portions of which are made of or covered with
strong wire gauze, as at dd, while their remaining parts are enveloped in thick
iron or steel plates. e is the overflow channel for the admission of the water; g is
the outlet or orifice for the discharge of the material, after it has been treated in
the apparatus. This orifice is also fitted with wire-gauze; while at the outer wall
of the tank there is provided a damper, which enables the discharge to be entirely
stopped or cut off.
his the frame consisting of beams, to the lower side of which are secured pieces
in the shape of plough-shares i i, breaking devices kk, not unlike the teeth of a
hoe, and stirring or agitating mechanism 11; the arrangement being such, that the
bevel wheels m m, by engaging with the conical toothed ring o, supported by the
central pillar n, and through the medium of bevel wheels p P P p set in motion
the agitators when the frame is revolved, which is here shown as being arranged to
be driven by horse gear, it being supported by the shoulder q, while its arms slide
upon guide rollers rr.

page_text: Over the frame work there is provided a conical roofs for the protection of the
compartments bb and the agitating mechanism from impurities. t is the stripping
rail or beam suspended from the feeding apparatus and adapted to scrape off any
raw material that may have been left on the conical roof.
The frame work may have motion imparted to it by horses or any other source of
motive power.
As the raw material to be washed and mixed is always introduced into the outer
compartment of the tank only, into which extend the plough-shares and hoe teeth
secured to, or suspended from, the frame, and intended to perform only the rough
work, it is necessary to protect the remaining compartments, and also the stirring
and agitating mechanism from impurities. This object is most attained by covering
over the said parts with a species of conical roof, which may be mounted upon the
frame and turn with the same.
The raw material to be washed or mixed, in order to be introduced into the outer
circle or compartment of the tank, is first placed upon the conical roof by which it
is then conducted into the said outer compartment. To prevent any material from
remaining upon the conical roof, a scraping rail or beam is placed over the roof in
an inclined position, being suspended from or connected with the framework of the
apparatus employed for feeding the material to be washed, or to be mixed with
other material previously introduced into the machine, such scraper being so
arranged that it constantly retains the same position, in contact with the roof, from
which it scrapes off any material remaining thereon, causing it to slide down into the
washing tank or basin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A machine for washing and mixing clay and the like, which is divided into
concentric compartments tapering inwardly in the shape of successive terraces or
steps, or in funnel shape, and the partitions between which are wholly or partly
perforated or open, and provided with pieces of fabric or wire gauze acting as
sieves; by which arrangement the material to be washed and mixed is enabled to
descend from one compartment to the next, becoming finer than before at each
stage, so that when it reaches the lowest point of the apparatus it may be discharged
therefrom as a thick mass, in a thoroughly mixed and purified condition, substantially
as described.
2. Breaking and stirring mechanism constructed in accordance with the
arrangement referred to in the preceding claim, said mechanism being mounted
uopn a moveable frame and operated in such a manner that the driving wheels of the
stirring or agitating devices-which are also secured to the said frame, and adapted
to move therewith, and which extend downwards into the several compartments of
the washing and mixing tank-engage with a toothed ring rigidly secured to the
pillar or standard erected in the centre of the tank; so that, as the said frame
revolves, rotary motion is thereby imparted also to the agitating mechanism,
substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1894.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Straud, London, Agents.