IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MIXING THE MATERIALS FOR MAKING CONCRETE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO MIXING OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dawson Ridley, of No. 21, Arundel Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MIXING THE MATERIALS
FOR MAKING CONCRETE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
MIXING OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 7th March 1865, and dated the 10th September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dawson Ridley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th September 1864.
1, THOMAS DAWSON RIDLEY, of No. 21, Arundel Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MIXING THE
MATERIALS FOR MAKING CONCRETE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
MIXING OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
In carrying out this Invention I employ a vessel or case in the form of a
cylinder or truncated cone, (or of any other similar suitable shape,) mounted
upon a central shaft, to which a continuous revolution is imparted from a
steam engine or other motive power. In the interior of this vessel are fitted
longitudinally (that is, parallel to the shaft) shelves, which are attached to
the inside of the cylinder or case, extending towards but not reaching to the

page_text: central shaft. Tho cylinder or caso is made with both ends wholly or par-
tially open, and if a vessel of a cylindrical, hexagonal, or other parallel sided
figure be used the central shaft or axle must bo mountod at an inclination to
the horizon, so that the materials to bo mixed being thrown into the elevated
ond as the vessel revolves will be continually lifted up by the shelves, from
which thoy will also be as continually falling, and will thus become well
mixed or incorporated together. At the same time it will be obvious that as
the materials are lifted at right angles to the axis of the cylinder and fall off
the shelves perpendicularly (or at right angles to the horizon), they will
gradually reach the lower end of the cylinder, whence thoy will be discharged,
and thus a continuous feed of the materials and a constant delivery of
concrete will be maintained.
If a vessel of a taper or conical form be used the central axis or shaft may
bo mounted parallel to the horizon, and the materials fed into the smaller
end. In this case the inclination of the sides of the vessel will have the same
effect as the inclination of the shaft in the former case, and the materials will
gradually descend towards the larger ond, where the mixed concrete is dis-
charged; but in any case the mixing action of the shelves and the continuous
feed and discharge remain the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Dawson Ridley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, THOMAS
DAWSON RIDLEY, of No. 21, Arundel Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Dawson Ridley, Ter special licenco that I, the said Thomas
Dawson Ridley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as J,
the said Thomas Dawson Ridley, 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 of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MIXING THE MATERIALS FOR
MAKING CONCRETE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MIXING OTHER
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Dawson Ridley, my executors or administrators, by an 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
late of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Dawson Ridley, my 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 fol-
lowing statement in writing, and on reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:-
In carrying out this Invention I employ a vessel or case in the form of a
cylinder or truncated cone, (or of any other similar suitable shape,) mounted
upon a central shaft, to which a continuous revolution is imparted from a
steam engine or other motive power in any convenient manner.
In the
interior of this vessel are fitted longitudinally (that is, parallel to the shaft)
shelves, which are attached to the inside of the cylinder or case, extending
towards but not reaching to the central shaft. The cylinder or case is made
with both ends wholly or partially open, and if a vessel of a cylindrical,
hexagonal, or other parallel sided figure be used the central shaft, or axlo
must be mounted at an inclination to the horizon, so that the materials to be
mixed being thrown into the elevated end, as the vessel revolves will be con-
tinually lifted up by the shelves from which they will also be as continually
falling, and will thus become well mixed or incorporated together. At the same
time it will be obvious that as the materials are lifted at right angles to the
axis of the cylinder and fall off the shelves perpendicularly (or at right angles
to the horizon), they will gradually reach the lower end of the cylinder,
whence they will be discharged, and thus a continuous feed of the materials
and a constant delivery of concrete will be maintained.
If a vessel of a taper or conical form be used the central axis or shaft may
be mounted parallel to the horizon, and the materials be fed into the smaller
end. In this case the inclination of the sides of the vessel will have the same
effect as the inclination of the shaft in the former case, and the materials will
gradually descend towards the larger end, where the mixed concrete is dis-
charged; but in any case the mixing action of the shelves and the continuous
feed and discharge remain the same.

page_text: Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements
in Machinery or Apparatus for Mixing the Materials for Making Concrete,
which Improvements are also applicable to Mixing other Substances," I will
now proceed to describe more 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 distinctly 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, that is to say :-
In the annexed Drawings (which by way of example represent the appa-
ratus as made with a vessel or case of a cylindrical form, and consequently
with the central shaft slightly inclined to the horizon, Figure 1 is a side
elevation of my improved apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 3 is a vertical transverso section, and Figure 4 a longitudinal section
thereof.
a, a, is a vessel or caso of a cylindrical form mounted by means of arms b, b,
on a central shaft c, c, which is slightly inclined to the horizon, and is sup-
ported in bearings, d, which are carried by a wooden frame e, e, mounted
upon wheels ff. Inside the vessel or case a, a, are four longitudinal shelves
ff, bolted to the arms b, b. and also the inner flanges of the vessel a, a,
and which extend in a radial direction from the interior of the same about
midway to the central axle. These shelves may either be formed flat, as
shown in the Drawing, or they may be curved if preferred. 7, 9, is a hopper,
by means of which the concrete or materials to be mixed is or are fed con-
tinuously into tho vessel or casc a, a, and h, h, is a spout by means of which
they are delivered or discharged in a thoroughly mixed state at the lower
end of the machine. The elevated end of the case a, a, is closed from the
rim inwards as far as the shelves f*, f*, extend, and the lower end thereof is
open, but a screen k, k, is placed before it from the top about three-fourths of
its depth downwards to prevent the materials from flying out, and to cause
them to drop into the spout h, h. A continuous revolution is imparted to
the cylindrical vessel or case a, a, by means of an endless belt passing around
the groove i, i, at or near the centre thereof, and also round a pulley or drum
which receives motion direct from the steam engine or other motive power,
or it may be driven in any other convenient manner.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Mixing the Materials for
Making Concrete, which Improvements are also applicable to Mixing other
Substances," together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be

page_text: performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that
I claim as my Invention a revolving vessel or case with internal shelves con-
structed, arranged, and operated substantially as herein-before described and
represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dawson Ridley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
THOS. D. RIDLEY. (L.S.)