Dessicating Oxychloride of Magnesium.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Sept., 1888
of Dessicating Oxychloride of Magnesium.
I, WALTER FRANK RAPHAEL WELDON of 19 Great George Street in the City of
Westminster, Gentleman (a communication to me from Alfred Rangod Pechiney of
Salindres (Gard) in the Republic of France, Chemical Manufacturer) do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the extraction of chlorine and hydrochloric acid from magnesium chloride by the
process patented on the 23rd of June 1884 No. 9306 it is necessary to transform the
said magnesium chloride into oxychloride. This oxychloride when it has been prepared
by the addition of magnesia to a concentrated solution of magnesium chloride ought
as indicated in the before mentioned specification to be dessicated at a relatively
low temperature before being submitted to the high temperature at which its
decomposition is effected under the influence of a current of air or oxygen.
It is now proposed to effect this dessication of oxychloride of magnesium in a furnace
consisting essentially of a tunnel or tube of brickwork which is traversed by a current.
of hot gas, and in which are placed a series of trucks carrying superposed shelves
on which the material to be dessicated is placed in layers of from 5 to 6 centimetres
thick.
This tube, a cross section of which is shown in Figure 1, and a longitudinal section in
Figure 2 (sheets 1 and 2) is furnished at each end with a kind of lock which allows the
trucks to enter and leave without opening direct communication between the interior
of the tube and the atmosphere. The entrance lock A is on the right (as shown
in the drawing sheet 2), and the exit lock B on the left sheet 1. To introduce a
truck, the door a is opened and then shut again after the truck has been put into
the lock. The two dampers c and d are then lifted and by means of a pusher rack C,
worked by a pinion and wheel and a crank, the truck in the lock is made to advance.
This truck after having crossed the space which separates it from truck No. 10,
comes against this truck, pushes the whole train forward and occupies the place of
the last, whilst truck No. 1 is pushed partly into the exit lock B, but remains across

page_text: the slot of the damper d. To withdraw it, it is caught hold of by the hook D
worked from the outside and pulled into the lock B. The damper d is then shut,
the door opened and the truck withdrawn by hand.
The hot gas is circulated in the opposite direction to the movement of the trucks, i.e.
from left to right it enters by the pipe M and leaves by N. It can be produced in any
manner. The products of a special hearth, or waste heat can be employed. It is only
important that the temperature should not exceed 300° Centigrade.
The trucks on passing out of the tube are turned over and emptied.
Filling them is more difficult, for the oxychloride ought to be spread in regular
layers on each of the seven shelves of the trucks. They can however be filled with
rapidity by means of the arrangement shown on sheet 3, 4 and 5. This loading
apparatus is composed of three distinct parts.
1. A measurer A formed of seven equal spaces corresponding to the seven shelves
of the trucks. The bottom of each of these spaces is shut by an inclined door a
the pivot of which is prolonged to the exterior and furnished with a lever. The
seven levers are jointed to a connecting rod B worked by a screw, two bevelled
wheels and a hand wheel C. The seven doors therefore shut and open simultaneously.
2. Below the measurer is a sort of hopper D, also divided into seven compartments,
and mounted on wheels so that it may be moved at each loading.
3. Under these two parts and on a level with the dessicating apparatus is a
reversible frame E on which the truck to be loaded is placed. In the drawing this
frame with the truck is represented as overturned, that is to say in the position in
which it should be to receive the load of oxychloride. But before putting it in this
position the truck should be furnished with a series of sheet iron diaphragms d, to
limit on each shelf the thickness of the layer of oxychloride. One of these
diaphragms is shown in Figures 2*, 3x and 4*. They are formed of thin sheet
iron bent at one extremity and made rigid by angle irons rivetted on the edges.
Their width is one half of that of the trucks because the shelves are divided into
two by longitudinal partitions, as is seen in Figure 1 sheet 1.
They are introduced
The top shelf is not
Two of these diaphragms are therefore placed on each shelf.
end wise into the trucks by making them slide like a drawer.
filled, the top end of the reversible frame being filled instead.
The bottom end of the reversible frame is furnished with two rails R on which the
truck rests. These rails are themselves supported by the lovers and by which the
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truck can be raised so that it can be properly put against the top end of the reversible
frame. The levers and are worked by the larger lever G fixed on the axis 1 of
the lever g, and which is worked by the screw H and crank M.
The diaphragms are fixed by screws n whose heads press against the cross bars O
which form part of the diaphragms. These screws are tightened by hand.
The reversing movement of the frame is given by a toothed wheel, pinion and crank
shown by dotted lines in the drawings.
The working of the apparatus is easy to understand. When the diaphragms have
been placed as before described, the frame is reversed and the hopper D brought
above the truck. Everything then being in the positions shown in the drawing,
and the measurer having been filled with oxychloride, the wheel C is turned: opening
the doors a letting the material drop which guided by the hopper D descends into
the spaces between the shelves and the diaphragmis. The truck is now loaded. The
reversible frame is replaced in its normal position the diaphragms are taken away and
the truck is ready to be placed in the furnace.
3711 1

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus Suitable for Use in the Process
of Dessicating Oxychloride of Magnesium.
Í WALTER FRANK RAPHAEL WELDON of 19 Great George Street in the City of
Westminster, Gentleman, (a communication to me from Alfred Rangod Pechiney of
Salindres (Gard) in the Republic of France Chemical Manufacturer) 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:-
In the extraction of chlorine and hydrochloric acid from magnesium chloride by the
process patented on the 23rd of June 1884, No. 9306, it is necessary, to transform
the said magnesium chloride into oxychloride. This oxychloride when it has been
prepared by the addition of magnesia to a concentrated solution of magnesium chloride
ought as indicated in the before mentioned Specification to be dessicated at a relatively
low temperature before being submitted to the high temperature at which its decom-
position is effected under the influence of a current of air or oxygen. It is now
proposed to effect this dessication of oxychloride of magnesium in a furnace consisting:
essentially of a tunnel or tube of brickwork which is traversed by a current of hot gas,
and in which are placed a series of trucks carrying superposed shelves on which the
material to be dessicated is placed in layers of from 5 to 6 centimetres thick.
This Tube a cross section of which is shewn in figure 1 of the drawings left with
the provisional specification and a longitudinal section in Figure 2 (sheets 1 and 2)
is furnished at each end with a kind of lock which allows the trucks to enter and leave
without opening direct communication between the interior of the tube and the
atmosphere. The entrance lock A is on the right (as shown in the drawing, sheet 2)
and the exit lock B on the left (Sheet 1). To introduce a truck, the door u is
opened and then shut again after the truck has been put into the lock-The two
dampers c and d are then lifted and by means of a pusher rack C worked by a pinion,
and wheel and a crank, the truck in the lock is made to advance. This truck after
having crossed the space which separates it from truck No. 10 comes against this
truck, pushes the whole train forward and occupies the place of the last, whilst
truck No. 1 is pushed partly into the exit lock B but remains across the slot of the
damper d. To withdraw it, it is caught hold of by the hook D worked from the
outside and pulled into the lock B. The damper d is then shut, the door & opened and
the truck withdrawn by hand.
The hot gas is circulated in the opposite direction to the movement of the trucks, i.e.
from left to right. It enters by the pipe M and leaves by N. It can be produced in
any manner. The products of a special hearth, or waste heat can be employed. It is
only important that the temperature should not exceed 300° Centigrade.
The trucks on passing out of the tube are turned over and emptied.
Filling them is more difficult, for the oxychloride ought to be spread in regular
layers on each of the seven shelves of the trucks. They can however be filled with
rapidity by means of the arrangement shown on Sheets 3. 4 and 5. This loading
apparatus is composed of three distinct parts.

page_text: 1. A measurer A-Figure 1x formed of seven equal spaces corresponding to the
seven shelves of the trucks. The bottom of each of these spaces is shut by an
inclined door a the pivot of which is prolonged to the exterior and furnished with a
lever. The seven levers are jointed to a connecting rod B worked by a screw, two
bevelled wheels and a hand wheel C. The seven doors therefore shut and open
simultaneously.
2. Below the measurer is a sort of hopper D also divided in seven compartments,
and mounted on wheels so that it may be moved at each loading.
3. Under these two parts, and on a level with the dessicating apparatus is a
reversible frame E on which the truck to be loaded is placed.
In the drawing this frame with the truck is represented as overturned, that is to say
in the position in which it should be to receive the load of oxychloride. But before
putting it in this position the truck should be furnished with a series of sheet iron
diaphragms d, to limit on each shelf the thickness of the layer of oxychloride. One
of these diaphragms is shown in Figures 2× 3* and 4*. They are formed of thin
sheet iron bent at one extremity and made rigid by angle irons rivetted on the edges.
Their width is one half of that of the trucks because the shelves are divided into
two by longitudinal partitions, as is seen in Figure 1. Sheet 1. Two of these
diaphragms are therefore placed on each shelf. They are introduced endwise to the
trucks by making them slide like a drawer. The top shelf is not filled, the top end
of the reversible frame being filled instead.
The bottom end of the reversible frame is furnished with two rails R on which the
truck rests. These rails are themselves supported by the levers fand g by which the
truck can be raised so that it can be properly put against the top end of the reversible
frame. The levers and g are worked by the larger lever G fixed on the axis I of the
lever g, and which is worked by the screw H and crank M.
The diaphragms are fixed by screws n whose heads press against the cross bars O
which form part of the diaphragms. These screws are tightened by hand.
The reversing movement of the frame is given by a toothed wheel, pinion and crank
shown by dotted lines in the drawings.
The working of the apparatus is easy to understand. When the diaphragms have
been placed as before described, the frame is reversed and the hopper D brought
above the truck-Everything then being in the positions shewn in the drawing and
the measurer having been filled with oxychloride, the wheel C is turned opening the
doors a letting the material drop which guided by the hopper D descends into the
spaces between the shelves and the diaphragms.
The truck is now loaded. The reversible frame is replaced in its normal position,
the diaphragms are taken away and the truck is ready to be placed in the furnace.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In apparatus suitable for use in the process of dessicating oxychloride of
Magnesium the combination substantially as described of the tunnel or tube locks
at either end thereof passages conveying hot air to and from the tunnel or tube
trucks with superposed shelves carrying the material; and apparatus conducting the
trucks through the said tunnel or tube.
2. The combination substantially as described consisting of the conveying trucks
with superposed shelves; the reversible frame; the diaphragms; the measurer and
the divided hopper the whole constituting a mechanism by which oxychloride of
magnesium is suitably disposed for the dessicating process.
Dated this 24th day of Tuil 1000