IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF ARTIFICIAL ASPHALTUM AND OTHER LIKE COMPOSITIONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beachim Beauchamp, of Frome, in the County
of Somerset, Colliery Proprietor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF ARTIFICIAL ASPHALTUM AND
OTHER LIKE COMPOSITIONS."
Sealed the 9th May 1879, and dated the 3rd December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beachim Beau-
champ at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December
1878.
WILLIAM BEACHIM BEAUCHAMP, of Frome, in the County of Somerset, Colliery
Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF
ARTIFICIAL ASPHALTUM AND OTHER LIKE COMPOSITIONS."
My Invention relates to improved apparatus to be used in the preparation of an
asphalte or composition intended more particularly for making or covering floors,
footpaths, roads, and similar surfaces, by the treatment and admixture of gravel,
ashes, cement, or sand and tar, pitch, or other like materials. Heretofore the
several operations involved in the process, viz., the heating or drying of the gravel
or sand and the mixing therewith of boiled tar or pitch (for example) have been
performed by hand.
Now my Invention has for its object the production of an apparatus by means of
which the whole of the operations are carried on continuously in an automatic
manner, whereby increased facility and economy in the conduct of the process and
more satisfactory results are obtained.
In carrying out my Invention in order to effect this object, the combined
apparatus is constructed and arranged in the following manner :-
A long hollow cylinder is employed, which is mounted so as to be capable of
receiving rotary motion in a chamber heated by a furnace or otherwise. Into this
cylinder, which is by preference inclined, is introduced at one extremity the gravel
or sand (for example) to be heated or dried, and rotary motion being imparted to
Price d

page_text: the cylinder the whole of its contents are continuously displaced and exposed in
turn to the action of the heat and carried along through the cylinder to the oppo-
site end. The cylinder is perforated in its sides at the delivery end for a sufficient
length, projecting beyond the heated chamber (when such is employed) for the
purpose of allowing of the separation and escape of the dust from the gravel or
sand.
As the material is discharged from the heating or drying cylinder it falls or is
conducted into another cylinder or trough which is provided for the purpose of
effecting the admixture therewith of boiled tar, pitch, or similar material, the same
being added at or about the entrance to the second or mixing cylinder or trough
from a boiler situate above or adjacent to the heated chamber.
The mixing cylinder or trough is also, by preference, inclined, the delivery end
being arranged at a greater elevation than the inlet end, and in the said cylinder or
trough is fitted a shaft having spiral or other suitable vanes or blades, and to which
rotary motion is imparted for the purpose of effecting the mixing and incorporating
of the several ingredients, and elevating or otherwise delivering the mixture to any
required place.
Valves or apparatus are provided for regulating the supply of gravel or sand to
the heating or drying cylinder and for regulating the discharge of the pitch or tar
from the boiler.
If desired, the heating or drying cylinder may be stationary and may be made
in the form of a plate or plates, either stationary or moveable, and either horizontal
or inclined as is found most suitable. The heating or drying cylinder may be
heated by an internal fire or otherwise in lieu of being placed in a heated chamber,
and the relative position of the different parts may be varied according to the
exigencies of particular cases.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Beachim Beauchamp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd June 1879.
WILLIAM BEACHIM BEAUCHAMP, of Frome, in the County of Somerset, Colliery
Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF
ARTIFICIAL ASPHALTUM AND OTHER LIKE COMPOSITIONS."
My said Invention relates to improved apparatus to be used in the preparation
of an asphalte or composition intended more particularly for making or covering
floors, footpaths, roads, and similar surfaces by the treatment and admixture of
gravel, ashes, cement, or sand, and tar, pitch, or other like materials. Heretofore
the several operations involved in the process, videlicet, the heating or drying of the
gravel or sand and the mixing therewith of boiled tar or pitch (for example) have
been performed by hand. Now my said Invention has for its object the production
of an apparatus by means of which the whole of the operations are carried on con-

page_text: tinuously in an automatic manner, whereby increased facility and economy in the
conduct of the process and more satisfactory results are obtained.
In carrying out my said Invention in order to effect this object, the combined
apparatus is constructed and arranged in the following manner :-
A long hollow cylinder is employed, which is mounted so as to be capable of
receiving rotary motion in a chamber heated by a furnace or otherwise. Into this
cylinder, which is by preference inclined, is introduced at one extremity the gravel
or sand (for example) to be heated or dried, and rotary motion being imparted to
the cylinder the whole of its contents are continuously displaced and exposed in
turn to the action of the heat, and carried along through the cylinder to the oppo-
site end. The cylinder is perforated in its sides at the delivery end for a sufficient
length, projecting beyond the heated chamber (when such is employed) for the
purpose of allowing of the separation and escape of the dust from the gravel or
sand. As the material is discharged from the heating or drying cylinder it falls or
is conducted into another cylinder or trough which is provided for the purpose of
effecting the admixture therewith of boiled tar, pitch, or similar material, the same
being added at or about the entrance to the second or mixing cylinder or trough
from a boiler situate above or adjacent to the heated chamber.
The mixing cylinder or trough is also by preference inclined, the delivery end
being arranged at a greater elevation than the inlet end, and in the said cylinder
or trough is fitted a shaft having spiral or other suitable vanes or blades, and to
which rotary motion is imparted for the purpose of effecting the mixing and
incorporating of the several ingredients, and elevating or otherwise delivering the
mixture to any required place.
Valves or apparatus are provided for regulating the supply of gravel or sand to
the heating or drying cylinder, and for regulating the discharge of the pitch or tar
from the boiler.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side elevation of an appara-
tus for the preparation of artificial asphaltum constructed according to my said
Invention. Figure 2 is a plan; and Figure 3, a central longitudinal section of the
same.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus (the section being
taken along the line 1-2 in Figure 2). Figure 5 is a transverse section taken
along the line 3-4 (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4), and Figure 6 is a transverse section
taken along the line 5-6 (Figures 1 and 3).
A is a hollow cylinder fast on an inclined shaft B, which is mounted so as to be
free to rotate in bearings at a, a, formed in or carried by an outer casing C.
This cylinder (which is hereinafter designated the "heating or drying cylinder")
is intended for the reception of the gravel or sand (for example) to be heated or
dried, and which is placed in the hopper D, and on rotary motion being imparted
to the shaft B the said material is gradually introduced into the cylinder by means
of the feeding worm E on the shaft B working in the stationary tube E¹, and as
the cylinder partakes of the motion of the shaft the material thus supplied is con-
tinuously displaced and carried along through the cylinder to the lower or delivery
endl. The casing C which encloses the cylinder A forms for the greater portion of its
length or chamber F which is lined with fire brick, and is heated by a furnace G, the
products of combustion from such furnace traversing the chamber F so as to impart
heat to the moving contents of the cylinder A, the walls of which they envelop in
their passage, and finally escaping at the chimney b. Beyond the heated chamber F
the casing forms a receptacle H for any dust which may be conducted along with
the gravel or sand, the sides of that portion of the cylinder which extends beyond
the said heated chamber being perforated, as shewn at c for the separation and
escape of such dust from the gravel or sand into the receptacle H. The gravel or

page_text: sand on arriving at the lower or delivery end of the heated cylinder A is conducted
by a shoot I into the lower end of an inclined trough K (hereinafter designated the
mixing trough), in which the gravel or sand is to be mixed with boiled tar or pitch
(for example), the same being contained in a boiler L arranged over the furnace G,
and being conducted from the said boiler into the mixing trough K through a pipe d
fitted with a cock e for the facility of regulating the supply of the tar or pitch.
In the mixing trough K is mounted, so as to be free to revolve, an archimedian
screw M, by the rotation of which the intimate admixture is effected of the gravel
or sand discharged from the cylinder A and the tar or pitch supplied from the
boiler L, and the mixture is caused to ascend the trough K and is discharged from
its upper end into any convenient conduit or receptacle.
In the example of apparatus illustrated in my Drawings, rotary motion is
imparted to the screw M by means of bevel gearing N from the shaft O driven by
any suitable prime mover, and motion is transmitted from the screw M to the
heating or drying cylinder A by means of spur gearing P, but any other convenient
means may be employed for the purpose in substitution for the arrangement
indicated.
If desired, the heating or drying cylinder may be stationary and be provided
with internal rotatory agitators or propellers for displacing its contents, in order to
expose every portion thereof to the action of the heat, and for facilitating their
passage through and discharge from the heating or drying cylinder. In lieu also of
making the cylinder inclined, it may be placed horizontally, and it may further be
so arranged as to be heated by an internal furnace or otherwise in lieu of by a
heated chamber, and the relative position of the different parts may be varied
according to the exigencies of particular cases.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,―
The employment in the preparation of artificial asphaltum and other like com-
positions of a combined apparatus constructed and arranged so as to effect the
heating and drying of the gravel, or sand, or equivalent material, and the admixture
therewith of boiled tar, pitch, or equivalent substance, and the delivery of the
mixture thus formed from the apparatus, the whole series of operations being
carried on continuously and in an automatic manner, substantially as herein-before
described..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beachim Beauchamp, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Third day of May, One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy nine.
W. B. BEAUCHAMP. (L.S.)