IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PULVERISING CLAY AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes &
Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PULVERISING CLAY AND
OTHER MATERIALS."-A communication from abroad by Messieurs Leon
and Edouard Pavin de Lafarge, Merchants, residing at Viviers, Departe-
ment de l'Ardeche, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 28th June 1861, and dated the 25th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th January 1861.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents,
123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PULVERISING CLAY
AND OTHER MATERIALS," a communication to me from abroad by Messieurs
Leon and Edouard Pavin de Lafarge, Merchants, residing at Viviers, Departe-
ment de l'Ardeche, in the Empire of France, to be as follows: -
This Invention relates particularly to grinding, pulverising, or reducing to a
state of powder earth or clay, preparatory to making the same into bricks, tiles,
crucibles, earthenware vessels or tubes of any description, but the machine will
also be applicable to grinding or pulverising grain, stones of fruit, dye woods,
and similar articles.

page_text: The machine or apparatus consists of very strong framework standing in a
vertical position, at the top of which is fixed a hopper to receive the material
to be crushed. Inside this hopper or frame is a number of revolving blades
or cutters, which bruise or crush the material into coarse pieces and then
allows them to fall into another hopper with another set of blades or crushers,
but of a finer description for some kinds of material, and for most purposes
these two processes will be sufficient; but if not, one or more of a finer descrip-
tion may be added, the pulverised material falling through the last into a
receiver ready for use. The revolving blades or cutters are turned by power,
by passing a shaft through the apparatus, and fixing on the ends, projecting
outside, the necessary drums or pulleys; the said shafts may all be turned at
the same speed or varied at discretion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery
Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PULVERISING CLAY AND OTHER
MATERIALS," a communication to me from abroad by Messieurs Leon and
Edouard Pavin de Lafarge. Merchants, residing at Viviers, Departement
de l'Ardeche, in the Empire of France. upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Thomas Ilughes. 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

page_text: 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 date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
This Invention relates particularly to grinding, pulverising, or reducing to a
state of powder earth or clay, preparatory to making the same into bricks, tiles,
crucibles, earthenware vessels or tubes of any description, but the machine will
also be applicable to grinding or pulverising grain, stones of fruit, dye woods,
and similar articles.
The machine or apparatus consists of any strong framework of wood or
metal standing in a vertical position, at the top of which is fixed a receiver
and hopper to receive the material to be crushed. Inside this frame is a
number of revolving blades or cutters, which bruise or crush the material into
coarse pieces, and then allows them to fall to another set of blades or crushers,
but of a finer description; for some kinds of material and for most purposes
these two processes will be suflicient; but if not. one or more of a finer
description may be added, the pulverised material falling through the last into
a receiver ready for use. The revolving blades or cutters are turned by power.
by passing a shaft through the apparatus and fixing on the ends projecting
outside the necessary drums or pulleys: the said shafts may all be turned at
the same speed, or varied at discretion.
The nature of this Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the
figures and letters on the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, in which
Figs. 1 and 2 are front and side elevations of one of the pulverising ma-
chines complete, and Figs. 3, 4, 5. 6. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are separate views
and detached parts of the same drawn to an enlarged scale.
In the aforesaid Figures a are the standards or side frames of the machine;
b, the cross frames or bars; c, plates, boards, or panels which fit on the sides
of the standards, in order to enclose the pulverising apparatus and also the
material acted upon; d, shafts working in suitable bearings attached to the
framework; e, the driving pulley fixed to one of the shafts; f, other pulleys
fixed upon the shafts; i, a strap passing over the pulleys for the purpose of
giving motion to the lower shaft; k, metal drums. bosses, or rings fixed to the
said shafts; 1, cylindrical metal discs or cheeks fixed on each side of the drums k.
each of which discs carry twenty-six cutters or blades, having their cutting
edges at the inner part of the discs, but any other desired number may be em-

page_text: ployed; m are plates of metal fixed to the cross frames and so placed that the
tops of the plates slightly press against the under part of the drums, there
being cutters or blades adjusted on the under part of the plates; n are funnels
or receivers employed for receiving the material to be pulverised; o are hop-
pers put in motion in any suitable manner, for the purpose of causing the
regular distribution of the material; p, a case or funnel for receiving the
matters that have been pulverised by the upper apparatus; q, a case or box of
wood or metal for receiving the pulverised material from the lower or second
apparatus; r, a valve or disc for retaining the material as it is pulverised and
also for allowing its removal; and s are two blocks of metal fitted against
the ends of each receiver or funnel n, and also between the edges of the
discs.
The driving pulley and shaft of the upper apparatus is intended to have
about two hundred revolutions per minute, and the lower shaft about four hun-
dred, but these speeds may be varied to any extent desired. Each of the shafts
d work in two pedestals or bearings, which can be raised or lowered by screws,
so that the cutters or blades on the discs work at their proper distances between
the cutters or blades on the under side of the plates, or the pedestals may be
stationary, and each of the plates adjustable.
In the Figures drawn to an enlarged scale, Figs. 3 and 4, are front and side
elevations of one apparatus for pulverising; Fig. 5 a transverse section of the
drum having on it one of the discs; Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, detached views of the
cutters or blades which are fixed to the discs; Fig. 10, a detached section
shewing the mode of fixing the cutters to the discs, and Fig. 11 a detached
view of the plate and cutters employed under the drum. The cutters which
are fixed to the discs are marked t, they are placed in an angular or sloping
direction and pass through slots or openings u, tapering wider to the outside.
The said cutters, after they are adjusted, are fastened by clamps t, (Figs. 3
and 10) which are hinged on lugs or projections c, on the outsides of the discs
and are pressed upon the cutters by screws. This mode of fixing not only
enables exact adjustment, but allows the cutters to be removed when they
require to be sharpened. The drum k, is keyed or otherwise fixed upon the
shaft d, and the discs are bolted to the drum by bolts, the drum is turned
truly so that it will pass with exactness the top of the plate m, and between
the discs and drum there is an open space to allow the introduction of the
matters to be pulverised. The plate m is fixed to the cross bars by the bolts v
and its top part presses the matters to be pulverised against the drum and on
its lower part as at y, Fig. 4, are two knives or blades z, Fig. 11, which are
adjusted as required, and held firm by screws; the discs are turned truly

page_text: in the interior so that in their rapid movement they may pass with the
greatest exactness nearly in contact with the aforesaid cutters or blades z, and
on their edges or rims are rings or hoops a'. in order to obtain strength. It is
on the drum k, between the discs 1. that the material to be pulverised descends of
itself by its own weight from the funnel or receiver n. and as the drum revolves
the material is drawn against the cutters or blades z on the plate m, and thus the
cutters or blades on the discs, and the cutters or blades on the plate act
as chisels. and triturate or pulverise the material which passes through the
openings above the cutters from the interior to the exterior of the discs.
as it is prevented from passing in any other manner by the two blocks s tapered
as shewn by the dotted lines, and fitting with accuracy the edges of the
rings on the discs, the said blocks being kept firm by the screws c'. The
cutters z are advanced more or less against the cutters f. on the discs accor-
ding as it is desired to obtain the pulverised matter more or less fine, which
adjustment of the cutters is combined with the greater or less opening above
the cutters of the discs. In Fig. 4 the matters to be pulverised are shewn
at b, they are supposed to be descending from the funnel or receiver n.
between the two discs 1, on to the drum k, and passing onwards to be ground
or pulverised by means of the cutters on the discs 1. acting in connection
with the cutters z on the plate m. The process of grinding or pulverising.
does not commence solely against the cutters z. but the moment that this part
of the space of the drum is full the material is bound together and a
number of the cutters or blades t, as shewn in the Figure are acting upon
it, and pulverising it.
In Figs. 1 and 2, there are two pulverising apparati. one above the other.
the first cuts and thins the material so that it falls in powder more or
less fine into the second apparatus which finishes the grinding and pulve-
rising and thus reduces the material to powder more or less impalpable,
which on coming out of the second apparatus falls into jars or other
receptacles destined to receive it, from whence it is afterwards taken as
required for use.
Thus there are two mills one above the other, the upper receiving the
substance to be triturated, and transmitting it of itself to the lower mill
which finishes the grinding or pulverising. The cutters or blades are
closer to the plate m, and the openings in the discs are narrower in the
second apparatus than in the first. by which means the required degree
of fineness is obtained, and as the same quantity of material must pass
through both apparati, the lower apparatus must make up in speed what
it loses in area of openings. The great rapidity given to the apparati

page_text: either accumulation or clogging, and causes the material to escape quickly
through the openings u, and then to fall into the receiver q. Two discs
and cutters with the necessary parts in connection with them are generally
found sufficient for most substances, but three or more may be used when
required.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details as herein given as such may
be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof, but I
claim the machinery or apparatus for triturating, pulverising, or reducing to
powder, clay, or other materials as hèrein described and illustrated in the
accompanying two Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES. (L.S.)