IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS FROM SUBSTANCES OR MATTERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE THE AIR PUMP HAS BEEN HITHERTO EMPLOYED
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward William Kemble Turner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th November 1854.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM KEMBLE TURNER, of No. 31, Praed Street, Paddington,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS FROM SUBSTANCES OR
MATTERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
WHERE THE AIR PUMP HAS BEEN HITHERTO EMPLOYED," to be as follows:—
This Invention or improvements consists of an extension of the principle
described in former Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date January
31st, 1854, entitled, for treating gold and other ores, and therein denominated
the (pneumatic separator), and is applied to separating or straining mercury,
and its action is substantially as follows:-I take a cylinder, which is attach'd
to a steam boiler by a pipe and stop-cock, by which pipe steam is admitted into
the cylinder, the air within the cylinder being forced out through an escape
valve, which is then closed, and the steam shut off from the boiler, and that
within the cylinder condensed, and a vacuum thus produced. This vessel is
attach'd by a pipe and stop-cock to another, call'd a receiver, upon the top of
which is placed a perforated plate, to support the filtering or straining media.
Above the receiver is placed another vessel, for the purpose of holding the

page_text: article to be operated upon. Now, by opening the communication between
the cylinder and receiver, the air within the receiver becomes rarefied, by
occupying the vacuum created within the cylinder, whereupon the super-
incumbent pressure above causes the more liquid portion of the article
operated upon to pass into the receiver, leaving the residue upon the strainer.
A modification of the above principle is also useful for domestic and other
purposes where it is not convenient to employ steam to obtain the vacuum;
therefore, I take a cylinder open at one end, and a piston is fitted therein.
The piston rod forms a screw; which works through a box fix'd into a bow or
cross piece above the cylinder; this screw is work'd by a lever or handle.
A greater power is thus obtained, whereby the piston is work'd or screw'd up
and down. The advantage obtained by this arrangement is, that a larger cylin-
der can be work'd by hand labor, and by either of these methods a vacuum
is more easily and readily produced than by the ordinary method of pumping.
I therefore propose to employ the means as described to any or all purposes
wherein the air pump has hitherto been employed, using the steam method
where a large and rapid vacuum is. required; and the mechanical. method as
described when a smaller amount of vacuum only is required., This principle,
with certain modifications of apparatus suitable to the purpose for which it may
be employed, I apply to the separation of any liquids or fluids from substances
or matters. In some instances I prefer to use cane as the filtering media;
this may be in connexion with a flexible or other tube, and made to float or
not, as required. When it is required. to withdraw air, &c. from any vessel
having a cover, I place india-rubber or some other flexible material to form
an air-tight joint.