IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND TREATING POTTERS' CLAY AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Boulton, of Burslem, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR PREPARING AND TREATING POTTERS' CLAY AND OTHER SIMILAR
MATERIALS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Boulton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th June 1880.
WILLIAM BOULTON, of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND TREATING POTTERS'
CLAY AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing
and treating potters' clay, and other similar materials, and which apparatus is also
applicable to other useful purposes, such as the treating of fluids and the like.
In order that the slop clay may be prepared ready for being pumped into the
filtering press, I cause it to be treated in a sifting apparatus in which no glasses
are required, and which can be run at a higher speed and take up less room than
similar apparatus hitherto in use having glasses, or those which have wood springs,
and are used in corn-mills and for other purposes.
The sifting apparatus is constructed with strong end frames in which are fitted
upper and lower centre-points, which carry upper and lower articulated sifter
frames and on which they oscillate, and which can be made with one or more
lawns, the oscillation being imparted by means of an eccentric or crank, two
springs being attached to each end of the lower frame to keep it steady, and the
articulation or connection of both frames complete when running at a high speed.
The clay in its further treatment is forced into the filtering press by a pumping
apparatus, the arrangement of which gives readier access to the valves, and a better
method of securing them in position, and requires a less number than in similar
apparatus hitherto used for this purpose, and by which, moreover, the accumulation
of air under the ram is prevented, a more uniform suction and pressure diminishing

page_text: or entirely dispensing with overflow when filling a filter-press is obtained, and by
which also less power is required for a given amount of work.
The valve-boxes and covers of the pumping apparatus may be made of india-
rubber or any other suitable material, and the covers are fitted in such a position
as that the valves can be readily got at. The valve-plates may be made of either
steel or hard chilled cast iron, or of porcelain, glass, or any other suitable hard
substance, and they are fitted with valves which may be made of any suitable
material, and which are screwed down or secured in position by screw bolts. An
air chamber is provided in connection with the suction chambar in order to give
a more uniform suction. Any required pump-pressure is obtained by the use of
cheese-weights on the ram-rod, the weighted ram-rod being returned for a new
stroke by means of a cam-eccentric, which may be made of iron or other suitable
hard material, and which will permit of the ram coming down only such a
distance as to deliver just sufficient material to feed a press with under its required
pressure.
A modified arrangement can be driven by the usual excentric and rod, allowing
all the spare material to pass over the overflow valve; or I can combine there-
with either a flat or spiral in connection with the ram-rod, or a back spring to
the eccentric to minimise the overflow. In this modification the suction, delivery,
overflow, and back-pressure valves may be of the construction herein before
described. If the spring (or springs) are used at such time and in degree as
the pressure is accelerated, it (or they) bends or gives way accordingly, and thus
diminishes the stroke of the ram to altogether or partially prevent overflow.
Similarly formed valves may be used for raising any fluid matter which requires
a great amount of labor with a comparatively small steam-cylinder, by having a far
greater engine-piston-speed than that of the pump-ram, which may be worked with
a double pump on one side of the engine, or by a crank-shaft to the steam-cylinder
and pump on each side of the engine in either a horizontal or vertical position.
For this kind of pump no overflow is required, and it may be driven from an
ordinary crank-pin or eccentric as most convenient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Boulton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
December 1880.
WILLIAM BOULTON, of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND TREATING POTTERS'
CLAY AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing
and treating potters' clay and other similar materials, and which apparatus is also
applicable to other useful purposes, such as the treating of fluids and the like.
In order that that the slop-clay may be prepared ready for being pumped into the
filtering press, I cause it to be treated in a sifting apparatus in which no glasses are
required, and which can be run at a higher speed and take up less room than
similar apparatus hitherto in use having glasses, or those which have wood springs,
and are used in corn-mills and for other purposes.
The sifting apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in Figures
1 and 2, and it is constructed with strong end frames 1 in which are fitted upper
and lower centre points 2, 3, which carry upper and lower articulated sifter-
frames 4, 5, and on which they oscillate, and which can be made with one or more
lawns, the oscillation being imparted by means of an eccentric or crank 6, and a
connecting rod 7, two springs 8 being attached to each end of the lower frame 5 to
keep it steady, and the articulation or connection of both frames complete when
running at a high speed. Or lawns may be suspended from rods or chains at
suitable points worked by the same excentric.
The clay in its further treatment is forced into the filtering press by a pumping
apparatus, the arrangement of which gives readier access to the valves, and a
better method of securing them in position, and requires a less number than in
similar apparatus hitherto used for this purpose, and by which moreover, the
accumulation of air under the ram is prevented, a more uniform suction and
pressure diminishing or entirely dispensing with overflow when filling a filter-press
is obtained, and by which also less power is required for a given amount of work.
The valve boxes 9 and covers 10 of the pumping apparatus (let reference now be
had to Figures 3 and 4) may be made of india rubber, or any other suitable
material, and the covers are fitted in such a position, as shewn on the Drawing, as
that the valves can be readily got at. The valve plates 11 may be made of either
steel or hard chilled cast iron, or of porcelain, glass, or any other suitable hard
substance, and they are fitted with valves, which may be made of any suitable
material, and which are screwed down or secured in position by screw bolts, as
shewn. An air chamber 12 is provided in connection with the suction chamber in
order to give a more uniform suction. Any required pump pressure is obtained by
the use of cheese weights 13 on the ram rod 14, the weighted ram rod being
returned for a new stroke by means of a cam eccentric 15, which may be made of
iron or other suitable hard material, and which will permit of the ram coming
down only such a distance as to deliver just sufficient material to feed a press with
under its required pressure. Or the ram and the weights may be lifted by an
ordinary eccentric, cam, or crank with chain or belts and pulleys, or with quadrant
and connecting rods at any convenient distance, a spiral spring or other flexible
medium being used to form a cushion, and prevent a sudden shock on the return
stroke.
A modified arrangement, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, can be driven by the usual
eccentric and rod, allowing all the spare material to pass over the overflow valve 16,
or I can combine therewith either a flat or spiral spring 17 in connection with the

page_text: ram rod 14, as shewn in these Figures, or a back spring to the eccentric to minimise
the overflow. In this modification the suction, delivery, overflow 16, and back
pressure 18 valves may be of the construction hereinbefore described. If the spring
17 is used at such time and in degree as the pressure is accelerated, it bends or
gives way accordingly, and thus diminishes the stroke of the ram to altogether or
partially prevent overflow.
Similarly formed valves may be used for raising any fluid matter which requires
a great amount of labor with a comparatively small steam cylinder, by having a far
greater engine piston speed than that of the pump ram, which may be worked (as
shewn in Figures 7 and 8) with a double pump on one side of the engine, or by a
crank shaft to the steam cylinder and pump on each side of the engine in either a
horizontal or vertical position.
For this kind of pump no overflow is required, and it may be driven from an
ordinary crank pin or eccentric as most convenient.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The hereinbefore described improvements in machinery or apparatus for
preparing and treating potters' clay and other similar materials, substantially
as described and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings; and
especially I claim as the principle or main feature of my Invention an uniform
weighted ram to prevent the necessity of employing overflow valves in forcing
pumps, whether lifted by cam, direct steam, or by any other suitable appliance.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Boulton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM BOULTON. (L.S.)