Improved Apparatus for Pounding or Crushing and Purifying Clay and like Materials or Substances.
Year: 1898

page_text: 1000
Date of Application, 25th
Jun July, 1000
Complate Specification Left 25th May 1899-Accepted. 22nd July, 1899
Date of Application, on ouly, 1000
Complete Specification Left 25th May 1899-Accepted. 22nd July, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Pounding or Crushing and Purifying Clay
and like Materials or Substances.
I, JOSEPH THOMPSON, Brickmaker, of 1, Croft Terrace, South Shields, in the
County of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for pounding or crushing and purifying
clay and like materials or substances, the object being to provide an apparatus
that will effect the reduction of the material to a very fine state simultaneously
with the separation of stones or foreign matters that may be mixed with the
material in its rough state. It is specially devised for treating dried or partially
dried clay for brick-making, though it may be advantageously adopted for
operating on other materials such as those used in the production of artificial or
block fuel.
The invention comprises the combination of concentric perforated cylinders
furnished with movable balls or the like for breaking and pulverising the
material in the cylinders as they are revolved, the material being delivered to one
cylinder and passing in a state of increasing fineness from each to the succeeding
one until it finally leaves the apparatus as powder, the refuse stones and so forth
meanwhile being discharged at a suitable outlet or outlets.
According to one form of my invention for operating on clay, I employ two
cylinders-one within the other concentrically-both adapted to be revolved
together for which purpose they are mounted on a shaft suitably supported and
actuated by appropriate mechanism. In each of these cylinders, which are closed
at the ends except as hereafter stated, I locate loose.balls or the equivalent for
breaking and reducing the clay by their impact as the cylinders revolve. The
inner cylinder, or that having the lesser diameter, is of a simple construction
being built of an iron or steel plate or plates circumferentially perforated for the
whole length while at one end an inlet is arranged for the rough clay and at
the other an outlet for the refuse. The material that passes through the perfora-
tions of this cylinder enters the other or outer cylinder which is specially con-
structed to ensure that the clay discharged from it is reduced to the required
degree of fineness. It is built of a series of circumferentially perforated iron or
steel plates overlapping at the contiguous edges or sides and so secured to longi-
tudinal bars or beams of iron or steel that a space or opening intervenes between
the plates at intervals along the length of the cylinder. These longitudinal bars
or beams are fastened to similar ones in turn connected to each other by circular
pieces or ties spaced apart so that openings result corresponding with those
between the perforated plates. These ties and last mentioned bars or beams, which
may be of wood, in addition to supporting the perforated plates, serve to
cylinder of wire or other gauze of fine mesh fastened thereto in a convenient
manner. Thus it will be seen that the outer cylinder is a kind of compound
cylinder since it consists of a cylinder of perforated plates surrounded by another
of gauze, communication between them being afforded by the perforations in, and
the longitudinal openings between, the plates. An outlet er outlets is or are or
carry
a

page_text: may be provided in the end or ends of the plated cylinder for the discharge of
refuse.
The perforations of the inner cylinder are greater than those in the outer while
the mesh of the gauze is such as to only allow the clay to escape when reduced to
the desired extent.
The balls may be of iron, steel, ballast or any other suitable material and are
of such weight as to effectually break and pulverise the clay and any soft free-
stone or other uninjurious matter that may be mixed with it, but not so heavy
as to break limestone, ironstone and so forth.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-As the cylinders revolve, the
rough clay is fed into the inner one and is therein broken up and crushed by its
own impact and that of the balls and any refuse stones present until it is small
enough and passes through the perforations into the outer cylinder wherein it is
similarly treated, further reduction ensuing until the clay passes through the
perforations in the plates onto the gauze through which it falls pulverised to the
required fineness. Some clay will or may pass or fall onto the gauze that is
too large to pass through it, in which case it will be returned to the perforated
cylinder, through the openings therein, for further reduction.
The refuse stone retained in the cylinders during these operations is ejected or
discharged therefrom as they get full and as fresh clay is fed.
I have described what I anticipate will be the best form of my invention, but
of course various modifications may be evolved without departing from its nature;
for example, the cylinders, instead of being revolved together, might be arranged
to be revolved separately in the same or opposite directions, or again instead of
being concentrically disposed they might be arranged in line on one shaft and so
that one might feed the one immediately following, or they might be arranged
as separate machines but in any case the clay in passing through the cylinders
is effectually pulverised and discharged as powder, free from stones and like
foreign matters, preparatory to its subsequent treatment in the known way or
ways.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1898.
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents.
Improved Apparatus for Pounding or Crushing and Purifying Clay
and like Materials or Substances.
I, JOSEPH THOMPSON, Brickmaker, formerly of 1, Croft Terrace, South Shields,
in the County of Durham, but now of 5, Ferndale Terrace, in the same town, 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 follow-
ing statement—
My invention relates to apparatus for pounding or crushing and purifying
clay and like materials or substances, the object being to provide an apparatus
that will effect the reduction of the material to a very fine state simultaneously
with the separation of stones or foreign matters that may be mixed with the
material in its rough state. It is specially devised for treating dried or partially
dried clay for brick-making, though it may be advantageously adopted for
operating on other materials such as those used in the production of artificial or
block fuel.
The invention comprises the combination of concentric perforated cylinders
furnished with movable balls or the like for breaking and pulverising the
material in the cylinders as they are revolved, the material being delivered to one

page_text: cylinder and passing in a state of increasing fineness from each to the succeeding
one until it finally leaves the apparatus as powder, the refuse stones and so forth
meanwhile being discharged at a suitable outlet or cutlets.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and carried into practice
I will describe it in reference to the accompanying drawings which show several
views of an apparatus for operating on clay. Of these views, Fig. 1 is a longi-
tudinal elevation with the parts R, 6, 6 and 69, hereafter described, broken away
for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a transverse
section looking in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2; and
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an enlarged plan and side elevation of a detail.
According to the form of my invention illustrated, I employ two cylinders A
and B, the cylinder A being arranged concentrically within the cylinder B and
both being circumferentially perforated for the whole length and closed (except
as hereafter stated) by the same plate or plates at each end.
The cylinders A and B are adapted to be revolved together in the same
direction for which purpose they are mounted upon the shaft C that is suit-
ably supported and actuated by appropriate mechanism. In the example, tho
requisite connection between the cylinders and the shaft is effected by the parts ])
and each having, as shown in Fig. 2, a flange for attachment to the adjacent
end plate and a boss for fixture to the shaft. It will also be observed from Fig. 2,
and Figs. 4 and 5, that the part D is formed hollow and at its circumference and
inuer end apertures d, d are made, the function of which I will presently explain.
The shaft is carried in bearings F, F, that at the right being secured to the
transverse girder G bolted to the columns H, H, while the other is fixed upon the
brickwork I which represents a wall of the "dryer near which the apparatus is
preferably located to procure compactness. The driving mechanism indicated con-
sists of a spur wheel J fastened to the shaft C and gearing with the pinion j
mounted on the counter-shaft K along with the fast and loose pulleys L, L that
are driven by belting from a motor. The shaft K is carried by the bracket g
connected to the girder G.
29
In the cylinder A I locate loose balls a, a for breaking and reducing, by
their impact as the cylinders revolve, the rough clay fed thereto as hereafter
described and in the cylinder B loose balls b, for similarly operating upon the
clay that passes into it from the cylinder A. These balls a, a and b, b may be
of iron, steel, ballast or any other suitable material and are of such weight as to
effectually break and pulverise the clay and any soft freestone and other soft
uninjurious matter that may be mixed with it, but not so heavy as to break
limestone, ironstone and so forth. During the course of my experiments I have
found that good results are obtained by making the balls a, a about 10 or 12
pounds in weight and the balls b, b from a pound to about 3 pounds. As will
be obvious, the quantity of balls in each cylinder will be determined by the
nature of the clay to be treated, though the number in the cylinder B will always
be greatly in excess of that in the cylinder A.
The inner cylinder A is of a simple construction being built of an iron or
steel plate or plates made with perforations a¹, a¹, while at one end an inlet is
arranged for the rough clay and at the other an outlet for the refuse, the inlet
being constituted by a large hole M and the outlet by a ring of holes N, N. The
inlet M communicates with the shoot and the inside of the part D, consequently
the clay fed to the shoot directly or indirectly from the "dryer" enters the
cylinder through the apertures d, d; and it is to permit this entry that these
apertures are provided.
The material that passes through the perforations a¹, a¹ of the cylinder A
enters the other or outer cylinder B which is specially constructed to ensure that
the clay discharged from it is reduced to the required degree of fineness. It is
built, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, of a series of plates having perfora-
tions 62, and overlapping at the contiguous edges or sides and so secured to
longitudinal bars or beams ³ ³ of iron or steel that a space or opening &* inter-

page_text: venes between the plates at intervals along the length of the cylinder formed by
them; or in other words, several openings are obtained at every overlap
or joint and rows of such openings around the cylinder of plates ₁, . To this
end, I interpose between the overlapping edges of the plates 6, 61, at a con-
venient distance apart, packing blocks 6, 65 of iron or steel through which the
bolts or rivets, fixing together the plates b, and beams 63, 63, are passed. The
bars or beams, 3 are fastened to other longitudinal bars or beams 66, 66 which
are connected to each other by circular pieces or ties 67, 67 spaced apart to the same
extent as the blocks, so that openings 68, 68 result corresponding with
those, b, b, between the plates 61, 61. These ties 6, 7 and beams 66, 66, which
may be of wood suitably united to the end plates, in addition to assisting in the
support of the plates b³, b¹, serve to carry a cylinder of wire or other gauze
fastened thereto in a convenient manner. Thus it will be seen that the outer
cylinder B is a kind of compound cylinder since it consists of a cylinder of per-
forated plates b1, b surrounded by another 69 of gauze, communication between
them being afforded by the perforations 62, 12 in, and the longitudinal open-
ings b, between, the plates 6, 1. An outlet, constituted by a ring of holes 1', 1',
is provided in the end of the cylinder 3 for the discharge of the refuse from it.
The rings and p around the rings of holes N, N and P, P respectively serve
to assist the discharge of the refuse and strengthen the end plate.
The perforations a¹, a¹ are greater than the perforations 62, 62 and the mesh of
the gauze is such as to only allow the clay to escape when reduced to the desired
extent.
The clay passing out of the cylinder B and the refuse discharged by the out-
lets N, N and P, P may fall into separate receivers situated underneath the
apparatus; or the arrangement illustrated may be adopted since it conduces to
economy but it forms no part of my present invention. For receiving the clay,
according to this plan, I surround the cylinder B with a cylinder or casing R
made in halves and resting upon the longitudinal girders S, S extending between,
and supported by, the girder G and wall I. The ends of this cylinder Rare
adapted, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to permit the inlet of the rough clay
it and the
to the cylinder A, and the egress of the refuse from
cylinder B. Further it is furnished throughout its length with an outlet r
through which the clay is discharged, as the cylinders A and B revolve, directly
to the "mixer or otherwise by means of the blades T, T joined to the beams 63, 63
as shown.
For receiving the refuse, the chamber U is built at the end of the cylinder R
so as to communicate with the outlets N, N and P, P'; and as the refuse falls
into it, it is emptied by the spout u into, for example, tubs or wagons as indicated;
the whole apparatus being disposed at such a height to meet this.
Having explained the construction of my apparatus, I will now describe its
operation, which is as follows:-
As the cylinders A and B revolve, the rough clay is fed, by way of the shoot 0,
inlet M and apertures d, d, into the inner cylinder A and is therein broken up
and crushed by its own impact and that of the balls a, a and any refuse stones
present until it is small enough and passes through the perforations a¹, a into the
outer cylinder B wherein it is similarly treated by the balls b, b, further reduction
ensuing until the clay passes through the perforations 62, 62 in the plates 1,
into the openings 68, 68 and onto the gauze 6 through which it falls pulverised
to the required fineness into the cylinder R or other receiver, whence it is dis-
charged by the blades T, T or otherwise. Some clay will or may pass or fall
onto the gauze 69 that is too large to pass through it, whereupon it will be returned
to the cylinder containing the balls b, 6 through the openings 6, therein for
further reduction. The refuse stone separated and retained in the cylinders A
and B during these operations is ejected or discharged therefrom through the
outlets N, N and P, P as they get full and as fresh clay is fed through the
inlet M.

page_text: In this way it will be seen that the clay, in passing through the cylinders A
and B, is effectually pulverised and discharged more or less as powder, depending
on the texture of the gauze 69, and free from stones and like foreign matters pre-
paratory to its subsequent treatment in the known way or ways; therefore a
product of superior quality is obtainable at little cost as compared with the
present practice.
From the foregoing, it will be evident that I obtain a machine for simul-
taneously performing the dual function of pulverising and purifying, which
hitherto has not been effected so compactly and economically as is possible by
my invention, the best form of which I consider to be that described, though,
of course, the detail arrangements may be modified to meet particular require-
ments or the wish of the designer without departing from its nature; for
instance, the number of cylinders and their direction and speed of rotation may
vary, though the final result will not materially differ from that accruing to the
example.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be dis-
tinctly understood that I am aware that ball mills or machines consisting of
perforated cylinders containing loose balls are well known for grinding or pul-
verising only, and therefore I do not claim such broadly as part of my invention;
but I declare that what I do claim is: -
)
1. The improved apparatus for pounding or crushing and purifying clay and
like materials or substances comprising the combination of concentric perforated
revoluble cylinders furnished with movable balls or the like for breaking and
pulverising the material in the cylinders as they are revolved and with an inlet
for the rough material and an outlet or outlets for the refuse, the material being
delivered to one cylinder and passing in a state of increasing fineness from each to
the succeeding one until it finally leaves the apparatus reduced to the desired extent,
the refuse stones and so forth meanwhile being discharged at the outlet or out-
lets; all substantially as herein set forth in reference to, and as shown in, the
accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for pounding or crushing and purifying clay and like materials
or substances, the combination of a perforated cylinder containing loose balls or
the like and provided with an inlet for the rough material and an outlet or outlets
for the refuse; and a concentric compound cylinder composed of a finer perforated
plate-cylinder and a gauze cylinder, the former containing loose balls or the like
and having openings along its length and an outlet or outlets for the refuse; the
whole being constructed, arranged and adapted for use, substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved
apparatus for pounding or crushing and purifying clay and like materials or
substances as herein described in reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying
drawings.