IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SALTPETRE, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert
and Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of West-
minster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
SALTPETRE, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." -A communication from
abroad by Richard Lever, of Valparaiso, in the Republic of Chili.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th May 1873.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company,
Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF SALTPETRE, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOB,' a communication
to me from abroad by Richard Lever, of Valparaiso, in the Republic
of Chili, to be as follows:-
,,
The improvements consist in treating saltpetre in removable revolving
chambers perforated for the admission of steam, and the exit of saline
particles and fluid, also in placing said chambers in a steam-tight

page_text: chamber or receptacle admitting steam therein, and into the removable
revolving perforated chambers, and thereby washing and dissolving the
crude or native saltpetro introduced into these latter chambers, allowing
the saline particles and solution to run off to be afterwards refined in the
usual manner.
The improvements may be conveniently performed by making a steam-
tight metal chamber supplied with convenient metal door or doors,
through which by means of rails or guides may be run one or more
perforated travelling metal chambers, which are so made that a revolving
motion may bo imparted to them when within the steam-tight chamber
by any convenient means. These perforated trevelling chambers are to
be charged with native or crude saltpetre, they aro then introduced
into the steam-tight chamber which is then closed. Steam generated in
any convenient manner is admitted and passes through the perforations
of the travelling revolving chambers, comes in contact with the saltpetre,
the perforated travelling revolving chambers are then made to revolve,
and the native saltpetro is thus washed and dissolved, the liquor runs
down through the perforations into suitable receptacles placed at or near
the bottom of the steam-tight chamber, from whence it is made to pass
to a convenient receptacle, and may be clarified and refined in the
ordinary way.
When the above process has gone on long enough, the travelling
revolving chambers together with the dross or dregs therein are removed
from the steam chamber. The dregs are removed and the same or other
revolving chambers charged with saltpetre are introduced into the steam
chamber, and the process goes on as before.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HERBERT :
JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo
and grant unto me, the said Herbert John Haddan, Her special licence
that I, the said Herbert John Haddan, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Herbert John Haddan, 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 “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SALTPETRE, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR,"
communication to me from abroad by Richard Lever, of Valparaiso,
in the Republic of Chili, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Herbert John Haddan, 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 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.
a
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Herbert John Haddan, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The improvements consist in treating saltpetre in removeable re-
volving chambers perforated for the admission of steam, and the exit
of saline particles and fluid, also in placing said chambers in a steam-
tight chamber or receptacle admitting steam therein, and into the
removeable revolving perforated chambers, and thereby washing and
dissolving the crude or native saltpetre introduced into these latter
chambers, allowing the saline particles and solution to run off to be
afterwards refined in the usual manner.
The improvements may be conveniently performed by making a steam-
tight metal chamber supplied with convenient metal door or doors.
through which by means of rails or guides may be run one or more
perforated travelling metal chambers, which are so made that a
revolving motion may be imparted to them when within the steam-tight.

page_text: chamber by any convenient means. The perforated travelling chambers
are to be charged with native or crude saltpetre, and then introduced
Steam
into the steam-tight chamber, which is then to be closed.
generated in any convenient manner is admitted and passes through the
perforations of the travelling revolving chambers, comes in contact with
the saltpetre, the perforated travelling revolving chambers are then
made to revolve, and the native saltpetre is thus washed and dissolved,
the liquor runs down through the perforations into suitable receptacles
placed at or near the bottom of the steam-tight chamber, from whence
it is made to pass to a convenient receptacle, and may be clarified and
refined in the ordinary way.
When the above process has gone on long enough, the travelling
revolving chambers together with the dross or dregs therein are removed
from the steam chamber, the dregs are removed, and the same or other
revolving chambers charged with saltpetre are introduced into the steam
chamber, and the process proceeds as before.
The accompanying two Sheets of Drawing, marked No. 1 and No. 2
respectively, shew in considerable detail machinery constructed in
accordance with the Invention, two perforated revolving chambers being
provided for in one steam-tight chamber or boiling tank.
In No. 1, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the
centre one of the two revolving chambers, and some other parts being
shewn in elevation, and Figure 2 is an external top plan view.
In No. 2, Figure 3 is a transverse section, and Figure 4 an end view.
The same letters of reference are employed to denote corresponding or
similar parts in all the Figures.
a is the steam-tight chamber or receptacle, being a cylindrical wrought-
iron boling tank for boiling the saltpetre by means of steam admitted
therein through a cast-iron or brass cock b. One end of the tank is
furnished with a cast-iron (or wrought-iron) door c opening on
hinges d, d, and when closed secured with bolts and nuts or cotters e, e;
ff, arc rails from end to end of and within the tank supported at
intervals on brackets g, g; h, h, are the two revolving chambers, con-
structed of perforated wrought iron, cylindrical in form, each with cast-
iron centres i, i, bolted to the ends, and wrought-iron longitudinal
shaft which turns in bearings on a wrought- or cast-iron movcable
carriage or frame / which is furnished with wheels m, m, running on

page_text: the rails f. Each chamber has a portion of its cylindrical surface or
side made to open upon hinges h*, and to be kept closed by the latches
or fastenings, and further is constructed with a cast-iron spur wheel n
without arms bolted to one of its wrought-iron ends, by which (wheel) it
is caused to revolve; 1*, *, are locking catches for holding steady the
carriages or frames 1, 1, when in place, and the revolving action is com-
municated to the chambers, their wheels 2 being then engaged with and
driven by the cast-iron spur pinions o, o. These pinions are situate
partly within the tank proper, and partly within a cast-iron dome or
hollow cap p projecting from and rivetted to its upper surface, and aro
mounted on a wrought-iron shaft q supported in bearings ", ", on the
tank passing through stuffing boxes and glands p*, p*, on the sides of
the dome, and turned by a driving pulley 8, as represented, or by a bevil
wheel or otherwise, as may be convenient; t, t, are wrought-iron lugs
projecting from the sides of the tank, and resting on the brickwork,
and u a cast-iron or brass cock for drawing-off liquor from the bottom of
the tank.
The Drawings are made to a scale of one inch to one foot lineal.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three