IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA AND OTHER WARES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Willia obert Renshaw, of Tunstall, in the County of
Stafford, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF PLASTIC MATERIAL USED
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA AND OTHER WARES."
Sealed the 4th May 1880, and dated the 10th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Renshaw at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT RENSHAW, of Tunstall, in the County of Stafford, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION of
PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA AND OTHER
WARES."
My Invention relates in the first place to apparatus employed in the reduction
of clay to the state of slip, that is to say, to the condition to which the clay is
commuted and held in suspension in water. For this purpose I employ a chamber
of a square, cylindrical, or polygonal form, or of a suitable form, which is arranged
to revolve upon an inclined axis. The lower or inner end of the chamber is provided
with a screw and with a discharge opening, which can be closed by means of a
valve or of a suitable appliance. The upper end of the chamber is formed with a
mouth or opening, through which the water and clay are introduced. The revolving
action of the chamber effects the reduction of the clay, and when completed or
when slip of the required density is obtained the slip is run off by opening the
discharge orifice. My Invention relates in the second place to the press. I make
the press in sections, as is usual. The cloths are arranged to extend through or
into the joints between the sections. In one or in each side of a section I form a
groove, in which I place or fix a joint-washer of caoutchouc, which is formed or
arranged to extend entirely around the recessed part of the section. The outer
frame of the section is beveled or curved inwards towards the recessed portion, in
.
D
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page_text: order that the cloths may not be bent at an acute angle. I prefer to form the
ducts into which the grooves or channels open in the substance of the said outer
frame in such a manner as that the cloths cannot be presssed into the said ducts.
I connect the spaces between the sections by means of tubes or ferrules which pass
through the cloths on the two sides of each section, and are secured by means of
collars and nuts and washers, or are otherwise suitably secured. When so arranged
the slip when pumped into any one space has access to the other spaces. I draw
off the wet slip in the connections before opening the press. When the sections are
screwed or pressed together the caoutchouc washers form suitably tight joints. In
lieu of screws I employ hydraulic pressure to keep the sections in close contact,
the ram of the hydraulic cylinder or the rams of two or more cylinders being
arranged to impart the necessary strain to the rods or bars which extend from end
to end of the apparatus. This employment of hydraulic pressure is also applicable
to presses otherwise constructed than in accordance with my Invention, but employed
for the same purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Renshaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1880.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT RENSHAW, of Tunstall, in the County of Stafford, Mechanical
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION of
PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHINA AND OTHER WARES."
My Invention relates in the first place to apparatus employed in the reduction
of clay to the state of slip, that is to say, to the condition to which the clay is
comminuted and held in suspension in water. For this purpose I employ a
chamber of a square, cylindrical, or polygonal form, or of a suitable form, which is
arranged to revolve upon an inclined axis. The lower or inner end of the chamber
is provided with a screen and with a discharge opening, which can be closed by
means of a valve or of a suitable appliance. The upper end of the chamber is
formed with a mouth or opening, through which the water and clay are introduced.
The revolving action of the chamber effects the reduction of the clay, and when
completed or when slip of the required density is obtained the slip is run off by
opening the discharge orifice. My Invention relates in the second place to the
press. I make the press in sections, as is usual. The cloths are arranged to extend
through or into the joints between the sections. In one or in each side of a section
I form a groove, in which I place or fix a joint-washer of caoutchouc, which is
formed or arranged to extend entirely around the recessed part of the section. The
outer frame of the section is beveled or curved inwards towards the recessed portion,
in order that the cloths may not be bent at an acute angle. I prefer to form the
ducts into which the grooves or channels open in the substance of the said outer
frame in such a manner as that the cloths cannot be pressed into the said ducts.
I connect the spaces between the sections by means of tubes or ferules, which pass
through the cloths on the two sides of each section, and are secured by means of
collars and nuts and washers, or are otherwise suitably secured. When so arranged
the slip when pumped into any one space has access to the other spaces. I draw
off the wet slip in the connections before opening the press. When the sections are
screwed or pressed together the caoutchouc washers form suitably tight joints. In
lieu of screws I employ hydraulic pressure to keep the sections in close contact, the
ram of the hydraulic cylinder or the rams of two or more cylinders being arranged
to impart the necessary strain to the rods or bars, which extend from end to end of
the apparatus. This employment of hydraulic pressure is also applicable to presses
otherwise constructed than in accordance with my Invention, but employed for the
same purpose.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached hereunto
two Sheets of Drawings, to which I will now refer. In Sheet One of the said
Drawings Fig. 1, drawn to a scale of about one inch to the foot, represents a vertical
section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the first part of my Inven-
tion. In the said Fig. A is a cylindrical chamber, which is formed at one end with
a neck, in which is a mouth b. The other and lower end of the chamber is formed
with an end or bottom, and is provided with a pivot which works in a footstep
bearing c. In the said bottom is formed an opening, which is provided with a
hinged door d, which can be closed and secured in a suitably tight manner to
retain the liquid contents of the chamber. The neck of the chamber rests upon
anti-friction wheels at e. A ring of spur or bevel teeth fis fixed to the chamber,
in order that it may be caused to revolve upon its axis. It will be seen that the
axis of revolution is inclined. The chamber is provided with an interior screen g.
The clay to be reduced is introduced with a supply of water through the mouth b,
and the chamber is caused to rotate until the reduction is effected. The door d is

page_text: now opened and the slip flows out, the screen g intercepting any clay which may
not be sufficiently reduced. If preferred the slip may be discharged during the
rotation of the chamber through a hollow axle which may be substituted for the
footstep pivot. I do not confine myself to the exact form of the chamber, nor to
the method of driving the same, nor to the manner in which it is mounted so long
as it is arranged to revolve upon an inclined axis.
Fig. 2, drawn to a scale of about three quarters of an inch to the foot, represents
a plan, Fig. 3 an end view, and Fig. 4 a side view of a filter press constructed in
accordance with the second part of my Invention. In the said Figs. h, h, are the
sectional parts of the press, and i, i, are three hydraulic rams and cylinders which
I employ to produce the close contact between the sections. The rams act upon
an end section, which remains stationary, and the outward thrust is received by
beams k, k, which are connected by rods or bars with corresponding beams m, m,
at the other end of the press. The sections are mounted on a suitable bed or
platform, not represented in the Drawings. The hydraulic cylinders are connected
with a press pump or other suitable apparatus for forcing fluid into the said
cylinders. When fluid is forced into the cylinders the beams k, by being thrust
outwards, draw the beams m inwards, whereby the sections h are forced into close
contact. The bars / enter slots in the ends of the beams, and are secured in position
by means of cottars, so that the bars can be quickly placed in and removed from
their position, but this arrangement may be varied. The slip or other matter to be
filtered is pumped or forced into the fixed section j through a pipe indicated at n,
or is otherwise suitably introduced. The manner in which the slip or matter is
supplied to the other sections will be understood when reference is had to Sheet 2,
wherein is represented a sectional view of two of the said sections. Each section
consists principally of a board or plate o, which for distinction I will term the plate,
and of marginal frames or raised edges p, which are secured to each side of the
plate. The plate o and the margins p, p, are usually formed of timber, but I do
not confine myself to this material. Each side of the plate is formed with grooves,
as is usual. These grooves are indicated by the spaces q, q. A rebate is formed on
each side of the plate, and extending a distance from each edge equal to the width
of the frame p. Each frame p is or may be formed from four pieces of timber
framed together at the corners, and fitted into rebates on the plate o, as represented
in the Drawing. A rebate is cut in the inner edge of each side of the frame on the
side which is towards the plate o. This rebate is seen at r, and forms a channel or
duct extending around the plate o. All the grooves q communicate at each end
with the said channel, and a passage or two or more passages is or are formed for
the escape of liquid from the said channel. It will be seen that this channel is
shielded by the side of the rebate on the plate o, so that the filtering cloths cannot
be pressed into the said channel. The outer face of each frame p is chamfered from
the upper edge of the rebate on the plate o outwardly, as seen in the Drawing, in
order that the filtering cloths may not be bent at an acute angle. The said filtering
cloths are indicated at 8. These cloths extend through the joints between the
meeting faces of the sections. To render the joints sufficiently fluid-tight vulcanised
caoutchouc is let into a groove on one side of each section, this groove extending
along all the four sides of the section. A hole is bored or formed in the plate o,
and in this hole is inserted a brass or metal ferule t, which is secured in position
by means of nuts and washers, which latter pass over the filtering cloths so as to
prevent the unfiltered matter from getting behind the cloths. Each section, with
the exception of the two end sections, is provided with one or two or more of these
ferules, so that when the matter to be filtered is forced into any one space it can
flow through these ferules into the spaces between the other sections.
The press is
or may be used in the following manner :-The sections with their attached filtering
cloths are placed together with the outer edge of the cloth on one section in contact
'with the cloth of the next section until the series is completed by the addition of
the extreme end section h³, which will have a cloth on one side only. I prefer that

page_text: this latter section shall carry the beams m, and be arranged to slide to and fro
upon the foundation bed, so that it need not be removed therefrom when the press
is opened. The sections being in position the bars are placed in position, and the
hydraulic rams are "pumped up." The slip or matter to be filtered is now forced into
the press until it is charged. The supply of slip is now stopped, and a valve on a
discharge pipe u is opened, whereby the unfiltered slip or matter in the press is
returned to the stove tank. The hydraulic pressure is now relieved, and the bars
are removed. The sections h may now be removed or separated for the removal of
the clay or matter upon the cloths without having to break the connections for the
supply of the slip or matter as in the ordinary presses.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood that I claim,-
First. The chamber or vessel arranged to revolve upon an inclined axis, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in and by the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The filter press, constructed and acting substantially as set forth and
indicated.
Thirdly. The formation of the sections with shielded channels or ducts, substan-
tially as set forth and indicated.
Fourthly. The employment of vulcanized caoutchouc for the indicated purpose.
Fifthly. The method of establishing a communication between the various sections,
substantially as set forth and indicated.
Sixthly. The chamfered edges of the sections and the manner of applying the
cloths, substantially as set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The employment of hydraulic pressure for the indicated purpose.
of our Lord One
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Renshaw, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
•
DRVOTTUTT
Signed and sealed by the said
William Robert Renshaw,
in presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
41, John Dalton St.,
Manchester,
(Agent for the Patentee).
W. R. RENSHAW.
(L.S.)