IMPROVE- MENTS IN OBTAINING CAUSTIC ALKALIES TO BE USED AS DISINFECTANTS, DEOXI- DIZERS, AND DECARBONIZERS, AND THE MEANS BY WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE APPLIED, AS ALSO FOR APPLYING THE GASES LIBERATED IN THE PROCESS TO THE ⚫ CONVERSION OF IRON INTO STEEL AND FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Davis, of 5, Sussex Road, Southsea, in the
County of Southampton, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING CAUSTIC ALKALIES TO BE USED AS DISINFECTANTS, DEOXI-
DIZERS, AND DECARBONIZERS, AND THE MEANS BY WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE
APPLIED, AS ALSO FOR APPLYING THE GASES LIBERATED IN THE PROCESS TO THE
⚫ CONVERSION OF IRON INTO STEEL AND FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURES."
Sealed the 31st August 1866, and dated the 31st March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
March 1866.
I, JAMES DAVIS, of 5, Sussex Road, Southsea, in the County of South-
ampton, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING CAUSTIC ALKALIES TO BE USED AS DISIN-
PECTANTS, DEOXIDIZERS, AND DECARBONIZERS, AND THE MEANS BY WHICH THE SAME
ARE TO BE APPLIED, AS ALSO FOR APPLYING THE GASES LIBERATED IN THE PROCESS TO
THE CONVERSION OF IRON INTO STEEL AND FOR THE MANUFACTURE, OF MANURES,"
to be as follows:-
To effect these improvements I submit the alkaline earthy carbonates, lime,
and magnesian lime, either separately or together, to heat in kilns, retorts, and
reverberatory furnaces, or one or more of them, gradually increasing the heat's

page_text: intensity until the expulsion of the whole of the free and a portion of the
solidified latent water be driven off, thereby reducing the substances about
one-fourth their original weights. I then withdraw the substances from their
positions and moisten them with a solution of carbonate or bicarbonate of
potash, using for that object from three to seven pounds weight of the alkali
to ten gallons or more of water, and which I apply to every ton weight of the
semi-caustic materials. Afterwards I return the materials thus moistened to
the kilns, retorts, or furnaces, and apply further degrees of heat until the
whole of the added water, together with the carbon and oxygen gases present
in the materials forming carbonic oxide and carbonic acid, be fully driven off,
so as to render the substances absolutely caustic, collecting in vessels or
chambers for use the gases in that manner liberated. The caustic alkalies
I then place in suitable receptacles formed of openwork, made either of
iron or wood and called cradles, constructed of any convenient length, but
about three feet in height and from six to twelve inches in width, so as to
present the largest possible amount of surface, and which I use for the
purpose of absorbing and fixing in the solid form the oxides of carbon, or any
of their gaseous combinations, together with carburetted and sulphuretted
hydrogen, or any of their gaseous combinations present in mines, underground
railways, and other infected situations, in order to render the air breathed by
animals in such places pure and wholesomely respirable. I also use the
caustic alkalies in conjunction with or without charcoal, ground or not, in the
proportions varying from one-tenth to one-fourth of the latter. to a given
measure of the former for the purpose of acting as disinfectants generally.
The collected liberated gases I force through molten iron so as to convert the
iron into steel. Also I cause these gases to be passed through vegetable and
animal substances in order to increase their values as manures when applied
as fertilizers to land.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st 8
September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DAVIS, of 5, Sussex Road, Southsea, in the County of Southampton, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 5

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reigny did for Herself, Her heirs and successors; give and grant unto me, the
said James Davis, Her special licence that I, the said James Davis; iný.
executors; administrators, and assigns, or such other's as I, the said James
Davis; 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 makes use,
exercise,. and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, Australia, New Zealand, the Canadas,
East India, West India Islands, Queensland, Victoria, Gibralter, and Malta,
an. Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS) IN OBTAINING CAUSTIC ALKALIES TO BE USBĎ
AS DISINFECTANTS, DEOXIDIZERS, AND DECARBONIZERS, AND THE MEANS BY WHICH
THE SAME ARE TO BE APPLIED, AS ALSO FOR APPLYING THE GASES LIBERATED IN
THE! PROCESS TO THE CONVERSION OF IRON INTO STEEL AND FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF MANURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Davis; 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
Officer within six calendar months next and immediately' after the date of the
said Letters. Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, thei said James' Davis, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My said: Invention relates, firstly, to the production of caustic alkalies to
be used as disinfectants, deoxidizers; and decarbonizers, in the preparation of
which I select limestones, which in their natural condition are found the
leasti contaminated: with adventitious substances, such as aluminous, silicious,
and ferruginous earths, choosing for my object those compounded of oxide of
calcium; carbonic acid, and the elements of water, either associated or not
with magnesia, whether such substances be amorphous, crystalline, or other-
wise; and which are usually denominated limestones or magnesian limestones..
The purer' these stones are the greater will be their effects when reduced
to the caustic state and if when placed in muriatic acid in the concentrated förm
in which it is usually found in commerce they prove to be perfectly soluble
and the solution. bright and without any sediment resting at the bottom, the
stones may. be: pronounced as of' the highest standard quality and ther best
adapted. for the intention. Accordingly in proportion as this standard

page_text: diminishes, so in proportion will the sanitary effects retrograde and the manu->
factured article, be reduced in its marketable money value. Having, made.
choice of my materials, I then submit them to the process of firing, in the usual.
way of burning common lime until the whole of the free and a portion of the
latent or solidified water be driven off, thereby reducing the materials about
one-fourth their original weights; this I do either in kilns, ovens, or rever.
beratory furnaces, but I prefer the ordinary running kiln as being more
economical as well as expeditious in practice. When the necessary. reduction
is effected I draw the lime shells, as they are then called, from the bottom or
side of the kiln, replacing at the same time alternate layers of fuel and raw.
materials to supply the deficiency thereby occasioned. When the shells are:
sufficiently cooled down I moisten them, with a solution of potash, either.
caustic or not; but that which I prefer as being most uniform in its, character:
is the ordinary pearlashes of commerce first submitted to a red heat in a
crucible, of which I add quantities varying from three to seven pounds weight
according to the purity of the stones, less if contaminated than when pure, to
ten gallons or more of water, the whole of which with a common watering,
pot I sprinkle evenly over a ton weight of the shells. My object in using.
the potash, solution is that the water supplies elements of combustion which
with the potash, expedite the liberation of the carbonic oxide gases present in
the shells when they are submitted to their final firing; besides which the.
potash facilitates the disinfecting properties of the caustic earths through
increasing their attractive properties for the elements of water, a very essential-
aid towards expediting the rapid absorption of the gases which the prepared
caustic alkalies are intended to remove. Nevertheless I do not always make
use of the potash either in the above or any other proportions, nature some-
times affording it in combination with the materials in quantities sufficient for
the purpose. Should the object be to utilize the gases set free during the
second firing, I then place the moistened shells in retorts made either of iron
or burnt earth, such as are usually made use of in the production of gas for
purposes of illumination, secured and heated in the like manner, and provided.
with a chamber to receive the carbonic oxide gases set free; else 1 cause the
retorts to be set in an ordinary limekiln, fixed in tiers one above another and
passing through the sides in opposite directions, so as to receive the moistened
shells from the kiln's exterior and sides without interfering with the operation
therein progressing; beating the retorts with the fuel used in firing continuous
supplies of the raw materials, at the same time forcing the heat to intensity
and sustaining that high temperature until the expulsion of the whole of the
carbonic oxide gases be perfected, collecting as before the gases then set free..

page_text: But should the gases not be required for use I in that case return the
moistened shells to the kilns, ovens, or furnaces in the ordinary way, and
submit them to heat until the object of rendering them absolutely caustic
be fully accomplished, thereby reducing a ton weight of the raw materials,
provided they were pure at the commencement, to about eight hundredweight
fit for use.
:
2ndly, my Invention relates to the use of the caustic alkalies, either alone
or in conjunction with charcoal or any of its carbonaceous eliminations, as a.
disinfectant. For this purpose the alkali or alkalies mixed with water in any
proportions may be used with charcoal eliminations or without as ordinary
whitewash, brushed over the walls and ceilings of rooms, stables, stalls, sheds,
pigsties, buildings, or parts of such, doors, gates, posts, and rails, carriages
used for the conveyance of animals, whether constructed to run on railways or
ordinary roads, ships built either of wood or metal, trade utensils of all kinds,"
implements and utensils used in the feeding of live stock and other purposes of
husbandry, also for the dipping of sheep, dogs, and other animals, together
with hides of all descriptions; or the alkali or alkalies alone or in com-
bination with charcoal or any of its eliminations, whether proceeding from
wood or coal, in proportions varying from one-tenth to one-fourth of the latter
substance or substances to one of the alkaline substance or substances, and
either in the dry state or mixed with water, may be introduced into sewers,
drains, tanks, closets, privies, urinals, cesspools, ships' bilges, or on or amóng
decomposing and decomposable substances of all kinds and in all situations.
Further may the caustic constituents be used to form a concrete between the
outer coating and inside casing of iron ships, as well as within and contiguous'
to the iron forming the exterior of fortifications, to prevent the corrosion of the
metal through absorbing and in that manner deoxidizing, decarbonizing, and.
disinfecting the atmosphere of deletereous gases capable of lending their
assistance towards the destruction of the iron. These are substances above
all others capable in a short period of time through absorption of the
destructive elements of growing into solid stone, thereby presenting the most
successful resistible barrier yet discovered against the force of concussion,
whether intended for the disintegration or destruction of the metal by a foe or
destruction of the metal by natural elements.
3rdly, my Invention has respect to the use of the caustic alkali or alkalies,
either alone or in combination with charcoal or any of its eliminations, as a
disinfectant in mines and other subterranean places, as also to the means of
applying the same. For these purposes I employ the materials in the dry
condition, placing them as loosely and lightly as possible in receptacles, which I

page_text: designate and call, cradles, and which are made of wicker or wire work, else
of iron or wood constructed of any convenient form applicable to the position
intended to be placed in, but, those which I prefer as answering the best
purpose are made of any required length, of about three feet high, and from
six to twelve inches wide, so as to present to the materials. the largest amount
possible of open uninterrupted surface without permitting the substances to
fall through; in the, which I place the materials in order to attract and con-
dense the deletereous gases there present, so that the air breathed by animals
in such places may be rendered pure and wholesomely respirable, and loss of
life prevented through. explosion and other accidental causes!
4thly, my Invention relates to the conversion of iron. into steel by the use of
the carbonic oxide gases liberated. from the. limestones, and. whether or not
potash be used, as an aid in the process of reducing the. stones to the caustic
condition. For this. purpose the gases require to be forced from the bottom
upwards through the molten metal whilst. in the condition of fluidity in a
similar or any other, manner to that in practice under Bessemer's Patent for
the equal distribution; of atmospherical, air in contact with molten metal,
absorbing as it then would its due: proportion of carbon, graphite would be
formed; the refuse. with which the metal is. contaminated, becoming. by the
process discharged on the surface as striæ and scoriæ; a. confirmed fibre would
be established,, and the metal being, converted to the condition of a peroxide
the iron would thus be, turned into steel..
:
Lastly, my Invention, may be employed by, conveying the liberated gases
among, vegetable and animal-substances for. reducing, these substantives to the
condition of oxides in order to increase. their values as fertilizing agents. when
applied as manure upon land.
Having thus described the nature, of my said Invention, and, the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would observe that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein. given, for carrying out the various objects,
provided that the general character of any of the several parts of my Invention
be retained, also that I do. not claim. as of my Invention any particular method
for distributing the gases among molten metal; but. what I do claim as of my
Invention in the first place is, the exclusive right to use caustic alkalies for
disinfecting atmospherical air, and of preventing smells from decomposing
substances of all kinds.
Secondly, the production. of. cradles for distributing the. alkalies, with or
without charcoal,, in mines and other places..
And, lastly, the exclusive, right of. using, carbonic oxide gases liberati d
from limestone, by the process of. firing for converting iron into steel, as

page_text: also for adding to the value of animal and vegetable substances intended for
manures.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Davis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-first day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JAMES DAVIS. (L.S.)