IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Walker, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for
an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE,
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1882.
WALTER WALKER of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of my invention is to manufacture blocks of artificial stone of the
character hereinafter described in such a manner that they will be exceedingly
hard and the alkali therein will be so far neutralized that it will not injuriously
affect the appearance of the stone.
According to my invention, the said artificial stone is composed of sand, cement,
sulphur and potash, preferably in the following proportions viz two parts by
weight of fine sand, one part by weight of Portland cement, one twelfth part by
weight of sulphur and one twelfth part by weight of potash. These proportions
however may be somewhat varied according to circumstances. Moulded blocks of
this character (unless they are dried for a very long time) do not possess a sufficient
degree of hardness for use and they are objectionable by reason of the fact that on
the dried blocks being exposed, the alkali in the materials of which they are
composed appears on the surface of the block in the form of disfiguring spots.
I have however, discovered that by subjecting blocks of artificial stone of the
character above described to the action of steam which has been previously caused
to pass through a mass of granulated or powdered sulphur, the stone will be rapidly
hardened and the alkali neutralized to such an extent that the above objection will
be entirely overcome.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a structure of wood or other
suitable material, and of any suitable size or shape, this structure forming a

page_text: chamber in which the blocks of artificial stone aro placed after being moulded in
the usual manner. Adjacent to this structure I provide n furnace, to an opening
in the top of which is adapted the lower end of a vessel containing water, a pipe
leading from the upper part of this vessel to the upper part of a box placed between
the furnace and the aforesaid structure or chamber. From the lower portion of
this box extends a pipe which passes into the said chamber; a portion of the pipe
within the said chamber being perforated. Within the aforesaid box at a point
above the pipe leading to the climber and below the pipe leading from the water-
vessel is arranged a horizontal perforated partition on which is deposited sulphur
either in a granulated, or powdered form. The furnace has the usual feed and ash
pit openings, and a grate. The products of combustion pass from the furnace
through a pipo which is preferably carried through the hardening chamber near
the button of the same.
When a firo is kindled in the furnace the water in the
vessel becomes vaporized the vapor passing through the pipe into the box, and
through the mass of sulphur in the same, and thence into the other pipe through
the perforations of which it escapes into the hardening chamber. The length of
time during which the blocks are subjected to the action of the sulphuretted steam
varies in accordance with the size of the block or the degree of hardness which it
is desired to impart to the sainc. Such a degree of hont is maintained in the
chamber, owing to the passage of the furnace-pipe through the same, that the
condensation of the vapour in the chamber is prevented.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th October
1882.
WALTER WALKER, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, now of 8 Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The objects of my invention are to manufacture blocks of artificial stone of the
character hereinafter described and to treat the same in such a manner that they
will be exceedingly hard and the alkali therein will be so far neutralized that it
will not injuriously affect the appearance of the stone.
According to my invention the said artificial stone is composed of sand, cement,
sulphur, and potash, preferably in the following proportions, vis-twenty four
parts by weight of fine sand, twelve parts by weight of Portland Cement, one part
by weight of sulphur, and ono part by weight of potash. These proportions,
however, may be somewhat varied according to circumstances. Moulded blocks of
this character are objectionable because unless they are dried for a very long time
they do not possess a sufficient degree of hardness for use, and they are also
objectionable by reason of the fact that, on the dried blocks being exposed, the
alkali in the materials of which they are composed appears on the surface of the
blocks in the form of disfiguring spots. I have, however, discovered that by
subjecting blocks of artificial stone, of the character above described, to the action
of steam which has been previously caused to pass through a mass of granulated
or powdered sulphur, the stone will be rapidly hardened and the alkali neutralized
to such an extent that the above objections will be entirely obviated.
My improved apparatus is illustrated in vertical longitudinal section in the
accompanying drawing, in which A represents a structure of wood or other suitable
material, which may be of any desired size and shape; this structure forms a
chamber B in which the blocks of artificial stone are placed after being moulded
in the usual manner. Adjacent to this structure I provide a furnace C having an
opening in the top in which is fitted the lower end of the vessel or boiler D
containing water, a pipe a leads from the upper part of the vessel D to the upper
part of the box E which is placed between the furnace C and the chamber B.
From the lower portion of this box extends the pipe 6 which passes into the said
chamber, a portion of the pipe within the said chamber being perforated. Within
the box E at a point above the pipe b and below the pipe a is arranged the hori
zontal perforated partition c on which is deposited the sulphur d preferably in a
granulated or powdered form. The furnace C has the usual feed and ash-pit
openings and the grate f. The products of combustion pass from the furnace
through the pipe e which is preferably carried through the hardening chamber B
near the bottom thereof. When a fire is kindled in the furnace C the water in the
vessel D becomes vaporized, the vapor or steam passes through the pipe a into the
box E and through the mass of sulphur in the same, and thence into the pipe b,
through the perforations of which it escapes into the hardening chamber B. The
length of time during which the blocks are subjected to the action of the sulphu-
retted steam varies in accordance with the size of the block, or the degree of
hardness which it is desired to impart to the same. Such a degree of heat is
maintained in the chamber, owing to the passage of the furnace pipe e through
the same, that the condensation of the vapor or steam in the chamber is prevented.
Having thus fully described my said invention, and shown in what manner the

page_text: same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice I wish it
understood that I Claim:-
First. The improved artificial stono composed of sand, cement, sulphur and
potash combined in, or about in, the proportions above set forth.
Second. The improved method of treating artificial stone by placing it in a
chamber and subjecting. it to the action of steam which has been previously
passed through a mass of sulphur, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Third. The improved apparatus abovo described consisting of the chamber, the
furnace, the water vessel or boiler and the box containing the sulphur, all combined
and connected substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Walter Walker have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
WALTER WALKER (LS.)