IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALINE SULPHITES, AND IN PURI- FYING AND TREATING GASES."-A
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hähner, of Leghorn, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALINE SULPHITES, AND IN PURI-
FYING AND TREATING GASES."-A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hähner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
March 1854.
I, WILLIAM HÄHNER, of Leghorn, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALINE SULPHITES,
AND IN PURIFYING AND TREATING GASES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of constructing and applying a peculiar apparatus
for the purpose of bringing gases in contact with fluids. For this purpose a
vessel is formed very similar to that used in constructing a paper engine. This
vessel is partly divided longitudinally, leaving an opening at each end of the
partition, by which a continuous channel is formed for the fluid. On one side
of the partition, and across this channel, there is a cylinder or wheel with
numerous radial spokes or arms. The wheel or cylinder by its
motion to the fluid, and causes it to.circulate in the channel. The bottom of
the channel near the wheel is formed with two inclines having between them
a concavity in which the wheel partly revolves. The vessel is covered all over,
and above the wheel there is an enlargement forming a closed chamber, into
rotation gives

page_text: which the wheel throws the fluid. There is an induction pipe and an eduction
pipe for the gases. When producing a sulphite of an alkali a solution of the
carbonate of the alkali is placed in the vessel, and sulphurous acid gas is
conducted into the compartment above the wheel, and such gas will be brought
in contact with the solution under the most favorable circumstances. In
purifying or acting chemically on gases the purifying or chemical liquid is
placed in the vessel, and the gas introduced and subjected to the action of the
liquid contained in the vessel, as before explained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Hähner in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
18th September 1854...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HÄHNER, of Leghorn, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Hähner, Her special licence that I, the said
William Hähner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Hähner, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALINE SULPHITES, AND IN PURI-
PYING AND TREATING GASES," a communication, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Hähner, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Hähner, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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 thereof (that is to say) :-
This: Invention consists of constructing and applying a peculiar apparatus

page_text: for the purpose of bringing gases in contact with fluids. For this purpose a
vessel is formed very similar to that used in constructing a paper engine. This
vessel is partly divided longitudinally, leaving an opening at each end of the
partition, by which a continuous channel is formed for the fluid. On one side
of the partition, and across this channel, there is a cylinder or wheel, with
numerous radial spokes or arms. The wheel or cylinder by its rotation gives
motion to the fluid, and causes it to circulate in the channel. The bottom of
the channel near the wheel is formed with two inclines, having between them
concavity in which the wheel partly revolves. The vessel is covered all over,.
and above the wheel there is an enlargement forming a closed chamber, into
which the wheel throws the fluid. There is an induction pipe and an eduction
pipe for the gases. When producing a sulphite of an alkali a solution of the
carbonate of the alkali is placed in the vessel, and sulphurous acid gas is con-
ducted into the compartment above the wheel, and such gas will be brought
in contact with the solution under the most favorable circumstances. In
purifying or acting chemically on gases the purifying or chemical liquid is
placed in the vessel, and the gas introduced and subjected to the action of the
liquid contained in the vessel, as before explained.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section; and Figure 2, a plan of the
apparatus. A, A, is a covered vessel in which the liquid by which the gas is to
be acted on is introduced; B is a wheel with beaters, which is mounted on
an axis, to which rapid motion can be given; C is an incline formed in the
bottom of the vessel to assist the wheel B in breaking up the liquid into spray;
D is a partition in the vessel to regulate the circulation of the liquid; E is a
pipe which conducts the gas to be operated upon to the part of the vessel A,
in which the wheel is situated; and F is a pipe which conveys the gases away
after they have been operated on.
This apparatus is very useful in the manufacture of sulphite of soda, and for
this purpose a solution of carbonate of soda is placed in the vessel A, and the
wheel B is put in motion; this raises the solution into spray, which when in
this state is rapidly acted upon by sulphurous acid supplied by the tube E. In
a similar manner bi-carbonate of soda may be produced by acting on a solution
of the carbonate by carbonic acid. The machine may also be advantageously
used in the bleaching of wax. When employed for this purpose the machine
is provided with a steam jacket, and by this means 'the wax, which is mixed

page_text: with an equal quantity of water, is rendered fluid. The agitator is then set in
motion, and a stream of atmospheric air is passed through the case, which,
aided by the heat, quickly discharges the color. I also purify gas for lighting
purposes by subjecting it to the action of milk of lime in this machine.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact details described; but what I claim is, the use of a beater or
instrument, in combination with a vessel such as herein described, whereby
liquids are raised into spray for the purpose of acting on gases brought in
contact with such spray.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hähner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
WILLIAM HAHNER. (L.8.)