AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF CHEMICAL VATS, PANS, OR FURNACES, WHICH ARRANGEMENT IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bell Lightfoot, Managing Partner of Messieurs
Bells, Lightfoot, and Company, of Walker Engine Works, Walker, in the
County of Northumberland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL
ARRANGEMENT FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF CHEMICAL VATS, PANS, OR
FURNACES, WHICH ARRANGEMENT IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bell Lightfoot at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1876.
THOMAS BELL LIGHTFOOT, Managing Partner of Messieurs Bells, Lightfoot, and
Company, of Walker Engine Works, Walker, in the County of Northumberland.
"AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF
CHEMICAL VATS, PANS, OR FURNACES, WHICH ARRANGEMENT IS APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
In furnaces the contents of which are agitated by mechanical means as at
present constructed the vertically rotating shaft to which the radial arms carrying
the agitators are fixed is either supported by a foot step in the centre of the furnace
carried by the overhead brickwork or by strong girders, or by a combination of
these, and actuated by bevel gear.
To all these plans great objections are raised. In the first case the bearings get
damaged by heat and the need of lubrication. In the second and succeeding cases
much cost is entailed and time occupied in the construction of the same.
To remedy these defects is the object of my Invention, for which purpose I
construct a column or pillar of suitable material, bolted to and rising from the
surface of the pan containing the ingredients to be acted upon. This column
would rise through and above the crown of the furnace so that the bearing surface
which is situated near the top of the column should be free from the heat and
where it can be conveniently lubricated. Over the aforesaid column a hollow
sleeve is placed, which rests upon a collar or bearing surface formed upon the upper
part of the vertical column as before mentioned, and which column, rising above the
sleeve gives also a rigid support to a bracket for a purpose herein-after specified. The
sleeve before mentioned is capable of revolving round the said column and is actuated
by a worm keyed on the driving shaft and supported by the before-mentioned bracket,
engaging with a worm wheel that is keyed or otherwise fastened on the sleeve.
[Price Gd.]

page_text: Slow motion without the interposition and cost of reducing gear as is generally
used is thus conveyed to the agitators within the furnace, which are secured by
radial arms and tie rods to attachments cast on the sleeve.
In the crown of the furnace where the column covered by the sleeve passes
I fix a kind of stuffing box to keep the heat or gases from passing outward and
damaging the bearing surfaces of the machinery.
The above arrangement is equally applicable for agitating the contents of
chemical vats and pans, calcining ore, for cement washers and other like purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Thomas Bell Lightfoot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
October 1876.
THOMAS BELL LIGHTFOOT, Managing Partner of Messieurs Bells, Lightfoot, and
Company, of Walker Engine Works, Walker, in the County of Northumberland.
"AN IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF
CHEMICAL VATS, PANS, OR FURNACES, WHICH ARRANGEMENT IS APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
In furnaces the contents of which are agitated by mechanical means as at present
constructed the vertically rotating shaft to which the radial arms carrying the
agitators are fixed is either supported by a foot step in the centre of the furnace
carried by the over head brickwork or by strong girders, or by a combination of
.these, and actuated by bevel or other gear.
To, all these plans great objections are raised. In the first case the bearings get
damaged by heat and the need of lubrication. In the second and succceding cases
much cost is entailed and time occupied in the construction of the same, and the
brickwork suffers from vibration of the machinery.
To remedy these defects is the object of my Invention, for which purpose I
construct a column or pillar of suitable material bolted to and rising from the
surface of the pan or bottom containing the ingredients to be acted upon. This
column rises through and above the crown of the furnace, or through and above
the material in the vat or pan, so that the bearing surface which is situated near
the top of the column may be free from the heat or grit or other deteriorating
influences, and where it can be conveniently lubricated. Over the aforesaid column
a hollow sleeve is placed, which rests upon a collar or bearing surface formed upon
the upper part of the vertical column as, before mentioned, and which column rising
above the sleeve gives also a rigid support to a bracket for a purpose herein-after
mentioned. The sleeve before mentioned is capable of revolving round the said
column, and is actuated by a worm keyed on the driving shaft and supported by
the before-mentioned bracket engaging with a worm wheel that is keyed or other-
wise fastened on the sleeve or by other suitable gearing. Motion is thus conveyed
to the agitators within the furnace, which are secured to attachments cast on the
sleeve.
The above arrangement is equally applicable for agitating the contents of chemical
vats and pans, calcining ore, for cement washers, and other like purposes.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section; and Figure 2 is a plan partly in section of appa-
ratus arranged according to my Invention for agitating the contents of a chemical
vat, pan, or furnace, it is represented more especially as applied for agitating. the
contents of a furnace, but it is applicable also to other similar purposes.
a, a, is the bed or bottom of the furnace pan or vat, and b is a column fixed
upon it; c is a hollow sleeve surrounding the column b, and having a bearing upon

page_text: it near the top at b¹, the sleeve also fits somewhat closely to the column near its lower
end so that it may revolve steadily upon it; d, d, are arms carrying stirrers or instru-
ments for turning over the material on the bed or bottom a; e, is an arm fixed on
the top of the column b, and it carries a worm f, which when desired can be
rotated in any convenient manner, it gears with a worm wheel g fixed upon the
top of the sleeve c, so that when the wheel g is rotated by the worm it carries
the arms d, and the instruments attached to them round with it; h represents the
arch of the furnace, and i a box containing a loose packing which may be applied
when desired to prevent the escape of heated air or other gas or vapour.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim my improved mechanical
arrangement, substantially as described, for agitating the contents of chemical vats,
pans, or furnaces, which arrangement is applicable to other purposes.
In witness whereof, I; the said Thomas Bell Lightfoot, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
T. B. LIGHTFOOT. (L.S.)