and in Apparatus Employed therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
Ash and in Apparatus Employed therefor.
We, THOMAS TRAIN MATHIESON, of Croxteth Road, Liverpool, in the County.
of Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer and JOSEF HAWLICZEK, of Bentley Road,
Liverpool, aforesaid, Chemist do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of soda ash in which an
ash of a low density is produced,, such as soda ash made by the ammonia soda
process and has for its object the production of an article which shall possess the
qualities of soda ash of the above type but of a greater density.
For certain purposes, such as in the manufacture of glass, soda ash of a low density
is not so suitable as heavier ash inasmuch as it is carried away in the blast of the
furnace and consequently is to some extent wasted. Further the handling and trans-
porting, or conveying by railway and other means of a given weight of soda ash of
low density must be greater and consequently more costly than that of heavier, or
denser soda ash.
Now according to this Invention we manufacture a dense ash by treating the
lighter kind of soda ash, or the moist bicarbonate of soda (such as that made from the
ammonia soda process) with water, or steam and in such a manner that it is converted
into soda ash of greater density and at the same time retains its former qualities of
purity. The density of the soda ash can be varied according to the quantity of water
injected.
An example of the method and means by which we effect the above result consists
as follows:
-We take, say, the moist bicarbonate of soda, produced by the ammonia
soda process and introduce it into a vessel preferably of cylindrical form, heated
from below by a fire in the ordinary way. In this vessel and by one operation the
bicarbonate is dried and converted from bicarbonate into mono carbonate of a dense
quality. The vessel is provided with blades, or scrapers (hereinafter described) which
have the combined effect of stirring, and spreading the material over its surface as
well as feeding it from the end at which it is introduced to the other, or outlet

page_text: end.
The blades of the scrapers are mounted upon arms carried by a centrally
rotating shaft, which is suitably operated. The length of this vessel is such that
the bicarbonate will be converted into mono carbonate by the time it has been fed
along a portion of its length (say about one half). At this point the water in a
finely divided state, or steam, is applied to the material and is incorporated with it
causing it to become granular and of greater density than the ordinary mono car-
bonate of soda of the kind above described. The stirrers, or blades aid the mixing of
the water with the soda ash and also feed the material to the end of the vessel where
it is delivered. In travelling from the point of supply of the water, or steam to the
exit end of the vessel the soda ash is further dried and assumes the granular form.
The mono-carbonate of soda thus produced is delivered through a shute at the end
of the vessel and may, if desired, then be brought to a powder by suitable crushing,
or pulverizing machinery.
The soda ash manufactured according to our Invention and of the quality herein
before stated is of greater density than that produced by the ordinary method and
consequently is more useful for the purposes such as herein set forth and the cost for
conveyance, or transportation is less than that of soda ash, of a given bulk, produced
from bicarbonate in the usual manner.
The blades of the stirrer are so shaped that they spread the material over a large
surface of the vessel as well as convey it from one end of the apparatus to the other.
This combined effect is obtained by a particular construction of blade which consists
in forming a part of each blade so that it will lie parallel, or nearly parallel with the
vessel the other part being set at angle, or transversely to the axis of the vessel.
The arms and blades are arranged helically on the shaft of the combined stirrer and
conveyer. By this arrangement only a small amount of power is required to rotate it,
comparatively with that which would be necessary to effect the same work with other
arrangements of arms and blades.
By the manufacture of the dense soda ash in the manner and by one operation as
above set forth the cost of manufacturing is less than that necessary for producing a
dense ash by the usual method.
1
A
1

page_text: Ash and in Apparatus Employed therefor.
We, THOMAS TRAIN MATHIESON, of Croxteth Road, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer, and JOSEF HAWLICZEK, of Bentley Road,
Liverpool, aforesaid, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of soda ash in which an
ash of a low density is produced, such as soda ash made by the ammonia soda process.
The Invention has for its object the production of an article which shall possess the
qualities of soda ash of the above type, but of a greater density.
For certain purposes, such as in the manufacture of glass, soda ash of a low density
is not so suitable as heavier ash, inasmuch as it is carried away in the blast of the
furnaces and is consequently to some extent wasted. Further, the handling and
transporting, or conveying by railway and other means, of a given weight of soda ash
of low density must be greater, and consequently more costly, than that of heavier, or
denser soda ash.
Now according to this Invention we manufacture a dense ash by treating the
lighter kind of soda ash, or the moist bi-carbonate of soda (such as that made from
the ammonia soda process) with water, or steam and in such a manner that it is
converted into soda ash of greater density and at the same time retains its former
qualities of purity. The density of the soda ash can be varied according to the
quantity of water injected.
An example of the method and. means by which we effect the above result consists
as follows: We take, say the moist bicarbonate of soda, produced by the ammonia
soda process and introduce it into a vessel preferably of cylindrical form, heated from
below by a fire in the ordinary way. In this vessel and by one operation the
bicarbonate is dried and converted from bicarbonate into mono-carbonate of a dense
quality. The vessel is provided with blades, or scrapers (hereinafter described) which
have the combined effect of stirring and spreading the material over its surface as well
as feeding it from the end at which it is introduced to the other, or outlet end. The
blades of the scrapers are mounted upon arms carried by a centrally rotating shaft
which is suitably operated. The length of this vessel is such that the bi-carbonate
will be converted into mono-carbonate by the time it has been fed along a portion of
its length (say about one half). At this point the water in a finely divided state, or
steam is applied to the material and is incorporated with it, causing it to become
granular and of greater density than the ordinary mono-carbonate of soda of the
kind above described. The stirrers, or blades aid the mixing of the water with the
soda ash and also feed the material to the end of the vessel where it is delivered.
In travelling from the point of supply of the water, or steam to the exit end of the
vessel, the soda ash is further dried and assumes the granular form.

page_text: The mono carbonate of soda thus produced is delivered through a shute at the end of
the vessel, and may, if desired, then be pulverized by suitable crushing, or pulverizing
machinery.
The soda ash manufacture according to our Invention and of the quality herein
before stated is of greater density than that produced by the ordinary method, and
consequently is more useful for the purposes such as herein set forth, and the cost for
conveyance and transportation is less than that of soda ash of a given bulk, produced
from bi-carbonate in the usual manner.
The blades of the stirrer are so shaped that they spread the material over a large
surface of the vessel as well as convey it from one end of the apparatus to the other.
This combined effect is obtained by a particular construction of blade which consists
in forming a part of each blade so that it will lie parallel, or nearly parallel with the
vessel, the other part being set at an angle, or transversely to the axis of the vessel.
The arms and blades may if desired be arranged helically on the shaft of the combined
stirrer and conveyer. By this arrangement the amount of power required to rotate
the shaft would be slightly less than that which would be necessary to effect the same
work with other arrangements of arms and blades.
By the manufacture of the dense soda ash in the manner and by one operation as
above set forth the cost of manufacturing is less than that necessary for producing a
dense ash by the usual method.
Having thus specified generally the object, nature and effects of this Invention, its
description will first be proceeded with in reference to the Drawings, by way of
explaining more fully the construction and operation of the Invention.
The Drawings and the following description of them set forth special apparatus
designed to apply the method of manufacturing carbonate of soda, the mode of
operation of which has been above explained.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of apparatus according to this Invention.
Figure 2 shows a cross section of the apparatus taken in the vertical plane at the
point marked X X in Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents an end view of the construction of central bracket and bearing
for the main shaft of the apparatus, and
Figure 4 illustrates a front end view of the apparatus.
Figure 5 is an end view Figure 6 a plan and Figure 7 a detail of stirrer, or
scrapers provided with an auxiliary scraper.
Referring in the first instance to the first four figures of the Drawings A represents
a vessel made in segments as shown. The lower half a of the vessel is made of cast
iron, or steel and the upper half a¹ of wrought metal-iron, or steel. The upper
half a of the vessel is of light construction, serving chiefly as a cover, or casing,
whilst the lower half a is placed above a grate, or furnace and flues and is con-
sequently subject to the action of the heat of the furnace gases, besides having to bear
the greater proportion of internal wear due to the action of the scrapers and material
treated in it. A furnace is not shown in the Drawings under the vessel A inasmuch
as it may be arranged and constructed in any known suitable way and fired by solid
liquid, or gaseous fuel. B is a hopper through which the material to be treated is
introduced into the vessel, and (represents a shute through which the finished
material takes its exit. D are the ends of the vessel. They are made in halves and
are of cast iron, or steel and provided with bearings d d for supporting the main
shaft E. A suspended bearing & is provided mid way between the ends D to support
the shaft E at that point. The bearing is carried by vertical rods e and horizontal
rods e both being adjustable. These rods are secured to the arched bracket F.
G designates the blades, or scrapers which are secured to bars H-of rectangular
cross section and are carried by arms I mounted on the shaft E. The ends of these
arms are provided with caps e2 which are bolted to the arms as shown, gripping the
bars H between themselves and the main portion of the arm. J represents a worm
and J¹ a worm wheel mounted or the end of the shaft E, the worm J being mounted
on a shaft j, which carries fast and loose driving pulleys J². These appliances
constitute the driving gear for the shaft and the moving parts connected with it,

page_text: In Figures 5, 6 and 7 the blades G as well as the auxiliary scrapers K are more
clearly shown. These scrapers K are provided to assist the blades G to remove any
accumulations of matters adhering to the inner surface of the lower portion a of the
vessel to keep its surface clean; whilst the function of the blades G is-as herein
before stated to stir and spread the material over the surface of the vessel as well as
to feed it from the end of the vessel at which it is introduced to the other, or outlet
end. To secure these ends the blades G are formed with a certain inclination or pitch
at their tips and are provided at their inner edges with a plate g, this portion in the
example illustrated being a part of the plate of which the blade is formed, bent
forward. The inclined part of the blade effects the feeding forward of the material
and the bent over portion g carries the material collected on the blades over with it
when making the upward movement, or semi circle of rotation. Upon the next
downward movement the material falls from the blades and is in this way spread over
the lower portion a of the vessel A and mixed. It will be evident the effect produced
by all the blades in these respects will be thorough. The blades G are secured to the
bars H by bolts h which also serve to secure the eyes i provided to support the
scrapers K. It will be seen upon reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 that this scraper
consists of a toe k attached to a frame and supported by a pin 2 which is held by
the aforesaid eyes i. The frame k lies to the outside edges of the blades G as shown
and its rear ends are turned up at ³. These turned up ends bear upon the extended
portions of the eye pieces i when the toes k are travelling over any portion of the
lower part a which may lie, say an inch, below the true circle of the vessel A. When
the scrapers pass the top centre of rotation the toc k falls and does not come into
contact with the surface of the vessel until it enters the lower part a of the vessel.
The water is preferably supplied to the material under treatment in the form of a
spray, such as that delivered by an ordinary air jet. The position of this is shown in
in figure 3 and designated L. It will be evident that any form of device by which
water or steam can be supplied in a spray equivalent to the one just described is
suitable for the purpose and may be used in lieu of the air jet.
The example of apparatus illustrated by the Drawings is designed to carry out the
method of making dense soda ash according to this Invention from moist bi-
carbonate of soda produced by the ordinary ammonia soda process, and it is so arranged
and operated that by the time the bicarbonate has been propelled to about that
portion where the water is added to it, it shall have been converted to mono-
carbonate, and that after such water is added, and as delivered from the apparatus,
the material shall have been heated, stirred and mixed sufficiently to have become
converted to dense dry mono-carbonate of soda, and ready for marketable purposes.
The proportion of water to mono-carbonate sufficient to produce the result herein
stated may vary from about two to ten per cent by weight.
We have found the inner surface of the vessel A to have been kept quite free of
scale by providing alternate blades G with auxiliary scrapers K, and consequently we
prefer to arrange them is this manner for ordinary practice when making ash from
ordinary moist bicarbonate of soda produced by the ammonia soda process.
The example of apparatus shown is about 30 feet long, and the shaft E may be
arranged to travel at about the rate of 3, or 4 revolutions per minute, when the
material being treated is the ordinary inoist ammonia bi-carbonate of soda. With
the pitch of blade shown in the Drawing this will propel the material from one
end of the apparatus to the other in about from 40 minutes to an hour. But it
will be evident the time required to make the ash will vary as the degree of moisture
in the material varies when introduced, and other circumstances of practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we would state in
conclusion that the apparatus and mode herein above set forth of carrying out the
method according to this Invention of manufacturing soda ash of a dense and pure
quality constitutes merely one example, and that this Invention is not confined to such
apparatus and mode, as the mode of production of dense soda ash from bi-carbonate,
or mono-carbonate of soda,, or a mixture of them-made by any known process-may

page_text: be varied from the precise mode above described without departing from the spirit of
this Invention; as long as it is carried out in substance in the manner herein above
specified, but what we claim in respect of this Invention is :---
First. The production, or manufacture of dense soda ash from light soda ash, or
bi-carbonate, or mono-carbonate of soda, or a mixture of bi-carbonate and mono-
carbonate of soda, by adding to and mixing with such material, water in a liquid, or
vaporous state and subjecting the mixture to heat, as, or substantially as herein set
forth.
Second. The method herein described of manufacturing dense soda ash from
bi-carbonate, or mono-carbonate of soda, or a mixture of bi-carbonate and mono-
carbonate of soda, which method consists in, first, heating, spreading and feeding
forward the material, then adding water in a liquid, or vapourous state to the
material, and then again heating, mixing and feeding forward the material so treated,
all substantially as described.
Third. The apparatus consisting of the vessel A, rotating shaft E and blades G, or
blades G and scrapers K, and a device for spraying or distributing water, or vapour
of water, constructed and operating as, or substantially as set forth for the purposes
specified.
Fourth. The construction by which in apparatus for the purposes herein specified
the material is introduced at one end and is propelled forward, mixed, turned over
and spread by a system of rotating blades or scrapers and the surface of the lower
portion of the apparatus is subjected to the heat of the furnace gases, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Fifth. In apparatus of the type herein described, blades consisting of a portion by
which the material under treatment is propelled, and a portion, such as g, by which
the material is carried over and spread, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In apparatus of the type herein described the combination with blades, such
as G. of scrapers, such as K, operating as, or substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Seventh. In apparatus of the type herein described in which a system of rotating
blades, or scrapers are used, the use of scrapers K constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
1000
THOMAS TRAIN MATHIESON.
JOSEF HAWLICZEK.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
-
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.