IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING AND DRESSING' SALT
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Higgin, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR PULVERIZING AND DRESSING' SALT."
Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 28th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Higgin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1877.
THOMAS HIGGIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING AND DRESSING "SALT".
My Invention relates,―
Firstly. To a novel method of pulverizing or reducing to powder lump salt.
Secondly. To a method of dressing such pulverized salt by sifting and separating
the salt according to its degrees of fineness and coarseness.
In carrying out the first portion of my Invention I use a disc or discs or a
cylinder of timber or other suitable material in which are set a series of cutters
placed in manner similar to the cutters of a spokeshave. The cutters may be placed
on the face of the disc or discs or cylinder, or on the edge thereof. The disc or discs
or cylinder is mounted on a suitable shaft so as to run at a high speed within a box
or case. To keep the disc or discs or cylinder cool there may be arranged a series
of vanes on the disc or discs or cylinder, so as to induce a current of cold air, which
serves not only to reduce the heat caused by the friction of cutting the salt, but
also serves to keep down the dust caused by the process of pulverizing, and to blow
such dust away with the pulverized material. .
In operation the salt is fed by being held by hand or other suitable means against
the disc or discs or cylinder, so that when revolving, the cutters of the disc or. discs
or cylinder pare or reduce the lump salt to fine particles or dust, the degree of
fineness or coarseness being regulated by the adjustment of the cutters, a cold blast
being induced either by the vanes before referred to on the disc or discs or cylinder,
or by other suitable means.
The salt, after being so treated, is led by suitable means, such as a bucket or
screw elevator, into a dressing machine, which constitutes the second part of my

page_text: Invention, and consists of a "reel" of many sided or circular section, the sides or circular
circumference of which are formed of silk or other suitable guaze having meshes of
varying grade. The feeding end of the reel is provided with a disc riddle for
separating lime or other foreign matter and lumps of salt, so as to prevent such from
entering the reel.
The reel is mounted horizontally on a framework at a slight incline, and
rotates in a suitable box, which may be provided with divisions corresponding with
the different grades of meshes on the reel. The salt is discharged from the box by
suitable shoots, and may be delivered on to a table, where it can be packed in bags
or otherwise, or the salt may be delivered on to an arrangement of travelling bands
or equivalent deliverers, so that the salt may be packed or stored in different
positions in the factory.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Higgin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st December
1877.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THOMAS HIGGIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PULVERIZING AND DRESSING' SALT."
My Invention relates,―
Firstly. To a novel method of pulverizing or reducing to powder ump salt..
Secondly. To a method of dressing such pulverized salt by sifting and separating
the salt according to its degree of fineness and coarseness.
In carrying out the first portion of my Invention I use a disc or discs or a cylinder
of timber or other suitable material, in which are set a series of cutters placed in
manner similar to the cutters of a spokeshave. The cutters may be placed on the
face of the disc or discs or cylinder, or on the edge thereof.. The disc or discs or
cylinder is mounted on a suitable shaft, so as to run at a high speed within a box or
case. To keep the dise or discs or cylinder cool there may be arranged a series of
vanes on the disc or discs or cylinder, so as to induce a current of cold air, which
serves not only to reduce the heat caused by the friction of cutting the salt, but also
serves to keep down the dust caused by the process of pulverizing, and to blow such
dust away with the pulverized material.
In operation the salt is fed by being held by hand or other suitable means (or by
being fed into a hopper) against the disc or discs or cylinder, so that when revolving
the cutters of the disc or discs or cylinder pare or reduce the lump salt to fine
particles or dust, the degree of fineness or coarseness being regulated by the adjust-
ment of the cutters, a cold blast being induced either by the vanes before referred
to on the disc or discs or cylinder, or by other suitable means.
The salt, after being so treated, is led by suitable means, such as a bucket or
screw elevator, into a dressing machine, which constitutes the second part of my
Invention, and consists of a reel of many sided or circular section, the sides or
circumference of which are formed of silk, wire, or other suitable guaze, having
meshes of varying grade. The feeding end of the reel is provided with a riddle for
separating lime or other foreign matter and lumps of salt, so as to prevent such from
entering the reel.
The reel.is mounted horizontally on a framework at a slight incline, and rotates

page_text: "
the hoppers Q, Q¹. The other portions of the apparatus, nàïnely, the elevator G
and the dressing machine H are similar to Figure 1.
Upon reference to Figures 10; 11, 12, and 13, it will be seen that the cutters a
may be arranged in a cylinder A, which corresponds with the disc A before referred
to. The cutters may be set spirally or diagonally, as shown at Figures 10 and 11,
or straight across the cylinder, as shown at Figures 12 and 13. The cylinder may
.be set to run horizontally in a hopper Q, as shown at Figure 10, or the cylinder may
be set to run vertically, as will be understood.
When a hopper such as Q is used to feed the lumps to the cutters a the salt
presses on the cutters by its own weight.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my Invention,
and shown the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to any particular design of apparatus, nor to the dimensions of the
same, as it will be evident that the same can be considerably altered without
departing from my Invention, but what I claim as my Invention and secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,...
Firstly. The method of pulverizing or reducing to powder lump salt, by means of
a rotating disc or cylinder, such as A, provided with cutters such as a, and operating
in the manner herein-before set forth.
Secondly. The method of dressing or treating salt by means of a rotating reel or
reciprocating tray such as I, covered with silk, wire, or other guaze, and into which
the crushed salt is fed, as herein-before set forth and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any modification thereof.
Thirdly. The arrangement and construction of an apparatus for pulverizing and
dressing salt, such as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings, or any modifi-
cation thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Higgin, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THUMAN
(L.S.) HIGGIN.