Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Solids by Gases, also Applicable to other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 10th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Solids by Gases, also
Applicable to other Purposes.
I, LUDWIG MOND of Winnington Hall, Northwich, Cheshire, Chemist do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This apparatus is specially designed for treating solid substances at an elevated
temperature by gases in such cases where it is desired to eliminate as far as possible
one gas from a mixture such as absorbing an acid from a mixture of gases; or for
changing one gas into another by the action of a solid body such as producing
sulphurons acid by the action of air upon pyrites producing chlorine by the action of
air upon a chloride and so forth; and also for heating substances by contact with hot
gases; and for other purposes.
In all these cases it is essential for a good result that the gases should be used in a
thin stratum, so that each particle of the gas gets a chance of coming into contact with
the solid substance, and that the solid substance should be turned over and moved in
an opposite direction to the current of the gas, so as to bring it into repeated and
intimate contact with it. For this purpose revolving cylinders have long been used
through which the solid substance passes in one direction while the gas is passed
through in the other direction; but these have not been found to answer the purpose
because the gas passing through these cylinders in one compact mass the particles in
and near the centre of the cylinder do not get into sufficient contact with the solid
material.
I propose to use an apparatus constructed of two cylinders one placed inside the
other so as to form an annular space. Both cylinders are turned round together by
suitable machinery. The solid substance passes through the annular space in one
direction and the gas in the opposite direction. In order to lengthen the course of
the gas I fix on one of the cylinders projections forming a screw and in order to turn
over the solid substance I fix on the outer cylinder a number of ribs parallel to the
axis of the cylinder which lift the substance up to a certain height and then allow it
to fall to the bottom again. I fix similar ribs on the inside cylinder which form
pockets into which the stuff lifted up by the ribs on the outer cylinder falls, and is

page_text: then taken forward to the other side of the cylinder where it drops out of one of these
pockets again on to the ribs fixed to the outside cylinder. By this means I obtain a
more frequent contact of the solid substance with the gas and also increase the useful
heating surface of the apparatus.
The
The whole apparatus is put in a suitable furnace so as to heat it to the desired
temperature. The inside. cylinder is at both ends closed with tight covers.
outside cylinder projects at both ends a short distance beyond the inside cylinder and
is then also closed with tight covers, through the centres of which the solid substance
is introduced by a suitable feeder at one end and taken out at the other; while the
gas is introduced at the other end and escapes at the opposite end.
The whole apparatus is fixed horizontally or on a slight incline, and is supported
and set in motion by any suitable means or gearing.
When corrosive substances or gases are treated in this apparatus the parts that
come in contact with these may be enamelled or otherwise protected against such
action.
Dated this 10th day of Aroust 1887.

page_text: Applicable to other Purposes.
I, LUDWIG MOND of Winnington Hall, Northwich, in the County of Chester,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This apparatus is specially designed for treating solid substances at an elevated
temperature by gases, in cases where it is desired to eliminate as far as possible one
gas from a mixture, such as absorbing an acid from a mixture of gases; or for
changing one gas into another by the action of a solid body, such as producing
sulphurous acid by the action of air upon pyrites, producing chlorine by the action
of air upon a chloride, and so forth; and also for heating substances by contact with
hot gases, and for other purposes.
In all these cases it is essential for a good result that the gases should be used:
in a thin stratum, so that each particle of the gas gets a chance of coming into
contact with the solid substance, and that the solid substance should be turned over
and moved in an opposite direction to the current of the gas, so as to bring it into
repeated and intimate contact with it. For this purpose revolving cylinders have
long been used, through which the solid substance passes in one direction, while the
gas is passed through in the other direction; but these have not been found to
answer the purpose, because the gas passing through these cylinders in one compact
mass, the particles in and near the centre of the cylinder do not get into sufficient
contact with the solid material.
The apparatus I propose to use for remedying this defect is set forth in the
following description and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the entire apparatus.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through xx Figure 1 and
Figure 4 a transverse section through y-y Figure 1.
The apparatus is constructed of two cylinders A & B, one placed inside the other.
so as to form an annular space C. Both cylinders are turned round together by
suitable machinery which is preferably geared with the spur wheel D carried by the
outer cylinder A. The cylinders are supported and guided in any suitable manner,
such as by the supporting wheels D₁ upon which they are free to rotate. The solid
substance passes through the annular space C in one direction and the gas in the
opposite direction as shown by the arrows, the entrance of the former being at E and
its exit at E¹, both entrance and exit being, preferably, provided with a conveying
device e e¹ respectively actuated by a pulley d or its equivalent. The gas enters the
space Cat F through the hollow conveyor and passes out at F through the similar
shaft e, as shown by the arrows. Glands G G serve to prevent leakage at the ends

page_text: of the outer cylinder A. In order to lengthen the course of the gas, I fix on one of
the cylinders preferably the outer one A, a projecting flange H forming a screw, and
in order to turn over the solid substance, I fix on the outer cylinder A, a number of
ribs or buckets I parallel to the axis of the cylinder, which lift the substance up to a
certain height and then allow it to fall to the bottom again. I fix similar ribs J on
the inside cylinder which form pockets (as may be seen from figure 3) into which the
stuff lifted up by the ribs I on the outer cylinder, falls, and by which it is then
taken forward to the other side of the cylinder, where it drops out of one of the
said pockets on to the outer cylinder and the ribs I fixed thereto. By this means I
obtain a more frequent contact of the solid substance with the gas and also increase
the useful heating surface of the apparatus.
The whole apparatus is put in a suitable heating apparatus or furnace K so as to
heat it to the desired temperature. The inside cylinder is at both ends closed with
tight covers b. The outside cylinder projects at both ends a short distance beyond
the inside cylinder and beyond the furnace K. The ends of this cylinder are also
closed except at their centres, through which the solid substance and the gas is intro-
duced or led away as afore described. That end of the cylinder at which the solid
substance has an exit is fitted internally with radial webs e which serve to lift up the
said substance and shoot it into the conveying device e¹ as shown in figure 4.
The whole apparatus is fixed horizontally or on a slight incline.
When corrosive substances or gases are treated in this apparatus, the parts that
come in contact with these may be enamelled or otherwise protected against such
action.
Instead of heating the cylinders by a furnace such as shown, the gases or solid
substances may be introduced in a heated state. Also the apparatus can be used for
treating gases and solids at ordinary temperatures, in which case the furnace can be
dispensed with.
«
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I am well aware that
revolving furnaces or revolvers supported on rollers in the manner herein shown,
have been used in alkali works for making black ash, in which the solid materials have
been inserted in a revolving drum of large diameter, and the gases of a furnace
passed through, also that long horizontal revolving cylinders or stationary cylinders
with revolving worms have been heated externally, and materials passed through to
dry or calcine them, also that in various forms of revolving apparatus, ribs have been
fixed on the interior to carry up the material and let it fall, also that annular heating
tubes surrounded by furnace gases, both on their external and internal outer surfaces
or on their internal outer surface only, have been used for heating liquids and gases,
also that it is not new in treating solids by gases to cause the two to travel through
the mechanism in opposite directions, further, I make no claim for the charging and
discharging mechanism herein-set-forth, except when used in combination with the
remainder of my apparatus as set forth, nor for the individual pieces of mechanism
such as a shaft, a pulley or a cylinder taken separately, but that what I claim as my
invention is:―
The various improvements in apparatus and combination of parts for treating solids
by gases, (also applicable for other purposes) substantially as herein-described, but
subiect to the disclaiming clause.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.