IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SULPHUR FROM IRON PYRITES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CONTAINING SULPHUR
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Spence, of Pendleton, in the County of Lan-
caster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING SULPHUR FROM IRON PYRITES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CONTAINING
SULPHUR."
Sealed the 16th March 1855, and dated the 22nd September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Spence at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd September
1854.
I, the said PETER SPENCE, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SULPHUR PROM IRON PYRITES AND OTHER Sur-
STANCES CONTAINING SULPHUR" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a method of obtaining sulphur, for which Pro-
visional Protection was granted to mo on July 25th, 1854. In my Specifi-
cation then filed I stated that I converted the sulphur of the matters operated
upon into sulphurous acid gas, and afterwards passed it through a deoxidizing
agent, and I mentioned in describing certain apparatus a separate chamber for
the said deoxidizing agent. I have, however, subsequently found that the
same effect may be produced by burning the pyrites or other material in com-
bination with coke, charcoal, or other deoxidizer. In order to effect this, I placo
the pyrites, &c. and coke, charcoal, or other suitable substance in alternate
layers, or I mix the materials promiscuously when charging in one chamber;
the whole is then ignited, and the sulphur allowed to pass off into a chamber,
where it is condensed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
SPENCE, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year
of Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Peter Spence, Her especial licence that I, the said Peter Spence,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I. -the said
Peter Spence, 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, with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING SULPHUR FROM IRON PYNITES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CONTAINING
SULPHUR," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Peter Spence,
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 Peter Spence, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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:-
My Invention relates to a method of obtaining sulphur, for which Letters
Patent have been granted to me, bearing date the 24th July, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four. In the Specification thereof, duly filed, I stated
that I converted the sulphur of the matter operated upon into sulphurous acid
gas, and afterwards passed it through a deoxidizing agent; and I mentioned,
in describing a certain apparatus, a separate chamber for the deoxidizing
agent. I have, however, subsequently found that the same effect may be
produced by burning the pyrites or other material in combination with the
deoxidizer. In order to effect this, I place the pyrites and coke, charcoal, or

page_text: other suitable substance in alternate layers; or I mix the materials pro-
miscuously in one chamber; the whole is then ignited, and the sulphur allowed
to pass off into a chamber, where it is condensed.
In carrying out my said Invention I use kilns, such as are ordinarily em-
ployed for burning pyrites in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. The kilns,
having been properly lighted by a charge of burning coals and pyrites, are then
charged every two hours with about sixty pounds weight of pyrites in pieces,
from the size of nuts to about two inches in diameter, evenly spread on the
surface of the pyrites previously burning in the kiln. On the top of each fresh
charge of pyrites I now spread regularly about fifteen pounds weight of coke
or charcoal, or peat charcoal, in pieces about the same size as the pyrites used,
not allowing dust or small carbonaceous matter to be introduced, as it damages
the draft through the kiln; the doors are then luted up so as to admit no air,
and the process goes on without further attention until the time returns for a
fresh charge. The sulphurous acid gas produced in the lower parts of the
kiln is decomposed in the upper layer of carbonaceous matters into sulphur
vapour and carbonic acid gas, and these, as described in the Specification of
my Patent aforesaid, are carried off through a short flue into a chamber of
condensation, where the sulphur vapour is condensed into sulphur, and the
carbonic acid and other waste gasses then pass off into a chimney with which
the chamber is connected, and which is also needful in order to produco a draft
through the kilns. I have stated that the carbonaceous matter and pyrites
are placed in the kiln in alternate layers, and although I prefer this method
they may be mixed therein promiscuously.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim as secured to me, and as an improvement upon my former
Patent aforesaid, the production of sulphur by combining in one chamber
pyrites or other matters containing sulphur with coke, charcoal, or other solid
carbonaceous or deoxidizing matters kept at a red heat.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Spence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
PETER SPENCE. (L.B.)