IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASH, PARTS OF WHICH INVENTION ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEMICAL APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jones and John Walsh, both of Middlesbrough;
in the County of York, Chemical Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASH, PARTS OF WHICH INVENTION ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEMICAL APPARATUS."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 27th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jones and John
Walsh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1877.
"
WILLIAM JONES and JOHN WALSH, both of Middlesbrough, in the County of York,
Chemical Manufacturers. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASH, PARTS OF WHICH
INVENTION ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEMICAL APPARATUS."
This Invention relates chiefly to apparatus for carrying on our process for manu-
facturing sulphates, patented in 1875, No. 1864.
In place of the stationary pans and moving stirrers, mentioned in that Patent, we
use a rotating pan and stationary stirrers. -Our-new pan-is usually built up of
wrought iron, and lined with cast iron, the wrought iron allowing for expansion, the
cast iron forming a less corrodible surface for the chemicals to act upon. It is sup-
ported from below on a pivot, which pivot is brought up vertically through the
centre of the pan, and can be braced to the girders in the roof above; a sheathing,
forming a portion of the pan, surrounds the said central column, and prevents the
chemicals from overflowing down into the bearing. The central bearing can be
lubricated from below or from above by means of a tube coming down through the
central column. Round the base of the pan at the outer edge we fix a rim, which
projects downward into a stationary annular channel in or attached to the masonry,
and filled with fine sand or other material suitable to form a joint and prevent air
rushing in and diluting the gases. Near the outer rim on the lower side of the
bottom of the pan we place an annular rack, into which gears the spur wheel by
which the pan is rotated. Inside the rack is an annular bar or rail resting on a

page_text: series of bearing pulleys so as to take off the weight from the central bearing and
the spur wheel. The motion in this respect.exactly resembles some turn-tables now
in use, but we do not however limit ourselves to this form of rotating apparatus, as
there are other modes of turning the pan that would be equally efficacious.
In the casing of brick or other material forming the chamber above the pan is left
an opening for the hot gases from the furnace, and on the opposite side is the exit
opening for carrying off the fumes. Both these openings are usually fitted with a
damper. From the central column radiating to the walls, preferably at an angle of
about 60 degrees with each other at the opposite side to the furnace opening, we
place two stout girders or bars, on which are fixed a series of " stirrers or ploughs
at even distances from each other, but the ploughs on the one bar are so arranged
that as the pan rotates their courses relatively to the pan shall be midway between
the courses of the ploughs on the other bar; thus, the two sets "break joint," as it
were, with each other, and cover the whole surface of the pan.
"
When the pan is made of wrought iron and lined with cast iron the wrought iron
will expand and contract without causing fear of fracture; occasionally however we
These cast-iron
make pans, especially those of the stationary pattern, of cast iron.
pans are usually made in segments radiating from a central boss. The junctions of
these segments are formed by outside flanges projecting perpendicularly, and joined
by bolts or rivets.
Now by our new arrangement we form a second or ☐ flange (projecting out
parallel to the pan) in each of these flanges, thus together producing a double or
T flange outside the pan. To this T two bent wrought-iron or steel plates like
angle irons are attached by rivets or otherwise, their long projecting webs being
back to back, but separated at their extreme ends by a caulking strip, through
which they are securely rivetted together. The bent plates, and, to a very slight
extent, perhaps the two halves of the cast-iron T, give a little with the expansion
and contraction, while the joint is at the same time prefectly water-tight.
This joint is not merely applicable to our own pan, but to other large pans used
in chemical operations, in the interiors of which considerable changes in temperature
take place.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Jones and John Walsh in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th December 1877.
WILLIAM JONES and JOHN WALSH, both of Middlesbrough, in the County of York,
Chemical Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATES OF SODA AND POTASII, PARTS OF WHICH
INVENTION ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER CHEMICAL APPARATUS."
This Invention relates chiefly to apparatus for carrying on our process for manu-
facturing sulphates, patented in 1875, No. 1864.
In place of the stationary pans and moving stirrers mentioned in the Specification
of that Patent, we use a rotating pan A and stationary stirrers B, B. Our new
pan is usually built up of wrought iron, and lined. with cast iron, the wrought iron
allowing for expansion, the cast iron forming a less corrodible surface for the.
chemicals to act upon. It is supported from below on a pivot C, which pivot is
brought up vertically through the centre of the pan, and can be braced to the
girders in the roof above; a sheathing D, forming a portion of the pan, surrounds.
the said central column, and prevents the chemicals froin overflowing down into the
bearing. The central bearing can be lubricated from below or from above by mean.
of a tube coming down through the central column. Round the base of the par
the outer edge we fix a rim E, which projects downward into a stationary annular
channel F in or attached to the masonry, and filled with fine sand or other material
suitable to form a joint and prevent air rushing in and diluting the gases. . Near
the outer, rim, on the lower side of the bottom of the pan, we place an annular. rack
G, into which gears the spur wheel H, by which the pan is rotated. Inside the.rack
is an annular bar or rail I resting on a series of bearing pullies J, J, so as to take off
the weight from the central bearing and the spur wheel. The motion in this respect
exactly resembles some turn-tables now in use, but we do not. however limit ourselves
to this form of rotating apparatus, as there are other well-known modes of turning
turn-tables and the like that would be equally efficacious for our pans.
In the casing of brick and iron beams or other material K, forming the chamber
above the pan, is left an opening for the hot gases from the furnace, and on the
opposite side is the exit opening for carrying off the fumes. Both these openings
are usually fitted with a damper. The chamber itself is built of brick or bricks and
iron girders combined, the exact form being immaterial. From the central column
radiating to the walls, preferably at an angle of about 60 degrees with each other,
at the opposite side to the furnace opening, we place two stout girders or bars L, L,
on which are fixed a series of "stirrers" B or ploughs M at even distances from
each other, but the ploughs on the one bar are so arranged that as the pan rotates
their courses relatively to the pan shall be midway between the courses of the ploughs
on the other bar; thus, the two sets "break joint," as it were with each other, and
cover the whole surface of the pan. In using the pan the charge is shot in from a spout
or scoop capable of being let down into the pan, then the charge is finished, the scoop
being let down in a slanting position into the bottom of the pan; the latter in
revolving forces the stuff up the inclined spout till it is nearly empty; the remainder
can be extracted by rakes or otherwise in the usual manner.
When the pan is made of wrought iron, and lined with cast iron, the wrought
iron will expand and contract without causing fear of fracture; occasionally however,
we make pans especially those of the stationary pattern of cast iron; this is shown in
Figures 4, 5, and 6. These cast-iron pans are usually made in segments P, P, P,
radiating from a central boss. The junctions of these segments are formed by
outside flanges Q, Q, projecting perpendicularly, and joined by bolts or rivets.
Now by our new arrangement we form a second or L flange R, R, (projecting
out parallel to the pan) on each side of these flanges, thus together producing a
double or T flange outside the pan. To this T two bent wrought-iron or steel
plates S, like angle irons, are attached by rivets or otherwise, their long projecting
1

page_text: webs being back to back, but separated at their extreme ends by a caulking strip T,
through which they are securely rivetted together. The bent plates, and to a very
slight extent perhaps the two halves of the cast-iron T, give a little with the
expansion and contraction, while the joint is at the same time perfectly water-
tight. If the cast-iron flanges are bolted together the bolts are fitted with spring
washers.
This joint is not merely applicable to our own pan, but to other large pans used
in chemical operations, in the interiors of which considerable changes in temperature
take place.
.: Having now described our Invention, and the best mode known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood that we are well aware that revolving
pans and stationary stirrers have been used before in certain chemical operations,
and that we do not claim the abstract principle as our Invention, but that what we
believe to be new and desire to protect by the herein-before recited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The practical application of a rotating pan, with two or more sets of
stationary stirrers or ploughs (preferably so arranged that each set throws the
material into the path of the succeeding one) fixed to the rigid framework of the
apparatus in the manufacture of sulphate of soda or of sulphate of potash, in which
the mixing, decomposing, and calcining of the materials are all carried on in a single
pan or vessel at one continuous operation.
2nd. The general combination of apparatus for the manufacture of sulphate of
soda or of sulphate of potash, substantially as described in the foregoing Specifi-
cation.
3rd. The application of an expansion joint, substantially as described in the latter
part of this Specification, to cast-iron pans, in which chemicals are manipulated at
very varying temperatures.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Jones and John Walsh, have hereunto'
set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.