An Improved Machine for the Purpose of Washing and Refining Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for the Purpose of Washing and Refining
Substances.
Fuller's Earth, China Clay, and other similar
I, WALTER ALLEN SHEPPARD, Cleve Hill House Midford near Bath in the county
of Somerset Manager of Fullers Earth Works, 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 invention relates to an improved construction of machine for refining or
washing Fullers Earth or other substances.
In this my Invention, the dissolving and stirring tubs or vessels are placed side by
side; in the dissolving tub which has a base or bottom inclined towards the stirring
tub. The Fullers Earth is first placed where it is reduced to solution by water being
poured on to it, or running into same through a pipe or pipes leading from a tank or
other convenient source causing the earth when dissolved to pass through a hatch in
the wall or skin dividing the dissolving or stirring vessels, into the stirring tub in
which is mounted a vertical shaft on which are fixed two or more blades so that
when the said vertical shaft is caused to revolve the blades thoroughly mix the
impure Fullers Earth with the water, the solution then flowing through a pipe or
pipes from the bottom of the stirring tubs to the refining machine which consists of
two stationary cylinders preferably of a circular formation fixed concentric to each
other leaving about six inches space between them all round, an inner revolving pan
of a V shaped form having a convenient number of slots at equi distances apart cut
therein and the strips of metal of predetermined width turned outwards, this pan
mounted on a tubular shaft being caused to revolve at about one hundred times
per minute an injector with two or more curved arms is attached to the aforesaid
inner pan and revolves with the same for the purpose of ejecting any grit that may
settle behind the four inclined equi-distantly spaced baffle plates and through the
space between the bottom of the inner fixed cylinder and the bed-plate to which the
cylinders are fixed into the concentric space between the inner and outer cylinders,
the aforesaid inclined baffle plates being attached to the inside of the inner cylinder
near the bottom. The mixture of earth and water is fed by a pipe or pipes into the
space between the inner fixed cylinder, and the revolving V shaped pan, the refined
earth and water escaping from the smaller or lower end of same through convenient
channels to a tank or tanks provided for its reception while the grit or stones are
thrown by the ejector into the ring or concentric space between the inner and outer
fixed cylinders.
In order that my Invention be be more readily understood and explained in detail
I have hereunto annexed two sheets of Drawings on which letters of reference are
marked on corresponding parts on all the Figs. alike.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of my improved refining machine with the dissolving
and stirring tubs adjacent thereto. Fig. 2. is a sectional plan of same.
The Fullers Earth in a granulated state is first placed in the dissolving tank a.
having an inclined bottom, water is then allowed to flow into the said tank to dissolye
the Fullers Earth a guard or door b. is then lifted either automatically or by hand to
permit the dissolved material to gradually slide or flow into the stirring tank c. where
it is more thoroughly dissolved or mixed by means of a screw or rotating beater d.
after which the mixture flows through a pipe or pipes d² into an inner cylinder e.
surrounding the central pan e² which said pan is caused to revolve about one hundred
times per minute, the strips of metal herein before mentioned on the outer circum-

page_text: ference of the said revolving pan as it rotates throwing the grit and impurities
which are heaviest against the inside of the inner fixed cylinder e. which then fall
on to the bed plate at the base and behind the baffle plates f which are attached
to the inside of the inner cylinder e. at a sufficient height above the bed or base
plate f. to allow the radial curved armes g. to eject the said grit and impurities into
the concentric space g2 formed between the inner cylinder e and the outer cylinder
or shell of the machine ea from whence it can be removed at convenient times whilst
the refined Fullers Earth being light escapes through a pipe at the bottom of the
central revolving pan into a tank or tanks provided for its reception.
The outer cylinder e³ is fixed all round at its base to the bed plate f in any
convenient manner whilst the inner cylinder e is only attached to the said bed plate
at four or more places as may be found most convenient, the spaces intervening the
attachments being cut away sufficiently to permit the grit to be thrown by the
ejectors g. into the concentric space G2 between the inner and outer cylinders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
The construction of a machine or apparatus for refining Fullers Earth, China Clay,
or other substances, in the manner as herein substantially described, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
Dated this 21st day of December 1889.
GRAHAM & GRAHAM,
Agents for Applicant.