IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE."-A communication
from abroad by François Marie Aubert de Trégomain, Gentleman, of
29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 14th June 1864, and dated the 1st January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st January 1864.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE," to be as
follows:-
Many means have been employed for the manufacture of chlorine, including
the application of bichloride of copper and other bichlorides, but hitherto
without success.
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of chlorine by
means of bichlorides, and also to the method of revivifying the latter. After
the bichloride, which is heated to a deep red, has disengaged about half its
chlorine, and has changed to a state of protochloride, I collect it while in a
state of fusion and pour it on marble slabs, and then grind it in a mill. The
powder obtained is introduced into a revivifying apparatus, in which I pass a
current of air in sufficient quantity, the protochloride in powder on coming in

page_text: contact with the oxygen of the air becomes changed into oxychloride, with
a mixture of bioxide and bichloride of copper. In order to effect the
revivification 1 place the powdered oxychloride in a stoneware vessel con-
taining hydrochloric acid in the proportions of one part of oxychloride to
two parts of acid. After effervescing and cooling crystalization takes place,
crystals of bichloride being formed, which are then dried and distilled afresh.
I may also effect the revivification of the protochloride by causing a current
of gaseous hydrochloric acid to act on the powdered oxychloride, which
method possesses the advantage of favouring and accelerating its regeneration
by economizing the labour.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, 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, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF CHLORINE," a communication to me from abroad by François
Marie Aubert de Trégomain, Gentleman, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 (that is to say):-
Many methods have been employed for the manufacture of chlorine,
including the application of bichloride of copper and others, but hitherto
without success.
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of chlorine by
means of bichlorides, and also to the method of revivifying the latter. After
the bichloride, which is heated to a deep red, has disengaged about half its
chlorine, and has changed to a state of protochloride, I collect it while in a
state of fusion and pour it on marble slabs, and then grind it in a mill. The
powder I obtain is introduced into the revivifying apparatus, in which I pass
a current of air of sufficient amount, the protochloride in powder on coming in
contact with the oxygen of the air becomes changed into oxychloride or
mixture of bioxide and bichloride of copper. In order to effect the revivi-
fication I place the powdered oxychloride in stoneware vessels containing
hydrochloric acid at 23° Beaumé, in the proportions of about one hundred-
weight of oxychloride, supposing it to be dry, to one hundred pounds of acid,
or as six is to seven. The matters are then heated, and after cooling crystalli-
zation takes place, the mother waters being withdrawn, and the crystals of
bichloride dried and distilled afresh.
I may also effect the revivification of the protochloride by causing a current
of gaseous hydrochloric acid to act on the powdered oxychloride, which
method possesses the advantage of favouring and accelerating its regeneration
by economizing the labour.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.B.)