AN IMPROVED METHOD OF and ApparaTUS OR MACHINE FOR PULVERIZING MINERALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF and ApparaTUS OR MACHINE FOR PULVERIZING
MINERALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." A communication from abroad by
Frederic Augustus Luckenbach, John Wolfenden, and Lyman Franklin
Holman, all of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
OR MACHINE FOR PULVERIZING MINERALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." [A com-
munication from abroad by Frederic Augustus Luckenbach, John Wolfenden,
and Lyman Franklin Holman, all of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.]
The said Invention consists in a novel method of and apparatus for pulverizing
substances by bringing into forcible contact opposing currents of steam, air, or
other suitable gaseous bodies, said currents carrying the substances to be pul-
verized. The substances are thus rapidly pulverized without waste of power, and
with comparatively little wear of the apparatus, which is inexpensive in its
construction.
The simplest form of apparatus adapted to said method would direct two charged
currents on the same line in opposite directions. The apparatus may be constructed
to direct several opposing currents on parallel lines in the same or in different
planes; but I have found by experiments that the most efficient and economical
form is that by which several opposing currents are directed to a common centre
or focal point. These currents may be conducted on one plane or on several planes,
provided they all tend to a common centre.
The apparatus I employ for carrying this Invention into practice is provided
with an annular steam or air chamber, current tubes with movable linings,
passages or valves, hoppers, movable caps, inlet tubes, and with supports connected
by rods.

page_text: The inner and outer tubes form straight inlet passages for the substance to be
pulverized, and are by preference provided with a hardened metal lining, which
may be readily removed when desired; these tubes are made adjustable relatively
in order to regulate the size of the air or steam passage between them, and are also
made adjustable to increase or diminish the distance between the inner ends of the
tubes to accord with the pressure employed and the character of the substance
being pulverized. The outer tubes are each provided with a hopper, the bottom
of which forms extensions of the said tubes. These hoppers may be secured to the
tubes by screw threads or in any other suitable manner. The inner tubes are
provided with movable caps preferably made of soft metal to protect the inner end
of the tubes. These caps may be screwed on or otherwise secured to the tubes,
and may be varied in shape and size to adapt them to the form of apparatus
employed.
The cover of the apparatus of any suitable form should be made to fit closely
over the circular chamber above referred to to prevent the escape of the powdered
material. A discharge hopper is constructed to fit closely under said circular
chamber, and may be connected by a pipe with a receptacle for the pulverized
material. Parts of the frame are preferably made of iron tubing, and connected
together by bolts and to the circular chamber in any suitable manner.
The material being placed in the hoppers in a suitable condition to pass through
the inner and outer tubes (preferably of about pea size), dry steam, compressed air,
or other gas under high pressure is admitted through the inlet pipes into the
chamber, and from this chamber through passages or valves into the inner tubes.
The currents pass through these tubes with great force towards the central point,
and thereby create a partial vacuum in the outer tubes sufficient to draw the
material into the inner tubes, and the substance is then carried by said currents
to the central point, where they are met by the charged currents from opposite
tubes. The collision generally crushes or pulverizes the material sufficiently, but
any portion not well pulverized may be subjected to another passage through the
tubes. The currents pass with equal force through the inner tubes, being fed from
the same chamber, which is essential for the best results whatever may be the
number of the tubes or the form of the apparatus.
The pressure of steam or air producing the currents may be somewhat varied
according to the character of the material and the distance between the inner ends
of opposite inner tubes; but it has been found that a pressure of 150 pounds to the
square inch is sufficient to pulverize ores and other like substances at one passage
through the apparatus.
The passages or valves with which the apparatus is provided may each be varied
as required, but to produce the best results they should be of uniform size. The
object of the soft metal caps at the inner end of the tubes is to prevent the wear
or abrasion of the said inner ends of the tubes, and the chief object of the linings
of the tubes, which may be made of hardened metal or other hard material like
glass, is to avoid the frequent removal of the tubes, which would be troublesome
and expensive.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th June 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
OR MACHINE FOR PULVERIZING MINERALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." A com-
munication from abroad by Frederic Augustus Luckenbach, John Wolfenden,
and Lyman Franklin Holman, all of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
The said Invention consists in a novel method of and apparatus for pulverizing
substances by bringing into forcible contact opposing currents of steam, air, or
other suitable gaseous or aeriform fluid, said currents carrying with them the
substances to be pulverized. The substances are thus rapidly pulverized without
waste of power, and with comparatively little wear of the apparatus, which is
inexpensive in its construction.
The simplest form of apparatus adapted to this method of pulverizing would
direct two charged currents on the same line in opposite directions. The apparatus
may be constructed to direct several opposing currents on parallel lines in the same
or in different planes, but it has been found by experiments that the most efficient
and economical form is that illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, by which
several opposing currents are directed to a common centre or focal point. These
currents may be conducted on one plane, as shown, or on several planes, provided
they all tend to a common centre.
In the said Drawing,―
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the apparatus, and
Figure 2, a plan or top view partly in section on the line x, x², Figure 1.
This apparatus is provided with an annular steam or air chamber A, current
tubes B, B with removable linings 6, 61, passages or valves C, hoppers D, movable
caps E, inlet tubes H, and supports I, connected by rods K.
The inner tubes B and outer tubes B' form straight inlet passages for the substance
to be pulverized, and are by preference provided with hardened metal linings, which
may be readily removed when desired. These tubes B and B₁ are made adjustable
relatively in order to regulate the size of the air or steam passage between them,
and are also made adjustable to increase or diminish the distance between the
inner ends of the tubes B to accord with the pressure employed and the character
of the substance being pulverized. The outer tubes B' are each provided with a
hopper D, the bottom of which forms extensions of the said tubes B¹. These
hoppers may be secured to the tubes by screw threads, or in any other suitable
manner. The tubes B are provided with movable caps E, preferably made of soft
metal to protect the inner end of the tubes. These caps may be screwed on or
otherwise secured to the tubes, and may be varied in shape and size to adapt them
to the form of apparatus employed.
The cover F of the apparatus, which may be of any suitable form, should be
made to fit closely over the circular chamber A¹ to prevent the escape of the
powdered or pulverized material. The discharge hopper G is constructed to fit
closely under said circular chamber, and may be connected by a pipe with a
receptacle for the pulverized material. The parts I, K, of the frame are preferably
made of iron tubing, and are connected together by bolts, and to the circular
chamber A in any suitable manner.
The material being placed in the hoppers in a suitable condition to pass through
the tubes B, B', preferably of about pea size, dry steam or compressed air or other
gas under high pressure is admitted through the inlet pipes H into the chamber A,

page_text: and from this chamber through the passages or valves C into tubes B. The
currents pass through the tubes B with great force towards the central point, and
thereby create a partial vacuum in tubes B¹ sufficient to draw the material into
the tubes B; the substance is then carried by said currents to the central point,
where they are met by the charged currents from opposite tubes B. The collision
generally crushes or pulverizes the material sufficiently, but any portion not well
pulverized may be subjected to another passage through the tubes. The currents
pass with equal force through the tubes B, being fed from the same chamber A,
which is essential for the best results, whatever may be the number of the tubes or
the form of the apparatus.
The pressure of steam, air, or other fluid producing the currents may be
somewhat varied, according to the character of the material and the distance
between the inner ends of opposite tubes B, but it has been found that a pressure
of 150 pounds to the square inch is sufficient to pulverize ores and other like
substances in one passage through the said apparatus
The passages or valves C may each be varied as required, but to produce the
best results they should be of uniform size. The object of the soft metal caps E is
to prevent the wear or abrasion of the inner ends of the tubes B; and the chief
object of the linings b, b¹, (which may be made of hardened metal or other hard
material like glass) is to avoid the frequent removal of the tubes B, B2, which would
be troublesome and expensive.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The herein before described method of pulverizing mineral and other
substances by the employment of currents of steam, air, or other gaseous or aeriform
fluid, caused to operate in the manner above specified.
Second. The chamber A provided with the series of adjustable converging
tubes B, B¹, either with or without the removable lining and the caps, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The tubes B, B', with their adjacent ends inside the chamber A shaped
and arranged as shewn at C to form passages, through which currents of steam,
air, or other gaseous fluid are admitted, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Fourth. The apparatus or machine consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing, for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand sight hundred and eighty one.