AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE FINE FROM THE COARSER PARTICLES OF MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilson, of 22, Parliament Street, Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE FINE FROM THE COARSER PARTICLES OF
MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1880.
GEORGE WILSON, of 22, Parliament Street, Westminster, Civil Engineer. "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE FINE FROM THE
COARSER PARTICLES OF MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS PUrposes.”
My said Invention consists of an improved method of separating the fine from
the coarser particles of materials which have been crushed or ground, or which are
in a natural state of small particles. Within a vessel of suitable capacity and shape
(depending in some measure upon the quantity of the materials under operation)
I cause the materials in the state hereinbefore mentioned to be mixed with
sufficient water, which after having been thoroughly agitated or stirred together,
the particles of the materials will be caused to be thoroughly in suspension in the
water. After such agitating or stirring the whole is to remain at rest a sufficient
time until the particles of the materials in suspension in the water have settled by
gravitation to the bottom of the vessel, where the same will exist in layers or
strata, increasing in fineness from the under to the top part of the deposited
sediment. The water above the deposited sediment (having firstly had the
vegetable matters or other impurities, if any exist, removed from its surface by.
skimming) is then drawn off in such a manner as to cause no disturbance to the
latter by means of a syphon, or in any other manner, and the water remaining
with the deposited sediment inside the vessel is caused to be partially or wholly
evaporated by means of heat applied in any suitable and desirable manner.
the evaporation of the water, either wholly or partially, the deposited sediment
inside the vessel will exist, as regards most materials ground or crushed moderately
After

page_text: fine, wholly or partially in a concrete state in the form of a cake. In such cases
when the mass under operation is not too heavy or bulky, the vessel may be turned
upside down on a floor with its open and top part downwards, and by knocking or
tapping the same with a mallet or other instrument the deposited sediment may be
caused to be freed from the vessel and brought to rest on the floor. The vessel is
then to be raised vertically and removed away in such a manner as to cause the
least disturbance possible to the deposited sediment, which will remain, having
the coarser layers or strata of particles uppermost. The upper portion, consisting of
the coarser layers or strata, is then cut or scraped off to any thickness; depending
upon the number of parts and degree of fineness of the particles of each part, it
may be desired to divide the whole mass. In case only two portions are required,
the upper portion is cut or scraped off and removed aside until the layer or
stratum is reached containing the particles of the desired fineness. The deposited
mass may be separated into two or more portions in any other convenient manner.
If desired the vessel may be fitted with a door or movable side in order to facilitate
the upper layers or strata consisting of the finer particles being firstly cut or
scraped off the mass.
The quantity of water with which the crushed or ground materials are to be
mixed in order to cause by the agitating or stirring the whole of the particles of
the same to be thoroughly in suspension in the water is partly dependent upon the
fineness and nature of the materials used, and partly upon the quantity of the same
under operation. In general the quantity of water may be about four times the
weight of the materials.
With regard to the agitating or stirring of the materials with the water,
whether this may be done as may be desired by manual labour or by any suitable
mechanical means whatever, moved by steam or other power, I have to remark,
that if it be desired to cause the particles composing the materials to be deposited
by gravitation as much as may be possible at the bottom of the vessel in horizontal
layers or strata, gradually increasing in fineness upwards, the water should not
be caused to have a rapid circular motion imparted to it at the instant the
agitating or stirring process is stopped, particularly if the vessel used is cylindrical
in form, and if the materials operated upon are not in a moderately fine state of
division. I have further to remark that the necessary operations subsequent to the
agitating or stirring of the materials with the water inside the vessel should be
performed in such a manner as to cause the least possible disturbance to the
sediment deposited by gravitation at the bottom of the vessel, especially in
evaporating the water therefrom. In whatever manner this may be done, whether
by the heat of flues in ovens, drying chambers, stoves, radiation, or in any other
desired manner, until a portion of the water has been evaporated and the deposited
sediment is in a proper state of consistence, the heat should not be such as to
cause the water with the deposited sediment to boil and bubble; nevertheless,
subsequently to the water having been sufficiently evaporated the heat applied to
the sediment may be of any desired elevated temperature.
In cases when the deposited sediment is required in a moist state it is only
necessary to evaporate sufficient water therefrom to cause the sediment to be in
such a state of consistence that the same, with little disturbance to its strata, can
be separated from the vessel, and the mass divided by cutting or scraping into two
or more parts, in the manner hereinbefore described.
The quantity of crushed or ground materials, or materials naturally in a state of
small particles, which may be dealt with at each operation in each vessel, should
not exceed what can be caused to be thoroughly held in suspension with the water
by means of the agitating or stirring process adopted.
The form and size of each vessel, and the material of which the same may be
made for the operation, is dependent in some measure upon the quantity of ground
or crushed materials used, and also to the degree of temperature which is to be
applied to the vessel containing the deposited sediment therein.
For the purpose of separating the small particles of materials which are of less

page_text: specific gravity than that of the water, I mix the same with any suitable fluid of
less specific gravity than that of water, and of less specific gravity than the
materials operated upon, such, for example, as alcohol, turpentine, petroleum, æther,
naptha, &c., substantially in the manner, herein before described, but the vessel
within which the materials are mixed should have a suitable cover fitted to it
during the time of settling, in order to lessen the loss by the evaporation of such
fluids. I also, to the same effect, mix the small particles of materials with any
suitable fluid of greater specific gravity than that of water.
When required I cause the water or other fluid with which the materials may be
fixed to be saturated wholly or partly with any suitable substance or substances in
solution.
The performing of my said Invention secures the means of thorougly mixing
together two or more different materials, each consisting of small particles, and also
the removing of any vegetable matters or other impurities by skimming the same
off the surface of the water within the vessel after the sediment has settled therein
by gravitation.
In the performing of my said Invention the finest particles of ground or crushed
materials, or such as are in a natural state of fine division, can be separated with
certainty in any given mass suitable for being mixed with fluids into two or more
parts, the particles of each part being of varying degrees of fineness. The Invention
is applicable to the preparation of colours, pigments, cement, pottery, lubrication, &c.,
in short for all purposes for which from a mass of materials the small particles are
required to be separated into two or more portions, varying in degrees of fineness.
In such cases when moderately large quantities of materials are required to be
operated upon the vessel may be in the form shown by Figure 1. Referring to
that Figure, a, a, is a vessel of slightly greater capacity than the volume of the
mass of sediment which is to be deposited within it by gravitation; b, b, is a
separate but continuous part, joined by flanges held by screws or clamps, or joined in
any other manner at x, x, so as to be a water tight joint. The materials may be
thoroughly mixed with water into the consistency of a paste within the vessel a, a.
This done the portion b, b, is then temporarily fastened to the vessel a, a, at the
joint x, x, so as to cause the whole to be a water tight vessel, and the requisite
quantity of water having been put within the same, and the stirring or agitating
performed in the manner herein before described, the sediment will be deposited in
layers or strata by gravitation in the bottom part of the vessel a, a. The water above'
the sediment being then drawn off by means of a syphon, or in any other suitable
manner, below the level of the joint x, x, the upper portion of the vessel b, b, is
removed in such a manner as to cause no disturbance to the deposited sediment,
the latter will remain at the bottom of the vessel a, a, which if required is con-
venient in form to be carefully conveyed to and placed in any drying chamber, or
otherwise, for the application of heat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June
1881.
GEORGE WILSON, of 22, Parliament Street, Westminster, Civil Engineer.
"AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE FINE FROM THE
COARSER PARTICLES OF MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
My said Invention consists of an improved method of separating the fine from
the coarser particles of materials which have been crushed or ground, or which are
in a natural state of small particles. Within a vessel of suitable capacity and
shape (depending in some measure upon the quantity of the materials under
operation) I cause the materials in the state herein before mentioned to be mixed
with sufficient water, which after having been thoroughly agitated or stirred
together, the particles of the materials will be caused to be thoroughly in suspension
in the water. After such agitating or stirring the whole is to remain at rest a
sufficient time until the particles of the materials in suspension in the water have
settled by gravitation to the bottom of the vessel, where the same will exist in
layers or strata, increasing in fineness from the under to the top part of the
deposited sediment (having firstly had the vegetable matters or other impurities,
if any exist, removed from its surface by skimming) is then drawn off in such a
manner as to cause no disturbance to the latter by means of a syphon, or in any
other manner, and the water remaining with the deposited sediment inside the
vessel is caused to be partially or wholly evaporated by means of heat applied in
any suitable and desirable manner. After the evaporation of the water, either
wholly or partially, the deposited sediment inside the vessel will exist, as regards
most materials ground or crushed moderately fine, wholly or partially in a concrete
state in the form of a cake. In such cases when the mass under operation is not
too heavy or bulky, the vessel may be turned upside down on a floor with its open
and top part downwards, and by knocking or tapping the same with a mallet or
other instrument the deposited sediment may be caused to be freed from the
vessel and brought to rest on the floor. The vessel is then to be raised vertically
and removed away in such a manner so as to cause the least disturbance possible
to the deposited sediment which will remain, having the coarser layers or strata
of particles uppermost. The upper portion, consisting of the coarsest layers or
strata, is then cut or scraped off to any thickness; depending upon the number of
parts and degree of fineness of the particles of each part, it may be desired to divide
the whole mass. In case only two portions are required, the upper portion is cut
or scraped off and removed aside until the layer or strata is reached containing
the particles of the desired fineness.. The deposited mass may be separated into
two or more portions in any other convenient manner.
If desired the vessel may
be fitted with a door or movable side in order to facilitate the upper layers or
strata consisting of the finer particles being firstly cut or scraped off the mass,
and instead of at once completely drying by evaporation the sediment deposited
within the vessel by gravitation, the deposited sediment may be divided, when in
a state of proper consistency, into two or more portions, and removed from the
vessel in the manner herein before described, and one or more such portions be
subjected to heat in any desirable manner.
The quantity of water with which the crushed or ground materials are to be
mixed in order to cause by the agitating or stirring the whole of the particles of
the same to be thoroughly in suspension in the water is partly dependent upon

page_text: the fineness and nature of the materials used, and partly upon the quantity of the
same under operation. In general the quantity of water may be about four times
the weight of the materials.
With regard to the agitating or stirring of the materials with the water, whether
this may be done as may be desired by manual labour, or by any suitable
mechanical means whatever moved by steam or other power, I have to remark
that if it be desired to cause the particles composing the materials to be deposited
by gravitation as much as may be possible at the bottom of the vessel in horizontal
layers or strata gradually increasing in fineness upwards, the water should not be
caused to have a rapid circular motion imparted to it at the instant the agitating or
stirring process is stopped, particularly if the vessel used is cylindrical in form,
and if the materials operated upon are not in a moderately fine state of division.
I have further to remark that the necessary operations subsequent to the agitating
or stirring of the materials with the water inside the vessel should be performed
in such a manner so as to cause the least possible disturbance to the sediment
deposited by gravitation at the bottom of the vessel, especially in evaporating the
water partly or wholly therefrom. In whatever manner this may be done, whether
by the heat of flues, in ovens, drying chambers, stoves, radiation, or in any other
desired manner, until a portion of the water has been evaporated and the deposited
sediment is in a proper state of consistence, the heat should not be such as to
nevertheless,
cause the water with the deposited sediment to boil and bubble;
subsequently to the water having been sufficiently evaporated, the heat applied to
the sediment may be of any desired elevated temperature.
With regard to the application of my said Invention for the purpose of separating
the fine from the coarse particles of Portland or like cement, I operate by preference
in such a manner that the water is mixed with the cement, the whole agitated or
stirred, the water drawn off from the deposited sediment, and the heat applied to
the latter in the shortest possible time.
In cases where the deposited sediment is required in a moist state it is only
necessary to evaporate sufficient water therefrom to cause the sediment to be in
such a state of consistence that the same, with little disturbance to its strata, can
be separated from the vessel, and the mass divided by cutting or scraping into two
or more parts in the manner herein before described.
The quantity of crushed or ground material or materials naturally in a state of
small particles which may be dealt with at each operation in each vessel should not
exceed what can be caused to be thoroughly held in suspension in the water by
means of the agitating or stirring process adopted.
The form and size of each vessel, and the material of which the same may be
made for the operation, is dependent in some measure upon the quantity of ground
.or crushed materials used, and also to the degree of temperature which is to be
applied to the vessel containing the deposited sediment therein. In such cases
when moderately large quantities of materials are required to be operated upon
each vessel may be in the form shown by Figure 1. Referring to that Figure,
a, a, is a vessel of slightly greater capacity than the volume of the mass of sediment
which is to be deposited within it by gravitation; b, b, is a separate but continuous
part joined by flanges held by screws or clamps, or joined in any other manner
at x, x, so as to be a water-tight joint. The materials may be thoroughly mixed
with water into the consistency of a paste within the vessel a, a; this done, the
portion b, b, is then temporarily fastened to the vessel a, a, at the joint x, x, so as
to cause the whole to be a water tight vessel, and the requisite quantity of water
having been put within the same, and the stirring or agitating performed in the
manner herein before described, the sediment will be deposited in layers or strata
by gravitation in the bottom part of the vessel a, a; the water above the sediment
being then drawn off by means of a syphon, or in any other suitable manner below
the level of the joint x, x. The upper portion of the vessel b, b, is removed in such
a manner so as to cause no disturbance to the deposited sediment, the latter will

page_text: remain at the bottom of the vessel a, a, which if required is convenient in form to
to be carefully conveyed to and placed in any drying chamber or otherwise for the
application of heat.
In such cases where the nature of the materials under operation is suitable, and
the deposited sediment is required in a moist state, each vessel may be in the form
shown by Figure 2. This vessel may be similar in form to that described
respecting Figure 1, and may be in one part or in two parts joined at x, x, in the
manner herein before described with regard to Figure 1. A second vessel is made
to slide into (yet fit easily inside) and rest on the bottom part of the main vessel.
The second vessel c, c, is of sufficient capacity to contain the sediment deposited by
gravitation, and is made with fine perforations through its bottom part. After the
sediment is deposited and the water above the same drawn off, the second vessel
c, c is carefully lifted out of the main vessel, when a portion of the water remaining
with the sediment will drain through the perforations made in its bottom part, thus
causing the sediment after the lapse of time to become of sufficient consistence
without the application of heat, so that the same may be divided into two or more
parts in the manner herein before described.
If desired the second vessel c, c, may have a door or movable side, in order that
the top or finer particles of layers or strata of the deposited sediment may be firstly
cut or scraped off the mass.
For the purpose of separating the small particles of materials which are of less
specific gravity than that of the water, I mix the same with any suitable fluid of
less specific gravity than that of water, but of less specific gravity than the materials
operated upon, such, for example, as alcohol, turpentine, petroleum, æther,
naptha, &c., substantially in the manner herein before described, but the vessel
within which the materials are mixed should have a suitable cover fitted to it
during the time of settling in order to lessen the loss by the evaporation of such
fluids.
I also to the same effect mix the small particles of materials with any suitable
fluid of greater specific gravity than that of water.
When required I cause the water or other fluid with which the materials may be
mixed to be saturated wholly or partly with any suitable substance or substances
in solution.
The performing of my said Invention secures the means of thoroughly mixing
together two or more different materials each consisting of small particles, and also
the removing of any vegetable matters or other impurities, by skimming the same
off the surface of the water witnin the vessel after the sediment has settled therein
by gravitation.
In the performing of my said Invention the finest particles of ground or crushed
materials, or such as are in a natural state of fine division, can be separated with
certainty in any given mass suitable of being mixed with fluids into two or more
parts, the particles of each part being of varying degrees of fineness. The
Invention is applicable to the preparation of colours, pigments, cement, pottery,
lubrication, &c., in short, for all purposes for which from a mass of materials the
small particles are required to be separated into two or more portions, varying in
degrees of fineness.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it to be understood that I claim, separating fine from coarser
particles by means of the following processes used in combination, as herein before
described, viz. :-
(1.) Obtaining a complete mixture of the particles to be separated, with water
or liquid in a vessel where afterwards separation according to degrees of fineness is
allowed to take place.
(2.) Removing liquid from the deposit by siphoning off, or other mechanical
means.

page_text: (3). Further separation of liquid or moisture from the deposit by evaporation
whilst the deposit still remains in the vessel in which it was deposited.
(4.) Mechanical removal of one stratum of deposit from another.
I also claim my improved method of and apparatus for separating the fine from
the coarser particles for various purposes substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
GEORGE WILSON. (L.S:)