AN IMPROVEMENT IN PURIFYING AND SOFTENING WATER
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henrich Ludwig Buff, of 9, Fitzroy Square, in the
County of Middlesex, and Frederic Versmann, of 3, Forest Place,
Kingsland Road, in the same County, Chemists, for the Invention of
Sealed the 9th September 1856, and dated the 25th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henrich Ludwig Buff
and Frederic Versmann at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 25th June 1856.
We, HENRICH LUDWIG BUFF, of 9, Fitzroy Square, in the County of
Middlesex, and FREDERIC VERSMANN, of 3, Forest Place, Kingsland Road, in
the same County, Chemists, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN PURIFYING AND SOFTENING WATER," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improvement in purifying and softening
water, and consists in applying silicate of soda in combination with carbonate
of soda, or other matter known to precipitate lime. For which purpose the
silicate of soda, with the other precipitating agent, is to be introduced into
the water and agitated. The water is then allowed to settle for some time,
and, if desired, filtered.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henrich Ludwig Buff and Frederic Versmann in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 24th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRICH
LUDWIG BUFF, of 9, Fitzroy Square, in the County of Middlesex, and
FREDERIC VERSMANN, of 3, Forest Place, Kingsland Road, in the same
County, Chemists, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Henrich Ludwig Buff and Frederic Versmann, Her special licence that we,
the said Henrich Ludwig Buff and Frederic Versmann, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henrick Ludwig Buff
and Frederic Versmann, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
PURIFYING AND SOFTENING WATER," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Henrich Ludwig Buff and Frederic Versmann, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe
.and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henrich Ludwig Buff and Frederic
Versmann, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object an improvement in purifying and softening
water, and consists in applying silicate of soda in combination with carbonate
of soda, or other matter known to precipitate lime. For which purpose the
silicate of soda, with the other precipitating agent, is to be introduced into
the water and agitated. The water is then allowed to settle for some time,
and, if desired, filtered.

page_text: And in order that our said Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the method in which to
conduct the process.
In order to ascertain the proportions of silica (contained in the silicate of
soda) and carbonate of soda (or other matter known to precipitate lime)
which are required to soften and purify any description of water, it is neces-
sary, in the first place, to determine the degree of hardness of the water by the
test known as Dr. Clarke's, and also the number of grains of magnesia which
a gallon of the water contains. These facts being ascertained, we proceed to
add to each gallon of water 2.12 grains of anhydrous carbonate of soda for
each degree of ascertained hardness, and 3-4 grains of silica for each grain
of magnesia which the measure of water contains.
In carrying out the process on a large scale, the water should be contained
in a reservoir, and the proper proportion of the two salts dissolved in water
having been added, the water in the reservoir should be well agitated to
diffuse the solution through the whole mass of the water. After a few days
the precipitate formed in the water will have completely subsided, and the
clear water may be drawn off for use, or, if necessary, it may be previously
passed through a filter.
In using any other precipitant of lime in place of carbonate of soda, the
quantities employed must be greater or less than the quantity of carbonate
of soda, according as its combining equivalent is greater or less than that of
carbonate of soda.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henrich Ludwig Buff and Frederic
Versmann, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third
day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-six.
Witness,
G. G. TREMLETT,
Carlton Chambers,
Regent St., Sol".
(L.S.)
H. L. BUFF.
FRED. VERSMANN. (L.s.)