IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PURIFYING COAL ASHES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Shoppard, of Bridgend, in the County of
Glamorgan, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
WASHING AND PURIFYING COAL ASHES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Sheppard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March 1876.
CHARLES SHEPPARD, of Bridgend, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PURIFYING COAL ASHES AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES."
The object of my present Invention is to facilitate the washing and purifying of
the coal or other matter to be operated upon.
The coal or other matter to be operated upon is when necessary reduced to
suitable size by crushing between rollers. It is then fed by elevators or other
suitable feed means into an inclined revolving screen, in the rotation of which the
particles pass through its surface in different degrees of fineness in the direction of
its length and are received into separate compartments called "bashes" or other
suitable receivers of which there may be one, two, three, or other number. Each of
these "bashes" or receivers is provided with a perforated copper floor near its upper
part on which the matters to be washed are received, and these floors inclino
towards a trough common to all of them. These "bashes" or receivers are supplied
with water to a level above that of the matters on the perforated copper floor, and
this water is circulated by pump apparatus or other suitable means producing an
intermittent upward current through the perforated copper floor and the matters
resting thereon, whereby the shale, stone, or other heavy particles sink to the
bottom, and the coal or lighter particles flow over with the water to the settling
chamber.
The trough or gutter at the lower edge of the copper floor is for the purpose of
receiving and conducting away the shale or other refuse separated from the coal.
The extent of admission to this gutter or trough is capable of being regulated by
adjustable sluices or valves, and the matters so received are carried forward in this
trough or gutter by a revolving screw, and then delivered at one end of it into a
suitable receiver and from thence elevated.
The coal or other matter as cleansed flows with the current of water from the
Daise C

page_text: "bashes
יי
or receivers into a settling chamber, the bottom of which is formed to
receive a screw conductor by which the settled matters are conducted forward to an
elevator by which they are raised and aided by shoot or shoots delivered into
waggons or other receivers.
The matters raised are drained as raised by the buckets or lifters being perforated
allowing the escape of the water therefrom.
Valves are formed in the settling chamber for the passage of the water from the
settling chamber again to the circulating pump or agitator.
By these means the coal or other matter is washed, purified, and delivered in a
semi-dry state without the use of separate settling ponds, and without the necessity
for raising the water again to the machine, and without discharging foul water
during the washing process.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Sheppard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th September
1876.
CHARLES SHEPPARD, of Bridgend, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PURIFYING COAL ASHES AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES."
The object of my present Invention is to facilitate the washing and purifying of
the coal or other matter to be operated upon.
«
The coal or other matter to be operated upon is when necessary reduced to
suitable size by crushing between rollers. It is then fed by elevators or other
suitable feed means into an inclined revolving screen, in the rotation of which the
particles pass through its surface in different degrees of fineness in the direction of
its length, and are received into separate compartments called
bashes" or other
suitable receivers of which there may be one, two, three, or other number. Each
of these "bashes" or receivers is provided with a perforated copper floor near its
upper part on which tho matters to be washed are received, and these floors inclinė
towards a trough common to all of them. These "bashes" or receivers are supplied
with water to a level above that of the matters on the perforated copper floor, and
this water is circulated by pump apparatus or other suitable means producing an
intermittent upward current through the perforated copper floor and the matters
resting thereon, whereby the shale, stone, or other heavy particles sink to the
bottom, and the coal, coke, ashes, breeze, or lighter particles flow over with the
water to the settling chamber.
The trough or gutter at the lower edge of the copper floor is for the purpose of
receiving and conducting away the shale or other refuse separated from the coal,
coke, ashes, or breeze. The extent of admission to this gutter or trough is capable
of being regulated by adjustable sluices or valves, and the matters so received are
carried forward in this trough or gutter by a revolving screw, and then delivered
at one end of it into a suitable receiver and from thence elevated.
The coal or other matter as cleansed flows with the current of water from the
bashes or receivers into a settling chamber, the bottom of which is formed to
receive a screw conductor by which the settled matters are conducted forward to
an elevator by which they are raised and aided by suitable shoot or shoots delivered
into waggons or other receivers.
The matters raised are drained as raised by the buckets or lifters being perforated
allowing the escape of the water therefrom.
Valves are formed in the settling chamber for the passage of the water from the
settling chamber again to the circulating pump or agitator.
By these means the coal or other matter is washed, purified, and delivered in a
semi-dry state without the use of separate settling ponds, and without the necessity
for raising the water again to the machine and without discharging foul water
during the washing process.

page_text: But that the Invention may be more fully understood, I will by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means pursued by me in carrying the
same into effect.
DESCRIPTION. OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews by side view, and Figure 2 by plan view parts of apparatus
arranged according to my Invention.
Figure 3 represents separately a sectional view of some of the parts.
In each of the Figures the same letters indicate corresponding parts.
a represents the case of the revolving screen, which is formed and operated as
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, bearing date the
29th day of December 1873, No. 4267, or in other suitable manner, and it is
arranged to deliver the matters screened by it on to the perforated floors b¹ of three
or other suitable number of compartments or bashes b; the matters thus received
on to these floors 6' are cleansed by the action of the pumps c, one to each com-
partinent; the action of the pistons of these pumps being to cause an upward
current of the water through the perforated bottoms b¹ on the under side of the
matters supported by them, as described in the said former Specification. These
floors also incline towards the trough d, which has openings into it from each
of the compartments b capable of adjustment by slides d. The action of the water
on the matters on the perforated floors b' is to cause the separation of the lighter
from the heavier portions of them, so that in the case of coal, coko, &c., whilst shalo
or stone sinks to the bottom, and thence passes into the trough d to be carried
forward by the screw therein, and then to be delivered as desired, the coal, coke,
breeze, or lighter particles float over the upper edge be of the chamber b and over
the guard e, by which, according to my present improvements, it is conducted down
to the lower part of the settling chamber f, which is divided from the chambers b
under the respective perforated floors by the partition g; and this partition is
provided with passages of communication g' through it capable of regulation, so
that the water may freely flow from one part to the other, and this water is
maintained at a height sufficient to cover the particles in their passage over the top
of the screen e. The matters as collected in this settling chamber fare conducted
forward by a screw h or other suitable means, and are thence elevated by a series of
elevators i, or by other suitable elevators, and aided by shoot delivered into
waggons or other receivers.
I
The matters raised are drained as raised by the buckets or lifters, being perforated
or formed of openwork to allow of the draining of the water therefrom.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew a slight modification of the apparatus for use when it is
required simply to wash ashes, coke, or breeze. In this case the matters will be
discharged on to a perforated plate or series of them 1, whilst the cleansed matters
will be carried forward by means of the revolving brush or carrier j along the
shoots, k, and delivered thence into wagons or other receivers. The refuse will
be discharged into the chamber f, and carried forward therein by screw h or such
like means as before described.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in carrying the
samme into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,—
First. The arranging or combining parts for use in washing and purifying coal,
ashes, and other substances, as described in respect of Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly. I claim the arranging or combining parts for use in washing and
purifying ashes and other substances, as described in respect of Figures 4, 5, and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Sheppard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
CHARLES SHEPPARD. (L.S.)