Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Superphosphates and other Chemical Manures.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Superphosphates
and other Chemical Manures.
I, DAVID CRAWFORD, of 60, Holly Avenue, in the City and County of New-
castle-upon-Tyne, Chemical Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the treatment of the materials as they leave the ordinary
dissolving tank in a liquid or semi-liquid state, the objects being to relieve the
workman from the injurious effects of the gas which is given off as the material
cools and sets, and to facilitate its breaking up and delivery at a point where the
workmen are not exposed to the gas, which has been already given off in the
chamber and disposed of, and to greatly reduce the cost of production.
horizontal
a
convevoľ
Under the floor which carries the dissolving tank, or tanks, is constructed a
chamber (closed in except as to the required openings for the conveyor
and extracting the gases) in which is
carrying
shallow open trays. The conveyor is caused to travel intermittently by suitable
mechanism with the trays as they are charged from the tank (for which sufficient
intervals are allowed by the mechanism) toward the front end of the chamber
where the material is discharged, the gas having been given off in their progress
and drawn out of the chamber by exhaust fans or equivalent means. The dis-
charged empty trays are meanwhile returning to the back of the chamber to be
echarged.
The workmen thus standing in the open air outside the chamber can readily
split up and loosen the material so that it will be discharged as the trays are
successively upset by the conveyor.
The broken up material falls into an elevator boot or hopper from which it is
lifted by an inclined elevator in buckets and delivered into a revolving screen
where it is disintegrated and may then, if necessary, pass into a drying machine
such as described in Crawford's Patents, No. 12,908 of 1896 or No. 9,576 of
1897, and be theuce delivered into trucks or wagons.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying two sheets of drawings I illustrate my invention as I now
intend to carry it into practical operation. Fig. 1, Sheet 1, shewing a longitudinal
section; Fig. 2 a transverse section; and Fig. 3 and 3 details of the inner and
outer ends of the travelling chain, or chains, and the revolving "tumblers" by
which it is worked. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, shews a continuation of Sheet 1, shewing
the elevator revolving screen and drying machine, etc. Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1,
and Fig. 4, Sheet 2, are to a scale of inch per foot. Figs. 3 and 3*, Sheet 1,
are to a scale of 1 inch per foot.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the dissolving tank carried on a floor B, which
forms the top of a closed chamber C, in which is the conveyor formed of an
endless chain, or chains, the links D, of which form double lines travelling round
D
077

page_text: the hexagon tumblers E, and E at back of the chamber (', and at front outside
of same. These "tumblers are actuated by power in such manner as to stop
intermittently as each charge is received from the tank A, into the open trays F,
and then to travel forward till another tray is under the spout at A', and so on in
succession. Each of the open trays F', is secured to the ends of each alternate
pair of links D, and the weight of the loaded chain is carried upon rollers G
mounted on shafts the ends of which are carried in bearings (, at the sides of
the chamber. The empty trays as they return may also run upon similar rollers
if required, but this may not be necessary. As each tray, which may carry a
fixed quantity (say 20 cwt.) is turned vertical (see Fig. 3) the material, having
discharged the gas evolved in the chamber, is broken up by workmen and falls
into the elevator boot or hopper H, (Fig. 4, Sheet 2), whence it is removed or may
be lifted by an elevator J, into a revolving screen K, and from this it may pass,
if required, into a drying machine L, and is then ready for delivery by the
elevator M, on to the loading floor N.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. The improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of super-phosphates
and other chemical manures by which the material is delivered from the ordinary
dissolving tank into a series of flat open shallow trays carried upon a conveyor
formed of an endless chain, or chains, travelling intermittently over tumblers
from back to front within a closed chamber, in which the material gives off its
gases, and is delivered into the open air, and is there broken up by the workmen
and delivered, the empty trays travelling back to be recharged; the material
being afterwards treated in a disintegrating screen and, if required, taken to a
drying machine; substantially as described.
2nd. The apparatus comprising the various parts in combination, viz. :—an
endless chain or chains, formed of links D, carried upon rollers G, mounted with
flat, open, shallow trays F, in a closed chamber C, travelling over intermittently
revolving tumblers E, and E, and discharging the full trays, whilst the empty
trays return through the chamber to be recharged; the whole combined, con-
structed, and operating substantially as described and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings, and with the objects hereinbefore stated.
Datod this 15th day of Amil 1800
T. J. DANSON, F. Ch. Inst. P. Agents,
Agent for Applicant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.