IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFActure of SULPHATE OF SODA
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hargreaves, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemist, and Thomas Robinson, of the same Place, Iron-
founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFActure of
SULPHATE OF SODA."
Sealed the 11th March 1873, and dated the 12th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hargreaves and
Thomas Robinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 12th September 1872.
We, JAMES HARGREAVES, of. Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemist, and THOMAS ROBINSON, of the same Place, Ironfounder, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATE OF SODA," to be as follows:

page_text: sulphuric acid vapour upon salt; and second, by the ordinary method of
reacting upon salt by liquid sulphuric acid.
We first produce salt in the manner or substantially in the manner
set forth in the Specification of an Invention for which we applied for
Letters Patent on the Thirty-first day of August, 1872, No. 2596.
When the salt aforesaid is to be converted into sulphate of soda by the
direct action of sulphurous acid gas or sulphuric acid vapour, we
break it into pieces of suitable size, and whilst it is in a heated condition
pass tho gases through or amongst it in a chamber or vessel of any
desired form.
When the said salt is to be converted into sulphate of soda by the
ordinary liquid sulphuric acid process we grind or reduce it to a coarse.
powder, and proceed in the manner usual when ordinary salt is cm-
ployed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
HARGREAVES, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist, and
THOMAS ROBINSON, of the same Place, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson,
Her special licence that we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas
Robinson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
t

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATE OF SODA," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their, or one of their, or one of our hands and seals, 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 James Hargreaves and Thomas
Robinson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:
Our Invention consists of improvements in or upon the manufacture
of sulphate of soda, by first, the direct action of sulphurous acid gas or
sulphurous acid vapour upon salt; and second, by the ordinary method
of reacting upon salt by liquid sulphuric acid.
We first produce salt in the manner or substantially in the manner
set forth in the Specification of an Invention for which we applied for
Letters Patent on the Thirty-first day of August, 1872, No. 2596. Letters
Patent have since been granted to us as of the date and bearing the
number just mentioned.
When the salt aforesaid is to be converted into sulphate of soda by the.
direct action of sulphurous acid gas or sulphuric acid vapour we break it
into pieces of suitable size, and whilst it is in a heated condition pass the
gases through or amongst it in a chamber or vessel of any desired form.
It will be evident that the sulphurous acid gas is ordinarily and by
preference used with an acid water vapour.
When the said salt is to be converted into sulpliate of soda by the
ordinary liquid sulphuric acid process we grind or reduce it to a coarse
powder, and proceed in the manner usual when ordinary salt is em-
ployed.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and particu-
larized the same in such manner that others will be enabled to carry our
improvements into practice, we would have it understood that what we

page_text: In witness whereof, I the said James Hargreaves, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
In the presence of
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
JAMES HARGREAVES. (L.S.)