IMPROVED APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURING AND THE REVIVIFICATION OF ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE CHARCOAL, AND OTHER USEFUL DITD DAGDE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Chantrell, of Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Furnace Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURING AND THE
REVIVIFICATION OF ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE CHARCOAL, AND OTHER USEFUL
DITD DAGDE
Sealed the 6th January 1854, and dated the 17th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick
Chantrell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 17th October 1853.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK CHANTRELL, of Liverpool aforesaid, Furnace
Engincer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURING AND THE REVIVI-
FICATION OF ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE CHARCOAL, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
to be as follows (that is to say):-
A number of furnaces are constructed in a row and paralell to each
other, over which are thrown reverberatory arches, with openings to
allow the heat to pass through, which is then carried by an "S" or

page_text: backwards and forwards drought through a series of floors constructed
one above. another, openings being left at alternate ends thereof to
allow the heat to pass upwards. These floors are constructed of tiles
supported by clumps or pier-blocks (which are grooved to receive the
tiles horizontally). Between each furnace a number of narrow cham-
bers are formed edge to edge, extending backwards to the extent of
the floors or stages constructed to cause the drought to double. These
kiln or retort chambers are constructed with double rabbeted fire-clay
lumps, the clay being used in a similar way to that used for clay gas
retorts, and are built with hopper mouths at the top, and openings are
left at the bottom to allow the charcoal or other substances with which
they may be charged to fall into suitable coolers; these openings are
covered by means of a plate of iron, with holes cut therein to corre-
spond with those in the bottom of the chambers, and when the kilns or
char-chambers are required to be discharged of their contents the sheet
of iron is drawn forward until the holes therein are over the opening in
the bottom of the chambers, by which the contents are allowed to fall
into coolers or other suitable receptacles, the structure being built on
pillars to raise it sufficiently above the ground to allow space for work-
ing and coolers. The whole of the tile and brick work forming the
structure where the heat acts upon it is laid and run in with fire clay
lute about the consistency of thick treacle.
That this Invention may be the more readily understood hereunto is
annexed Drawings" of a double apparatus constructed upon this prin
ciple. Like letter used in the Drawings relate to similar parts.
Figure 1, Sheet A, is a cross sectional elevation.
Figure 2, Sheet B, is a vertical sectional elevation of two of the
furnaces, and the stages or floors by which the draught is caused to
double in the directions indicated by the arrows.
Figure 3, Sheet C, is a portion of the ground plan, showing positions
of the furnaces.
Figure 4, Sheet C, plan showing construction of working chambers
(with pier-blocks, which are grooved horizontally at the ends to support
the tiles forming the draught 'floors, and vertically to receive the ends
of the tiles forming the sides of the chambers).

page_text: Figure 5, Sheet C, enlarged horizontal section of one of the tiles (E)
forming the sides of the retort chambers, which joint into the pier-
blocks.
Figure 6, vertical section of ditto.
Figure 7, pier-blocks (F) or lumps forming the ends of the cham-
hers, which are grooved vertically on the sides to receive the ends of
the tiles forming the sides of the chambers, and horizontally on the
ends to support the tiles forming the draught floors.
"A," the furnaces (the two end ones being constructed not quite so
large as the others).
"u," perforated reverberatory arches covering the furnaces, through
which the heat ascends. At two. feet one and a half inches from the
top of the arches are constructed-
B 1, draught floors, which are formed of tiles three inches thick, sup-
ported by the ends of the pier-blocks or lumps (F), which are grooved
horizontally at the ends to receive them. This floor has an opening at
the further end (which is effected by forming a hole of a horse-shoe
shape in the last tile, or by not carrying it entirely back,) to allow
the heat to pass upwards, and return between the top thereof and
the bottom of-
B2, the second draught floor, which has its opening at the near
or reverse end to B 1.
.
B3, third draught floor, with opening. for draught at the back which
passes along the top and into the chimney at C.
These passages for the draught are lined at the sides with fire bricks
cut into two lenghtways, making a lining of one and a half inches
thick, and are constructed sufficiently large to allow a man to get into
them to repair or reline them when required.
D, the retort chambers between the fire-places, and shown in these
plaus in rows of four, of threc inches wide, two feet long, and twelve
feet and a half deep, and built of tiles of the shapes or analogous
shapes to those shown by Figures 5, 6, and 7, Sheet C, luted with fire-
clay, so that when heated nearly the whole of the structure is com-
bined in one solid piece.
.
E, double rabbeted tiles forming the sides of the retort chambers.

page_text: "F," pier-blocks or lumps forming the ends of the chambers, and
Supporting the draught floors.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Frederick Chantrell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE FREDERICK CHANTRELL, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Furnace Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Frederick Chantrell, Her
special licence that I, the said George Frederick Chantrell, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Frederick Chantrell, my 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE
MANUFACTURE AND REVIVIFICATION OF ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE CHARCOAL,
AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Frederick Chantrell, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
-formed, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Frederick Chantrell, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say):
A number of furnaces are constructed in a row and parallel to each
other, over which are thrown reverberatory arches, with openings to
allow the heat to pass through them, which is then carried by an S or
backwards and forwards draught through a series of floors constructed
one above another, openings being left at alternate ends thereof to
allow the heat to pass upwards. These floors are constructed of tiles
supported by fire lumps or pier-blocks (which are grooved to receive
the tiles horizontally). Between each furnace a number of narrow
chambers are formed edge to edge, extending backwards to the extent
of the floors or stages constructed to cause the draught to double.
The kiln or retort chambers are built with double rabbited fire-clay
lumps, the clay being prepared in a similar manner to that used for
clay gas retorts, and are constructed with hopper mouths at the top, and
openings are left at the bottom to allow the charcoal or other sub-
stances with which they may be charged to fall into suitable coolers;
these lower openings are covered by means of a plate of iron, with
holes cut through to correspond with those in the bottom of the
chambers, and when the kiln or char chambers are required to be
discharged of their contents the sheet of iron is drawn forward until
the holes therein are over the openings in the bottom of the chambers,
by which the contents are allowed to fall into coolers or other suitable
receptacles. The structure is built on pillars to raise it sufficiently above
the ground to allow space for working and coolers. The whole of
the tile and brick work forming the structure where the heat acts upon
it is laid and run in with fire-clay Iute about the consistency of treacle.
By this arrangement the char burnt within the chambers described
is clear of iron until all humid matter is extracted from it, and thereby
obviating the objection made by sugar refiners to the use of char made

page_text: or roburnt when in contact with iron, as char so treated is found to give
sugar filtered through it a pink or "foxy" tinge. Should it be desirable
to collect the gases thrown off by the substances operated upon, such as
coal, peat, gypsum, or other vegetable, mineral, or animal substance or
substances, I use hollow fire-clay lumps or pier-blocks with lateral per-
forations extending from the char-chambers to the hollow interior, and
conduct the gases therefrom to suitable repositories by means of pipes.
That this Invention may be the more readily understood I have
hereunto annexed Drawings of a double apparatus constructed upon
this principle. These Drawings are on a scale of half an inch to the
foot, but I do not confine myself to these exact details or dimensions.
Like letters used in the Drawings relate to similar parts.
Figure 1, Sheet A, is a half front and a half cross sectional elevation.
Figure 2, Shcet B, is a vertical sectional elevation of two of the fur
naces and stages or floors, by which the draught is caused to double in
the directions indicated by the arrows.
Figure 3, Sheet C, is an horizontal section of so much of the appa-
ratus as is requisite to shew the positions of the furnaces and char
chambers, and their construction with pier-blocks, which are grooved
horizontally at the ends to support the tiles forming the draught floors,
and vertically to receive the ends of the tiles forming the sides of the
chambers.
Figure 4, Sheet C, is an enlarged horizontal view of four of the tiles
(E) forming the sides of the retort chambers and one of the pier-blocks
or lumps into which they joint.
Figure 5, Sheet A, is an enlarged vertical section of one of the tiles
(E) forming the sides of the kiln or retort chambers.
Figure 6, Sheet C, is a perspective view of one of the pier-blocks
or lumps (F) forming the ends of the chambers, which are grooved
vertically on the sides to receive the ends of the tiles forniing the sides
of the chambers, and horizontally on the ends to support the tiles
forming the draught floors. This pier-block is shewn with a hole
through the centre, and lateral perforations extending therefrom to the
surface used to form the ends of the retort chambers. By these orifices

page_text: the gases can escape from the chambers, and may be conveyed by
pipes to suitable receptacles.
A; the furnaces (the two end ones being constructed not quite so
large as the others).
✓✓ perforated reverberatory arches, covering the furnaces through
which the heat ascends. At two feet one and a half inches from the
top of the arches are constructed-
.
B', the first draught floor, which is formed of tiles three inches
thick, supported by the ends of the pier-blocks or lumps (F), which
are grooved horizontally to receive them. This floor has an opening
at the further end (which is effected by forming a hole of a horse-
shoe shape in the last tilc, or by not carrying it entirely back,) to allow
the heat to pass upwards, and return between the top thereof and the
bottom of-
B², the second draught floor, which has its opening at the near
or reverse end to B¹.
B, third draught floor, with opening for draught at the back, which
passes along the top and into the chimney at C.
These passages are constructed sufficiently large to allow a man to
get into them to repair them when required.
D, the retort chambers between the fire-places, and shewn in these
plans in rows of four, of three inches wide, two feet long, and twelve
feet and a half deep, and built of tiles of the shapes or analogous
shapes to those shewn by Figures 4, and 6, on Sheet C, and Figure 5,
on Sheet A, and are luted with fire-clay, so that when heated nearly the
whole of the structure is combined in one solid piece.
E, double rabbited tiles forming the sides of the retort chambers.
F, pier-blocks or lumps forming the ends of the chambers, and sup-
porting the draught floors.
G, tile dampers to regulate the draught.
H, openings through which the dampers are worked.
I, sight holes to see to regulate the draught.
K, pipes to convey the char from the bottom of the chambers to the
coolers.
I, iron work by which the structure is bound together.

page_text: Having now described my said Invention, and the mode in which the
same may be performed, what I claim is,--
First, the general form or arrangement of apparatus, and mode of
constructing the same, substantially and in the manner herein-before
described, or any miere modification thereof.
Second, the construction of apparatus for manufacturing or re-
burning animal charcoal, whereby it is kept free from contact with iron
until all humid matter is extracted from the char.
Third, the S or backward and forward draught, as herein-before
described.
And, fourth and lastly, the jointing and form of the pier-blocks or
lumps, and the tiles used to form the retort chambers, as also herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Chantrell, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four.
Witness,
GEORGE FREDERICK (L.S.) CHANTRELL.
WILLIAM WALKER.