IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FERTILIZING SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN THE MEANS POR PRE- VENTING THE ESCAPE OF OFFENSIVE ODOURS DURING SUCH MANUFACTURE, AND FROM SLAUGHTER-HOUSES, RENDERING TANKS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1873

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FERTILIZING
SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN THE MEANS POR PRE-
VENTING THE ESCAPE OF OFFENSIVE ODOURS DURING SUCH MANUFACTURE, AND
FROM SLAUGHTER-HOUSES, RENDERING TANKS, AND THE LIKE."-A commu-
nication from abroad by Jacob J. Storer, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
ealed the 5th December 1873, and dated the 18th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th September 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
FERTILIZING SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IN THE MEANS FOR
PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF OFFENSIVE ODOURS DURING SUCH MANUFACTURE,
AND

page_text: FROM SLAUGHTER-HOUSES, RENDERING TANKS, AND THE LIKE,'
to be as follows:-
"
a communication,
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of fer-
tilizing substances; and in deodorizing cylinders and processes to be
employed in treating blood and animal offal for such manufacture; and
in treating the blood, offal, and other refuse of slaughtering, packing,
rendering, and similar establishments, so that all offence may be
avoided.
The drying of the offal, blood, or other animal matter is effected in a
revolving cylinder to prepare it for use as a fertilizer by passing flame
and products of combustion through the said cylinder only, not around
or outside of it, directly over or in contact with said material.
"
In combination with the aforesaid cylinder, and with fire-places fed
with pulverized or other fuel, I use a gas and flame mingling and com-
bustion chamber.
I also effect the drying of the offal, blood, or other animal matter in
the cylinder for the above purpose by passing the flame of pulverized
fuel and other products of combustion through the cylinder directly over
or in contact with the said material.
My improved cylinder is made of boiler iron lined with fire-brick or 2
other suitable refractory substance, and is preferably set on an incline
for the more ready discharge of the material which is being operated
upon. The lining is preferably so made that some bricks project beyond
the others, for the purpose of causing a better distribution of the offal
and other matter around the cylinder when it is revolving, and for giving 2
the same a more thorough exposure to the hot air and flame. The
cylinder may be revolved by belts, chains, or gear wheels, and is sup-
ported and made to revolve with but little friction by friction rolls. At
the front or feed end of the cylinder I build a fire-place or places.
The use of pulverized fuel is most important for maintaining a con- 3
stant and unvarying high temperature, for where but one fire is used at
the feed end of the cylinder, throwing upon it a fresh charge of fuel is
likely to reduce the furnace temperature below that requisite for even
the partial decomposition and combustion of the steam and gases
escaping from the material under treatment, therefore an auxiliary fire 3
is desirable, lest the temperature fall below the effective point.

page_text: One fire may in some instances suffice, provided a sufficiently powerful
and constant blast be applied, but this involves a greatly increased con-
sumption of fuel, and measurably defeats the economies of the process.
I prepare the pulverized fuel by reducing coal to a powder so fine that
every particle of it may be easily floated upon a slight air blast for a
distance of from twenty to fifty feet, as may be required by the length of
the furnace or cylinder in which it is to be burned.
That no offence may arise during the process of rendering or from any
other of the manipulations or processes incident thereto, I cause the
steam escaping from the rendering tanks to pass through cold iron coils,
and then make the condensed steam pass through a filter of charcoal for
the purpose of deodorization, while the uncondensed steam and gases
are passed through burning coals, and decomposed and burned without
offence.
I prevent the escape of offensive odours from the "tank stuff" after it
is discharged from the tanks upon the platform or into the receivers by
covering it with powdered or small charcoal; and when this material is
removed in carts, besides covering the top of the load with charcoal, I
first dust the inside of the cart with charcoal. Blood is cared for in the
same manner.
I conduct the tank water, which holds in suspension from 5 to 10 per
cent. solid animal matter, by sewers or conductors into series of what are
called "catch basins," each series being composed of three sets of basins.
In the first set of these basins the heaviest particles of meat and other
solid matter will be deposited; into the next set I introduce some pre-
cipitating agent, such as clay or lime, while the third set of basins is
furnished with removable filters. The tank water being thus freed from
all solid matter, and almost if not quite deodorized by passing through
these sets of basins, may be allowed to flow into common sewers or into
rivers or streams without endangering health, while the precipitated and
retained solid matter may be as often as required removed from the
basins, and dried inoffensively in the drying cylinder.

page_text: DI DVIE
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said. William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FERTILIZING SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPA-
RATUS THEREFOR, AND IN THE MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF OFFENSIVE
ODOURS DURING SUCH MANUFACTURE, AND FROM SLAUGHTER-HOUSES, RENDERING
TANKS, AND THE LIKE," a communication to me from abroad by Jacob J.
Storer, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their 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 I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, forming a part of this Specification, and in which Figure 1 is

page_text: a longitudinal section of the deodorizing cylinder and its appurtenances
employed in practising the said Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the fire-place, also shewing the
feed end of cylinder.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the cylinder, showing the friction rolls
and lining of cylinder.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of the fertilizer receiving chamber.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross section of the gas combustion chamber and
smoke stack.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the rear wall of the fire-place.
The cylinder A is made of boiler iron lined with fire-brick or other
suitable refractory substance, and is preferably set on an incline (I find
it practically best to set the cylinder on an incline of one inch for each
foot of its length) for the more ready discharge of the material which is
being operated upon. The lining is preferably made as shown in
Figure 3 at L, where it is seen that some bricks project beyond the
others. This is for the purpose of causing a better distribution of the
offal and other matter around the cylinder when it is revolving, and for
giving the same a more thorough exposure to the hot air and flame.
When the projecting bricks of the lining are set in spiral lines they serve
to assist in the discharge of the material at the exit end B of the
cylinder. The cylinder may be revolved by belts, chains, or gear wheels,
but I prefer to use whicels, as shown at C; it is supported and made to
revolve with but little friction by the friction rolls, as shown at D,
Figure 3. At the front or feed end of the cylinder I build a fire-place
or places E.
A constant high temperature is required for the decomposition of the
gases arising from the refuse animal or other matter under treatment;
When but one fire is used it is found that the temperature is reduced
below the effective point with each fresh charge of coal therein, and the
result is an intermittent escape of undecomposed and offensive gases,
therefore two or more fires are desirable in order that by alternate
stoking the proper temperature may be maintained. I prefer however
to make use of pulverized coal as the principal fuel, according to the
methods described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
James Davenport Whelpley and Jacob John Storer, May 26th,

page_text: A.D. 1866, No. 1471, and according to the method herein-after set
forth.
At the lower or delivery end of the cylinder is the fertilizer receiving
chamber F, into which the dried offal, blood, and other matter is dis-
charged from the cylinder, and from which it may be removed by any
suitable tools, though preferably by a bucket elevator, as shown at G,
Figure 4. Beyond this receiving chamber and in the base of the smoke
stack is the gas combustion chamber H, furnished with grate-bars, upon
which a fire is maintained while the work is going on. The roof of this
gas combustion chamber is built of fire-brick, laid so that interstices, say
of from three or four inches square, are left between them all. The roof
is preferably made dome shaped for the better radiation of heat inward
and downward.
A fire is made in the fire-place E, and urged until the surrounding
brickwork has become well heated. Pulverized coal with air is then
injected by a pulverizer or blower I through the slot or opening K in
the rear wall of the furnace. This jet of pulverized fuel is ignited by the
heat from the fire-place E, and moving forward burns in the cylinder,
quickly raising it to a high temperature. In the meantime a good fire
has been made in the gas combustion chamber H, and the surrounding
brickwork has become highly heated.
When the said cylinder has become sufficiently heated, a point which
a few hours' experience will determine, the blood, "tank stuff,” and
other animal matter, mixed together in any desired proportions or com-
binations, or each material by itself, must be introduced therein (the
cylinder having been put in revolution) through the hopper M, pre-
ferably by a bucket elevator N. The time occupied in the movement of
the material from the feed to the discharging end of the cylinder may be
regulated by the incline of the cylinder, the pitch of its interior spirals,
or by the speed of its revolutions, or by all or any of these causes com-
bined; and they are easily controlled, so that the material fed into the
cylinder shall be sufficiently dried before it is discharged.
The heated gases and products of combustion and evaporation passing
from the cylinder into the gas combustion chamber there mingle and
burn, their final decomposition and combustion being assured by their
brief detention, caused by the perforated dome O. The resulting pro-
ducts pass with intense heat and flame free from offensive odour out

page_text: f
through the interstices, and up the smoke stack P. It is advantageous,
though not always a necessity, to keep the fire burning at this end of
the cylinder in the gas combustion chamber during the operation of the
process, as it will assure the decomposition and combustion of gases and
steam that may be evolved in the cylinder in excess of the decomposing
capacity of the fuel at its other end.
A boiler placed in the smoke stack over the perforated hood. would
receive heat enough to generate steam for the operation of all the
machinery of the establishment.
The use of pulverized fuel is not necessary to these results, but is most
important for the sake of economy and for maintaining a constant high
temperature, for where but one fire is used at the feed end of the
cylinder, throwing upon it a fresh charge of fuel is likely to reduce the
furnace temperature below that requisite for even the partial decom-
position and combustion of the steam and gases escaping from the
material under treatment, therefore an auxiliary fire is desirable, lest the
temperature fall below the effective point.
'
One fire may in some instances suffice, provided a sufficiently
powerful and constant blast be applied, but this involves a greatly
increased consumption of fuel, and measurably defeats the economies of
the process.
The lump or massive fuel burned upon the grate-bars in E serves
principally to ignite the jet of pulverized fuel which enters at the slot K;
it may therefore be termed an auxiliary or temporary fire.
I prepare the pulverized fuel by reducing coal (preferably the waste
or culm of coal for the sake of economy) to a powder so fine that every
particle of it may be easibly floated upon a slight air blast for a distance
of from twenty to fifty feet, as may be required by the length of the
furnace or cylinder in which it is to be burned. The finer the pulveri-
zation of the fuel the better will be the results obtained from it, and I
use it of such a fineness that all or at least eighty per cent. of it will
readily pass through a screen of ten thousand holes to the square inch of
surface.
I prefer to have the fuel pulverized in the pulverizer described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent, dated Twenty-ninth September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four,
No. 2396, as a communication from abroad by the Boston Milling and

page_text: 2
Manufacturing Company, of Massachusetts, in the United States of
America, injected directly from the pulverizer over the fire on E; but it
may be pulverized in this machine, or by millstones, or in any other
suitable means, and then be carried on a current of air into the furnace
by a blower or other independent injector.
I am aware that revolving cylinders have long been used for the
purpose of converting offal and other refuse animal matter into fer-
tilizers. In one or more instances the heat and flame are applied to the
outer surface of the cylinder, other cylinders are arranged to be jacketed
with steam, in others steam and sometimes hot air is forced into the
mass of material in the cylinder for the purpose of drying it, while in
some instances two or more of these methods are combined. My process
differs from all of these in a most essential particular, that is to say, I
cause the flame and products of combustion from the fire-place or
places E or from the pulverized fuel to enter the cylinder and come
directly in contact with or to radiate heat directly upon the material
which is to be dried or evaporated, no heat being applied to the outside
of the cylinder. By this method much quicker action is secured, while
the offensive gases and steam arising from the material being treated arc
decomposed and burned without giving offence in the apparatus itself,
and burning serve as so much additional fuel for the prosecution of the
work.
In other furnaces or machines used for the conversion of blood and
animal matter into fertilizers the material is pulverized while drying by
revolving stirrers or other mechanism, and consequently there is a con-
siderable loss of nitrogen from the material because of the great surface
it exposes to the heat. By my process it is delivered from the cylinder
unpulverized, its pulverization being effected when it has become cold
by some other machine.
The material may be retained in the cylinder until it is dried to any
required degree, but I hold it preferable to permit its discharge while it
still contains from eight to ten per cent. of moisture. It cannot be
burned or charred, and thereby suffer loss of nitrogen, while it contains
this percentage of moisture.
That no offence may arise during the process of rendering or from any
other of the manipulations or processes incidental thereto, I cause the
steam escaping from the rendering tanks to pass through cold iron coils,

page_text: and then make the condensed steam pass through a filter of charcoal for
the purpose of deodorization, while the uncondensed steam and gases
are passed through burning coals, and decomposed and burnt without.
offence
I prevent the escape of offensive odours from the "tank stuff" after it
is discharged from the tanks upon the platform or into the receivers by
covering it with powdered or small charcoal; and when this material is
removed in carts, besides covering the top of the load with charcoal, I
first dust the inside of the cart with charcoal. Blood is treated in the
same manner.
I conduct the tank water, which holds in suspension from five to ten per
cent. of solid animal matter, by sewers or conductors into series of what
are called "catch basins," each series being composed of three sets of
basins. In the first set of these basins the heaviest particles of meat and
other solid matter will be deposited; into the next set I introduce some
precipitating agent, such as clay, lime, or the carbonate of lime, mag-
nesia, soda, or potassa, with which to precipitate the larger portion of
the remaining suspended solid matter, while the third set of basins is
furnished with removable filters composed of charcoal or coke, or with
these or either of these mixed with burned or unburned clay or other
material suitable for the purpose. The tank water being thus freed from
all solid matter, and almost if not quite deodorized by passing through
these sets of basins, may be allowed to flow into the common sewers or
into rivers or streams without endangering health, while the precipitated
and retained solid matter may be as often as required removed from the
basins, and dried inoffensively in the drying cylinder.
Figure 7 shows an elevation of the apparatus for treating the tank
steam, and an elevation of the basins; and Figure 8 is a plan of the
basins for the treatment of the tank soup. Q represents the rendering
tank; R, the iron coils, which may be kept cool by flowing water; S, the
charcoal filter for the deodorization of the condensed steam; T, the fire-
place, with burning coals for the decomposition and combustion of the
uncondensed steam and gases; at U is shown a conductor for the tank
water from the tank to the basins; V is the first set of catch basins;
W, the second set; and X, the third set. Each set may be composed of
two or more basins, and there may be two or more series of them, the
number being determined by their capacity and the amount of tank

page_text: water to be treated. While the precipitated solid matter is being
removed from one series of basins the tank water will be flowing into
the other, and the precipitation, there going on, and so alternately.
While the solid matter is being removed from one or more of the series
of basins the flow of tank water will be cut off from these and turned
into the others.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The processes and apparatus, substantially as herein set forth
and for the purposes described.
.
Second. The drying of offal, blood, or other animal matter in a cylinder
for the purpose of preparing it for a fertilizer by passing flame and the
products of combustion through the said cylinder directly over or in
contact with the said material, substantially as and for the purposes 1
herein described.
Third. In combination with the aforesaid cylinder and with a fire-
place or places fed with pulverized or other fuel, the gas and flame
mingling and combustion chamber, as herein set forth and for the
purposes described.
Fourth. The drying of offal, blood, or other animal matter in a
cylinder for the purpose of preparing it for a fertilizer by passing the
flame of pulverized fuel and other products of combustion through the
said cylinder directly over or in contact with the said material, as herein
.set forth and for the purposes described.
Fifth. A fertilizer made by drying the blood, tank stuff, or other
animal matter separately or in combination by passing directly over or
in contact with the same in a cylinder or furnace the flame, hot air, and
burning gases, or either of them, generated or produced by the com-
bustion of pulverized or other fuel.
Sixth. The treatment of steam and gases from rendering tanks in the
manner described, so that no offensive odors shall escape into the air.
Seventh. The manner herein deecribed of preventing the escape of
offensive odours from "tank stuff," blood, and other matter, whether in
situ or being transported.
2
2
3
3

page_text: Eighth. The arrangement of sewers and catch basins, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
Ninth. The use and application of pulverized fuel, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)