IMPROVENENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF TREATING ANIMAL "
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Denton, of 19, Salisbury Strect, Strand
London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVENENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF TREATING ANIMAL
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Denton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st March 1874.
I, JOHN DENTON, of 19, Salisbury Street, Strand, London, Gentleman,.
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN
Apparatus for aND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF TReating Animal Charcoal FOR.
THE PURPOSE OF REBURNING OR REVIVIFYING IT," to be as follows:-
I combine with the kiln for reburning or revivifying animal charcoal,
as herein-after described, apparatus and means of washing and drying.
(wholly or partially) the animal charcoal as it comes from the filters of
sugar refiners, or after having been used and become charged with

page_text: together or separately.
ww DALLIO
Instead of employing cylinders of cast iron having within them vanes
or leaves or other forms of internal projections arranged or disposed
spirally, and mounting such cylinders in saddles at each end with friction
rollers upon which they revolve freely over the furnace when in action by
means of wheels or other gearing, and instead also of employing a series
of vertical pipes for receiving and passing the charcoal whilst being
burnt, I employ in carrying out my Invention cylindrical or elliptical
retorts of fire-clay, which may be glazed "intenally, and these I set in
rows or beds in a manner similar to that adopted in setting retorts for
gas making.
To each end of cach retort I attach or fit a cast-iron cover having a
bearing at or near to or above the line of the longitudinal axis of the
retort. The front cover should have an opening left at the bottom
thereof, and the cover at the back end of the retort should in like manner
have an opening at the upper part thereof, and where the retorts are set
in horizontal lines one above the other the opening at the upper side of
the lower retort cover should be in connection with that of the lower
side of the cover of the retort above it, and these should be connected
together by a shoot or connecting piece, in which case (and in like
manner) the opposite end of the upper retort has in its cover an opening
at its upper side, with which is connected a shoot or trunk for receiving
the charcoal, and so on according to the number of vertical series or rows
of retorts placed one above the other.
The retorts may be bedded horizontally, or they may be inclined from
the upper (or receiving) end to the delivery end, and by the introduction
of saddle pieces or fire lumps transversely along the length of the retorts
the flame and heated products of combustion are caused to traverse
around each retort of each series, first acting by preference upon those
of the lower or lowest row (when there are several horizontal rows one
above the other), and returning along and around the upper row or series,
and so to the fluc or to a chamber in which coils of pipes for generating
steam and heating air. are provided and placed, or in which coils of
water circulating pipes are fitted to be used or employed as a part of
the washing and purifying apparatus to be worked in connection with
the reburning of animal charcoal. In this way the full effect of the

page_text: heat from the combustion of the fuel may be utilized, and fuel
economized.
Within each retort or within the retorts erected over the furnace, or
those contained within the arched setting or kiln, I place a shaft or
longitudinal axle capable of being rotated or revolved, having upon it a
series of vanes or wings arranged spirally after the manner of an endless
scrow so as to move the charcoal forward from the back end of the retort
to the front or delivery end thereof.
These shafts or axles are carried in bearings provided in the covers,
through and from which they project, and on one end of each they may
have a worm or other wheel or other gearing for rotating the shaft.
The shafts, or axles are by preference formed of iron tubes or pipes
with holes or perforations along them. The driving end may be plugged,
capped, or covered, and the opposite end may have a stuffing box or
gland connection in which it is free to revolve, and by which it may be.
connected with an exhauster, and through which the vapours and gasses
given off during the heating and reburning of the charcoal may be drawn-
off, and be collected and condensed or otherwise utilized.
Instead of exhausting or drawing out of the retort the products given
off from the heated charcoal by means of an exhauster, as described
above, a current of superlicated steam of a suitable temperature may be
passed into the retort through the tubular axle just described. This
superheated steam will facilitate the disengagement of the gascous
matters produced from the heated charcoal by sweeping them out of the
retort as fast as they are formed, and by keeping an atmosphere of steam
in substitution for the gases and vapours generated from the impurities
of the charcoal derived from the sugar.
When steam is used instead of the exhauster a means of exit for such
steam must be provided in the upper part of the cover opposite the end
at which it is admitted, and from the outlet so provided the steam mixed
with the gasses and vapours can be conducted to condensers and apparatus.
for receiving them, as in the case where the exhauster is employed. The
temperature of the superheated steam should be at least equal to that of
the interior of the retort. The temperature of the retort when super-
heated steam is used should not exceed about 800° Fahrenheit, as at
a higher temperature the heated charcoal might decompose portions of
the steam with a corresponding waste of the charcoal itself..

page_text: .
In conjunction with or disconnected therefrom, so that it may be used
separately from the reburning apparatus, I wash and purify the charcoal
in tanks or vessels in which the water is kept at a suitably high
temperature by the circulation of hot water within a coil or coils of
pipes laid or fitted within the washing tank or vessel, and I also mount
or fit within each tank or vessel an agitator consisting of a revolving
hollow shaft with hollow radial and perforated arms fitted thereto, and I
blow through such hollow shaft and arms hot air or steam.
•
The hot water for the circulation pipes fitted within the washing tank
or vessel and the superlicated steam or the hot air to be employed in the
agitator fitted within the washing tank or vessel is heated within the
coils of pipes disposed within the flue or flues of the furnace or kiln, or
the heating chamber placed between it and the chimney to intercept the
waste heat.
:
I prefer to use or employ two washing tanks or vessels or two sets of
such apparatus so as to work them alternately as a continuous operation,
and so utilize the continuous heat generating power of the furnace and
the flucs and chambers within which the coils of pipes are placed for
steam generating and superheating, or for water heating, or for the
heating of currents of air to be employed for the purposes set forth.
The hot water circulation may be carried on at any required tempe
rature by the circulation of water. under the pressure of a suitable head
and maintained supply.
.
The supply of steam and of hot air may be maintained under regulation
by any of the well known means or apparatus in ordinary use for that
purpose.
:
Instead of employing a revolving shaft with vanes or wings mounted
spirally thereupon for moving or propelling forward from the back end
to the front of the retort the charcoal which has been delivered there-
into I prefer in some cases to employ hollow shafts or tubes fitted with
hinged or jointed scrapers having a reciprocating motion, by which the
material to be operated upon is gradually moved forward from the back to
the front end of the retort, and discharged through the moutli-picce and
delivered into a close cooler or vessel in which the charcoal becomes
gradually reduced in temperature, and may be delivered in a suitably
cooled or cold condition free from contact with the atmosphere..

page_text: Any of the well known forms of coolers, such as the archimedean or
spiral screw discharging trunks, tubes, or vessels, may be employed in
coniunction with the rehurning annaratus horain desovihed
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Denton in the Great Scal Patent Offico
on the 28th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN:
DENTON, of 19, Salisbury Street, Strand, London, Gentleman, send
greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in tho
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Denton, Her
special licence that I, the said John Denton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Denton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree.
with, and no others; from time to time and at all times there-.
after 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 APPARATUS FOR AND IN THE MODE OR:
METHOD OF TREATING ANIMAL CHARCOAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF REBURNING OR
REVIVIFYING IT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said,
John Denton, 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 montlis
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
+
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Denton, do hereby declare tho'
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be:
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-

page_text: I combine with the kiln for reburning or revivifying animal charcoal,
as herein-after described, apparatus and means of washing and drying
(wholly or partially) the animal charcoal as it comes from the filters of
sugar refiners or after having been used and become charged with im-
purities as parts of the same Invention to be used and employed
together or separately.
Instead of employing cylinders of cast iron, having within them vanes.
or leaves or other forms of internal projections, arranged or disposed
spirally, and mounting such cylinders in saddles at each end with friction
rollers, upon which they revolve freely over the furnace when in action
by means of wheels or other gearing; and instead also of employing a
series of vertical pipes for receiving and passing the charcoal whilst
being burnt I employ in carrying out my Invention cylindrical or
elliptical retorts of fire-clay, and these I set in rows or beds in a manner
similar to that adopted in setting retorts for gas making, and, by
preference I set such retorts with an arch to cover each set of retorts.
to be worked together.
To each end of each retort I attach or fit (air-tight) a cast-iron cover
having a bearing at or nearer to the line of the longitudinal axis of the
retort, the front cover should have an opening left at the bottom thereof,
and the cover at the back end of the retort should in like manner have
an opening at the upper part thereof, and where the retorts are set in
horizontal lines one above the other the opening at the upper side of the
lower retort cover should be in connection with that of the lower side of
the cover of the retort above it, and these should be connected together
by a shoot or connecting piece, in which case (and in like manner) the
opposite end of the upper retort has in its cover an opening at its upper
side with which is connected a shoot or trunk for receiving the charcoal,
and so on, according to the number of vertical series or rows of retorts
placed one above the other.
The retorts may be bedded horizontally, or they may be inclined from
the upper (or receiving) end to the delivery end, and by the introduction
of saddle pieces or fire lumps transversely at intervals along the length
of the retorts the flame and heated products of combustion are caused to
traverse around each retort of each series, first acting, by preference,
upon those of the lower or lowest row (when there are several horizontal
rows one above the other) and returning along and around. the upper

page_text: row or series, and so to the flue or to a chamber in which coils of pipes
for generating steam and heating air are provided and placed, or in
which coils of water circulating pipes are fitted to be used or employed
as a part of the washing and purifying apparatus to be worked in con-
nection with the reburning of animal charcoal. In this way the full
effect of the heat from the combustion of the fuel may be utilized and
fuel economized.
Within each retort, or within the retorts erected over the furnace, or
those contained within the arched setting or kiln I place a shaft or.
longitudinal axle capable of being rotated or revolved, having upon it a
series of vanes or wings arranged spirally after the manner of an endless
screw so as to move the charcoal forward from the back or receiving end
of the retort to the front or delivery and thereof.
These shafts or axles are carried in bearings provided in the covers
through and from which they project, and on one end of each they may
have a worm or other wheel or other description of gearing for rotating.
the shaft.
:
The shafts or axles are, by preference, formed of iron tubes or pipes.
with holes or perforations along them; the driving end may be plugged,.
capped, or covered, and the opposite end may have a stuffing box or
gland connection in which it is free to revolve, and by which it may be
connected with an exhauster, and through which the vapours and gases
given off during the heating and the reburning of the charcoal may be
drawn off and be collected and condensed, or otherwise utilized.
.
Instead of exhausting or drawing out of the retort the products given
off from the heated charcoal by means of an exhauster, as described.
above, a current of superheated steam of a suitable temperature may be.
passed into the retort through the tubular axle just described, this super-"
heated steam will facilitate the disengagement of the gaseous matters
produced from the heated charcoal by sweeping them out of the retort
as fast as they are formed, and by keeping an atmosphere of steam in
substitution for the gases and vapours generated from the impurities of*
the charcoal derived from the sugar or from animal charcoal which has
been used in filtering and decolorizing syrup or animal or vegetable-
solutions or infusions.
When steam is used instead of the exhauster a means of exit for:
unutnf the
·

page_text: end at which it is admitted, and from the outlet so provided the steam
mixed with the gases and vapours can be conducted to condensers, and
apparatus for receiving them as in the case of where the exliauster is
employed, or such vapours and products may be drawn off through the
hollow shafts or tubular axles similar to the means previously described.
The temperature of the superlicated steam should be at least equal to
that of the interior of the retort. The temperature of the retort when
superheated steam is used should not exceed about 800° Fahrenheit, .as
at a higher temperature the heated charcoal might decompose portions
of the steam with a corresponding waste of the charcoal itself.
In conjunction with or disconnected therefrom so that it may be used
separately from thie.reburning apparatus, I wash and purify the charcoal
in tanks or vessels in which the water is kept at a suitably high
temperature, by the circulation of hot water, within a coil or coils of
pipes laid or fitted within the washing tank or vessel, and I also mount
or fit within each tank or vessel an agitator consisting of a revolving
hollow shaft with hollow radial and perforated arms fitted thereto, and I
blow through such hollow shaft and arms hot air or superheated steam.
When this arrangement is employed I can apply superlicated steam
through the hollow shaft or tube carrying the scrapers exactly in the
same way as was described in reference to the hollow axle carrying the
endless screw within the retorts.
. The hot water for the circulation pipes fitted within the washing tank
or vessel, and the superheated steam or the hot air to be employed in the
agitator fitted within the washing tank or vessel may be heated with
coils of pipes disposed within the flue or flues of the furnace or kiln, or
the heating chamber placed between it and the chimney to intercept the
waste heat.
I prefer to use or employ two washing tanks or vessels or two sets of
such apparatus, so as to work them alternately at a continuous operation,
and so utilize the continuous heat generating power of the furnaces and
the flues and chambers within which the coils of pipes are placed for
steam generating and superheating, or for water heating, or for the
heating of currents of air to be employed for the purposes set forth.
The hot water circulation may be carried on at any required
temperature by the circulation of water under the pressure of a suitable
head and maintained supply.

page_text: The supply of steam and of hot air may be maintained under
regulation by any of the well known means or apparatus in ordinary use
for that purpose.
Instead of employing a revolving shaft with vanes or wings mounted
spirally thereupon for moving or propelling forward from the back end
to the front of the retort, the charcoal which has been deliverd thereunto
I prefer in some cases to employ hollow shafts or tubes fitted with
hinged or jointed scrapers having a reciprocating motion by which the
materials to be operated upon are gradually moved forward from the
back to the front end of the retort, and discharged through the mouth
piece and delivered unto a close cooler or vessel in which the charcoal
becomes gradually reduced in temperature, and may be delivered in a
suitably cooled or cold condition free from contact with the atmosphere.
Any of the well known forms of coolers such as the archimedian or
spiral screw, discharging trunks, tubes, or vessels may be employed in
conjunction with the reburning apparatus herein described.
In the accompanying 3 Sheets of Drawings I have shown on Sheets
1 and 2 (drawn to a large scale) several views of an arrangement and
disposition of retorts contained within a fire-brick arch and linings or
casings of the furnace, so as to enclose in the most economic manner for
fuel, saving and insuring an uniform and steady heating and equable
maintenance of heat applied to five retorts of circular section, as shewn
in dotted lines in Figure 1, which is intended to represent in elevation
the back end of the kiln with the gearing and hopper and shoot arrange-
ments, and the framing of the kiln, and the standards, brackets, and
bearings for supporting the gearing, and means of transporting the
"char" from one end to the other of the respective retorts whilst it is
being reburned or revivified.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the kiln, shewn in Figure 1, and shews
the furnaces and ash-pits as dotted in at one end together with the
mouth-pieces and covers of the retorts and the exhausting connections
together with the stuffing box projections from the hollow rotating
shafts forming the axes of the several retorts. At the opposite end of
the retorts and at the end of the kiln opposite to that just described is
shewn a receiving hopper for receiving the "char from the inclined
drying shoot and delivering it into the two upper retorts through the.
upper portion of the cover pieces. thereof. The standards, brackets,.

page_text: bearings, and gearing are there shewn together with the horizontal
trough for delivering the "char" into the cooler as it is discharged
from the three lower retorts of the kiln setting.
· On Sheet 2 Figure 3 is an end or transverse sectional view shewing.
the brickwork of a single kiln with arched fire-brick roof and firé-brick
linings and fire-lumps, stools, blocks, and other fittings for retaining
and supporting in their proper places five retorts set in two rows; the
lower row consists of three retorts set on the same horizontal plane, and
two retorts which are shewn as being of larger diameter set above but
vertically between the three lower retorts all within the arched roof, and
so arranged in respect of the arch and of the longitudinal divisions,
forming fluc spaces as to equally diffuse the heat produced in the
two furnaces shewn, the two furnaces being intended to be fired
alternately.
•
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the lower
central retort generally, although the furnace, ash-pit, and fire-door,
and part of the flue arrangements are sectioned the better to shew
them in the same view. Here the longitudinal divisions of the flue
spaces in connection with the lower and upper retorts respectively are
shewn so as to convey an idea of a mode of setting the retorts in such a
manner as to insure the best and most economic effects from the com-
bustion of the fuel within the two furnaces.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the kiln shewing one retort in horizontal
section and the plan of the flues corresponding with Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of the back end of the kiln intended more
particularly to show one of the modes of communicating rotary motion.
to the shafts within the two upper retorts, and here the gearing is shewn
as mitre bevil wheel gearing; and two clutches are. shewn upon the
common shaft to which motion is first communicated from thic driving
gear, and although bevil gear is there shewn tangent wheels and worm a
gearing may in many cases be preferentially adopted.
:
:
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a detail relating to the exhausting
connection, and the tubular connections, stuffing box, &c., upon the end
of the hollow axis upon which the spirally arranged scrapers or vanes
for moving the charcoal from one end of the retort to the other are. 3
fitted separately so as to be easily mounted and removed from time to:

page_text: shewn, by means of which the exhauster is enabled to draw off the
vapours and
gases given off by the charcoal during its treatment within
the retorts.
Sheet 3 contains a general plan of an arrangement for washing and
purifying the charcoal from soluble impurities before it is placed or
discharged into the retorts for the purpose of being reburnt. These
arrangements as well as the disposition of the several parts of the
apparatus are merely given as illustrations of a convenient method of
applying my Invention in practice, but I do not intend to confine:
myself precisely to any such arrangement and disposition of the parts of
the apparatus in relation to each other, as is shewn in Sheet No. 3, and
therefore merely give it as an illustration for the better explaining that
part of my present Specification which relates to the washing and
purifying the charcoal or freeing it from soluble impurities to which I
have herein-before, made reference. Furthermore that I should not
encumber or complicate such plans, more particularly those portions
relating to the washing and humid treatment of the impure "char," I
have not thought it necessary to introduce illustrations of the application
of the hot air, hot water, or superhcated steam coils of pipes and
circulating apparatus within the flues, chambers; or passages of tho
kiln, or in the flues between the kiln and the chimney.
The machinery or gearing for rotating the shafts or axles with their
vanes, or any other contrivance for propelling or transporting the
"char" from one end to the other of each retort, and so from one series
of retorts to the other, may be set in motion either by a shaft or shafting,
direct or intermediate wheel gearing, or by friction wheels or pulleys, or
by straps and drums from a fixed steam engine or other motive power
machine; or the driving steam engine of a manufactory employed for
other purposes, or a donkey engine with portable boiler driving the
same may be exclusively employed for driving the retort machinery,
feeding gear, for pumping water for the washing and cleansing appa-
ratus, and for performing. other work in connection with the washing,
cleansing, and reburning apparatus, such, for instance, as rotating the
agitators and washers, hoisting and transporting the "char," and such
like purposes; whilst, if the boiler be of sufficient size, and generates
more steam than is necessary for driving the engine, machinery, gearing

page_text: tackle, and pumps, the necessary amount of steam for supplying the
superheater, which may be introduced in the fluc's chamber or at the
furnace back for the purpose of superheating and discharging the steam
through the perforated rotary and washer agitator herein-before referred
to, and such steam may be drawn from such portable boiler.
In Sheets 1 and 2 A. is the outer brickwork of the kiln; B, the fire.
brick arch; C, the fire-brick linings and walls; D, the supports for the
lower series of retorts; E, the fire-lumps, stools, blocks, and other pieces
for supporting and framing-up the upper retorts, upon the lower retorts,
and the whole within the arch; F, the lower retorts; F¹, the upper
retorts; G, the furnaces; H, the furnace doors; I, the ash-pit; J, J, the
top flues leading to the chimney or to a heating chamber interposed:
between the kiln and the chimney; K, an incline shoot, which is
intended to be employed for further drying and warming the "char",
before it enters the receiving hopper L, at the base of which, between
the breeches pipes M, M, is a shut-off flap valve 7, with a handle for
working it. N, N, &c., are the covers or end pieces for enclosing (air->
tight) the retorts, O being the shafts or axles rotating within the retorts,:
at one end of each of which the horizontal tubular junction or suction
pipes are shewn connected with the exhauster, whilst at the opposite end?
of each shaft are the mitre bevil wheels P and P¹, the latter being.
mounted upon horizontal shafts R, R, which together with the hollow
axles are carried in brackets S, S, part of the framing projecting from
the uprights T, T. U is a horizontal air-tight shoot or trunk, which
receives the "char" discharged from the finishing end of each of the 2
three lower retorts through the trunks or down shoots V, &c. The
connecting shoots at the opposite ends of the retorts W, W, &c., connect
the upper with the lower retorts together.
In Sheet 3 I have not employed any letters of reference, as it is only
intended to illustrate a convenient arrangement and combination of the a
kiln with the apparatus for washing and purifying the "char" by the:
humid process, as a treatment preparatory to the reburning, and the:
arrangement of these apparatus will be readily understood by reference;
to the different views thereon.

page_text: Where oval retorts are used the major axis thereof should be vertical,
and the screw or other arrangement of apparatus for carrying tho
char forward should be at the lower part of the chipse, so as to nearly
approach the bottom of the retort and remove the "char" therefrom
and pronel it forward.
Chat for ward so tower part of the chipse, so as to early
approach the bottom of the retort and remove the "char" therefrom
and propel it forward.
As before mentioned a reciprocating movement or creeper may be
employed within the retorts instead of a rotary shaft with spirally
arranged vanes, for moving the "char" along the retort from the
receiving to the delivery end thereof.
Having now described my Invention, and some of the modes or
methods by which it may be advantageously put into practical use, and
also having illustrated by Sheets 1 and 2 some of the modes and methods
in which I prefer to arrange and work the same in practice, I wish it to
be understood that whilst I do not intend to claim generally the form,
arrangement, and disposition of the kiln, the retorts, and their setting,
except for the purpose of reburning and treating animal charcoal;
neither do I intend to confine myself to the form or dimensions nor to
the precise arrangement and disposition of the retorts within the arched
roof of the kiln, as the number, shape, and disposition of tho retorts may
be varied; neither do I intend to make any claim for the use or employ-
ment of the washing and purifying apparatus shown on Sheet 3 of tho
accompanying Drawings, but only as a part of the treatment (by tho
humid process) of animal charcoal preparatory to reburning such
charcoal in the manner and with the apparatus herein-before described,
but what I claim is,-

page_text: thereto for reburning or revivifying animal charcoal, as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Denton, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, 1874.
Witness,
H. H. M. SMITH,
Assistant to Mr. Wm. Smith, C.E.;
12, Salisbury Street,
Strand, W.C.
JOHN DENTON. (L.S.)