CER- TAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PYROLIGNEOUS ACID. OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES OF DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Mucklow, of Bury, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "CER-
TAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF PYROLIGNEOUS ACID. OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES OF
DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION."
ealed the 28th June 1853, and dated the 28th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Mucklow
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition,
on the 28th December 1852.
I, EDWARD MUCKLOW, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PYROLIGNEOUS ACID, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES OF
DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION," to be as follows:-
My Invention is designed chiefly to be used in the process of
distilling pyroligneous acid from spent dye woods, saw dust, tanners
bark, chips, and other refuse or disintegrated ligneous substances
capable of yielding such products on being distilled. The retort is
[Price 8d.]

page_text: of a cylindrical, rectangular, or other suitable form, and is placed in a
perpendicular position. A flue for containing the fire extends up the
centre of the same. Immediately around this flue is the space for the
wood, &c., which should not much exceed six inches, in order to
insure the perfect charring of the wood. This space is divided from
the outer space of the retort by a peculiar kind of a perforated
cylinder, formed by placing a series of inverted conical rings one
above the other, the rings being furnished with feet in order to
keep them separate. Around these conical rings is a space in which
åre placed pipes, through which cold water is caused to circulate;
and this space is enclosed by the exterior of the retort.
The wood is placed in the retort in a moist state, and the vapor
evolved by means of the heat passes between the rings into the
exterior space, and immediately becomes condensed by
by contact
with the cold water pipes; and the product falls to the bottom of
the retort, whence it is withdrawn by means of a tap.
By this
means much more acid, &c. is obtained than by the method hitherto
adopted, as the acid, &c. is not wasted by coming into contact with
the heated surface of the retort:
I would also remark, that the same effect may be produced by
placing the fire outside the retort, and having the vapor space and
condenser in the centre.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters.
Patent, filed by the said Edward Mucklow in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD MUCKLOW, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant

page_text: unto me, the said Edward Mucklow, her special licence that I,
the said Edward Mucklow, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Mucklow, my exe-
cutors, 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
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PYROLIGNEOUS ACID, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES OF DESTRUCTIVE
DISTILLATION" upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Mucklow, 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 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 Edward Mucklow, do hereby
declare the 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is
to say):
My improvements in the construction of retorts for the manu-
facture of pyroligneous acid, and for other purposes of destructive
distillation, are designed chiefly to be used in the process of distilling
pyroligneous acid, &c. from spent dye woods, saw dust, tanners
bark, chips, and other refuse or disintegrated ligneous substances
capable of yielding such products on being distilled; but are also
applicable, with but slight variation, for the distillation of the like
products from billets, branches, or logs of wood. The retort is of
a cylindrical, rectangular, or other suitable form, and is placed in a
perpendicular position. The fire may be either applied externally
or internally. If the fire is to be applied externally, the retort is
closed at both ends; and in the centre of the same. a hollow per-
forated cylinder, or cylinder of cones, is placed, leaving a space

page_text: between it and the outside of the retort. In this space the wood is
placed. If the wood is in small particles, as saw dust, spent dye
wood, &c. this space should not much exceed six or eight inches, in
order to secure the perfect charring of the wood all through; but
if the retort is intended to distil from billets, branches, or logs of
wood, &c., which do not lic so closely, the said space may be
increased according to the nature of the material under operation.
The perforated cylinder may be formed in a variety of ways; but
the method which I prefer (especially in distilling saw dust, spent
dye wood, &c.) is to construct the same by placing a series of
conical metal or earthenware rings. one above the other, which are
provided with small projections, in order to keep them at a little
distance from cach other. This peculiar mode. of construction
prevents the possibility of the perforations or openings becoming
clogged or closed by the small particles of wood. In the centre
space, which is enclosed by the perforated cylinder, may be placed
pipes, through which cold water is caused to circulate. The wood
is placed in the retort in a moist state, and the top of the retort
closed, and "luted" down. Upon heat being applied to the exterior
of the retort, the vapors evolved from the wood pass through the
perforations, or between the conical rings into the inner space, and
are partially condensed by coming into contact with the cold water
pipes. The product thus obtained falls to the bottom of the
cylinder, and passes off through a pipe provided for that purpose,
or the whole of the condensing process may be carried on outside
the retort. If the fire is to be applied internally, a fire flue must
extend up the centre of the retort. Around this flue is the space
for the wood, &c., enclosed by the perforated cylinder or the conical
rings (which must be inverted); and outside is the condensing
space, enclosed by the exterior of the retort. I would here observe,
that the principal feature of my Invention is, that the vapours
arising from the destructive distillation of the wood, &c. do not
come into contact with the heated surface of the retort, but pass
off immediately into a comparatively cool space; and thus the great

page_text: consequent waste is prevented, and much more. acid, and consider-
ably more naptha or pyroxilic spirit than heretofore, is obtained.
In order more distinctly to illustrate the practical application
of my said improvements. I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of
Drawings representing both of the above arrangements, drawn to a
scale of about one inch and a half to a. foot, and have marked the
same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof.
.
Fig. 1. in the annexed Drawing. represents a vertical section
of my improved retort. as arranged for the external application
of the fire. a, a. is the exterior of the retort. enclosing the
space b, b, in which the wood is placed: c. c. are a series of
conical rings, placed one upon the other, and kept apart by
means of small projections d. d. (see detached views of one of
the rings, Fig. 2). These rings are held steady and kept in their
places by means of the vertical rods e. e, passing through holes
in the said rings. These rings c. c. form a perforated cylinder
and enclose a central space f, j; h, is the pipe through which the
acid. &c. passes off to the condenser. It will be seen that, owing
to the conical form and peculiar arrangement of the rings c.
c. it is
impossible for the spaces between them to become clogged or choked
with the saw dust. &c.; and. consequently, upon heat being applied
to the exterior of the retort. the vapor that arises immediately
passes upwards between the rings into the space f. f. whence it is
conveyed away through the pipe h: and thus it does not become
deteriorated or wasted as heretofore. by coming into contact with the
heated surface of the retort. Fig. 3. in the annexed Drawing, re-
presents a vertical section of my improved retort as arranged for
the internal application of the fire. a. a. is the fire flue, extending
up the centre of the retort; and b. b. is the wood space surrounding
the same, and enclosed by the conical rings c, c, which in this
instance are inverted. These rings are supported and kept asunder
in the same manner as in the preceding arrangement: d. d. is the
condensing space, and e, c, the cold water pipes enclosed by the
exterior of the retort j. f: g. g. is the pipe through which the acid,

page_text: &c. passes off. I would here observe, that in both of the above
described arrangements it will be necessary to provide a man hole
or opening at or near the bottom of the wood space through which
the charred wood can readily be removed from the retort after the
process of distillation.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said improve-
ments, together with the manner of carrying the same into practical
effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim, as my Invention,―
The improvements in the construction of retorts for the manu-
facture of pyroligneous or acetic acid, as above described, and shewn
in the Drawings, or any modification thereof, whereby the vapors
evolved by the destructive distillation do not come into contact
with the heated surface of the retort, but pass off immediately into
a comparatively cool space or chamber.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Mucklow, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
threc.