IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DRYING URINAL AND EXCREMENTITIOUS MATTERS, AND OTHERWISE UTILISING TOWN'S REFUSE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AND FOR HEATING, EVAPORAT- ING, CONDENSING, OR COOLING LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wadsworth, of the City of Manchester, Machinist,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING
AND DRYING URINAL AND EXCREMENTITIOUS MATTERS, AND OTHERWISE
UTILISING TOWN'S REFUSE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO APPARATUS FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AND FOR HEATING, EVAPORAT-
ING, CONDENSING, OR COOLING LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wadsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1878.
JAMES WADSWORTH, of the City of Manchester, Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DRYING URINAL AND EXCREMENTITIOUS
MATTERS, AND OTHERWISE UTILISING TOWN'S REFUSE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES,
AND FOR HEATING, EVAPORATING, CONDENSING, OR COOLING LIQUIDS AND
FLUIDS."
The first part of this Invention relates to the construction of an apparatus for
evaporating liquids specially useful for treating urine, to reduce the same to a proper
consistency for mixing with other ingredients as manure, and consists in submitting
the same in the form of a thin layer or film on a widely extended surface to the
action of heated air or products of combustion from a furnace. For this purpose I
introduce into a chamber or flue a number of corrugated plates or partitions by
preference formed of metal, although other material might be employed, which plates
or partitions are placed therein vertically and parallel to each other with their sides
by preference in a longitudinal direction; the upper extremities of these plates or
partitions are arranged as troughs for receiving and conveying the liquid to be
evaporated, and by providing a series of slots or openings in each side of such
troughs or channels, the liquid is allowed to overflow, and to trickle down each side
Price Bd I

page_text: In some
of the plates or partitions, and thus to present and spread the liquid over a large
surface to the action of the heated air or products of combustion which pass through
the longitudinal spaces thus formed on their way to the chimney.
cases the plates or partitions may be arranged transversely in the flue or
chamber.
Instead of plates or partitions, I also employ a series of tubes placed in a flue or
chamber, either vertically or horizontally, and over the outer surface of which the
liquid is arranged to trickle in the form of a thin layer or film, or deep troughs,
either arranged in the direction of the length of the chamber or transversely across
the same may be substituted, and in the case of either tubes or troughs arranged
vertically, I cause the liquid to circulate through the same by having inlet pipes
passing through the covers herein-after described, and dipping down a suitable depth
into the liquid contained in the vertical tubes or troughs, and which inlet pipes are
fed by one or more main troughs. A modification of this last-mentioned apparatus
is useful for condensing vapours.
I further construct a tank or trough at the bottom of the flue to receive the
liquid as it falls, and out of which it may be pumped, or otherwise raised up again,
into the feeding troughs, and thus be heated over and over again until the proper
consistency or degree of evaporation has been attained.
In order to obtain access to the flue or chamber, and to prevent the escape of the
heated air or gases, I cover the same in all cases with suitable covers rendered air-
tight by having their rimused edges dipping into suitable grooves forming sand
joints.
This Invention further relates to the method of and apparatus for evaporating
and drying urine or excrementitious matter, and consists in subjecting the same to
a stirring or agitating action in a suitable steam-jacketed vessel, having loose covers
provided with a number of nozzles or pipes, which admit cold or warm air on to
the agitated surface of the material undergoing the evaporating or drying operating.
The necessary currents of air through such cover induced by connecting the
interior of the vessel with a chimney, or, mechanically, by means of a fan or
pump.
A similar construction of apparatus, but without steam jacket, can be employed
by inducing currents of hot air to pass through the covers in the manner herein-
before described.
When desirable to more effectually condense the vapour arising from the evapo-
ration of urine or drying of excrementitious matters, I pass the same through a con-
denser of novel construction, and which construction of apparatus is also applicable
for heating or cooling liquids generally, or for condensing steam, or other vapours.
This apparatus consists of four or more cylindrical cone-ended or other suitably
shaped hollow vessels put together in halves by means of flanged joints, and intro-
duced one inside another, so as to leave a small intermediate space between them,
through which the vapour or liquid is caused to pass, and is thus presented to the
heating or cooling medium in the form of a thin layer or film; the vapour entering
the intermediate space at the top of the apparatus, and escaping as liquid at the
bottom, and the cold liquid for condensing entering the inner and outer spaces at
the bottom and flowing away through outlets at the top.
In dealing with the other contents of ash-pits, I separate the old boots and shoes,
old felt hats, and other similar leather or woollen materials, by preference,
as herein-after described by subjecting the same to the vapour of urine in closed
vessels, using the liquid so produced for mixing with other suitable agents in the
manufacture of manure. I sift or riddle the ashes in a revolving riddle of novel
simple and durable construction, which is not liable to choke up as is the case with
riddles hitherto employed. This riddle is constructed with a number of single or
double iron bars arranged equidistant from one another and parallel with a central
axis; the intervening space between these bars is filled in with transverse metallic
bars of round, angular, or any suitable cross section, the ends of which transverse
bars thus rest against the web of the T iron, and are secured in position and at the

page_text: desired distance apart by plates of metal, having one of their edges formed with
open recesses, which fit on to the ends of such transverse bars, and are themselves
secured by being bolted to the T iron bars.
And in order to separate and keep the larger obstruction (such as paper, old
5 boots, &c.) from contact with the riddling surface, I sometimes employ an internal
riddle similarly constructed, but with wider openings between the bars, and into
which internal riddle all the material to be riddled is first introduced;
where the material is of a damp nature, I apply a revolving brush to keep the
mesh of the riddle clean.
and
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Wandsworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
August 1878.
JAMES WADSWORTH, of the City of Manchester, Machinist. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DRYING URINAL AND EXCREMENTITIOUS
MATTERS, AND OTHERWISE UTILISING TOWN'S REFUSE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES,
AND FOR HEATING, EVAPORATING, CONDENSING, OR COOLING LIQUIDS AND
FLUIDS."
The first part of this Invention relates to the construction of an apparatus for
evaporating liquids, specially useful for treating urine to reduce the same to a proper
consistency for mixing with other ingredients as manure, and consists in submitting
the same in the form of a thin layer or film on a widely extended surface to the
action of heated air or products of combustion from a furnace.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a transverse section of an
apparatus constructed in accordance with this part of my Invention, drawn to a
scale of about one inch to the foot; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of Fig. 1 on the
line a-b.
.
A, A, A, are a series of tubes placed in a flue or chamber B and depending from
the plate or cover C. These tubes are each provided with a diaphragm or partition
A¹ (see central tube in section) and with overflow openings A2, and are supplied
with the urine or other liquid requiring evaporation from the trough D, through the
inlet or circulating pipes D', which dip down, as illustrated, a suitable depth into
the liquid contained in the tubes A. The liquid so supplied to such tubes in over-
flowing, through the openings A2, so trickles down the outside of the tubes A,
5 and is thus presented in the form of a thin layer or film over a widely extended
surface to the action of the heated air or products of combustion passing through
the flue B and so becomes rapidly evaporated.
-
Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of a modification of this part of my Invention
consisting of the same flue B, but instead of the pipes or tubes, I introduce a number
0 of corrugated plates or partitions E, E, by preference; formed of metal, although

page_text: other material might be employed. These plates, two only of which are illustrated;
are placed vertically and parallel to each other with their sides, by preference, in a
longitudinal direction, and thus may be of sufficient number to fill up the entire
width of the flue; F, F, are a series of troughs or channels for receiving and con-
veying the liquid to be evaporated, and which are each provided with slots or
openings in their sides, as illustrated, through which the liquid overflows and thus
trickles down each side of the plates or partitions, and presents and spreads the
liquid over a large surface to the action of the heated air or products of combustion
which pass through the longitudinal spaces between the flues on their way to the
chimney.
In some cases the tubes or plates, herein-before described, are arranged trans-
versely in the flue or chamber, and the tubes may also be arranged horizontally.
In Figs. 1 and 3, G is a trough at the bottom of the flue to receive the liquid as
it falls, and out of which trough such liquid may be pumped or otherwise raised up
again into the feeding troughs D and F respectively, and thus be treated over
and over again until the proper consistency or degree of evaporation has been
attained.
In order to obtain access to the flue or chamber B, and to prevent the escape of
the heated air or gases, I cover the same in all cases with suitable covers rendered
air-tight by having their rimmed edges dipping into suitable grooves forming sand
joints.
This Invention further relates to the method of and apparatus for evaporating
and drying urine or excrementitious matter, and consists in subjecting the same to
a stirring or agitating action in a suitable steam-jacketed vessel, as illustrated in
longitudinal section by Fig. 4 and transverse section by Fig. 5 of the accompanying
Drawing, which are drawn to a scale of about half an inch to the foot.
In both views, H is the steam-jacketed vessel, which is open at the top to facili-
tate the admission of the material to be operated upon, but is provided with loose
covers I, in which are introduced a number of nozzles or pipes J to admit cold air
from the surrounding atmosphere or heated air from any convenient source on to
the surface of the material contained within the steam jacket vessel, and which is
to undergo the evaporating operation. This material is kept in an agitated state by
means of a shaft K; extending through the apparatus, and carrying a series of arms
L, having scrapers or stirrers M affixed at their extremities, which scrape the entire
internal surface of the jacketed vessel; revolving motion being communicated by
the driving gear N. Whilst in this agitated state, the admission of cold or hot air
on to the surface of the material takes place through the nozzles or pipes J, the
necessary currents being produced by connecting the interior of the vessel H by
means of the pipe O with a tall chimney, or, mechanically, by means of a fan or.
pump.
A similar construction of apparatus, but without steam jacket, can be
employed by inducing currents of hot air to pass through the covers, herein-
before described.
Instead of the nozzles or pipes J, apertures may be formed in the covers or
upper part of the apparatus for the admission of the cold or hot air on to the
agitated surface of the materials, and which may be agitated as herein-before
described, or in any other convenient manner.
When desirable to more effectually condense the vapours arising from the evapo-
ration of urine or drying of excrementitious matters, I pass the same through a
condenser of novel construction, and which construction of apparatus is also
applicable for heating or cooling liquids generally, or for condensing steam or other
vapours.
Fig. 6 represents a side sectional view of this part of my Invention, drawn to a
scale of about half an inch to the foot, and Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of Fig. 6 across
the line bc. It consists of an outer cylindrical vessel P, resting in the
annular trough Q, and kept supplied by a constant stream of cold water, which

page_text: enters through the pipe P¹, and escapes by the pipe P2. Inside this vessel P is an
enclosed inner vessel R, resting in the same trough Q, upon feet or studs R'; this
vessel is filled with cold water, the supply entering by the pipe T, and the overflow
taking place into the outer vessel P through the pipe U. It will thus be seen that
an intermediate space V is provided between the vessels, and thus by admitting the
vapours, say, from the apparatus last described, into the elbow W, the same are
induced to pass through this apparatus in the direction of the arrows, and thus
becoming condensed are led away through the pipe X to the drain Y, or, if still in
the form of vapour, may escape through the flue pipe Z into the chimney or other
outlet. It will also be observed that in this apparatus the vapour to be condensed
is presented to the cooling medium in the form of a thin layer or film entering
the apparatus at the top, and escaping as liquid at the bottom, and the cold
liquid used for condensing entering at the bottom and flowing away at the
top.
In Fig. 8 I represent a quarter size side sectional view of a modification of my
improved condenser suitable for refrigerating purposes, or condensing steam, or
other vapours, consisting of an outer cylindrical vessel a, and inner cylindrical
vessel b, connected together in a simple manner with flanges c, as illustrated, and
leaving an intermediate space d between them; the cold water supply entering
through the inlet pipes e, and escaping by the outlet pipes f, whilst the liquid
condensed from the vapour entering through the pipe g escapes through the dis-
charge pipe h. It will be apparent that this and the foregoing apparatus may be
employed with equal advantage for heating fluids or liquids, in which case the cold
liquid or fluid enters at the bottom and escapes in a heated state at the top of the
apparatus, and instead of only having two vessels, one inside the other, I some-
times arrange three or more such vessels one inside the other, and leaving
an intermediate space between, such vessels differing in shape according to the
purpose to which or situation in which they may have to be employed.
In dealing with other contents of ash-pits, I separate the old boots and shoes, old
felt hats, and other similar leather or woollen materials, by preference as herein-
after described, by subjecting the same to the vapour of urine in closed vessels using
the liquid so produced for mixing with other suitable agents in the manufacture of
manure. I sift or riddle the ashes in a revolving riddle of novel, simple, and durable
construction, which is not liable to choke up, as is the case with riddles hitherto
employed. This riddle is represented in longitudinal section in Fig. 9, and trans-
verse section in Fig. 10, both drawn to a scale of about half an inch to the foot,
and is constructed with a number of T iron bars 1, arranged equidistant from one
another, parallel with a central axis i, and bolted, as illustrated, to the cast-iron
rings j; the intervening space between these bars is filled in with transverse
metallic bars k (of round, angular, or any suitable cross section), the ends of which
rest against the web h¹ of the T iron bars h (seen half size in section in Fig. 11),
and are secured in position and at the desired distances apart to give the riddling
apertures required by plates of metal 7, which have their inner edges formed with
open recesses m (see separate plate), which fit on to or over the ends of the
transverse bars k, and are themselves secured in position by being bolted to the T iron
bars h.
And in order to separate and keep the larger obstruction (such as paper, old
boots, &c.) from contact with the riddling surface, I sometimes employ an internal
riddle similarly constructed, but with wider openings between the bars, and into
which internal riddle all the material to be riddled is first introduced; and
where the material is of a damp nature, I apply a revolving brush (revolving on
the outside of the riddle) to keep the mesh of such riddle clean.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, dimensions, or forms of
the various parts of the apparatus herein-before described, and illustrated on the

page_text: accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without departing
from the Invention, but that I claim,-
1st. The improved method of and arrangement and construction of apparatus
for evaporating liquids, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated on
the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The use and application of tubes and corrugated plates when mounted in a
flue or chamber, together with the arrangement of troughs for feeding the same, as
and for the purpose described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
3rd. The improved method of and arrangement and construction of apparatus for
cooling or condensing and heating fluids and liquids, substantially as herein-before
described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
4th. The mode of constructing the apparatus mentioned in the preceding claim,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawing.
5th. The improved method of and arrangement and construction of apparatus for
evaporating and drying urinal and excrementitious matters, substantially as herein-
before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
6th. The use and application of the pipes or nozzles J, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5,
or their equivalents, for admitting cold or hot air on to the surface of the materials
contained within the steam jacketed or other vessel when in an agitated state,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawing.
...
7th. The method of treating old leather, woollen and similar materials found in
ash-pits, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
8th. The improved arrangement and construction of riddle, illustrated in Figs. 9,
10, and 11, and mode of securing the transverse bars in position, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wadsworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 3rd day of August, in the year of our Lord'
1878.
JAMES WADSWORTH. (L.S.)