IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN DISTILLING, SUBLIMING, AND DRYING
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mellor, of the Ardwick Chemical Works, in
the City of Manchester, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN DISTILLING, SUBLIMING, AND
DRYING."
Sealed the 28th July 1863, and dated the 4th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mellor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
February 1863.
I, JAMES MELLOR, of the Ardwick Chemical Works, in the City of Man-
chester, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN DISTILLING, SUBLIMING,
AND DRYING," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist of the application to vessels or retorts, in which
the various processes of distilling, subliming, or drying are performed, of a
series of scrapers having an angular, semicircular, or other suitable form, to
which a reciprocating motion is given by cranks or other equivalent agents,
thereby causing the materials under operation to be continually turning over
and at the same time moving forwards.
The substances operated upon are bones, tanners' bark, spent dye woods,
peat, shavings, sawdust, coals, or other minerals, corn, grain, or other vege-
table or animal substances employed in the various processes of distillation or
sublimation or to be dried.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Mellor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MELLOR, of the Ardwick Chemical Works, in the City of Manchester, Manu-
facturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Mellor, Her special license that I, the said James Mellor, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Mellor, 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
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN DISTILLING, SUBLIMING, AND DRYING," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Mellor, 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said James Mellor, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
My improvements consist in applying to vessels or retorts, in which the
various processes of distilling, sublimating, or drying are performed, a series
of scrapers having an angular, semicircular, or other suitable form, to which
à reciprocating motion is given by cranks or other equivalent agents, thereby
causing the vegetable, animal, or mineral substances under operation to be
continually turning over and at the same time moving forwards.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures
and letters marked thereon,

page_text: Figure is an elevation of an apparatus suitable for distilling sawdust or
other substances to which my improvements are applied; Figure 2 is a
plan, partly in section; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same;
Figures 4 and 5 are a plan and side view of one of my improved scrapers,
drawn full size; and Figures 6 and 7 are a plan and side view, also drawn
full size, of a link for connecting the scrapers.
a, a, is the retort or vessel, which is constructed in the usual manner, and
provided with the hopper 6, containing the feeding rollers c, c, and heated by
the fire-grate d, which is in communication with a flue passing under the
vessel or retort a; e, e, are the ordinary outlet pipes for conveying the gases or
vapours to the condenser.
My Invention consists in the mechanism or apparatus for moving forward
the sawdust or other vegetable, animal, or mineral substance to be operated
upon from the hopper end of the retort to the opposite end, where it is dis-
charged. This mechanism consists of a series of scrapers f;f, see Figures 2,
3, 4, and 5, which are shewn angular, but may be semicircular or of other
suitable form; these scrapers are made, by preference, of malleable cast iron,
and each has three studs fitting in holes in the connecting links g, see Figures
6 and 7. When the scrapers and links are thus connected the studs of the
scrapers are slightly rivetted to keep the parts together. The series of
scrapers and links extend the whole length of the vessel or retort a, and bear
on the bed plate; the right-hand end is fixed to the quadrants h, and the left-
hand end is fixed to the quadrants i. To the axes j and k of the quadrants
are fixed the levers and m, which are connected by links n, n, and to the
axle m are also fixed the levers p, which are moved up and down or to and
fro by steam or other power connected to the rods 9; this reciprocating motion
of the levers p causes the series of scrapers f to move to and fro over the
surface of the bed plate, and as the apex of the triangle points towards the
hopper end of the retort, it is evident that the reciprocating motion of
the scrapers produces a gradually advancing motion in the sawdust or other
substance in the retort, which is ultimately deposited over the ledger into the
cistern s. When operating upon vegetable substances, as sawdust for pyro-
ligneous acid, for example, it is desirable to place a revolving scoopt at the
top of the cisterns, which scoop deposits the charred sawdust or other sub-
stance on to the endless belt u, by which it is carried over the drum v, and
dropped on to the floor or into a suitable receiver.
The action of the scrapers on the sawdust or other substance not only
moves it in the direction of the cistern s, but causes the substances to turn
over, thus exposing every part to the action of the heat.

page_text: The improved apparatus, above described is applicable for the purposes of
distilling, sublimating, or drying, and may be applied, to the following sub-
stances:-Tanners' bark, spent dye woods, peat, shavings, corn, grain, or
other vegetable substances, bones, or other animal substances, and coals or
other minerals..
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described a convenient
manner of performing the same, I declare that, 'I do not limit myself to the
details given, as the same may be varied; but what I do claim: as my improve-
ments in apparatus to be used in distilling, sublimating, and drying is the
application of the scrapers described, or other equivalents; to which. a recipro-
cating motion is given for gradually propelling the substances under operation
along the retort, constantly changing their position, and effectually exposing
them to the heated surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mellor, have hereto set my
hand and seal, the First day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JAMES MELLOR. (L.B.)