IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING AND PRESERVING TIMBER, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES FOR EFFECTING THE SAME, AND FOR CONDENSING AND COLLECTING THE GASES EVOLVED DURING THE PROCESSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Norfolk, of Beverley, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING AND
PRESERVING TIMBER, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES FOR EFFECTING THE
SAME, AND FOR CONDENSING AND COLLECTING THE GASES EVOLVED DURING THE
PROCESSES."
Sealed the 29th September 1871, and dated the 21st April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Norfolk at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st April 1871.
I, RICHARD NORFOLK, of Beverley, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRYING AND PRESERVING TIMBER, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES POR
EFFECTING THE SAME, AND FOR CONDENSING AND COLLECTING THE GASES EVOLVED
DURING THE PROCESSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in drying and preserving timber by the direct
action of the products of combustion generated by the refuse wood,

page_text: with or without othor fuel that is being consumed in the furnace of
the stove, the sap and moisture of the fresh timber being first evaporated
and the pores of the timber then absorbing the creosoto and other
chemical compounds evolved by the refuse wood or other fuel.
My improved stove consists of a furnace suitable for burning sawdust
or other refuse wood, either with or without other fuel; the products of
combustion from the furnace pass through perforations in a metal floor
and enter the chamber in which the timber to be dried and preserved
is stacked on metal joists. The drying chamber is roofed with sheet
motal covered with clay or other non-conductor, and slates or tiles. The
and moisture evaporated by the fresh timber pass down flues in the
wall, and the volatile particles are carried off in chimneys communi-
cating with the flues, while the pyroligneous acid gas and other vapors
that are condensed during the processes are collected in chambers also
communicating with the flues.
sap
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Norfolk in the Great Seal Patent Offico
on the 19th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
NORFOLK, of Beverley, in the County of York, Engineer, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard Norfolk, Her special licenco
that I, tho said Richard Norfolk, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Norfolk, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING AND
PRESERVING TIMBER, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES FOR EFFECTING THE
SAME, AND FOR CONDENSING AND COLLECTING THE GASES EVOLVED DURING THE
PROCESSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard

page_text: Norfolk, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Richard Norfolk, 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 (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists in drying and preserving timber by the direct
action of the products of combustion generated by the refuse wood with
or without other fuel that is being consumed in the furnace of the stove,
the sap and moisture of the fresh timber being first evaporated, and the
pores of the timber then absorbing the creosote and other chemical
compounds evolved by the refuse wood or other fuel.
My improved stove consists of a furnace suitable for burning sawdust
or other refuse wood, either with or without other fuel, the products of
combustion from the furnace pass through perforations in a metal floor,
and enter the chamber in which the timber to be dried and preserved
is stacked on metal joists. The drying chamber is roofed with sheet
metal covered with clay or other non-conductor, and slates or tiles. The
sap and moisture evaporated from the fresh timber pass down flues in
the wall, and the volatile particles are carried off in chimneys com-
municating with the flues, while the pyroligneous acid gas and other
vapors that are condensed during the processes are collected in chambers
also communicating with the flues.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation I will proceed to describe the two accompanying
Sheets of Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of my improved
stove for drying and preserving timber. On Sheet 2, Fig. 2 is a
sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a section through the chimney,
and Fig 4 is a plan of part of the stove.
a is the furnace or fire-place on which the fire is kindled, the refuse
wood, with or without other fuel, being supplied through the sliding

page_text: doors b, b, which are counterbalanced as usual. Above the furnace a
is the floor c made of perforated sheet-iron plates supported on cross
beams d, d. The products of combustion from the furnace are conveyed
towards the centre of the stove by the cast-iron plates e resting on
beams supported partly in the wall and partly suspended to the beams d.
The timber to be operated upon is placed on the metals joists S,S,
which are supported in the walls of the stove, and it is introduced and
discharged through the sliding doors g, g, one of which is placed at
each end of the stove; the joists are placed at such a distance above
the perforated floor c that the products of combustion cannot ignito
the timber to be dried. The roof consists of the sheet-iron plates h,
supported on metal principals, and the plates are covered with a layer
of clay or other non-conducting material, to prevent the exterior cold
air from lowering the temperature in the stove; the non-conducting
material is protected by a covering of tiles, slates, or sheet metal. The
condensed vapors from the inside of the roof are conveyed into the flue i,
which extends the entire length of the stove, and the volatilo gases
escape from the flue into the chimneys j, which are provided with
dampers, while the pyroligneous acid is collected in the tar and.
acid wells, from whence it is drawn off when required through the
openings m.
h
The mode of operation is as follows:-The timber to be operated upon
is piled upon the joists f, and the fires are ignited on the furnace or
fire-place a, the doors and are then all closed, and the products of
combustion are drawn by the draught in the chimneys through the
perforations in the plates c into the chamber containing the timber to
be dried and preserved.
The action of the products of combustion on the timber is gradually
to evaporate the sap and moisture, and the vapors thus set free ascend
with the products of combustion from the furnace until they come in
contact with the plates h of the roof; the vapours that are condensable
then trickle down the inclined roof and drop in a liquid state into the
flue i, and from it into the tar and acid wells 2, while the volatile par-
ticles or non-condensable vapours are carried off into the atmosphere
through the chimneys j.
After the sap and moisture have been thrown off or discharged from
the timber the fire in the furnace a must be so regulated as to produce
slow combustion or distillation of the refuse wood. The pores of the

page_text: timber at this stage absorb the creosote and other preserving chemicals
evolved by the slow combustion in the furnace. By these processes
the timber is dried and rendered impervious to decay at one operation,
and in a comparatively short space of time, whereas the drying and
preserving processes have heretofore been performed separately.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described a
convenient mode of performing the same, I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the particular construction of the stove
shewn and described, as that may be considerably varied; but that I
claim,―
First. Drying and preserving timber by the direct action of the
products of combustion generated from refuse wood, either with or
without other fuel.
And, secondly. The improved stove shewn and described for drying
and preserving timber and for condensing and collecting the gases
evolved during the processes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Norfolk, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-one.