IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Jones Engineer to the Commercial Gas
Company of Stepney in the County of Middlesex-for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Jones at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1882.
HENRY EDWARD JONES Engineer to the Commercial Gas Company of Stepney
in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL
CHARCOAL AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
وو
This Invention relates to improvements in effecting the distillation of Bones and
in obtaining products therefrom and it consists in constructing the Retort or
apparatus in which the Bones are to be distilled of Fire clay or partly of Fire clay
and of wrought or cast iron in order that the materials under the operation of
Distillation may be submitted to a higher temperature than can be safely obtained
by the use of the ordinary Retorts whereby an increased yield of animal Charcoal
is obtained and also a larger proportion of oils and of ammonia produced by the
decomposition of the oils that are otherwise formed where lower temperatures are
alone possible-When clay Retorts are employed it is desirable to distil some coals
in such Retorts for the purpose of choking the pores of such Retorts before
employing them for the distillation of Bones
In conjunction with the distillatory apparatus I prefer to place and employ an
exhausting apparatus similar to those employed by gas Manufacturers and Gas
Engineers in order to diminish the pressure in the Retorts.
·
The Ammonia and other products are then caused to pass through an eduction
pipe from the Retort or Retorts which eduction pipe may be so constructed as to
be carried to, at or about the bottom of a lead vessel containing Sulphuric Acid

page_text: and the products thus passing through the same will leave the whole of the
Ammonia as Sulphate of Ammonia and the noncondensible products will pass off
for use as heretofore, or the eduction pipe may be arranged so that by the passing
the Ammonia and the other products into the base of a Cylinder of lead or lined
with lead or other Acid resisting material filled with hard Core preferably of
material not liable to be injured by the Acid which hard core is kept moistened
by a descending stream of concentrated Sulphuric Acid; the ascending gas meeting
the surfaces moistened by this descending stream of Acid issues from the top of the
Cylinder free from Ammonia and the Acid flows from the bottom of the Cylinder
neutralized or saturated with Ammonia which is in a condition to be readily
Crystallized out or converted into Salt of Sulphate of Ammonia.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Henry Edward Jones in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May 1883.
HENRY EDWARD JONES Engineer to the Commercial Gas Company of Stepney
in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL
CHARCOAL AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
"
My Invention relates to Improvements in effecting the distillation of Bones and
obtaining products therefrom in the manufacture of animal charcoal and it consists
in constructing the Retort or apparatus in which the bones are to be distilled of
Fire Clay or partly of Fire clay and partly of wrought or cast iron in order that
the materials under the operation of Distillation may be submitted to a higher
temperature than can be safely used with the ordinary Iron Retorts by which
higher temperature an increased rate of production of Animal Charcoal is obtained
and also a larger proportion of Ammonia is produced by decomposing the oils than
is the case when the lower temperatures that are alone possible with Iron Retorts
are employed.
The Clay Retorts can be prepared for use in the first instance or be made
serviceable again and all cracks arising from the cooling down when put out of
action can be stopped up by distilling some bituminous coals in such Retorts which
has the effect of choking the pores thereof and stopping cracks.
The bones before being placed in the Retorts are preferably dried in any suitable
way for example by being stored above or near to the Furnaces for the Retorts
whereby the mischievous production of Steam and carbonic acid is avoided.
I will proceed with the description with reference to the accompanying Drawing
which represents in elevation and plan arrangements of apparatus for carrying my
Invention into effect a a representing the fire clay retorts in the bench A and B
the hydraulic main.
In conjunction with the distillatory apparatus I prefer to place and employ an
exhausting apparatus as shewn at C driven by a suitable motor such as a Steam
Engine or a Gas Engine and similar to those employed by Gas manufacturers in
order to diminish the pressure of Gas in the Retorts and prevent leakage.
For the purpose of obtaining the Ammonia produced by the distillation above
described the Gaseous products of the Retorts are caused to pass through an
eduction pipe by way of and through the exhauster above mentioned and thence
through a pipe so contrived as to be carried to at or about the bottom of a lead
vessel D like that commonly known as a Saturator containing sulphuric acid
hydrochloric or other acid the said pipe there terminating in a perforated coil and
the ammoniacal gases thus passing through will be arrested combining with the
acid as sulphate or other salt of Ammonia and the non-condensible gases will pass
off for use as heretofore or the eduction pipe may be arranged so that by the
passing the ammonia and other gaseous products into the base of a cylinder or
vessel (illustrated at X) of lead or lined with lead or other acid resisting material
filled with hard core preferably of material not liable to be injured by the acid
which hard core is kept moistened by a descending stream of concentrated sulphuric
or other acid the ascending gas meeting the surfaces moistened by this descending
stream of acid issues from the top of the cylinder free from ammonia and the acid
flows from the bottom of the cylinder neutralized or saturated with ammonia
which is in a condition to be readily crystallized out or converted into sulphate of
ammonia or other salt according to the acid employed.
The following is a summary of the process by which the manufacture of animal
charcoal may be conducted according to my Invention as hereinbefore explained.

page_text: The hereinbefore described Retorts a a are filled with Bones (which have been
previously dried) at intervals of from three to four hours as against the nine to
twelve hours intervals which are those customary with Iron Retorts. The interval
As soon
varies with the temperature of the retort and the moisture in the bones.
as the bones begin to give off gaseous product the exhauster C is operated by the
steam, gas, or other engine at such a speed as will prevent the accumulation of the
gaseous products in the retort and prevent the pressure of the same rising beyond
that which will balance a column of water inch in height. The Gases are forced
by the exhauster C directly in their heated condition either into the sulphuric acid
in the saturator D or in opposition to the stream of acid in the cylinder or vessel (✗)
and the condition of the acid in either saturator on the one hand or the vessel X
on the other being carefully watched the rate of bringing fresh acid to either is
adjusted so as to secure a neutral solution of Salt of Ammonia being formed in the
bottom of either vessel. This solution is drawn off from time to time into
evaporating pans where by the ordinary process of evaporation by steam or other
heat salt of ammonia is obtained.
The gaseous products other than ammoniacal being illuminating gases are
conducted from the top of the saturator D or the vessel X to purifiers and
gasholders so as to be available for illuminating purposes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
First: In the manufacture of Animal Charcoal effecting the distillation of the
bones in Retorts of Fire Clay or partly of Fire Clay and partly of iron for the
purpose herein before described.
Second: In the distillation of bones for the manufacture of Animal Charcoal the
employment of retorts of fire clay or partly of fire clay and partly of iron which
have been prepared or rendered fit for use or for re-use by distilling Coal therein
for choking the pores or cracks thereof for the purpose herein before described.
Third: The employment in connection with retorts for the distillation of bones
for the manufacture of animal charcoal of exhausting apparatus to diminish the
pressure in the retorts and withdraw the volatile products for treatment substantially
as herein before described.
Fourth-The Improvements in the manufacture of Animal Charcoal consisting
in obtaining the ammonia from the volatile products by treating the said volatile
products on the one plan in a leaden or lead lined vessel herein before referred to
as a saturator wherein the gases from the retorts are forced to bubble through acid
and on the other plan by passing the gases through a Cylinder or vessel filled with
acid resisting material or hard core of a porous nature over which a stream of acid
is made to flow so that the ammonia is obtained by combining it with the acid
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described the residual gases being
discharged from the leaden or lead lined vessel in a condition suitable for their use
for illuminating purposes.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Jones have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal this Seventh day of May One thousand eight
HY E JONES (L.S.)