IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL FROM BONES AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hadfield, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO
THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL FROM BONES AND OTHER LIKE
SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad
by Robert Reddish, at Bordeaux, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hadfield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1881.
THOMAS HADFIELD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL FROM BONES
AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.' A communication
from abroad by Robert Reddish, of Bordeaux, in the Republic of France.
11
This Invention consists in a new or improved system of burning bones for animal
charcoal, and in apparatus therefor.
It is best set forth by describing the experimental plant now being erected:-On
each side of a long furnace, depressed below the seige, is a series of vertical and
preferably elliptical retorts, with their lower ends built into and projecting almost
or quite through the seige. Those I now have are of clay, surmounted by an iron
top; below the retorts is a train way for wagons, with canisters to go below to
take the contents of the retorts as they are discharged. The lower doors of the
retorts being preferably fitted on levers, so as to be more readily opened and closed.
The arrangement of flues is as follows:-The retorts are exposed on all sides to the
products of combustion from the furnace in a preferably rectangular chamber;
opposite each retort, close to the bottom of the chamber, is an exit flue. These
flues rise upright to a flue running along the top on each side. These flues in this
special apparatus are brought down to a flue below leading to the chimney, and
are in any case each supplied with a damper so as to regulate the application of
the heat to each side independently; cleaning holes are left at each bend in the
flues or openings luted up when at work. Near the top of each retort is an outlet
for the gases distilled off to proceed to the condensers. The uncoudensed gases
are afterwards returned to the fire to be burnt there or outside, as is most
desirable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hadfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th May
1882.
THOMAS HADFIELD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL FROM BONES
AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES. AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication
from abroad by Robert Reddish, of Bordeaux, in the Republic of France.
This Invention consists in a new or improved system of burning bones for
animal charcoal, and in apparatus therefor.
It is best set forth by incans of the accompanying Drawings of my experimental
plant, now in full working order, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section,
and Fig. 2 a sectional plan. On cach side of a long furnace A, depressed below the
seige B, is a series of vertical and preferably elliptical retorts C, with their lower
ends built into and projecting almost or quite through the seige. Those shown in
the Drawings are of clay, surmounted by an iron top D; below the retorts is a
tramway E for wagons, with canisters F to go below to take the contents of the
retorts as they are discharged. The lower doors G of the retorts being preferably
fitted on levers H so as to be more readily opened and closed. The arrangement
of flues is as follows:-The retorts are exposed on all sides to the products of
combustion from the furnace in a preferably rectangular chamber P; opposite each
retort, close to the bottom of the chamber, is an exit flue I. These flues rise upright
to a flue J running along the top on each side. These flues in this special apparatus
are brought down to a flue K below leading to the chimney, and are in any case
each supplied with a damper so as to regulate the application of the heat to each
side independently; cleaning holes N, N, are left at each bend in the flues or
openings luted up when at work; near the top of each retort is an outlet O for
the gases distilled off to proceed to the condensers. The uncondensed gases are
afterwards returned to the fire to be burnt there or outside, as is most
desirable.
In the Drawings I have shown only one row of retorts on each side, as I prefer
that arrangement. If more than one row be placed in each side of the furnace,
the inner rows are apt to get heated to a greater degree than the outer, whereas
where one row is placed on each side the heat can be more exactly regulated.
In working the apparatus I so regulate the dampers and furnace that the beat
in the retort chamber shall be maintained at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,
keeping the retorts at a red heat, and the heating is continued till no further gases
are given off. The charcoal is then emptied into the canisters, and their lids
instantly applied so as not to admit air, and the canisters are cooled before their
contents are removed.
Having now described my plant as an example, it being the best mode known
to me of carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim
for any one part of my plant, taken separately or used for a different purpose, but
that what I claim as the Invention to be protected under Letters Patent is,-
1st. The process of manufacturing animal charcoal, which consists in filling the
bones into vertical or nearly vertical retorts, arranged in ranges on each side of a
central flue, in such manner that the gases of the furnace, but not the fuel itself,
shall surround the retorts and be drawn off at or near the lowest part of the
chamber walls into flues regulated with dampers or their equivalent, substantially
as described.

page_text: 2nd. The plant or apparatus for manufacturing animal charcoal, arranged and
worked substantially as described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hadfield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 26th day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
J. OWDEN O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Messrs. Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Liverpool & London.
THO³. HADFIELD. (L.S.)