IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING WOOD AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county
of Lancaster Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS
OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING WOOD AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES” a
communication to him from Jean Antoine Mathieu, a person resident at
Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, one of the United
States of America Chemist.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Liverpool and London Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster Civil
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING
a communication to me from Jean Antoino
Mathieu a person resident at Detroit in the county of Wayne and State of
Michigan, one of the United States of America, [Chemist.]
WOOD AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
"
In the drawings Fig. 1 represents a vertical. section through the centro of the
main retort and two of the lesser retorts, and through the car for introducing
wood. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line
x, fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a hori
zontal section on line y -- - y, fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the door of
one of the charcoal receptacles and its actuating mechanism.
-----
M represents the main retort, constructed either of brick or iron, and has at its
bottom the neck S, which descends into a large iron tank, Q, considerably longer
than the width of neck S, as shown in figs. 2 and 3.
A represents smaller retorts, constructed of iron, having removable covers at top
and bottom, and set, preferably at an incline, in the brickwork which surrounds
retort M, as shown in fig. 1.
BB represent combustion. chambers, located under retorts A A, and communi-
cating with heat chambers or flues, G G, which extend along the inner sides of
retorts A A, but separated from said retorts by a brick lining, and open into the

page_text: chimneysƒƒ. The combustion chambers are provided with ordinary grate bars
for burning solid fuel. C, H, represent pipes which lead gas into the combustion
chambers B, to be there burned.
D.D represent pipes which lead hot gas into the upper part of the main
retort M, at o, and are coiled in heat chambers G G so that the gas in said pipes 5
becomes heated before passing into the main retort.
In the upper part of the main retort, M, are two openings, J, J, which lead into
iron tanks, R, R, which have a removable tight fitting lid, l, at the bottom
thereof.
E E, represent vertically sliding doors, by which the openings J J, can be 10
closed. These doors are contained, when lowered, in the boxes, c c, and are raised
and lowered by the supporting rods, e e, (which pass through stuffing boxes to
ensure a tight joint) and are attached to the racks, n², n¹, which gear with the
pinions n, n.
The pipes, D, D, lead from the upper portion of tanks R, and to them are 15
connected the pipes C, as shown in dotted lines in fig. 2.
F represents a fan, adapted to force gas into the lower part of tank R, through
pipe m.
K represents a pipe connecting with the neck S of retort M by openings r. r,
and conducts the vapors of distillation from retort M, through a condenser, V, and 20
into a safety-box, L, the end, v, of said pipe dipping into a body of liquid contained
in safety-box L. From the upper part of safety-box La pipe d leads to the fan F,
and the end of pipe H is also connected with said safety box.
T represents a pipe by which the contents of tank Q can be drawn off.
Within that portion of the tank Q which is beneath the neck S, is the 2
clevator B", which consists of a stout rectangular framework, conforming in size
and shape to the mouth of the neck S, and provided at its ends with racks 9,
which project vertically upwards, just outside of nock S, and engage with
pinions i.
These pinions i are rotated by cranks or other suitable mechanism so as to raise 3
the framework B", until its bottom is flush with the mouth of nock S.
In a lateral extension of tank Q, and adjacent to the sido of neck S, is placed a
second elevator B', constructed as just described, except that it is provided at cach
end with an inwardly projecting rim or flange, j, formed along the upper side of
the framework. The length of the elevator B, and the height of the flanges j, are 3
such that when the elevator is sunk to the bottom of the tank Q as in figs. 2 and 3,
the flanges jare in line with the bottom of neck S.
A car I, having upper and lower wheels a, a, a, fits snugly within the
clevator B', the upper wheels ongaging beneath the flanges ;, and as the car is
rolled from the elevator B₁ to the elevator B" at the bottom of the tank, these 4
wheels engage beneath flanges t in tank Q and then beneath the edges or ends of
the mouth of neck S. Vertical recesses, a³, are formed on the inside of the neck S,
to receive the upper wheels when the car is properly in position to be raised by
the elevator B¹¹ within the neck S.
Sliding rods extend across the car I, near its top, and between these rods the 4
sides of the car are slotted vertically from top to bottom as shown in fig. 1. Theso
slots are so spaced as to correspond with a series of sliding bars b', which extend
across neck S, and serve to support the mass of material in retort M.
PP represent pipes which lead from near the bottom of the retorts A through a
condenser similar to V, and into a safety box similar to L.
I have not deemed it necessary to show tho pipes H for both retorts A, nor to
show the fan and connections for both tanks R, as it would merely complicate the
drawings, and any mechanic can readily understand their position.
N represents a damper in pipe D, Wa damper in pipe C, Z a damper in pipe E,
a damper in safety box L, and U a damper in pipe m..
The operation is as follows:
When wood is to be carbonized the lesser retorts A, A, are charged with wood,
5
Б

page_text: and closed tightly, and the tank Q is filled with liquid, preferably pyroligneous
acid, to the level of pipe K, thus forming a water seal over the mouth of neck S.
Car I is raised on elevator B¹ and filled with sticks of wood. Bars bb are
inserted above the wood, and the car is sunk in the tank by forcing down the
elevator by means of its racks and pinions. The bars b, b, prevent the wood from
floating, and the flanges j hold the car down firmly. The car is then rolled into
position beneath neck S, bars b, b, b', b', withdrawn, and the car raised into the
retort M by elevator B", the upper wheels running up in recesses a¹, a¹.
Bars b¹, b' are inserted under the wood and the foregoing operation repeated
until retort M is charged.
Fires are now lighted upon the grates in combustion chambers B, and distillation
begins in the lesser retorts A. The wood therein evolves vapor, which rises to
the top of each retort, and, finding no outlet there, is compelled to descend through
the mass of carbonizing material, and pass out by the pipe P, near the bottom of
the retort. The effect is to heat the wood in the bottom and outer part of the
retort A, (where the retort is always coolest) nearly as rapidly as the wood, in
other parts of the retort is heated, and thus complete the carbonization of the
whole mass in a shorter time and with less heat than would otherwise be
necessary.
The vapors in pipo P pass through a condenser, where a portion thereof are
condensed, then pass through a safety-box, the liquid seal in which prevents any
accoss of fire or air to the retorts, and are forced by the fan F through the tanks R,
doors E being closed, through pipes D (in which they become highly heated) into
tho main retort M at o, o, Descending upon the wood therein they begin to
carbonize the same, and pass out, with the fresh products of distillation, through
the openings r, r, and pipe K, through the condenser V, into the safety-box L.
The liquid in tank Q serves as a seal to prevent escape of the vapors in any
other direction.
Carbonization of the wood in the main retort proceeds from the top downwards,
and, as it continues, fresh charges of wood are from time to time introduced as
above explained, and the wood and charcoal aro retained in the retort. One of
the doors E is lowered, and the charcoal falls into tank R, through the opening J.
Door E is then raised and the operation continues. The blast of coal gas from
fun F is now driven through the mass of hot charcoal in tank R, and gives off to
said charcoal some of its component parts, thus enriching the charcoal, and making
it denser, cools the charcoal, and becomes itself somewhat heated before it passes
into pipes D. When the charcoal is sufficiently cooled the dampers U and N are
closed, lid e removed, and the charcoal taken out of tank R. Whon damper U ia
closed I open damper p in pipe s, and the blast from fan F passes through pipe 8
into pipe H, and thence into combustion chamber B, where it is burned. The
tanks R may bo usod alternately, thus making the operation continuous, as either
one can be at will shut off from the fan F, the retort M, and pipo D, leaving tho
other in working order. As soon as a sufficient supply of gas has been accumulated,
the uncondensed portion thereof is not all sent from the safety boxes into tho
main retort M, but a portion thereof is forced through the pipes C or H, into the
combustion chambers B, and there burned to heat the small retorts A. By means
of the dampers W, Z, the gas may be allowed to flow in a comparatively cold state
directly from the safety box through pipe H or it may be forced through the hot
charcoal in tank R and delivered in a heated state through pipe C. Or, if desired,
the gas which comes from the main retort M, may be taken from the safety-box L
directly into pipes H, while the gas from the retorts A may be taken from a
similar safety-box and forced by the fans into the main retort.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Phillips Thompson in the Patent Office on the
30th. January 1884.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Liverpool and London Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 0, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING
WOOD AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."-A communication to me from Jean Antoine
Mathieu, a person resident at Detroit, in the County of Wayne and state of
Michigan, one of the United States of America, Chemist.
This invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through the centre of the main retort and two
of the lesser retorts, and through the car for introducing wood. Fig. 2 is a vortical
Section on line ----- a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line y -----y,
Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the door of one of the charcoal receptacles and
its actuating mechanism.
M represents the main retort, constructed either of brick or iron, and has at its
bottom the neck S, which descends into a large iron tank Q, considerably longer
than the width of neck S, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
A ropresents smaller retorts, constructed of iron, having removable covers at top
and bottom, and set, preferably at an incline, in the brick work which surrounds
retort M, as shown in Fig. 1.
BB represent combustion chambers, located under retorts A A, and communi-
cating with heat chambers or flues, G G, which extend along the inner sides of
retorts A A but separated from said retorts by a brick lining, and open into the
chimneys ff, The combustion chambers are provided with ordinary grate bars
for burning solid fuel. C, F represent pipes which lead gas into the combustion
chambers B, to be there burned.
DD represent pipes which lead hot gas into the upper part of the main retort
M, at o, and are coiled in heat chambers G G so that the gas in said pipes becomes
heated before passing into the main retort.
In the upper part of the main retort M, are two openings J J, which lead into
iron tanks RR, which havo a removable tight fitting lid at the bottom thereof.
E E. represent vertically sliding doors, by which the openings J J can be closed.
These doors, are contained, when lowered, in the boxes c c, and are raised and
lowered by the supporting rods e c (which pass through stuffing boxes to ensure a
tight joint) and are attached to the racks n³, n¹, which gear with the pinions n n.
The pipes D D lead from the upper portion of tanks R, and to them are
connected the pipes C, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
F represents a fan, adapted to force gas into the lower part of tank R, through
pipe m.
K represents a pipe connecting with the neck S of retort N by openings I I, and
conducts the vapors of distillation from retort M, through a condenser V, and into
a safety-box L, the end v, of said pipe dipping into a body of liquid contained in
safety-box L. From the upper part of safety box La pipe d leads to the fun F,
and the end of pipe H is also connected with said safety-box.
T represents a pipe by which the contents of tank Q can be drawn off
Within that portion of the tank Q which is beneath the neck S, is the elevator B¹¹
which consists of a stout rectangular framework, conforming in size and shape to
the mouth of the neck S, and provided at its ends with racks q, which project
vertically upwards, just outside of neck S, and engage with pinions i.

page_text: These pinions i are rotated by cranks or other suitable mechanism so as to raiso
the framework B", until its bottom is flush with the mouth of neck S.
In a lateral extension of tank Q, and adjacent to the side of neck S, is placed a
second elevator B¹, constructed as just described, except that it is provided at each
end with an inwardly projecting rim or flange j formed along the upper side of the
framework. The length of the elevator B¹, and the height of the flanges j, are such
that when the elevator is sunk to the bottom of the tank Q, as in Figs. 2 and 3, the
flanges j are in line with the bottom of neck S.
A car I, having upper and lower wheels a, a, a, fits snugly within the elevator B¹,
the upper wheels engaging beneath the flanges j, and as the car is rolled from the
elevator B¹ to the elevator B₁ at the bottom of the tank, these wheels engage
beneath flanges tin tank Q and then beneath the edges or ends of the mouth of
neck S. Vertical recesses a¹, are formed on the inside of the neck S, to receive
the upper wheels when the car is properly in position to be raised by the elevator
B within the neck S.
Sliding rods 6 extend across the car I near its top, and between theso rods tho
sides of the car are slotted vertically from top to bottom as shown in Fig. 1.
These slots are so spaced as to correspond with a series of sliding bars b', which
extend across neck S, and serve to support the mass of material in retort M.
PP represent pipes which lead from near the bottom of the retorts A through a
condenser similar to V, and into a safety box similar to L.
It has not been deemed necessary to show the pipes H for both retorts A nor to
show the fan and connections for both tanks R, as it would merely 'complicate
the drawings, and any mechanic can readily understand their position.
N represents a damper in pipe D, u a damper in pipe C, Z a damper in pipe H,
ha damper in safety box L, and U a damper in pipe m.
The oporation is as follows:
When wood is to be carbonized the lesser retorts A, A, aro charged with.wood,
and closed tightly, and the tank Q is filled with liquid, preferably pyroligneous
acid, to the level of pipe K, thus forming a water seal over the mouth of neck S.
Car I is raised on elovator B¹ and filled with sticks of wood. Bars b b are inserted
above the wood, and the car is sunk in the tank, by forcing down the elevator by
means of its racks and pinions. The bars b, b provent the wood from floating, and
the flanges j hold the car down firmly. The car is then rolled into position beneath
nock S, bars b, b, b¹, b¹, withdrawn, and the car raised into the retort M by
elevator B, the upper wheels running up in recesses a¹, a¹.
Bars 6', bare inserted under the wood and the foregoing operation repeated
until retort M is charged.
Fires are now lighted upon the grates in combustion chambers B, and distillation
begins in the lesser retorts A. The wood therein evolves vapor, which rises to the
top of each retort, and, finding no outlet there, is compelled to descend through the
mass of carbonizing material, and pass out by the pipe P, near the bottom of the
retort. The effect is to heat the wood in the bottom and outer part of the retort
A, (where the retort is always coolest) nearly as rapidly as the wood in other
parts of the retort is heated, and thus complete the carbonization of the whole
inass in a shorter time and with less heat than would otherwise be necessary.
The vapors in pipes P pass through a condenser, where a portion thereof are
condensed, then pass through a safety-box, the liquid seal in which prevents any
access of fire or air to the retorts, and are forced by the fan F through the tanks R,
doors E being closed, through pipes D (in which they become highly heated) into
the main retort M at o, o, Descending upon the wood therein they begin to
carbonize the same, and pass out with the fresh products of distillation through
the openings r, r, and pipe K, through the condenser V, into the safety-box L
The liquid in tank Q serves as a seal to prevent escape of the vapors in any other
direction.
Carbonization of the wood in the main retort proceeds from the top downwards,
and as it continues, fresh charges of wood are from time to time introduced as

page_text: above explained, and the wood and charcoal are retained in the retort. One of
the doors E is lowered, and the charcoal falls into tank K, through the openings J.
Door E is then raised, and the operation continues. The blast of coal gas from
fan F is now driven through the inass of hot charcoal in tank R, and gives off to
said charcoal some of its component parts, thus enriching the charcoal, and making
it denser, cools the charcoal, and becomes itself somewhat heated before. it passes
into pipes D. When the charcoal is sufficiently cooled, the dampers U and Nare
closed, lid e removed, and the charcoal taken out of tank R. When damper U is
closed damper p is opened in pipe 8, and the blast from fan F passes through pipe 8
into pipe H, and thence into combustion chamber B, where it is burned. The
tanks R may be used alternately, thus making the operation continuous, as either
one can be at will shut off from the fan F, the retort M, and pipe D, leaving the
other in working order. As soon as a sufficient supply of gas has been accumulated,
the uncondensed portion thereof is not all sent from the safety boxes into the
main retort M, but a portion thereof is forced through the pipes C or H into the
combustion chambers B, and there-burned to heat the small retorts A. By means
of the dampers U, Z, the gas may be allowed to flow in a comparatively cold state
directly from the safety box through pipe H, or it may be forced through the hot
charcoal in tank R, and delivered in a heated state through pipe C. Or, if desired,
the gas which comes from the main retort M, may be taken from the safety-box L
directly into pipes H, while the gas from the retorts A may be taken from a
similar safety-box and forced by the fans into the main retort.
"
Having now described the invention as communicated to me, what I claim and
desire to protect under the Letters Patent is :-
1st. The combination of the charcoal tank with the exit pipe of the condenser,
whereby the non-condensed or uncondeusable gases are passed through the hot
charcoal, substantially as described.
:
2nd. The combination of the charcoal tank, exit pipe of the condenser, and
pipe D, leading to the main retort, whereby the gases after passing through the hot
charcoal are driven into the retort, substantially as described.
3rd. The retort M, having lateral openings J, near its top, and vertically sliding
doors E, substantially as described.
4th. The combination of the neck S, and tank Q, with the car and its clevators,
substantially as described.
"
5th. The combination of the car I, having slots therein, with the neck S and
bars b', substantially as described.
6th. The combination of the elevator B" and car I, having upper guide wheels,
with the neck S, and recesses a, a, substantially as described.
7th. A closed retort for carbonization of wood, having a pipe adapted to lead off
from said retort the gascous products of distillation, connected with said retort at
or near the lower end thereof.
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 20th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four.
WVM P THOMPSON 201