IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STIRRING AND ACTING ON MATTERS SUBJECTED TO HEAT IN RETORTS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Lavender, of 87, Princes Road, Bermondsey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STIRRING AND
ACTING ON MATTERS SUBJECTED TO HEAT IN RETORTS."
Sealed the 21st July 1854, and dated the 11th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Lavender at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th April 1854.
I, EDWARD LAVENDER, of 87, Princes Road, Bermondsey, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STIRRING AND
ACTING ON MATTERS SUBJECTED TO HEAT IN RETORTS" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object a pecular combination of apparatus for
acting on and stirring matters subjected to heat in retorts. For this purpose,
a retort capable of being caused to revolve is employed, which is not in itself
new; within this retort is placed a shaft or axis, having thereon a series of
blades on suitable arms, and these blades are so arranged that they may be
placed from time to time at different angles with the shaft or axis, by which
the matters in the retort may for a time be simply stirred; at other times
they may be moved to and fro in the retort, and at other times they
may be moved towards one end of the retort and discharged therefrom, and
this is accomplished by varying the position of the blades. The shaft or axis

page_text: also carries a scraper on arms, which by the aid of springs is constantly
pressed towards or against the interior of the retort, and scrapes the inner
surface thereof. At the back end of the axis are fixed inclined blades and a
scraper at the end, which cause the matters under process to be moved away
from that end of the retort. The end of the retort has an opening in it, by
which any vapour or product caused by the heat can pass away in that direc-
tion. The retort is supplied at the back end thereof, and the matters are
discharged at the front end thereof, but this may be varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Lavender in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, EDWARD
LAVENDER, of 87, Princes Road, Bermondsey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Lavender, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Lavender,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Lavender, 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
FOR STIRRING AND ACTING ON MATTERS SUBJECTED TO HEAT IN RETORTS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Lavender, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Edward Lavender, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say) :-

page_text: This Invention has for, its object a peculiar combination of apparatus for act-
ing on and stirring matters subjected to heat in retorts; for this purpose, a retort
capable of being caused to revolve is employed, which is not in itself new;
within this retort is placed a shaft or axis, having thereon a series of blades on
suitable arms, and these blades are so arranged that they may be placed from
time to time at different angles with the shaft or axis, by which the matters in
the retort may for a time be simply stirred; at other times they may be moved to
and fro in the retort, and at other times they may be moved towards one end of
the retort, and discharged therefrom, and this is accomplished by varying the
position of the blades. The shaft or axis also carries a scraper on arms, which by
the aid of springs is constantly pressed towards or against the interior of the
retort, and scrapes the inner surface thereof. At the back end of the axis are
fixed inclined blades, and a scraper at the end, which cause the matters under
process to be moved away from that end of the retort. The end of the retort
has an opening in it, by which any vapour or product caused by the heat can
pass away in that direction. The retort is supplied at the back end thereof,
and the matters are discharged at the front end thereof; but these may be
varied.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a retort and apparatus combined and
constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section
thereof; Figures 3 and 4 are front and back end views thereof; and Figure 5
is a side view. In each of these Figures the same letters indicate similar parts.
a,.a, is a retort, which is supported at its back end by wheels b, b, and at its
front end it is carried by an endless chain c, which is supported by the chain
wheel d on the driving shaft or axis e, which receives motion from a steam
engine or other power by a strap acting on the fixed drum f on the driving
axis e. The retort receives motion from the shaft or axis e by means of the
cog wheel g thereon, taking into and driving the cog wheel h, fixed or formed
around the front end of the retort. The cog wheel g moves on the axis e, but
turns with it by reason of a feather; hence, by sliding the cog wheel g out of
gear the retort will no longer be caused to rotate. The retort is arranged to
be heated by the furnace below, and the retort is enclosed by the cover i, i,
as shewn; and in order that the axis ; of the stirrer may rotate or remain
stationary, the shaft or axis e has two drums k, l, one of which is keyed

page_text: thereon, and the other runs free thereon, so that, according as the strap or
band m is for the time being on the fixed or loose pulley, the axis e will or
will not be caused to rotate. The strap or band m gives motion to the axis
or shaft by acting on the drum n fixed on the axis j, and the strap or band
is moved by means of the forked lever o. The axis turns in bearings j',
the one carried by the front framing, and the other by the end plate or disc
fixed in the retort, as shewn. p, p, are blades on cranked axes p', p', which
are capable of being varied in their angular position in respect to the shaft or
axis j, by which means they may from time to time be caused to act
simply as stirrers, or they may at the same time move the matters under
process to or fro in the retort. q, q, are fixed inclined blades, which are
inclined in such a direction as to be constantly moving the matters in the
retort from the back end towards the front end. thereof; one of these at its
edge rests against the disc or internal plate and scrapes it, and there is a
scraper on an arm at the front end of the axis j; this scraper may be fixed
to the arm, or have movement and be pressed up by a spring. s is a lubricating
tube to the end of the axis j. y is a scraper on the arms y', by which the
larger portion of the interior of the retort is scraped, and when the bearing z
is omitted, which it may be, this scraper may proceed to the front end of the
retort, and the scraper r may then be dispensed with. The matters to be
treated in the retort are fed in by the hopper t, which has a sliding bottom t.
The back end of the retort is formed with openings, which are covered when
the retort is at work by sliding doors or covers v. When the retort is to be
charged, one of these openings in the end of the retort is to be brought under
the hopper and the slides are to be removed, when the matters in the hopper
will descend into the retort. The matters are discharged from the retort at
the front end, which is covered by the plate or cover u, fixed by latches w.
When these latches w are lifted, the plate or cover u can be moved on the
axis j from the end of the retort, when the matters will, by the rotation of the
axis j, and the blades being set in the proper direction, be driven out. x is a
rod, having a screw a formed thereon, which works in the fixed screw nut a
by which the rod, when turned, will be moved longwise in a direction into or
out of the axis j, and as it is connected by a pin joint to the rods a³, ³, it will
move those rods with it, and by such means act on the cranked axes of the
blades, and cause them to be varied in their angular positions, and according
as they are set, so will be their action on the matters in the retort.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manne
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim any

page_text: of the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the precise details; but
what I claim is, the combination of apparatus herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Lavender, have hereunto set
hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
my
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
EDWARD LAVENDER. (L.S.)