IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF WOOD AND OF OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Astley Paston Price, of Margate, in the County of
Kent, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION
OF WOOD AND OF OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Astley Paston Price at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th July 1854.
I, ASTLEY PASTON PRICE, of Margate, in the County of Kent, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE DISTILLATION OF WOOD AND OF OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES" to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in the employment of retorts, tubular or other-
wise, placed perpendicularly or obliquely, heated externally, the heat being so
applied to a portion of the retorts. and the retorts also being generally so
constructed, that the process of distillation may be rendered continuous.
The volatile products arising from the process of distillation may, by the
application of suitable pipes or passages, be collected in any convenient
manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Astley Paston Price in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th January 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ASTLEY
PASTON PRICE, of Margate, in the County of Kent, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Astley
Paston Price, Her special license that I, the said Astley Paston Price, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Astley Paston
Price, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE DISTILLATION OF
WOOD AND OF OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Astley Paston Price, by an instrument 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 Astley Paston Price, do hereby declaro
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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain improved constructions and arrangements
of retorts for distilling wood and other vegetable substances, and consists essen-
tially in so constructing and arranging the distilling apparatus that the process
of distillation may be rendered continuous; that is to say, that the wood or
other vegetable matter, after having been subjected to the action of heat, and
the distillation of the volatile products being effected, the resulting charcoal,
which being then at a red heat, may be made to pass or to descend into a
portion of the retort or distilling apparatus, fixed thereto or moveable, and be
allowed to cool down to that temperature at which combustion will not take
place; and that during or after the descent of such charcoal from wood or other

page_text: vegetable matter into that portion of the retort where the charcoal, as herein-
before mentioned, is allowed to cool, another charge of wood or other vegetable
matter may be made to descend or ascend, and occupy that portion of the
retort where the temperature is sufficiently elevated to effect distillation. By
this arrangement considerable economy in time and fuel will be effected, as it
will not be necessary to allow the distilling apparatus to cool prior to the
discharge of the residual charcoal, as is now generally found requisite. Now,
in carrying out my said Invention, several modifications may obviously be
adopted; for example, the retorts or distilling apparatus may be placed either
perpendicularly or at an angle, so long as the descent of the matter that has
been distilled and that which is to be distilled, may be readily effected.
Other modifications may be adopted, namely, the length of the retort may be
such as to admit of one, two, or more charges of wood or other vegetable
substances; that is to say, that in the detail and arrangements connected with
the distilling apparatus for distilling one charge, there shall be space for
effecting the distillation, and also space for allowing the resulting charcoal to
cool; also, that when two or more charges, or a larger quantity of materials
are admitted, that there shall be ample room for the complete distillation of
one portion of the materials, the partial or complete distillation of another
portion of the materials, and a space for effecting the cooling of the third
portion of the resulting charcoal.
In constructing the retorts or distilling apparatus, that part which I
designate as the lower or cooling portion may be fixed to the distilling portion
of the retort, or made moveable therefrom, as herein-after described and illus-
trated in my Drawing, and may be of any desired form or size. When made
moveable, the junction may be effected either in the manner shown in the
Drawings or by any other suitable arrangement; the wood or other vegetable
substances may either be introduced into the distilling apparatus in the manner
now generally adopted in the ordinary process of distillation, namely, either loose
or contained in iron cylinders, or enclosed or confined in iron frames or other
suitable receptacles. The distilling apparatus may be constructed of cast or
wrought iron, or of fire brick or fire clay, and of any desired form.
And in order that my said Invention may be more readily understood, I
shall now proceed to describe and refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed. Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a
vertical section of one modification of my improved distilling apparatus, suitable
for the distillation of shavings, sawdust, small pieces of wood, turf, spent tan,
or waste dye woods, and other vegetable substances. It consists essentially of a
closed tube or retort A, heated externally by the furnace B, in the centre of

page_text: which it is placed vertically; a rod or spindle C, fitted with a number of arms
D, and actuated or rotated by a spur wheel E, and suitable driving mechanism,
serves to keep the inaterials placed in the retort constantly agitated, if desirable,
whilst at the same time such materials are allowed to descend gradually from
the top to the bottom of the retort; the materials while descending are gradually
submitted to a temperature sufficient to effect distillation, and then finally pass
into the lower or cooling portion F, below the fire bars G, which portion is not
heated externally; the resulting charcoal when cooled down is then withdrawn
through the lateral opening H, made for that purpose; the volatile products
resulting from the distillation of the wood or other vegetable matters pass off
through the exit pipes, and may be collected and condensed, as is well under-
stood. The upper end of the retort is furnished with a hopper or receiver I,
which is closed tightly by the door J, or by any other convenient and suitable
arrangement. The materials to be distilled are introduced into this hopper,
and gradually pass therefrom into the retort.
Fig. 2 represents, in vertical section, a somewhat similar arrangement of
distilling apparatus to that shown in Fig. 1. It differs therefrom, inasmuch as
the materials to be distilled and those which have been distilled are made to
descend, by means of a vertical spiral screw A, in place of a number of arms or
blades. I may here observe, however, that I lay no claim to the application
of a screw for effecting the passage of materials through tubes or retorts. The
two distilling apparatus with the arrangements here shewn and described may
also be arranged at any desired angle.
The charcoal is withdrawn from the distilling apparatus by means of a hori-
zontal screw B, revolving in the pipe C, by the aid of suitable driving gear.
This charcoal falls through an opening or discharging mouth D into a closed
waggon E or other suitable receptacle. A sliding door F, or other suitable
arrangement, serves to close the discharge aperture when the waggon or re-
ceiver E is removed. The tubes or retorts may be of any convenient length
and diameter. Those retorts which are employed for distilling wood in large
pieces may be from two to four feet in diameter, or of any suitable dimensious;
but it may be found preferable to conduct the distillation of sawdust, small
pieces of wood, shavings, spent tan, turf, or waste dye wood, or other vegetable
substances, in distilling apparatus of less diameter.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a distilling apparatus so constructed that one
charge may be distilled at each operation. The upper portion of the apparatus
consists of a tube or cylindrical chamber, composed of iron, or of fire brick
or of fire clay, or other suitable material, such upper portion being heated
externally by the furnace A, in the centre of which it is situated; it is provided

page_text: with exit pipes, through which the volatile products escape, and also with an
arrangement for closing it at the top. The materials to be distilled are either
drawn up by means of a chain or rod connected with a crane or other elevating
mechanism, or they may be pushed up by means of a piston B, which may be
actuated either by hydrostatic pressure, or a lifting jack, or other suitable
mechanical contrivance. But I do not claim, neither do I confine or restrict
myself to any precise arrangement for lifting, raising, or lowering the cylinders
containing the wood or other vegetable substances or charcoal. The lower
portion of the distilling apparatus consists of an iron cylinder C, made, as
shewn in the Drawings, with a water joint D, or with any other suitable tight
joint, luted well with clay or cement. The lower portion or cylinder C should
not be smaller than the upper portion of the apparatus; it is left partially open
at the bottom to allow tho piston to be withdrawn when necessary. It may
be raised up to the mouth of the retort by a a couple of levers E, E, as shewn
in the Drawing, or by any other suitable elevating apparatus. The bottom of
the cylinder C rests in water, so as to form a completely air-tight joint or cover
to it. In working this apparatus, the cylinder C is fitted with wood or other
vegetable matter, either in a loose state, or contained in a cylinder or frame, as
shewn in the Drawing, or in any suitable receptacle. The materials, whether
loose or contained in cylinders, frames, &c., arc, together with the inner
cylinder or frame in which they may be contained, raised into the upper or
distilling portion of the apparatus by the piston B or other elevating mechanism.
The upper portion of the retort having been closed prior to distillation, and
distillation having been effected, the resulting charcoal, whether loose or con-
fined in a cylinder, cage, or frame, is made to descend into the lower portion
or cylinder C by lowering the piston or other apparatus employed. The piston
is provided with a moveable piece of iron or fire clay or other material, placed
on the top, and forming a false top to the piston, or a false bottom to the
cylinder; so that when a loose or an unconfined charge of wood or other vege-
table substances has been distilled, this plate, which fits into the cylinder and
is larger than the top of the piston, may remain and form a bottom to the
cylinder, as shewn at Fig. 6, Sheet 2 of my Drawings. The cylinder C is
then lowered from the water joint D by releasing the lever E, E, and a lid or
cover is placed on the top of it, fitting into the flange D, containing the water,
so that either by such an arrangement or by the use of clay, an air-tight
apparatus, or one nearly so, is obtained. This cylinder with its contents having
been allowed to cool down, the same may be removed, and immediately after
its removal another cylinder may be attached to the distilling apparatus, and a
fresh charge of wood or other vegetable substances may be introduced, in the

page_text: manner described. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of another modification
of the distilling apparatus, which is so arranged as to contain one or more
charges of wood or other vegetable matter, such materials being either raised
from the bottom by means of a piston, as shewn in Fig. 3, or by any other
elevating mechanism, or they may be introduced from the top, by removing the
cover previously to charging, as may also be effected in Fig. 8, either by
throwing in from the top the materials unconfined, or by lowering the same,
contained in cylinders or frames A, by means of a crane and chain B, or other
suitable arrangement, from the upper portion of the retort, as shewn in Fig. 4,
the top having been closed and distillation having been effected. The resulting
charcoal may
also be lowered, either confined in cylinders or cages, or loose, by
the aid of a piston, as shewn in Fig. 3, or by the chain B, as described with
reference to the charging of the retort. In Fig. 4, the lower moveable
portion C of the retort is represented as supported upon a small carriago or
frame D running on wheels, the lower portion C of the retort being elevated,
to connect it with the upper portion, and form the water joint or luted joint E,
by means of levers F, F, as in Fig. 3. When the cylinder C is required to be
removed for the purpose of emptying out the charcoal contained therein, it is
lowered by releasing the lever handles, and the retort is thereby brought on to
the carriage, when the whole may be wheeled away, having been first carefully
covered up, as herein-before described, to exclude the air therefrom.
cylinder containing wood or other vegetable substances is then wheeled under
the retort, and having been elevated, to form a junction with the retort, the
contents, either loose or confined in an inner cylinder or frame, are either
pushed up or raised, as before described, and the process of distillation is pro-
ceeded with. Fig. 5 represents a detail of a self-detaching clip, which I
propose to employ for lowering the cylinders or frames A, by which clip the
frame will be detached from the chain by simply slackening it, as the small
spring A will tend to open the clip, when the upper ends of the jaws are no
longer drawn together, by the tightening of the short cross chain B. Fig. 1
on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents a longitudinal section of a retort, some-
what similar in construction and the mode of working to the retort shewn at
Fig. 4 on Sheet 1; but in this case, in place of being vertical, the retort is
situated obliquely at any convenient angle, and the wood or other materials
are introduced into the upper portion of the apparatus either loosely or con-
tained in cylinders or frames A, which may be made to descend, either by
means of a piston B, pushing from the upper portion or the frames, or may be
lowered by means of chains or rods and a crane, or by any other suitable
arrangement. A sliding valve or door C, shewn in detail at Fig. 2, is used for
A

page_text: arresting the descent of the upper charge, and for closing the tube when the
lower charge of charcoal is being withdrawn.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, represent side elevations of different forms and construc-
tion of cylinders, cases, and frames for containing the wood or other vegetable
materials to be introduced into the retorts berein-before described. Fig. 6 is
a vertical section of the lower portion A of a retort, having a conical point B
formed therein in place of a water joint; and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of
the lower portion of such retort removed, with a case B of charcoal contained
therein, the cylinder A being covered, in order to exclude the air, by means of
a conical lid or cover C, corresponding in taper to the conical portions of the
cylinder joint shewn in Fig. 6. The retorts or distilling apparatus, herein-before
described, may be furnished with one or more outlet pipes or passages P, P,
through which the volatile products of distillation may escape; these products
may be collected & condensed by suitable arrangements, as is well understood
by practical men.
I do not claim neither do I confine myself to the precise arrangement for
lifting, raising, or lowering the cylinders containing the wood and other vegetable
substances, or the resulting charcoal; neither do I claim the employment of
a screw to effect the passage of wood and other vegetable matter when under-
going distillation through tubes or retorts in general; but what I do claim, as
the Invention secured to mo by the herein-before recited Letters Patent, is,
the herein-before described apparatus for distilling wood and other vegetablo
substances, in which the distilling apparatus is arranged as described, and
placed either vertically or obliquely.
In witness whereof, I, the said Astley Paston Price, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE. (L.S.)