IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHARCOAL AND OTHER KILNS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Williams, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Furnace Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHARCOAL AND OTHER KILNS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Williams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
February 1861.
I, GEORGE WILLIAMS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Furnace
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHARCOAL AND OTHER KILNS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates more particularly to the construction of kilns for the
manufacture and revivification of animal charcoal when such animal charcoal
is used for the purification and decolorization of sugar before final evaporization.
The kilns to which my Invention especially refers are known as "clay kilos,"
and as formed by me, have a series of rows of spaces for receiving the bones
or "spent" charcoal, the outer surfaces of which present a large area for the
action of the heat generated in furnaces placed at either or both ends of kilns
built about the usual size, and in which flues, or between the rows, I conduct
the heated gases in a winding or circuitous direction, so that a saving in fuel
may be effected.
The oblong spaces for receiving the bones or "spent " charcoal are formed of

page_text: hollow brick blocks or tile chambers fitted the one above and socketed into the
other by projecting ledges and sunk spaces at the inner surfaces, so that when
built up, an air-tight shaft is formed, which I bind together by dowals or
other arrangement at the ends or sides, and coat over with a non-absorbent of
sulphur.
Under the oblong distillation shafts or charcoal spaces, and just above the
plate coolers, I form a chamber or cavity to receive the gases generated during
the making or, reburning of animal charcoal, and from this chamber, which, by
preference, I make of malleable or cast iron, I withdraw the gases collected
at intervals.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
August 1861..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WILLIAMS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Furnace Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Williams, Her special licence that I, the said George Williams,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Williams, 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 THE CON-
STRUCTION OF CHARCOAL AND OTHER KILNS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Williams, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Williams, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment (that is to say):-
My Invention relates more particularly to the construction of kilns for the
manufacture and revivification of animal charcoal when such animal charcoal
is used for the purification and decolorization of sugar before final evaporiza-
tion. The kilns to which my Invention especially refers are known as "clay
kilns," and as formed by me, have a series of rows of spaces for receiving the
bones or spent charcoal, the outer surfaces of which present a large area for
the action of heat generated in furnaces placed at either or both ends of kilns
built about the usual size. In the flues between the said series of rows of
charcoal spaces I conduct the heated gases in a winding or circuitous direction,
so that a saving in fuel may be effected.
The oblong spaces for receiving the bones or spent charcoal are formed of
hollow brick blocks or tile chambers fitted the one above and socketed into
the other by projecting ledges and sunk spaces at the inner surfaces, so that
when built up, an air-tight shaft is formed, which I bind together by dowals or
other arrangement at the ends or sides, and coat over with a non-absorbent of
sulphur.
Under the oblong distillation shafts or charcoal spaces, and just above the
plate coolers, I form a chamber or cavity to receive the gases generated during
the making or reburning of animal charcoal, and from this chamber, which, by
preference, I make of malleable or cast iron, at intervals I withdraw the gases
collected, by plugs, cocks, or other arrangements, or I may have small aper-
tures permanently open, similar to the metallic tube arrangement berein-after
described.
In adapting metallic tubes I do not form a chamber or cavity to collect the
gases, but I rest the brick blocks or lumps on or place underneath the same a
metallic plate or plates, on or into one or both of which I cast or fasten short
tubes, which, when in position, become part of the cooling surface. Around
the ends of these short tubes I pass the cooling tubes, which are supported on
a cross frame, and as they are larger in diameter, an annular opening or
passage is left to allow the gases to escape. This arrangement I generally
prefer, for I find the permanent openings allow those gases to escape, the
presence of which reduce the valve and purifying qualities of the charcoal
whenever the internal pressure is above that of the surrounding -atmosphere,
whilst it never falls below the external pressure and allows air to enter.
That the improved forms and constructions of the different parts, and the
arrangement or construction of my improved kilus as a whole, may be more
clearly understood, I will proceed to describe the same, with the metallic tube

page_text: coolers and permanent gas escape openings which I prefer, making reference
to the Sheet of Drawings accompanying this by the letters herein-after written,
and marked on the Drawings, all of which denote the same parts in all the
views.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal view of a double kiln, one half being in ver-
tical section, the other in elevation; Fig. 2, a plan section of the same at
A, B, just above the furnace bottoms; Fig. 8, a transverse section; Figs. 4
and 5, isometrical projection views of the clay blocks or lumps; Fig. 6, inner,
and Fig. 7, outer, metallic tube plates, on which the short cooling tubes are
cast; Figs. 8. and 9, the corresponding metallic plates through which the short
tubes pass; and Fig. 8*, a vertical section of the arrangement of: metallic
cooling tubes.
a represents the outer brick walls, strengthened by metallic binders and tie
rods b; c, metallic beams or supports; d, the charcoal spaces or shafts formed'
by placing the fire-clay blocks or lumps e, the one above the other, the pro-
jections of which fit into the sockets g. In the Drawings these blocks or
lumps are shown as secured in position by one dowal h, but in the isometrical
projections two (h', h³,) appear, although a larger number may be used, and
that on any or every side. i, the furnace; j, the flues in which the direction
of the heated gases is shewn by arrows in Fig. 1; k, horizontal divisional
fire-brick or metallic floors resting on projections I, let into, moulded on, or
otherwise fastened to the brick blocks or lumps; m, dampers; k', spy holes,
suitable also for the admission of a hook to regulate the dampers m. The flues
give to the heated gases a serpentine direction by the divisional floors k,
which are left alternately a short distance from the outer walls a and centre
wall n; the heated gases being carried direct to a chimney or under a drying
floor, as desired; o, metallic plates with short tubes p cast thereon, the former
of which rest on and the latter pass through the bearing plates 9; r, the cool-
ing tubes supported by the frame s; t, the annular gas escape openings; u, the
slides to allow the charcoal to be withdrawn.
Although I have described the nature and particulars of my said Invention
as relating to or adapted for the manufacture and revivification of animal char-
coal, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the
use of the same for that purpose only, as it is suitable for burning and revivi-
fying many substances, both animal and vegetable; neither do I confine myself
to the use in combination of all or any of the parts, as they may be combined
with ordinary kilns, nor to the precise details herein laid down, as many modi-
fications can be made without departing from the nature of my Invention; but
what I claim is,

page_text: Firstly, the form or shape of brick blocks or lumps and means of securing
the same by dowals for the construction of distillation shafts, as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Secondly, constructing at or near the bottom of the distillation shafts, and at
or near the top of the coolers, cavities or chambers to collect the gases from
the charcoal or other substance, and providing the said cavities or chambers
with plugs, cocks, or other moveable or opening apparatus to allow the gases
to escape at intervals, as herein set forth.
Thirdly, constructing coolers with small permanent openings to allow the
gases to escape; the mode which I prefer for the carrying out of this part of
my Invention being illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and
herein described.
And, fourthly, the arrangement and construction of kilns as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Williams, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN T. KING,
Witness.
GEORGE WILLIAMS. (L.s.)