NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING INTO THE EARTH MANURES IN A GASEOUS OR VAPOUROUS FORM
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Lorentz Albert Groth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1882. Communicated to
him from abroad by Karl Zaruba, and Adalbert Kounowsky, both of Pilsen,
Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH K.G.V. Civil Engineer and Managing Director of The
Universal Inventors and Patentees Financial Company Limited, 30 Finsbury Pave-
ment London E.C. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING INTO
THE EARTH MANURES IN A GASEOUS OR VAPOUROUS FORM A communication
to me from abroad by Karl Zaruba, and Adalbert Kounowsky, both of Pilsen,
Bohemia in the Empire of Austria.
"
Far less fruitfulness of the soil is produced by manuring with the ordinary
materials, or spreding manurial substances in the form of powder than by the
direct introduction of Ammonia, Chlorine, and Potash in an already decomposed
condition into the earth, or the taking up of the same by the moisture of the
earth.
By the apparatus forming the subject of the present invention this direct intr.)-
duction of gases or vapours into the earth is rendered possible
This apparatus can be fitted to the plough or other machine serving to break up
the earth, and can be set in action at the same time
The apparatus consists of a vessel made of thick sheet metal, which vessel is
divided by partitions into a gas or vapour producing compartment, a heating com-
partment and an ash pan. The bottom plate of the heating compartment is either
perforated with holes or furnished with a fire grate.
From the top of the heating compartment passes through the producing com-
partment a heating tube the upper end of which projects up above the cover of the
vessel and is furnished with holes. This tube is closed with a cover the cylindrical
part of which fitting on to the projecting part of the tube is furnished with holes
corresponding to those in the tube Consequently by turning the cover round
these holes can be closed or opened. On the cover of the vessel there are also
arranged an opening which can be hermetically closed, a safety valve, and a gas or
vapour outlet pipe and cock.

page_text: After the introduction into the vessel through the aforesaid opening of chemicals
such as Sal-ammoniac and Potash-lye with red (amorphous) Phosphorous for
example, the opening is closed hermetically and a fire is made in the heating com-
partment When the requisite degree of heat is reached the formation of gas and
vapour begins, these are conducted through the outlet cock and a hose into an
outlet or delivery pipe. The lower end of this pipe which is adjustable to the
plough, opens immediately by the side of the plough share, and is trailed along the
ground so that the mouth of the pipe at the plough is constantly covered with the
ploughed earth.
The gases and vapours of Ammonia, Chlorine, Phosphorous, and Potassium
generated from this heated mixture are thus enabled to force their way into the
earth, and in consequence of the great affinity of the Ammonia and Chlorine with
water (in this case the moisture of the ground) and further by reason of the
attraction of the Chlorine for Potash and Phosphorous they cannot escape again
from the earth
By the further complete oxidation in the soil the most extended manuring of
the mass is effected.
The advantages of this method of conducting the manuring material to the soil
in the form of gas or vapour are chiefly that one can change increase or reduce the
quality and quantity of the gases or vapours at pleasure and according to require-
ments by the following means.
1. By changing the proportionate quantities of the materials (chemicals)
employed for the production of the gaseous or vapourous manure and by the choice
of the materials themselves.
2. By the employment of a greater or less degree of heat.
3. By regulation of the gas or vapour outlet by means of the cock.
4 Bv anicker or slower movement of the plough.