IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE RE-BURNING OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Brinjes, of Fieldgate Street, White-
chapel, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
D
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Brinjes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd April 1864.
I, JOHN FREDERICK BRINJES, of Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE RE-BURNING OF ANIMAL
CHARCOAL," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to means or apparatus for manufacturing and
re-burning animal charcoal. For this purpose the retorts, which may be of
cast iron or other suitable material, are of a cylindrical form, and are
intended to revolve or reciprocate in a circular direction backwards and
forwards a complete revolution, or nearly so, on their longitudinal axes,
and to lie in a horizontal position. This motion of the retorts may be
produced by incans of a mangle wheel and pinion or any other well-
known contrivance for producing such motion, driven by steam or other
motive power. The cylinders or retorts are to have a series of flanges or
rings cast on the interior or inner side thereof, or loose flanges or rings.
may be bolted therein about four to six inches deep and four to eight

page_text: inches apart in the direction of the cylinder's length, each ring or flange
having openings left through them, the several openings being in the same
line with each other. Between each of the flanges or rings, and opposite each
of the openings above referred to, is provided a kind of door or vane mounted
in the centre upon a spindle with a lever fitted on the top end of the spindle
or axis of the door or vane, connected to a rod passing from one end of the
cylinder or retort to the other and through its ends or covers, which rod is
intended to move backwards or forwards in the direction of the cylinder's
length, so as to actuate and move the doors or vanes to their required positions
simultaneously. The doors or vanes, are removed from the outside of the
retort by any suitable self-acting contrivance, as, for example, by means of a
lever and fulcrum connected to the end of the rod above referred to, such lever
having a roller on its outer end, which travels over an inclined plane, and
thus changes the position of the said doors at every revolution or partial
revolution.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The cylinder or retort is pro-
vided with a hopper fitted loosely in a flange bolted to the retort at one end
for receiving the bones or animal charcoal to be burnt or re-burnt, whicli
substance descends and supplies the space between the end of the cylinder or
retort and the first flange or ring. The cylinder or retort is then set in
motion by the mechanism above referred to, and after completing a revolution
in one direction returns back again, when the doors or vanes on the inside are
placed at such an angle (by the self-acting contrivance before mentioned
outside the ends of the cylinders or retorts) as to cause the charcoal or burnt
bone contained between the first flange and the end of the cylinder to pass
into the space between the first and second flanges. The first space is again
supplied from the hopper, so that by the continuous backward and forward
rotating motion of the cylinder or retort, and altered position of the doors or
vanes by self-acting means outside the ends of the cylinders, the charcoal or
burnt bones is caused to traverse from one end of the cylinder to the other,
and thus the substance becomes burnt or re-burnt, as the case may be.
Should, however, the charcoal in its passage through the cylinder or retort
not become properly burnt, the doors or vanes can be set in such a position
that the charcoal will not be caused to move in the direction of the length of
the retort during its rotation. After the charcoal has traversed from one end
to the other of the retort it is discharged into a cooling chamber fixed on the
end of the cylinder or retort, and rotating backwards and forwards therewith.
This cooling chamber is to be provided with an inner and an outer skin or
jacket forming an annular space, which is supplied with a partial or con-

page_text: tinuous supply of water to keep the inner skin cool for the purpose of more
quickly cooling the charcoal or other substances contained in the cooling
chamber. At one end of the cylinder or retort there is a pipe for conveying
away the steam or gases given off during the process of burning or re-burning,
which pipe is made to communicate with the chimney.
According to another modification the several vanes or doors may be fitted
obliquely but parallel to each other upon the rod which passes from one end
of the retort to the other, such rod serving as an axis, and having a partial
rotatory motion imparted to it so as to reverse the positions of the doors, in
lieu of a longitudinal or sliding motion as in the first arrangement. This
partial rotation of the rod may be obtained by fixing an arm on one or both
ends thereof, which shall be acted upon by an incline or stop as the retort
turns upon its axis, or it may be accomplished in any other manner well
known to practical engineers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Frederick Brinjes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FREDERICK BRINJES, of Fieldgate Street, Whitchapel, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Frederick Brinjes, Her special license that I, the
said John Frederick Brinjes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Frederick Brinjes, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 APPARATUS FOR THE RE-BURNING OF ANIMAL
CHARCOAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Frederick Brinjes, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention

page_text: 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 John Frederick Brinjes, do hereby
declare 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 means or apparatus for manufacturing and
re-burning animal charcoal. For this purpose the retorts, which may be of
cast iron or other suitable material, are of a cylindrical form, and are intended
to revolve or reciprocate in a circular direction backwards and forwards a
complete revolution, or nearly so, on their longitudinal axis, and to be in a
horizontal position. This motion of the retorts may be produced by means of
a mangle wheel and pinion or any other well-known contrivance for producing
such motion driven by steam or other motive power. The cylinders er retorts
are to have a series of flanges or rings cast on the interior or inner side thereof,
or loose flanges or rings may be bolted therein about 4 to 6 inches deep and
4 to 8 inches apart in the direction of the cylinder's length, each ring or flange
having openings left through them, the several openings being in a line with
or opposite each other. Between each of the flanges or rings, and opposite
each of the openings abovo referred to, is provided a kind of door or vane
mounted in the centre upon a spindle and connected to a rod passing from
one end of the cylinder or retort to the other and through its ends or covers,
which rod is intended to move backwards or forwards in the direction of the
cylinder's length, so as to actuate and move the doors or vanes to their required
positions simultaneously. The doors or vanes are moved from the outside of
the retort by any suitable self-acting contrivance, as, for example, by means of
a lever and fulcrum connected to the end of the rod above referred to, such
lever having a roller on its outer end which travels over an inclined plane, and
thus changes the position of the said doors at every revolution or partial
revolution.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The cylinder or retort is provided
with a hopper fitted loosely in a flange bolted to the retort at one end for
receiving the bones or animal charcoal to be burnt or re-burnt, which sub-
stance descends and supplies the space between the end of the cylinder or
retort and the first flange or ring. The cylinder or retort is then set in
motion by the mechanism above referred to, and after completing a revolution
or partial revolution in one direction returns back again, when the doors or

page_text: vanes on the inside are placed at such an angle (by the self-acting contrivance
before mentioned outside the ends of the cylinders or retorts or otherwise) as
to cause the charcoal or burnt bone contained between the first flange and
the end of the cylinder to pass into the space between the first and second
flanges. The first place is again supplied from the hopper, so that by the
continuous backward and forward rotating motion of the cylinder or retort,
and altered position of the doors or vanes, the charcoal or burnt bones is
caused to traverse from one end of the cylinder to the other, and thus the
substance becomes burnt or re-burnt, as the case may be. Should, however,
the charcoal in its passage through the cylinder or retort not become properly
burnt, the doors or vanes can be maintained in such a position that the char-
coal will not be caused to move in the direction of the length of the retort
during its rotation. After the charcoal has traversed from one end to the
other of the retort it is discharged into a cooling chamber fixed on the end of
the cylinder or retort, and rotating backwards and forwards therewith. This
cooling chamber is to be provided with an inner and an outer skin or jacket
forming an annular space, which is supplied with a partial or continuous
supply of water to keep the inner skin cool for the purposes of more quickly
cooling the charcoal or other substances contained in the cooling chamber.
At one end of the cylinder or retort there is a pipe for conveying away the
steam or gases given off during the process of burning or re-burning, which
pipe is made to communicate with the chimney.
According to another modification the several vanes or doors may be fitted
obliquely but parallel to each other upon the rod which passes from one end
of the retort to the other, such rod serving as an axis, and having a partial
rotatory motion imparted to it so as to reverse the positions of the doors, in
lieu of a longitudinal or sliding motion as in the first arrangement. This
partial rotation of the rod may be obtained by fixing an arm on one or both
ends thereof, which shall be acted upon by an incline or stop as the retort
turns upon its axis, or it may be accomplished in any other manner well known
to practical engineers; for example, the rod may be cranked, so that the vanes
or doors will adjust themselves by their own gravity.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
I shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a front end elevation
of a pair of retorts constructed and arranged according to my Invention, and

page_text: shews the mode which may be adopted for working the same; Figure 2 is a
back end elevation of the retorts and apparatus connected therewith, and
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same taken through the centres
of the retorts. In these three figures the retorts are represented as completely
mounted and in working order. Figure 4 is a detail sectional plan of the
upper retort; Figure 5 is a similar view of the lower retort; Figures 6 and 7
are end elevations of these retorts corresponding respectively with Figures 4
and 5; Figure 8 represents a detail side elevation and plan of the cranked
rod which I employ for working the doors or vanes; Figure 9 shews a side
elevation, plan, and end view of one of the doors or vanes detached; Figure 10
is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the cooling chamber detached;
Figures 11 and 12 represent respectively a sectional plan of the upper and
lower cylinders or retorts, shewing a different arrangement of doors and
mechanism for actuating the same; Figure 13 is an end elevation of one of
these retorts, and Figure 14 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of the
same.
A and B represent respectively the upper and lower cylinders or retorts,
they are placed with their axes horizontally one above the other, and are
surrounded by any suitable arrangement of brickwork C, a clear space being
left round both retorts for the free circulation round them of the flame and
products of combustion from the furnace D, which escape by the flues or
passages E into the chimney, not shewn on the Drawings. These retorts are
supported at each end upon antifriction rollers F, F, (Figures 1 and 2,)
carried in brackets or frames fixed to plates at each end of the brickwork. A
rotatory or partial rotatory reciprocating motion is imparted to these retorts by
means of a mangle wheel G fast on a short spindle H, which is keyed into the
centre of a chain pulley I, bolted on to the front end of the upper retort A.
This wheel is actuated by means of the pinion K fast on the main driving
shaft L, which works in suitable bearings M, M, and receives its motion from
a steam engine or other prime mover, the speed of working being at the rate
of about one revolution of the retorts per minute, but this of course may be
varied if desired. A chain pulley I' is also bolted on to the front end of the
lower retort B, and over these two pulleys I and 1 is passed an endless
chain N, which serves to transmit the motion of the upper retort to the lower
one, both retorts revolving in the same direction simultaneously. Each of the
cylinders or retorts is provided internally with a series of flanges or rings 0, 0,
which may either be cast therein, as shewn in my Drawings, or made loose
and bolted or rivetted inside the retorts; these rings may be from 4 to 6 inches
deep and placed at a distance of fron 4 to 8 inches apart along the entire

page_text: length of each retort, so as to divide the same into a series of annular chambers
or spaces 1, 2, 3, &c. An opening a is left in each ring or flange, the several
openings being opposite to or in a straight line with each other. In each of
the several chambers a space 1, 2, 3, &c., between the rings or flanges, there
is placed a vane or door P, shewn in detail at Figure 9, secured at an angle
on the crank shaft Q, shewn detached at Figure 8. The shape of these vanes
or doors and their angle with the crank shaft is such that their edges (according
to the side which is in action) shall lie upon the inner surface of the cylinder
or retort between each ring a flange, at an angle of about 45°, and parallel
with each other, as shewn clearly in Figures 1, 4, and 5. For the facility of
securing these vanes or doors to the crank shaft, the latter is provided with a
number of lugs b, b, at the proper angle to which the vanes or doors are
bolted or otherwise secured, and a slot is formed in the centre of each vane or
door, which fits over the crank shaft, so as to leave one half of the vane or
door on each side thereof, as is shewn more clearly in Figures 6 and 7; a
journal c is formed on each end of the crank shaft, which journals turn freely
in bearings in each end of each cylinder or retort. The upper cylinder or
retort A is provided at one end with a charging hopper R, which is fitted
loosely into a plate or flange bolted to the end of the retort, and is connected
by a pipe S with the charging floor T; U is a sliding valve (shown closed in
Figure 1), worked by a screw spindle V, and situate inside the pipe S, for the
purpose of regulating or stopping the supply of charcoal to the cylinder or
retort. The opposite end of this retort is provided with a discharge hopper W,
fitting loosely upon the chain pulley I, for allowing of the discharge of the
charcoal into the lower retort B after passing through the upper retort A.
This discharging hopper W is connected by means of a short pipe X with a
corresponding hopper Y on the end of the lower retort B. A pipe Z is fitted
to the top of the upper hopper W, for the purpose of conveying away the gases
or vapours given off during the process of re-burning into a flue d, such pipe
being provided with a throttle valve or damper e for regulating the draught
necessary for drawing off the gas and vapours through the flue d into the
chimney. At the discharging end of the lower retort B there is fitted a
circular cooling chamber or drum f, part of which is shewn detached in
Figure 10, which is intended to rotate backwards and forwards, with the
cylinder or retort. This cooling chamber or drum is provided with an outer
skin or jacket g, so as to leave a space round it for a supply of water between
the inner and outer skin, with a view to the more rapid cooling of the charcoal
received in the drum after having passed through both the cylinders or retorts.

page_text: h is a bull's-eye or spy hole for examining the contents of the retort; and i is
a sliding door for discharging the contents of the drum.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate another modification of the arrangement
of vanes or doors P, and made of working the same. In this case the vanes
or doors are supported by and turn loosely on upright spindles k, secured to the
retort, and are each connected by a stud or pin Z with a rod Q, extending
from end to end of the retort, so that when a longitudinal motion is imparted
to this rod all the doors or vanes connected therewith will be caused to turn
on their centres and reverse their positions simultaneously. This movement
of the rod Qmay be produced by inclined planes fixed to the main framing,
and so disposed that the movement of the rod shall take place just before the
completion of each revolution of the retort. Thus Figure 11 shews the position
of the doors when the top retort is rotating in the direction of the arrow or
against the sun, the dotted lines showing their position when the retort is
rotating in a contrary direction. The same is also shewn at Figure 12 in
reference to the bottom retort. Of course it will be understood that as the
charcoal in the upper cylinder or retort travels from left to right, that in the
lower cylinder or retort travels in the opposite direction, and therefore the
angle of the doors in each retort is reversed.
:
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The charcoal being supplied to
the charging pipe and hopper R, descends to the space 1 between the end of
the retort and the first flange O. The retort on being rotated in the direction
of the arrow, and the crank shaft Q and doors P being in their proper
positions, as shewn in Figure 1, and by dotted lines in Figure 4, the charcoal
in the first space 1 will be directed by the angular position of the door into the
next space 2. Before the retort has completed a revolution in one direction
the crank shaft and angled doors or vanes will, by their own gravity and by
reason of the shaft Q being cranked, fall over into the opposite position as the
retort rotates, so as to be in the proper direction for the reverse motion of the
retort, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7; the charcoal then, during the reverse
motion, passes from the space 2 into the space 3, the space 2 being at the same
time again supplied from the space 1, which is constantly supplied from the
hopper R. The reverse position of the doors is shewn in full and dotted lines
in Figure 4. It will thus be seen that the forward and backward rotatory
motion of the retorts, combined with the doors or vanes P, causes the charcoal
to travel into every space between the several rings or flanges O, and to be
discharged at the opposite end of the retort into the lower retort through the
hopper W, pipe X, and hopper Y, when the same is repeated until the charcoal

page_text: is finally discharged from the end of the lower retort into the cooling drum or
chamber f, through an opening for that purpose, such charcoal having been
properly re-burnt during its passage along the retorts, after being allowed to
partially cool in the during its passage along the retorts. After being allowed
to partially cool in the drum f the charcoal is discharged through the sliding
door i into any convenient recepticle, and then allowed to finally cool before
being used.
Although I have illustrated and described a mode of mounting and actuating
my retorts, I wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to, nor do I confine
or restrict myself to such mode of mounting and actuating, as various other
contrivances may be employed therefor.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
1st, the application and use to and in the re-burning of animal charcoal of
cylinders or retorts provided with a series of internal rings or flanges in com-
bination with a series of doors or vanes, operating substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
2nd, the application and use to and in machinery or apparatus for re-burning
animal charcoal of a rotating cooling drum or chamber provided with an inner
or outer skin, and supplied with water for the purpose of more readily cooling
its contents, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Brinjes, have to this my
Specification hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of
October, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOHN FREDERICK BRINJES. (L.S.)