IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING WOOD, AND PERFORMING OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH SUBSTANCES ARE TREATED BY FLAME OF HEAT
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE
OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING WOOD, AND PERFORMING OTHER OPERATIONS
IN WHICH SUBSTANCES ARE TREATED BY FLAME OF HEAT."-A communication
from abroad by Pierre Hugon, of 33, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris,
France.
Sealed the 9th May 1865, and dated the 18th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
November 1864.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING WOOD, AND PERFORMING OTHER
OPERATIONS IN WHICH SUBSTANCES ARE TREATED BY FLAME OR HEAT," communi--
cated to me from abroad by Pierre Hugon, of 38, Boulevart Saint Martin,
Paris, France, to be as follows:-
One object of this Invention is to carbonize wood. For this purpose a
moveable covered chamber is employed. In this chamber fuel is placed and
burnt, and air is forced or driven under pressure into it, so as to keep up
combustion, and the flame or ignited gaseous products of combustion are
discharged or projected directly from the chamber on to the wood to be car-
bonised. Also water steam or other liquid may be forced in by and with the

page_text: air, and becoming decomposed by the heat the resulting gases will combine
with the products of combustion. The chamber should be moveable, both
vertically and horizontally.
The method is also applicable to other operations in which flame and heat
have to be applied in treating substances, as for example, in reducing quartz
and other rocks and minerals, smelting and reducing ores, and heating and
melting metals.
An apparatus suitable for the purpose, though other forms or arrangements
may be used, consists of a covered chamber or fire-box containing fuel; into
this chamber air is forced by a blowing machine through a pipe, into which,
before it enters the chamber, a jet of water is admitted, so as to be blown in
with the air and decomposed into its constituent gases. The fuel chamber is
provided with a burner, nozzle, or mouth for projecting the flame on the wood
or substance under treatment, which is laid on rollers, so that it may be easily
worked to and fro. The chamber is on a pillar, support, or frame, raised and
lowered in guides by a lever or handle, and it can be moved horizontally by
propelling the fulcrum or support of the lever in a circular guideway on a
platform.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Henry, 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 MODE
OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING WOOD, AND PERFORMING OTHER OPERATIONS IN

page_text: WHICH SUBSTANCES ARE TREATED BY FLAME OR HEAT," communicated to me
from abroad by Pierre Hugon, of 33, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, 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, as communicated to me, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that.
is to say:-
One object of this Invention is to carbonize wood. For this purpose a
moveable covered chamber is employed, in which fuel is placed and burnt,
and air is forced or driven under pressure into it, so. as to keep up combustion ;.
and the flame or ignited gaseous products of combustion are discharged or
projected directly from the chamber on to the wood to be carbonized. Water
steam or other fluid may be forced in by and with the air, and being decom-
posed by the heat, the resulting gases combine with the products of combustion.
The chamber should be moveable vertically and horizontally.
The method is also applicable to other operations in which flame and heat
are applied in treating substances, as, for example, in reducing quartz and
other rocks and minerals; smelting and reducing ores, and heating and
melting metals.
One apparatus suitable for the purpose consists of a covered chamber or
fire-box containing fuel; into this chamber air is forced by a blowing machine.
through a pipe, into which, before it enters the chamber, a jet of water is
admitted, so as to be blown in with the air, and decomposed into its constituent
gases. The fuel chamber is provided with a burner, nozzle, or mouth for
projecting the flame on to the wood or substance under treatment, which is
laid on rollers, so that it may be easily worked to and fro. The chamber is:
placed on a pillar or support raised and lowered through guides by means of
a lever or handle, and it can be moved horizontally by propelling the fulcrum.
or support of the lever in a circular guideway on a platform.
I proceed, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, particularly to
describe the manner of carrying the Invention into effect.

page_text: Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section; Figure 2, a plan; and Figure 3
end view of an apparatus constructed according to the Invention.
A is a covered chamber or fire-box, into which fuel is fed through the top,
which is kept securely closed by a cover F while the apparatus is at work.
The chamber is preferably made of cast iron or of fire-clay hooped with iron, 5
or of sheet iron lined with fire-clay. Currents of air are forced into it through
a pipe B by a fan or blower K, and the air forces in along with it minute jets
of water led into the pipe B from a tank D through a pipe C, the air and
water are thus driven together into the fuel; 6 is a valve in the pipe B; V is
a cold water casing for preventing the air pipes from getting overheated. 1
The chamber A is provided with a nozzle or mouth E, through which the jets.
of flame, gas, or aeriform products of combustion of the fuel are discharged or
projected on to the wood to be carbonized, or other substance to be treated.
M is a door in the chamber, which is opened to clear out the ashes and
cinders. In order that the chamber may be raised and lowered, and moved 1
horizontally or laterally, it is set on a pillar H, to which a lever I is attached
by a bolt R. This lever I works on a fulcrum S, and has at its free end a
counterbalance weight N. By working the lever I the pillar H aud
chamber A will be raised and lowered to the required point, and retained
thereat. The fulcrum S is a block free to slide or travel in circular guide 2
grooves formed in a platform P, and by moving the fulcrum in these grooves
the pillar and chamber will be moved horizontally as required.
The wood or substance, to be treated is placed on rollers mounted upon
frame bars L, and thereby moved to and fro as required, in order that the
part to be operated upon by the flame or jet may be always presented to or 2
brought opposite the nozzle E. When the fuel in the chamber has been
kindled combustion is maintained by injecting air through the pipe B, and
the water driven in with the air will be decomposed into gases, which will
combine with the gaseous products of combustion of the fuel, and the jet of
flame will be projected on to the wood through the nozzle E. The form or 3
direction of the nozzle may be varied, so that it may project the jet of flame
vertically on the upper or lower surface of the wood. The force of the jet of
flame is dependant on the size of the chamber, the quantity of air forced in,
and the quantity of fuel burnt. Instead of injecting water steam or other
vaporizing fluid may be injected, or the injection of such fluid may be 3
dispensed with.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 5, plan of a modification of
the above apparatus arranged for reducing quartz or stubborn rocky or
mineral substances. A is the chamber provided with a cover F, and ash

page_text: door M, as in Figures 1, 2, and 3. E is an orifice through which the jet
of flame or gas is projected on the rock or mineral to be treated; V is a
blower for forcing air into the fuel in the chamber A through a pipe v.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim in respect of the mode of
and apparatus for carbonizing wood, and performing other operations in which
substances are treated by flame or heat,―
First, the method in which a moveable covered chamber containing fuel is
employed, air being forced therein, and a jet of flame or gas discharged or
projected directly therefrom on the wood or other substance to be treated,
substantially as described.
Second, the apparatus herein-before described, in so far as regards the
general arrangement and combination of parts of which the same consists,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.
20
Witness,
E. DE PASS,
84, Fleet Street, London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)