Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Pyroligneous Acid.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb.,
1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Pyroligneous
Acid.
JULES HENRI DU VIVIER of 61 Rue Blanche, Paris, France, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the economic extraction of
pyroligneous acid.
It is known that when vegetable substances such as wood are subjected to destructive
distillation in a closed vessel for the purpose of obtaining pyroligneous or acetic acid
empyreumatic oil or tar is at same time produced, the density of which increases in
proportion to the quantity of carbon. Carbonic acid gas is also evolved as well as a
considerable amount of hydrocarbons and towards the end, a notable quantity of
carbonic oxide. The greater part of the carbon which has not entered into these
several combinations, constitutes the residue in the retort.
The products obtained in the various apparatus heretofore employed for the
production of pyroligneous acid on a large scale, have always been costly, owing in
the first place to the cost of carriage of the wood and also to the inconvenience of and
time required for the operation of charging the retorts as well as of drawing them
which cannot be done until the furnaces have cooled down, thereby entailing a
waste of heat.
My invention consists in a continuous method of treating wood in portable apparatus
whereby the acid may be obtained at the spot where the wood is felled, the apparatus
being so combined that they may be charged, brought into operation and discharged in
a continuous manner by means of movable retorts, whereby loss of time is avoided
and the whole of the heat of the furnace is utilized.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifica-
tion which illustrate an example of my apparatus.
Figure 1 is a diagram showing the general arrangement of two benches of retorts.
Figure 2 is a front elevation, figure 3 a cross section and figure 4 a longitudinal
section of the furnace with the retort removed. Figure 5 is a side elevation and
figure 6 a plan of the pipes for carrying off the gases and tar. Figure 7 shows in
section, the mode of connecting the ascension pipes to the retort covers. Figure 8 is
a face view of a retort cover. Figure 9 shows the cover for the mouth of the retort
when the ascension pipe has been disconnected. Figure 10 shows the hydraulic joint
between the ascension pipe and the collecting main. Figure 11 shows one of the
acid or tar receivers which acts also as a pressure regulator. Figure 12 shows the index
for denoting the depth of immersion of the discharge pipe in the receiver and pressure
regulator. Figure 13 is a side elevation and figure 14 a rear elevation of a truck
for introducing the retorts into and withdrawing them from the furnaces. Figure 15
shows the trolly by which the retorts are shifted on and off the truck.
is a plan of the truck framing.
Figure 16
-
Referring to figures 2 to 12 the furnaces (which may be constructed either of
brick or of iron lined with fire brick) having been erected in the desired situation, the
portable retorts a before being placed in the furnace are charged with wood in
12 or 14 inch lengths, the cover is luted with clay at c and secured by cotters d. The
retorts are then conveyed to the respective furnaces upon the two wheeled truck
(figures 13 and 14) and the ascension pipe e is then secured to the mouth by bolts f,
after which the valve g is opened and the distillation proceeded with.
The gases distilled off ascend through the pipe e to the collector / which is placed
at an inclination in order that the tar may run off through the pipe i connected to

page_text: the lower end of the collector whilst the gases flow in the opposite direction through
the collector and are conveyed by a pipe to the worm m of a condenser k, the tars
deposited in the pipe being previously intercepted by the receiver which also
serves as a pressure regulator. The pyroligneous acid produced is collected in a
receiver n connected to the lower end of the worm m, the permanent gases passing
away through the pipe o to the furnace where they are consumed, thus economizing
fuel. When the operation is terminated, which is indicated by the color of the flame
at the test cock p, the valve gy is closed, the ascension pipe e disconnected, and
replaced by the cover g which is clamped tightly upon the mouth by means of the
screw bolts so as to prevent the admission of air, and the retort is then removed
upon its truck and replaced by another one kept ready filled, and so on in succession
for each furnace, the action being thus practically continuous.
To facilitate the introduction and removal of the retorts, the furnaces are arranged
in rows of 24 placed back to back, as shewn in figure 1, the number 24 being
adopted when each retort requires about one hour for the complete carbonization
and distillation of its contents the number of furnaces would therefore depend upon
the dimensions of the retorts.
The truck employed for moving the retorts is represented in figures 13 to 16, and
is constructed of a framing s upon which a small trolly t travels on rails u 27
connected together by iron tie-bars v. A chain drum a is mounted at the front
end of the truck and at the rear end are two standards = pivoted to the frame
at 1 and held normally upright by means of struts 2 jointed to the framing at 3
and to the standards by a pin 4. Upon rollers 5 turning on pins 6 at the upper
ends of the standards, rest two angle iron rails 7 fixed longitudinally to the sides
of the retort whereby the rear end of the of the retort is supported whilst the front
end rests upon the trolly t. To introduce the retort into the furnace, the truck is
run up to the mouth of the furnace and fixed. The chain y having been carried
round a pulley S at the rear end of the truck and attached to the trolly t is wound up
on the drum thus hauling the retort into the furnace where the angle irons 7 rest
upon rails 9 within the furnace (see figures 3 and 4). The pin is then removed
and the standards folded down, the barrel a being then again rotated and the retort
hauled to the desired position in the furnace. The lowering of the standards is rendered
necessary to allow the flange of the retort cover to enter the mouth of the furnace,
after which the truck is unhooked and withdrawn, the flange of the retort being then
pushed up home against the brickwork, the joint being luted with clay. In order
to withdraw the retort from the furnace, the truck is fixed in front of the retort
close up to the brick work, and the chain y is attached by its hook 10 to the
ring 11 on the retort cover and the retort is drawn partly out of the furnace by
winding up the chain on the barrel. The retort is then hauled upon the trolly
into the position shewn in figure 13 and is conveyed away to be cooled and discharged.
The furnaces being grouped back to back, as before described, the ascension pipes e
can all be connected with the same collecting pipe h by means of the hydraulic
joints 12 which are gas-tight and capable of being readily dismounted when desired.
The receiver, figure 11, consists of a vessel of sheet iron provided with a pouring
spout 13 and also with a centimetre scale 14 upon the exterior, the zero of which
scale corresponds to the highest level or overflow point of the liquid. The receiver
is further provided with a bail 15 forming two racks having notches 16 at distances
apart of 1 centimetre by which the receiver is hung upon hooks 17 carried on a
collar 18 clamped upon each of the dip pipes and 19 by thumb screws 20. An
index 21 is fixed to the collar 18 and shews on the scale 14 the depth of immersion
of the dip-pipe which acts as a pressure regulator.
In order to utilize the waste heat of the furnaces, I provide above each a sheet
iron tank 22 in which the tarry products are dried or brought to a pasty condition
so as to reduce their volume and weight and facilitate transport.
[t will be evident that the details of construction, form, and dimensions, of the
various parts, as well as the number of furnaces grouped together, etc. may be

page_text: varied, according to the kind of wood to be treated and the space at disposal, without
in any way departing from the nature of my invention.
Dated this 13th day of February 1889.
J. H. DU VIVIER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Pyroligneous
Acid.
I JULES HENRI DU VIVIER of 61 Rue Blanche, Paris, France, Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the economic extraction of
pyroligneous acid.
It is known that when vegetable substances such as wood are subjected to destructive
distillation in a closed vessel for the purpose of obtaining pyroligneous or acetic acid,
empyreumatic oil or tar is at same time produced, the density of which increases in
proportion to the quantity of carbon. Carbonic acid gas is also evolved as well as a
considerable amount of hydrocarbons and towards the end a notable quantity of
carbonic oxide. The greater part of the carbon which has not entered into these
several combinations, constitutes the residue in the retort.
The products obtained in the various apparatus heretofore employed for the pro-
duction of pyroligneous acid on a large scale, have always been costly, owing in the first
place to the cost of carriage of the wood and also to the inconvenience of and time
required for the operation of charging the retorts as well as of drawing them which
cannot be done until the furnaces have cooled down, thereby entailing a waste of heat.
My invention consists in a continuous method of treating wood in portable apparatus
whereby the acid may be obtained at the spot where the wood is felled, the apparatus
being so combined that they may be charged, brought into operation and discharged
in a continuous manner by means of movable retorts, whereby loss of time is avoided
and the whole of the heat of the furnaces is utilized.
Reference is to be had to the drawings left with my provisional specification & forming
part of this specification, which illustrate an example of my apparatus.
Figure 1 is a diagram showing the general arrangement of two benches of retorts.
Figure 2 is a front elevation figure 3 a cross section and figure 4 a longitudinal
section of the furnace with the retort removed. Figure 5 is a side elevation and
figure 6 a plan of the pipes for carrying off the gases and tar. Figure 7 shows in section,
the mode of connecting the ascension pipes to the retort covers. Figure 8 is a face
view of a retort cover. Figure 9 shows the cover for the mouth of the retort when
the ascension pipe has been disconnected. Figure 10 shows the hydraulic joint
between the ascension pipe and the collecting main. Figure 11 shows one of the
acid or tar receivers which acts also as a pressure regulator. Figure 12 shows the index
for denoting the depth of immersion of the discharge pipe in the receiver and
pressure regulator. Figure 13 is a side elevation and figure 14 a rear elevation of a
truck for introducing the retorts into and withdrawing them from the furnaces.
Figure 15 shows the trolly by which the retorts are shifted on and off the truck.
Figure 16 is a plan of the truck framing.
Referring to figures 2 to 12, the furnaces (which may be constructed either of
brick or of iron lined with fire brick) having been erected in the desired situation, the
portable retorts a hefore being placed in the furnace are charged with wood in
12 or 14 inch lengths, the cover bis luted with clay at c and secured by cotters d.
The retorts are then conveyed to the respective furnaces upon the two wheeled truck
(figures 13 and 14) and the ascension pipe e is then secured to the mouth by bolts f,
after which the valve g is opened and the distillation proceeded with.

page_text: The gases distilled off ascend through the pipe e to the collector which is placed
at an inclination in order that the tar may run off through the pipe i connected to the
lower end of the collector whilst the gases flow in the opposite direction through the
collector and are conveyed by a pipe to the worm m of a condenser k, the tars
deposited' in the pipe j being previously intercepted by the receiver which also serves as
a pressure regulator. The pyroligneous acid produced is collected in a receiver n
connected to the lower end of the worm m, the permanent gases passing away
through the pipe o to the furnace where they are consumed, thus economizing fuel.
When the operation is terminated, which is indicated by the color of the flame at the
test cock p, the valve g is closed, the ascension pipe e disconnected and replaced by the
cover which is clamped tightly upon the mouth by means of the screw bolts so
as to prevent the admission of air, and the retort is then removed upon its truck and
replaced by another one kept ready filled, and so on in succession for each furnace,
the action being thus practically continuous.
To facilitate the introduction and removal of the retorts, the furnaces are
arranged in rows of 24 placed back to back, as shewn in figure 1, the number 24
being adopted when each retort requires about one hour for the complete carbonization
and distillation of its contents; the number of furnaces would therefore depend upon
the dimensions of the retorts.
The two wheeled truck employed for moving the retorts is represented in
figures 13 to 16, and is constructed of a framing s upon which a small trolly t
travels on angle iron rails u connected together by iron tie-bars v. A chain
drum is mounted at the front end of the truck and at the rear end are two
standards pivoted to the frame at 1 and held normally upright by means of struts 2.
jointed to the framing at 3 and to the standards by a pin 4. Upon rollers 5 turning
on pins at the upper ends of the standards, rest two angle iron rails 7 fixed
longitudinally to the sides of the retort whereby the rear end of the retort is
supported whilst the front end rests upon the trolly t.
To introduce the retort into the furnace, the truck is run up to the mouth of the
furnace and fixed. The chain y having been carried round a pulley 8 at the rear
end of the truck and attached to the trolly t is then wound upon the drum æ, thus
hauling the retort into the furnace where the angle irons 7 rest upon rails 9 within
the furnace (see figures 3 and 4). The pin 4 is then removed and the standards z
folded down to allow the flange of the retort cover to enter the mouth of the furnace
and the barrel a is then again rotated and the retort hauled to the desired position in
the furnace. The truck is now unhooked and withdrawn, and the flange of the retort
pushed up home against the brickwork, the joint being luted with clay. In order to
withdraw the retort from the furnace, the truck is fixed in front of the retort close up
to the brick work, and the chain y is attached by its hook 10 to the ring 11 on the
retort cover and the retort is drawn partly out of the furnace by winding up the
chain on the barrel. The retort is then hauled upon the trolly into the position shewn
in figure 13 and is conveyed away to be cooled and discharged.
The furnaces being grouped back to back, as before described, the ascension pipes e
can all be connected with the same collecting pipe by means of the hydraulic joints 12
which are gas-tight and capable of being readily disniounted when desired.
The receiver, figure 11, consists of a vessel of sheet iron provided with a pouring
spout 13 and also with a centimetre scale 14 upon the exterior, the zero of which
scale corresponds to the highest level or overflow point of the liquid. The receiver
is further provided with a bail 15 forming two racks having notches 16 at
distances apart of 1 centimetre by which the receiver is hung upon hooks 17 carried on
a collar 18 clamped upon each of the dip pipes i and 19 by thumb screws 20. An
index 21 is fixed to the collar 18 and shews on the scale 14 the depth of immersion of
the dip-pipe which acts as a pressure regulator.
In order to utilize the waste heat of the furnaces, I provide above each a sheet iron
tank 22 in which the tarry products are dried or brought to a pasty condition, so as
to reduce their volume and weight and facilitate transport.
It will be evident that the details of construction form and dimensions of the various

page_text: parts, as well as the number of furnaces grouped together, etc., may be varied
according to the kind of wood to be treated and the space at disposal without in any
way departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1.
claim as improvements in apparatus for the economical extraction of pyroligneous or
acetic acid, is
1. The herein described combination and arrangement of means for enabling the
retorts a to be introduced in, and removed from, the furnaces and transported to,.
and from, the same, as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination, with the retorts and their pipes e and collector 4, of the pipe j
and receiver for collecting the tar, the refrigerator m and receiver n for collecting
the pyroligneous acid produced, and the pipe o for conveying the permanent gases
into the furnaces to be burnt, all substantially as specified.
3. The receivers In i provided with a scale 14 and racks 15 and made adjustable.
to regulate the depth of immersion of the dip pipe and so act as pressure regulators,
substantially as specified.
4. The herein described construction and arrangement of the furnaces with a view
to facilitate the removal of the charged and heated retorts as well as for utilising the
waste heat for drying the tarry products, as described.
5. The herein described arrangement of the furnaces in rows placed back to back
so as to enable the operation of introducing and removing the retorts to be performed.
in a practically continuous manner, as specified.
6. The general combination and arrangement of the herein described apparatus for
the economical distillation of pyroligneous acid, all substantially as hereinbefore-
described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of Noramhan 1980
J. H. DU VIVIER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.