IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Fryer, of Wilmslow, in the County of Chester, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING THE REFUSE OF
TOWNS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 4th July 1879, and dated the 16th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Fryer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th April 1879.
.
ALFRED FRYER, of Wilmslow, in the County of Chester. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
The first part of my Invention has reference to improved apparatus for the
reduction by fire of cinders and vegetable and animal refuse of the type known as
Fryer's destructor," and for the utilization of the heat produced by such
combustion.
"
I provide a furnace with fire bars sloping downwards towards the furnace
mouth, which furnace is supplied with the refuse material (to be destroyed and used
as fuel) by means of an opening or openings at or near the back or higher part
thereof; and instead of covering the furnace over with an arch, as specified in the
Specification of my Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me, dated
August 5, 1876, No. 3125, I place a steam boiler above it. In some cases I
employ a boiler of the multitubular type, and carry the products of combustion
firstly under the boiler, and thence bring them back again through the tubes of the
boiler.
In some cases in order to protect the brickwork from being deleteriously acted
upon at the sides of the fire I line or protect the interior of the brickwork at the
sides of the furnace with a water chamber, which I usually make either of a series
of metal pipes or a water chamber of wrought iron or steel, and stayed in the
manner well known as in a locomotive fire box.
This arrangement of furnace is for the destruction of the refuse aforesaid, for the
purification of non-combustible animal matter introduced with the cinders and
other combustible refuse, to absorb and utilize the heat, and to produce a durable
form of "destructor."

page_text: The second part of my Invention also relates to the form of furnace used to
destroy combustible refuse of towns, and is specially applicable to the destruction
of such material as is liable to give off offensive odours during imperfect
combustion.
I provide a chamber for holding the material to be treated; this is usually a
vertical wrought iron double cased cylinder, the upper part closed by a removeable
cover and the lower part held a short distance above a hollow metallic ring, which
is supported at a short distance above the base or hearth. The cased cylinder and
the ring are filled or nearly filled with water.
-
The vessel having been filled with the refuse, and the lower portion having been
ignited, air is forced by means of a fan or other suitable contrivance between the
lower part of the chamber or cylinder, and the ring and the flame and heat are
driven out between the cylinder and the hearth. The clinker or slag also runs out
at the same place. In some cases I draw a portion of vapour from the vessel or
cylinder and conduct this to the fan; and in some cases I pass these vapours
through any form of condensing apparatus to remove as much as practicable the
vapour of water or to condense the tarry or other distillates. In some cases I
employ the heat emerging from this apparatus (either before or after it has been
passed through a steam boiler) for the purpose of heating the air about to be driven
into the furnace in order to effect more perfect and intense combustion by the use
of the hot blast.
The third part of my Invention has reference to the concentration of such part
of the refuse of towns as consists of urine and excreta, and of blood and slaughter-
house refuse.
It is found that the addition of mineral acid to the "pail contents," either in a
tank or in such a desiccating apparatus as "Firmen's dryer" (for which Letters
Patent were granted June 7th, 1876), causes the disengagement of an offensive
odour.
My improvement consists in the attachment of a pipe, preferably a lead, glass, or
rubber syphon, so arranged that the acid can be admitted after the vessel is her-
metically closed, and no vapour that is disengaged can find its way into the air
but is removed by the exhausting apparatus into the furnace.
The fourth part of my Invention has reference to the desiccating apparatus for
urine of the type of "Firmen's dryer." It is found that the process of desiccation
is most satisfactorily conducted at a temperature below the normal boiling point of
the material treated. It is also found that with the weak vacuum caused by a fan
or exhauster odour escapes from the apparatus.
My improvement consists in the combination with such a machine for drying
excreta (being a fixed jacketted horizontal cylinder with revolving or oscillating
steam heated hollow arms and scrapers) of an air pump and condenser, whereby a
considerable vacuum may be maintained and the process may be conducted at a
low temperature.
The vacuum thus produced in the vessel may be utilized for the purpose of
drawing the liquid into the apparatus through a tube from a tank instead of
pouring it into an opening as usual, and thereby the escape of noxious odours will
be greatly prevented.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in the application to such a dryer of
friction rollers to sustain the shaft or axis as it emerges from the cylinder, and the
enclosing of such friction rollers and shaft in a box containing water, grease, or
other material that will prevent the ingress of air into the cylinder.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in the mode of taking the steam from the
evaporation of liquid in one such dryer to be the heating medium for another such
dryer, and the steam or vapour from this second dryer is led to the condenser and
air pump. I do not make any claim to the employment of the vapour of one
vessel containing urine to heat a second, but to the particular arrangement devised
by me whereby the vapour of the first vessel may be employed for heating the

page_text: second, that of the latter for heating the first, and the pipes and valves are so
arranged that the change from the one to the other can be effected at will.
The seventh part of my Invention consists in the combination with such a dryer
of one or more vacuum pans (of the type known in sugar refineries as "double or
triple effect" pans) in such a manner that the concentrated material can pass or
be conveyed from the vacuum pan or pans to the dryer without exposure to the
atmosphere and without the evolution therein of noxious vapours; and I usually
construct such pans with lids of the full diameter of the pans, or nearly so, in order
that the heating tubes can be easily cleaned. And I usually construct these pans
with steeply conical bottoms to facilitate the collection and removal of the thick-
ened mass.
The eighth part of my Invention consists of a peculiar construction of scraper for
such dryers. The scrapers being attached to the pieces of flexible steel are held to
the side of the vessel so as to follow any irregularity in its form, thus keeping the
surface quite clean. Adjustable screws permit the scrapers to be held to the inner
surface of the cylinder with any desired force.
The ninth part of my Invention consists in the addition to such or similarly
enclosed dryers of a plug or trap at the end furthest from the feeding. orifice, so
that the apparatus can be made substantially continuous in its action, the moist or
semi fluid material entering continuously or intermittently at one end, and the
desiccated or sufficiently dried material being intermittently drawn out at the
other.
Tenthly. For the purpose of fixing the ammonia when treating excrementitious
or any kind of refuse animal matters instead of adding sulphuric acid direct to the
excrementitious or animal matter, as is usual in order to fix the ammonia, I form a
mixture as follows :-
To about fifty pounds of ground coprolites or to ground phosphate of lime I add
about twenty-five pounds of sulphuric acid. By this treatment phosphoric acid
will exist in a free state, and the mixture thus formed I add to the excrementitious
or animal matter in the proportion of about eighty pounds to one ton of the
material named when under treatment, thereby fixing the ammonia and at the
same time increasing the value of the manure to a considerable extent. There are
other modes of proceeding to secure this result. I do not confine myself to any
particular mode, but preferably proceed as above described.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Fryer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th October
1879.
ALFRED FRYER, of Wilmslow, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR.
"
Similar portions of the apparatus are indicated by like letters in all the Figures.
The first part of my Invention has reference to improved apparatus of the type
known as "Fryer's destructor," for the reduction by fire of cinders, and vegetable,
and animal refuse, and for the utilization of the heat produced by such combustion.
I provide a furnace with fire bars sloping downward towards the furnace mouth,
which furnace is supplied with the refuse material (to be destroyed and used as
fuel) by means of an opening or openings at or near the back or higher part
thereof, and instead of covering the furnace over with an arch as specified in the
Specification of my Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me, dated
August 5th, 1876, No. 3125, place a steam boiler above it.
In some cases I employ a boiler of the multitubular type and carry the products
of combustion firstly under the boiler, and thence bring them back again through
the tubes of the boiler.
In some cases in order to protect the brick-work from being deleteriously acted
upon at the sides of the fire, I line or protect the interior of the brick work at the
sides of the furnace with a water-chamber, which I usually make either of a series
of metal pipes or a water chamber of wrought iron or steel, and stayed in the
manner well known as in a locomotive fire box.
This is illustrated by Fig. 1, Sheet I., which represents a longitudinal vertical
section of such a "destructor." A, B, represents in elevation a multitubular boiler
placed above the sloping fire grate C and sloping hearth D. The fuel or refuse
material is introduced near the back of the boiler through the opening E, and if
wet it becomes dried as it flows or is drawn forwards to the grate C, upon which
active combustion is maintained. The products of combustion are led under the
boiler and against its lower surface, and thence from the back to the front in the
direction B-A, through the tubes of the boiler (which are not shown in the
Drawing). From the front of the boiler the heated gases are conducted (prefer-
ably along the sides of the boiler) to the chimney; F is an elevation of one of
the water boxes for protecting the sides of the furnace from the action of the
fire, and for the generation of steam. It is connected with the boiler by means
of circulating water tubes G and H.
Fig. 2 shows in longitudinal section a "destructor" surmounted by a boiler of
the sectional type. In this case the fuel is introduced at the back of the sloping
hearth at I, and the products of combustion after drying the refuse on the hearth
pass among the tubes of the boiler and enter the flue J. This arrangement of
furnace is for the destruction of the refuse aforesaid, for the purification of non-
combustible animal matter introduced with the cinders and other combustible
refuse to absorb and utilize the heat, and to produce an improved form of
"destructor."
The second part of my Invention also relates to the form of furnace used to
destroy combustible refuse of towns, and is specially applicable to the destruction
of such material as is liable to give off offensive odours during imperfect com-
bustion.
I provide a chamber for holding the material to be treated. This is usually a
wrought iron double cased cylinder, the upper part closed by a removable cover,
and the lower part held a short distance above a hollow metallic ring which is
supported at a short distance above the base or hearth. The cased cylinder and
the ring are filled or nearly filled with water.

page_text: The vessel having been filled with the refuse and the lower portion having been
ignited, air is forced by means of a fan or other suitable contrivance between the
lower part of the chamber or cylinder and the ring, and the flame and heat are
driven out between the ring and the hearth. The clinker or slag also runs out at
the same place. This form of destructor is represented on Sheet 2; K, K, is the
double cased chamber partially filled with water, and enclosing the refuse L which is
introduced from time to time at the top. The opening is usually kept closed by a
lid excepting when opened for the introduction of refuse; M, M, is the ring which is
usually placed on a slight incline. It is connected with a double cased chamber by
the pipes N, N; 0, 0, represents two of the air jets which are ranged at suitable
distances round the chamber. The products of combustion as well as the slag
escape between the hearth P, P, and the ring M, M. An enclosing casing Q, Q,
with doors in the lower portion is shown on the right of the Drawing. It is
omitted on the left to render the Drawing more clear. The gases are eventually
led through openings under the hearth P, P, into the exit flue R.
In some cases I draw a portion of vapour from the vessel or cylinder and conduct
this to the fan, and in some cases I pass these vapours through any form of
condensing apparatus to remove as much as practicable the vapour of water or to
condense the tarry or other distillates. In some cases I employ the heat emerging
from this apparatus (either before or after it has been passed through a steam
boiler) for the purpose of heating the air about to be driven into the furnace, in
order to effect more perfect and intense combustion by the use of the hot blast.
This portion of my Invention can be so readily understood that no Drawings are
supplied. They are rendered less needful from the circumstance that I do not
claim any particular form of condenser or air heater, but the combination of any
suitable condenser or air heater with the type of destructor last described.
The third part of my Invention has reference to the concentration of such part of
the refuse of towns as consists of urine and excreta, and of blood and slaughter
house refuse.
It is found that the addition of mineral acid to the "pail contents," either in a
tank or in such a desiccating apparatus as "Firman's dryer" (for which Letters
Patent were granted June 7th 1876), causes the disengagement of an offensive
odour.
My improvement consists in the attachment of a pipe, preferably a lead, glass,
or rubber syphon, so arranged that the acid can be admitted after the vessel is
hermetically closed, and no vapour that is disengaged can find its way into the air,
but is removed by the exhausting apparatus into the furnace.
Fig. 1; Sheet 3, represents one end of a "Firman's dryer" in vertical section and
part elevation; S is a vessel for holding a supply of mineral acid; T is the pipe or
syphon which permits the introduction of the acid into the dryer when the lid U is
closed. The pipe is provided with a tap or plug (not shown in the Drawing) for
the purpose of regulating the supply and shutting off the communication when
required.
The fourth part of my Invention has reference to the desiccating apparatus for
urine of the type of "Firman's dryer." It is found that the process of desiccation
is most satisfactorily conducted in a temperature below the normal boiling point of
the material treated.
It is also found that with the weak vacuum caused by a fan or exhauster odour
escapes from the apparatus. My improvements consist in the combination with
such a machine for drying excreta (being a fixed jacketted horizontal cylinder
with revolving or oscillating steam heated hollow arms and scrapers) of an air
pump and condenser whereby a considerable vacuum may be maintained, and
the process may be conducted at a low temperature.
The vacuum thus produced in the vessel may be utilized for the purpose of
drawing the liquid into the apparatus through a tube from a tank instead of
pouring it into an opening as usual, and thereby the escape of noxious odours will

page_text: be greatly prevented. No Drawings are required to illustrate the fourth part of
my Invention.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in the application to such a dryer of anti-
friction rollers to sustain the shaft or axis as it emerges from the cylinder and the
enclosing of such anti-friction rollers and shaft in a box containing water, grease, or
other material that will prevent the ingress of air into the cylinder. V, Figs. 1
and 2, Sheet 3, is a box for containing water, grease, or other lubricant, and W, W,
are the friction rollers which support the shaft X.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in the mode of taking the steam from
the evaporation of liquid in one such dryer to be the heating medium of another such
dryer, and the steam or vapour from the second dryer is led to the condenser and
air pump. I do not make any claim to the employment of the vapour of one
vessel containing urine to heat a second, but to the particular arrangement
devised by me whereby the vapour of the first vessel may be employed for
heating the second, or that of the latter for heating the first, and the pipes
and valves are so arranged that the change from the one to the other can be
effected at will.
Sheet 4 represents an end view of two dryers showing the arrangement of pipes
and valves. a is one dryer and b the other. Suppose the vapour from a to be
heating b, the vapour driven off from the material in the interior of the dryer a
rises freely into the steam dome c.
In reality there are two such domes on a with free communication between them
through an intermediate pipe, but as the two domes are in the same line the front
one only is seen in the Drawing.
The vapour passes from the two domes into their connecting pipe, and thence into
the two pipes & and e which rise from the said connecting pipe. is a double stop
valve on the pipe h to the condenser whereby at will either e is put in communica-
tion with h, while p is shut off or e is shut off and placed in communication
with h
When vapour from a is heating b, e is shut off from h, but the stop valve f
is open, and the vapour from a passes from the pipe a through finto g, g, and
thereby into the steam jacket of 6 where it does its work.
Meanwhile the vapour rising from 6 passes through the two domes of b, repre-
sented only by 1 and their connecting pipe into the pipes m and p.
The stop valve n is shut, but j is open to p and the vapour passes from m away
through h to the condenser.
To reverse the process and cause the vapour from 6 to heat a the stop valve fis
to be shut and the stop valve n opened, while the valve ; is set so as to be open to
e and shut to p. The vapour from 6 then passes through l, m, n, o, o, to the jacket
of a, while the vapour from a passes through c, e, i, h, to the condenser.
If the two machines are to be worked independently and n are both shut, live
steam is admitted to the jackets and central shafts of both a and b, while j is open
to both e and p.
There are also two pipes (not visible in this view) one leading from one of the
domes of a to the central shaft of b, and one from one of the domes of b to the
central shaft of a, and as each is provided with a stop valve the vapour from either
dryer at will can be made to heat the central shaft of the other.
The seventh part of my Invention consists in the combination with such a dryer
of one or more vacuum pans (of the type known in sugar refineries as
"double or
triple effect" pans) in such a manner that the concentrated material can pass or be
conveyed from the vacuum pan or pans to the dryer without exposure to the
atmosphere, and without the evolution therein of noxious vapours, and I usually
construct such pans with lids of the full diameter of the pans, or nearly so, in order
that the heating tubes can be easily cleaned, and I usually construct these pans
with steeply conical bottoms to facilitate the collection and removal of the thickened
mass.

page_text: No Drawings are required to illustrate the seventh part of my Invention.
The eighth part of my Invention consists of a peculiar construction of scraper
for such dryers. The scrapers being attached to pieces of flexible steel are held to
the side of the vessel, so as to follow any irregularity in its form, thus keeping the
Burface quite clean. Adjustable screws permits the scrapers to be held to the
inner surface of the cylinder with any desired force.
In Fig. 3, Sheet 3, q represents the improved scraper pressing against the inner
surface of the "Firman's dryer," and held in the requisite degree of pressure by
means of the set screw r passing through the spring holder 8, and acting on the
spring t.
The ninth part of my Invention consists in the addition to such or similarly
enclosed dryers of a plug or trap at the end furthest from the feeding orifice, so that
the apparatus can be made substantially continuous in its action, the moist or semi
fluid material entering continuously or intermittently at one end, and the dessic-
cated or sufficiently dried material being intermittently drawn out at the other.
On Sheet 3, Fig 1, Y represents one form of carrying out the ninth part of my
Invention. A large plug tap, with one or more recesses Z, which do not pass
through its substance, is fitted below the "dryer." This plug is kept in constant
or intermittent rotation by the motive power, which rotates the main axis and
scrapers. When this method of discharge is employed the inlet for the material (to
the "dryer") is placed at the further end of the apparatus, and not as shown, for
convenience (in Fig. 1) at the near end. Other forms of trap may be employed for
this purpose.
With regard to the treatment described in my Provisional Specification as the
tenth part of my Invention, I wish to state that I disclaim such method of treatment
as forming any part of my Invention.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
First. In apparatus for the reduction by fire of vegetable and animal refuse, I
claim the combination therewith of a steam boiler placed above the furnace instead
of a reverberatory arch, and in such or other "destructor" furnaces I claim the use
of water chambers for the purpose of protecting the sides of the furnace from the
action of the fire.
Secondly. I claim the construction of apparatus for destroying combustible refuse,
substantially as shown and described with reference to Sheet 2 of the Drawings,
without confining myself to the circular form of the chamber or of the ring, and
either with or without the apparatus for hot blast or the condenser.
"
"
Thirdly. I claim the application to the "Firman's dryer or other steam heated
vessel for such or similar purposes of a pipe so arranged as to admit the mineral
acid into the vessel when closed, substantially as described.
Fourthly. I claim the combination with such form of "dryer
of an air pump
and condenser, for the purpose of conducting the process at a low temperature.
Fifthly. I claim the application to such form of "dryer" of anti-friction rollers
to support the shaft or axis, and the enclosing of such rollers and shaft or axis in a
box containing water, grease, or other materials that will prevent the ingress of air
into the cylinder.
Sixthly. I claim the arrangement and combination of two such dryers in such a
way that the one can be made to heat the other, and vice versa, or the two can be
worked separately and independently of each other, substantially as described with
reference to Sheet 4 of the Drawings.
Seventhly. I claim the combination with such a "dryer" of one or more vacuum
pans, substantially as described, in such a manner that the concentrated material
can pass or be conveyed from the vacuum pan or pans to the "dryer" without
exposure to the atmosphere, and without the evolution therein of noxious
vapours.

page_text: Eighthly. I claim the application to such "dryers" of scrapers of the peculiar
construction described with reference to Fig. 3, Sheet 3 of the Drawings annexed;
and,―
Ninthly. I claim the addition to such or similar dryers of an of an intermittently or
continuously acting plug or trap, for the purpose of removing the desiccated material
from the cylinder, substantially as described, so as to render the apparatus practi-
cally continuous in its action.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Fryer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
ALFRED FRYER. (L.S.)