An Improved Method of Producing Peat Charcoal, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Producing Peat Charcoal, and Apparatus
therefor.
I OSWALD ROSE of 137 Stockwell Park Road Brixton in the County of
Surrey Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is the production of peat charcoal or charcoal from
peat which can afterwards be formed into blocks or briquettes for commercial
purposes and I so arrange and perform the method or manner of this production
and so arrange and construct the apparatus wherein this production is effected that
not only is the charcoal regularly efficiently and cheaply produced but also the.
ammonia acetic acid naphtha paraffine volatile and fixed oils and gas and other.
materials that raw peat generally contains and that are distilled therefrom during
the operation are or can be collected and afterwards be separated and further
treated as is customary or otherwise.
To carry out this object I make a retort or a cylindrical chamber of a suitable
material preferably perhaps of steel and of a convenient length and diameter and
as a general rule I consider that it is most conducive to the efficient working of the
apparatus to use in each apparatus four retorts although any other number may when
desired be used but herein I will describe the apparatus as having four retorts
which for the sake of distinctiveness I will call Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
These retorts are arranged in pairs in an horizontal position or thereabouts and
are set in suitable brickwork or the like being provided with the necessary flues or
passages between and round the same and immediately above a furnace or other
source of heat 1 place retort No 1 which if made of metal would as usual be
protected from the direct impact of the flames by a fire brick arch or the like.
Immediately above this retort No. 1 is placed retort No. 2 which is preferably of
a somewhat smaller diameter although of the same length and by the side of these
retorts Nos. 1 and 2 are placed retorts Nos. 3 and 4 also of the same length but
preferably of a still smaller diameter. The flues or passages are so arranged and
formed that the heated gases from the furnace pass along under retort No. 1 then
between retorts Nos. 1 and 2 then over retort No. 2 thence along over retort No. 3
then between retorts Nos. 3 and 4 and finally under retort No. 4 to the chimney
shaft or the like by which arrangement it is obvious that retort No. 1 will be
maintained at the highest temperature.
To each retort is fitted an ascension pipe or pipes if desired and the pipes from
retorts Nos. 1 and 2 may be connected together as also may those from retorts
Nos. 3 and 4 and these ascension pipes are led to it may be separate condensers
provided with air pumps in such wise that a vacuum or partial vacuum may be
created in each retort whereby a lower temperature would effect the desired
distillation.
A feeding pipe or passage is fitted near one end of retort No. 1 at or near the
other end whereof is a passage leading to retort No. 2 and at or near the further
end of retort No. 2 is a passage leading to retort No. 3 at or near the other end
whereof is a passage leading to retort No. 4 and a discharge pipe or passage is
fitted near the other end of this retort No. 4.

page_text: In each retort is longitudinally mounted a shaft supported by bearings in the
retort covers and at one end of this apparatus these shafts preferably do not pass
out through the retort covers while at the other end thereof they do pass out
through suitable glands and are fitted with suitable gearing whereby they can be
driven at the desired speeds and in the desired directions.
Inside each retort the shaft is most conveniently of a somewhat large diameter
and on and round each shaft is fitted or formed a worm screw thread the periphery
whereof closely approaches the internal surface of the retort and at convenient
intervals on the periphery of this worm screw thread are fitted or formed a number
of wedge shaped or other projections which are preferably arranged alternately
on opposite sides of this periphery that is to say if one of these projections is
on the leading face of the worm screw thread close to or on the periphery thereof
the next projection would be on the following face thereof close to or on the
periphery and each projection is of such a size as to extend preferably half
the distance between the two adjacent convolutions of the worm screw thread.
In
the same manner two or more worm screw threads may when desired be provided
with the one shaft. In every case the worm screw thread extends the whole
length of the retort or nearly so and is of any desired pitch.
The action and method of working are as follows. The desired temperature
having been attained the peat wherefrom as much water has been extracted as is
practicable by mechanical means in any usual manner or otherwise is fed into
retort No. 1 and therein is passed along by the worm screw thread being
continually stirred up and it may be turned over by the projections thereon
whereby all or most of the water remaining in the peat will be evaporated. The
peat when it arrives at the other end of retort No. 1 is by this worm screw thread
or if necessary by any other usual and convenient means or appliances elevated
into retort No. 2 passed along the same and into retort No. 3 thence dropped into
retort No. 4 and in its passage along all these retorts is similarly treated by the
worm screw threads and the projections thereon whereby the aforesaid volatile.
products will be distilled therefrom and the peat will issue from retort No. 4 as
charcoal which can be further treated and made into blocks or briquettes as may
be desired. The volatile products so evaporated or distilled would pass through
the ascension pipes to the condensers and could then be separated and further
treated as may be desired. I may state that I consider the best results are
obtained when each retort is about half full of peat.
When any particular peat may so require or when I may desire so to do more
than four similar retorts can be similarly arranged and similarly fitted and the peat
would similarly be passed through all the retorts in succession and conversely when
it may be possible to produce the charcoal in fewer than four retorts the desired
number only may be similarly used.
Although preferably cause the heated gases from the furnace to treat the
retorts sequentially yet I do not confine myself thereto for all and every one of
the retorts may be heated in such a manner and to such a temperature as may be
desired in each particular case.
Dated this 20th day of September 1895.
HART & Co.,
168, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Producing Peat Charcoal, and Apparatus
therefor.
I OSWALD ROSE of 137 Stockwell Park Road Brixton in the County of Surrey
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this my invention is the production of peat charcoal or that is to
say charcoal from peat which charcoal can afterwards if desired be formed into
blocks or briquettes or be otherwise used for commercial and other purposes and
I so arrange and perform the method or manner of this production and so arrange
and construct the apparatus wherein this production is effected that not only is the
charcoal regularly efficiently and cheaply produced but also the ammonia acetic
acid naphtha paraffine volatile and fixed oils and gas and the like that raw peat
generally contains and that are and must be distilled and given off therefrom
during this operation are or can be collected and afterwards if necessary can
be separated and be further treated as may be customary or convenient or
otherwise.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein
shewn a most convenient and effective form and style of construction and
have
arrangement of my apparatus and Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the
apparatus Figure 2 is a transverse section of the fixed and stationary parts of the
same and Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same.
A retort or cylindrical chamber A is made of any suitable and customary
material preferably perhaps of steel and in any ordinary or other manner of any
convenient and appropriate length and diameter and as a general rule I consider
that it is most conducive to the efficiency and regular effective and convenient
working of this apparatus to arrange and use in each complete apparatus four
retorts as is shewn in the drawing which four retorts I will hereinafter call
retorts A1, A2, A3 and A 4.
These retorts A are placed in pairs in an horizontal position or thereabouts and
are set in and supported and surrounded by any suitable and ordinary or other
brickwork with any metal or other girders and ties and plates or otherwise in any
appropriate manner as is customary in and with this kind of apparatus in and by
which brickwork or the like are provided and made such necessary flues or passages
or other devices as will enable and cause the heat of and from a furnace below
properly to play upon such retorts A.
the retort A 1 which however if and when it is made of metal would as usual be
Immediately above a furnace B is placed
protected from the direct impact of the flames by a fire-brick arch C or the like
and above this retort A1 is placed the retort A 2 which is preferably of a
somewhat smaller diameter than the retort A1 although it is of the same length
and by the side of the retort A 1 is placed the retort A 4 and by the side of the
retort A 2 is placed the retort A 3 which retorts A 3 and A 4 are also preferably
of a somewhat smaller diameter than the retort A 2 although they also are of the
same length. The flues or passages that are formed and created in the brickwork
or the like are so arranged and made that the heated gases from the furnace B
ass along as is shewn by the arrows in Figures 1 and 2 first over the fire-brick
rch C along the flue Ď under the retort A1 thence at the firing end of the
pparatus up round this retort A 1 and along the flue D' between the retorts AI
nd A 2 back to the other the rear end of the apparatus whence they pass through
he passage D' to and along the flue D' between the retorts A 3 and A 4 again to
he firing end of the apparatus and thence down round 'this retort A 4 and along

page_text: .
i
the flue D' under the same and finally through the flue D³ to the chimney shaft.
As a general rule I do not consider it to be necessary in this apparatus that the
heated gases should be caused to pass along above the retorts A 2 and A 3 but
when it may be deemed expedient that they should so pass along it is obvious that
the alteration can very easily be effected by removing the passage D' above these
retorts A 2 and A 3 and to the firing end of the apparatus and causing the heated
gases to pass up round the retort A 2 at the rear end of the apparatus and along a
flue above this retort A 2 and through the passage D' to and along a flue above
the retort A3 to the rear end of the apparatus and thence down round this
retort A 3 to the flue D³ proceeding thence as is hereinbefore described. In either
case according to this arrangement it is obvious that the retort Al will be
maintained at the highest temperature and that this temperature will be gradually
reduced in each succeeding retort A 2 and A3 and A 4.
At or near the one end the entrance end of the retort A 1 which is preferably
that end thereof that is farthest from the furnace B is fitted a suitable feeding
pipe E and at or near the other the exit end of this retort A 1 is fitted a suitable
vertical passage F leading into the entrance end of the retort A 2 above and at
or near the other the exit end of this retort A 2 is fitted a suitable horizontal
passage G leading into the entrance end of the retort A 3 and at or near the other
the exit end of this retort A 3 is fitted a suitable vertical passage H leading into
the entrance end of the retort A 4 below and at or near the other the exit end of
this retort A4 which likewise is preferably that end thereof that is farthest from
the furnace B is fitted a suitable discharge pipe K. All these pipes and passages
may be made and fitted in any convenient and usual or other manner of any suitable
metal or material and of any appropriate diameters or transverse areas.
To each retort A is fitted a suitable ascension pipe L or pipes if desired and the
ascension pipes L from the retorts A 1 and A 2 may be connected together as also
may those from the retorts A 3 and ▲ 4 and these pipes L are led it may be to
separate condensers provided with air pumps in such wise that a vacuum or a
partial vacuum may be created in each retort A whereby a lower temperature
would effect the desired evaporation or distillation than would otherwise have been
required or these ascension pipes L may be otherwise grouped and connected
together or may be led entirely separately to separate condensers or may be
otherwise treated and arranged for the proper treatment of the products of the
aforesaid evaporation or distillation as may be desirable or expedient or necessary
in each particular case.
In each retort A is longitudinally and axially mounted a shaft M supported in
and by suitable bearings in the retort covers N or elsewhere and at one end
preferably the firing end of the apparatus the shafts M would most conveniently
not pass through the retorts covers N while at the other end of the apparatus they
do pass out through any ordinary glands or stuffing boxes N' formed therefor in
the retorts covers N and at this end of the apparatus these shafts M are fitted with
any customary and suitable gearing whereby they can be driven and revolved at
the desired speeds and in the desired directions. A very convenient gearing is
shewn in the drawing wherein a pinion P is fitted on a short shaft P properly
mounted therefor which shaft P₁ can be driven it may be through bands or
otherwise by any convenient power at the required speed and in the required
direction and this pinion P gears into a large spur wheel R fitted on a short
shaft R properly mounted therefor on which shaft R' is also fitted a pinion R
which pinion R³ gears into four spur wheels M' fitted on the four shafts M in the
four retorts A and these spur wheels M' are all of the same diameter by which
arrangement as is obvious all the shafts M are driven and revolved at the same
speed as is preferable but in different directions as in the apparatus shewn in the
drawing is necessary.
Inside each retort A are fitted the appliances and devices now to be described
and which are shewn in outline or profile in Figure 1 and on an enlarged scale in
Figures 4 and 5 of which Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of part of a retort and

page_text: clevation of one of the blades or convolutions of a worm sere
thread therein.
Inside the retort A the shaft M is preferably greatly enlarged and made of
diameter about half that of the retort A wherein it is placed or it may be made o
5 even a still greater proportionate diameter and this enlarged part is preferably
made hollow for very obvious reasons and on each shaft M close to each retor
cover N is most conveniently fitted a disc T which loosely fits the interior of the
retort A and will prevent any material therein affecting the retort cover N. Or
and round each shaft M is fitted or formed a worm screw thread V which either
0 may be a continuous screw thread or as is shewn in the drawing may be an
intercepted screw thread that is to say may consist of separate blades or rings
forming parts or pieces of a worm screw thread and in either case the periphery of this
worm screw thread V closely approaches the internal surface of the retort A. At
any convenient intervals on the periphery of this worm screw thread V preferably
5 perhaps as is shewn in Figure 5 at every third part of one convolution of the same
round the shaft M are fitted or formed a number of it may be wedge shaped
projections W or of any other appropriate and serviceable shape which are
preferably arranged alternately on opposite sides of this periphery that is to say
if one of these projections W is on the leading face of the worm screw thread V
close to or on the periphery thereof the next projection W would be on the
following face thereof also close to or on its periphery and each projection W is.
most conveniently and efficiently of such a size as to extend or project about:
half the distance between two adjacent convolutions of this worm screw thread V..
The worm screw thread V extends the whole length of the retort A or nearly so
and is of any desired pitch and when it may be expedient so to do two or more
worm screw threads may similarly be fitted on the shaft M in the customary style
of arrangement. The worm screw threads V are oppositely arranged and fitted
on the shafts M in the retorts A that is to say if the worm screw thread V in the
retort A 1 is arranged and fitted and inclined to act and operate in the one direction
along this retort A1 then the worm screw thread V in the retort A 2 is as is
shewn in Figure 1 arranged and fitted and inclined to act and operate in the
opposite direction along this retort A 2 while in the retort A 3 the worm screw
thread is similar to that in the retort AI and in the retort A 4 it is similar to that
in the retort A 2.
The peat which is to be treated in this apparatus has most conveniently had as
much water or moisture extracted therefrom previously as is reasonably possible
and practicable by mechanical means and for this purpose and to perform effectually
this operation the apparatus that is described in the Specification Number 14533
of 1895 that I filed at the Patent Office on the 22nd day of May 1896 is extremely
suitable and has been designed.
The action of this apparatus as is hereinbefore described and as is shewn in the
accompanying drawing and the method or manner of working and operating the
same are as follows.
I consider as a general rule that it is most convenient and the results obtained
are the best when the retort A I which as is hereinbefore stated must be the
hottest of the four retorts A has attained to and is maintained at a temperature of
from 900° to 1000° Fahr. When this or other desired temperature has been.
ttained the shafts M are revolved at the desired speed and in the proper directions
nd the peat which has previously been treated if desirable or convenient as is
erein before mentioned is fed into the retort A 1 through the pipe E in the desired
uantity and if necessary can be forced thereinto in any appropriate manner and
y any ordinary appliances and therein it is caught by the worm screw thread V
nd is forced er passed along this retort A 1 by the same being continually stirred
p and turned over by the projections W thereon whereby all or most of the water
r moisture remaining in the peat will be evaporated. The peat when it thus
rrives at the other the exit end of the retort A i is by the worm screw thread :V
orced up or if necessary by any other convenient and usual means and appliances.

page_text: elevated through the passage F into the retort A 2 wherein it is again similarly
forced or passed along by the worm screw thread V and thence through the
passage G into the retort A 3 wherein it is again similarly forced or passed along
by the worm screw thread V and thence dropped through the passage H into the
retort A 4 wherein it is again similarly forced or passed along by the worm screw
thread V and thence discharged through the pipe K. During its lengthened
passage backwards and forwards along these four retorts A the peat therefore is
similarly treated by the worm screw threads V therein being continually stirred
up and turned over by the projections W on these worm screw threads V while it
is all the time being subjected to heat whereby the volatile products in the peat
will be distilled or given off therefrom and then the peat will issue through the
pipe K as and in the form or condition of charcoal which can be further treated
and made into blocks or briquettes or the like or be otherwise used as may be
desired. The volatile products so evaporated and distilled and given off could
pass through the ascension pipes L to the condensers and could there be separated
if necessary and be further treated as may be desired. 1 may state that as a
general rule I consider that the best results are obtained when each retort is about
half full of peat.
When any particular peat may so require or when it may be desired so to do
more than four similar retorts can be similarly arranged and used being similarly
fitted and the peat would similarly be made to pass through all the retorts in
succession and conversely when it may be possible and practicable to produce the
charcoal in fewer than four retorts the desired number of retorts only may be
similarly arranged and used being similarly fitted but as is herein before stated
I consider as a general rule that it is most conducive to the efficiency and regular
effective and convenient working of this apparatus to arrange and use four retorts
and four retorts only which constitute the most convenient and effective style of
arrangement of this apparatus.
Although it is perhaps most convenient and preferable to cause the heated gases
from the furnace as is herein before described to treat and affect the retorts
sequentially and consequently to maintain these retorts at different temperatures
as in this case and by so doing the several volatile products contained and held in
and by the peat will or cau each meet with and be treated by the particular
temperature that is or may be most suitable for its evaporation or distillation yet
I do in no wise limit or confine myself to this arrangement for all and each one of
the retorts may be heated in such a manner and to such a temperature as may be
deemed to be desirable or expedient or necessary in each particular case having
regard it may be to the quality or description or condition of the peat that is to
be treated in the apparatus the products that it is desired to evaporate or distil
therefrom the state in which it is desired to obtain the charcoal from the apparatus
and the use to which such charcoal is to be put and the other surrounding
circumstances and in each case such a number of furnaces may be provided and
may be placed in such positions and may be fitted with such devices as may be
proper and convenient to produce the desired results the flues from such furnaces
being arranged in any suitable and ordinary or other manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The method of and apparatus for producing peat charcoal substantially as
herein before described and set forth.
2. In a retort a continuous or an intercepted worm screw thread V. fitted or
formed on a revoluble shaft M and provided with projections W substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described and declared.
3. A retort A a.feeding pipe E at the entrance end of the retort A a revoluble
shaft M in the retort A. and worm screw thread V with projections W. on the
shaft M in combination with one or more similar retorts A each having an internal

page_text: revoluble shaft M with a worm screw thread V and projections W a passage from
the exit end of the one retort A to the entrance end of the next retort A and a
discharge pipe K from the exit end of the last retort A means being provided for
revolving the shafts M and for applying heat to the retorts A substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and declared.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances constituting my
apparatus for producing peat charcoal substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 19th day of June 1806
HART & Co.,
168, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.