Improvement in Apparatus for Drying and Carbonizing Vegetable Matter from Animal Fibre, such as Cotton from Wool.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1899—Accepted, 13th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Apparatus for Drying and Carbonizing Vegetable
Matter from Animal Fibre, such as Cotton from Wool.
I, THOMAS LEE, Belmont Mills, Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference
marked thereon which form a part of this specification;
-
My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in apparatus for drying
and carbonizing vegetable matter from animal fibre, such as cotton from wool,
and has for its object to provide an effective device of this description which
shall first thoroughly dry the material to be treated, and convey the same to a
rotary cylinder in which the vegetable matter contained within the material
will be carbonized so as to become a light dust which may be beaten from the
material after being removed from the apparatus by any suitable mechanical
devices; another object of my improvement is to so construct carrier aprons as
to provide a positive support for the edges thereof, and at the same time prevent
the passage of the drying medium around the edges of the apron, and also
prevent the entanglement of the material being treated with the drive chain
carrying the apron; a still further object of my invention is to utilize the furnace
which heats the drying medium for gasifying the acid which is used to carbonize
the vegetable matter.
With these and other incidental objects in view, this invention consists in the
details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then.
specifically designated by the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may
understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will
now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings forming, a
part of this specification, in which-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus made in accordance with my.
improvement;
Fig. 2, a cross section at the line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Fig. 3, a section at the line 3-3 of Figure 1; the hood O being omitted;
Fig. 4, a section at the line 4-4 of Figure 1;
Fig. 5, a section at the line 5-5 of Figure 1;
Fig. 6. a section at the line 6-6 of Figure 1;
Fig. 7. a horizontal section at the line 7-7 of Figure 1:
Fig. 8, a detail view of the injectors showing the feet thereof closed as when.
being drawn upward;
Fig. 9, a similar view showing the feet distended as when moving downward;
Fig. 10, a detail section of one of the housings for inclosing the drive chain
by which the carrier apron is operated;

page_text: Fig. 11, a plan view of one of the links of the chain showing the apron
attached thereto;
Fig. 12, an elevation of three of said links;
Fig. 13, is a central vertical longitudinal section of a slightly modified form
of my carbonizing machine, in which a rotary cylinder is used for drying, and
in which the hood at the lower end of the carbonizing cylinder is replaced by a
stationary cap having therewith a discharge through which the material is ejected
from the machine;
Fig. 14, a cross section at the line of Figure 1; and
Fig. 15, an enlarged detail view of one of the plungers shown in Figure 13.
In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figures 1 to 12 inclusive, A
represents a casing of sufficient dimensions to provide for the proper manipulation
of the material during the drying process. Within this casing are mounted the
drums Band B', over which runs the carrier apron C; this apron is composed
of wire netting, preferably copper, and is connected along its edges to certain
links of chains D; these chains, one upon each side of the casing, mesh with
the sprocket wheels E, said wheels being carried by the same shafts as the drums,
so that the chains and apron will travel in perfect unison without the tendency
for either to drag, and the construction and arrangement of these chains will be
hereinafter set forth.
The drum B is so arranged relative to the casing that a portion of the upper
side of the apron C passes beyond the top of the casing, thus exposing a sufficient
portion thereof to provide for the placing of the material to be treated upon the
apron, and a swinging door F is located at this point in order that the compart-
ment within the casing may be normally closed, and yet when material is placed
upon the apron, and the latter is travelling in the direction of the arrow marked
adjacent thereto, this swinging door will be forced open, and may thereafter
regain its normal position.
A carrier apron G, similar to the apron C, is arranged below the latter and
mounted upon the drums H and H, and the shafts of these drums are likewise
provided with sprocket wheels I over which run drive-chains similar to the
chains and for the same purpose. This carrier apron travels in the reverse
direction from the apron C and is somewhat longer than the latter, thus projecting
beyond the same at each end, the result of which is that when the material has
traveled the length of the upper portion of the apron C it will be
precipitated upon the upper portion of the apron G, and again carried for-
ward throughout the length of the casing until falling from the last named
apron into the chute J.
Each of the drive-chains consists of a series of links D¹ which are coupled
together by the links D2, and the links D₁ have formed therewith the blocks D
which travel within the housings K, which consist of two properly shaped irons
bolted upon the inside of the casing so as to inclose the chains, and these blocks
in traveling within the housings support the links of the chain as well as the
weight of the carrier aprons, since they are connected therewith by the shanks L.
These housings not only serve as supports for the chains and through the latter
for the carrier aprons, but also protect the chaius from entanglement with the
material being treated, which would otherwise interfere with the passage of the
chains over their sprocket wheels, as will be readily understood.
is located in the rear of the casing, and back of this plate is mounted a suitable
A baffle-plate M
fan or exhaust N, which, when properly revolved, will draw the air from the
upper portion of the compartment within the casing and force it downward
through the hood 0, causing it to re-enter the compartment at the bottom
thereof, to take the place of the air previously exhausted above. A continued
motion of this fan, as is obvious, will create a strong circulation within the
casing, and this circulation being previously caused to pass through the meshes
of the carrier aprons will come in contact with every part of the material being
treated, thus extracting the moisture therefrom. This air, of course, should be

page_text: heated, and this is provided for by the furnace l', which is connected with the.
chimney or stack P by the flue P2," and above and below the point where this flue.
enters the stack dampers P³ and are placed in order that the draught or
products of combustion may be forced downward through the series of pipes.
before finally passing out of the stack, or be permitted to flow directly upward.
through the stack. Leading from the bottom of the stack is a series of pipes Q²
which pass back and forth at the hottom of the apparatus and afterwards are
connected by the uptake Q¹ to a series of pipes R which lead back and forth in
the lower portion of the drying compartment, and these last named pipes finally
connected with the stack, as indicated at R, and this connection is above the
damper P, so that when, this damper is closed and the damper 14 is opened it
follows that the products of combustion in passing to the stack must first pass
downward through the series of pipes Q then upward through the uptake Q
then back and forth through the pipes R and finally into the stack, from whence
they may escape in the ordinary manner. In order to further control the pro-
ducts of combustion and consequently utilize the heat contained therein for the
various operations of the apparatus, a flue R³ leads upward from the flue
connects directly with the pipes I and has therein a damper R, which, when
closed, will prevent the passage of the products of combustion in this direction,
but when open and the two dampers and P are closed the products of com-r
bustion instead of passing upward and through the pipes Q to reach the pipes R
will pass directly to the pipes R, and then back and forth to the stack at the
point R2, as before described.
"
and
A carbonizing tank S, of cylindrical shape, is mounted, on suitable roller:
bearings in the lower portion of the apparatus beneath the drying compart
ment, and is adapted to be revolved by the worm T meshing with the worm-
wheel T secured around this cylinder, and the chute J leads into the tank, at
the centre of one end thereof, and it is to be noted that the portion of the chute
that thus enters the tank forms a curved elbow, the object of which will be
hereinafter set forth. The interior of the cylinder has series of ribs U⚫so
arranged as to agitate the material fed thereto, and the rear portion of the
cylinder opens in the compartment Ut, so that the material passing therefrom
will enter this compartment from whence it will be fed sidewise by the pushout 12
having serrated ribs thereon and being adapted to reciprocate to and fro by
the crank operating in the slotted head U. as clearly shown in Figure 4.
When the material passes from the apron G and falls within the chute J it is
necessary that it shall be forced downward through said chute into the carbonizing
tank, and this is accomplished by the mechanism next to be described.
Two plungers V are arranged within the chute, each plunger consisting of an
outer tube and an inner rod V2, the former passing through the cross bar V
and given a certain amount of retarding friction by a shoe V+, which is backed
up by a set-screw V, the object being to permit this tube to move up and
down, but to have a certain amount of dragging action. The rod V2 has pivoted
thereto two sets of fingers W and W, each set arranged at right angles to each
other, said fingers being so curved and located as to normally lie within the
tube, as clearly shown in Figure 8, but when the rod starts upon its downward
movement these fingers will be forced outward through suitable slots in said
tube until reaching the position shown in Figure 9, after which the tube itself
will be caused to inove downward with the rod; and as these fingers are then
spread it is obvious that the material within the chute will be crowded down-
ward, but upon the commencement of the reverse or upward movement of the
rod the fingers will be drawn inward, since the rod will move in advance of the
tube on account of the dragging action of the latter, so that the fingers will
thereafter have no action upon the material, and the rod and tube may then
continue their upward movement without elevating the material which has pre-
viously been forced downward, and a repetition of this action of the plunger will
obviously force the material through the elbow of the chute in the cylinder. In

page_text: crowding down the material through the elbow of the chute it follows that said
material will become packed in the lower portion of the elbow just before enter-
ing this cylinder, and therefore effectually prevent the outflow of gases at this
point which heretofore has been a great detriment both to the machine, the
surrounding objects and to the operators inhaling the same. This feature of my
apparatus is of great importance as it renders the process more economical.
The plungers are given their vertical reciprocating movement by the cranks X
operating the slotted heads X', formed upon the upper end of the rods. These
cranks receive their motion from any suitable mechanism, such as a train of
gears, pulleys and belts.
It is to be noted that the material being forced from the chute into the cylinder
while the latter is being revolved the entire contents of the cylinder will be
given a gradual feeding movement toward the rear end of the cylinder, since
the revolving of the cylinder will have a tendency to partially suspend the
material therein at all times, and the crowding in of the material from the chute
will bring about the desired result of feeding the material rearward.
The carbonizing of the vegetable matter contained within the material being
treated is effected by a gas formed from muriatic or other acid, and the gasifying
of said acid is brought about by means of the retort which is located within
the furnace and therefore kept at the proper temperature, and the acid is intro-
duced thereto through a soapstone funnel or inlet Z.
In practicè I prefer that the acid shall be fed to the soapstone funnel by
means of a hard rubber tube a having a suitable valve b for regulating its flow,
and the nozzle of this tube terminates above the soapstone funnel in order that
the acid flowing therefrom will he caught by said funnel and guided to the
retort. A pipe & leads from the retort into the carbonizing cylinder, so that as
soon as the acid is gasified it passes through this pipe and after gaining access
to the cylinder commingles with the material therein with the effect of carbonizing
any vegetable matter, such as cotton, and this carbonization reduces said matter
to a light powder which is easily separated from the animal fibre after it has
been removed from the cylinder.
It is to be noted that this pipe leads from the end of the retort directly
through the flue of the furnace to the cylinder, and is thus at no point exposed
to the surrounding atmosphere, and consequently assists in maintaining the
temperature of the gas, as will be readily understood.
As it is essential that a proper degree of heat shall be maintained in the
cylinder to effect the carbonization of the vegetable matter without liability of
injuring the animal fibre, a thermometer c is connected with the compartment
in which the carbonizing cylinder revolves, as shown in Figure 5, thus pro-
viding for the determining of the degrees of heat within the cylinder, which may
be regulated by the dampers, as before set forth. Likewise a thermometer f may
be connected with the drying chamber so as to determine the temperature therein.
A hoody is fitted over the rear end of the cylinder so as to inclose the same
and thus prevent the escape of the carbonizing gas therefrom, which would
otherwise be absorbed by the bricks, and this hood is made adjustable by the
rod being attached thereto and extending rearward and terminating in the
rack-bar . A pinion j meshes with the rack-bar so that the hood may be opened
or closed by the proper manipulation of this pinion, and when closed the feeding
of the material from the cylinder will be arrested, so that although the feed-
ing thereto may be continued for a limited time this material will not pass there-
from and thus permit an accumulation within the cylinder which may be utilized
to carry on the carbonization after the apparatus has been stopped, since the gas
which is contained within the cylinder will, when left therein a sufficient length
of time, properly treat the entire mass.
A door U is hinged to slide U6, and so arranged as to permit the withdrawal
or outflow of the material from the compartment U¹, and when the material is

page_text: crowded within this compartment this door will automatically swing open for the
relief thereof.
The operative parts of the apparatus may be given motion by any suitable
mechanism, and I have here shown the drums, over which the carrier aprons
pass, as being operated by worm-wheels and m secured upon the shafts of certain
of the drums, and these worm wheels mesh with the worm », and are thus
revolved in opposite directions at the relatively slow speed which is necessary
to revolve for the gradual feeding of the material to be treated through the
drying chamber.
It is to be noted that a pipe having a suitable valve therein is connected with
the front end of the cylinder, the object being to create the proper flow of gas
within said cylinder.
In the construction shown in Figures 13 and 15 inclusive, A represents the
brick-work which incloses the lower portion of the machine, and in which the
furnace B is formed, having set in the upper portion thereof the retorts C
which are two in number; only one being here shown. D is the carbonizing
cylinder which is arranged to rotate within a suitable space formed within this
brickwork, and to facilitate its rotations it is preferably mounted upon the roller
bearings and the ball bearings 1, or if found desirable ball bearings may be
used at both ends of the cylinder, as may suit the fancy or convenience of the
manufacturer and user.
The rear end of this carbonizing cylinder is completely inclosed by the stationary
end of the hood G7, while the throat section H surrounds the stationary chute I,
the latter being of elbow-shape and set in the brick-work, as clearly shown.
The gas generated in the retorts C is conveyed to the carbonizing cylinder
by the pipes ; these pipes passing through the head of the stationary cap so
that they are in nowise disturbed by the rotation of the cylinder, nor interfere
with the operations of said cylinder.
A drying cylinder K is mounted in the casing L which may be either of
brick-work or metal, or other material, as best suits the requirements of the
particular apparatus to be used, and this drying cylinder is likewise mounted
upon roller bearings M, in order that its rotations may be facilitated, and power
is applied thereto through a worm-wheel N", with a worm-gear of surrounding
the cylinder; and this method is also used for revolving the cylinder D, in
which case the worm P meshes with the worm-gear Q rotations being given
to these worms from any suitable source.
The cylinder K is set at an angle, and the upper end thereof is closed by a
cap in which a central opening is formed for the reception of the lower end
of the chute $7; this chute, as clearly shown, is of elbow-shape, its upper end
being arranged to receive the material from the automatic feeding devices, after
which it will be guided to the drying cylinder, as is obvious.
The fan T is located at one end of the space in which the cylinder K revolves,
and each end of this space is connected by the passageway U, one end of which
terminates back of the fan, so that when this fan is in motion the air will be
circulated in the direction of the arrows; that is to say, will be drawn from the
forward end of the space to the rear end thereof, and driven through the
cylinder K, finding egress therefrom by means of the perforations Vin
the cap R. By which arrangement the material fed to the cylinder will be
quickly and thoroughly dried which drying action is facilitated by the heating
of this circulating air, as hereinafter set forth.
When the material is fed to the chute S7, and from thence passed to the drying
cylinder K, the revolving of the latter will thoroughly agitate this material by
means of the lugs or projections W, and at the same time gradually feed it to
the opposite end of the cylinder on account of the incline thereof, and the
exerted by the incoming material upon that which is being agitated in the
cylinder, so that it will be finally precipitated into the chute I from the lower
pressure

page_text: end of the cylinder, and is then ready to be crowded into the carbonizing
cylinder D.
This crowding action is effected by a pair of plungers X arranged vertically
within the chute, and alternately moved up and down by the double crank Y
working in the cross-heads 77, which latter are guided in the ways a
being applied to these double cranks by belt or other suitable means.
power
The lower portions of the plungers have incline teeth formed thereon, pre-
ferably alternate so that in their downward movement their action will be to force
the material downward through the chute 17, but in their upward movement
they will not disturb this material; the crowding of the material into the
chute serves the two-fold purpose of feeding it to the cylinder D, and at
the same time closing this chute against the egress of the carbonizing gas from
the cylinder.
In practice it is sometimes found desirable to ease the material being crowded
through the chute I to avoid its clogging, and for this purpose I have arranged
a secondary plunger in the line of axis of the cylinder D, so that it projects
into the chute at a point where it will act upon the material to assist it in
passing around the elbow of the chute; and this plunger may be actuated by any
suitable crank mechanism, as indicated at e. The stationary cap or hood G7
merges into the elbow-shaped discharge GS, so that when the material has reached
the lower end of the cylinder D7 which will fall therefrom into this discharge
and be automatically forced through the discharge and ejected from the machine
by the plungers G arranged in a pair and operated by the crank mechanism G¹¹.
The inward portion of the plungers having connection teeth, as described in
connection with the plungers X.
A suitable swinging door His arranged to close the outer end of the dis-
charge, and yet permit the material to be ejected therefrom hy swinging upward,
as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 14; the shape of this discharge accom-
plishes the same result at this end of the machine, as does the chute 17 at the
opposite end, since it permits the passage of the material, while at the same
time said material completely closes the discharge against the egress of the acid
gas being used in the carbonizing cylinder. This is an important feature in
my improvement, since it economizes in the acid and gas generated therefrom.
as such gas cannot escape during the process of carbonizing. The material is
fed to the admission chute S7 by an automatic mechanism, which consists of an
endless apron or belt mounted upon the drums or rolls, , and 7; and from
this apron or belt project small pins or points m. A second endless belt or
apron composed of wire or other suitable material having meshes therein for
the passage of the pins or points m, is mounted, as shown in Figure 14, over the
first named apron, and also runs over the rolls and . A hopper is properly
arranged relative to this mechanism, so that the material to be fed to the machine
may be placed in this hopper in such manner as to come in contact with the
aprons, when the revolving of these aprons will cause the pins m² to cugage
said material and carry it upward until reaching the horizontal section of the
apron, when the pins will gradually disengage these from this material on
account of the downward movement of the belt in passing over the guide
rolls but as the material is then resting upon the horizontal section of the
apron , it will continue to be fed forward until precipitated within the
chute S. Any suitable beater or knock-off may be used to regulate the amount
of material elevated, so as to avoid the choking of the machine.
This automatic feeding mechanism is an improved feature in an apparatus of
this description, since without care a given and constant amount of material is
automatically fed to the machine, thereby saving labor and increasing the
degree of perfection of the operation of the machine, and also increasing the
amount of finished product produced thereby.
From the foregoing description it will be obvious that a machine built in
accordance with my improvement will automatically feed, dry, carbonize and

page_text: eject material being acted upon, and thus has many advantages over machines
which require constant and laborious attention.
The general construction and arrangement and results accomplished by this
modification are the same as those described in connection with the first con-
struction, and I do not care to limit myself to the particular details of either
construction.
"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. In an apparatus for drying, and carbonizing vegetable matter, such as
cotton, from animal fibre, such as wool, a suitable drying compartment, carrier
aprons arranged therein, drums upon which said aprons are mounted, means for
causing said drums to rotate, a rod, a chute into which the material is deposited,
means for crowding said material downward through the chute, a tank to which
the chute leads, means for revolving the same, and means for supplying gasified
acid to said tank and heat the apparatus, as specified.
2. In an apparatus of the character described, a drying compartment, endless
aprons consisting of wire netting arranged to travel within the compartment,
drums over which said aprons travel, means-such as a fan, for circulating the
air within the compartment, a chute leading downward from the compartment
and adapted to receive the material when passing from the aprons, an elbow
formed in the chute, a cylindrical tank mounted to revolve and which the chute
enters, means for feeding the material side wise after leaving the tank, a
furnace, flue leading from said furnace to various portions of the apparatus for
heating the same, a retort adapted to receive the acid to be gasified, a pipe leading
from said retort to the tank, and mechanism for operating the various parts of
the apparatus, arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing inclosing a drying
compartment, two sets of drums mounted within said compartment, two carrier
aprons consisting of wire netting adapted to run over the drums, endless chains
attached to the edges of the aprons, sprocket-wheels upon the same shafts with
the drums over which the chains run, and housings arranged upon the side walls,
of the compartment in which the chains travel, as specified.
4. In an apparatus of the character described, a drying compartment having
means mounted therein for conveying the material to be treated to and fro, a
fan for creating a circulation of the air within the compartment, a chute for
receiving the material from the drying compartment, reciprocating plunger rods
for forcing said material downward, an elbow formed in the chute, a revolving
cylinder to which said elbow leads, means for supplying acid gas at the proper
temperature to the cylinder, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In combination with a drying apparatus and carbonizing apparatus, a
chute leading from the former to the latter having an elbow at the lower end
thereof, two plungers and means for reciprocating said plungers, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a chute lead-
ing from the drying compartment to the carbonizing compartment, an elbow
formed in the lower portion of said chute, two plungers consisting of tubular
sections, and rods adapted to move therein, fingers pivoted to the rods and pro-
jecting through the tubes so as to be distended and retracted, and mechanism
for manipulating the plungers, as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, one or more
endless aprons composed of wire netting, drums upon which said aprons are
mounted sprocket-wheels secured upon the same, shafts with the drums, endless
aprons running over the sprocket, said chains having blocks formed upon certain
links thereof, and shanks projecting from the blocks which are secured to the

page_text: aprons, and housings in which said chains travel and by which they are pro-
tected, substantially as shown and described.
8. In combination with a carbonizing tank of an apparatus of the character
described, a pushout having serrations thereon and means for reciprocating the
pushout in order that the material fed from the tank may be conveyed side-
wise, as shown and described.
9. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a furnace, a
chimney or stack with which said furnace is connected, a series of flues and
pipes leading from the furnace, a series of dampers for regulating the flue or the
products of combustion from the furnace to the stack, a retort located within the
furnace, means for feeding acid thereto and a pipe leading therefrom to the car-
bonizing tank, as specified.
10. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a furnace,
a gasifying retort located therein, a pipe leading from said retort to the
carbonizing tank, a soapstone funnel connected with the retort, and a hard
rubber tube so located as to feed acid to the funnel, as and for the purpose
set forth.
11. In combination with a carbonizing tank of the character described, a hood
so mounted as to be adjusted back and forth relative to the tank, and means
for bringing about this adjustment whereby the feeding within the tank may
be controlled, as specified.
12. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a chute
leading to the carbonizing cylinder in the form of an elbow, and means for
crowding the material in said chute, so as to form a packing against the escape
of gas from the cylinder, as specified.
13. In combination with a pushout apparatus of the character described, a
hinged door through which the material may be forced or withdrawn, as specified.
14. In a drying and carbonizing machine, a casing composed of suitable
material, a drying cylinder mounted upon an incline upon the upper portion
of the casing so as to revolve, means for revolving the same, a chute of elbow-
shape leading to the upper end of this cylinder, means for automatically feeding
material to said chute, a fan for circulating air through the drying cylinder,
carbonizing cylinder also mounted within the casing upon an incline and below
the first named cylinder, means for revolving this last named cylinder, a curved
chute for receiving the material when falling from the drying cylinder and con-
veying it to the carbonizing cylinder, plungers for crowding the material
through this chute, said plungers having incline teeth thereon, means for
actuating the plungers, a secondary plunger for preventing the clogging of the
last named chute, means for reciprocating the last named plungers, a stationary
cap for inclosing the lower end of the carbonizing cylinder, a curved discharge
leading from this stationary cap, plungers for crowding the material through the
discharge, means for operating said plungers, a furnace, a chimney connected
therewith, and a series of flues also connected with said furnace for heating the
carbonizing and drying cylinders, as specified.
15. In an apparatus of the character described, a carbonizing cylinder mounted
upon anti-friction bearings and adapted to revolve, means for revolving the same,
a stationary cap inclosing one end of the cylinder, a curved discharge leading
from the cap, and means for ejecting the material fed to this discharge, as
specified.
16. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a car-
bonizing cylinder properly mounted within the casing, means for revolving the
same, a curved chute leading to one end of the cylinder, plungers adapted to
reciprocate in the vertical portion of the chute to crowd the material there-
through, and a plunger adapted to reciprocate in a horizontal portion of the
chute for preventing the choking of the same, as specified.
17. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a drying
cylinder suitably mounted within the casing, means for revolving the same, a

page_text: cap for closing one end thereof, said cap having a central opening and per-
forations, a curved chute projecting through this cap whereby material may be
fed to the cylinder, and an automatic mechanism for feeding material to the
chute, as specified.
18. In combination with the drying cylinder of an apparatus of the character
described, a curved chute leading to one end thereof, a cap for closing this end
of the cylinder, said cap having perforations therein, a fan located at one end of
the casing and adapted to maintain a circulation within the cylinder, a passage-
way leading from one end of the space in which the cylinder is located, and to a
point back of the fan for permitting the circulation of the air, and means for
heating the air thus circulated, as specified.
19. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, a drying
cylinder, and a carbonizing cylinder journaled within the casing so as to revolve,
one being located above the other, a curved chute leading from the drying
cylinder to the carbonizing cylinder, a pair of plungers arranged to work
vertically within this chute, inclined teeth formed upon said plungers, cross-
heads to which the plungers are attached, a double crank shaft arranged to
operate the cross-heads, ways for guiding the cross-heads, means for feeding
material to the drying cylinder, and means for discharging material from the
carbonizing cylinder, as specified.
20. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, an auto-
matic feeding mechanism consisting of an endless belt or apron having pins
projecting therefrom, rolls upon which said apron is mounted, a second apron
composed of material having means therein for the passage of the pins, said
second apron being mounted over and traveling with the first named apron,
rolls for guiding the second apron independent of the first named apron so as
to permit the pins to pass out of conjunction therewith, and a hopper into which
the material may be placed to be brought into the field of action of the aprons,
as specified.
21. In combination with the retorts of an apparatus of the character described,
funnels leading to said retorts composed of soap-stone whereby they are adapted
to withstand the action of the heat, cold and hot acid, and acid gas, as specified.
22. In combination with an apparatus of the character described, retorts
located within the furnace, and pipes leading therefrom to the carbonizing
cylinder, said pipes passing through a passageway or flue whereby the products
of combustion from the furnace are led in direct contact with said pipes for
maintaining the temperature of the gas passing therethrough, as specified.
Doted this 6th day of February 1800
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W.,
Agent for Applicant.