Improvements in Apparatus for Carbonizing Material such as Wool.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Carbonizing Material such as
Wool.
We, ADOLF SILVERBERG, Manufacturer, and CUNIBERT DETERING, Manager, both
of Bedburg, Prussia, Germany; do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
Apparatus hitherto used for carbonizing wool has usually been arranged in such
manner that the retorts for evaporating the acids are separate from the carbonizing..
drum containing the wool to be treated the acid vapours being introduced through
a clay pipe into the hollow shaft of the revolving drum.
--
Such arrangements are open to the following objections :-
It is very difficult to prevent large quantities of the vapours of the acids from
escaping into the masonry surrounding the retort and penetrating through the easily
fractured clay pipes into the workshop. Moreover the wear and tear of the retorts
and of the masonry surrounding the same is very considerable owing to the flames
of the fire always striking against the same places. There is furthermore prejudicial
friction on the coupling between the drum shaft and the stationary conduit."
All these inconveniences are avoided in carbonizing apparatus according to this
invention and which is shewn in the accompanying drawing, Fig. being a longi-
tudinal section and Fig. 2 a cross-section.
On
The carbonizing drum a with its hollow shaft b is supported in bearings c.
the end of the hollow shaft is arranged the cylindrically shaped retort d for
evaporating the acids, the arrangement being such that the retort revolves with the
shaft b and drum a. Underneath the retort is the fire-place e.
The fire gases
pass uniformly over the whole circumference of the retort d when the latter is
revolving, so that one part of the retort is not exposed to greater heat than another.
The products of combustion escape above the retort d into the smoke flue ƒ leading
to the chimney.
As illustrated in the drawing the retort is closed except where it communicates
with the drum and the continuous introduction of acid into the retort corresponding
to the quantity to be evaporated takes place through a pipe g secured to the centre
part of the front surface of the retort and opening into the latter, this tube also
revolving with the retort.
The end of the tube g is closed and extends into a vessel h.
The tube 9 carries on the portion extending into the vessel h another tube i
arranged perpendicularly to the said tube 9 with which it communicates. The upper
end of the tube i carries a funnel or receptacle K. The vessel h being charged with
acid when the tube g and the receptacle K revolve, the latter at each revolution raises
a certain quantity of acid and introduces the same into the tube i and thence through
the tube ginto the retort d.
In order to obtain a perfectly tight closure of the retort even when the receptacle K
is in its vertical position, we bend the tube i into S form so as to produce in this tube
a liquid seal as will be understood on reference to the drawing. Fig. 3 is a view of
the vessel h and tube g with receptacle &c. at right angles to Fig. 1.
In the construction above described the vapourized acids are prevented from
escaping as the retort and the short conduit between the latter and the carbonizing
drum are completely closed.
It is obvious that the quantity of acid to be introduced into the retort can be
regulated by varying the size of the receptacle K ; the latter may be constructed
also in such manner that it can easily be replaced by another.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In carbonizing apparatus, a retort for evaporating acid directly connected with
the hollow shaft of the carbonizing drum in such a manner that it revolves with the
drum and is uniformly heated over its whole circumference by the fire gases, sub-
stantially as set forth and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
2. In carbonizing apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim the
combination with the retort, of means for the continuous introduction therein of
acid and comprising a tube 9 connected to the front of the retort d and a trapped
tube carrying a receptacle K, the said tube i and receptacle being arranged to
revolve in a vessel charged with acid so that at each revolution a certain quantity
of acid will be raised and introduced through the tube g into the retort d substan-
tially as set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 12th day of July 1890
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per. F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.