IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Fryer, of Wilmslow, in the County of Chester, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS."
Sealed the 4th December 1877, and dated the 29th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Fryer at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1877.
ALFRED FRYER, of Wilmslow, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS."
The first part of my improvements in apparatus for treating the refuse of towns
consists of improved means of admitting the liquid into the revolving concentrating
or drying cylinder described in the Specifications of certain Letters Patent granted
to me and bearing date 11th February 1876, No. 550, and of other Letters Patent
bearing date 5th August 1876, No, 3125, and of improved means of discharging the
concentrated material from this apparatus.
The fluid supplied to these concentrating cylinders usually consists of a mixture
of liquid and solid matter (say urine with a considerable proportion of fœces in
suspension in it), which readily clogs up small pipes or partially opened cocks or
valves, and so renders the flow of material into the concentrating cylinder irregular
and difficult to control. In order to avoid this difficulty and furnish a supply of
liquid to the cylinder, which shall be easily regulated and not liable to derangement
through clogging up with solid matter, I bring the fluid into the apparatus through
a pipe of large diameter, part of which I make of some flexible material, such as
leather or india-rubber. This flexible portion of the pipe I lead through an
apparatus or piece of mechanism which I will term the trap, and this trap is
actuated by a cam attached to the revolving cylinder, which compresses so as to
close or partially close the pipe during the greater portion of the revolution of
the cylinder, while the action of the cam removes the compression, and leaves the
pipe alniost or quite wide open during another portion of the revolution of the
cylinder.

page_text: It is evident that the periods of compression and release may be reversed at
will.
One method of effecting this is as follows:-A bracket is fixed near the end of
the revolving cylinder at which the liquid is admitted. Through suitable guides in
this bracket pass rods which carry a block; this block is drawn towards the bracket
by means of a spiral spring or other suitable device, and in approaching the fixed
bracket it compresses so as to close or partially close the flexible pipe resting against
the said bracket.
To the block is also attached a rod (which I prefer to make of adjustable length)
furnished with a suitable arm, or, by preference, with a roller, which is actuated by
a cam or inclined plane attached to the revolving cylinder; the cam or inclined
plane draws back the block so as to release the flexible pipe and to allow it to open
widely. The length of the rod may be made adjustable by forming it of two
portions connected by means of a long nut furnished at one end with a right-
handed and at the other with a left-handed screw thread, the thread on the ends of
the rod being cut to suit. As the inclined plane or cam attached to the cylinder
may be of considerable length it is evident that by altering the length of the rod it
may be caused to act, for a longer or shorter time upon the block, and so open
pipe for a longer or shorter period. In like manner by the introduction of a stop
the block may be prévented from at any time pressing upon the pipe to such an
extent as entirely to close it.
the
My improved means of discharging the concentrated material from the cylinder
consists of the insertion, some distance within the cylinder, near its discharge end;
of an annular internal flange or ring attached to the shell of the cylinder, and of a
width or depth corresponding with the depth (quantity) of material I wish to
retain within the cylinder. The end of the cylinder is as usual partially closed by
its own annular flange. The material to be discharged from the cylinder overflows
the annular flange within the cylinder, and finds itself in the space between this
ring and the annular flange forming the end of the cylinder. From this space it
passes away through a hole or holes made in the shell of the cylinder. These
holes may be provided with spouts outside the cylinder of such a form as to
reduce objectionable dipping or splashing of the inaterial to a minimum.
The material discharged from these concentrating cylinders is in a fluid or semi-
fluid state, and still contains a considerable quantity of moisture.
In order to
reduce it to the condition of a dry or nearly dry manure, such as is known as
poudrette," I treat it in the following way :-
6
I introduce the material into a trough in which a number of blades or discs,
preferably of metal, are partially immersed and slowly revolve. These discs may
be flat, or they may be of any other form better calculated to resist warping under
the influence of heat. The discs are kept at a fixed but short distance apart. This
is usually effected by washer plates or distance pieces; and I prefer that the discs
should be so far immersed in the material to be operated upon that these distance
pieces shall touch it. I furnish the trough with a suitable cover enclosing the discs,
and on one side of the trough I arrange a furnace.
The product of combustion from this furnace I cause to pass between the discs,
which, as they slowly revolve, become covered with the semi-fluid matter. I
arrange stops or scrapers between the discs which prevent them from being covered
with too thick a layer of semi-fluid matter; they also serve to guide the products
of combustion back and forth among thein, and finally to remove the dried material
from the discs. The discs first present their newly-wetted surfaces to the action of
the products of combustion, which I take care to impregnate with such a proportion
of sulphurous acid gas as shall keep the material being operated upon neutral or
slightly acid.
The products of combustion are then caused to traverse the surfaces
of the discs until they reach the other side of the trough; when they are carried
away to the chimney. I cause the discs to revolve at such a speed that the layer
of semi-fluid inatter adhering to them as they rise up on the furnace side of the
"

page_text: trough shall have become sufficiently dried before reaching the other side of the
trough, where it is removed by scrapers, and guided out of the apparatus.
My further improvements consist of an apparatus for cooling the charcoal manu-
factured in my improved kiln, described in the Specification of my Patent, No. 5507,
previously alluded to.
This cooling apparatus consists of a revolving cylinder driven by suitable gearing
and supported, by preference, upon antifriction rollers. At the inlet end this
cylinder is closed by an annular plate having a central opening of sufficient diameter
to admit the end of the feeding hopper. Though the cylinder revolves the feeding
hopper is a fixture; it is made to fit as closely as convenient into the opening of
the end of the cylinder; and I sometimes further protect the joint, between the
two so as to render the escape of fine charcoal through it more difficult by intro-
ducing a circular plate within the revolving cylinder of larger diameter than the
opening in the cylinder end, and having a flange around its edge. This plate I
firmly secure to the end of the feeding hopper, making a joint with it, while the
edge of the flange bears against the end of the cylinder, so that there is a slight
space between the body of the plate and the end. Any "char" which works itself
between the flange and the end gets into this space, in which I arrange an opening
in such a position as to allow it readily to escape again into the cylinder.
"
The other end of the cylinder is closed by a plate, in which there are one or more
openings furnished with doors for discharging the cooled char. To this end, but
outside the cylinder, is fixed a sieve revolving with the cylinder, into which the
'char" falls as it leaves the cylinder. The far end of this revolving sieve is closed
with a plate furnished with openings provided with doors. Through these openings
the large lumps of "char" and the stones and other extraneous matter are finally
withdrawn. Above the revolving cooling cylinder is fixed a trough of the same
length as the cylinder, which contains water; one side of this trough is slightly
lower than the other, and over this lower side is hung a thick cloth, hanging down
so as to touch the cylinder, by means of which the water is syphoned or guided
over from the trough, and caused to keep the surface of the cylinder, as it revolves.
constantly wet; or the cylinder may be kept wet by water flowing through a
perforated pipe.
1
The "char" is withdrawn from the kiln into an iron waggon of suitable con-
struction, which is wheeled to feed the hopper of the cooler, and tipped up into it
The feed hopper is furnished with a balanced door, which opens when the "char"
falls upon it, and allows the "char" to pass through it into the cylinder, and closes
when the "char" has all passed through, and so excludes the air, whilst the other
end of the cylinder may, if necessary, be kept closed for the like purpose.
The "char" falling into the revolving cylinder is kept constantly moving because
of the movement of the cylinder, and fresh portions of it are constantly being
brought into contact with the sides of the cylinder, which are cooled by being
wetted outside. The "char" thus rapidly cools; when cool enough the door at the
discharge end is opened, and the "char" falls into the sieve. Here the fine "char" is
separated from the larger lumps, which are discharged from the end of the sieve.
These may, if desired, be crushed by being passed through any suitable mill.
In some cases, instead of making a simple opening in the feed end of the "char"
cooler, I furnish it with a pipe of about the same diameter as this opening, and
which I bore out at the end furthest from the cylinder; into this pipe I introduce
the turned end of the feed hopper, which, as before, does not revolve with the
cylinder; or I bore the end of the feed hopper, and turn the end of the pipe.
This arrangement facilitates the use of packing to prevent the leakage of fiue
"char" through the joint between the fixed hopper and the revolving cylinder.

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 29th March
1878.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
ALFRED FRYER, of Wilmslow, in the County of Chester.
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE REFUSE OF TOWNS."
The first part of my improvements in apparatus for treating the refuse of towns
consists of improved means of admitting the liquid into the revolving concentrating
or drying cylinder described in the Specification of certain Letters Patent granted.
to me, and dated February 11, 1876, No. 550, and of other Letters Patent bearing
date August 5th, 1876, No. 3125, and of improved means of discharging the con-
centrated material from this apparatus.
The fluid supplied to these concentrating cylinders usually consist of a mixture
of liquid and solid matter (say, urine, with a considerable proportion of fœces in
suspension in it), which readily clogs up small pipes or partially opened cocks or
valves, and so renders the flow of material into the concentrating cylinder irregular
and difficult to control. In order to avoid this difficulty, and furnish a supply of
liquid to the cylinder which shall be easily regulated and not liable to derangement
through the clogging up with solid matter, I bring the fluid into the apparatus
through a pipe of large diameter, part of which I make of some flexible material,
such as leather or india-rubber. This flexible portion of the pipe I lead through an
apparatus or piece of mechanism, which I will term the "trap," and this trap is actuated
by a cam attached to the revolving cylinder, which compresses the pipe so as to
close or partially close it during the greater portion of the revolution of the cylinder,
while the action of the cam removes the compression, and leaves the pipe almost or
quite wide open during another portion of the revolution of the cylinder.
It is evident that the periods of compression and release may be reversed at
will.
One method of effecting this is represented in sectional plan view at Fig. 1, in
Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings; in side elevation at Fig. 2; and again in side
elevation, showing its relation to the concentrating cylinder, at Fig. 3. A branch A
is fixed near that end of the revolving cylinder B, at which the liquid is admitted.
Through suitable guides in this bracket pass rods C, which carry a block D; this
block D is drawn towards the bracket A by means of a spiral spring E or other
suitable device, and in approaching the fixed bracket it compresses so as to close or
partially close the flexible pipe F resting against the said bracket.
To the block D is also attached a rod G (which I prefer to make of adjustable
length) furnished with a suitable arm, or by preference with a roller H, which is
actuated by a cam or inclined plane B¹ attached to the revolving cylinder. The
cam or inclined plane B¹ draws back the block so as to release the flexible pipe, and
to allow it to open widely. The length of the rod G may be made adjustable by
forming it of two portions, connected by means of a long nut G¹, furnished at one
end with a right-handed and at the other end with a left-handed screw thread,
the thread on the ends of the rod being cut to suit. As the inclined plane or cam B¹
attached to the cylinder may be of considerable length, it is evident that by altering
the length of the rod it may be caused to act for a longer or shorter time upon the
block D, and so to open the pipe F for a longer or shorter period. In like manner,
by the introduction of a stop, the block D may be prevented from at any time
pressing upon the pipe F to such an extent as entirely to close it.
My improved means of discharging the concentrated material from the cylinder
is so simple as not to need any Drawing to explain it. It consists of the insertion
(some distance within the cylinder, near its discharge end) of an annular internal.
flange or ring attached to the shell of the cylinder, and of a width or depth corre-
sponding with the depth (or quantity) of material I wish to retain within the
cylinder. The end of the cylinder is, as usual, partially closed by its own annular
flange. The material to be discharged from the cylinder overflows the annular

page_text: flange within the cylinder, and finds itself in the space between this ring and the
annular flange forming the end of the cylinder. From this space it passes away
through a hole or holes made in the shell of the cylinder; these holes may.
be provided with spouts outside the cylinder of such a form as to reduce the
objectionable dripping or splashing of the material to a minimum.
The material discharged from these concentrating cylinders is in a fluid or semi-
fluid state, and still contains a considerable quantity of moisture. In order to reduce
it to the condition of a dry or nearly dry manure, such as is known as "poudrette,"
I treat it in an apparatus represented in longitudinal sectional elevation at Fig. 4,
Sheet 1, of the annexed Drawings.
I introduce the material into a receptacle or trough I, in which a number of
blades or discs J (preferably of metal) are partially immersed and slowly revolve;
these discs J may be flat, or they may be of any other form better calculated to
resist warping under the influence of heat. The discs J are kept at a fixed but
short distance apart; this is usually effected by washer plates or distance pieces K,
and I prefer that the discs J should be so far immersed in the material to be operated
upon that these distance pieces K shall touch it. I furnish the trough I with a
suitable cover L, enclosing the discs J, and on one side of the trough I I
furnace M.
arrange a
The products of combustion from this furnace I cause to pass between the discs J,
which as they slowly revolve become covered with the semi-fluid matter. I arrange
stops or scrapers N, N¹, between the discs, which prevent them from being covered
with too thick a layer of semi-fluid matter; they also serve to guide the products
of combustion back and forth among them, and finally to remove the dried material
from the discs. The discs J first present their newly wetted surfaces to the action
of the products of combustion, which I take care to impregnate with such a propor-
tion of sulphurous acid gas as shall keep the material being operated upon neutral or
slightly acid. The products of combustion are then caused to traverse the surfaces
of the discs J until they reach the other side of the trough I, when they are carried
away by means of the flue O to the chimney. I cause the discs J to revolve at
such a speed that the layer of semi-fluid matter adhering to them as they rise up on
the furnace side of the trough shall have become sufficiently dried before reaching
the other side of the trough, where it is removed by scrapers N¹, and guided out
of the apparatus.
My further improvements consist of an apparatus for cooling the charcoal manu-
factured in the improved kiln described in the Specification of my Patent No. 550,
A.D. 1876, previously alluded to.
This cooling apparatus is represented in longitudinal sectional elevation at Fig. 5;
in vertical section through the line A, B, at Fig. 6; in vertical section through the
line C, D, at Fig. 7; and in end elevation at Fig. 8; all on Sheet 2 of the annexed
Drawings, and consists of a revolving cylinder driven by suitable gearing R, and
supported by preference upon antifriction rollers S, S. At the inlet end this cylinder
Qis closed by an annular plate Q' having a central opening of sufficient diameter to
admit the end T of the feeding hopper T. Though the cylinder Q revolves, the feeding
hopper T is a fixture; it is made to fit as closely as convenient into the opening in the
end of the cylinder, and I sometimes further protect the joint between the two so as to
render the escape of fine charcoal through it more difficult by introducing a circular
plate U within the revolving cylinder of larger diameter than the opening in the
cylinder end, and having a flange U₁ around its edge. This plate I firmly secure
to the end T of the feeding hopper T, making a joint with it, while the edge of the
flange U bears against the end plate Q of the cylinder, so that there is a slight space
between the body of the plate and the end. Any "char" which works itself between
the flange U¹ and the end gets into this space, in which I arrange an opening.UI
(see Fig. 6) in such a position as to allow it readily to escape again into the
cylinder.
The other end of the cylinder Q is closed by a plate Q", in which there are one
or more openings furnished with doors Q for discharging the cooled “char.” To

page_text: this end plate Q", but outside the cylinder, is fixed a sieve V, revolving with the
cylinder Q, into which the "char" falls as it leaves the cylinder. The far end of
this revolving sieve V is closed by a plate V₁, furnished with openings provided
with doors V. Through these openings the large lumps of "char" and the stones
and other extraneous matter are finally withdrawn. Above the revolving cooling
cylinder Qis fixed a trough W, Fig. 6, which contains water, and is of the same
length as the cylinder. One side of this trough W is slightly lower than the other,
and over this lower side is hung a thick cloth X hanging down so as to touch the
cylinder, by means of which the water is syphoned or guided over from the trough,
and caused to keep the surface of the cylinder as it revolves constantly wet; or the
cylinder may be kept wet by water flowing through a perforated pipe.
The char is withdrawn from the kiln into an iron waggon of suitable construc-
tion, which is wheeled to the feed hopper T of the cooler, and tipped up into it.
The feed hopper is furnished with a balanced door T¹, represented in dotted lines,
which opens when the "char" falls upon it, and allows the "char" to pass through
it into the cylinder, and closes when the "char" has all passed through, so as to
exclude the air, while the other end of the cylinder may, if necessary, be kept closed
for the like purpose.
The "char" falling into the revolving cylinder Q is kept constantly moving
because of the movement of the cylinder, and fresh portions of it are constantly
being brought into contact with the sides of the cylinder wetted outside. The "char"
thus rapidly cools; when cool enough the door Q at the discharge end is opened,
and the "char" falls into the sieve V. Here the fine "char" is separated from the
larger lumps, which are discharged from the end of the sieve; these may, if desired,
be crushed by being passed through any suitable mill.
In some cases, instead of making a simple opening in the feed end of the "char "
cooler, I furnish it with a pipe which is of about the same diameter as this opening,
and which I bore out at the end furthest from the cylinder.
Into the pipe
I introduce the turned end of the feed hopper, which, as before, does not revolve
with the cylinder, or I bore the end of the feed hopper, and turn the end of the
pipe.
This arrangement, which is so simple as to be readily understood without the aid
of Drawings, facilitates the use of packing to prevent the leakage of fine" char"
through the joint between the fixed hopper and the revolving cylinder. .
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. The improved apparatus for regulating the flow of the fluid or semi-fluid
refuse matter into the concentrating cylinder or otherwise, substantially as herein-
before described.
Secondly. The improved means of regulating the discharge of the concentrated
material from the concentrating or drying cylinder, substantially as described.
Thirdly. The improved apparatus, substantially as described, for the production
of " poudrette."
Fourthly. The improved apparatus for cooling charcoal, substantially as described.
And, Fifthly. The improved combination of apparatus for cooling and sifting
charcoal, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Fryer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred andrceventy-eight