provements in or connected with Retorts and the like for use in Destructive Distillation or Analogous Operations.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1900-Accepted, 11th Aug.. 1900
PROVISIONAL DIEUTICATION
Improvements in or connected with Retorts and the like for use in
Destructive Distillation or Analogous Operations.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 47, Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Harry Spurrier, of 716, St. Antoine
Street, St. Henri, County of Hochelaga, Province of Quebec, Canada, Analyst)
to be as follows:-
This invention relates particularly to retorts for use in the destructive distil-
lation of saw-dust although retorts constructed according to this invention can be
used with advantage in the manufacture of gas and for other purposes.
The invention has for its object to provide means whereby the substance to be
distilled, say, for example, saw-dust, during the process of distillation, will be
kept in a constant state of agitation and each particle thereof be brought, at
intervals, into the area of the greatest heat, at the same time providing for the
most effective collection of the bye-products and the uniform feeding to the
retort of the saw-dust.
The best results are obtained by dividing the chamber, or main compartment,.
into a number of sub-chambers, or smaller compartments, and causing the sub-
stance being treated, to circulate from one to the other, and alternately through
each, of said compartments. Better results are obtainable from retorts, or the
like, constructed on this principle, for the reason that the material being treated
is always divided, each portion being completely separated from the other, thus
enabling one portion to be agitated to a greater degree than the other portion,.
or portions of the material to be continually, during treatment, subjected to
different temperatures.
The invention may be said, briefly, to consist of a pair of cylinders situated
one within the other; one (preferably the inner) of the said cylinders being
rotated. A pair of helices is situated one between the said cylinders and the
other in the inner cylinder, the said helices being arranged so as to feed the
material in different directions. Means for transferring the material from one
to the other of the said cylinders are provided at one end thereof, a gas discharge
and a gate controlled discharge for the residue being provided at the highest and
lowest points respectively of the cylinders, an expansion chamber is preferably
situated intermediate of the cylinder and the said discharge passage and the pipe
or passage, through which the material is supplied to the cylinders has a helix
therein, to facilitate the passage of the material.
The fire-place of the furnace for heating the retort is connected to the chim-
ney by a spiral flue and a flue extending axially through the cylinders:
I will now describe more specifically, this invention as embodied in a retort
for the destructive distillation of saw-dust.

page_text: The retort is completely enclosed in a furnace the side walls and top of which
are built preferably of brick the ends being constructed of cast iron, and formed
with bearings and one being provided with an opening or flue. A cast iron box
is bolted to the said end and encloses the said flue and extends from beneath
same to a point above the bearing.
A bed preferably of brick-work supports the retort through the medium of a
spirally arranged vane, which is of sufficient width to extend completely across
the space between the retort and the interior of the furnace casing. This vane
provides a spiral flue extending from the fire chamber at one end of the casing
to the aforesaid box at the opposite end thereof, whilst access to the fire-place
is obtained through the fire, and ash-pit, doors respectively, carrier by a cast iron
frame which also has an opening to receive the end of a pipe through which the
gases are fed to the fire-place.
A condenser is situated adjacent to the end of the furnace and communicates
through a pipe with the adjacent end of the retort. The opposite end of the said
condenser communicates with the fire-place by means of the first-mentioned pipe
while a third pipe leads from the bottoin of the adjacent end of the retort through
the bed to a water tank.
The stationary outer cylinder of the retort consists preferably of a tubular sec-
tion having hemispherical ends bolted thereto. These ends are formed with
bearings in which rest the tubular trunnions (in the form of a sleeve) of the open
ended inner rotary cylinder and one end of a hollow shaft, or tube, which extends
therethrough from the said cast iron box and through the said hollow trunnion
and into the chimney.
A pulley is secured on the said tubular trunnions and a helix is secured on the
exterior of the inner cylinder, the vanes thereof being of sufficient width to allow
of their radially outer edges rotating in close proximity to the inner surface of
the outer cylinder, while the hollow shaft, or tube, has a pulley secured to it.
An open-topped horizontally arranged cylindrical section of corresponding
diameter to the inner cylinder is secured rigidly to the interior of one end of the
outer cylinder by means of an angular strip rivetted at its side edges respectively
to the interior of the end of the outer cylinder and to the adjacent end of the said
cylindrical section.
The trunnion is of sufficient length to extend a short distance within the inner
cylinder to which it is rigidly connected by a spider at the inner end thereof while
a second spider maintains the other end of the said cylinder (to which it is rigidly
connected) in its proper position relatively to the hollow shaft.
A left-hand helix is secured on this trunnion its convolutions extending from
end to end of the portion thereof within the cylinders while the inner end thereof
is connected to one edge of one of the spider arms which latter are set in a plane
corresponding to the plane of the helix.
A third helix is carried rigidly by the said hollow shaft and extends from end
to end of the said cylinder, the interior of which it closely fits.
Two vanes are secured by angle braces upon the exterior of the inner cylinder
diametrically opposite one another and at the end thereof adjacent to the open-
topped cylinder along the full length of which they extend.
The surface of the outer cylinder is formed near one end with a dome-like
extension to the upper end of which the pipe is connected to conduct the gases
to the condenser, before mentioned, this pipe having a perforated diaphragm
secured transversely thereof.
A supply pipe having a helix mounted therein, and driven from any suitable
source, by a shaft, is connected adjacent to the other end of the said outer cylin-
der and preferably communicates at its upper end with a hopper to carry the
supply of saw-dust to be distilled, whilst the discharge pipe before mentioned
enables the residue, after the distillation has been effected, to be discharged, and
is provided with a gate, the supply pipe being also provided with a gate.

page_text: The area of the spaces intermediate of the tube and the inner cylinder, and of
the inner and outer cylinders respectively, are equal.
Dated this 18th day of September 1899.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Retorts and the like for use in
Destructive Distillation or Analogous Operations.
:
..!
I, GEORGE WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 47, Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(which has been communicated to me from abroad by Harry Spurrier, of 716, St.
Antoine Street, St. Henri, County of Hochelaga, Province of Quebec, Canada,
Analyst) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention relates particularly to retorts for use in the destructive distilla-
tion of sawdust although retorts constructed according to this invention can be
used with advantage in the manufacture of gas and for other purposes; and it
has for its object to provide means whereby the substance to be distilled say for
example sawdust, during the process of distillation will be kept in a constant
state of agitation and each particle thereof be brought at intervals into the area
of the greatest heat, at the same time providing for the most effective collection
of the by-products and the uniform feeding to the retort of the sawdust. The
best results are obtained by dividing the chamber or main compartment into a
number of subchambers or smaller compartments and causing the substance being
treated to circulate from one to the other and alternately through each of said
compartments. Better results are obtainable from retorts or the like constructed
on this principle for the reason that the material being treated is always divided
each portion being completely separated from the other, thus enabling one portion
to be agitated to a greater degree than the other portions of the material to be
continually, during treatment, subjected to different temperatures.
The invention may be said to consist, broadly speaking, of a retort or the like
comprising a pair of compartments, the said compartments communicating with
one another, means for supplying the substance to the compartments, means for
causing the substance to circulate continuously through the said compartments
alternately, and a discharge passage from the said compartments.
The invention may be said, briefly, to consist of a pair of cylinders arranged
one within the other and one (preferably the inner) of the said cylinders being
rotated. A pair of helices is arranged one between the said cylinders and the
other in the inner cylinder the said helices being arranged so as to feed the materia!
in different directions. Means are provided for transferring the material from one
to the other of the said cylinders. A gas-discharge and a gate-controlled discharge
for the residue are provided at the highest and lowest points respectively of the
cylinders. An expansion-chamber is preferably provided between the cylinder and
the said discharge-passage, and the pipe or passage through which the material is
supplied to the cylinders has a helix located therein to facilitate the passage of
the said material. The fire-place of the furnace for heating the retort is connected
to the chimney by a spiral flue and a flue extending axially through the cylinders.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a part side elevation and part longi-
tudinal vertical section of my improved retort and the furnace embodied in this
invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the improved retort
removed from the furnace and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the
line 3-3, Fig. 1.
The invention will be hereinafter described as embodied in a retort for the
destructive distillation of sawdust,

page_text: The retort is completely inclosed in a furnace, the side walls 2 2, Fig. 3, and
top 3 of which are built preferably of brick, the ends 4 4ª, Fig. 1, being con-
structed of metal and formed with bearings 4b. One end 4 of this furnace has
an opening or flue 4ª covered by a metal box e bolted to the said end 4 and
extending from beneath the flue 4d at a point above the bearing 4b.
A bed f. preferably of brickwork, supports the retort through the medium
of a spirally-arranged vane s, which is of sufficient width to extend completely
across the space between the retort and the interior of the furnace-casing. This
vane, provides a spiral flue H, extending from the fire-chamber 4h, Fig. 3, at one
end of the casing to the box e Fig. 1, at the opposite end thereof, while access to
the fire-place is obtained through the fire and ash-pit doors j and k, respectively,
carried by a metal frame 1, which also has an opening to receive the end of a
pipe m, through which the gases are fed to the fire-place, as will be hereinafter
clearly pointed out.
A condenser n is situated adjacent to the end 4 of the furnace and communi-
cates through a pipe o with the adjacent end of the retort.
The opposite end of the said condenser communicates by the pipe m with the
fire-place, while a pipe pleads from the bottom of the adjacent end of the retort
through the bed f to a water tank. (Not shown.)
The stationary outer cylinder of the retort consists, preferably, of a tubular
section 5, having hemispherical ends 6 and 7 Figs. 1 and 2. These ends are formed
with bearings 9 in which rest the tubular trunnion 10 (in the form of a sleeve) of
the open-ended inner rotary cylinder 12 and one end of a hollow shaft or tube 11,
which extends therethrough from the box e and through the said hollow trun-
nion 10 into the chimney X. A pulley 13 is fixed on the said tubular trunnion 10
and a helix 14 is fixed upon the exterior of the inner cylinder 12, the vanes
thereof being of sufficient width to have their radially outer edges rotating in
close proximity to the inner surface of the outer cylinder, while the hollow shaft of
tube 11 has a pulley 16 fixed thereon. An open-topped horizontally-arranged
cylindrical section 17 of corresponding diameter to the inner cylinder 12 is secured
rigidly to the interior of one end of the outer cylinder by means of an angular
strip t, rivetted to the interior of the end 7 of the outer cylinder 5 and to the
adjacent end of the said cylindrical section 17. The trunnion 10 is of sufficient
length to extend a short distance within the inner cylinder 12, to which it is
rigidly connected by a spider 18, Fig. 2, at the inner end thereof, while a second
spider 81 maintains the other end of the said cylinder (to which it is rigidly con-
nected, as at 82) in its proper position relatively to the hollow shaft. A left-liand
helix 19 is fixed on the trunnion 10 its convolutions extending from end to end of
the portion thereof within the cylinders, while the inner end thereof is connected
to one edge of one of the spider-arms, which latter are set in a plane corresponding
to the plane of the helix. A third helix 20. Fig. 2, is carried rigidly by the hollow
shaft 11 and extends from end to end of the cylinder 12 the interior of which it
closely fits.
Two vanes 20 are secured by angle-braces 22 upon the exterior of the inner
cylinder 12, diametrically opposite one another and at the end thereof adjacent to
the open-topped cylinder 17, along the full length of which they extend.
The surface of the outer cylinder 5 is formed near one end with a dome-like
extension 23, Fig. 2, to the upper end of which the pipe o is connected which pipe
conducts the gases to the condenser n, this pipe having a perforated diaphragm 25
secured transversely therein. A supply-pipe 26. having a helix 27, mounted
therein and driven from any suitable source by a shaft 28 is connected adjacent to
the other end of the said outer cylinder and preferably communicates at its upper
end with a hopper (not shown) adapted to carry the supply of sawdust to be dis-
tilled, while the pipe p. Figs. 1 and 2. enables the residue, after the distillation
has been effected, to be discharged and is provided with a gate 30, Fig. 1, the sup-
ply-pipe 26 being also provided with a gate 31.

page_text: The area of spaces intermediate of the tube 11, and the inner cylinder, and the
latter and the outer cylinder, respectively, are equal.
The operation of the improved retort is as follows:-The gate 31 is opened and
the helix 27 started, which will break up any lumps there may be in the saw-
dust, and feed the said sawdust uniformly into the outer cylinder 5, the greater
part falling into the open-topped cylindrical section 17 and the rest into the space
between the cylinders 5 and 12. The helix 19 then acts upon the sawdust within
the said cylindrical section 17 and causes the same to travel from right to left
(see Fig. 2) along the interior of the inner cylinder 12, while the outer helix acts
upon the sawdust between the inner and outer cylinders and causes the same to
travel from left to right, and when it reaches the right-hand end is acted upon
by the vanes 20* and lifted over the open top of said cylindrical section 17 to be
again acted upon by helix 19, as just described. When the retort is filled, the
feeding-helix 27 is stopped and the gate 31 closed, after which the material is
kept continually in motion, one half moving in one direction and the other half
moving in an opposite direction until complete destructive distillation has taken
place, the dome 23 serving as an expansion-chamber for the gases and the perfor-
ated diaphragm 25 preventing the escape of any particles with the gases through
the pipe o, while upon the gate 30 being opened the residue will be discharged
therethrough by the action of the helix.
The hollow shaft 11 constitutes a flue, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 which con-
ducts the products of combustion from the spiral flue to the chimney, thus pro-
viding a heating-surface at the centre, or what would otherwise be the coolest
portion of the distillating area.
The pulleys 13 and 16 are caused to turn in opposite directions in order to
insure the greatest possible agitation of the substances being distilled.
My object in making the helix 19 a left-hand one is contradistinction to the
right-hand helix 20 is to cause the said helix 19 while turning in an opposite
direction to 20 to impart motion to the substance being distilled in the same
direction as the said helix 20.
It is obvious that although I have illustrated and described my device as prin-
cipally applicable for use as a retort for the destructive distillation of sawdust,
it may be used with advantageous results in the distillation of other material or
as a means to thoroughly mix any granular or liquid substance, in which latter
case the gas-discharge pipe and heating-appliances may be dispensed with without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
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 a retort or the like, the combination of a pair of cylinders arranged one
within the other, means within the inner cylinder for imparting motion in one
direction and means between the said cylinders for imparting motion in an oppo-
site direction; the outer cylinder being of greater length than the inner cylinder
and having its ends closed, the inner cylinder having one end open and its other
end closed by the adjacent closed end of the outer cylinder, the portion of the said
inner cylinder adjacent to its closed end having an opening in its upper side;
means for lifting and carrying substance from the said outer cylinders to the said
opening in the upper side of the inner cylinder; a feed-pipe leading to and a
discharge-pipe leading from the said cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
2. In a retort or the like, a pair of cylinders arranged one within the other,
the outer cylinder having its ends closed and being of greater length than the
inner cylinder a non-rotary cylindrical section secured to one end of the said outer
cylindrical section and having its top open, a series of vanes carried by the said
inner rotary-cylinder and projecting along the full length of the said stationary

page_text: cylindrical section; a tube extending from end to end of the said outer cylinder,
a pair of helices located one between the inner and outer cylinders and the other
between the said inner cylinder and the said tube and a third helix arranged
within the said stationary cylindrical section; a furnace, a spiral flue encircling
the said outer cylinder and connecting the said furnace to one end of the said tube,
the other end of the said tube being connected to the chimney, a condenser, a
pipe for connecting the interior of the said retort to the said condenser, a pipe for
connecting the said condenser to the fire-place of the furnace, and means for rotat-
ing the said helices to impart movement in opposite directions, substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described.
3. In a retort or the like, a pair of cylinders arranged one within the other,
the outer cylinder having its ends closed and being of greater length than the
inner cylinder a non-rotatory cylindrical section secured to the interior of one
end of the outer cylindrical section and having, its top open, a series of vanes
carried by the inner rotary cylinder and projecting along the full length of but
free from the stationary cylindrical section; a shaft extending axially through the
said cylinders, means for supporting the said shaft, a right-hand. helix arranged
between the inner and outer cylinders and fast upon the said inner cylinder,
a second right-hand helix arranged between the inner cylinder and the said shaft
and nxed on the said shaft; a sleeve encircling the shaft and extending through
the said stationary-cylindrical section from within the inner cylinder near the
adjacent end thereof to the exterior of the cylinders a left-hand helix arranged
within the said stationary cylindrical section and fixed upon the inner portion of
the said sleeve; a series of diagonally-arranged bracket-arms connecting the adja-
cent part of the said inner cylinder to the said sleeve, means for supporting the
opposite ends of the said inner cylinders and means for rotating the said sleeve
and shaft in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
4. In a retort or the like, a pair of cylinders arranged one within the other,
the outer cylinder being of greater length than the inner cylinder and having its
ends closed a non-rotatory cylindrical section secured to the interior of one end of
the outer cylindrical section and having its top open, a series of vanes carried by
the inner rotary cylinder and projecting along the full length of but free from
the said stationary cylindrical section; a shaft extending axially through the said
cylinders, means for supporting the said shaft; a right-hand helix arranged
between the inner and outer cylinders and fixed rigidly upon the said inner cylin-
der, a right-hand helix arranged between the said inner cylinder and the said sliaft
and fixed on the said shaft; a sleeve encircling the shaft and extending through
the said stationary cylindrical section from within the said inner cylinder near the
adjacent end thereof to the exterior of the cylinders, a left-hand helix arranged
within the said stationary cylindrical section and fixed upon the inner portion
of the said sleeve; a series of diagonally-arranged radial bracket-arms connecting
the adjacent end of the said inner cylinder to the said sleeve, means for support-
ing the opposite ends of the said inner cylinder; a furnace, a spiral flue encircl-
ing the said outer cylinder and connecting the said furnace to one end of the said
tube, the other end of the said tube being connected to the chimney, a condenser,
a pipe for connecting the interior of the said retort to the said condenser, a pipe
for connecting the said condenser to the fire-place of the furnace, and means for
rotating the sleeve and shaft in opposite directions, substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described.
Dated this 12th day of June 1900
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.