Retort for Distilling Heavy Bodies in General, and Particularly Gum and Resin.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th. Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Retort for Distilling Heavy Bodies in General, and Particularly
Gum and Resin.
I
1, VICTOR JOSEPH KUESS of No. 21 Boulevard Poissonuière, Paris in the
Republic of France, Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to a retort for distilling heavy bodies and gum and
resin in particular.
Heretofore it has always been necessary to make use of two distinct retorts in
the extraction of spirits of turpentine and oil of resin, and it has been founil
impossible to introduce steam into such retorts on account of the alarming
effervescence which takes place in such cases. But in my method I am enabled
to make use of only one retort and also to introduce steam therein and obtain
results in a shorter time and further, the unpleasant taste and disagreeable smell
which at present accompany hydrocarbons of the turpentine series are not present
in using my invention.
And my invention consists of an ordinary cucurbite within which is situated a
bath or vessel to contain the substances to be distilled. Between the cucurbite
nud the inner vessel is a space which may be filled with superheated steam and
which is connected by means of a pipe or pipes with any suitable steam generator.
The top of the cucurbite is provided with the ordinary head or cover and a neck.
But this neck instead of being directly connected with the condensing apparatus,
which is of the usual description, is arranged to enter a short distance within
another tube of larger diameter and which is in direct communication with the
condensing apparatus, in such a manner as to form a hollow annular ring, said ring
being connected with the aforesaid space for the superheated steam by means of
two or more suitable pipes. This hollow ring is of a small diameter in order to
cause the superheated steam to rush with a certain force into the neck proper
which connects the head of the cucurbite with the worm and condensing
apparatus. Another pipe is led through the head or cover of the cucurbite
and descends vertically to almost the bottom of the inner bath or vessel,
where it branches off into two or more directions and is joined to and carries an
annular pipe perforated with small holes and concentric with it. Upon this vertical
pipe are placed two discs or plates preferably of aluminium and perforated with
small round holes; these discs or plates being supported on the vertical pipe by
means of nuta and soparated from these nuts by washers of asbestos, mica or other
suitable material. These two discs or plates are connected by insulated wires to
the electrodes of a dynamo (or in the case of small retorts batteries may be used).
These wires are protected in their vertical passage through the head or cover of
the cucurbite by glass tubes which in their turn are protected by metal ones.
desired I may instal at the bottom of the inner bath or vessel and between the
bottom thereof and the annular pipe before described, an electrical superheater
which will not only simplify the distillation but will also render the products of a
better quality, since the influence of electrical heat differs from that of ordinary
heat inasmuch as it disinfects and bleaches.
If
This electrical superheater may be composed of a plate or disc, forming a kind
of double bottom with the bath or vessel. Metal supports furnished with set

page_text: scrows are inserted into this plate or diso in such a manner that a ferro-nickol wire
which passes through these supports forms a spiral. The ferro nickel wire is
insulated from the metal supports and set sorews by means of cardboard asbestos,
mica or other suitable material, and its extremities may be connected with the
electrodes of a dynamo or battery.
The retort may be further provided with a pyrometer and all the usual
registering instruments to ensure correct working.
Before introducing gum or other substances into the inner bath or vessel through
□ cover in the head of the cucurbite which may be removed for the purpose, it in
an advantage to have these strained or screened.
The gum or other substance having been introduced into the inner bath or
vessel, steam is admitted into the pipes, and an electrical current passed through tho
wires within the bath or vessel.
Electrolysis is set up within the bath by means of the discs or plates secured to
the vertical pipe before mentioned and the gum or other substances in the bath
decomposed. The distillation proceeding, the steam which issues with some force
into the neck of the retort surrounds the vapour and steam issuing from the inner
bath or vessel and carries it along with it to the condensing apparatus where it is
condensed in the usual manner.
During their passage the steam serves to wash--almost bleach-the vapour and
steam from the inner bath or vessel.
The molecular decomposition of the products of distillation by my method is no
more than in ordinary distillation, and the stronger the electrical current the better
the results.
I may make my retort of glass, stonowaro, tin, copper or other suitable
material.
Dated this Seventh day of March 1805.
Retort for Distilling Heavy Bodies in General, and Particularly
Gum and Resin.
I, VICTOR JOSEPH KUESS, of No. 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Chemist, 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:-
This invention relates to a retort for distilling heavy bodies aud gum and resin
in particular.
Heretofore it has always been necessary to make use of two distinct retorts in
the extraction of spirits of turpentine and oil of resin, and it has been found
impossible to introduce steam into such retorts on account of the alarming
effervescence which takes place in such cases. But in my method I am enabled to
make use of only one retort, and also to introduce steam therein and obtain results
in a shorter time, and further, the unpleasant taste and disagreeablo smell, which at
present accompany hydrocarbons of the turpentine series, are not present in using
my invention.
I attain these objects by the construction and arrangement hereinafter described
with reference to the accompanying drawings upon which―
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a retort constructed according to my invention,
and shewn with a refrigerator in position,
Figure 2 being a section on line 1-2 of Fig. 1, and also shewing the lower part
of the outer casing and boiler.

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan of the arrangement of steam-pipes within the boiler.
Figure 4 is a plan of one of the perforated discs surrounding the central
steam-pipe, shewing the connection of an electrical conductor to the same.
Figure 5 is a plan of a super-heater plate and spiral wire with its connecting
studs, and-
Figure 6 is a vertical section of one of the connecting studs and screws, with
the conducting wire inserted therein.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
My improved apparatus consists of an ordinary cucurbite or casing a, within
which is situated a bath or vessel b, to contain the substances to be distilled.
Between the cucurbite a and the inner vessel b, is a space g, which may be filled
with super-heated steam and which is connected by means of a steam inlet at
the bottom and a suitable connecting-pipe with a steam generator of ordinary
construction. The top of the cucurbite a is provided with the ordinary retort-head
or cover o, and a neck. This neck instead of being directly connected with the
condensing apparatus or refrigerator e-which is of the usual description,-is
arranged to enter a short distance within a tube d of larger diameter, and which is
in direct communication with the condensing apparatus, in such a manner that tho
neck and the tube form at their junction a hollow ring or annular conduit, com-
municating by means of two or more pipes i of suitable form and dimensions, with
the before-mentioned steam-space g. This annular conduit is of small diameter
in order to cause the super-heated steam to be discharged with considerable force
through the tube d into the worm of the refrigerator e, carrying off by suction or
exhaustion the vapours arising from the bath or boiler b, so as to create a partial
vacuum therein. Through the head o of the retort another pipe is passed
vertically down to nearly the bottom of the bath b, for the purpose of conducting
steam into the latter through a perforated annular pipe or crown n, with which it is
connected at its lower end by means of two or more branches m, as shown on Fig. 3.
By this arrangement steam is forced through the perforations in the crown n into
the mass of substances to be distilled contained in the bath b.
I may construct my retort either of stoneware, glass tin, copper or other suitable
heat-resisting material.
In order to provide for the use of an electric current or of electrolysis within
the retort for the purposes of hastening distillation and preventing unpleasant
fumes, 1 arrange upon the vertical pipe k, and below the level to which the
substances contained in the bath may rise, two metal discs or plates o, o', preferably
of aluminium, perforated with small holes and separately supported and insulated
by nuts p, p, or equivalents, and washers of asbestos, mica, or other suitable
insulating material interposed between the discs and the nuts,-see Figs. 1 and 4.
The discs o, o'; are separately connected to opposite poles of a dynamo, or, in the
case of a very small retort,-to the poles of suitable batteries, by means of
insulated conducting wires s, s', enclosed within glass tubes r, r', which in turn are
inserted within metal tubes t', as shewn on Fig. 1. By this arrangement, during
distillation electrolysis is sot up between the perforated discs o, o', in the substances
to be distilled.
At the bottom of the bath b, I may employ a super-heater for the steam used in
the retort. Should motive power be available for driving a large dynamo, I may,
if desired, arrange an electrical super-heater at the bottom of the bath with the
advantage that electrical heat yields over fire-heat in its disinfecting and bleaching
effect. This electrical super-heater, as shown on Figs. 1 and 5,-may consist of a
convolution or spiral of ferro-nickel wire, supported upon a metal disc or plate u
forining a double bottom to the bath or vessel b; studs and screws z are provided
to secure the wire spiral or convolution in au insulated position, as shewn on
Figs. 1 and 6, small shields of asbestos-cardboard and mica boing preferably used
as the insulating media. The conducting wires are connected to the extremities in
and y of the spiral and are insulated and protected in the same manner as the
conductors 8, used for the purposes of electrolysis as previously described,
C

page_text: The retort may be further provided with a pyrometer and all the usual
registering instruments to ensure correct working.
Before introducing gum or other substances into the inner vessel or bath b,-for
which purpose the cover c is made removable,-these substances should be
strained or screened. A suitable temperature to be maintained during distillation
of gum or similar substances is about 90° Centigrade until the extraction of spirits
of turpentine has been effected, after which it is raised until the pyrometer
registers 200°, and towards the end of the operation the temperature may be raised
to 300° in order to clean the apparatus. After the substances have been introduced
.into the bath, eteam is admitted into the pipes, and an electrical current passed
through the wires within the bath or inner vessel.
Electrolysis being set up within the bath by means of the discs or plates o o'
the substances are decomposed.
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 retorts for the distillation of fatty and resinous substances, the use of
insulated perforated metallic discs o, o', immersed within the substances to be
distilled and connected by separate insulated conductors s, s', to opposite poles of
an external source of electricity, as and for the purposes described.
2. In retorts for the distillation of fatty and resinous substances, the use of a
spiral or convolute conducting wire supported by a number of studs, and screws z,
in an insulated condition upon a metallic plate or disc u, arranged within and at
the bottom of the retort, and connected with an external source of electricity,
us described and for the purposes specified.
3. In retorts for the distillation of fatty and resinous substances, the arrange-
ment of the neck d, and inner tube d¹, forming at their junction an annular
passage h, communicating by one or more pipes i, with steam-jacket g, as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. In retorts for the distillation of fatty and resinous substances, the arrange-
ment of a perforated crown or annular pipe n, placed in the substances to be
distilled and connected to a steam inlet pipe k, substantially as described.
.5. A retort for the distillation of fatty and resinous substances consisting of an
exterior casing a, bath b, head or cover c, and neck, separate insulated perforated
discs o o', immersed in the substances to be distilled and connected to opposite
poles of an external source of electricity, an annular perforated steam-pipe n,
immersed in the substances to be distilled, au annular conduit & arranged within the
neck d', and opening towards the exit thereof, either in combination with-or
without a spiral or convolute wire and metallic supporting plate u, arranged
within and at the hottom of the retort for the purposes and as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. A retort for the distillation of fatty and resinous substances, constructed,
combined and arranged substantially for the purposes specified, and as described
with referenco to the accompanying drawings.
Dured this 7th day of December 1895.
Dated 18 LA DAY Of December 1895.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Agents.