US184963A - Improvement in processes and apparatus for the manufacture of charbon-roux - Google Patents

Description

G. L. HARRISON. ir.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR CHARBON ROUX.

'UNrrED STATES GEORGE L. HARRISON, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR I PATENT OFFICE TO HARRISON BROS. 8c OO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CHARBON-ROUX.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,963, dated December 5, 18.76; application tiled .March L9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, GEORGE LEIB HARRI- SON, Jr., of lthe city and' county of Philadelphia, 'in the State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a new and useful Process for the Manufacture of the Fuel known as Oharbon-RouX,77 and apparatus for giving effect tothe same, of which the following specification is hereby declared by me to be a full, clear, and precise description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the specification, both the figures of which represent, in section, a convenient form of apparatus for giving eect to my process- Figure l hein g a transverse central sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a similar longitudinal view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

My invention relates to the manufacture of the French fuel or kindling-woodl known as charbon-roux, which consists of wood darkened and browned throughout its fiber by the application of heat to an extent stopping short of carbonization; and consists in subjecting sticks of wood, cut up to suitable size, in a perforated cage or chamber, continuously or intermittently rotated, to the action of heat radiated upon the cage from a circui'nscribing chamber and furnace; and, further, consists in the apparatus for effecting the same, hereinafter described and claimed.

For the better information of the public, l

will describe in detail the construction of. forms of my invention obviating the existingdefects.

A is a cylindrical or other shaped chamber, supported and tixed upon rests B within, or itself' huilt into, an inclosing brick or other furnace, C, in such manner as to. leave a free space for flame all around its sides and top. It is closed up upon its outer end by a movable but close-fitting head-plate, D, provided with an eye, E, for manipulation by a crane, and a small central trap and door, F, for the passage of the shaft'of a crank, M. G is an escape-pipe, for the exit of the aceticacid vapor and hydrocarbon gases evolved from the charge. 'H is the fire-pot of the furnace; I a J, the ash-pit, and K the stack.

bridge-wall;

Within the chamber A, and resting upon friction-rollers N therein,is a rotatable perforated cage, L, provided also with a removable headplate, the axis of which is concentric with that of the trap F, and which is provided with a boss, cubically recessed to receive the squared extremity of the crank-shaft for the rotation of the cage.

The cage may be provided inside with ledges or diaphragms for the agitation of the charge, and the rollers N may be eccentric, or other mechanism may be employed to oscillate, vibrate, or otherwise agitate or shake the cage itself; and convenient mechanism to rotate may take the place of the crank.

Such being the construction of my appara.- tus, the charbon-roux is produced by removing and charging the cage with sticks of wood, replacing it to be subjected to the action of radiated heat from the chamber A, which can be made red-hot by the direct action of the ame upon it, and rotating it continuously or at'intervals.

As a modified form of the above, enabling me to dispense altogether with the circumscribing chamber A, l employ a rotating chamber alone, supported and rotated by any fit means, and perforated, as most convenient, for the escaping vapor and gases, the perforation heilig, in etfcct, secured by a loose-fitting head-plate., a hollow trunnion, or the like.

The position ot' my whole apparatus may, with proper mechanical modifications, he changed from horizontal to vertical wit-hout altering the material character of my invention, of which rotation or agitation, as opposed to rest, are the vital constituents.v

The advantages are the readinessand ease of charging and uncharging by removal of the cage or rotating chamber; the thorough agi` tation ofthe entire charge by rotation, which the shrinkage of the sticks permits, even though the cage or rotating chamber he at rst packed absolutely full, insuring even and complete browning of the whole, and an absolute avoidance of top layers of charcoal; and, nally, the great capacity of the apparatus, readily yielding, as it does, four charges of charbonrouxin twenty-four hours.

Heretofore charbon-roux has been manufactured by heating billets of wood in stationary retorts or chambers; butit has practically been found impossible to obtain in this Way a uniform product. The billets nearest the Walls of' the retort were converted into charcoal, While those in the center were but very slightly scorched. By my process this diiculty is obviated, and a uniform product is obtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The process of making charbon'roux herein described, which consists in subjecting billets of wood to heat under agitation, substan tially as described.

2. The combination of the furnace C, retort A, and revolving cage L, substantially as described.

3. `The combination o'f' the retort A, having removable bead-plate D, and pipe G, with the revolving cage L and furnace C, substantially as described. l

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

eno. L. HARRISON, JR.

In presence ot'- J. BoNsALL TAYLOR, JOHN J oLLEY.

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