US46318A - Improved method of treating offal - Google Patents

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

WILLIAM ADAMSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING OFFAL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,3 l S, dated February 14, 1865.

To a/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WILLTAM ADAMsoN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Treatment ot' Offal; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in utilizing oft'al by draining, drying, and dsinfectingit, substan tially in the manner described hereinafter.

In order to enable others to practice my invention,I will now proceed to describe the manner of carrying it into effect.

In Chicago, and other cities of thev west, where vast quantities of hogs and other cattle are slaughtered, the proper disposal of the offal has been a subject of much consideration. It has hitherto been the practice to throw the offal into the rivers and creeks, to the an noyance of those living` in the neighborhood, and to the detriment of the public health. Recently attempts have been made to utilize this offal by converting it into a fertilizer, the offal being placed in heaps on the ground and permitted to ferment, after which it was spread out and allowed to dry. This plan proved to be impracticable owing to the noxious exhalations from the offal during the fer inenting and drying processes.

By my invention the oifal is converted into valuable manure, and the above nuisance obviated.

Figure l represents a vertical section of a building for drying and disinfecting otfal and converting it into manure; Fig. 2, a transverse section Fig. 3, a plan view, and Fig. 4 a modified form ot building.

The building A may be either of brick, Wood, or other suitable material, should be about twice as long as it is broad, and should have the usual inclined root', B, part of which is detachable for the introduction of the oft'al, which is deposited on a floor or platform, D, consisting of perforated plates, wire-netting, or suitable grating, supported by appropriate joists, E. Beneath this door and at one end of the building is a fire place, F, for receiving the fuel, by means of which the process is in part effected.

Another and more economical mode of constructing the building is that illustrated in Fig. 4, where G represents the surface of the ground, and H a trench with inclined sides, which may be simply paved or cemented, or even the bare ground will in some cases suftice. The grated Hoor or perforated platform D is in this instance on a level withv the surface of the ground, andis covered by a low building, I, the roof of which, or a portion of it, is detachable.

Having deposited on the grating or floor a layer of straw, or stubble, or twigs, or branches of trees, I place on the latter a mass of offal from the slaughter-houses, &c. The roof is then closed in and the otfal left to drain for a few hours. A fire is then kindled in the fireplace F and the products of combustion permitted to pervade the whole space beneath the grated floor D. The first effect of the heat will be to -warm the mass of off-al and to set free therefrom alarge quantity of water, for I have discovered that when as much water as possible has been drawn olf without the application of heat the latter will cause afurther drainage. The fire is continued and the products of combustion permitted to pass through the mass, which dually `becomes dry, disinfected, and ready for removal. It is then treated according to any of the usual processes for making phosphates or animal manure. While the fire is burning I from time to time throw onto it spent tan, grapevine twigs, or any other matter containing tannin, the fumes and smoke from which have rapid and certain disinfecting properties.

By the above-described process all oft'al hitherto discarded and heretofore deemed a nuisance and matter dilicult to dispose ot' can be convertedinto a manure at a Very tritling cost compared with its value as a fertilizer.

It will be evident that the buildings for carrying out my process may be varied as regards form and construction without. departing from the main feature of my inven tion. The dre-place, for instance, may be at Inl testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the `presence of ltWo subscribing witnesses.

WM. ADAMSON.

Witnesses:

`HENRY HoWsoN,

JOHN WHIATE.

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