Improvements in and connected with Means for Fastening the Lids of Retort Mouthpieces and other Self-sealing Lids and Doors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 28th July,
1900
Improvements in and connected with Means for Fastening the Lids of
Retort Mouthpieces and other Self-sealing Lids and Doors.
We, GEORGE HENRY ROBINSON, of 5, Grey Friars Lane, Machinist, and WILLIAM
VAUGHAN BEST, of 2, Warwick Row, Gentleman, both in Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for fastening the lids of retort mouthpieces
bleaching powder, chamber doors and other self-sealing lids and doors and is
applicable to all such appliances in which the lids or doors are supported by
a cross-bar and forced into contact with the retort mouthpiece or door frame
by screws our invention being an improvement upon a former invention for
which Her Majesty's Royal Letters l'atent were obtained numbered 14877
and bearing date as of the fourth day of July 1896. Now according to this inven-
tion as applied to gas retorts we provide a cross-bar hinged at one end to a
lug on one side of the retort mouthpiece the portion of the said cross bar where
the hinge pin passes through it being forked to afford a good support the said
lug being forked also.
The holes in the crossbar through which the hinge pin passes may be slot
holes to allow the crossbar and lid to move across the mouth of the retort when
the lid. is closed so as to enable the edge of the lid to clear away any dirt grit
or other foreign matter from the face of the mouthpiece and ensure a tight
joint.
We provide also underneath the said lug an arm or lever which acts as an
extra support for the crossbar and lid the said arm or lever being fitted to the
hinge pin and prevented from leaving the same by means of a taper cotter, pin
or nut.
A slot or groove is formed in the free end of the said arm or lever which
engages with a projection on the underside of the crossbar.
A taper wedge key or other suitable device is fitted in the said groove to keep
the crossbar horizontal and compensate for any wear of the hinge or hinge pin.
To the lid of the retort we attach two wedges projecting outwards the inclined
surfaces of which bear on inclined surfaces on the upper side of the crossbar and
compel the lid when closed to move vertically over the face of the retort mouth.
At the side of the retort mouth opposite to the hinge pin is a link pivotted at
one end to a lug which is attached to the retort mouth the said link being
slotted to receive the free end of the crossbar and provided with a projection on
the inside which when the lid is closed comes in contact with the end of the
crossbar and draws the link over the end thereof and holds the lid closed while
being sealed.
Suitable stops are provided to limit the vibration of the link and the free
end of the crossbar is so formed as to prevent it from becoming disengaged from
the link when the lid is closed.
We secure in the lid a pin or bolt which passes through the crossbar and which

page_text: iз prevented from leaving the same by means of a nut or a pin and washer and
oscillating on the said pin or bolt is a forked lever the arms of which are on
either side of the crossbar and are formed with cam surfaces engaging with
similar cam surfaces on the back and front of the boss of the crossbar.
The cam surfaces may be of any suitable configuration which will enable the
lid to be forced tightly against the face of the retort mouth after the lid is closed
by moving the forked lever.
Stops may be provided to limit the oscillation of the said lever.
On the inside of the forked lever is a stud on which rotates a roller which bears
on the underside of the boss of the crossbar and throws the lid into its proper
position when closed.
The lug to which the catch link is pivotted is bolted or otherwise secured to
the retort mouthpiece suitable packing being interposed between the meeting
surfaces to compensate for wear.
By means of our invention it is unnecessary to touch the lid by hand to
open or close it, the forked lever and crossbar being operated by means of a
rake or shovel.
This invention is applicable to lids and doors for all kinds of retorts doors for
bleaching powder chambers coal bunkers, manhole covers and to self-sealing lids
and doors in general.
T
11
ORE
.
T. E. HALFORD,
82, Mark Lane, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with Means for Fastening the Lids of
Retort Mouthpieces and other Self-sealing Lids and Doors.
We, GEORGE HENRY ROBINSON, of 5, Grey Friars Lane, Machinist, and WILLIAM
VAUGHAN BEST, of 2, Warwick Row, Gentleman, both in Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, 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 means for fastening the lids of retort mouthpieces
bleaching powder, chamber doors and other self-sealing lids and doors and is
applicable to all such appliances in which the lids or doors are supported by
a cross-bar and forced into contact with the retort mouthpiece or door frame
by screws our invention being an improvement upon a former invention for
which Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent were obtained numbered 14877
and bearing date as of the fourth day of July 1896.
Now according to this invention as applied to gas retorts we provide a crossbar
ringed at one end to a lug on one side of the retort mouthpiece the portion of
the said crossbar where the hinge pin passes through it being forked to afford
a good support, the said lug being forked also.
The holes in the crossbar through which the hinge pin passes may be slot
holes to allow the crossbar and lid to move across the mouth of the retort when
the lid is closed so as to enable the edge of the lid to clear away any dirt grit
or other foreign matter from the face of the mouthpiece and ensure
joint.
a tight
-
We provide also underneath the said lug an arm or lever which acts as an
extra support for the crossbar and lid the said arm or lever being fitted to the

page_text: hinge pin and prevented from leaving the same by means of a taper cotter pin
or nut.
A slot or groove is formed in the free end of the said arm or lever which
engages with a projection on the underside of the crossbar.
A taper wedge key or other suitable device is fitted in the said groove to keep
the crossbar horizontal and to compensate for any wear of the hinge or hinge pin.
To the lid of the retort we attach two wedges projecting outwards the inclined
surfaces of which bears on inclined surfaces on the upper side of the crossbar and
compel the lid when closed to move vertically over the face of the retort mouth.
At the side of the retort mouth opposite to the hinge pin is a link pivotted at
one end to a lug which is attached to the retort mouthpiece the said link being
slotted to receive the free end of the cross bar and is provided with a projection on
the inside which when the lid is closed comes in contact with the end of the
crossbar and draws the link over the end thereof and holds the lid closed while
being sealed.
Suitable stops are provided to limit the vibration of the link and the free
end of the crossbar is so formed as to prevent it from becoming disengaged from
the link when the lid is closed.
We secure in the lid a pin or bolt which passes through the crossbar and which
is prevented from leaving the same by means of a nut or a pin and washer and
oscillating about the said pin or bolt is a forked lever the arms of which are on
either side of the crossbar and are formed with cam surfaces engaging with
similar cam surfaces on the back and front of the boss of the crossbar.
The cam surfaces may be of any suitable configuration which will enable the
lid to be forced tightly against the face of the retort mouth after the lid is closed
by moving the forked lever.
Stops may be provided to limit the oscillation of the said lever.
On the inside of the forked lever is a stud on which rotates a roller which bears
on the underside of the boss of the crossbar and throws the lid into its proper
position when closed.
The lug to which the catch link is pivotted is bolted or otherwise secured to
the retort mouthpiece suitable packing being interposed between the meeting
surfaces to compensate for wear.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we will proceed
to explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which:
Fig. 1 represents front view of a retort mouthpiece fitted with a lid constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is end view of same.
Fig. 3 is plan of same.
Fig. 4 is view of a portion of the crossbar and supporting arm to an enlarged
scale.
Fig. 5 is section on line A B Figs. 1 and 4.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figs.
a is the retort mouthpiece is the lid thereof c is a crossbar hinged at a to
a lug e on one side of the mouthpiece a.
As shewn by Fig. 1 the lug e and the end of the crossbar e are both forked
to afford a good support.
The holes in the crossbar c through which the hinge pin d passes are preferably
slot holes to allow the crossbar and lid to move across the mouth of the retort
when the lid is closed so as to enable the edge of the lid to clear away any dirt
grit or other foreign matter from from the face of the mouthpiece and thus ensure
a tight joint.
g is an arm or lever fitted to the pin d and prevented from leaving the same
by a pin h or by other suitable means.
The lever g acts as an extra support for the crossbar and lid.
A slot or groove i is formed in the end of the said arm or lever which slot

page_text: engages with a projection j on the underside of the bar e a taper wedge or
other suitable device being fitted in the said groove to keep the crossbar horizontal
and to compensate for wear and tear of the hinge see Fig. 5 which shews section
on line A B Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale.
Attached to or formed in one with the lid b are two wedges projecting
outwards the inclined surfaces of which rest on inclined surfaces m m on the
apper side of the crossbar e to compel the lid 6 when closed to move vertically
over the face of the mouthpiece.
n is a link pivotted at o to a lug or hinge p which is bolted to the mouth-
piece a opposite to the lug e the said link being slotted at g to receive the free
end of the crossbar c.
1
r, s, t, are inclined or other suitably shaped lugs of which r, s, are formed
on the link n and t is formed on the lug p so that when the lid is opened the
link takes the position shewn by dotted lines (Fig. 3) the movement of the
said link to the left being limited by the lug r.
When the lid is closed the end of the crossbar e strikes the lugs and causes
the link to move to the right so as to engage with the end of the crossbar c
which is formed in such a manner as to prevent it from becoming disengaged
from the link when the lid is closed unless the said link is purposely detached
from the crossbar.
To make the lid close airtight against the retort mouthpiece we secure to the
lid a pin or bolt u which passes through the crossbar and which is secured therein
by a nut or by means of a pin and washer v¹.
Oscillating on the pin or bolt u is a forked lever.w the arms of which embrace
the crossbar and are formed with cam surfaces which engage with similar sur-
faces y on the back and front of the crossbar.
These cam surfaces may be inclined planes portions of quick thread screws
or any other suitable shape to enable the lid to be forced tightly against the
face of the retort mouth after the lid is closed by oscillating the lever w.
Suitable stops may be provided to limit the oscillation of the lever w.
On the inside of the lever w is a stud on which rotates the roller z which bears
on the underside of the boss of the crossbar and throws the lid into its proper
place when closed.
2¹ is a cover to prevent dust from falling between the cam faces.
The lug is bolted or otherwise secured to the retort mouthpiece suitable pack-
ings being interposed between the meeting surfaces to compensate for wear.
This invention renders it unnecessary to touch the lid by hand in order to open
and close the same the forked lever wand crossbar c being operated by means
of a rake or shovel.
This invention is applicable to lids and doors for all kinds of retorts bleaching
powder chamber doors, coal bunker doors manhole covers and to self sealing
lids and doors generally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a fastening device for the lids of retort mouthpieces and other self-
sealing lids and doors a forked cam lever oscillating on a pin or bolt, in com-
bination with a cross bar attached to the lid or door the said cross bar having
cam surfaces thereon adapted to engage with the cam surfaces on the said lever
substantially as described and for the purposes stated.
2. In a fastening device for the lids of retort mouthpieces and other self-
sealing lids and doors the combination of a lid having inclined planes or
wedges on the outside thereof with a crossbar e hinged to the mouthpiece a,
a pin or bolt u secured in the said lid and passing through the said crossbar,
cam surfaces y on the said crossbar, a forked lever w w oscillating on the pin
or bolt u, and provided with cam surfaces engaging with the cam surfaces

page_text: a link n pivotted at o to a lug p and provided with projections r s t and a roller z
on the lever w all substantially as and for the purposes stated.
3. In a fastening device for the lids of retort mouthpieces and other self-sealing
lids and doors the combination with a crossbar c of an arm or lever g having
a slot or groove therein, a projection ; on the underside of the crossbar c, a
taper wedge or other device k, wedges on the lid band inclined surfaces m m
on the said crossbar all substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4. The specific combination and arrangement of parts forming our improved
means for fastening the lids of retort mouthpieces and other self-sealing lids
and doors constructed as shewn by the accompanying drawings and operating
in the manner specified.
Doted this 21st
1000
T. E. HALFORD,
82, Mark Lane, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicants.