In- PROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND DRAWING RETORTS, AND IN THE MACHINERY or ApparatuS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Foulis, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND DRAWING RETORTS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
or ApparatuS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Foulis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th October 1874.
I, WILLIAM FOULIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND DRAWING RETORTS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to
say :-
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved arrangement or
construction of machines for charging and drawing retorts, consists in
respect of the charging machines of a framing carried on wheels, by

page_text: which the machine is traversed in front of the retorts. One side of the
framing is vertical, and upon this side the charging machinery is carried
in a sliding saddle or guide. The object of making one side of the
framing vertical is that the charging machinery may slide up and down
thereon to correspond with the level of any retort in a series.
The charging mechanism, namely, that by which the materials are
passed into the retorts, consists of a scoop attached to a circular bar or
block fitted in bearings in which it is capable of being turned round and
back again after the manner set forth in the Specification filed under
Letters Patent granted to the said William Foulis, No. 153, A.D. 1874,
but under the present Invention the drum which actuates or moves the
scoop into and out of the retort and turns it over to deposit the charge
in the retort is carried upon a shaft, which is also vertical and parallel to
the vertical face of the framing. The drum is provided with a feather,
which enters a groove extending the entire length of the vertical shaft,
so that it is raised or lowered correspondingly with the raising and
lowering of the charging apparatus. On the lower part of the framing
is situate the hydraulic cylinder by which the vertical shaft and the
gearing connected therewith is actuated, this being effected by a toothed
rack attached to the same, gearing into a pinion, by chains or other
mechanical equivalent.
The charging machine is raised and lowered on the vertical face of the
framing either by racks and pinions, chains, or by means of an hydraulic
ram.
Another part of this Invention consists in attaching the scoop to the
machine by means of a T headed catch fitting into a correspondingly
shaped hole, or by a dovetail, so that the scoop can be readily removed
from or attached to the machine, and in this manner the necessity of
using trays for charging the scoops, which have hitherto been perma-
nently fixed to the machine, is dispensed with, as the scoops being
removeable are charged at once on being disconnected from the machine,
and when recharged are reattached thereto.
The improvement in machines for drawing the charge from retorts,
which constitutes the second part of this Invention, consists in sus-
pending the hydraulic cylinder which carries the rake from a chain
passed over a pulley in the upper part of the framing in which the
drawing mechanism is supported; the chain is connected to a weight or

page_text: rack and pinion, by which the hydraulic cylinder is maintained at any
required level. A second hydraulic cylinder placed vertically and pro-
vided with a piston and slide valve is attached to the framing, and the
rod of the piston in the cylinder is connected by a chain to the rear end
of the hydraulic cylinder which carries the drawing rake. The upper
and lower ends of this second hydraulic cylinder are connected to the
front and rear ends of the hydraulic cylinder which carries the rake.
The attendant in charge of the machine by moving the slide valve
upwards allows the water to flow into the lower part of the vertical
bydraulic cylinder so that its piston begins to rise, whilst at the same
time the water passes therefrom into the rear of the rake cylinder and
pushes it forward into the retort, the rake being carried clear above the
charge in the retort by the raising of the piston of the vortical hydraulic
cylinder. So soon as the rako has reached the end of its stroke the
attendant lowers the slide valve, thus opening the upper port of the
vertical hydraulic cylinder, thereby depressing the piston therein, which
action lowers the rake on or into the charge to be drawn, and at the
same time the water passing through the upper exit port of this cylinder
to the front end of the rake cylinder causes the piston therein, together
with the rake, to be drawn back whilst the water previously used for
forcing the rake into the retort escapes through the central port of the
slide valve.
-
5 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Foulis in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FOULIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil
30 Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 38th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and

page_text: grant unto me, the said William Foulis, Her special license that I, the
said William Foulis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Foulis, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND DRAWING RETORTS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Foulis, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Foulis, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
My said Invention which relates to new or improved machines for
charging and driving retorts, consists in respect of the charging
machine of a framing carried on wheels by which the machine is
traversed in front of the retorts. One side of the framing is vertical
and on this side the charging mechanism is carried in such a manner as
to be capable of being raised and lowered to correspond with the level of
· any retort in a series, by means of ropes or chains and pulleys or drums
operated by a screw and tangent wheel, by bevil or other gearing, by
hydraulic cylinder and ram, or by racks and pinions.
The charging mechanism is operated horizontally into and out of the a
retorts by means of a hydraulic cylinder and ram situate on the framing;
and another hydraulic cylinder and ram is employed to traverse the
machine in front of the retorts.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner {
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into

page_text: effect, reference being had to the annexed Sheets of Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
On Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side
elevation; Figure 2, a plan, and Figure 3, an elevation of the rear end
of the charging machine as constructed in accordance with this Inven-
tion. As shewn by these Figures the mechanism consists of a
framing A supported on wheels B, by which it is traversed upon the
rails O in front of the retort mouth-pieces D. The traversing of the
machine is effected by the hydraulic ram and cylinder E supported on a
girder or frame F, extending between the end frames A at one side of
the machine. The ram or plunger of the hydraulic cylinder E is
attached to a rack a which gears into a spur pinion b, situate loosely on
a vertical shaft c supported in a sleeve carried by the girder or frame F.
On the lower end of the shaft c a bevil pinion d is fixed which gears into
a corresponding bevil wheel e keyed on the shaft G, whereon a pair of
the carrying wheels B are situated.
When it is desired to traverse the machine along the rails from one
retort to another, the clutch f sliding on a feather formed on the upper
end of the shaft c is pushed by the lever g into gear with the clutch box
formed on the pinion b, so that the pinion 6 is geared with the shaft c,
and water being then admitted to the cylinder E the shaft c is rotated
and from it the motion is communicated to the carrying wheels B
through the shaft G. Before reversing the motion of the ram within
the cylinder E, that is, before returning the rack a to the position shewn
on the Drawings, the pinion b is thrown out of gear by raising the
clutch f. One side of each end frame A is made vertical, as shewn at
Figure 3, Sheet 1, and to each vertical face is fixed a hollow channel or
guide H, the form of which in horizontal section is seen at Figure 2,
Sheet 1. In proximity to the hollow channels or guides H bearers or
saddles I are placed, on which a framing J carrying the charging
mechanism is supported, which mechanism consists of a scoop K in
which the materials to be charged into the retorts are placed. The
scoop K is attached to a circular bar or block L of metal fitted in
bearings M and N, in which it is capable of turning round so as to
invert and "right" the scoop at the required times. The bearings M
and N are each provided at their lower ends with wheels or rollers /
which run upon the framing J, when the scoop K and block L are
traversed thereon to and from the retorts D. The horizontal movement

page_text: of the scoop K and block L is effected by a hydraulic cylinder O
supported on two frames or girders P attached to the lower parts of the
end frames A. The piston of the hydraulic cylinder O is attached to a
rack which gears into and rotates a spur pinion m, Figure 3, fixed on a
cross shaft n on which a bevil pinion o is also fixed, and geared into another
bevil pinion p on the lower extremity of a vertical shaft whereon a drum Q
is also placed. On the drum Q a chain or rope is wound, one end of which
is passed towards the forward end of the machine and carried round a
grooved roller carried on the frame J, thence round another grooved
roller centred on a stud projecting from one side of the rearward
bearing N, from whence the chain or rope passes over or into a groove v³
in the block L to that side of the block marked t, Figures 2 and 3, whereat
that end of the chain or rope is attached to an eye or ring. The opposite
end of the chain or rope is carried from the drum Q to the rearward end
of the apparatus, whereat it is passed round grooved rollers u, thence
under and round a grooved rollers and over the groove s¹ of the block L
to that side of the block L marked w, Figures 2 and 3, whereat that end
of the chain or rope is also fixed to an eye or ring.
When it is desired to move the scoop with the charge of material into
the retort, water is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder O, the
piston of the said cylinder is thereby moved rearwards and rotates, tho
shaft n through the intervention of the rack and pinion m. From
the shaft n the rotatory motion is communicated through the bevil
gearing o, p, to the shaft r, whereby the drum Q is rotated in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 1, and is so caused to wind on the forward
hauling portion ¹ of the rope or chain which draws the scoop K and
block L into the position indicated in dotted lines at Figure 1, at which
position of the scoop the piston of the cylinder O has nearly completed
its rearward stroke.
A double stop or pawl, the construction of which is seen on an
enlarged scale at y, Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 1, enters a notch y' formed
in the periphery near the rearward end of the block L to keep the block
and scoop K. in the position shewn whilst being moved towards or into
the retort. The pawl or stop y which is situated on a shaft extending
throughout or nearly throughout the length of the framing J is capable
of moving along a feather on the shaft as the scoop is traversed towards
and from the retorts D, and it is held in its position in the notch y¹
(whilst moving forwards) by a bracket or projection formed on or

page_text: attached to the rearward end of the block L bearing against one side of
the pawl; or other equivalent mechanism may be employed for that
purpose. When the scoop K. has arrived at the position shewn in dotted
lines, Figure 1, Sheet 1, the pawl y is released from the notch y¹ by
turning the shaft on which it is situated through the lever %, which
being effected the piston of the cylinder O on performing the remainder
of its rearward stroke further rotates the drum Q in the direction of the
arrow, and the scoop K and block L being released from the pawl y are
by the continued hauling action of the portion x¹ of the chain or rope
turned over or inverted so as to deposit the charge into the retort. The
extent of rotatory motion imparted to the scoop K and block L is regu-
lated by a stop y' at one side of the block coming in contact with the
projection 19 situated at one side of the bearing N. When the charge
has been so deposited within the retort the pawl or claw y³ is by the aid
of the lever z pushed into the notch y³ so as to retain the scoop in its
inverted position. Water is then admitted to the rearward end of the
cylinder O, which by moving the piston of the cylinder O forwards
produces an action of the hauling mechanism the reverse of that herein-
before described, and also causes the hauling chain after having returned
the scoop and block to their extreme rearward position (the claw y³ of
the stop or pawl being there released from the notch y³) to right the
scoop K and block L, that is to say, to turn them into position for the
scoop K to receive another charge.
The charging mechanism is raised and lowered to the level of any
retort or row of retorts in a series by attaching to the bearers or saddles I
on which the mechanism is supported eyes or rings at the position
marked, Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 1, or at any other convenient position.
To each of the eyes or rings one end of a chain or rope is attached, and
from thence the said chains or ropes are carried upwards and over guide
pulleys R supported in brackets on a cross beam or girder S. From the
pulleys R the chains or ropes pass to drums T fixed on a shaft U sup-
ported in bearings on the frames A, and on these drums T one end of
the chains or ropes are fixed so that the ropes or chains may be wound
On one end of the shaft U a worm wheel T¹
up or unwound therefrom.
is fixed and geared with a tangent screw U¹ on a shaft situate at right
angles to the shaft U. When it is desired to raise or lower the charging
mechanism the tangent screw U' is rotated by a hand wheel U² placed
on the axis thereof, as shewn, whereby the wheel T and drums T situate

page_text: on the shaft U are correspondingly rotated, and winding or unwinding
the chains or ropes on to or off from the drums T raise or lower the
charging mechanism.
The charging mechanism is guided in ascending and descending by
rollers placed on studs fixed to the sides of the bearers or saddles I and
situate in the hollow portions of the channels or guides H, as more par-
ticularly seen in plan, at Figure 2, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, and in so
operating the said mechanism the chain or rope drum Q is corre-
spondingly raised or lowered on the shaft r by a bracket 20 fixed to the
frame J.
To enable the drum Q to rotate with the shaft ra feather is placed in
the boss or eye of the drum which enters a groove extending throughout
the whole or a portion of the length of the shaft r.
It is preferred to attach the scoop K to the block L by means of a
T headed catch formed on the scoop entering a correspondingly shaped
groove or opening in the block L, or the scoop and block may be
attached together by a dovetail joint. By this means the employment
of trays or other apparatus to charge the scoop is obviated as when the
scoop has deposited its charge in the retort it may be disconnected from
the block, removed, and recharged, or another charged scoop substituted:
therefor.
To remove the scoops when empty and disconnected, and to raise and
return them to position for being reconnected to the block when again
charged cranes V are provided, these cranes V are supported on the
framing of the machine and are capable of turning through an arc. 2
The scoops are raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder W attached
to the girder or frame. To the piston rod of the cylinder W two
pulleys 1 are attached. One of the ends of two chains 6 are fixed to
the cylinder W, as shewn, from which point the chains are carried round
the pulleys 1. One of the chains 6 after so passing round a pulley 1 is 3
conducted round a pulley 3, thence under and round a pulley 4 to a
pulley 5, from whence it is led to and hangs down over another pulley
at the outer end of one crane V. The second chain 6 after passing
round the other pulley 1 is conducted to the rearward end of the
machine, whereat it passes round the pulley 7 thence under and round 3
the pulley 8 to the pulley 9, from whence it is conducted to and also
hangs over the pulley at the outer end of the other crane V.

page_text: •
When it is desired to raise a scoop charged with material the hanging
ends of the chains 6 are attached to it, water is then admitted to the
rearward end of the cylinder W, thereby causing the piston to move
forwards and hoist the scoop by the chains 6. Similarly when it is
desired to lower an empty scoop water is admitted to the front end of
the cylinder W.
In order to bring the outer ends of the cranes V immediately over
the position occupied by the scoop a hydraulic cylinder X is employed,
the piston rod of which is attached to a crank 10 situate on the axis
of one crane V. Both cranes are connected together by a rod or link 11,
as shewn, so that when water is admitted to the forward end of the
cylinder X, and the crank thereby moved rearwards, the cranes are
simultaneously turned over the position occupied by the scoop when
attached to the machine. Similarly, when water is admitted to the
rearward end of the cylinder X the cranes V are caused to assume the
position shewn on the Drawings.
Water under pressure for operating the pistons of the hydraulio
cylinders E, O, W, and X, and apparatus connected therewith, is con-
ducted through an inlet pipe 12 to a valve box Z, placed at the rearward
end of the machine; in the box valves are placed, in opening and
closing which by the levers 18 water is admitted through pipes (not
shewn on the Drawings) to the different cylinders, the discharge of
water from which is conducted away from the apparatus by the
spout Y.
The second part of my said Invention, namely, that constituting the
improvements in machines for drawing the charge from retorts, consists
partly in suspending the drawing mechanism. The suspending chain
or rope is passed over a pulley in the upper part of the framing of the
machine, and it is connected to a drum operated by a wheel and worm
or tangent screw, by which the drawing mechanism is raised or lowered
to any desired level.
On Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2,
a plan; and Figure 3, an elevation of the rear end of the retort drawing
machine as constructed in accordance with my said improvements. As
shewn by these Figures the apparatus consists of a framing A carried
on wheels B, a pair of which are placed on the same shaft or axis Con
which are also situated loosely two bevil wheels D and a clutch E which

page_text: slides on a feather on the shaft O, and is alternately geared with the
clutch boxes of the bevil wheels D by operating the lever F. A bevil
pinion a placed on a cross shaft is geared with the bevil wheels D,
and the pinion a is caused to traverse the machine along the rails G and
in front of the retorts by the hydraulic cylinder H and rack c, which
latter gears into a spur pinion placed on the shaft b. By placing two
bevil wheels D on the shaft C, and alternately gearing them to the said
shaft by clutch mechanism of a well-known class, both strokes of the
piston of the hydraulic cylinder H may be utilized in traversing the
drawing machine continuously in the same direction.
The hydraulic cylinder I, to the rod of which the rake J is attached,
is suspended from one end of a chain d as shown. From the cylinder
the chain passes upwards over a pulley K situate at the upper end of
the framing A, and thence to a drum L to which it is attached. The
drum L is placed on a shaft e carried by the framing A, and by a
bracket M, and the chain is wound on or unwound from the drum L
accordingly as it is desired to raise or lower the drawing mechanism to
the level of any retort in a series by actuating the tangent screw O
gearing into the worm wheel N on the shaft e. The tangent screw ○
is rotated by a hand wheel, or by spokes placed on the screw shaft at P.
Another hydraulic cylinder R placed vertically on a pillar S is supported
on the framing A, and provided with a slide valve and piston, the rod g
of the piston in which cylinder R is connected to one end of a chain f
which is passed round a pulley h, and fixed by its opposite end to the
hydraulic cylinder I at or about the position marked T, Figure 1, Sheet 2.
The upper end of the hydraulic cylinder R is connected by a pipe i (a
portion of which is flexible) to the front end of the rake cylinder I,
and the lower end of the vertical cylinder R is similarly connected to
the rearward end of the cylinder I by a pipe k, as shewn at Figure 1,
Sheet 2.
Water under pressure is admitted to the valve chest m of the
cylinder R through the pipe n, and the attendant, who stands upon the
platform U, by moving downwards the lever o which is attached to the
spindle of the slide valve in the chest m raises the slide valve and allows
the water to flow into the lower part of the cylinder R, so that its piston
begins to rise, thereby drawing downwards the rearward end of the rake
cylinder T, and elevating its forward end, as indicated by the dotted lines
at Figure 1. Part of the water admitted to the lower end of the vertical

page_text: cylinder R flows through the pipe k into the rearward end of the rake
cylinder I, so that whilst the piston of the vertical cylinder is ascending
and elevating the rake J, the said rake is at the same time moved
forwards into the retort, being carried thereinto above the level of the
material to be drawn. As soon as the rake J has reached the extreme
limit of its forward stroke, the attendant lowers the slide valve by
moving upwards the lever o and so opening the upper admission port of
the cylinder R, depresses the piston thereof, thereby lowering the rake
into the materials contained in the retort, which being effected, water
from the upper end of the cylinder R is admitted to the forward end of
the cylinder I through the pipe i, whereby the piston therein together
with the rake J are moved backwards to the end of their rearward strokes,
thereby drawing the charge of material out from the retort.
Whilst the rako is being moved backwards the water previously
employed in raising the piston of the cylinder R and in forcing the rake
forwards escapes through the central port of the slide valve from the
cylinder R into the hollow pillar S, from whence it may either pass off
through the spout X, or it may be conducted through the pipe r, and
discharged from the front end thereof on to the materials (coke) drawn
from the retorts and so damp out the heat from them. Another slido
valve operated by a levers is placed in a compartment of the chest m,
and by it water is supplied to the cylinder H to move the apparatus
along the rails G. The water from the cylinder H is conducted through
a pipe (not shown on the Drawings) to the spout X and discharged.
In lieu of employing slide valves as herein-before described, two-way
cocks may be used or the apparatus illustrated in part longitudinal
section and part side elevation at Figure 4, and in plan at Figure 5,
Sheet 2, may be substituted for the vertical cylinder and slide valve
arrangement. Under this arrangement a chest a divided longitudinally
by a diaphragm or web b is attached to or formed on the rake cylinder I
near its rearward end. In the upper compartment of the chest a
a double piston valve c is placed, and the outer end of the valve spindle d
is connected to a lever B, as shewn. The branch e communicates with
the inlet water pipe n, Figure 1, and the branches fand 9 with the pipes i
and leading to the forward and backward ends respectively of the
cylinder I. By operating the lever B towards the front or rear of the
machine, the piston valve c is brought into position to supply water
through the branches fand 9 and pipes i, k, to either the forward or

page_text: rear end of the cylinder I, it being understood that into whichsoever and
of the cylinder I the water is being passed, water is exhausting or
passing out from the opposite end through the ports which com-
municate with the lower chamber of the chest a from whence the water
passes off through the branch C. The lever B is formed with a short
arm to which one end of a chain is attached, the opposite end whereof is
fixed to the framing of the machine, or it may be carried round a pulley
as at h, Figures 1, 2, and 3, and attached to the cylinder. By moving
the lever B forwards, the rearward end of the cylinder I is depressed,
whilst water is at the same time admitted to the forward end of the
cylinder, and by this means functions like those herein-before described
with reference to the vertical cylinder and slide valve are performed.
Instead of attaching the chain d from which the cylinder I is
suspended to a drum L, the said chain may be attached to a weight or
weights, and in lieu of operating it by a wheel and tangent screw, a
hydraulic cylinder, rack and pinion, or other equivalent mechanism may
be employed for that purpose; and further, instead of employing water
under pressure to operate the pistons in the cylinders of the charging
and drawing machines, as herein-before described, steam, compressed air,
or gas, may be adopted in lieu thereof, it being understood that I do not
confine myself to the use of water, nor to arrange and construct the
charging and drawing machines precisely in the manner illustrated on
the appended drawings, as it is obvious that the same are capable of
considerable modification without departing from the essence of my
Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner, in or under which the
same is may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,―
First. The arrangement and construction of retort charging machine,
wherein the scoop containing the materials to be charged into the retort
is traversed throughout its forward and backward strokes, turned over
and back again at the end of these strokes by a hauling chain or chains
wound round a drum, on a vertical shaft which together with other parts
of the mechanism is operated by hydraulic power, by steam, compressed