Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Charging Gas
Retorts.
I, JAMES CUNNINGHAM, of Low Moor, Clitheroe in the County of Lancaster, Gas
Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
According to this invention the coal with which the retort is to be charged is
placed within a scoop suspended from wheeled carriers or trollies running on rails
upon a pair of transverse gantrees or girders forming the two sides of an overhead
traveller which runs on rails extending from end to end of the retort house.
The gantrees carry an upper and a lower set of running rails the upper set
carrying the front carrier and a depending hanger for supporting the fore part of
the scoop and the lower set the rear carrier and banger in the lower part of which the
rear end of the scoop is supported in a trunnion bearing.
The scoop may be filled either from a suitably placed hopper or in any other
convenient manner and when filled is pushed forward into the empty retort and
overturned. by means of a cross handle or other convenient mechanism so as to
discharge its contents therein whereupon it is withdrawn to be refilled as before.
When the scoop is in position for being filled the forward and rear overhead
carriers are locked and held together by means of a lever fulcrummed on the
forward carrier the forward hanger being suspended from the forward or short end of
the locking lever.
Whilst locked the two carriers are capable of moving together the arrangement
being such that the full scoop suspended from the two carriers may be pushed
forward by hand until the front end of the scoop has entered the mouth of the retort
whereupon the locking lever by means of a depending rod or handle is released
the front end of the scoop being thereby lowered so as to rest upon the bottom of
the retort the rear carrier being also free to be moved forward independently of
the forward carrier. When the emptied scoop has been nearly wholly withdrawn
or pulled back out of the retort a pin on the rear carrier sliding within a slot in
locking lever enters a notch in the lever whereupon the depending rod or handle is
pulled down and by means of a slot and catch arrangement securely fastens the lever
in its locked position at the same time raising the forward hanger which thereupon
comes in contact with the bottom of the scoop and lifts or raises it clear of the bottom
of the retort the scoop being then entirely withdrawn suspended from the two carriers
in their locked or connected position as stated.
The front part of the scoop may be provided with pivotted rollers at its bottom and
sides to relieve the friction which would otherwise obtain during its introduction into
the retort and during the process of overturning or discharging its contents.
To adapt my improved apparatus to retorts arranged at various heights I cause the
length of the hangers to be variable and adjustable so that their lower extremities
supporting the scoop may be arranged to suit the varying heights of the retorts.
To this end the hangers are constructed with screw threaded rods working within
nuts rotated by overhead endless chain gear mechanism operated for convenience
from below by a vertical spindle and handle preferably arranged behind the rear
hanger.
I employ a separate overhead carrier connected by side rods with the forward
carrier and supporting the bearing for the chain wheel at the rear end of the
apparatus.
The forward chain wheel is concentric with its nut and screw threaded rod whilst
the rear chain wheel is caused to rotate a toothed wheel which (when the forward and

page_text: rear carriers are in their locked or connected position) engages with an intermediate
toothed wheel on the upper extremity of the actuating vertical spindle hereinabove
referred to the intermediate wheel gearing into a third toothed wheel which rotates
the nut upon the rear screw threaded rod.
this to day vi augus
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Charging Gas
Retorts.
I, JAMES CUNNINGHAM, of Low-Moor, Clitheroe, in the County of Lancaster, Gas
manager, 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:
According to this invention the coal with which the retort is to be charged is placed
within a scoop suspended from wheeled carriers or trollies running on rails upon a
pair of transverse gantrees or girders forming the two sides of an overhead traveller
which runs on rails extending from end to end of the retort house.
The gantrees comprise an upper and a lower set of running rails the upper set
carrying the forward portion of the front carrier and a depending hanger for
supporting the fore part of the scoop and the lower set the rear carrier and hanger
in the lower part of which the rear end of the scoop is supported in a trunnion
bearing.
The scoop may be filled either from a suitably placed hopper or in any other.
convenient manner and when filled is pushed forward into the empty retort and
overturned by a semi-rotary movement by means of a cross handle or other convenient
mechanism so as to discharge its contents therein whereupon it is withdrawn to be
refilled as before.
When the scoop is in position for being filled the forward and rear overhead
carriers are locked and held together by means of a lever fulcrummed on the forward
part of the front carrier the forward hanger being suspended from the forward or
short end of the locking lever.
Whilst locked the two carriers are capable of moving together the arrangement
being such that the full scoop suspended from the two carriers may be pushed
forward by hand until the front end of the scoop has entered the mouth of the retort
whereupon the locking lever by means of a depending rod or handle is released the
front end of the scoop being thereby lowered so as to rest upon the bottom of the
retort the rear carrier being also free to be moved forward independently of
the forward carrier. When the emptied scoop has been nearly wholly withdrawn
or pulled back out of the retort a pin on the rear carrier sliding within a slot in
the locking lever enters a notch in the lever whereupon the depending rod or handle
is pulled down and by means of a slot and catch arrangement securely fastens the
lever in its locked position at the same time raising the forward hanger which
thereupon comes in contact with the hottom of the scoop and lifts or raises it clear of
the bottom of the retort the scoop being then entirely withdrawn suspended from the
two carriers in their locked or connected position as before stated.
The front part of the scoop may be provided with pivotted rollers at its bottom
and sides to relieve the friction which would otherwise obtain during its introduction
into the retort and during the process of overturning or discharging its contents.
To adapt my improved apparatus to retorts arranged at various heights I cause the
length of the hangers to be variable and adjustable so that their lower extremitie
supporting the scoop may be arranged to suit the varying heights of the retorts

page_text: To this end the hangers are constructed with screw-threaded rods working within nuts
rotated by overhead endless chain gear mechanism operated for convenience from
below by a vertical spindle and handle preferably arranged behind the rear hanger.
1 employ a separate overhead carrier connected by side rods with the forward
carrier and supporting the bearing for the chain wheel at the rear part of the
apparatus.
The forward chain wheel is concentric with its nut and screw-threaded rod whilst
the rear chain wheel rotates with a toothed wheel which (when the forward and rear
carriers are in their locked or connected position) engages with an intermediate toothed
wheel on the extremity of the actuating vertical spindle hereinabove referred to the
intermediate wheel gearing into a third toothed wheel which rotates the nut upon the
rear screw-threaded rod.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations, Fig. 3 is a plan
and Fig. 4 an end view of machinery or apparatus for charging gas retorts con-
structed according to my said invention. Figs. 5 & 6 are end elevations of the front
and rear carriers and hangers respectively and some of their attendant parts.
A A are side rails carrying the overhead traveller which consists of an upper set B
and a lower set of running rails (the rails being all preferably of iron of section)
connected at each end to the frames D 1) carried on the wheels 1 1. E is the front
portion of the forward carrier with its hanger E and F is the rear carrier with its
hanger F supporting at its lower extremity in a trunnion or hinged bearing 4 the
axis or shaft forming the rear end of the scoop G. H represents in section an
ordinary form of retort. 6 is a cross handle on the end of the shaft 5 wherewith to
facilitate the overturning or rotation of the scoop G and 7 is a counterweight for the
purpose of balancing the scoop G and its contents.
Fig. 1 shews the apparatus in the position which obtains when the forward end of
the scoop G has been pushed forward so as to have entered the mouth of the retort
and Fig. 2 its position when the forward and rear carriers have been unlocked or
disconnected and the front hanger E' lowered so that the bowl or pulley 2 has dropped
down and resting upon the bottom of the retort H the scoop G has beenpushed bodily
into the retort in readiness to be overturned and thereby discharge its contents.
The front portion of the carrier E from which depends the forward hanger E' has
one pair of wheels 3 3 running on the upper rails B and is connected by rods 40 to
another portion E behind the rear carrier F the portion E having its wheels 8
running on the lower set of rails C. The portion E2 carries a stud on which is a toothed
wheel which rotates with a chain, wheel 10 the wheel 9 gearing into a toothed pinion
wheel 11 (when the carrier F is in the position shewn in fig. 1) fastened upon the
upper extremity of a vertical spindle 12 which works at its lower extremity in the
projecting end of an arm or bracket 13 fastened to the rear hanger F¹ and is rotated
by means of the land wheel 14. The pinion 11 at its other side also gears into another
toothed wheel 15 mounted on a stud on the rear carrier F the wheel 15 being fast
upon the upper end of a tube or barrel 16 which at its lower end rotates in a bearing
in the cross arm 17. The front carrier supports a standard 19 which forms at its
upper end a fulcrum for the locking lever 20 the short or forward end of the
lever being hinged or jointed to the upper end of the front hanger E. The hanger El
carries near its upper extremity a chain wheel 18 (corresponding in diameter and
pitch with the chain wheel 10 on the rear carrier F) fastened upon the upper end of
the tube or barrel 21 which rotates in bearings in the cross arms 22 and 23. The
tubes or barrels 16 and 21 enclose screw-threaded spindles or rods 24 and 25 (the
pitch of the screw-threading being alike in each case) and the tubes or barrels at their
lower ends form screw-threaded nuts which when the tubes or barrels are rotated
cause the spindles 24 and 25 to be simultaneously raised or lowered to an
equal extent.
The cross arm 27 of the front hanger El is fastened to the lower ends of guide
rods 37 which slide up and down (when the tubes or barrels 16 and 21 are rotated) in
vertical tubes 38. The cross arms 17 and 45 of the rear hanger F¹ slide up and
down upon the vertical rods 39.

page_text: An endless chain 29 passes round the two chain wheels 10 and 18 and (when the
pinion 11 is in gear with the wheel 9 as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3) the rotation of the
spindle 12 causes the simultaneous rotation of the tubes or barrels 16 and 21 and
consequent corresponding raising or lowering of the front and rear portion of the
scoop G.
The long end of the locking lover 20 passes through a slotted guide or standard 30
rising from the bed plate of the rear carrier F and the lever 20 is provided with a
cross pin 31 which enters a fork shaped stop 32. The bed plate of the carrier F is so
formed as to be capable of passing under and to project somewhat beyond the bed
plate of the rear portion E2 of the forward carrier and the projecting part 33 is made
with a transverse opening or slot 34 within which a rod 35 hanging from the lever 20
and provided with a catch or projection 36 is caused to be passed when the two
carriers are in their connected position and thus hold them locked together as shewn
in Figs. 1 and 3.
The apparatus during the process of charging a retort is operated as follows:-The
front and rear carriers being in their connected or locked position as above described
and the scoop having been filled with the required quantity of material the apparatus
is pushed forward until the scoop has partially entered the retort H (as shewn in
Fig. 1) whereupon the locking lever 20 by means of the depending rod 35 is released
(see Fig. 2) the front hanger E' being thereby lowered and allowing the scoop to
drop until it rests upon the bottom of the retort H. The rear carrier F (being thus
unlocked or disconnected from the rear portion E2 of the front carrier) may then be
pushed forward until the scoop has wholly entered the retort whereupon the scoop is
turned over by means of the cross handle 6 thereby emptying or discharging its
contents within the retort. The empty scoop being then withdrawn to its former
position (as in Fig. 1) the rod 35 is pulled down and the projection 36 brought
underneath the part 33 of the rear carrier F when the front and rear carriers will then
be again locked with each other and they may be moved together to a convenient
position in which to effect the refilling of the scoop.
Any suitable form of hopper may be employed in conjunction with my improved
apparatus as above described and such hopper may conveniently be arranged to be
supported on wheels running on rails alongside the rails B & C and to have a mouth
piece or outlet aperture of such a shape as to admit of a winged or toothed shaft or
spindle rotated from the outside by a handle whereby the discharge of the contents
from the hopper may be controlled or regulated. Or the scoop may be filled
by hand.
8
I would have it understood that I do not claim as of my invention the use or
employment for the purpose of charging a gas retort of a scoop such as G having
shaft and a cross handle 6 nor the use of a loop or book such as 28 for holding up
or sustaining in position the said scoop.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is
1. In conjunction with an overhead traveller the use or employment of carriers
having hangers depending therefrom which support at their lower ends a scoop
arranged and operating substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination or arrangement of parts whereby the forward and rear carriers
may be caused to travel either together or separately from each other substantially as
described and shown in the drawings for the purpose set forth.
3. The arrangement of endless chain gear mechanism in combination with toothed
wheels gearing into each other whereby the two screw-threaded spinilles in the forward
and rear hangers are capable of being simultaneously raised or lowered substantially
as described and shewu in the drawings for the purpose set forth.
4. Supporting the shaft or axis of a scoop such as G in a trunnion or hinged
bearing on the lower end of a hanger such as F substantially as described and shewn
in the drawings for the purpose set forth,

page_text: 5. The combination of parts constituting the improved machinery or apparatus for
charging gas retorts constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described
and shewn in the drawings for the purpose set forth.
W. LLOYD WISE.