Gas Retorts and other similar Covers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Gas Retorts and other similar Covers.
We, ALFRED GEORGE BROWNING, of 4, Greenfield, Llanelly, South Wales,
Gas Engineer, and MARTYN ROGERS WADDLE, of Llanmore Engineering Works,
Llanelly aforesaid, Engineer, 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 improvements in the means or method of securing the lids
closing the mouths of gas retorts and other similar lids or covers, and its object is to
provide an arrangement by which sufficient pressure is applied to the lid by the action
of bringing it to the closed position to hermetically seal the mouth it is designed to
close without the aid of cams or screws commonly used.
The invention consists in employing a helical wedge or incline, preferably in com-
bination with a spring, upon the pivot upon which the lid turns adapted to bear
against a similar helical incline on the cover and provided with shoulders or stops
arranged to engage and hold said lid in the open position, and also in employing an
inclined piece secured to the rim of the mouth of the retort adapted to engage with
a projection or bandle on the opposite side of said lid, the combined action which
tends to wedge or press the lid uniformly against the rim of the mouth or opening.
In order to fully describe our invention reference is to be had to the accompanying
drawing forming a part of this specification in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1, is a front view of a lid fitted with our improvements. Figure 2, is a
plan of the same. Figure 3, is a view of the side of the lid provided with the
projecting handle. Figure 4, is a view of the opposite side at which it is pivoted.
Figure 5, is a detail view of the pivot on which the lid turns. Figure 6, is a view of
the face of the helical wedge mounted on said pivot, and Figure 7, is an edge view of
the same.
The pivot A on which the lid B turns is secured by the cotter C in a square hole
formed in the rim D of the month of the retort. The said pivot is provided with a
square portion E upon which the helical wedge F is mounted by the square hole G

page_text: so as to be capable of longitudinal motion without being able to turn thereon.
A spiral spring H mounted upon a continuation J of said pivot and secured by the
nut K presses said wedge against a corresponding inclined face L formed on the
projection M on the lid B. The action of said inclined faces being to compress
the spring H when the lid is closed and therefore such lid is pressed in a corresponding
degree against the rim D of the mouth of the retort, but when the lid is open the
shoulders N and O respectively formed on said inclined faces engage with each other
and hold such lid in the position indicated by the dotted lines in figure 1.
The taper catch P having an inclined inner face R is fixed by the cotter S to the
opposite side of the rim D and is adapted to engage with the shoulder T of the
handle U and thereby wedge or press that side of the lid B against such rim.
A wrought iron staple W is preferably cast in the lid B for convenience in opening
or closing such lid.
It is obvious that other forms of springs may be employed in place of the spiral
spring H herein mentioned. And it is also obvious that the lid may be made
detachable and the said helical wedges dispensed with by employing projections
similar to Ton both sides of the lid to engage with two taper catches 1' fitted one on each
side of the rim D. The mouth of the retort would then be closed or sealed by simply
lifting the lid into position with the projections on the lid behind the said inclined
catches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is :
1. The general construction and arrangement of fasteners or attachments for retort
lids and other similar covers, adapted to tightly press such lids against the rims of the
openings they are designed to cover by the action of bringing such lids to the closed
position, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a retort lid or similar cover, the combination of the helical wedges F and L,
with the shoulders N and O, the spring H, the catch P, and the handle or projection T
engaging such catch, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 30th day of November 1887.
"
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.