Improvements in or relating to Retorts for the Distillation of Shale and other Bituminous Substances, or for the Calcining of Ironstone, Lime, or other Substances, also applicable to Gas Producers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar.. 1897
COBIT LEIE SPECIELATION.
Improvements in or relating to Retorts for the Distillation of Shale
and other Bituminous Substances, or for the Calcining of
Ironstone, Lime, or other Substances, also applicable to Gas
Producers.
I, JAMES BRYSON of Pumpherston Oil Works, Pumpherston, in the County of
Midlothian, 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 or relating to retorts for the distillation
of shale and other bituminous substances, or for the calcining of ironstone, lime or
other substances, said improvements being also applicable to gas producers and the
like and forms modifications of or additions to the inventions described in the
Complete Specifications of Bryson, Jones and Fraser's former Applications for
Letters Patent No. 8373 of 27th April 1894 and No, 7115 of 6th April 1895.
The object of my present invention is to so construct the hoppers of the retorts
that one or more retorts can be drawn or discharged through one door and also to
provide simple and efficient means for operating the said door.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation and
Figure 2 an end view of the hopper as constructed in accordance with my present
improvements.
Figure 3 is a part sectional elevation and
Figure 4 an end view of a modified form of the same.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 similar views of further modifications.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the said drawings, I provide each pair or set of
retorts with a hopper A into which the contents of both the retorts are fed.
The said hopper is tapered towards the lower end and is provided with an
opening a of circular or other formation by which it is discharged. The said
opening is provided with a discharge door B which is opened and closed by means
of a chain & or other suitable means passing through the hopper and operated by a
compressed air, hydraulic or steam ram C situated above the hopper.
Or as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 the discharge door B may be operated by a hand
lever D secured to a shaft or spindle d mounted above the hopper; the chain
being connected to a pulley E secured to the other end of the shaft d. A guard
or cover e for the pulley may also be provided.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew a modified form of apparatus for operating the shaft d and
pulley E. To the end of the shaft d we secure a spur pinion F which is rotated
by the worm upon the shaft f¹ mounted in bearings f' secured to the side of the
hopper; the said shaft f¹ being operated by the hand wheel f³.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew a still further modification, the shaft d being in this case
rotated by a pulley E secured to the end of the shaft having a chain c attached
thereto which is operated by a compressed air, hydraulic or steam ram C situated
at the side of the hopper.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In retorts for the distillation of shale and other bituminous substances, or
for the calcining of ironstone and other substances, providing each retort or pair
of retorts with one hopper having an outlet or discharge door situated at the
lower end thereof, whereby the contents of the retorts can be discharged through the
said door, substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In retorts of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the means for operating the
discharge door of the hopper substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in
Figs. 1 and 2, and the modifications of the same as shewn in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated thin 20th dow of T1007
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.