IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MAKING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Francis Dieterich, of the City of Baltimore, in
the State of Maryland, one of the United States of America, for an Invention
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Francis Dieterich at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1880.
CHARLES FRANCIS DIETERICH, of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,
one of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS MAKING
APPARATUS."
In carrying out my Invention I employ a vertical gas retort, or series of retorts
made in horizontal sections, which form, practically, so many distilling chambers
with lateral openings at their joints through which the gas produced in them
respectively passes into a channel communicating with the stand-pipe without
going necessarily through a heated mass above it. Suitably hinged stoppers are
provided at the top and bottom of the retorts, those at the top for charging with
coal, and those at the bottom for discharging the coke. The retort or series of
retorts thus constructed are placed within a chamber having heat-retaining walls,
through which chamber the heat and products of combustion from a furnace make
their way by a circuitous passage to the chimney; the whole structure being
supported on columns or piers high enough for barrows or trucks to pass under it
to receive the coke when discharged from the retorts, and having a rail-way above
it from which the retorts may be charged. The same object may be accomplished
by a single retort not divided into sections, but with suitable lateral openings in its
length for the escape of the gas as produced to the channels.
The Invention consists, first, in combining in a gas making apparatus a vertical
retort or series of retorts having lateral openings at different heights for the escape
of gas, uniting with channels leading to the stand pipes; and a beat-retaining
chamber communicating with the furnace and divided by partitions into a series
of sub-chambers, whereby the products of combustion are caused to take a circuitous
passage around or about the retort or retorts to the chimney.
The Invention consists, secondly, in constructing the retort in horizontal sections,
the opposing edges of which are notched so as to form lateral openings in the retort
when its various sections are placed in their proper relative positions.

page_text: In the further description of my said Invention which follows, reference is made
to the accompanying Drawings forming a part hereof, and in which,-
Figure I. is a longitudinal section of the improved apparatus on the dotted
line 1-2, Figure II.; Fig. II. is a sectional plan on dotted line 3-4, Figure I.;
Fig. III. is a longitudinal section of the apparatus on dotted line 5-6, Figure II.;
Figure IV. and V. are transverse sections of the Invention taken respectively on
dotted lines 7-8 and 9-10, Figure II.; Figures VI., VII., VIII., and IX. are
sectional views of the apparatus illustrating certain modifications in its construction;
Figure X. shows further modifications in the arrangement of the several parts of
the apparatus; Figures XI. and XII. are views of parts of the apparatus on an
enlarged scale; Figs. XIII. and XIV. show a different arrangement of the parts
of the apparatus; Figs. XV. and XVI. are enlarged views' of parts of the Invention
showing further modifications in the construction of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the views.
Referring to Figures I., II., III., IV., and V. of the Drawings, A is the base-plate
of the apparatus supported upon columns B at such distance from the ground as
will admit of coke barrows or cars being taken under the retorts; C, C, are the
retorts extending vertically from the base plate A to a covering plate D. The
retorts are placed in a chamber, the walls of which are represented by E, and the
whole structure is tied together in any suitable manner. The retorts C are formed
in horizontal sections, and the opposing faces of the sections are provided with
projections and correspondingly shaped recesses so as to make gas-tight joints.
The lateral openings before alluded to, and which are represented by a; may be
made in the retorts in any suitable manner; but the preferred method is to notch
the opposing ends of the sections and oppose the notches as the sections are placed
in position F, F, are the channels into which the gases from the retorts find their
way. The channels are constructed of brick-work and may be lined with iron, as
shown in Figure XV. of the Drawings. When channels F are located between the
retorts, a single channel may receive the gas from the retorts on either side of it,
but a partition, as shown in dotted lines Figure XV., can, if desired, be used to
isolate the retorts; G is a heating furnace of any appropriate description adapted
to discharge the products of combustion into the chamber and around the retorts.
In order that the products of combustion from the heating furnace may be properly
distributed in the chamber, and to prevent loss of heat from the direct passage of
the said products to the chimney, I divide the heat retaining chamber into a
number of sub-chambers by horizontal partitions b, and provide each partition with
an opening c for the entrance of the products of combustion from the furnace
either directly or through one of the other chambers; H, H, are the retort stoppers
connected to hand levers d, adapting them to be withdrawn from the retorts and
moved from over or under the same in the charging and discharging operations.
Weights e are used on the levers attached to the lower stoppers to counterbalance
the contents of the retorts. In the apparatus shown in Figures VI. and VII., a
single retort of annular form provided with an outer aunular gas channel is used,
and the products of combustion from the heating furnace are carried upward
through the central aperture and return around the exterior of the gas channel.
The retort, however, is furnished with several charging and discharging openings,
which have stoppers, as before described.
•
The apparatus is further modified in Figures VIII. and IX., by arranging series
of retorts around a central aperture leading to the heating furnace, and placing
the gas channels between the retorts. A similar arrangement is illustrated in
Figures XIII. and XIV., but in this case the lower end of the retorts are curved
outwardly. In charging the retorts the upper stoppers are removed, and the retorts
filled with coal, after which the said stoppers are replaced.
To discharge the retorts after the illuminating gas has been expelled from the
coal, it is only necessary to remove the lower stoppers, when the coke falls, by
reason of its weight, to coke barrows placed beneath them.
Should it be found, in discharging. the contents of the retorts, that pieces of coke

page_text: lodge in the lateral openings, the said openings may be inclined, as shown in
Figure XVI. of the Drawing; and in case of adhesion of coke to the surface of the
retorts, I propose to provide them with plungers similar to the one shown in
the same Figure, which may be lowered into the retorts to remove the adhering
pieces.
In this Invention I do not limit myself to the use of a heating furnace of any
particular construction, or to any peculiar manner of applying the heat necessary
to effect the production of gas in the retorts, or to the use of a heating furnace; as
gas generated in the retorts, or by another process distinct from the one described
herein, may be carried to the interior of the casing and ignited therein. Further,
I do not confine myself to any specific construction or arrangement of the partitions
which divide the heat-retaining chamber into a series of communicating sub-chambers
to which the products of combustion from the furnace are successively conducted in
their passage to the chimney.
I am aware that it is not new to construct a vertical gas retort with lateral
openings situated at different heights for the escape of gas, and with means for
carrying the gas from the lateral openings to a gas receptacle; aud that vertical
retorts having lateral openings have been built in brick-work and heated by the
action of the products of combustion from a furnace, which products of combustion
are conducted into a space in the brick-work, and deflected towards the exterior
surface of the retort by means of interrupting blocks. I am also aware that
in coke ovens and analagous apparatus it is not new to construct, a retort in
sections.
I also admit that vertical retorts have been provided with stoppers and devices
for operating them. But I am not aware of the existence, prior to my Invention,
of a retort or series of retorts having lateral openings at different heights arranged
around the circumference of the retorts, and channels to receive the gas discharged
through the lateral openings, which channels convey the gas to a stand pipe; the
whole of the said apparatus being inclosed in a heat retaining chamber having
partitions therein which divide the said chamber into a series of sub-chambers,
and distribute the products of combustion conveyed to the said chamber from a
furnace.
I claim as my Invention,-
I. In a gas making apparatus, a vertical retort or series of retorts having lateral
openings at different heights for the escape of gas therefrom, the said openings
uniting with channels leading to the stand pipe, the whole being inclosed within a
heat retaining chamber in communication with a heating furnace, which heat
retaining chamber is divided by partitions into communicating sub-chambers which
distribute the products of combustion in their passage from the furnace to the
chimney around or about the retorts, substantially as herein specified.
II. A gas retort constructed in horizontal sections, having their opposing edges
notched to form lateral openings in the retort, when its various sections are placed
in their proper relative positions, substantially as set forth.
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Francis Dieterich, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this 22nd day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
In presence of
HARRY V. ALBAUGH,
WILLIAM THOMPSON HOWARD.
CHARLES FRANCIS DIETERICH. (L.S.)