IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS OR OVENS FOR EXTRACTING OIL FROM CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF CANNEL COAL OR OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Griffiths, of Mornington Road, Regent's
Park, in the County of Middlesex, and of Coppa Colliery, Mold, in
the County of Flint, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS OR OVENS FOR EXTRACTING OIL FROM CERTAIN
DESCRIPTIONS OF CANNEL COAL OR OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 5th February 1864, and dated the 21st August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Griffiths at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
August 1863.
I, ROBERT GRIFFITHS, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Coppa Colliery, Mold, in the County of Flint, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS OR OVENS FOR EXTRACTING OIL PROM CERTAIN
DESCRIPTIONS OF CANNEL COAL OR OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of retorts or ovens, whereby a
larger quantity and better quality of oil is produced from the cannel coal ar

page_text: other bituminous substances treated, thereby the small or waste coal arising
from working the coal in the mine being also more effectually vaporized.
For the purpose of carrying out my improvements, according to one arrange-
ment, I construct a retort of brick or iron or of brick and iron combined, and
of an oblong section transversely about one foot deep by four feet wide,
(though I do not confine myself to these or other dimensions herein quoted),
and of suitable length, say about thirty feet, more or less. The retort is built
or fixed at such an angle and elevation that when small coals are placed upon
the upper end of the retort they will slide down the sloping bottom thereof by
their own gravity. At each end of the retort doors are fixed by screws or
otherwise for the purpose of filling and emptying the retort, and pipes are
provided for conducting away the vapours formed by distillation to the
condensers. A furnace is constructed under the lower part of the retort,
which at this part is horizontal, and a slide or dividing plate is introduced
between it and the inclined part of the retort, so that the contents of the
horizontal part may be discharged, and then by withdrawing the slide, and
allowing the coal to slide down the incline be readily refilled. The flue of
the furnace passes under the entire length and width of the retort, passing
out to a chimney at the top end thereof, or the flue may return over the top
of the retort, and be conducted to a chimney placed in any convenient
situation. In place of making the inclined portion of the retort-straight as
before described, it may be of zig-zag form or arranged at different angles in
the course of its length. Each section or incline. thus arranged has a slide
to arrest the descent of the coals contained therein, so that the contents of
each section may be allowed. to descend in succession from one section to
another, thus gradually subjecting the cannel coal or other bituminous
'substance to a higher and higher temperature, as it descends to the horizontal
portion of the retort from which it is removed; when .fully acted upon,
openings or doors are formed at each angle for the introduction of a poker or
rake when required; pipes are also applied for conducting the -vapours away
to the condensers as generated.
Another arrangement of retort for this purpose, constructed according to my
Invention, consists of a horizontal cylinder of iron or brick work of suitable size,
say three feet diameter by eight or ten feet long, or thereabouts, and having
an internal openwork cylinder or portion of a cylindrical cage of iron or
perforated earthenware supported therein, leaving an annular space between
it and the interior of the retort, in which space-the material to be-treated is
placed. At one end of this retort two doors are placed one above the other

page_text: for supplying and discharging the contents, a pipe or pipes being applied at
the other end to conduct the vapours to the condenser in the ordinary manner.
A furnace is constructed underneath at one end of the retort with flues to
conduct the heat around the retort, or the cylindrical retort may be placed in
a vertical position with an internal cylinder forming a central flue, and with
cylindrical cages forming annular spaces, in which the cannel coal to be
treated is placed. The flues from a furnace or furnaces are conducted through
and around the interior and exterior of this arrangement of retort so as to
heat the surfaces exposed thereto. Suitable doors are arranged at the upper
part to introduce the cannel coal or other bituminous material to be treated,
and other doors are arranged near the bottom to withdraw the coke as
required, pipes are also applied for conducting the vapours as generated to
the condensers. Suitable apparatus may be applied to this arrangement of
retort to stir or agitate the contents when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Griffiths in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
20th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
GRIFFITHS, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex.
and of Coppa Colliery, Mold, in the County of Flint, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant:
unto me, the said Robert Griffiths, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Griffiths, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Robert Griffiths, my executors, administrators, and 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTS OR OVENS FOR EXTRACTING OIL.
PROM CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF CANNEL COAL OB OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Griffiths, my

page_text: éxecutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their bands and seals, 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 Robert Griffiths, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the construction of retorts or ovens, whereby a
larger quantity and better quality of oil is produced from the cannel coal or
other bituminous substances treated thereby, the small or waste coal arising
from working the coal in the mine being also more effectually vaporized.
For the purpose of carrying out my improvements, according to one arrange-
ment, I construct a retort a, as shown at Figure 1 in the Drawing hereunto
annexed, of brick or iron, or of brick and iron combined, and of an oblong
section transversely about one foot deep by four feet wide (though I do not
confine myself to these or other dimensions or sectional form herein quoted),
and of suitable length, say, about thirty feet, more or less. The retort is built
or fixed at such an angle and elevation that when small coals are placed upon
the upper end of the retort they will slide down the sloping bottom a' thereof
by their own gravity. At each end of the retort doors a² and a³ are fixed by
screws or otherwise for the purpose of filling and emptying the retorts, and
pipes 6, 6, are provided for conducting away the vapours formed by distillation
to the condensers. A furnace c is constructed under the lower part of the
retort a, which at this part is horizontal, and a slide or dividing plate d is
introduced between it and the inclined part a' of the retort, so that the con-
tents of the horizontal part may be discharged, and then, by withdrawing the
slide and allowing the coal to slide down the incline, be readily refilled. The
flue of the furnace passes under the entire length and width of the retort,
passing out, if desired, to a chimney at the top end thereof, or the flue may
rêturn over the top of the retort, as shown at c, and, be conducted to a
chimney placed in any convenient situation. A perforated shelf may, if
desired, be introduced along the entire length of the retort, upon which part
of the coal or other bituminous material to be treated may be deposited, so as
to distribute the same over a larger area of heating surface. In place of
making the inclined portion of the retort straight, as before described, it may

page_text: be of zig-zag form, or arranged at different angles in the course of its length.
Each section or incline thus arranged has a slide to arrest the descent of the
coals contained therein, so that the contents of each section may be allowed
to descend in succession from one section to another, thus gradually subjecting
the coal to a bigher and higher temperature as it descends to the horizontal
portion of the retort, from which it is removed when fully acted upon. Open-
ings or doors are formed at each angle for the introduction of a poker or rake
when required. Pipes are also applied for conducting the vapours away to
the condensers as generated. I have not thought it necessary to show a
drawing of a retort constructed and arranged as lastly described, as the nature
thereof will be readily understood from the description given of the Drawing
shown at Figure 1.
Another arrangement of retort for this purpose, constructed according to my
Invention, is shown at Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawing, and consists of
a horizontal cylinder a, of iron or brickwork, of suitable size, say three feet
diameter by eight or ten feet long, or thereabouts, and having an internal
openwork cylinder or portion of a cylindrical cage 6, of iron or perforated
earthenware, supported therein, leaving an annular space c between it and the
interior of the retort, in which space the material to be treated is placed. At
one end of this retort two doors d, d', are placed, one above the other, for
supplying and discharging the contents, a pipe e (or pipes) being applied to
the other end to conduct the vapours to the condenser in the ordinary manner.
This retort may, if desired, be of round, oval, Q, or other sectional shape,
having shelves or cages inserted therein, as previously described, with suitable
doors for introducing the charge and discharging the contents in the ordinary
A furnace, which I have not thought it necessary to show in the
Drawing, is constructed underneath at one end of the retort with flues to
conduct the heat around the retort. In place of the open-work cylinder.or
cage 6 a perforated shelf for supporting part of the charge may be introduced
into the retort, by which a proportionate advantage may be obtained, but I
prefer the arrangement previously described. Or the cylindrical retort may
be placed in a vertical position with an internal cylinder forming a central
flue, and with cylindrical cages forming annular spaces in which the coal to
be treated is placed. The flues from a furnace or furnaces are conducted
through and around the interior and exterior of this arrangement of retort so
as to heat the surfaces exposed thereto. Suitable doors are arranged at the
upper part to introduce the cannel coal or other bituminous material to be
treated, and other doors are. arranged near the bottom to withdraw the coke
manner.

page_text: as required; pipes are also applied for conducting the vapours, as generated,
to the condensers. Suitable apparatus may be applied to this arrangement of
retort to stir or agitate the contents when required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Griffiths, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
ROBT. GRIFFITHS. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane.
W:C.

page_text: In the Matter of Letters Patent granted to ROBERT GRIFFITHS,
of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Coppa Colliery, Mold, in the County of Flint, Engineer, for
his Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETORTE OR
OVENS FOR EXTRACTING OIL FROM CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF CANNEL
COAL, OR OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES," bearing date the 21st day
of August 1863.
DISCLAIMER proposed to be entered by the said Robert Griffiths pursuant
the Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS since the filing of the said Specification, I have been advised
at it was doubtful if there were sufficient novelty of Invention at the date
the said Letters Patent, in addition to the want of utility in the arrange-
ent and construction of retort described in the latter part of the said
pecification, to enable me to support the validity of my said Letters Patent.
r the same, I am therefore desirous of disclaiming, and do hereby disclaim
om the Specification all those words relating to the arrangement and con-

page_text: 6
struction of retort described in the latter part of the said Specification,
commencing at line 31, page 5, of the printed copy to the end of the said
Specification, viz., "Or the cylindrical retort may be placed in a vertical posi-
"tion with an internal cylinder forming a central fine, and with cylindrical
cages forming annular spaces, in which the coal to be treated is placed.
"The flues from a furnace or furnaces are conducted through and around the
"interior and exterior of this arrangement of retort, so as to heat the surfaces
"exposed thereto. Suitable doors are arranged at the upper part to introduce
"the cannel coal, or other bituminous material to be treated, and other doors
are arranged near the bottom to withdraw the coke as required; pipes are
"also applied for conducting the vapours as generated to the condensers.
"Suitable apparatus may be applied to this arrangement of retort
"to stir or agitate the contents when required." And in order that
the effect of the Disclaimer may be better understood, I annex a copy of
the Specification as it will appear when such Disclaimer has been made as
aforesaid.
"
66
"This Invention relates to the construction of retorts or ovens whereby
a larger quantity and better quality of oil is produced from the cannel
"coal or other bituminous substances treated thereby, the small or waste
"coal arising from working the coal in the mine being also more effectually
" vaporized.
"For the purpose of carrying out my improvements according to one
" arrangement I construct a retort a, as shown at Figure 1 in the Drawing
"hereunto annexed, of brick or iron; or of brick and iron combined, and of
"an oblong section transversely, about one foot deep by four feet wide (though
"I do not confine myself to these or other dimensions or sectional form herein
"quoted), and of suitable length, say about thirty feet, more or less. The
"retort is built or fixed at such an angle and elevation that when small coals
"are placed upon the upper end of the retort, they will slide down the sloping
"bottom a¹ thereof by their own gravity. At each end of the retort doors a²
" and a³ are fixed, by screws or otherwise, for the purpose of filling and
"emptying the retorts, and pipes 6, 6', are provided for conducting away the
vapours formed by distillation to the condensers. A furnace c is constructed
"under the lower part of the retort a, which at this part is horizontal, and a
"slide or dividing plate d is introduced between it and the inclined part a¹ of
"the retort, so that the contents of the horizontal part may be discharged,
" and then, by withdrawing the slide and allowing the coal to slide down the
"incline, be readily refilled. The flue c³ of the furnace passes under the
"

page_text: or
"entire length and width of the retort, passing out, if desired, to a chimney
"at the top end thereof, or the flue may return over the top of the retort, as
"shown at e, and be conducted to a chimney c³, placed in. any convenient
"situation. A perforated shelf may, if desired, be introduced along the entire
"length of the retort, upon which part of the coal or other bituminor
"material to be treated may be deposited, so as to distribute the same over a
"larger area of heating surface. In place of making the inclined portion of
"the retort straight, as before described, it may be of zig-zag form,
"arranged at different angles in the course of its length. Each section or
"incline thus arranged has a slide to arrest the descent of the coals contained
therein, so that the contents of each section may be allowed to descend in
"succession from one section to another, thus gradually subjecting the coal
"to a higher and higher temperature as it descends to the horizontal portion
"of the retort, from which it is removed when fully acted upon. Openings
" or doors are formed at each angle for the introduction of a poker or rake
"when required. Pipes are also applied for conducting the vapours away to
"the condensers as generated. I have not thought it necessary to show a
Drawing of a retort constructed and arranged as lastly described, as the
"nature thereof will be readily understood from the description given of the
Drawing shown at Figure 1.
"
66
66
b
"Another arrangement of retort, for this purpose constructed according to
"my Invention, is shown at Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawing, and
"consists of a horizontal cylinder a of iron or brickwork of suitable size, say
"three feet diameter by eight or ten feet long or thereabouts, and having an
"internal openwork cylinder or portion of a cylindrical cage 6 of iron or per
"forated earthenware supported therein, leaving an annular space c between
"it and the interior of the retort in which space the material to be treated is
"placed. At one end of this retort two doors d, d¹, are placed one above
"the other for supplying and discharging the contents; a pipe e (or pipes)
being applied to the other end to conduct the vapours to the condenser in
"the ordinary manner. This retort may, if desired, be of round, oval, or
"other sectional shape, having shelves or cages inserted therein, as previously
"described, with suitable doors for introducing the charge and discharging
"the contents in the ordinary manner. A furnace, which I have not though
"it necessary to show in the Drawing, is constructed underneath at one end
of the retort with flues to conduct the heat around the retort. In place of
"the openwork cylinder or cage ba perforated shelf for supporting part of
"the charge may be introduced into the retort, by which a proportionate

page_text: advantage may be obtained, but I prefer the arrangement previously
described."
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Griffiths, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six..
R. P. COLLIER.
Temple, 19th April 1866.