IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Aitken at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th July
1867.
I, HENRY AITKEN, of Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention, which has for its object the cheapening the cost of
manufacturing coke and utilizing the ammoniacal liquors, tar, and beavy oils
which are wasted or lost by the ordinary process of coke making at present in
use, consists as follows:-Retorts are used which are situated at an angle of
25 degrees to the horizon, but which may be placed at any other angle from
the horizontal to the perpendicular. The upper and lower ends of the retorts
are wider and deeper at the bottom than the top, and taper gradually from the
bottom to the top. The retorts are provided with lids or doors, the bottom lid
or door being made the full size of the retort; the top lid or door may be
made smaller than the retort if desired; the retort is charged from the upper
end with the coal or slack from which the coke is to be made, and suitable
space left for expansion. Suitable pipes, condensers, and holders are em-
ployed. for taking off and receiving the liquid and gaseous products of the
distillation, and the inflammable part of the gas is conducted below the retort,
and there used as the fuel by which the temperature for the distillation and
conversion is effected or chiefly effected. In commencing to work with this
apparatus a small quantity of coal may be used to heat up the retort to the
required temperature for producing the coke, after which the heat produced

page_text: from the gas should be sufficient or nearly sufficient to carry on the process;
should a deficiency of heat occur this is supplied by applying a small quantity
of coal as fuel. When the charge of coal or slack has become converted into
coke the door or lid at the lower end of the retort is opened and the coke
discharged on to an inclined bench or scaffolding, where it is cooled and
watered, and the bench or scaffolding may be covered over with tin plates or
otherwise to enclose the coke during the process of cooling. The lower door
of the retort is again closed, and the retort is recharged, thus the manufacture
of coke is rendered nearly a continuous operation and is conducted at a much
lower cost than hitherto on account of the fuel and labour saved and the
increased yield of coke obtained, as well as by the utilization of the ammoniacal
liquors, tars, and heavy oils obtained in the process of distillation, and which
are collected and preserved in tanks or other suitable vessels. When the
gases are found not to escape freely, owing to the coal or slack used in the
retort being small or dirty, or from other causes, there is put through the
heart of the retort lengthways or otherwise a pipe or pipes called a core, with
holes or perforations in the same to enable the gases to escape more easily
from the coal or slack. The pipe or pipes may be fixed either temporarily or
permanently in the retort. When it is considered desirable to obtain the
heavy oils in greater abundance than other products this may be effected by
conducting the distillation at a somewhat lower temperature.