IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGE- MENT OF APPARATUS FOR 'SCURFING' OR REMOVING CARBON FROM GAS Ектовта
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hislop, Manager of the Gas Works, Ayr,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGE-
MENT OF APPARATUS FOR 'SCURFING' OR REMOVING CARBON FROM GAS
Ектовта."
Sealed the 6th September 1867, and dated the 19th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hislop at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th March 1867.
I, JAMES HISLOP, Manager of the Gas Works, Ayr, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS POR SCURFING' OR REMOVING CARBON FROM GAS
RETORTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in laying parallel to the front of the retort beds a
line of cast-iron pipes suitably jointed together of about eight inches diameter,
more or less, one end of which may be closed while the other is connected to
the main flue leading to the chimney shaft, or both ends of the line of pipes
may be led into the main flue if found more advantageous. For convenience
sake it is preferred to lay them beneath the retort house floor, but this is not

page_text: indispensable. The pipes so laid are constructed with a number of sockets
cast on them, and are so adjusted that one shall be opposite to and directly
under each retort with its open end upwards; these sockets are provided
with caps so as to exclude the admission of atmospheric air, and are kept
closed when the apparatus is not in operation, but admit of removal when
required. When the apparatus is to be put into use a piece of pipe of nearly
sufficient height to reach the retort is inserted perpendicularly in the socket
immediately beneath it, and the lid of the retort to be operated upon having
been removed a pipe long enough to reach within about a foot of the back
end thereof is thrust into it, and the outer end connected by a bend to the
upright pipe before mentioned. The whole line of piping from the back end
of the retort to the main flue is then in direct communication; the conse-
quence is that the draught in the chimney shaft induces a strong current of
air to rush into the retort, which as it passes causes the particles of carbon to
fly off, and in the course of a very short time by this means the whole of it
may be removed; the process may, however, be accelerated by the use of
chisels from time to time. To regulate the force of the current of air the
upright pipe before described is provided with a damper, which may be used as
necessity dictates. When long or "through" retorts are used it may be
found desirable to have a line of pipes laid on each side of the benches, but
even then it will not be imperative, and in all ordinary cases a line of pipes on
one side of the retort stack will be found sufficient, and although cast iron is
mentioned as preferable the pipes or conduit may be made of any other
suitable material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Hislop in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HISLOP, Manager of the Gas Works, Ayr, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Hislop, Her special licence that I, the said James Hislop,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Hislop, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: with, and ne 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 ARRANGE-
MENT OF APPARATUS FOR 'SCURFING OR REMOVING CARBON FROM GAS RETORTS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Hislop, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands 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 James Hislop, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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:
This Invention consists in laying parallel to the front of the retort beds a
line of cast-iron pipes suitably jointed together of about eight inches diameter,
more or less, one end of which may be closed while the other is connected to
the main flue leading to the chimney shaft, or both ends of the line of pipes
may be led into the main flue if found more advantageous. For convenience
sake it is preferred to lay them beneath the retort house floor, but this is not
indispensable. The pipes so laid are constructed with a number of sockets
cast on their sides, and are so adjusted that one shall be opposite to and
directly under each retort with its open end upwards; these sockets are pro-
vided with caps so as to exclude the admission of atmospheric air, and are
kept closed when the apparatus is not in operation, but admit of removal
when required. When the apparatus is to be put into use a piece of pipe of
nearly sufficient height to reach the retort is inserted perpendicularly in the
socket immediately beneath it, and the lid of the retort to be operated upon
having been removed a pipe long enough to reach within about a foot of the
back end thereof is thrust into it, and the outer end connected by a bend to the
upright pipe before mentioned. The whole line of piping from the back end
of the retort to the main flue is then in direct communication; the
consequence is that the draught in the chimney shaft induces a strong current
of air to rush into the retort, which as it passes causes the particles of carbon
to fly off, and in the course of a very short time by this means the whole of it
may be removed; the process may, however, be accelerated by placing some
coke or fuel just within the mouth piece of the retort and the use of chisels

page_text: from time to time. To regulate the force of the current of air the upright
pipe before described is provided with a damper, which may be used as
necessity dictates. When long or "through"
When long or "through" retorts are used it may be
found desirable to have a line of pipes laid on each side of the benches, but
even then it will not be imperative, and in all ordinary cases a line of pipes on
one side of the retort stack will be found sufficient, and although cast iron is
mentioned as preferable the pipes or conduit may be made of any other
suitable material.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise
details which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is, the arrangement of apparatus for scurfing or removing carbon from
gas retorts substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hislop, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JAMES HISLUP. (LS.)