Improvements in and Connected with Retorts for Obtaining from Coal or other Carbonaceous Substances IlluminatingTING OR HEATING GAS,IL,
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Retorts for Obtaining
from Coal or other Carbonaceous Substances Illuminating
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JAMES HISLOP, of Dariel, Montgomerie Drive, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manager of Gas Works, do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH RETORTS FOR
OBTAINING FROM COAL OR OTHER CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES, ILLUMINATING OR
HEATING GAS, OIL, COKE AND OTHER PRODUCTS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
•
My said Invention has for its object to obtain improved results with increased
economy when treating coal or other carbonaceous substances in retorts; and in
carrying it out I employ vertical retorts constructed of fireclay, each retort being
formed of one or more large pieces or being wholly or partly built up of firebricks.
The retorts are by preference of oblong form in horizontal section, and each has
a passage formed down the inside of it by a small partition built near one of the
narrow sides. The sides of the partition are perforated and the gas or vapor as it
is generated at any part of the retort has immediate access into the side passage
without passing through all the materials above it. The side passage of each retort
communicates by a number of horizontal branch pipes with an external vertical
pipe which is at its top connected with a pipe leading from the top of the retort to
the main by which the gases and vapors, pass to the condensers and separating
apparatus. On the outer side of the external vertical pipe and opposite the several
horizontal branch pipes thero are nozzles fitted with plugs which can be removed
to admit of the introduction of instruments for clearing the horizontal branch
pipes and openings which are opposite their inner ends in the partition inside of
the retort.
The improved retorts may be arranged in various ways in connection with
ordinary furnaces or with gas generative furnaces for heating them. In one
convenient arrangement there is one ordinary furnace to a set of four retorts, and
this furnace is in direct communication with the bottom ends of the retorts, theso
bottom ends being nearly horizontal and having short horizontal outlet parts
Loxtending through the side walls of the bench or building for the discharge, of

page_text: the coke or residues. The bottom outlet parts are by preference a little inclined
so as to be higher at the outside in order that any liquid condensed in them may
run towards the inner part and become vaporised. The retorts are built within
an oven or chamber in which partitions are formed to lead the fire gases up the
outer sides of the retorts and then down into the middle space from which they
pass into the exit flue.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing a set of retorts as constructed with
my improvements. Figure, 1, is an elevation, figure, 2, a vertical section as at
right angles to and along the lines, A-A, B-B, in figure, 1, and figure, 3,
a horizontal section as along the lines, C-C, and D-D in figures, 1, and 2. In
these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
The four retorts, 4, formed or built of firebrick as herein before described are
placed in an oven or chamber, 5, in a building forming a part or section of a bench,
and the outlet bottom parts, 6, of two of the retorts extend through one side wall,
whilst those of the other two retorts extend through the other side wall, discharge
mouth pieces, 7, of castiron being fixed to the outlet parts and being provided
with doors (which are however not shown). At the middle of the space below the
retorts there is an ordinary furnace, 8, from which the fire gases pass through
ports, 9, in the brickwork supporting the retort, into the oven space, 5, surrounding
the retorts. A mid wall, 10, in the oven space, 5, extending some distanco up
from the bottom but not reaching the top, causes the fire gases to pass up round
the two retorts at the same side as the fire, and then across and round the other
two retorts, the fire gases finally escaping by a flue, 11, from the lower part of the
oven. The retorts, 4, the form of which is shown in the figures, are surmounted
by iron heads, 12, on which are fixed hoppers, 13, through which the conls or other
substances to be operated on are introduced. Hollow plugs, 14, are used for
closing the hoppers, 13, and have tubular shanks with stuffing boxes at their
upper ends through which rods, 15, pass down, the rods having attached to their
lower ends, blocks or plungers, 16. When a rotort is being emptied the rod, 15,
and plunger, 16, are used for detaching and pushing down any coke or residue
which may happen to stick, this operation being effected before opening the hopper
plug, 14, to admit fresh materials. After a retort has been emptied a grating is
inserted in the horizontal bottom outlet part, 6, at a short distance inwards from
the door to keep the fresh materials charged into the retort from getting close
.to the outlet door where they would not be properly acted on by the heat.
Each retort, 4, is formed with an internal vertical passage, 17, which com-
municates with the interior by openings, 18, on its inner side, whilst openings on
its outer side and opposite to the inner openings, 18, communicate by horizontal
branch pipes, 19, with an external vertical pipe, 20. This pipe, 20, has nozzles, 21,
formed on its outer side opposite to the horizontal branch pipes, 19, and these
nozzles which are ordinarily closed by plugs are provided to admit instruments for
clearing away carbon which may become deposited in the horizontal branch
pipes, 19, or in the inner openings, 18. A plug is also fitted to the bottom end
of the vertical pipe, 20. The top of each external vertical pipe, 20, is connected
to a branched outlet pipe, 22, connected to the retort head, 12, the entire volatile
products from the retort passing through this outlet pipe, 22, and proceeding
through a valve box, 23; and branch pipo, 24, to the main, 25, which leads them
to the condensing, purifying, and separating apparatus. The outlet pipe, 22, is
fitted with a rod and scraper, 26, for clearing it; and in the valve box, 23, a valve
is arranged for closing, communication with the main, 25, when the retort is being
discharged such valve being worked by means of a pulley, 27, having an endless
chain hanging down from it. The internal vertical passages, 17, in the retorts, 4,
may be of the form shown in the upper retorts in figure, 3, or of the form shown
in the lower retorts in the same figure, or of any other simple form. Steam

page_text: ipes, 28, having branches, 29, fitted with stop valves and connected to the lower
arts of the external vertical pipes, 20, are provided to prevent or diminish the
leposit of carbonaceous matter in these pipes and to facilitate the conveyance away
of the volatile products.
In working with my improved retorts, and in addition to making illuminating
or heating gas from coal I also make gas from oil, and in doing so I utilise the
coke left from coal after driving gas off from it, by injecting the oil through
suitable pipes and nozzles into the retort and upon the heated coke.
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated
provided that the-distinctive features of my Invention are retained; these being,
1, the form of the retort and it's bottom part; 2, the internal vertical passage in the
retort combined with the external vertical pipe and the series of horizontal con-
necting pipes; 3, the plugged openings to facilitate the clearing of the horizontal
connecting pipes; and 4, the rod and plunger workable through the hopper plug
for clearing out the retort.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The making of retorts for obtaining illuminating or heating gas, oil, coke, and
other products from coal or other carbonaceous substances in the improved form,
and with the improved bottom part hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The making of the retort with the internal vertical passage and combining
therewith the external vertical pipe and series of horizontal connecting pipes
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The providing of the plugged openings for clearing the horizontal connecting
pipes substantially as herein before described..
4. The combination with the hopper plug of a rod or plunger for clearing out
the retort substantially as herein before described.
.
Dated this twenty-seventh day of September 1884.