IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED IN ABATING SMOKE AND OBTAINING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION OBTAINING AND UTILIZING THE VOLATILE PRODUCTS ARISING IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Walker, of Monkwood Colliery Co., Monkwood
Collieries, in the County of Derby, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED IN ABATING SMOKE AND OBTAINING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Walker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th July 1880.
HENRY WALKER, of Monkwood Colliery Co., Monkwood Collieries, in the
County of Derby. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED
IN ABATING SMOKE AND OBTAINING AND UTILIZING THE VOLATILE PRODUCTS
ARISING IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE."
In the ordinary mode of making coke the volatile products from the ovens in
which the manufacture is carried on pass out freely from the opening or short
chimney immediately over the oven into the atmosphere and are lost, and while
thus polluting the atmosphere they injure vegetation.
The object of my Invention is to considerably abate the black smoke arising
from coke manufacture, and collect and condense to a large extent the valuable
volatile products given off for useful purposes, and utilize the combustible gases for
generating steam or other heating purposes, or for illuminating where required;
but when such gases cannot be so used they are disposed of by being burned
without generating dark smoke. My Invention is especially applicable to existing
coke ovens or those of ordinary construction, but it is also applicable to new ovens
specially designed and arranged for carrying out my Invention.
Ordinary coke ovens are generally built adjoining each other in rows, and when
charged with coal the door way is closed by brick work and clay to exclude the
air, or so as only to admit a limited amount.
My Invention consists in arranging in the lengthway of the ovens a sufficiently
large pipe in a horizontal position, which is partly filled with water, and in
connecting the closed chimney or outlet from each oven by a branch pipe with
this main pipe, the end of the branch pipe descending into the main below the
surface of the water, which thus acts as a seal to the branch pipe.

page_text: The entrance to each oven is made as air tight as possible, in any convenient
manner, and the products of combustion and distillation pass from the oven into
the main pipe, first descending into and then rising through the water, leaving
the tar and other matters on the surface, which are drawn off as they
accumulate.
The gases are conveyed from the upper part of the main pipe to the place where
they are to be used for heating or other purposes, or they are or may be made to
pass out directly from the main through a branch pipe into the atmosphere and be
burned as they issue.
It is during the first part of the coking process that dense black smoke is given
off, and if desired the ovens need only be connected with the main pipe during this
time, and when the black smoke ceases the oven is or may be worked in the ordinary
manner by disconnecting it with the main pipe, so that air may be admitted to give
the coke the desired quality.
A modification of my Invention consists in connecting the main pipe, which in
this case may be with or without water, with a pump, fan, steam jet, or other
means of drawing and propelling fluids, so as to draw the gases from the ovens
(and thus reduce the pressure thereon) and propel it into and through water in a
chamber or chambers forming condensers and washers, the combustible gases from
which pass out to be burned to generate steam for driving the engines working
the pumping or propelling mechanism, or to produce the steam jet or jets used
for drawing and propelling the gaseous products from the coke ovens or for other
purposes.
In some cases the gaseous products before entering the condenser are or may be
made to pass through retorts heated by the combustible gases or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
January 1881.
HENRY WALKER, of Monkwood Colliery Company, Monkwood Collieries, in the
County of Derby. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED
IN ABATING SMOKE AND OBTAINING AND UTILIZING THE VOLATILE PRODUCTS
ARISING IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE."
In the ordinary mode of making coke the volatile products from the ovens in
which the manufacture is carried on pass out freely from the opening or short
chimney immediately over the oven into the atmosphere and are lost, and while
thus polluting the atmosphere they injure vegetation.
The object of my Invention is to considerably abate the black smoke arising
from coke manufacture, and collect and condense to a large extent the valuable
volatile products given off for useful purposes, and utilise the combustible gases for
generating steam or other heating purposes, or for illuminating when required; but
when such gases cannot be so used they are disposed of by being burned without
generating dark smoke.
My Invention is especially applicable to existing coke ovens, or those of ordinary
construction, but it is also applicable to new ovens specially designed and arranged
for carrying out my Invention.
Ordinary coke ovens are generally built adjoining each other in rows, and when
charged with coal the door way is closed by brick work and clay to exclude the
air, or so as only to admit a limited amount.
My Invention consists in arranging in the lengthway of the ovens a sufficiently
large pipe in a horizontal position, which is or may be partly filled with water, and
in connecting the closed chimney or outlet from each oven by a branch pipe with
this main pipe, the end of the branch pipe descending into the main below the
surface of the water or liquid (when used), which thus acts as a seal to the branch
pipe.
The products of combustion and distillation pass from the oven into the main
pipe, first descending into and then rising through the water, leaving the tar and
other matters in the liquid, which are drawn off as they accumulate.
The gases are conveyed from the upper part of the main pipe to the place where
they are to be used for heating or other purposes, or they are or may be made to
pass out directly from the main through a branch pipe into the atmosphere, and be
burned as they issue.
It is during the first part of the coking process that dense black smoke is given
off, and if desired the ovens need only be connected with the main pipe during
this time, and when the black smoke ceases the oven is or may be worked in the
ordinary manner by disconnecting it with the main pipe, so that air may be
admitted to give the coke the desired quality.
In one modification of my Invention a flue with connecting branch flues is
substituted for the main pipe.
The main pipe or flue, which may be with or without water or liquid, is con-
nected with a chimney of sufficient draught or means of drawing and propelling
fluids so as to draw the gases from the ovens (and thus reduce the pressure therein)
and propel them when required into and through water in a chamber or chambers,
forming condensers and washers, the combustible gases from which pass out to be
burned to generate steam for driving the engines working the pumping or propelling
mechanism, or to produce the steam jet or jets used for drawing and propelling the
gaseous products from the coke ovens or for other purposes.
In some cases the gaseous products and products of combustion (should they
leave the coke ovens at too low a temperature to produce the valuable products

page_text: desired) are or may be made to pass through the interior of retorts, or tubes, or
flues formed of iron, or fire clay, or fire bricks, and heated externally by the
combustible gases or otherwise before entering the condenser.
In carrying out my Invention if it is only desired to prevent smoke the outlet
from each oven is connected by a branch flue or pipe with a main flue, which is or
may be connected with a chimney of sufficient height to produce the draught
required for drawing away the products of distillation and combustion from the
ovens, the gases conveyed to this chimney being burned at or before their entrance
to the chimney by admitting sufficient air to produce as perfect a combustion as
possible. But if it is desired to not only prevent smoke but to utilize the heat
from the combustion of the gases, these are conveyed to the furnace in which they
are to be consumed, and sufficient air is admitted for their combustion, the gases
being thus used in a similar manner to those from blast furnaces, which are
employed for heating boilers for generating steam, and stoves for heating, air, and
for various other purposes, the products of the combustion of the gases passing to
a chimney to produce draught to draw them from the ovens and to and through
the furnace or furnaces where they are to be used.
If besides employing the gases for heating purposes it is also desired to obtain
tar and ammoniacal liquor, then, especially if an hydraulic main is used, or if the
gases are passed through water or other arrangements to condense and retain the
required volatile matters, a fan, pump, exhauster, or steam jet is employed of any
ordinary and well known construction used for exhausting gases to draw the
gaseous products from the ovens, and either draw or force them through the water
or liquor, or condensers or purifiers, which may be employed, and which are or may
be of any of the well known forms of condensers or washers used in the manu-
facture of illuminating gas from coal, and obtaining tar and ammoniacal liquor
therefrom.
The combustible gases after such purification are or may be then burned for
heating or illuminating purposes.
Fig. 1 represents a cross section through a row of coke ovens built back to back,
of ordinary construction.
In the middle and lengthway of the row of ovens there is a main flue (a) formed,
connected by a branch flue (a') with the short chimney (b) of each coke oven (c)
in the row.
The top of each short chimney (b) is provided with a cover b₁ which can be
readily placed on or removed from the chimney, as will be hereinafter further
explained, and each branch flue has a damper a² or other suitable valve by which
the communication between the oven and the main flue (a) can be opened or
closed.
The main flue is in communication with the chimney or with a flue or pipe
leading to it, or to the condensers and washers, where the gases are condensed and
washed to obtain the desired products before being passed forward to be consumed
for heating or other purposes.
Fig. 2 is a cross section, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal front elevation illustrating
coke ovens arranged in connection with a hydraulic main.
The short chimney b of each oven is supposed in this case to be formed by an
iron cylinder lined with fire bricks, and there is a branch pipe (a¹) to convey the
products from the oven to the hydraulic main (a), the end of the branch pipe
dipping below the level of the liquid in the main, the tar collected in which being
drawn off as it accumulates through a suitable pipe to keep the surface of the liquid
in the main about the same level.
There is a damper or other suitable valve in the pipes a¹ to shut off the
communication with the main when desired.
The outlet from the chimney b is closed when required by a metal lid 6', which
is or may be lined or faced with fire clay. This lid is jointed to the end of a
lever b which has its fulcrum carried on a vertical bar bs that can swivel in
bearings formed on or secured to the side of the chimney or otherwise, and there

page_text: is an arm from the swivel bar or axis which is slotted for the lever arm (b)
to pass through, the slot allowing sufficient play to the lever to permit the lid to
be lifted and turned to one side out of the way when the outlet from the chimney
is to be uncovered; but the slot prevents the lever, and thus the lid, from
descending too low when the lid is turned away from the chimney.
d is the pipe conducting the products from the main to the condensers and
washers, or first to the fan or other exhauster, and then to the condensers or washers,
and then to the furnace or furnaces.
In working the coke ovens they are charged with coal in the ordinary manner,
and then the entrance to the oven is closed by brick work in the usual way, or by
suitable doors e protected by or faced with fire clay, slabs, or bricks.
The chimney outlet (b) is closed, and the products pass into the main pipe or
flue a. I prefer to produce either by a draught from a sufficiently high chimney or
a pump, exhauster, or steam jet, a sufficient draught to draw away the products
from the oven at about the same velocity at which they pass away naturally from
the oven in the ordinary mode of working coke ovens when the outlet is directly
into the atmosphere; and after the black smoke, which is discharged during the
first part of the process, ceases to be given off from the coal, the valve or damper (a²)
is closed in the branch flue or pipe a¹ which connects the oven with the main
Blue or pipe, and the chimney of the oven is uncovered, so that the coking process
is finished in the ordinary manner and the gaseous products pass directly into the
atmosphere.
Sufficient air is admitted at the door of the oven or through suitable holes formed
in the sides of the oven to produce the required combustion and heat to carry on
the coking process.
I have now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the
modes of carrying the sanie into effect, and claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of coke ovens with main and branch
flues or pipes and with dampers or valves, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of coke ovens and the system or mode of working
them in such manner that the gaseous products of the first part of the process of
coking is or may be burned or utilized, and the latter part of the process of coking
will be conducted with a free outlet from the ovens into the atmosphere, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination and arrangement and mode of working coke ovens
whereby some one or more of the products are obtained or utilized, substantially
as herein before described.
Fourthly. The combination with coke ovens of pumps, exhausters, or steam jets
for drawing away the gaseous products from coke ovens, and also for drawing or
forcing such products through condensers or washers, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Walker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thancond night hundred and sights ann
HENRY WALKER. (L.S.)