IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Turner Carpenter, of West Minster, in the Isle
of Sheppey, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of
IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.
IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 27th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Turner Carpenter
at the Office of the Commissioners of l'atents on the 27th March 1876.
WILLIAM TURNER CARPENTER, of West Minster, in the Isle of Sheppey, and
County of Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the charging and discharging of the
retorts or ovens used in gas works for the manufacture of illuminating gas by
the aid of machinery, and to diminish the amount of manual labour attendant
thereon.
The Invention is based upon one for which 1 received Provisional Protection,
dated March 13, 1869, and consists of retorts or ovens of a round, oval, or other
convenient shape in transverse section. The anterior portion of each retort is
somewhat conical and of an increasing diameter for about one-third of its length
towards the back, the remainder of the retort being parallel. The back of each
retort is open to and communicates with an oven or chamber common to a part,
or the whole of each setting. Near the bottom of this oven or chamber is a
conducting pipe so arranged that in ordinary working it will usually be surrounded
with hot coke, but at the same time capable of carrying off the gas evolved from
the coal being carbonized. At or near the top of the oven or chamber rises a
pipe to carry off the gas when it is preferred that the gas shall pass that way
instead of through the lower pipe before mentioned. The two pipes are connected
together and have valves so that the gas may be compelled to travel in either
direction. To each retort there is fastened a mouth piece which is made conical
at its posterior end, and is furnished with a short archimedian screw attached to
a shaft which passes through the mouth piece, and has there attached to it a worm
wheel which is made to revolve by any suitable power through the intervention of
a worm. To the top of each mouth piece rises à pipe or shoot fitted with a valve
and connected to a hopper, bunker, or other receptacle for containing and conveying
coal down to the mouth piece.

page_text: The bottom of the oven or chamber, before described, is provided with one or
more mouth pieces for the discharge of the coke, each mouth piece being furnished
with a hinged lid having a bevelled edge which fits into a corresponding bevel
in the mouth piece, or the mouth piece and lid may be faced, the lid being closed by
means of a lever or levers acting upon a cam, cams, or eccentrics, or by preference
with a worm and quadrant, or other suitable means.
The retorts may be set either horizontally or vertically, but it is preferred to set
them at such an inclination that but little power shall be necessary to push the
coke from the retort into the oven or chamber. They may also be set back to back,
the chamber or oven intervening.
The action of the apparatus is as follows :-
-
Coals are placed in the bunkers and descend the shoots or pipes into the mouth
pieces motion is then given to the screws and the coal forced forward through
each mouth piece until it comes in contact with the heated surface of the retort;
it then swells and forms a gas tight joint. The continued revolution of the
archimedian screw, however, forces the coal forward into the retort, and ultimately
it falls by the same action into the oven or chamber, where the carbonizing is
completed and the coal converted into coke. Before the coke is discharged a jet
of steam is or may be injected to cool the coke, and so prevent explosion at the
time of its discharge. Should it be necessary to enrich the gas a jet of oil or other
liquid rich in carbon may be injected into the hot coke before discharging it, a
sufficient time being allowed for the volatilization of the oil.
Motion may be imparted to the machinery continuously or nearly so, or at such
intervals as may be found most convenient or advantageous.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Turner Carpenter in the Great Seal l'atent Office on ilie
23rd September 1876.
WILLIAM TURNER CARPENTER, of West Minster, in the Isle of Sheppey, in the
County of Kent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
or Gas."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the charging and discharging of the
retorts or ovens used in gas works for the manufacture of illuminating gas by the
aid of machinery, and to diminish the amount of manual labour attendant
thereon.
The Invention is based upon one for which I received Provisional Protection,
dated March 13, 1869, and consists of retorts or ovens of a round, oval, or other con-
venient shape in transverse section. The anterior portion of each retort is some-
what conical, and of an increasing diameter for about one-third of its length towards
the back, the remainder of the retort being parallel. The back of each retort is
open to and communicates with an oven or chamber common to a part, or the whole
of each setting. Near the bottom of this oven or chamber is a conducting pipe so
arranged that it is capable of carrying off the gas evolved from the coal being car-
bonized. At or near the top of the oven or chamber rises another pipe to carry off
the gas when it is preferred that the gas shall pass that way instead of through the
lower pipe before mentioned. The two pipes are connected together and have
valves so that the gas may be compelled to travel in either direction. To each
retort there is fastened a mouth piece, which is made conical at its posterior end, and
is furnished with a short archimedian screw attached to a shaft which passes through
the mouth piece, and has there fixed to it a worm wheel, which is made to revolve
by any suitable power through the intervention of a worm. To the top of each
mouth piece rises a pipe or shoot fitted with a valve and connected to a hopper,
bunker, or other receptacle for containing and conveying coal down to the mouth
piece.

page_text: The bottom of the oven or chamber, before described, is provided with one or
more mouth pieces for the discharge of the coke, each mouth piece being furnished
with a hinged lid having a bevelled edge which fits into a corresponding bevel in
the mouth piece, or the mouth piece and lid may be faced, the lid being closed by
means of a lever or levers acting upon a cam, cams, or eccentrics, or by preference
with a worm and quadrant, or other suitable means.
The retorts may be set horizontally, but it is preferred to set them at such an
inclination that but little power shall be necessary to push the coke from the retort
into the oven or chamber.
An angle of about 20° to 25° from the horizontal
is found to be suitable. The retorts may also be set back to back, the chamber or
oven intervening.
B
In order that the forgoing may be more easily understood Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description Fig. 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2
a side elevation, one half of which is in section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal and
vertical section, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the mouth piece showing its form
as being conical and the shape of the screw and teeth. In Fig. 2 A is the furnace;
the ash pan; C, C, the retorts; D, D), the mouthpieces; E, E, the screws; and F, F, their
shafts G, G, being the worm wheels driven by the worm H; I, I, are shoots descending
from the coal bunker J into the upper mouth piece, and from thence also into the
lower mouth piece. It will be observed, especially on looking at the enlarged view,
Fig. 4, that these mouth pieces are conical, decreasing in diameter towards the retort,
and this is important because the coal thereby assumes a compact mass just before
entering the retort, and thus prevents an escape of gas into the mouth pieces; K is
a receptacle for coals, which are lifted by the buckets attached to the endless band
L, and thrown into the shoot M, from whence they fall into the bunkers J. N is
the chamber with which all the retorts in each bench communicate, and is the
outlet for the coke, the lid or door being marked P. It will be noticed that this
lid or door is opened and closed by turning the wheel Q, which operating upon the
toothed quadrant R through the worm S produces sufficient pressure to keep the
lid tight, the lid having a bevelled edge which fits into a corresponding bevel in the
bottom of the mouth piece. This method of opening and closing the doors or lids
is a great improvement, inasmuch as the men are not exposed to the great heat
emitted from the retorts when open. The two pipes which constitute the outlets
for the gas are marked T and U. V, V, are valves between the shoots and retorts,
and W, W, are valves inserted in the gas outlet pipes. X is a three-way cock to
which steam is brought by the pipe Y, Fig. 1, and through which the steam may
be sent at once by the pipe Z into the chamber at a, or by passing it through the
pipe b, which is surrounded by heated brickwork, it may be dried or superheated,
and emitted at C in the chamber N. Similar letters refer to the same parts in
each of the Drawings.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Coals are placed in the receptacle K,
and are lifted into the bunkers J, from which they descend by the shoots or pipes I, I,
into the mouth pieces motion is then given to the screws and the coal forced
forward through each conical mouth piece until it comes in contact with the heated
surface of the retort; it then swells and forms a gas tight joint. The continued
revolution of the archimedian screw, however, forces the coal forward into the
retort, and ultimately it falls by the same action, in addition to its gravity, into
the oven or chamber where the carbonizing is completed and the coal converted
into cokc.
It will be seen that in the Drawings the retorts are shown as very short, but
their length may be increased if found desirable; in fact, much depends upon the
quality of coke required. If a hard dense coke is wanted it will be requisite to
lengthen the retorts, set them at a less inclined angle, and diminish the speed of
the screws, thus ensuring the coal remaining in the retorts a longer time, but if
a light soft coke only is wanted then short retorts, an increased speed, and a
bigher angle of setting, either condition being used singly or combined, is to be
preferred.

page_text: Before the coke is discharged a jet of steam is or may be injected through the
pipe Z to cool the coke, and so prevent combustion at the time of its discharge.
Should it be desirable to dilute the gas, and increase its quantity, dry or super-
heated steam may be admitted by the pipe b, the steam so admitted being decom-
posed in the chamber N, and yielding hydrogen and other gases suitable for this
purpose. If, on the contrary, it is necessary to enrich the gas, a jet of oil or other
liquid rich in carbon may be injected into the hot coke in the same manner as the
steam is, a sufficient time being allowed for the volatilization of the oil before
discharging the chamber.
Motion may be imparted to the machinery continuously, or nearly so, or at such
intervals as may be found most convenient or advantageous.
The setting of retorts at an inclination from the horizontal and the thrusting
forward of the coal into the retort by machinery are not new; but the employment
of conical mouth pieces, the method of opening and closing the lid or door of the
chamber N, and the particular arrangement for the introduction of the steam, oils,
or hydrocarbon fluids are new.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements 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―
Firstly. The employment of conical mouth pieces as herein described and shown
on the Drawings.
Secondly. The method of opening and closing the lids or doors of coke chambers
as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
And Thirdly. The arrangement for introducing steam and oils or other hydro-
carbon liquids into the coke chamber as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Turner Carpenter, have hereunto set
my band and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. T. CARPENTER. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Turner Carpenter, of West Minster, in the Isle
of Sheppey, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Turner Carpenter
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March 1876.
WILLIAM TURNER CARPENTER, of West Minster, in the Isle of Sheppey, and
County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the charging and discharging of the
retorts or ovens used in gas works for the manufacture of illuminating gas by
the aid of machinery, and to diminish the amount of manual labour attendant
thereon.
The Invention is based upon one for which I received Provisional Protection,
dated March 13, 1869, and consists of retorts or ovens of a round, oval, or other
convenient shape in transverse section. The anterior portion of each retort is
somewhat conical and of an increasing diameter for about one-third of its length
towards the back, the remainder of the retort being parallel. The back of each
retort is open to and communicates with an oven or chamber common to a part,
or the whole of each setting. Near the bottom of this oven or chamber is a
conducting pipe so arranged that in ordinary working it will usually be surrounded
with hot coke, but at the same time capable of carrying off the gas evolved from
the coal being carbonized. At or near the top of the oven or chamber rises a
pipe to carry off the gas when it is preferred that the gas shall pass that way
instead of through the lower pipe before mentioned. The two pipes are connected
together and have valves so that the gas may be compelled to travel in either
direction. To each retort there is fastened a mouth piece which is made conical
at its posterior end, and is furnished with a short archimedian screw attached to
a shaft which passes through the mouth piece, and has there attached to it a worm
wheel which is made to revolve by any suitable power through the intervention of
a worm. To the top of each mouth piece rises a pipe or shoot fitted with a valve
and connected to a hopper, bunker, or other receptacle for containing and conveying
coal down to the mouth piece.

page_text: The bottom of the oven or chamber, before described, is provided with one or
more mouth pieces for the discharge of the coke, each mouth piece being furnished
with a hinged lid having a bevelled edge which fits into a corresponding bevel
in the mouth piece, or the mouth piece and lid may be faced, the lid being closed by
means of a lever or levers acting upon a cam, cams, or eccentrics, or by preference
with a worm and quadrant, or other suitable means.
The retorts may be set either horizontally or vertically, but it is preferred to set
them at such an inclination that but little power shall be necessary to push the
coke from the retort into the oven or chamber. They may also be set back to back,
the chamber or oven intervening.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:--
Coals are placed in the bunkers and descend the shoots or pipes into the mouth
pieces; motion is then given to the screws and the coal forced forward through
each mouth picce until it comes in contact with the heated surface of the retort;
it then swells and forms a gas tight joint. The continued revolution of the
archimedian screw, however, forces the coal forward into the retort, and ultimately
it falls by the same action into the oven or chamber, where the carbonizing is
completed and the coal converted into coke. Before the coke is discharged a jet
of steam is or may be injected to cool the coke, and so prevent explosion at the
time of its discharge. Should it be necessary to enrich the gas a jet of oil or other
liquid rich in carbon may be injected into the hot coke before discharging it, a
sufficient time being allowed for the volatilization of the oil.
Motion may be imparted to the machinery continuously or nearly so, or at such
intervals as may be found most convenient or advantageous.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Turner Carpenter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd September 1876.
WILLIAM TURNER CARPENTER, of West Minster, in the Isle of Sheppey, in the
County of Kent. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the charging and discharging of the
retorts or ovens used in gas works for the manufacture of illuminating gas by the
aid of machinery, and to diminish the amount of manual labour attendant
thereon.
The Invention is based upon one for which I received Provisional Protection,
dated March 13, 1869, and consists ofretorts or ovens of a round, oval, or other con-
venient shape in transverse section. The anterior portion of each retort is some-
what conical, and of an increasing diameter for about one-third of its length towards
the back, the remainder of the retort being parallel. The back of each retort is
open to and communicates with an oven or chamber common to a part, or the whole
of each setting. Near the bottom of this oven or chamber is a conducting pipe so
arranged that it is capable of carrying off the gas evolved from the coal being car-
bonized. At or near the top of the oven or chamber rises another pipe to carry off
the gas when it is preferred that the gas shall pass that way instead of through the
lower pipe before mentioned. The two pipes are connected together and have
valves so that the gas may be compelled to travel in either direction. To each
retort there is fastened a mouth piece, which is inade conical at its posterior end, and
is furnished with a short archimedian screw attached to a shaft which passes through
the mouth piece, and has there fixed to it a worm wheel, which is made to revolve
by any suitable power through the intervention of a worm. To the top of each
mouth piece rises a pipe or shoot fitted with a valve and connected to a hopper,
bunker, or other receptacle for containing and conveying coal down to the mouth
piece.

page_text: The bottom of the oven or chamber, before described, is provided with one or
more mouth pieces for the discharge of the coke, each mouth piece being furnished
with a hinged lid having a bevelled edge which fits into a corresponding bevel in
the mouth piece, or the mouth piece and lid may be faced, the lid being closed by
means of a lever or levers acting upon a cain, cams, or eccentrics, or by preference
with a worm and quadrant, or other suitable means.
The retorts may be set horizontally, but it is preferred to set them at such an
inclination that but little power shall be necessary to push the coke from the retort
into the oven or chamber. An angle of about 200 to 250 from the horizontal
is found to be suitable. The retorts may also be set back to back, the chamber or
oven intervening.
In order that the forgoing may be more easily understood Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description Fig. 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2
a side elevation, one half of which is in section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal and
vertical section, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the mouth piece showing its form
as being conical and the shape of the screw and teeth. In Fig. 2 A is the furnace; B
the ash pan; C, C, the retorts; D, D, the mouthpieces; E, E, the screws; and F, F, their
shafts; G, G, being the worm wheels driven by the worin H; I, I, are shoots descending
from the coal bunker J into the upper mouth piece, and from thence also into the
lower mouth piece. It will be observed, especially on looking at the enlarged view,
Fig. 4, that these mouth pieces are conical, decreasing in diameter towards the retort,
and this is important because the coal thereby assumes a compact mass just before
entering the retort, and thus prevents an escape of gas into the mouth pieces; K is
a receptacle for coals, which are lifted by the buckets attached to the endless band
L, and thrown into the shoot M, from whence they fall into the bunkers J. N is
the chamber with which all the retorts in each bench communicate, and O is the
outlet for the coke, the lid or door being marked P. It will be noticed that this
lid or door is opened and closed by turning the wheel Q, which operating upon the
toothed quadrant R through the worm S produces sufficient pressure to keep the
lid tight, the lid having a bevelled edge which fits into a corresponding bevel in the
bottom of the mouth piece. This method of opening and closing the doors or lids
is a great improvement, inasmuch as the men are not exposed to the great heat
emitted from the retorts when open. The two pipes which constitute the outlets
for the gas are marked T and U. V, V, are valves between the shoots and retorts,
and W, W, are valves inserted in the gas outlet pipes. ✗ is a three-way cock to
which steam is brought by the pipe Y, Fig. 1, and through which the steam may
be sent at once by the pipe Z into the chamber at a, or by passing it through the
pipe b, which is surrounded by heated brickwork, it may be dried or superheated,
and emitted at C in the chamber N. Similar letters refer to the same parts in
each of the Drawings.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Coals are placed in the receptacle K,
and are lifted into the bunkers J, from which they descend by the shoots or pipes I, I,
into the mouth pieces; motion is then given to the screws and the coal forced
forward through each conical mouth piece until it comes in contact with the heated
surface of the retort; it then swells and forms a gas tight joint. The continued
revolution of the archimedian screw, however, forces the coal forward into the
retort, and ultimately it falls by the same action, in addition to its gravity, into
the oven or chamber where the carbonizing is completed and the coal converted
into coke.
It will be seen that in the Drawings the retorts are shown as very short, but
their length may be increased if found desirable; in fact, much depends upon the
quality of coke required. If a hard dense coke is wanted it will be requisite to
lengthen the retorts, set them at a less inclined angle, and diminish the speed of
the screws, thus ensuring the coal remaining in the retorts a longer time, but if
a light soft coke only is wanted then short retorts, an increased speed, and a
higher angle of setting, either condition being used singly or combined, is to be
preferred.

page_text: Before the coke is discharged a jet of steam is or may be injected through the
pipe Z to cool the coke, and so prevent combustion at the time of its discharge.
Should it be desirable to dilute the gas, and increase its quantity, dry or super-
heated steam may be admitted by the pipe b, the steam so admitted being decom-
posed in the chamber N, and yielding hydrogen and other gases suitable for this
purpose. If, on the contrary, it is necessary to enrich the gas, a jet of oil or other
liquid rich in carbon may be injected into the hot coke in the same manner as the
steam is, a sufficient time being allowed for the volatilization of the oil before
discharging the chamber.
Motion may be imparted to the machinery continuously, or nearly so, or at such
intervals as may be found most convenient or advantageous.
The setting of retorts at an inclination from the horizontal and the thrusting
forward of the coal into the retort by machinery are not new; but the employment
of conical mouth pieces, the method of opening and closing the lid or door of the
chamber N, and the particular arrangement for the introduction of the steam, oils,
or hydrocarbon fluids are new.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements 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-
Firstly. The employment of conical mouth pieces as herein described and shown
on the Drawings.
Secondly. The method of opening and closing the lids or doors of coke chambers
as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
And Thirdly. The arrangement for introducing steam and oils or other hydro-
carbon liquids into the coke chamber as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Turner Carpenter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.