Improvements in and Connected with the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 7th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Manufacture of
Illuminating Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE of Emlyn Street, Liverpool Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :—
In the manufacture of illuminating gas from coal according to this invention, tar
or other residual hydro-carbon liquid is introduced into a retort, either mixed with
the coal or separately therefrom and the products of distillation are passed through a
cooled passage upon leaving such retort.
The mode of operation is therefore the following:
Coal and tar are distilled in a heated retort, and become mixed therein, and the
products of distillation flow through the retort from the points, at which they are dis-
tilled, to the exit passage of the retort, where they pass through an artificially cooled
passage and are subjected to the cooling influence thereof.
One of the effects of the production of gas in the manner just described is that
quantity and quality of the gas produced is augmented and that condensible matters
of a pitchy nature and carbon are arrested or condensed by the cooled passage, and
are thereby prevented from coagulating or congealing on the surfaces of the pipes or
other parts of the apparatus and blocking them up. In the processes of manufactur-
ing gas from coal in retorts in which coal tar is employed and distilled in conjunction
with the distillation of the coal, it has been found that pitch and other like matters,
due to the vapourization of the tar and not converted into permanent illuminating
gas, became deposited upon the inner surface of the pipes and they became stopped
up thereby according to this invention the gases produced from the tar and coal in
the retorts being subjected to the influence of the cooled passage upon leaving the
retort, these matters present in the gas are arrested, and the process may be con-
ducted continuously without interruption from defects or hindrances above named.
The retorts may be of the ordinary single or "through" type or they may be
provided internally with a plate, pipe, or partition, over which the gas may be caused
to pass and on to which the tar may be introduced. If the plate, pipe, or partition,
be provided it may be removable or fixed; or any suitable and equivalent internal
fittings or provisions may be used to direct the course of the gases or in connection
with the introduction of the tar; or for both purposes. Of course in cases in which
the tar is mixed with the coal prior to charging and then introduced with the coal no
special plates or internal provisions if used at all need be used in connection with
the tar, but only in connection with the directing of the gases whilst in the retort.
The cooled passage may be maintained at the required temperature by causing
water or cold air to be circulated over it and within a jacket or it may be effected in
any suitable way. It is preferred to arrange the cooling surface of this passage close
to the retort mouth and such passage to be a portion of the ascension pipe.
In lieu of, or in connection with the internal provisions above mentioned I may work
the process in retorts by placing the coal in one portion and leaving the other portion
free, so that the gases pass through this free portion on their way to the cooled
passage. In this portion the tar may be distilled when introduced separately from
the coal.
Various shapes of retorts and internal provisions may be used in carrying out this
invention.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and Connected with the Manufacture of
Illuminating Gas.
I JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE of Emlyn Street Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In the manufacture of illuminating gas from coal according to this invention, tar
or other residual hydro-carbon liquid is introduced into a retort, either mixed with
the coal or separately therefrom, and the products of distillation are passed through a
cooled passage upon leaving such retort. The mode of operation is therefore the
following Coal and tar are distilled in a heated retort and become mixed therein
and the products of distillation flow through the retort from the points at which they
are distilled to the exit passages of the retort where they pass through an artificially
cooled passage and are subjected to the cooling influence thereof.
One of the effects of the production of gas in the manner just described is that
the quantity and quality of the gas produced is augmented, and that condensible
matters of a pitchy nature, and carbon, are arrested or condensed by the cooled
passages, and are thereby prevented from coagulating or congealing on the surfaces of
the pipes or other parts of the apparatus and blocking them up. In the process of
manufacturing gas from coal in retorts, in which coal tar is employed and distilled
in conjunction with the distillation of the coal, it has been found that pitch and
other like matters, due to the vapourization of the tar and not converted into per-
manent illuminating gas, become deposited upon the inner surface of the pipes and
they become stopped up thereby; according to this invention the gases produced
from the tar and coal in the retorts being subjected to the influence of the cooled
passage upon leaving the retort, these matters present in the gas are arrested and the
process may be conducted continuously without interruption from the defects or
hindrances above named.
The retorts may be of the ordinary single or "through" type, or they may be
provided internally with a plate, pipe, or partition, over which the gas may be caused
to pass and on to which the tar may be introduced. If the plate, pipe, or partition
be provided, it may be removable or fixed, or any suitable equivalent internal fittings
or provisions may be used to direct the course of the gases, or in connection with the
introduction of the tar, or for both purposes. Of course in cases in which the tar is
mixed with the coal prior to charging, and then introduced with the coal, no special
plates or internal provisions (if used at all,) need be used in connection with the tar,
but only in connection with the directing of the gases whilst in the retort:
The cooled passage may be maintained at the required temperature by causing
water or cold air to be circulated over it, and within a jacket; or it may be effected
in any suitable way. It is preferred to arrange the cooling surface of this passage
close to the retort mouth, and such passage to be a portion of the ascension pipe.
In lieu of, or in connection with, the internal provisions above mentioned, I may
work the process in retorts by placing the coal in one portion and leaving the other
portion free, so that the gases pass through this free portion on their way to the cooled
passage. In this portion the tar may be distilled when introduced separately from
the coat.
Various shapes of retorts and internal provisions may be used in carrying out this
invention.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate this invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional eleva-
tion and Fig. 2 an end view showing an ordinary closed retort with improvements
according to this invention applied thereto.
With reference to the drawings, A is the retort in which coal is introduced and
carbonized in the ordinary manner; B is the retort mouth having an ordinary
charging and discharging door B'; C is the gas escape or ascension passage on the

page_text: mouth B by which the gases evolved in the retort A are cooled upon leaving said
retort; and D is a diaphragm for guiding the gases in passing through the retort to
the pipe C and is supported on projections d and a bar d'
The passage C is cooled by water or other cooling fluid surrounding it, such fluid
being retained in and circulated through an annular space formed by the annular
pipes c¹, c². It will be observed the cooling of the pipe C is carried quite down to
the metal of the mouth B.
The tar in the example of the invention illustrated is introduced into the retort by a
device E on to the diaphragm D, and when so introduced it is preferably done under
such a head as will cause it to fall well within the retort, and on to a portion of the
diaphragm which will be red hot in order to distil it rapidly and thoroughly.
In operation coal is introduced into the retort in the usual way, and tar is intro-
duced by the device or pipe E; and both are distilled by the heat of the retort, the
coal gases passing round the end of the diaphragm D and mixing with the tar gases
as they pass away to the passage C. In passing through this passage (which may
be of about 5 to 7 feet in length, preferably,) the combined tar and coal gases are
cooled, and by this cooling this passage, as well as those following, are prevented
from becoming blocked by pitch or other deposits. The temperature to which the
retort is heated may suitably be that denoted by fa clear cherry red color, i.e., a
medium gas making temperature.
When the tar is introduced simultaneously with the coal (that is, coal and tar
previously mixed together) it will be evident that the pipe or device E will not be
required; also, although I prefer to use the diaphragm D, its uso may sometimes be
dispensed with, as may be deemed or found desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to. be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
dis-
1. The manufacture of gas substantially as herein described, that is to say,
tilling coal and tar, or the like, in a common retort or chamber, and cooling same
upon leaving said retort.
2. The manufacture of gas substantially as herein described, that is to say, dis-
tilling coal in a retort of the kind described, and introducing tar or the like separately
into said retort, and distilling it therein, and cooling the resulting gases upon leaving
the retort.
3. The manufacture of gas substantially as herein described, that is to say, mixing
coal and tar or the like together, then distilling the same in a retort, and then cooling
the resulting gases upon leaving the retort.
4. An apparatus for distilling coal and tar or the like comprising a retort such
as described, and an artificially cooled passage disposed on the mouth of said retort,
whereby the gases produced are cooled instantly upon leaving said retort.
5. Apparatus for distilling coal and tar or the like, comprising a retort. such as
described, a suitable device for introducing tar or the liko into said retort, and an
artificially cooled passage by which the gases produced are cooled upon leaving said
retort.
6. The employment, in a retort in which coal and tar, or the like, are distilled, of
a diaphragm, such as D, by which the gases in passing through said retort are guided,
substantially as set forth.
7. In apparatus for manufacturing gas from coal and tar, or the like, the com-
bination of a retort A; a diaphragm D; and an artificially cooled passage C;
operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts of the apparatus, substantially as
set forth with reference to the drawings.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents.