IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Hilton, of Parkside, Prostwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GAS."
Sealed the 28th May 1878, and dated the 3rd December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Hilton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1877.
MATHEW HILTON, of Parkside, Prestwich, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
"
The Invention consists chiefly of improvements in the methods pursued and the
appliances used in the distillation of illuminating gas, and for utilizing some of the
waste products.
The object is to make the distillation process as nearly as possible automatic and
continuous. For this purpose I prefer cast-iron retorts, which are carried in the
furnace by bearings, and are supported, if desirable, by ordinary mechanical devices,
such as friction rollers, the retort being made to revolve by means of a wheel fixed
on it in a convenient place, such as the projecting ends, which is driven by a pinion
or worm, or in any other convenient way. More than one wheol may be used if
desirable. The ends projecting beyond the furnace are turned or prepared in some
other known way, so that an air-tight joint, by means of packing and glands, or
some other known means of making joints, may be formed. To each end of the
retort a stationary casing of cast or sheet iron, or other suitable material, is attached
by the air-tight joint above mentioned, one such casing serving the purpose of
receiving the coal or other material from which the gas is to be made, the other to
discharge the coke. On either or both of these an ascension pipe to take away the
Prine d

page_text: gas is fixed, preferably on the discharge box, so that any tar drippings may fall on
the coke.
The feed box contains near the bottom a small opening of circular or other shape
to which a prolongation of about the same area is attached, in which works a pusher
or piston; this feed cylinder is in communication with the coal supply. The latter
may be ground as nearly as desired into a powder, and brought by mechanical
means, such as a creeper or the like, from the storing place into a hopper fixed close
to the retort, or it may be fed directly from an opening in the creeper box or
cylinder to the pusher box or cylinder by a tubular connection, into which one or
more valves may be inserted to open and close alternately the communication, so
that both are not open simultaneously, in order to reduce or prevent the loss of gas or
the influx of air, as the case may be.
The piston or pusher, as well as the valves, are actuated by suitable mechanism,
so that when the piston is drawn backward coal falls in front of it, and is pushed
into the feed box on the forward stroke of the piston, and then, as more coal follows,
into the retort.
Through the combined action of the pusher and the revolutions of the retort, aided
if necessary by an inclination of the latter towards the discharge end, the coal is
gradually distilled, and arrives at the discharge end.
At the bottom of the discharge box is an outlot of comparatively small area, of
cylindrical or other shape, covered by a valve in the form of a double cone, which is
lifted and depressed mechanically. To the opening is attached a tube, which may
have similar valves inserted as the feed pipe, which tube discharges its contents
direct into a tank or in a creeper, by which it is removed mechanically or in any
other ordinary way, the mouth of the tube dipping, if desired, under water. It is
preferable however to insert a similar contrivance as the feed cylinder with pusher or
piston in any convenient position is this discharge pipe, so as to project the red-hot
coke as soon as possible direct on the fire-grate for heating the retort, the only
difference between this stoking cylinder and the feed cylinder being that the stoker
has some lateral space through which that part of the coke which is not required for
the heating of the retort may pass the pusher, and be discharged in the same way as
before described.
In order that thero may always be a sufficient quantity of coke for the pusher to
operate upon, a throttle valve may be inserted immediately below, which may be
regulated by hand. The surplus coke may also be removed by a creeper or other
mechanical means to the general storing place.
Instead of extinguishing the heat of the red-hot coke with water, the coke may
be discharged into a closed cylinder in direct communication with the discharge
pipe, which cylinder contains an archimedian screw or other suitable form of creeper,
and is surrounded by a water or air space, constituting it a steam or hot-water
boiler or air-heating apparatus. Air being excluded from the coke, it will not burn,
but give off its heat gradually to the surfaces, along which it is continually being
moved by the action of the creeper. The discharge pipe also, and other portions
containing hot coke, may be surrounded by water or air spaces where such is
desirable.
To seal up any gas that may find its way into the closed cylinder, and to prevent
influx of air, the continuity of the creeper may be broken and a water dip inter-
posed; or the coke may be discharged into a tank containing water, under the
surface of which the discharge end of the creeper casing dips.
The pistons and valves are actuated by mechanical power in any ordinary way,
their speed and other adjustments being regulated by hand from time to time as
circumstances require, or by such mechanical means as may be available for the
purpose.
Where retorts are set in benches, those of one bench may be connected to the
same common casing at each end, i.e., feed and dischargo box, each retort having its
own feed, but all having of course only one common stoker.

page_text: It is clear that instead of carrying on the whole process mechanically and auto-
matically from receiving the coal to storing the surplus coke, as here described, a
part of the process only may be carried on, other portions being attended to by hand;
and, further, that some one or more of these improvements may be applied without
adopting all.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Matthew Hilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June
1878.
MATTHEW HILTON, of Parkside, Prestwich, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
The Invention consists chiefly of improvements in the methods pursued and the
appliances used in the distillation of illuminating gas, and for utilizing some of the
waste products.
The object is to make the distillation process as nearly as possible automatic and
continuous. For this purpose I prefer cast-iron or other metal retorts, and these are
carried in the furnace by bearings, and are supported, if desirable, by ordinary
mechanical devices, such as friction rollers, the retort being made to revolve by means
of a wheel fixed on it in a convenient place, such as the projecting ends, which is
driven by a pinion or worm, or in any other convenient way, a number of wheels
being employed if desirable. The ends projecting beyond the furnace are turned or
prepared in some other suitable way, so that an air-tight joint may be formed by
means of packing and glands, or some other known means of making joints. To each
end of the retort a stationary casing of cast or sheet iron, or other suitable material,
is attached by the air-tight joint above mentioned, one such casing serving the pur-
pose of receiving the coal or other material from which the gas is to be made, the
other to discharge the coke. On either or both of these an ascension pipe to take
away
the gas
is fixed, preferably on the discharge box, so that any tar drippings may,
fall on the coke.
The feed box contains a small opening of circular or other shape, to which opening
a prolongation of about the same area is attached, in which works a pusher or piston
of suitable construction; this feed cylinder is in communication with the coal supply.
The coal may be ground as nearly as desired into a powder, and brought by
mechanical means, such as a creeper or the like, from the storing place into a hopper
fixed close to the retort, or it may be fed directly from an opening in the creeper
box or cylinder to the pusher box or cylinder by a tubular connection, into which
one or more valves may be inserted to open and close alternately the communica-
tion, so that both are not open simultaneously, in order to reduce or prevent the loss
of gas or the influx of air, as the case may be.
The piston, or pusher, as well as the valves, are actuated by suitable mechanism,
so that when the piston is drawn backward coal falls in front of it, and is pushed
'

page_text: into the feed box on the forward stroke of the piston, and then gradually into the
retort, as more coal follows.
Through the combined action of the pusher and the revolutions of the retort, aided
if necessary by an inclination of the latter towards the discharge end, the coal is
gradually distilled before it arrives at the discharge end.
At the bottom of the discharge box is an outlet of comparatively small area, and
of cylindrical or other shape, to which is attached a tube which may have similar
valves inserted as the feed pipe, and which discharges its contents direct into a tank
or in a creeper, by which the discharge is removed mechanically, or in any other
ordinary way, the mouth of the tubo dipping, if desired, under water. It is pre-
ferable however to insert a similar contrivance as the feed cylinder, with pusher or
piston in any convenient position in this discharge pipe, so as to project the red-hot
coke as soon as possible after its discharge from the retort direct on the fire-grate
for heating the retort, the only difference between this stoking cylinder and the feed
cylinder being that the stoker has some lateral space through which that part of the
coke which is not required for the heating of the retort may pass the pusher, and be
discharged in the same way as before described.
The coke outlet from the cylinder may he fitted with a cone valve worked auto-
matically, in lieu of or in addition to cocks and hydraulic dips.
In order that there may always be a sufficient quantity of coke for the pusher to
operate upon, a throttle valvo may be inserted immediately below, which may be
regulated by hand. The surplus coko may also be removed by a creeper or other
mechanical means to the general storing place.
Instead of extinguishing the heat of the red-hot coke with water, the coke may
be discharged into a closed cylinder in direct communication with the discharge
pipe, which cylinder contains an archimedian screw or other suitable means of move-
ment or mechanism, and is surrounded by a water or air space constituting a stream
of hot water, boiler, or air-heating apparatus. Air being excluded from the coke, it
will not buin, but give off its heat gradually to the surfaces, along which it is con-
tinually being moved by the action of the creeper. The discharge pipe and other
portions containing hot coke may be surrounded by water or air spaces where such
is desirable.
To seal up any gas that may find its way into the closed discharged cylinder just
described, and to prevent influx of air, the continuity of the creeper may be broken
and a water dip interposed; or the coke may be discharged into a tank containing
water, under the surface of which the discharged end of the creeper casing dips.
The pistons, screws, and valves are actuated by mechanical power in any ordinary
way, their speed and other adjustments being regulated by hand from time to time
as circumstances requiro, or by such mechanical means as may be available for the
purpose.
Where retorts are set in benches, those of one bench may be connected to the
same common casing at each end, i.e., feed and discharge box, each retort having its
own feed, but all having of course only one common stoker.
It is clear that instead of carrying on the whole process mechanically and auto-
matically, from receiving the coal to storing the surplus coke, as here described, a
part of the process only may be so carried on, other portions being attended to by
hand; and, further, that some one or more of these improvements may be applied
without adopting all.

page_text: Sheet 2 shows different forms or modifications of the feed arrangement, Figs. 4
and 5 being for coal or cannell, und Fig. 6 a hydraulic dip arrangement for hot
coke.
Sheets 3 and 4 show examples of application, and represent the improvements
applied to benches of retorts, illustrating at the same time different modes of
working, of bringing the material for carbonization to, and removing the discharged
residue from the retorts.
Figs. 7 and 8 (Sheet 3) are skeleton front and side elevations of a bench stack
having the present improvements applied (not fully shown but merely indicated in
these Drawings), and showing a mode of bringing the coal or cannel to the retorts
by means of creepers with a hydraulic dip.
Figs 9 and 10 (Sheet 3) are front and side elevations of a stack similar to the
preceding one, but instead of a hydraulic dip in the creeper there are cocks pro-
vided for opening and closing the communication with the feed box of the retort at
regular intervals.
Figs. 11 and 12 (Sheet 4) represent a similar stack, but in this arrangement the
feed boxes of the retorts are filled periodically, and partly by hand from tram wagons
specially adapted for the purpose.
Fig. 13 (Sheet 4) is a back elevation of a similar bench of retorts as the foregoing,
showing how the discharged coke may be removed to the storage, and how the heat
contained in it may be utilized if desired.
The same letters denote similar parts.
R is the retort, carried in bearings B fixed to boxes or plates in the stack wall,
b and b' being glands or stuffing boxes packed with asbestos or other incombustible
packing to make air-tight joints with the feed and discharge casings F and D. The
shafts S in front and back are running both at the same speed, and cause the
retorts to revolve by means of worm wheels W and worms W' or other suitable
arrangements.
If the retorts are set in benches, as in Sheets 3 and 4, one retort may be driven
as described, and from it the rest in the same bench may be actuated by means of a
chain and chain wheels C.
The revolving motion of the retort is not indispensable.
The simplest feed arrangement is by means of a hopper H with a hydraulic seal
or cup Y, which will prevent the escape of gas except during the time of refilling it;
but instead of this hydraulic cap Y, or in addition to it, steel cocks T capable of
cutting the coal may be inserted between the hopper H and the feed box F, and
these may either be opened and closed by hand, or they may be worked
mechanically.
The coal or cannel falling from the hopper H into the feeder F is there propelled
by the archimedian scrow A or the piston P (Sheet 2, Fig. 5), or, as in Fig. 4, Sheet 2,
the quantity may be measured off by a cam E, and pressed or dropped through the
communication tube t into the retort.
The screw A, piston P, or cam E is driven by suitable mechanism at a speed to
introduce the desired quantity of coal in a given time. To attain this object friction
gear, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, may be employed, so as to enable the speed to
be varied at pleasure. In this arrangement p is a friction plate; o, the bowl; r, a
pinion on the friction plate spindle; r, a wheel on the spindle of the archimedian
screw A acting as pusher; and 1, the lever by which the position of the bowl on the
plate, and hence the speed, is regulated. In a bench the pusher of one retort may
be so driven, and the others driven from that one by means of chain wheels O' and
a chain.
The cocks T may be driven by linkwork or other suitable mechanism.
The ascension pipe a is attached to the discharge box D, but might also be fixed
at the front end.
Sheet 1 shows the mode of discharging the coke from the retort, and the stoking
arrangement for heating it. The same arrangement by which the coal is fed at the

page_text: front may be employed here as stoker, in which case the cocks T¹ must be employed
to provent the escape of gas into the furnace G; or a scraper arrangement with a
hydraulic dip, as shown in Fig. 6, Sheet 2, may be used.
The surplus coke, i.c., that portion not required for heating the retort, may pass
the stoker through a side passage, and be discharged into a trough U, which pro- 5
vides a hydraulic dip to prevent the escape of gas and quenches the hot coke, which
may be removed from the trough periodically. This arrangement is further extended,
and shown in Fig. 13, Sheet 4, as applied to a retort bench. According to this
arrangement a number of benches discharge the coke not required for heating the
bench into a closed cylinder containing an archimedian screw or other suitable 1
arrangement, by which the coke is moved along and discharged, the end of the
cylinder dipping under water to form a hydraulic seal, which prevents the escape of
gas that may find its way into it. From there another creeper may move the coke
to any desirable height or place.
The main cylinder is immersed in water to keep it cool, or it may be cased in 18
another cylinder if it is desired to utilize the heat given off by the hot coke.
M is the discharge creeper cylinder; Q, the hydraulic dip; and N, the cleva-
tion creepor discharging into a waggon I. This Figure also shows what shape the
discharge boxes D may assume in a bench of rotorts.
Some modes of charging the feeders above described are illustrated on Sheet 3, in 20
Figs. 9 and 10, and on Sheet 4, Figs. 11 and 12.
When hoppers with hydraulic cups are employed, they may be arranged as in
Figs. 11 and 12, Sheet 4, and filled periodically from waggons K, constructed with a
discharge arrangement, and running on a tram line Z.
When employing the cocks T, as in Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 3, a creeper or creepors X 25
may be used to convey the coal from the store to the feed box of the retorts.
Another similar arrangement, but dispensing with the cocks T, is shown in Figs.
7 and 8, the creeper X' depositing the coal into a tank containing some suitable
liquor L, such as tar, the end of the creeper X dipping under its surface to lift the
coal previously deposited out of the tank, and to convey it to the feeder F; thus 30
the tank forms a hydraulic seal, and prevents the escape of gas from the creeper X²,
which is in this case in free communication with the retorts.
These various arrangements may be combined according to circumstances.
Having now particularly described my Invention, and ascertained in what manner
the same is to be performed or carried out, I declare that I do not limit myself to 35
the exact forms and details described and shown in the Drawings as illustrations,
but claim my Invention particularly and substantially,—
]. The use of revolving retorts with horizontal or inclined axis for the purpose of
gas-making.
2. Forming the retorts with projecting ends, and joining them with stuffing boxes 40
to casings.
3. Making gas-tight joints or semi-gas-tight joints by means of hydraulic dips in
feed and discharge arrangements and in hoppers or creepers.
4. The automatic charging of retorts by means of screws, pistons, cams, scrapers,
cocks, inclined planes, and the like.
5. The conveyance of the material to be carbonized direct from the store to the
retort by means of special trams or open or closed creepers of any suitable con-
struction.
6. Discharging of the coke automatically by means of valves, cocks, hydraulic
dips, and the like contrivances.
7. Heating the retort by the coke or a part of it immediately when discharged
from the retort by means of pushers, screws, or similar contrivances and com-
binations.
8. The employment of any one or more of the foregoing improvements without
necessarily using the m all.
45
50
KR

page_text: 9. The application of the foregoing improvements combined in different orders,
wholly or in part.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Hilton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Vitness,
A. HILDEBRANDT,
Patent Agent,
55, Cross St.,
Manchester.
MATTHEW HILTON. (LS.)