IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS RETORT SETTINGS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Key, Engineer and Manager of the
Gasworks, Dumbarton, in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS RETORT SETTINGS."
Sealed the 28th February 1873, and dated the 10th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Key at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th December 1872.
I, WILLIAM KEY, Engineer and Manager of the Gasworks, Dum-
barton, in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS RETORT
SETTINGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to an improved arrangement of setting.
gas retorts in the ovens in which they are enclosed, and consists in
erecting on each side of the furnace a number of transverse or diagonal
pillars whereon the lower retorts are placed. Upon these lower retorts
blocks are fitted at intervals to support the upper retort. The space on
each side of the upper retort and between it and the lower retorts is
filled in, and in the same way the spaces between the lower retorts and
the sides of the oven are closed by flue covers, except at certain places
where passages are left in the flues, the said passages being provided

page_text: with dampers for the purpose of regulating the heat. By this arrange-
ment, and by the closing of the dampers, the oven may be completely
divided into two longitudinal sections, the lower half being shut off
from the upper one. The heat from the furnaces after traversing the
flues will pass up the damper passages to the top of the oven, and from 5
thence may be taken off either at the front through one opening in the
roof the oven connected to main flue, or through other passages, to
front which communicates with spark-holes leading to a space or flue
constructed for the purpose, and situated beneath the lower retorts at or
about the level of the floor. From thence the heat will travel up one 1
or more spark holes at the back or in the division wall where through or
double retorts are employed to the main flue and shaft or chimney.
•
By placing guards so as to defend the retorts from the action of the ⚫
fire, this form of setting may be advantageously employed where iron
retorts are used, more especially as by this method of constructing the 1
retorts are not exposed to cross currents of heat.
In the foregoing the description has reference to ovens where only
three retorts are set, but the principle of my Invention are equally
applicable to any number of retorts that can be conveniently set in one
oven.
Great economy is attendant upon this arrangement because although
the retorts are highly heated they are not subjected to the fierce currents
which so soon destroy that part of the retorts which are nearest to the
cheeks of the furnace.
2
Another advantage is that by drawing the heat under the soles of the 2
retorts, and by diffusing it through the ports, the heat is caused to act
upon that part of the retort which is most desirable, namely, the bottom
where the coals to be carbonized lie.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Key in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30
5th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
KEY, Engineer and Manager of the Gasworks, Dumbarton, in the
County of Dumbarton, North Britain, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Key, Her special
licence that I, the said William Key, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Key, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no̟
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
O therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ircland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS RETORT SETTINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Key, my executors or administrators by an instru-
5 ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
) Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Key, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
5 Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
This Invention has reference to an improved arrangement of setting
gas retorts in the ovens in which they are enclosed, and consists in
erecting on each side of the furnace a number of transverse or diagonal
O pillars whereon the lower retorts are placed. Upon these lower retorts
blocks are fitted at intervals to support the upper retort. The space on
each side of the upper retort, and between it and the lower retorts is
filled in, and in the same way the spaces between the lower retorts and
the sides of the oven are closed by flue covers, except at certain places
5 where passages are left in the flues, the said passages being provided
with dampers for the purpose of regulating the heat. By this arrange-
ment and by the closing of the dampers the oven may be completely
divided into two longitudinal sections, the lower half being shut off

page_text: Great economy is attendant upon this arrangement, because although
the retorts are highly heated they are not subjected to the fierce currents
which so soon destroy that part of the retorts which are nearest to the
cheeks of the furnace.
Another advantage is that by drawing the heat under the soles of the
retorts, and by diffusing it through the ports the heat is caused to act
upon that part of the retort which is most desirable, namely, the bottom
where the coals to be carbonized lie.
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, the construction of gas retort settings, substantially as herein
described.