Improvements relating to Inclined Gas Retorts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements relating to Inclined Gas Retorts.
We, JOHN ARMITAGE DRAKE and JOHN SAMUEL MARSLAND, of the Firm of Jonne
Drake and Son, Ovenden, Halifax, in the County of York, Gas Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In this class of gas retort as hitherto constructed the shoots to feed fuel to the
inclined retorts are placed side by side, and they have been supplied with fuel in
measured quantities from a hopper of a given size. These measuring hoppers are
made with a damper at the bottom and when the fuel is required to be supplied to
the retorts the damper is removed by the workman and the fuel dropped by gravity
down a vertical tube which finds its way into the shoot, and conveyed to the retort.
These inclined retorts are placed one under the other so that some are further
away from the measuring hopper than others. In practice we have found that
when the fuel has to drop to the lowest retort, the impetus which the coal obtained
by dropping a long distance, causes the fuel to rush with such force as to choke up
the retort and thereby atop the working of the retort.
Our invention consists in so constructing the apparatus that the fall of fuel into
the shoots is the same whether it be supplied to the uppermost inclined retort, or
to the lowermost retort.
In carrying out our invention we dispense with the measuring hoppers hitherto
employed, and we use instead thereof a measuring hopper of different lengths to
suit the positions of the various inclined retorts. Each of these measuring hoppers
are of the same capacity but of different diameters, and in order to liberate the coal
contained in each hopper, a sliding door or damper is removed from the bottom,
but such damper is arranged to be in close proximity to the shoot, so that the coal
drops into the shoot whether it be the one in connection with the highest inclined
retort, or the lowest inclined retort, consequently the rush of coal which has hitherto
choked up the inclined retort is avoided and perfect work is insured. The dampers
opposite the bottom of our measuring hoppers may be opened to their full area or
only partially; especially will this be the case with reference to the lowest retort.
By means of our invention as abovo described, the elevator for carrying
up the coal to the top hopper is shortened consequently the cost thereof is reduced.
Secondly, qur invention relates to the shoot and it consists in mounting it upon
a fulcrum so that when it is not in use, it is put back, in doing which it closes self-
actingly the damper at the bottom of the measuring hopper, but when it returns
into action it does not open the hopper but slides over a slip sueck; the damper in
this oase is opened by the workman.
1 11
1
11007
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicants.

page_text: We, JOHN ARMITAGE DRAKE and JOHN SAMUEL MARSLAND, of the Firm of Jonas
Drake and Son, Ovenden, Halifax, in the County of York, Gas Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
In this class of gas rotort as hitherto constructed, the shoots to feed coal to the
inclined retorts are placed side by side, and they have been supplied with coal in
measured quantities from a hopper of a given size. These measuring hoppers
are made with a damper at the bottom, and when the coal is required to be supplied
to the retorts, the damper is removed by the workman and the fuel dropped by
gravity down a vertical tube which finds its way into the shoot, and conveyed to the
retort. These inclined retorts are placed one under the other, so that some are
further away from the measuring hopper than others. In practice we have found
that when the coal has to drop to the lowest retort, the impetus
which the coal obtained by dropping a long distance, causes the coal to rush
with such force as to choke up the retort and thereby stop the working thereof.
Our invention consists in so constructing the apparatus that the fall of coal into
the shoots is the same whether it be supplied to the uppermost inclined retort, or to
the lowermost retort.
In carrying out our invention, we dispense with the measuring hoppers hitherto
employed, and we use instead thereof measuring hoppers of different lengths to
suit the positions of the various inclined retorts. Each of these measuring hoppers
are of the same capacity but of different diameters or sizes, and in order to liberate
the coal contained in each hopper, a sliding door or damper is removed from the
bottom, but such damper is arranged to be in close proximity to the shoot, so that
the coal drops with equal force into the retorts, whether it be the one in connection
with the highest inclined retort, or the lowest inclined retort, consequently the rush
of coal which has hitherto choked up the inclined retort is avoided and perfect work
is insured.
Secondly, our invention relates to the shoot, and it consists in mounting it upon
a pivot or fulcrum, so that when it is not in use, it may be put back, in doing
which it closes (self-actingly) the damper at the bottom of the measuring hopper,
but when the shoot returns into action it does not open the hopper but slides back
alone, the damper in this case being opened by the workman.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood, we make reference
to the accompanying sheets of drawings, illustrative thereof, wherein the
first sheet of drawings illustrates ૧ general idea or method of онг
invention, and the manner in which our improvements are carried out.
1 repre-
sents the coal carrying hoppers mounted upon wheels 2 capable of travelling back-
ward and forward upon rails 3 as shown in the first sheet of drawings and again
in Fig. 4, which is a front elevation of Fig. 1. The inclined retorts are marked +
and the measuring hoppers are marked 5, where it will be seen that they are of
different sizes or shapes but all of the same area or capacity for containing the same
quantity or amount of coal.
Fig. 1 illustrates how the uppermost retort 4 is fed: Fig. 2 illustrates how the
next lower form of retort is fed, whilst Fig. 3 illustrates how the lowermost form
of retort is supplied with fuel.
These measuring hoppers are supplied with fuel from the coal carrying
hoppers 1 the bottoms of which are provided with a sliding damper 6, shewn on an

page_text: enlarged scale at Fig. 5, where 7 is closing portion of the damper and 8 an open
space through which the coal passes, therefore when the retorts 4 require charging
with coal, the workman takes hold of handle 9 of the damper 6, pushing it forward
as illustrated on an enlarged scale at Figs. 6 and 7, thereby placing the open
space 8 of the damper opposite the bottom of the measuring hoppers 5 allowing the
coal to run down the shoot 10 for supplying the retort, and when required to feed
again, the workman may draw the damper back by handle 9 so as to close up the
bottom of the measuring hopper to obtain a fresh supply of coal; but the damper
may be closed by a moving handle 11 as shewn in Fig. 2, where the lever arm 12
slotted at 13 engages with a bowl or stud 14 fixed on a stud 15 underneath the
shoot 10, the said shoot being drawn thereby out of position and placed at rest as
shewn in Fig. 2 and again in dotted lines Fig. 6, the action of the handle not only
removes the shoot 10 out of position, but at the same time moves the damper 6
so as to place the dead part 7 opposite the bottom of the measuring hoppers 5,
the reverse movement of the said handle 11, however, whilst placing the shoot 10
into position with regard to the retorts, does not slide the damper 7 but leaves it
alone, the damper being slided back into its open position by the workman when
required. As the measuring hoppers 5 are of all the saine capacity and contain the
same quantity of coal, it will at once be understood that whether the uppermost,
or the lowermost retort be fed, that the descent of the coal in each case only drops
from the dumpers 6 which are equi-distant from the retorts, therefore the rush of
conl is the same to one retort or to the other.
This arrangement permits the coal to be lifted from the ground into the coal
carrying hoppers 1, the same height, therefore the raising or lifting of the coal,
whether for the top retort or for the bottom retort is the same, and it will be obvious
that the dampers opposite the bottom of the measuring hoppers 5 may be opened to
their full capacity or only partially, so that the fuel may be fed gradually to the
retorts or more quickly. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of our improved
apparatus, and Fig. 7 is a front elevation of sane, whilst Fig. 8 is front elevation
of the Tixed shoot 16.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
―
1. The method of supplying inclined gas retorts with coal from measuring
hoppers of the same capacity, so as to permit the coal to descend to each retort with
the same specific gravity, all arranged in the mauner herein shewn and described.
2. In apparatus for charging inclined gas retorts, the method of operating the
damper 6 and shoot 10, simultaneously by lever arm 12, in the manner herein
shewn and described.
3. In charging inclined gas retorts with coal, the general arrangement and
construction of apparatus, whereby the shoot 10 can be operated in two directions
by handle 12.
4. In charging inclined gas retorts with coal, the general arrangement and
construction of apparatus, whereby the hand lever 12, in one movement operates
the damper, whilst the opposite movement fails to act upon the damper, all as herein
shewn and described.
1000
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicants.