IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George King, of Becton, near North Woolwich,
in the County of Essex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Sealed the 25th April 1873, and dated the 5th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th November 1872.
I, GEORGE KING, of Becton, near North Woolwich, in the county of
Essex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the securing of the lids or doors to
the mouth pieces of gas retorts, and effecting a gas-tight joint without
the application of luting, and consists in using a mouth piece with a
turned, planed, or surfaced edge or face.

page_text: The lid is made by preference of cast iron, and on its inner side and
near its circumference a groove is turned, into which a ring of steel is
sprung, the tendency of the ring to open being sufficient to cause it to
retain its place without any fastening. The steel ring is rectangular in
section, and when inserted in the groove leaves a small portion of it pro-
jecting beyond the inner face of the lid. When the edge becomes worn
or irregular it may be punched out through holes in the lid provided for
the purpose, reversed, and re-inserted in the groove, when a fresh surface
will be presented, and the lid will become practically nearly as good as
new. This steel edge needs no facing, being sufficiently true to effect a
gas-tight joint when brought into contact with the faced edge of the
mouth piece, and secured by some of the well known methods.
The mode of fastening the lid which I prefer however, and which
forms part of this Invention, is as follows:-The outer side of the lid has
a slight projection cast upon it, the surface of the projection forming an
inclined plane. On each side of the inclined plane lugs projecting
considerably beyond it are cast, and to these lugs a cross bar is fastened,
one end of the cross bar being hinged to the ear of the mouth piece,
while the other end is made to fall into a catch formed on the other ear.
A lever either bent or straight is pivotted to the cross bar, and attached
to a slightly wedged-shaped piece of metal, which works upon the
inclined plane before mentioned. On the lid being closed, and the cross
bar placed in the catch, a pull upon the lever will cause the wedge-
shaped piece of metal to slide upon the inclined plane and take a bearing
upon it and the cross bar, thus producing sufficient pressure to bring the
steel ring of the lid into close contact with the face of the mouth-piece,
a gas-tight joint being the result.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, 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 successors, give and grant
unto me, the said George King, Her special licence that I, the said
George King, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George King, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George King, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be.
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George King, 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 Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object the securing of the lids or doors to the
mouth pieces of gas retorts, and effecting a gas-tight joint without the
application of luting, and consists in using a mouth piece with a turned,
planed, or surfaced edge or face.
The lid is made by preference of cast iron, and on its inner side and
near its circumference a groove is turned, into which a ring of steel is
sprung, the tendency of the ring to open being sufficient to cause it to
retain its place without any fastening. The steel ring is rectangular in
section, and when inserted in the groove leaves a small portion of it
projecting beyond the inner face of the lid. When the edge becomes
worn or irregular it may be punched out through holes in the lid
provided for the purpose, reversed, and re-inserted in the groove, when a

page_text: fresh surface will be presented, and the lid will become practically nearly
as good as new. This steel edge needs no facing, being sufficiently true
to effect a gas-tight joint when brought into contact with the faced edge
of the mouth piece, and secured by some of the well known methods.
The mode of fastening the lid which I prefer however, and which
forms part of this Invention, is as follows:-The outer side of the lid
has a slight projection cast upon it, the surface of the projection forming
an inclined plane. On each side of the inclined plane lugs projecting
considerably beyond it are cast, and to these lugs a cross bar is
fastened, one end of the cross bar being hinged to the ear of the mouth-
piece, while the other end is made to fall into a catch formed on the
other ear.
A lever either bent or straight is pivotted to the cross bar,
and attached to a slightly wedged-shaped piece of metal, which works
upon the inclined plane before mentioned. On the lid being closed, and.
the cross bar placed in the catch, a pull upon the lever will cause the 1
wedge-shaped piece of metal to slide upon the inclined plane and take a
bearing upon it and the cross bar, thus producing sufficient pressure to
bring the steel ring of the lid into close contact with the face of the
mouth piece, a gas-tight joint being the result.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings ?
are attached hereto, of which the following is a description :—
Fig. 1 is a section of a retort lid, without the projections necessary to
to form the fastening presently to be described. Fig. 2 is a section
showing the size and form preferred of the steel ring. Fig. 3 is an
elevation of the retort mouth piece, lid, and fastening; and Fig. 4 is a 2
plan of the same, with the guard O of Fig. 1 removed, in order that the
parts beneath it may be exposed to view.
In Fig. 1, A is the body of the retort lid, which in this illustration is
to be taken as made of cast iron, although it may if preferred be made of
malleable or wrought iron. At B, B, it will be seen that the lid is
swelled or thickened in order that a groove may be turned in it without
impairing its strength. C, C, C, is the steel ring inserted in the groove,
as before described, shown in full sized section at Fig. 2. In Fig. 3,
D, D, is the flange of the mouth piece; E, E, the lugs or ears; F, the lid;
G, the cross bar pivotted at H; I, I, the two lugs or projections cast
upon the lid; K is the handle or lever pivotted at R, and shown in this

page_text: Figure as broken, to prevent the view of the other parts being impeded;
L is one of the pins which passes through the wedge-shaped piece of
metal M shown in Fig. 4, and against which the end of the lever presses
so as to cause it to slide between the inclined plane N, Fig. 4, and the
cross bar. In Fig. 3, O is a guard to prevent tar, coal, or other matter
from falling upon the working part of the fastening. In Fig. 4 the
handle of the lever is shown straight, but it may be made of a bent form
either to the right or left to suit the opening of the doors. It will be
seen that the cross bar is attached to the projections by means of bolts P, P,
passing through slotted holes, so that in case of wear the cross bar may
be readjusted. Q, Q, Q, Q, are small holes drilled in the lid to allow of the
steel ring being punched out when found necessary. In Figs. 3 and 4
similar letters refer to the same parts.
I am well aware that attempts have been made to produce a tight
joint. between a retort mouth-piece and its lid without the aid of luting,
and with this view both the mouth pieces and lids were surfaced.
Again, in Letters Patent No. 575, dated February 24, 1869, granted to
Mr. Robert Morton, a claim is made for a lid, the edge of which is bent
up and made to assume a knife edge or rounded shape form, so as to
ensure a minimum bearing surface, or a mere circumferential line of
contact." I do not aim at that however, being persuaded that a flat
surface, if not too broad on its face, and made in the manner described,
will produce an equally efficient joint, and far more durable lid than has
yet been contrived.
66
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 construction and application of retort lids, made of cast,
wrought, or malleable iron, or steel, each having a groove turned near its
circumference so as to admit of the introduction of a ring of steel of the
form and near the size as shown in the Drawing.

page_text: And, secondly. The construction and application of a sliding wedge
upon an inclined plane for the purpose of producing a fastening substan-
tially as herein described.
In witness whreof, I, the said George King, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.