IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS RETORT LIDS, MOUTHPIECES AND FASTENINGS
Year: 1886

page_text: I, GEORGE WALLER of Holland Street, Southwark in the County of Surrey,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS RETORT LIDS, MOUTHPIECES AND FASTENINGS" 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 construction of retort lids, mouthpieces and
fastenings in such a manner as to cause the action of closing and tightening the lid
to remove any accumulation of matter on the lid and face of the mouthpiece, that
would by its presence interfere with the close fitting of the same, and thereby
ensuring the production and continuance of a gas-tight joint, the pressure being
exerted near the circumference of the lid, so as to prevent all distortion of it.
In order that the description may be better understood drawings are attached
hereto, Fig. 1 being an elevation of the mouthpiece, lid, and fastening as applied to
an oval retort and in position as fastened, Fig. 2 is a side sectional vertical elevation
of the same, Fig. 3 a sectional plan, and Fig. 4 a front elevation of the apparatus,
and in which is depicted the position of the lid when the cross-bar is brought
bome, but before the lid has been tightened on to the face of the mouthpiece.
Fig. 5 shows the application of the arrangement to a round retort, and Fig. 6 is a
view of the lid in the position it assumes before being finally tightened. It will be
apparent that the arrangement is also equally applicable to D retorts and mouth-
pieces.
The invention consists in making the face of the mouthpiece A either of the
usual width or somewhat broader, and by planing, turning or otherwise reducing it
to a true surface. Attached to the mouthpiece and made of steel there is a cross
bar B that is hinged to it at one end C, and is forked at the other D so as to
engage with and be retained by a catch E and stud F hinged at G to the opposite
side of the mouthpiece. The lid H is made of the shape shown and has three
projections or inclined planes I, I, J, formed upon its exterior surface. It has also
two eyes, ears or lugs J, J, through or against which a lever may be applied for
tightening it, and it is pivotted in the middle to the cross-bar B. Fixed to the
mouthpiece there are three studs K, K, L, projecting and overhanging the lid,
L being in the case of the middle retorts, attached to the socket for the ascension
Ch

page_text: pipe which is cast on to the mouthpiece. These studs may be furnished with small
rollers to reduce the friction, and in lieu of the projections formed as at I short
strong springs forming inclined planes may be used. For oval and D mouthpieces
the lids are pivotted in the centre but for round mouthpieces, the lid has to be
pivotted somewhat out of the centre in order to obtain the eccentric motion
necessary for cleaning the face of the lid and mouthpiece. M is a curved support
which guides the cross-bar into its proper position when being swung home.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. The retort being open and charged,
the cross-bar B is swung to and engaged by the catch E and stud F, the lid being
in position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. This in consequence of the spring of the
cross-bar causes some pressure between the lid and mouthpiece so that when the
lever is moved it causes the lid to turn partially and the projections I to pass
under the studs K and by virtue of the eccentricity of the motion of the lid
extraneous matter is swept away, while from the projections having inclined
surfaces and taking a bearing under the studs K the lid may be jammed close to
the mouthpiece as seen in Fig. 2 without fear of distorting and so destroying the
lid, thus securing the all important object, a sound joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction of retort mouthpieces with studs K, K, L, as herein described
and shown on the drawings.
2. The construction of the cross-bar B of steel so as to form a spring, hinged at
one end and forked at the other, as herein described and shown on the drawings.
3. The construction of the catch E and stud F arranged as herein described and
shown on the drawings,-and
4. The construction of retort lids of the shape shown, pivotted either in or out
of the centre, and having projections I, or springs with inclined surfaces and eyes,
ears, lugs, or projections J as herein described and shown on the drawings.
Doted thie 22nd day of January 1886.