Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1887.
Complete Left, 7th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th June, 1887.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn & Son, Patent Agents, of 151
Strand, Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in the combination, setting, and
fitting of horizontal retorts for the manufacture of gas for either heating or illumi-
nating purposes, as the circumstances may require, and has for its object such an
arrangement and combination of the parts that without change or reorganization the
works shall be adapted to use anthracite coal or coke, bituminous coal, oil and its
products, or other carbonacious matter, either seperately or conjointly, in the manu-
facture of an illuminant, or anthracite coal or coke in the manufacture of water-gas
or a simple fuel-gas, producing either alternately as desired.
The apparatus is particularly designed to be employed in conjunction with the
Allen-Harris or American hydrocarbon process, and as far as possible to perfect the
apparatus by which the same or other processes are carried out.
It is also especially adapted for use in connection with a system of vertical retorts
which, or equivalent apparatus may he employed where it is desired to confine the
work of the present apparatus to carburetting in manufacturing an illuminant.
The invention lies, broadly, in the combination of bituminous-coal retorts with a
carburetting retort, and in the adaptation of the fittings and settings to the purposes
of the combinations, it is therefore evident that any retorts which allow of working
bituminous coals, oils, etc. and which can be utilized as carburetting-retorts, when
combined as herein specified, will fall within the scope of this invention.
Within the furnace, preferably on each side of the grate or fire chamber, I place
steam-driers, the pipes of which may connect with the water-gas pipes, which lead to
the retorts, or may have independant branches leading to the retorts. These driers
are brought into use when water-gas or fuel gas is to be made in the apparatus,

page_text: Suitably set in brickwork are a series of horizontal retorts adapted for the employ-
ment of either the bituminous or anthracite coal, coke, or other matter (carbonacious)
which is used in the production of either fuel or illuminating gas, and are to be used
alternately for either purpose. Said retorts are combined with an upper retort, which
is a carburetting-retort, or especially adapted for the use of bituminous coals, oils, or
its products for the purposes of carburetting the water-gas, fuel-gas, or any other gas
generated in the lower retorts, when, as is well understood, the latter, from its nature,
or from some cause, is low in illuminating quality.
To the lower series of retorts are attached suitable stand-pipes, which, by means of
suitable connections deliver into the lower chamber of the carbureting retort, while a
single stand-pipe, having a valve, connects the upper chamber of the carbureting retort
with the main.
The above mentioned series of lower retorts are of the class. having horizontal
diaphragms which divide the retorts into an ashchamber, carbon-chambers, and
perfecting chambers. The diaphragm between the ash-chamber and carbon-chamber
is perforated, and the diaphragm between the carbon chamber and the perfecting-
chamber, is provided at its rear end with a port and valve, while the mouth-piece has
three lids or covers, so that access may be had to any chamber without disturbing the
others. There are also water-gas pipes, one of which delivers into the ash-chamber
and the other into the carbon chamber.
The carbureting retort has a diaphragm which divides it into an upper and lower
chamber, which chambers communicate at the rear, so as to form a return passage in
the retort. As in the present invention, oil and its products are used in this retort,
its construction is varied by forming at or near the mouth of the lower chamber a
transverse rib, elevation, or dam, to prevent the escape of any fluid, which may at
times accumulate in the lower chamber of said retort.
The mouth-piece of the above mentioned retort, has two independant lids or covers,
and in addition to a bell or spigot for the stand-pipe, has a second bell or hollow
spigot on its underside for the connections from the lower retorts.
is
Directly connected to any suitable source of apparatus for producing water gas,
the main water-gas supply pipe, and from said pipe branch pipes, each provided
with an index valve, and which lead to the respective lower series of retorts. Each of
these water-gas pipes branches, or divides before reaching the retort it is to supply,
so that one branch delivers into the ash chamber, and the other into the carbon-
chamber, as herein before specified.

page_text: COBIT LEIE
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn & Son, Patent Agents, of 151
Strand, Middlesex, (a communication to me from abroad, by Augustus L. Allen, of
Poughkeepsie, State of New York, United States of America,) 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:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for the
manufacture of gas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description of
the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a bench of five retorts embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of one of the lower four retorts. Fig. 3 is a
transverse section of the retort on the line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation
showing the mouth-piece. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, also showing the mouth-piece
of the four lower retorts. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the upper
carbureting-retort. Fig. 7 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 8 is a front, and
Fig. 9 a side, elevation of the carbureting-retort, showing a bell on the under side of
the mouth-piece for connecting the lower retorts.
Like figures refer to like parts wherever they occur.
My present invention relates to certain improvements in the combination, setting,
and fitting of horizontal retorts for the manufacture of gas for either heating or
illuminating purposes, as the circumstances may require, and has for its object such
an arrangement and combination of the parts that without change or reorganization'
the works shall be adapted to use anthracite coal or coke, bituminous coal, oil, and its
products, or other carbonaceous matter, either separately or conjointly, in the manu-
facture of an illuminant, or anthracite coal or coke in the manufacture of water-gas
or a simple fuel-gas, producing either alternately as desired.
The apparatus is particularly designed to be employed in conjunction with the
Allen-Harris or American hydrocarbon process, and as far as possible to perfect the
apparatus by which the same and other similar processes are carried out.
It is also especially adapted for use in connection with a system of vertical retorts,
which, or equivalent apparatus, may be employed where it is desired to confine the
work of the present apparatus to carbureting in manufacturing an illuminant.
The invention lies, broadly, in the combination of bituminous-coal retorts with a
carbureting-retort, and in the adaptation of the fittings and settings to the purposes
of the combinations, it is evident that any retorts which allow of working bituminous
coals, oils, etc., and which can be utilized as carbureting-retorts, when combined as
herein specified, will fall within the scope of this invention.

page_text: I will proceed to more specifically describe the invention.
In the drawings, I indicates the brick-work of the furnace, within which the
horizontal retorts are set, said furnace having the spy-holes 2, the grate 3, and
ash-pit 4.
Within the furnace, preferably on each side of the grate or fire-chamber 3, I place
steam-driers 5, the pipes of which may connect with the water-gas pipes, which lead
to the retorts, or may have independent branches leading to the retorts. These driers
are brought into use when water-gas or fuel-gas is to be made in the apparatus.
6, 6, 6, 6, represent a series of horizontal retorts adapted for the employment
of either the bituminous or anthracite coal, coke, or other matter (carbonaceous)
which is used in the production of either fuel or illuminating gas, and are to be used
alternately for either purpose. Said retorts 6 are combined with an upper retort, 7,
which is a carbureting-retort, or especially adapted for the use of bituminous coals,
oils, or its products, for the purposes of carbureting the water-gas, fuel-gas, or any
other gas generated in the lower retorts, when, as is well understood, the latter, from.
its nature, or from some cause, is low in illuminating quality.
•
For purposes of illustration, the retorts in the series are shown as five (5) in
number; but it is apparent that the combination is complete when the number is
three (3) that is, two of the lower or bituminous coal retorts 6, with one carbureting-
retort 7.
8, 8, and 10, 10, indicate the stand-pipes of the lower series of retorts, which, by
means of connections 9 and 11, 11, deliver into the lower chamber of the car-
bureting-retort, while the single stand pipe 12, having a valve, 13, connects the upper
chamber of the carbureting-retort 7 with the main 14.
Before proceeding to describe the fittings, etc., of the retorts more specifically, I
will give the reason for combining the lower retorts, 6, with the carbureting-retort 7,
instead of using a stand-pipe leading from each retort to the main, as now commonly
practiced.
Where each retort has an independent stand-pipe, it is impossible, even with an
extra upper chamber in the retort, to prevent a great portion of the most volatile and
best portions of the hydrocarbons in bituminous coal from passing of without being
utilized, and the object of combining the retorts and arranging them as specified is
not only to insure the immediate and perfect saturation of the rapidly-volatilizing
hydrocarbons during the destructive distillation of bituminous coals or other car-
bonaceous substance, but to more perfectly prevent the carbons from being carried off
in the form of sınoke, soot, and tar by subjecting them to longer contact with the
permanent gases through increasing heats, thereby securing a more perfect chemical
combination with all the gases.
I will now return to the description of the retorts and fittings. The retorts 6 are
of the class having horizontal diaphragms, which divide the retorts into an ash-
chamber, a, carbon-chambers b, and perfecting-chambers c,- that is to say, the
diaphragm d between the ash-chamber a and carbon-chamber b is perforated, as at d¹,
and the diaphragme between the carbon-chamber b and the perfecting-chamber c is
provided at its rear end with port e¹ and valve f, while the mouth-piece has three lids
or covers, a¹ b¹ c¹, so that access may be had to any chamber without disturbing the
others. There are also water-gas pipes, one of which delivers into the ash-chamber a
and the other into the carbon-chamber b at the front.
The carbureting-retort 7, has a diaphragm which divides it into an upper and a
lower chamber, which chambers communicate at the rear so as to form a return-passage
in the retort.
As in the present invention oil and its products are used in this retort, its con-
struction is varied by forming at or near the month of the lower chamber a transverse
rib, elevation, or damn, h, to prevent the escape of any fluid (oil, etc.) which may at
times accumulate in the lower chamber of said retort 7.
The mouth-piece of the retort 7 has the two independent lids or covers h¹², and in
addition to the bell or the spigot for the stand-pipe 12 has a second bell or hollow

page_text: spigot, 15, on its under for the connections from the lower retorts. This will be
sufficient if the combination is to be limited to three retorts; but where five (5) are
employed, arranged as herein shown, the mouth-piece will require side bells or spigots,.
as shown at 16.
The several retorts 6, 6, 6, 6, and 7, are set in series, as hereinbefore specified, and
connected and combined by the pipes 8, 9, 10, 11, so that all the lower retorts deliver
into the front end of the chamber of the carbureting retort 7.
17 indicates the main water-gas supply-pipe, which connects directly with any
suitable source of apparatus for producing water-gas-as, for instance, a bench of
vertical retorts-and from said pipe 17 four branch pipes, 18, each provided with an
index-valve, 19, lead to the respective retorts 6 6. Each of these water-gas pipes 18
branches or divides before reaching the retort it is to supply, so that one branch
delivers into the ash-chamber a and the other into the carbon-chamber b, as herein-
before specified.
In addition to the branches 18, leading to the lower retorts, 6, are short branches 20,
each with its index-valve 21, which lead from the main water-gas pipe 17 and deliver
into the pipes 10, 11, which lead to the carbureting-retort 7. 22 indicates oil-pipes
which lead from any suitable source of supply and deliver into the water-gas pipes 20,
so that the oil will be carried by the water-gas into the pipes 10, 11, which lead to the
carbureting-retort 7, and will reach the retort in a vapor form, ready to combine with
the gases from the retorts 6, 6, &c.
The retorts 66 have to be used sometimes as distillation-retorts only-as, for instance,
when they are charged with bituminous coal in the manufacture of illuminating-gas-
and at other times as converters only, as when they are charged with anthracite coal,
coke, or equivalent material, as in the manufacture of water-gas, and it is essential,
therefore, that whatever form of retorts is selected to occupy the position of the lower
retorts, 6, in the combination, must be adapted for use alternately as distilling or
converting retorts, as may be required of them.
The devices being of the general character hereinbefore specified, and combined
and arranged to form an apparatus having the characteristics set forth, may, be used
to make either an illuminating or fuel gas at will from bituminous coal, oil, and its
products, or anthracite coal, coke, etc., in either of the following ways.
First. In case water-gas or fuel-gas only is desired, the carbon or middle chambers, b,
of the several retorts 6 are filled with anthracite coal, coke, or other suitable substances,
and both chambers of retort 7 filled with like material. Then steam, which has been
previously superheated in the driers 5, is passed through the carbon-chambers 6 of the
several retorts, and then through the return (both) chambers of the retort 7, and out
through the single stand-pipe.
Secondly. If it is desired to change the fuel-gas manufactured as above into the
illuminating-gas by the use of oil or its products, then the proper percentage of oil is
fed from oil-pipes into branches 11, is vaporized, and passes through the return-
chambers of retort 7, where it combines with the water or fuel gas and gives the
desired illuminating properties.
Thirdly. The steps are recited above in the first method may be followed, and the
chambers of the retort 7 is supplied with a rich bituminous coal or like carbonaceous
matter for carbonizing the fuel-gas.
Fourthly. The steps recited in the first and seconds methods may be followed, and
the chambers of retort 7 supplied with bituminous coal or its equivalent; or, in other
words, the superheated steam from driers 5 will be passed through anthracite coal,
coke, or the equivalent thereof in the carbon-chambers of retorts 6, (to form water-
gas,) then through a charge of bituminous coal or its equivalent in the chambers of
retort 7, and with the fuel gas that enters retort 7 will be carried the oil vapors from
oil-pipe, which will aid in the carburizing of the fuel-gas in retort 7, whereby said gas
is converted into an illuminant.
Fifthly. The carbon-chambers 6 of retorts 6 and both chambers of retort 7 may be

page_text: charged with bituminous coal or like rich carbonaceous coal, wher it is desired to use
only that class of material in the manufacture of an illuminating-gas.
Sixthly. When producing an illuminating-gas from the rich bituminous coals alone
-as indicated in the preceding paragraph (fifth)-if the gas becomes $ poor in illumi-
nating properties, as frequently happens toward the close of distillation, this can be
readily corrected by admitting a small percentage of oil from oil-pipe into pipe 22, so
that its vapor will enter retort 7 with the gases from retorts 6.
Seventhly. Where other means for producing the water or fuel gas are available, as
in the case of a bench of vertical retorts, &c., as hereinbefore referred to, the retorts
may be charged with bituminous coal or its equivalent and the water or fuel gas from
main pipe may be delivered by branch pipes to the retorts 6, pass thence by the
pipes 8, 9, 10, and 11 to retort 7, if necessary a percentage of oil being admitted to
the gases in pipes 22, as before specified, and the finished illuminating-gas will pass
through stand-pipe 12 to the main 14.
Finally, it will be evident to any person skilled in the art of manufacturing gas that
the character of the devices, the combinations into which they are brought, and the
character of the fittings and settings by which the combination and coaction of the
several retorts is rendered possible result in a single apparatus or works which,
without alteration or reorganization, can be employed to manufacture at will either a
fuel or illuminating gas, and to utilize all or any of the wide range of gas-producing
substances; and, so far as I am aware, there is no other gas apparatus or combination
of retorts and fittings which will answer this purpose. It will also be noted that the
desired quality or candle-power of the gas, when reduced by too much saturation of
the materials with water-gas or other non-illuminant, can be restored so as to secure
a more uniform quality of the gas made than can be obtained with one stand-pipe to
each retort, or as retorts are commonly set and combined.
In case of small arches in existing works, or for other reasons, the two lower
retorts can be omitted, and the bench may be set with only the upper three retorts.
As the Allen-Harris or the American hydrocarbon process and the kindred processes
for the manufacture of heating and illuminating gases are well known in the art, it is
unnecessary here to more fully describe the operation of the devices than has heretofore
been done, as their capacity and utility will be perfectly apparent to all gas engineers
and manufacturers.
I am also aware that a decomposing or water-gas retort has been connected with a
series of superheating-retorts, the last of which delivered into a coal or distilling
retort, and that in such a bench an oil-pipe has been arranged to deliver into the
connection between the water-gas or decomposing retort and the first of the series of
superheating-retorts, and do not herein claim the same, for the reason that with such
a bench it would be impossible to manufacture a gas from coal and regulate its quality
by final additions of water-gas and oil.
I am also aware that a steam superheater has been combined with distilling-retorts
so as to deliver thereinto, said distilling-retorts arranged to deliver into decomposing
or water-gas retorts, which latter deliver into a small oil-retort for carbureting the
final products, and do not herein claim the same, as in such a bench or arrangement
of devices it would be impossible to first form a water-gas, then add oil thereto, and
finally retort it in the presence of coal.
Furthermore, with the first recited and disclaimed combination of retorts there
would occur loss in illuminants from the deposit of carbon in the superheating-retorts,
and in the last-recited and disclaimed combination the gases from the distilling-
retorts would be stripped of illuminants in the decomposing or water-gas retorts.
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. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the combination, with a carbureting-
retort adapted for solid carbons-such as coal-and provided with a stand-pipe, of a
plurality of generating retorts, each of which is connected directly with and delivers

page_text: into the carbureting-retort, water-gas pipes which deliver into the passages which
connect the last-recited retorts with the carbureting-retort, and oil-pipes which deliver
into the water-gas pipes, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the combination, with a single car-
bureting-retort, 7, adapted for solid carbons-such as coal--and provided with a
stand-pipe, 12, of a series of four generating-retorts, 66, which are connected directly
with and deliver into said carbureting-retort, water-gas pipes 18, which deliver into
the series of retorts 6 6, water-gas pipes 20, which deliver into the passages which
connect one set of retorts with the carbureting-retort, and oil-pipes 22, which deliver
into the last recited set of water-gas pipes 20, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.