Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas and other. Retorts..
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas and other.
Retorts..
We, Sir WILLIAM ARROL, Knight, of Dalmarnock Iron Works, Engineer, and
WILLIAM FOULIS, of 45 John Street, Civil Engineer, both of the City of the
County of Glasgow, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for charging gas and other
retorts, and forms modifications of, as well as additions to, the inventions described
in the Specifications of our prior Patents numbered: 14,440 of 24th August 1891
and 16,749 of 6th September 1893.
In carrying out our present invention we so construct the machine that it will
work automatically, that is to say,' that, after being started to charge a retort the
machine will automatically regulate each stroke of the pusher and stop at the last
stroke when the retort has been charged.
In accordance with our invention we so mount the stopper shaft, employed for
regulating the various strokes of the pusher, that it is capable of being moved
longitudinally to the extent of a few inches, say three or four, so that when the
slipper block on the end of one of the horizontal rams comes against any one of
the stops on the said shaft, the shaft will be moved or pushed forward to the extent
of its travel. The said shaft being brought back to its normal position by means
of a returning stop arrangement, composed of a collar. ring or sleeve on the shaft
and an engaging pin or block on the slipper or ram. The said longitudinal
movement of the stopper shaft is for the purpose of enabling it to automatically
reverse the direction of the travel of the pusher: This is effected by means of a
slotted sleeve or collar on the said shaft engaging with a pivotted pawl-shaped
lever, the lower end of which is formed with a double pawl or forked portion. The
upper end of said pawl lever being connected, by means of an adjustable rod and
crank arrangement, to the spindle of a 'regulating plug cock or valve which is
constructed in such a manner as to control the movement of a hydraulic piston
working in a cylinder, the ram or rod of which is connected to a crank on the
lifting and depressing spindle of the 'frame by means of a rod or rods or link or
links. The said piston in the cylinder is preferably constructed with a rod or ram
of large diameter, so as to enable the piston to be moved backward's and forwards
by the inlet pressure of the fluid through the medium of a three-way regulating
plug, cock or valve, stopper shaft and 'their connections.
· Also according to our present invention we employ an auxiliary or additional
coal receiver or plate, which 'we' mount above the main shoot and below the shoot
of the hopper, said plate being connected to an operating spindle by means of an
arrangement of levers, cranks, or their equivalents, one, two or more of which are
constructed in such a manner, as to be detachable from each other when required.
The said operating spindle is provided with a double armed' trigger arrangement,
mounted in such a manner as to be operated in the required direction by means of
the slipper block of one of the horizontal rams, which may or may not be provided

page_text: with a friction roller, the object being to enable the coal to be delivered in front
of the pusher immediately it is at the end of its backward stroke.
Also according to our present invention we may employ a double rake or pusher,
that is to say, we mount two rake or pusher plates on the end of the rake or pusher
rod, there being a space of several inches or so left between them, so as to enable
the rear plate taking with it any material which the front plate missed.
In order to start the said machine we mount an operating handle or lever on the
spindle of the regulating plug cock or valve, in such a manner that the operator
has only to move the-said-handle-when-starting to charge a retort, the-machine
working automatically thereafter, until the last stroke when the said plug cock or
valve is not actuated or opened owing to the groove or slot in the collar of the
stopper shaft allowing the pawl lever to remain stationary.
In some cases if desired we may provide the said machine with a coal or other
material elevating device for conveying the material up and into the hopper: said
device may consist of a hydraulic swinging crane, suitably mounted on the boggie
or carriage of the machine, and provided with either a round or rectangular bucket,
or with a suitable grab or the elevating device may consist of an endless band or
chain and buckets mounted on the machine so as to elevate the material and deposit
it in the hopper. The said elevator may preferably be operated by a hydraulic
cylinder with a rack and pinion arrangement or their equivalents, or by a bydraulic
motor similar to that described in Complete Specification of our prior Patent
No. 13,400 of 11th July 1894.
Dated this 18th day of July 1895.
AXAZRIA DEL DIMECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas and other.
Retorts..
We, WILLIAM ARROL, Knight, of Dalmarnock Iron Works, Engineer, and
WILLIAM FOULIS, of 45 John Street, Civil Engineer, both of the City of the
County of Glasgow, North Britain, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for charging gas and other
retorts, and forms modifications of, as well as additions to, the inventions described
in the Specifications of our prior Patents numbered 14,440, of 24th August 1891
and 16,749 of 6th September 1893.
In carrying out our said invention we so construct the machine that it will work
automatically, that is to say, that, after being started to charge a retort the
machine will automatically, regulate each stroke of the pusher and stop at the
last stroke when the retort has been charged. Also we provide means for dis-
charging the coal immediately in front of the pusher when at the end of its
backward stroke. The pusher is also according to our present invention made
double so as to ensure of all the coal being pushed into the retort. And also we may
employ a coal or other material elevating device for conveying the material up and
into the hopper.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
annexed explanatory sheets of drawings.
Figure 1 is a left hand half elevation and Figure 1B a right hand half elevation,

page_text: both of which form an elevation of part of a charging machine having our improve-
ments attached.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 and Figure 2B is a plan of Figure 1B.
Figure 3 is a part top elevation and Figure 3B a part bottom elevation of a
charging machine having an elevating device attached.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figures 34 and 3B.
And
Referring to Figures 14, 1B, 24 and 2B of the said drawings we so mount the stopper
shaft M, employed for regulating the various strokes of the pusher K, that it is
capable of being moved longitudinally to the extent of a few inches, say three or
four, though it may be varied or adjusted at will, so that when the slipper block L'
on the end of one of the main actuating hydraulic rams L' comes against any one of
the stops m on the said shaft M. the shaft will be moved forward to the extent of its
travel as at m³ (Figure 2) said travel being regulated by the adjusting screw m
as shown. The said shaft M is brought back to its normal position by means of a
returning stop arrangement, composed of a collar, ring or sleeve m³ (Figure 24) on
the shaft M and an engaging pin or block 13 on the slipper or ram. The said
longitudinal movement of the stopper shaft M is for the purpose of enabling it to
automatically reverse the direction of the travel of the pusher K. This is effected
by means of a slotted sleeve or collar ms (Figures 1 and 2) on the said shaft M
engaging with a pivotted pawl shaped lever U, the lower end u of which is formed
with a double pawl or forked portion, as shown more particularly in Figure 1ª.
The upper end of said pawl lever U is connected, by means of an adjustable rod U₁
and crank U2 arrangement, to the spindle w of a regulating plug cock or valve W,
which is constructed in such a manner as to control the movements of a hydraulic
piston working in a hydraulic cylinder X the ram or rod a of which is connected to
a crank on the lifting and depressing spindle A* of the frame E2 by means of a
rod or link or rods or links... piston and cylinder X are preferably
constructed with a rod or ram
diameter, so as to enable the piston to be
moved backwards and forwa y the inlet pressure of the fluid through the
medium of the three-way regiating plug cock or valve W, stopper shaft M and
their connections. The water or fluid pressure being constant on the side of the.
piston to which the rod is attached-the action of the three-way cock W affecting
the opposite side of the piston only.
In lieu of operating a hand lever for every stroke of the pusher as hitherto, we
in accordance with our present invention only employ an operating or starting lever
or handle X which is mounted on the spindle w of the regulating plug cock or
valve W, in such a manner that the operator has only to move the said handle X
when starting to charge a retort, the machine working automatically thereafter,
until the last stroke when the said plug cock or valve W is not opened or actuated
owing to the groove or slot in the collar or sleeve m' of the shaft M allowing the
pawl lever U to remain stationary.
Also according to our present invention we employ an auxiliary or additional
coal receiver or plate Y mounted above the main shoot C aud below the shoot A
of the hopper, in such a manner as to enable the coal to be delivered in front of
the pusher K immediately it is at the end of its backward stroke. This we effect
by mounting the plate Y in suitable guide brackets e on the main frame E of the
machine and connect the said plate Y to an operating spindle Y¹ mounted on the
rear end of the main beam E2 carrying the horizontal actuating rams and cylinders,
by means of an arrangement of levers y, cranks y¹ or their equivalents, one two or
more of which are constructed in such a manner as shown so as to be capable of,
being detached from each other when required for operating the plate Y by hand
and not automatically by the machine itself as shown, that is to say, by the slipper
block L³ of one of the horizontal rams actuating a double armed trigger Z,
(Figures 1 and 2) in the desired direction. The said trigger Z being mounted
on the operating spindle Y¹ and if desired the slipper block may be provided with
a friction roller for operating the said trigger Z. In order to prevent the
movement of the said plate Y from causing any coal or other material to be

page_text: thrown back on the working parts of the machine and also to ensure that all the
coal or other material lying on its surface shall be dropped down in front of the
pusher K, we provide the plate Y with an adjustable back plate or guard Y2
(Figures 18 and 2B) one half of said guard plate Y' being capable of partial
rotation around its pivot or. hinge y2 whilst the other half is stationary.
Also in accordance with our present invention, we may employ a double rake or
pusher, that is to say, we mount two rake or pusher plates K, K2, on the end of the
rake or pusher rod K', there being a space of several inches or so left between
the said plates as shown in Figures 1B and 2B, so as to enable the rear plate K² to
take with it, during its forward stroke, any material which the front plate K may
have missed.
Lastly, referring to Figures 3A, 3B and 4 of the accompanying drawings, we may
provide the machine or apparatus with a coal or other material elevating device for
conveying the material up and into the hopper A. The elevating device may consist
of a hydraulic swinging crane, suitably mounted on the boggie or carriage B₁ of
the machine, and provided with either a round or rectangular bucket, or with a
suitable grab. Though as shown, we prefer to employ an elevating device con-
sisting of an endless band or chain and bucket arrangement P* carried in an
adjustable frame P** mounted on the machine in such a manner as to elevate the
material and deposit it in the hopper A. The frame P** is preferably adjustably
mounted on the machine as shewn, so as to enable various breadths or depths of
coal or other material Q to be dealt with, that is to say, we provide the frame P**
near its lower end with a cross shaft or spindle p, the outer ends of which carry
friction rollers or pulleys p' which are capable of being moved transversely to and
fro inside tracks D* secured to the main framing D of the machine, by means of a
horizontal hydraulic cylinder and ram R and links er yoke R' the ends of which
are attached to the cross shaft p. In order to allow of the upper end of the
frame P✶✶ altering its position so as to suit the transverse movement of the lower
end we provide two anti-friction rollers S which work in suitable guides S
mounted near the top of the hopper A: the dead weight of the frame P** being
taken up by the rollers p' cross shaft p and tracks D*. The said elevator may be
operated at its top end by a hydraulic cylinder with a rack and pinion arrangement,
or by a hydraulic motor T and spur gearing t* or their equivalents, or by a
hydraulic motor similar to that described in the Complete Specification of our
prior Patent No. 13,400 of 11th July 1894.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1st. The general arrangement and combination of parts, constituting a retort
charging apparatus, substantially as herein before described and shown in
, Figures 141, 24 and 2B of the accompanying drawings or with the additional
parts shown in Figures 3A 3B and 4.
2nd. In retort charging apparatus, the combination with a pusher and means for
reciprocating it, of means for automatically working and regulating each stroke of
the pusher, after the machine has been started, and stopping the pusher at the last
stroke when the retort has been charged, substantiaily as herein before described
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In retort charging apparatus, the combination with a pusher and means for
reciprocating it, of an auxiliary coal receiver or plate and its connections, arranged
so as to automatically deliver the material in front of the pusher immediately it is
at the end of its backward stroke, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4th. In retort charging apparatus; the combination with a pusher rod and
means for reciprocating it, of two pusher plates, one a few inches behind the
other, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 5th. In retort charging apparatus, the combination with a pusher and means for
reciprocating it, of an elevating device for conveying the material to be charged,
up and into the hopper, substantially as herein before described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th dar of Anril 1806
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.