Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1596
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
We, WILLIAM PIKE GIBBONS and GEORGE BENJAMIN ALBERT GIBBONS,
both of Dibdale Fire-clay Works, Lower Gornal, in the County of Stafford,
Contractors, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"6
1-
This invention has reference to apparatus for charging those gas retorts which
are known as horizontal retorts, whether set as singles" or as "through," and as
generally used in beds or groups.
Hitherto retorts, when set horizontally, have been charged either by shovels,
scoops, or by manual or power machines; retorts set on the incline have been
charged by gravitation from hopper waggons, or fixed hoppers, the charge in the
latter case, generally passing through a measuring hopper, and thence by a shoot
or trough to the retort mouthpiece, situated at the upper end of the inclined retort,
and assisted in its flow within the retort by the angle at which the retorts have
been set.
.
The object of our invention is to provide means whereby horizontal retorts can
be charged by gravitation thus avoiding the great expense of taking down horizontal
retort settings and re-erecting them on the incline and, as is generally necessary,
of also raising the roof of the buildings in which they are placed.
For the purposes of this invention we employ a spout which may be vertical
inclined or curved terminating in a lower curved charging shoot down both of which
the charge of coal is caused to fall from such a height that, with the impetus
acquired in combination with the shape of the charging shoot, the coal will be
delivered in a horizontal or almost horizontal direction into the mouth of the retort,
the impetus acquired by the coal being sufficient to carry the first part of the
charge to the back of the retort so that the pieces of coal as they are delivered
come to rest and block the succeeding pieces thus the charge is delivered in an
even or almost even stratum of the proper depth all along the bottom of the
retort.
"
When applying our invention to the charging of what are known as "through"
retorts we convert the " through retorts into "singles" by a fire-clay stop or
block placed in the middle of each of the "through" retorts, which being say
20' 0" long are thus converted into "single" retorts of about 9' 10" long, allowing 4*
for the stop or block.
The said lower curved charging shoot is preferably made of iron or steel sheets
separate from the said upper spout and may be carried from above or below and
the lower end may have a sleeve or tongue which enters into the mouthpiece of the
retort and is or may be made to slide or to hinge upon the main portion of the
shoot; and this sleeve or tongue has or may have means of adjustment by which
the front end or lip of the sleeve or tongue is raised or lowered to suit the require-
ments of various sizes and classes of coal, or the variation requisite in the delivery
of the charge in the length of the retort. The charging shoot may be jointed to
its carriage or support so as to be adjustable to gradually lower the delivery end
of the shoot while the charge is being delivered and thus assist in distributing the
charge evenly in the retort.
The upper end of this curved changing shoot is carried to such a height as to
reach the lower end of the said upper spout hereinafter more fully described, but

page_text: the charging shoot may be attached to the upper spout and form a prolongation
of it.
By preference we provide separate charging shoots so constructed and so carried
at various heights as to serve respectively for the separate tiers of retorts, or the
charging shoots can be so constructed that they may be raised or lowered on their
carriage or support and one shoot thus made to charge each tier if found necessary.
The carriages on which these charging shoots are fixed are by preference provided
with wheels which run on rails or grooves placed parallel to the setting of retorts
the carriage being above or below the shoot as may be preferred.
The upper shoot or spout is made by preference of light wrought iron or steel
and fixed by suitable supports so that its lower end is central or nearly so with the
vertical row of retorts it is intended to serve, thus in a bed of six retorts as
usually set two spouts would be required; in a bed of nine retorts three spouts.
The upper end of this upper spout is or may be attached to the lower portion of
the measuring hopper, when measuring hoppers are provided, or to the storage
hopper, or enlarged and adapted to receive the charge from a movable hopper
wagon as may be convenient. This upper spout or shoot may be vertical inclined
or curved as may be requisite to meet the overhead coal hoppers, its purpose being
as aforesaid to give impetus to the coal by its descent or fall from above, while the
lower curved charging shoot is for the purpose of changing the downward direction
of the coal to a horizontal direction and of utilizing the impetus or force acquired
during the fall of the coal to carry it into the retort as above described.
Above the said upper fixed shoot or spout are or may be fixed the storage hopper
and lower division or measuring hopper or at a suitable elevation the rails on which
is carried the travelling hopper wagon when such is preferred.
By preference we so construct these storage and measuring hoppers or wagon
hoppers that they are divided into two partitions or compartments with the object
and for the special reason of so dividing the coal that the portion of the charge
which is best adapted to flow farthest into the retort is allowed to pass down the
shoots first and the remainder follows after and charges that portion of the retort
nearer the mouthpiece.
This division of the hoppers can also be so used that the lower retorts are charged
with that portion of the coal which from its size or class requires greater impetus
or velocity in falling, which is acquired by falling to the lower tiers a greater
distance than if used for the upper retorts.
It is obvious that two separate classes of coal can be elevated and conveyed to
the two divisions of the storage hopper or to two separate hoppers placed side by
side by separate machinery, but it may be found necessary to roughly divide the
coal where one quality is used by means of screens or sieves placed within the
storage hoppers, placed above the storage hoppers, or placed about the machinery
used for the elevating and distributing of the coals to the storage hoppers.
The slides or gates dividing the storage hoppers from the measuring hoppers and
the measuring hoppers from the fixed shoots are or may be actuated from below by
levers or other suitable means, and by preference the lower movement is such that
the operator first opens the slide or port of that portion of the measuring hopper
containing that material designed and arranged to enter the retort first and then by
a continuance of that movement he closes that port and immediately opens the part
of that portion of the hopper containing the smaller coal or that designed to enter
the retort last.
The coal is broken or crushed when necessary elevated and conveyed to the
storage hoppers by well known means, or may be elevated to a service or supply
fixed at such elevation as in turn to fill the hopper wagons.
Dated this 25th day of May 1895.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
We, WILLIAM PIKE GIBBONS, and GEORGE BENJAMIN ALBERT GIBBONS,
both of Dibdale Fire-clay Works, Lower Gornal, in the County of Stafford,
Contractors, 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 consists of the berein-described improvements in apparatus for
charging those gas retorts, which are known as horizontal retorts, whether set as
single retorts, or through retorts, and as generally used set in beds or groups.
Hitherto retorts when set horizontally have been charged either by shovels,
scoops, or by manual or power machines, retorts set on the incline have been
charged by gravitation from hopper waggons or fixed hoppers, the charge of coal
in the latter case generally first passing through a measuring hopper and thence
down a shoot or spout, to the mouthpieces situated at the upper ends of the inclined
retoits, being assisted in its flow by the angle of incline at which the retorts have
been set.
The object of this invention is to provide means, whereby horizontal retorts can
be charged by gravitation from hoppers, hopper-waggons, measuring hoppers, or
other receptacles, carried at a convenient height, above the retorts so to be
charged.
For this purpose we employ in combination with the overhead hoppers, hopper-
waggons, or other overhead coal receptacles a shoot or spout, which by preference
is inclined from the hopper, or measuring hopper or other coal receptacle, towards the
retorts, (but which shoot or spout may be vertical or curved) and which terminates
in a lower curved charging shoot having its lower open end entering or adjacent
to the retort mouth. Down the said shoot or spout and lower curved charging
shoot the coal is caused to fall, so that by the impetus thus acquired in combination
with the shape of the charging shoot, the coal will be delivered in a horizontal or
nearly horizontal direction into the mouth of the retort, the impetus acquired by
the coal being sufficient to carry the first part of the charge to the back end of
the retort, so that the pieces of coal come to rest and block the succeeding pieces,
and thus the charge is delivered in an even or almost even stratum of the required
depth all along the bottom of the retort.
The said over head hoppers or hopper waggons and measuring hoppers may be of
the well known forms used for charging inclined retorts, but they are preferably
divided by vertical or inclined partitions into two compartments, with the object,
and for the special reason of, when necessary, so dividing the coal that the portion
of the coal which from its size or quality, is best adapted to flow further into the
retort, is allowed to pass down the shoots first, and the remainder follows after and
charges that portion of the retort nearer the mouthpiece. This division of the
hoppers may also be so used that the lower retorts are charged with that class of
coal which from its size or nature requires greater impetus or velocity in falling,
and which is acquired by falling to the lower retorts a greater distance than if
used for the upper retorts. It is also preferred that the measuring hoppers, should
be divided by a partition into two compartments for the purpose of separately
measuring the coal from each compartment of the hoppers. The dividing plate,
which separates the two divisions of the measuring hopper is by preference hinged
and provided with screw adjustment, so that the portions of coal and cannel, or
any other two classes of material may be varied, the total change remaining the
same. The dividing of the hoppers into two compartments in combination with
the said charging shoots formis an important feature of this invention.
Any

page_text: suitable means may be employed for temporally reducing the capacity of the
measuring hopper.
The slides or gates dividing the storage hoppers from the measuring hoppers,
and the latter from the fixed shoots are or may be actuated by levers, or other
suitable means, and by preference the lower slide or gate is so arranged that the
operator first opens the slide or port of that portion of the measuring hopper
containing the inaterial designed aud arranged to enter the retort first, and then
by a continuance of that movement he closes that port and immediately opens
the port of that portion of the hopper containing the smaller coal or that
designed and arranged to enter the retort last.
It will be seen that two separate classes of material such as coal and cannel
can be elevated and conveyed to the two divisions of the storage hopper, or to
the two separate hoppers placed side by side and the charge of each separately
measured and adjusted.
When required the coal is divided and is separated by means of screens or
sieves placed in or above the storage hoppers and under the conveyors so that
one Size or quality falls into one partition and the remainder into the other
partition of the storage hopper. Or this division of coal may be done by screens
placed so that the coal passes through them, and after the division is subsequently
conveyed separately to the two partitions of the hopper.
When fixed hoppers and fixed measuring hoppers are to be used and the upper
shoots or spouts are also fixed, it will be found convenient to so fix the measuring
hoppers or chambers and shoots that they are opposite to the tier of the retorts
such hopper and shoot is intended to serve. Thus for a bed of seven, eight, or
Dine retorts, as usually set, thiee upper inclined shoots and measuring hoppers
would be required. These upper inclined shoots or spouts are made by preference
of light wrought iron or steel and fixed and stayed by suitable supports.
The lower curved charging shoot is made by preference of iron or steel sheets,
and it may be carried either from above or below on a carriage, the upper end
being carried to such a height as to reach the lower end of the said upper spout
herein before described. The carriage on which this lower charging shoot is fixed
is by preference provided with wheels which run on rails placed parallel to the
setting of retorts, either above or below as may be more convenient. The lower
end of the curved charging shoot may have a movable sleeve or tongue which
enters into the retort mouthpiece, and is or may be made to slide or to hinge
upon the main portion of the shoot. This sleeve or tongue has or may have
means of adjustment by which its front end is raised or lowered to suit the
requirement of various sizes and classes of coal or any variation required to
effect the delivery of the charge in the length of the retort. The lower curved
charging shoot may be so supported on its carriage as to be adjustable and to
gradually lower the delivery end of the shoot while the charge is being delivered
into the shoot and thus assist in distributing the charge in an even manner.
shoot may also be mounted on rollers or on a frame with wheels so as to have
a motion to and from the retort the main carriage having motion parallel to the
bench. By preference we provide separate lower inclined curved charging shoots
so constructed and so carried at various heights one or more on a carriage as to
respectively serve for the separate horizontal rows of retorts, but these charging
shoots may be so constructed that they may be raised or lowered on their carriage
or support and thus charge any of the horizontal rows, in this case there would
be a telescopic sliding piece fitted on to either the bottom of the upper spout
or top of the charging shoot or on both of them so as to make a continuous path
for the coal wben charging the lower rows of retorts.
This
A horizontal retort, twenty feet through, can by our invention be charged from
one end with some classes of coals, and where the requisite height can be given
to the shoots, but by preference we charge all through retorts, from each end and
place an ordinary fire-clay block in the centre of the length of the through

page_text: length.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular sectional size or shape of the upper
inclined shoot or spout and lower inclined charging shoot, but a shoot or spout
having a width of rather more than one half the width of the retort to be charged
and rectangular in section with slightly rounded corners and having a depth of
about seven or eight inches is found to be generally serviceable.
The coal is, when requisite, broken or crushed elevated and conveyed to the
overhead hoppers by well known means, or may be elevated to a supply hopper
fixed at such elevation as in turn to fill the hopper waggons.
On the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a front view of one arrangement of our
apparatus applied to settings of nine retorts and made with double fixed hoppers
and measuring hoppers;
Fig. 3 is a front view of one of the lower curved charging shoots and its
carriage;
Figs. 4 and 5 are side views of two of the lower curved charging shoots and
their carriages;
Fig. 6 is a cross view of one of the storage hoppers on an enlarged scale and
Fig. 7 is a plan of one of the slides of the said hoppers separately;
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the storage hopper and measuring hopper with a
screen arranged underneath the conveyor trough and adapted for dividing the coal
as hereinafter described;
Fig. 9 shews how the partition in the measuring hopper may be made adjustable
so as to regulate the quantities of coal which are required in the two compartments
of the same ;
Fig. 10 is a side elevation and Fig 11 is a front elevation of another arrangement
of our invention; Fig. 12 shews a modified form of the same;
Fig. 13 shews the lower ends of two of the charging shoots on an enlarged
scale;
Fig. 14 is a side elevation and Fig. 15 is a front elevation of another
arrangement of our invention;
Fig. 16 is a sectional side elevation and Fig. 17 is an end elevation of a movable
hopper waggon which may be used with our invention as hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures of the drawings.
Referring firstly more particularly to the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 1 to 7
both inclusive, which illustrate an arrangement of our invention when double
storage hoppers and measuring hoppers are used, A is the overhead hopper made
with a central partition al dividing the storage hopper into two compartments
namely a for the large coal, and a³ for the small coal or for a different kind of
coal to that contained in the compartment a². The storage hopper A receives its
supply of coal by any convenient means, as is well known, such as by the ordinary
conveyors the troughs for which are indicated by at a above the hoppers.
B₁ B' B³ are the three measuring hoppers preferably arranged on the incline as
shewn corresponding with the upper inclined shoot or spout C and made with an
inclined divisional plate b₁ dividing the measuring hopper into two compart-
ments b²C, C, C³, are the upper inclined charging shoots inclined towards the
retorts and fixed respectively to the measuring hoppers B1 B2 B3 and arranged
opposite each of the three tiers of retorts as in Fig. 2 and extending from the
measuring hoppers B¹ B2 B³ to some little distance above the upper row of
retorts E³. The three lower curved charging shoots marked respectively D'D' D³
are made of three different lengths to suit the different levels of the three rows of
retorts E E E³ and in this arrangement the lower charging shoots D₁ D' D³ are
each carried by a separate carriage which three carriages are marked respec-
tively F F F The wheels of these carriages run in rails f f parallel with the

page_text: faces of the retorts so that either of the three carriages with its charging
shoot D D or D³ will be available for the corresponding row of retorts. Fig. 1
shews the charging shoot D' in position ready for charging the centre retort E of
the middle tier. It will be seen that the upper ends d³ of these lower curved
charging shoots D1 D2 D3 are made to match the lower ends of the upper inclined
charging shoots C₁C* C³ and the lower ends d' of the lower charging shoots D¹ D³ D³
are made to enter the retort mouth pieces. The lower curved charging
shoots D1 D2 D3 are by preference not rigidly fixed to their carriages F F F³
but are made moveable along the same so as to be withdrawn from the retort mouth
piece when the retort has been charged and to be inserted into another mouth
piece when the carriage has been moved opposite to it. This can be accomplished
by various means as for instance by the lower charging shoot as D² being carried
by a small supplementary carriage which is provided with wheels d to run
along guide rails 3f fixed to the carriage. a a a are the three slides cach
made with an opening as which allows of the descent of the coal from the storage
hoppers A to the measuring hoppers B1 B2 B3 which are operated by the hand
levers a a' a'. are the three slides each made with an opening 5 which
shut off the connection from the measuring hoppers B1 B2 B3 to the upper inclined
charging spouts C1 C2 C3 and which are operated by the hand levers 10 11
In using our invention as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for charging
say the retort E the measuring hopper B2 is filled by the hand lever a' being
moved so as to bring the opening a* of the shde a under the compartment a² and
allow the coal to flow therefrom into the compartment 2 of the measuring hopper B².
The movement of the slide a is then continued so that the storage hopper a* is
then cut off by the slide a³ and the opening a comes under the compartment a³ and
allows the coal to flow therefrom to the compartment 63 of the measuring hopper B².
The further movement of the slide a then closes the outlet from the compartment a³.
One of the lower curved changing shoots say D2 is brought into position as shewn
in Fig. 1 for the retort E and the charging shoot D³ is moved forward so that
its front end d enters the retort mouth and its upper end d³ matches the bottom
of the upper inclined shoot C. The slide 6 is now moved inwardly by the lever 66
so that its opening 65 will allow of the coal from the compartment 62 passing down
the upper and lower charging shoots CD the latter of which will change the
vertical motion of the charge into a horizontal or nearly horizontal motion and
direct the charge into the horizontal retort E2. The impetus acquired by the
descent of the coal will carry the first portion of the same to the back end of the
retort, and as the pieces of coal come to rest they will block the succeeding pieces
and thus lie in an eveu or almost even stratum of the required depth along
the bottom of the back portion of the retort. The hand lever 66 (see Fig. 1) is
then moved further in the same direction, as shewn by the arrow in Fig. 1, so that
the opening will come opposite the compartment & and allow of the small coal
to be discharged therefrom down the inclined charging shoots C² D2 and be similarly
delivered into the retort E' and lie in an even or almost even stratum along the
front part of the bottom of the retort that is from the large coal or first part of
the charge to the mouth piece. The charging shoot D' is then moved opposite the
next retort say the left hand retort in the same horizontal row and a charge from
the storage hopper A and measuring hopper B¹ is delivered therein as above
described. The other retorts in the same row are similarly charged by the lower
curved charging shoot D2, and the retorts E³ in the upper row are similarly charged
by the lower curved charging shoot D³, and the retorts E¹ in the lower row are
similarly charged by the lower curved charging shoot D¹.
When a screen or sieve is used for dividing.the small coal from the large coal
before passing into the storage hopper A this may be arranged as shewn by Fig. 8
where the inclined screen or sieve is marked G and is arranged above the hopper A
so as to receive the coal from the conveyor trough a so that as the coal falls from
the conveyor trough a' on to the screen G the smaller coal will pass through the

page_text: screen into the compartment a³, and the larger coal will pass on and fall into
the compartment a².
When the partition 61 of the measuring hopper B is required to be adjustable
this can readily be done as shewn in Fig. 9 by hinging the bottom of the partition
at between the outlets from the compartments and providing the partition
with a screw 10 by which the partition can be moved to and fro on its hinge and
be adjusted so as to radiate about its hinge and thus make the compartments 63
of the proper relative sizes as may be required for the particular class of coal
with which the retorts are to be charged.
The fixed shoots C¹ C³ C³ may be attached to the storage hopper A direct
without the intervening measuring chamber such as B1 B2 B3. The proper
quantity of coal for the charge will then be regulated by the slide as operated by
the hand lever a or by other means.
In another arrangement of our invention the storage hopper A and the measuring
hoppers B1 B2 B3 are dispensed with, and the upper end of the fixed shoot (such
as C¹ C² C³) is enlarged and adapted to receive the charge from a movable hopper
waggon such as H (as shewn in Figs. 16 and 17) which may be divided vertically
by two partitions so as to make four compartiments and hold two charges, or
the hopper waggon may be made to hold more than two charges or only one charge.
At the bottom of each compartment there is an outlet ³ regulated by a slide /
for discharging the charge into the fixed shoot C. This hopper waggon
(in respect of which however we make no claim) would be arranged to run along
rails suitably supported overhead.
In the arrangement of our invention shewn by Figs. 10 and 11 the hopper A, the
measuring hopper B and the upper inclined charging shoot C are all combined on
one carriage I made with travelling wheels adapted to run along the rails jj' over-
head parallel with the face of the retorts so that the carriage can easily be brought
opposite to the bed and the fixed spout C opposite to the retort which is to be
charged or the carriage inay be arranged to run along ails on the retort house
floor. The lower curved charging shoots D1 D2 D3 are also carried on the lower
floor of the platform I and are made with wheels do so as to run along guide
rails on the platform floor l¹ parallel with the face of the retorts so as to
enable either one of the lower curved charging shoots D¹ D' D³ to be brought
under the fixed inclined shoot C to deliver the charge into the retort.
hopper A is in this case a service hopper only and it can conveniently be filled
through a large storage hopper at the end of the retort house or from suitable
tanks placed over its path (but not shewn upon our drawings) or from any other
suitable supply.
The
Instead of employing the separate movable lower curved charging shoots D'D' D'
in combination with the upper charging shoot or spout C as above described and
shewn in Figs. 10 and 11, these lower curved charging shoots D' D' D³ may as
shewn in Fig. 12 be fixed together on the platform I one above the other and the
upper charging shoot C be hinged at its upper end at c¹ to the lower part of the
measuring hopper B so that the shoot C can be moved about its hinge, as indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 12, to direct the charge to either of the lower curved
charging shoots D' D or D³ which can readily be done by the man who stands
on the floor I of the platform and operates the hand levers a³ ³ to work the
slides.
Fig. 13 shews how the lower end of the curved charging shoot such as D¹ D'or D³
may be provided with a movable tongue O which enters the retort mouthpiece and
is hinged at o' to the bottom side of the lower open end of the charging shoot so
that by the hand lever P fixed to the hinge of the shoot can either be turned
outwardly into the retort mouth like that hand lever which is shewn attached
to D' to direct the charge into the retort and be slightly raised or lowered as may
be required to effect the delivery of the charge in the length of the retort. The
hand lever P may be provided with a movable counter-balance weight pl which
when the hand lever is not in use, falls down to the lower end of the same as

page_text: shewn in Fig. 13 and maintains the tongue O turned up clear of the retort mouth-
pieces to permit of the moving of the charging shoot to another retort.
When
the hand lever P is raised (as shewn in connection with the charging shoot D³)
the balance weight p¹ falls to the hinged end of the lever P so that the sleeve
or tongue is then the heavier and thus maintains its position in the retort
mouthpiece.
An
The lower curved charging shoot may be attached to the upper charging shoot
and form a prolongation of it instead of being made separate therefrom.
arrangement of our invention in which the lower curved charging shoot and the
upper charging shoot are made together is shewn by Figs. 14 and 15 where the
lower curved charging shoot is marked D and is formed in a piece with the upper
charging shoot C the top c¹ of which is enlarged to receive the charge. In this
arrangement of our invention the charging shoot DC is carried by a partly counter-
balanced frame J on the carriage F which frame can be moved up and down in the
carriage F so as to enable the charging shoot D to be raised or lowered to suit the
different rows of retorts. kare the counter-balance weights and chains
(the latter passing over the pulleys 2) which partly counter-balance the frame J
so that it can easily be raised by turning the hand wheel on the shaft 2 which
winds the chain round the barrel and thus raises the frame with the charging
shoot DC and adjusts the same to the proper height. The horizontal movement
of the charging shoot D so as to enter the retort mouthpiece or be withdrawn
therefiom is effected by turning the hand wheel m¹ on the shaft m² and thus actuate
the chain m³ one end of which is fixed at m to the charging shoot D and the other
end after passing round the guide pulley m³ is also fixed to the same. The chain m³
passes round the chain wheel me on the spindle m² so that by turning the hand
wheel m' in one or the other direction the charging shoot DC will be moved to
and fro with its carriage d². In this arrangement the coal is contained in the
hopper waggon H which is arranged to run along the rails j¹ parallel with the face
of the retorts so as to serve the various beds.
The accompanying drawings illustrate what we consider to be the best methods
of carrying our invention into practice but it is to be understood that our invention
is not limited to the precise details and arrangements shewn as it will be evident,
that these may be modified without departing from the nature of our invention.
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 :--
1. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation, the
combination of an overhead storage hopper or hopper waggon for containing the
coal, an overhead measuring hopper below the storage hopper and adapted to
receive and hold the charge from the same, slides or valves to open and close
communication to and from the measuring hopper, an upper inclined or vertical
charging shoot through which the charge falls from the measuring hopper and one
or more lower curved charging shoots below the upper shoot to change the vertical
or inclined motion of the charge into a horizontal or nearly horizontal motion and
direct the charge into the retort, all substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation, the
combination with the charging shoot down which the charge falls and by which
the charge is directed into the retort, of a storage hopper or hopper waggon and
measuring hopper above the charging shoot made with two compartments for
containing two different kinds or qualities of coal, and slides or valves arranged to
fill the two compartments of the measuring hopper from the two compartments of
the storage hopper or hopper waggon and to discharge the contents of the two
compartments of the measuring hopper one after the other down the charging shoot
for the purpose and substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation, the
combination with the charging shoot down which the charge falls and by which

page_text: the charge is directed into the retort, of a storage hopper or hopper waggon and
measuring hopper above the charging shoot both made with two compartments for
containing two different kinds or qualities of coal, the partition of the measuring
hopper being adjustable so as to alter the relative capacities of the two compart-
ments of the same, and slides or valves arranged to fill the two compartments of the
measuring hopper from the two compartments of the storage hopper or hopper
waggon and to discharge the contents of the two compartments of the measuring
hopper one after the other down the charging shoot for the purpose and substantially
as described.
4. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation the
combination with the charging shoot down which the charge falls and by which the
charge is directed into the retort, of a storage hopper or hopper waggon above
the charging shoot and made with two compartments for containing two different
kinds or qualities of coal and slides or valves arranged to discharge the contents of
the two compartments one after the other down the charging shoot for the purpose
and substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation the
combination of the upper inclined or vertical charging shoot through which the
charge falls and one or more lower curved charging shoots adapted to change
the vertical or inclined motion of the charge into a horizontal motion and direct the
charge into the retort, substantially as described.
6. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation the
combination with the upper inclined or vertical charging shoot down which the
charge falls, of a separate carriage adapted to move along the faces of the retorts
and provided with one or more lower curved charging shoots adapted to change the
vertical or inclined motion of the charge into a horizontal or nearly horizontal
motion and direct the charge into the retorts all substantially as described.
7. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation the
combination with the charging shoot down which the charge falls and by which
the charge is directed into the retort, of a storage hopper and measuring hopper
both made with two compartments for containing two different kinds or qualities of
coal, a sieve or screen placed above the storage hopper so as to separate the coal
into two sizes as it falls into the two compartments of the storage hopper and slides
or valves arranged to fill the two compartments of the measuring hopper from the
two compartments of the storage hopper and to discharge the contents of the two.
compartments of the measuring hopper one after the other down the charging shoot
for the purpose and substantially as described.
8. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation, the
combination of an overhead hopper for containing the coal, an overhead measuring
hopper below the storage hopper and adapted to receive and hold the charge from
the same, slides or valves to open and close communication to and from the
measuring hopper, an upper inclined or vertical charging shoot through which the
charge falls from the measuring hopper and one or more lower curved charging
shoots below the upper shoot to change the vertical or inclined motion of the charge-
into a horizontal or nearly horizontal motion and direct the charge into the retort.
the whole carried by a platform movable along the fronts of the retorts so as.
to serve several beds, substantially as herein before described.
9. In an apparatus for charging horizontal gas retorts by gravitation the
combination with the charging shoot through which the charge falls and is delivered
into the retort, of a lip or plate hinged to the lower or outlet end of the charging
shoot and provided with a handle by which the lip can be raised or lowered to
slightly vary the direction in which the charge is delivered into the retort,
substantially as described.
10. In an apparatus for charging borizontal gas retorts by gravitation the
combination with a carriage adapted to move along the faces of the retorts,
of an upper inclined or vertical charging shoot and a lower curved charging shoot
made together and carried by said carriage so as to be raised or lowered or moved

page_text: to and from the retorts on the carriage, substantially as hereinhefore described with
reference to Figs. 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of March 1896.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.