Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Producing or Separating Oxygen and Nitrogen Gases from Atmospheric Air, also applicable for Manufacturing other Gases.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Producing or
Separating Oxygen and Nitrogen Gases from Atmospheric Air,
also applicable for Manufacturing other Gases.
I WILLIAM CRYER of 54 Tustin Street, Old Kent Road in the County
of Surrey, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has reference to improvements in the construction arrangement
and use of those parts of means or apparatus for producing or separating oxygen
and nitrogen gases from atmospheric air, particularly devoted to the heating of the
retorts containing the matters to be heated for the separation of the gases, or for
containing the carbonaceous matters from which the heating or illuminating gases
are to be produced.
In carrying out my invention I construct my retorts in two nests or sets each set
or nest in a separate chamber suitably constructed of fire resistent material and in
these chambers I place the retorts at suitable distances apart supported in a series
of holes in plates or supports back and front of the chambers and the retorts lie on
tiles or surfaces of fire clay or resistent material built up on alternating openwork
rows of bricks or blocks and tiles or slabs or surfaces from the floors. Under these
floors are arranged suitable channels or flues leading to the culvert or conduit to the
chimney.
The heated gases for heating the retorts are provided by means of a suitable
furnace arranged suitably contiguous to the chambers with suitable appliances for
facilitating supply of fuel, air to support combustion regulation of draught and
removal of ash and the like. From the furnace the heated gases may pass to a
suitable intermediate chamber or chambers where a portion of the heat may be
utilized to heat a boiler or boilers set partly therein for producing steam for working
the pumping means or other uses, and by suitable valves or regulating means the
heating gases are directed into either chamber and amongst either set of retorts
therein alternately, so that just the amount of heat required for economical working
may be supplied and no more without burning out the retorts as has been the case
in heating chambers as at present employed, and thence the spent gases pass away
after delivering up their heat to the retorts and built up bricks and tiles and
the like.
If desired provision may be made for the introduction of air into the intermediate
chamber by a suitable channel regulated by valve apparatus.
Dated the 6th day of June 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Producing or
Separating Oxygen and Nitrogen Gases from Atmospheric Air.
also applicable for Manufacturing other Gases.
I WILLIAM CRYER of 54 Tustin Street, Old Kent Road in the County of
Surrey Engineer 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 has reference to improvements in the construction arrangement
and use of those parts of means or apparatus for producing and separating oxygen

page_text: and nitrogen gases from atmospheric air and relates particularly to the heating of
the retorts containing the matters to be heated for the separation of the gases or
for containing the carbonaceous matters from which the heating or illuminating
gases are to be produced.
Hitherto one of the principal difficulties met with in those processes where retorts
are heated is the rapid destruction of the retorts themselves and there is also great
inconvenience occasioned where one end of the retort is wholly within the furnace
as is frequently the case. The destruction of the retorts is mainly due to the
difficulty of controlling the temperature of the furnace gases and is in part due in
the case of horizontal retorts to the sagging or bending of the retorts at the high
temperatures to which they are subjected. My invention has for its object to control
the temperature and to support the retorts in such a way that sagging cannot take
place. In carrying out my invention I place the retorts in nests preferably in two
nests. Each set or nest of retorts is enclosed in a chamber suitably constructed of
fire resistent material. In each of these chambers the retorts at suitable distances
apart are supported at their ends in a series of holes in plates or supports which
constitute the back and front of the chambers and the retorts lie throughout their
length on tiles or surfaces of fire clay or resistent material which rest on alternating
openwork rows of bricks or tiles resting on the floor. And in some cases I carry
the open brick work above the retorts so as to enclose them. In some cases instead
of supporting the retorts on tiles I find it very convenient to support them on pipes
which are placed below the retorts and run across the furnace transversely to the
retorts. These pipes are kept full of water and generate steam which may be used
for any desired purpose, and being full of water they are not liable to be burnt on
their outsides. This arrangement is a particularly convenient one inasmuch as the
topside of the water tubes form runners on which the retorts may easily be drawn.
By these means the hot gases are brought into contact with the retorts and sagging
is completely prevented.
Under the floors are arranged suitable channels or flues leading to the culvert or
conduit to the chimney. These supporting bricks constitute a reservoir of heat and
prevent sagging. They may be heated in any convenient manner and to any
temperature, and by this means the temperature may be regulated as desired and is
not subject to violent fluctuations as it is when the flames or heated gases which
play on the retorts have nothing but the retorts to absorb the heat.
The heated gases for heating the retorts are provided by means of a suitable
furnace arranged suitably contiguous to the chambers with suitable appliances for
facilitating supply of fuel, air to support combustion regulation of draught and
removal of ash and the like. From the furnace the heated gases may pass to a
suitable intermediate chamber or chambers where a portion of the heat may be
utilized to heat a boiler or boilers set partly therein for producing steam for working
the pumping means or other uses, and by suitable valves or regulating means, the
heating gases are directed into either chamber and amongst either set of retorts
therein alternately, so that just the amount of heat required for economical working
may be supplied and no more without burning out the retorts as has been the case
in heating chambers as at present employed and thence the spent gases pass away
after delivering up their heat to the retorts and built up bricks and tiles and
the like.
If desired provision may be made for the introduction of air into the intermediate
chamber by a suitable channel regulated by valve apparatus.
The heating gases may be introduced into the retort chambers at any point which
may be thought desirable. In the accompanying drawings I have shown retort
chambers by way of example in which the heating gases are introduced at the top
of the open brickwork.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood I have illustrated it
by the annexed drawings in which I have also illustrated a furnace suitable for
generating the heating gases and two nests of retorts two being more economically
worked than one.

page_text: Fig. (1) shews a longitudinal section of the apparatus on the line A. B. C. D. of
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 shews a section taken transversely of Fig. 1 on the line E. F the left hand
half of the figure representing the chambers as seen looking towards the right hand,
the right hand half the same as seen looking towards the left hand.
I have shewn my apparatus constructed with the retorts a a a a, in two nests or
sets each set or nest in a separate chamber band ' suitably constructed of fire
resistent material (I have only shewn some retorts in one chamber but it will be
understood that both are filled up with the retorts and built up tiles or fire bricks)
and in these chambers these retorts a a at suitable distances apart supported in
a series of holes in plates or supports e c¹ back and front of the chambers bb¹ and
the retorts lie on tiles bricks or surfaces of fire clay or resistent material d d built
up on alternating open work rows of bricks or blocks and tiles or slabs or surfaces
at right angles to each other as shewn commencing from the floors 62 63. The gases
for heating the retorts enter at the spaces marked and after passing through
the openwork and heating that and the retorts they pass away through suitable
channels or flues e leading respectively to the culverts or conduits f, to the
chimney.
I have not thought it necessary to exhibit a drawing of the transverse water
tubes inasmuch as that part of my invention will be readily understood without it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. In the heating of retorts the use of open brickwork in the manner described,
so as to constitute a reservoir of heat and comptroller of the temperature.
2. The use of open brickwork for supplying retorts to be heated, in a manner
described, whereby sagging is prevented and the heated gases have free access to
the retorts.
3. The use of transverse water pipes for supporting the retorts, and forming
runners for allowing the retorts to be drawn with ease.
Dated the 5th day of March 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.