IMPROVEMENTS IN COKE OVENS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon of N° 7, St Peter's Square, Manchester,
in the county of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COKE
OVENS " communicated to him from abroad by François Carves of
S* Etienne, Loire in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1883.
"
HENRY SIMON of N° 7 St Peter's Square Manchester in the County of
Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN COKE OVENS " [communicated to him from
abroad by François Carves of St Etienne, Loire in the Republic of France.]
This invention relates to that description of coke ovens in which the gases
distilled off from the coal are, in whole or in part, led away from the oven in
order first to have the condensible constituents separated therefrom and then to be
utilised as gaseous fuel, such as the coke ovens for which Letters Patent N°▪ 2616
of 1879, and 554 of 1883 have been granted to me as communications from my
said correspondent. In such coke ovens it is usual to have, for conveying the gas
to the purifying apparatus, a pipe ascending from the crown of the oven
which is provided with a shut off valve and trough like reservoir divided by a
partition.
The present improvements have for their object to prevent the said shut off
valve from becoming clogged with condensed tar, and to render the hydraulic
main and pipes connecting the coke oven therewith easily accessible for cleansing
or repairs. For these purposes, the pipe ascending from the crown of the oven is
closed at its upper end by a removeable bonnet or cover and has at such upper
end a horizontal branch leading thence to a second vertical pipe, the upper end of
which leads by a side branch into the valve box which is in communication with
the exhaust pipe for the gases. The lower end of the second vertical pipe is open
and dips into the hydraulic main or reservoir. The first named vertical pipe is
encased in brick work or other suitable non-conducting material, in order to prevent
as much as possible the condensation of tar therein, while the horizontal branch
and the second vertical pipe are exposed to the cooling influence of the atmosphere,
Povice 61

page_text: so as to facilitate as much as possible the condensation of the tar from the gases
therein, before they pass to the valve box. The tar thus condensed consequently
flows down into the hydraulic main or reservoir, the said horizontal branch pipe
having at the end where it joins the ascending pipe a raised flange projecting on
its bottom side to prevent the tar from flowing back into the coke oven. The
second vertical pipe has a removeable bonnet at the top covering an opening by
which access is gained thereto for cleansing, and it has also a side opening closed
by a bonnet opposite the horizontal pipe, through which opening access is gained
to this pipe for cleansing. This pipe has a joint at an intermediate point of its
length into which a partition can be placed so as to cut off communication between
the first and second vertical pipes when the latter is being cleansed.
In this case,
the bonnet is removed from the first vertical pipe and a short chimney may be fixed
temporarily thereon through which the burning gases can escape. A similar joint
for the introduction of a partition is also provided between the second vertical
pipe and the valve box, in order to cut off the communication between them when
the pipes are being cleansed. The hydraulic main or reservoir, which is by
preference imbedded partly in the brickwork of the coke oven, in order to keep
the condensed tar warm and liquid, so as to facilitate its flow, is supplied with
water by a siphon pipe so as to maintain a constant water level therein and insure
that the open end of the second vertical pipe shall only dip into the water and not
into the condensed tar below. The hydraulic main is divided by a longitudinal
partition dipping a certain distance down into the water and tar, into two
compartments, the one into which the second vertical pipe dips being put in
communication with the exhaust of the main pipe through which the gases are
led off, so that the gases are partly drawn off through this pipe and partly through
the hydraulic main, and can be drawn off entirely through the latter when the
main pipe has to be cleansed or repaired. The other compartment of the
hydraulic main is accessible for cleansing through openings closed by bonnets or
covers.
In constructing these ovens, it is preferred to fix the fire grate mentioned in the
Specifications above referred to in such a way as to allow of its iron parts being
readily removed after the ovens are started, it having been found that the intense
heat following on the application of the Recuperator described in the Specification
N° 554 of 1883 is liable to burn or melt away the iron parts when the ovens are
in full action. The place which these iron parts occupy can after their removal be
readily closed by brickwork, and if at any time it should be required to rekindle
the ovens, these parts can be readily replaced for that purpose. The heat in the
.principal combustion flue, under the sole of the oven being very considerably
increased by the application of the Recuperator, it is preferred to give it a silica
brick lining on the top of which is placed the ordinary fire brick lining such as is
now used in these coke ovens.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed' by
the said Henry Simon in the Patent Office on the 3rd March 1884.
"
I
HENRY SIMON of N° 7 St Peter's Square Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN COKE OVENS" A Communication to me from
Abroad by François Carves of St Etienne, Loire in the Republic of France
This invention relates to that description of coke ovens in which the gases
distilled off from the coal are in the whole or in part led away from the oven in
order first to have the condensible constituents separated therefrom and then to be
utilised as gaseous fuel, such as the coke ovens for which Letters Patent Nos 2616
of 1879 and 554 of 1883 have been granted to me as cominunications from my
said correspondent. In such coke ovens, it is usual to have, for conveying the gas
to the purifying apparatus, a pipe ascending from.the crown of the oven which is
provided with a shut-off valve and trough like reservoir divided by a partition.
The present improvements have for their object to prevent the said shut-off valve
from becoming clogged with condensed tar, and to render the hydraulic main and
pipes connecting the coke therewith easily accessible for cleansing or repairs.
For these purposes, the pipe ascending from the crown of the oven is closed at its
upper end by a removeable bonnet or cover and has at such upper end a horizontal
branch leading thence to a second vertical pipe, the upper end of which leads by a
side branch into the valve box which is in communication with the exhaust pipe
for the gases. The lower end of the second vertical pipe is open and dips into the
hydraulic main or reservoir. The first named vertical pipe is encased in brick.
work or other suitable non conducting material, in order to prevent as much as
possible the condensation of tar therein, while the horizontal branch and the
second vertical pipe are exposed to the cooling influence of the atmosphere so as to
facilitate as much as possible the condensation of the tar from the gases therein,
before they pass to the valve box. The tar thus condensed consequently flows
down into the hydraulic main or reservoir, the said horizontal branch pipe having
at the end where it joins the ascending pipe a raised flange projecting on its
bottom side to prevent the tar from flowing back into the coke oven. The second
vertical pipe has a removeable bonnet at the top covering an opening by which
access is gained thereto for cleansing, and it has also a side opening closed by a
bonnet opposite the horizontal pipe, through which opening access is gained to this
pipe for cleansing. This pipe has a joint at an intermediate point of its length
into which a partition can be placed so as to cut off communication between the
first and second vertical pipes when the latter is being cleansed. In this case the
bonnet is removed from the first vertical pipe and a short chimney may be fixed
temporarily thereon, through which the burning gases can escape. A similar joint
for the introduction of a partition is also provided between the second vertical
pipe and the valve box, in order to cut off the communication between them when
the pipes are being cleansed. The hydraulic main or reservoir which is by
preference imbedded partly in the brickwork of the coke oven in order to keep the
condensed tar warm and liquid, so as to facilitate its flow, is supplied with water
by a pipe so as to maintain a constant water level in one compartment and insure
that the open end of the second vertical pipe shall only dip into the water and not
into the condensed tar below. The hydraulic main is divided by a longitudinal
partition, dipping a certain distance down into the water and tar, into two
compartments, the one into which the second vertical pipe dips being put in
communication with the exhaust of the main pipe through which the gases are led
off, so that the gases are partly drawn off through the pipe and partly through the
hydraulic main and can be drawn off entirely through the latter when the main

page_text: Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings snews & vertical section of the Defore
described arrangement of pipes leading from the top of the coke oven to the shut-
off valve on the gas main. Fig. 2 shews & side view of one end of the hydraulic
main. Fig. 3 shews a part elevation to a smaller scale of one end of a set of coke
ovens with the hydraulic main, gas main, and other pipes in connection therewith,
and Fig. 4 shews a part plan of the same.
The gas ascension pipe A leads from the top of the coke oven enclosed at top by
a bonnet A¹ and has a horizontal extension B on which is a vertical branch C
extending dowowards into the hydraulic main, and upwards to the valve box D of
the shut off valve D¹ with which it communicates by the branch 02. The upper
end of the pipe C is closed by a cover C¹ while its lower open end dips into a
stratum of water in the compartment E¹ of the hydraulic main E. The outer end
of the pipe B is also closed by a cover B¹. The hydraulic main E is divided by a
longitudinal partition into the compartment E¹ into which the pipe C dips, and
which is kept supplied with a shallow stratum of water at a constant level by a
supply pipe at I, the water being admitted continuously and allowed to flow off at the
end of the bydraulic main through the pipe I¹. The condensed tar flows down into
the compartment E' from the pipes B and C and passing down underneath the
partition, enters the compartment E³, from which it flows off through the bent
pipe K at the end, this pipe being made to communicate with the lower part of the
compartment, as shewn, and rising up to a bend at a height corresponding to the
level at which the tar is required to stand therein. By thus keeping the tar at a
constant level and maintaining a uniform water supply to the compartment E', the
pipes C are always kept sealed by dipping to a uniform depth in the water above
the tar, so that, firstly, on the opening of the coke oven, no air can get into the
hydraulic main and secondly, the gas can be drawn off from the pipes C and
compartment E at a uniform degree of exhaust.
The pipe A is kept as short as possible and is encased in brickwork, so that the
tarry constituents of the gas distilled off shall not condense therein, while on the
other hand, the pipes B and C are left exposed to the atmosphere in order that as
much as possible the tar shall be condensed out of the gas while flowing through
these pipes to the valve box, a projecting flange b' being provided in the pipe B to
prevent the condensed tar from running back into the ascension pipe A.
By the above described arrangement of pipes, all the more readily condensible
tarry constituents of the gas are condensed before reaching the shut off valve D¹
and consequently this is prevented from becoming clogged. The pipes L L'
leading from the end of the compartment E¹ of the hydraulic main, and the gas
main G are connected to the same pipe M leading to the exhauster, so that by
means of the latter the gas can be drawn off either partly through the gas main
and partly through the hydraulic main, or the gas may be entirely drawn off

page_text: through the hydraulic main when it is required to cleanse the valve and valve box.
The exhaust is by preference so regulated as to reduce the pressure in the coke
oven to that of the external atmosphere, or nearly so, or even somewhat below it,
so that there is practically no loss of gas by leakage through fissures in the walls
of the coking chamber, such as occurs when a less perfect exhaust is used.
The hydraulic main E is to a great extent imbedded in the brickwork of the
coke ovens, so as to be kept hot and thus maintain the tar in the required fluid
state to enable it to flow off readily. This is also insured by the fact that owing
to the several coke ovens communicating with one and the same hydraulic main
being at various different stages of the coking operation, the lighter and more
liquid tarry constituents given off at the commencement of the coking process will
mix with and impart greater fluidity to the more viscid tarry constituents given off
at a later period of the process. The fluidity might be still further increased by
introducing a jet of steam into the compartment E³ of the hydraulic main, as also,
if necessary, into the pipes B and C. The compartment E' is provided with
openings at intervals closed by covers E³ secured by screws E' for gaining access to
the interior when it requires to be cleared of solid deposit. The pipes B and C
may also be cleared from time to time on removal of the covers B¹ and C'. When
either of these operations have to be performed while the coking chamber is in
operation, the valve D¹ is closed, partitions are introduced between the joints b
and c, and the bonnet A¹ is removed from the pipe A and a short length
of pipe F is fixed in its place, through which the gases are allowed to escape into
the open air while the cleansing operations are carried on. In like manner, when
it is desired to cleanse the valve box D, a partition is introduced in the joint at d
whereupon the whole of the gas from the coke oven will be taken off through the
compartment E¹ of the hydraulic main.
Also, should it be desired to cleanse or repair a certain section of the bydraulic
main without interfering with the action of the other parts on either side of such
section, this might be effected by introducing partitions between the joints at the
two ends of such section, so as to cut off the communication with the other parts,
and then establishing a communication between the parts on either side by means
of a temporary pipe through which the tar can flow from the one into the other.
The tar and water flowing off through the pipes K and I' are both discharged
into a tank Ọ, whence they flow off through the pipe P into the storage tank Q.
The water, which will have absorbed a considerable quantity of ammonia from the
tar, is afterwards treated for the recovery of such ammonia.
RR are the pipes leading a portion of the combustible gas to the combustion
flues of the coke ovens after the condensible bye products have been removed
therefrom.
In some cases, the gas main G and shut off valve of the previous arrangement
may be dispensed with and the whole of the gas from the coke ovens be drawn off
through the hydraulic main. The pipes A B and C and hydraulic main would, in
this case be arranged as previously described, with the exception that the pipe C
would stop short immediately above B.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim,
First-Effecting the communication between the gas ascension pipe of coke ovens
and the shut-off valve on the gas main by means of a horizontal extension having
a vertical branch, leading at top into the valve box and at bottom into the hydraulic
main, so that the gas, in passing through such horizontal and vertical pipes on its
way to the gas valve, shall deposit the greater or colder part of its tar in such
pipes, whence it flows into the hydraulic main, substantially as herein described.
Second: The combination of the gas ascension pipe A provided with cover A¹
horizontal pipe B provided with cover B' and vertical branch O provided with
cover C¹ and opening at top into the valve box D and at bottom into the hydraulic
main E.

page_text: Third: In the combination of parts referred to in the preceding claim, the use of a
tubular extension F to the pipe A and of removeable partitions at b and o in the
pipes B and C and at d in the connection between the pipe C and the valve box D
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Fourth. In combination with the horizontal pipe B, the use of a raised flange 6¹
for preventing the tar condensed therein from flowing back into the pipe A.
Fifth Establishing a communication between the compartment E' of the hydraulic
main and the exhaust of the gas main G whereby the gas from the coke oven can
be caused to pass either partly or wholly through the said compartment
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Simon have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty ninth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-four.
ITAYINIT
זיםהוזם