Improvements in the Method of Setting Clay Retorts for the Manufacture of Coal Gas.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Setting Clay Retorts for the
Manufacture of Coal Gas.
I THOMAS COOKE of 30 Davey Street Saint Pauls in the City of Bristol
Foreman of Retort Setters & Fixer of Gas Plant do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
An improved method of setting clay retorts for the manufacture of coal gas.
I claim by this improved method to be able to effectually heat eight full sized
retorts in one oven at the same time by direct radiation from ordinary coke
furnaces, with cast iron bottom grates, and brick side linings, consuming not more
than thirty per cent. of the coke made. The method adopted is to set the retorts
in three tiers one above another with three retorts in the first or bottom tier,
three in the middle, and two in the upper tier. The retorts are supported by piers
reticulated so as to allow a free circulation of the furnace gases. The setting is
divided into two chambers by a partition wall built at right angles with the retorts
and placed just behind the furnaces so as to cut the flame in two sending a proper
proportion to each of the chambers. The method of heating is two small furnaces
placed beneath the bottom retorts and constructed so as to impinge a zone of flame
on the whole of the exposed surface of the retorts in both chambers direct from
the furnaces. After passing through the setting the spent heat and surplus gases
pass through three apertures in the top of the oven regulated by dampers. There
are no return draughts or bottom flues, there is no secondary air admitted and this
setting can be readily adapted to any sized oven without the oven being
reconstructed.
Dated this Third day of November 1890.
THOMAS COOKE,
30, Davey Street, St. Pauls, Bristol.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Setting Clay Retorts for the
Manufacture of Coal Gas.
1, THOMAS COOKE of 30 Davey Street St. Pauls in the City of Bristol
Foreman of Retort Setters and Fixers of Gas Plant 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 (a) in setting eight retorts eighteen or twenty feet long
in one arch or oven as a through setting having two mouthpieces to each retort,
and heating them by direct firing by means of four shallow furnaces, two of such
furnaces being placed, beneath the retorts, at each end of the arch. Or (b) in
setting cight retorts nine or ten feet long as a dead end setting having only one
mouthpiece to each retort and heating them by direct firing by means of two
furnaces placed beneath the retorts at the front end of the arch.
In either case the retorts (which may be D shaped or oval) are set in three
horizontal tiers one above another with the furnaces placed below the setting as
shewn in the accompanying drawings. The drawings show the dead end setting
complete, with the exception of the back wall which is solid, and they also show
one half of a through setting complete, including division wall.
The retorts are supported by brick piers or lumps with apertures between them
allowing a free circulation of the furnace gases, which after passing through the

page_text: setting are carried through. openings in the arch, regulated by dampers, into top
flues (which may be of any design) and away.
The through setting is divided into two chambers by a division wall as shewn
on Sheet 2.Figure 4 and cach of those chambers are fitted with supporting walls as
shewn in the drawings, such walls being suitable for either through or dead end
settings. These internal walls may be slightly varied both as to shape and position
without altering the principle of setting. The furnaces are built with fire brick
back and side linings, the furnace 'bars, being cast or wrought iron or steel, and
are placed about nine inches 'below the flame bed in such a relative position to the
setting as to cause the heat to radiate directly upon the whole exposed surface of
the retorts at the same time, without down draughts or bottom or side flues.
For convenience in working these furnaces a stoke pit is made the whole length
of the bench, about six feet wide by eighteen inches deep. This pit is fitted with
a portable stage about ten feet long, for use whilst the retorts are being drawn and
charged. The floor of this stage being level with the floor line of the retort house,
Sheet 3 Figure 5 line X. Y. This stage is not shewn in the drawings, as it need
not be of any special design. It may be an iron trolly on wheels or skids, or simply
a platform on joist, or it may be loose plates.
The following is an explanation of the drawings:
setting are carried through openings in the arch, regulated by dampers, into top
flues (which may be of any design) and away.
The through setting is divided into two chambers by a division wall as shewn
on Sheet 2.Figure 4 and each of those chambers are fitted with supporting walls as
shewn in the drawings, such walls being suitable for either through or dead end
settings. These internal walls may be slightly varied both as to shape and position
without altering the principle of setting. The furnaces are built with fire brick
back and side linings, the furnace 'bars, being cast or wrought iron or steel, and
are placed about nine inches below the flame bed in such a relative position to the
setting as to cause the heat to radiate directly upon the whole exposed surface of
the retorts at the same time, without down draughts or bottom or side flues.
For convenience, in working these furnaces a stoke pit is made the whole length
of the bench, about six feet wide by eighteen inches deep. This pit is fitted with
a portable stage about ten feet long, for use whilst the retorts are being drawn and
charged. The floor of this stage being level with the floor line of the retort house,
Sheet 3 Figure 5 line X. Y. This stage is not shewn in the drawings, as it need
not be of any special design. It may be an iron trolly on wheels or skids, or simply
a platform on joist, or it may be loose plates.
The following is an explanation of the drawings
Sheet Figure 1. section on lines
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. L. & F. Q. see Figure Sheet 4.
G. H.
I. J. & E. F.
C. D.
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5 front elevation.
6 plan on line A. B. see Figure 1 Sheet 1.
7 longitudinal section on line M. N. do.
5 line X. Y. floor line of retort house.
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5 line S. T. floor line of stoke pit.
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7 letter W. stoke pit broken in section.
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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. The internal arrangement of the setting whereby the whole of the exposed
surfaces of the eight retorts are brought into direct contact. with the radiated heat
as it arises from the furnaces.
2. The use of two shallow furnaces at each end of a through setting of retorts,
or at one end of a dead end setting, for direct firing.
3. The position of the furnaces relative to the retorts.
4. The adoption of the shallow pit for stoking purposes.
5. The use of a portable stage in or on the pit whilst drawing and charging the
retorts.
'Dated this 10th day of March 1891..
THOMAS COOKE,