Year: 1889

page_text: I, LOKE HOOK GREEN, of Dartford, Kent, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following stateinent :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to gas retorts
and ovens made of cast-iron fire-clay or other suitable substance and used for distilling
or carbonizing coal and other gas yielding materials, as in the manufacture of gas
and kindred operations.
In such retorts and ovens of the usual construction the charge of coal or other
gas yielding material while within the retort and being distilled is surrounded by
the closed inner surface of the retort excepting only the upper portion of the charge
from which alone the gas as it is evolved can freely escape. The gas evolved from
the covered portion of the charge is imprisoned thereby and has no free escape and
consequently hinders the evolution of further gas and lengthens the process of
manufacture besides which such imprisoned gas is liable to become decomposed and
rendered less useful for its intended purpose of utility by too long a subjection to the
heat and by being too highly heated.
The especial object of this Invention is to remedy such defects and to construct or
adapt such retorts and ovens in such a manner as that the gas evolved from such
portions of the charge as are adjacent to the supporting surface of the retort can also
freely escape, whereby I am enabled to obtain a speedier treatment of the charge, a
better quality of gas and a more abundant yield thereof.
To this end the Invention consists essentially in constructing such retorts and
ovens with or adapting thereto a gas receiving chamber or two or more thereof or
the equivalent thereof or means which will form the same, and in connecting the
interior of the retort with such chamber or chambers by communicating openings or
ducts by which the gas evolved from the portions of the charge laying on or against

page_text: the botton, sides and back end of the retort can freely escape into such chamber or
chambers and thence into the mouthpiece from which it passes away in the usual
manner.
The principle of the Invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in
various modifications of its application as hereinafter more particularly described.
Figs. 1. and, ?. represent transverse sectional elevations of retorts constructed or
adapted in accordance with the present Invention.
Figs. 3, and, 4, represent longitudinal sectional elevations illustrating respectively
the back and front ends of the retort.
Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of the front end of a retort.
In accordance with the present improvements, the retort, 6, is constructed with
one or more under and laterally extending gas receiving chambers, 7, preferably
extending up the sides of the retort as far as the usual depth of the charge. Such
chamber or chambers may be formed in the construction of the retort by dividing it
across as at, 8, Fig. 1, or in any other suitable manner, or it or they may be subse-
quently forined by tiles, 9, or other suitable means of any suitable shape, built or
suitably secured in position vide Fig. 2.
Provision is made for the escape of the gas evolved from the under part and sides
of the charge into such chamber or chambers by communicating openings or ducts, 10,
of any suitable shape, size, disposition and number.
Provision is made for the escape of the gas evolved at and towards the back end
of the retort (if not a through retort) by constructing or adapting the back, 11,
with coinmunicating ducts, 12, of any suitable shape, size, disposition and number,
into which the gas is led from the retort by communicating openings or channels, 13,
of any suitable shape, size, disposition and number opening into the back end of
the retort, and from which ducts, 12, the gas is led to the said chamber or
chambers, 7, by other openings or channels, 14, of any suitable shape, size, disposition
and number. The back, 11, of the retort is preferably left solid at parts, as at, 20,
in order to withstand the somewhat rough usage to which it is liable on the charge
being inserted and drawn.
Provision is made for the escape of the gas from the chamber or chambers, 7,
(which, if there are more than one, communicate by openings or channels, 15, of
any suitable shape, size, disposition and number) by means of outlet pipes, 16,
adapted with branches, 17, leading into the mouthpiece, 18, whence it escapes together
with the gas escaping directly from the retort up the ascension pipe, 19. The outlet
pipes, 16, may be further utilized as sight holes for examining and cleaning the
interior of the chamber or chambers, 7, if and as required, and as means permitting
of the retorts being re-heated by the admission of air to the chamber or chambers, 7,
should the retorts have been allowed to cool down prior to the charge being with-
drawn, so as to permit of the withdrawal of the charge and the placing of a fresh
charge without waste of time, and for such purpose when required air may be
admitted to the chamber or chambers, 7, by the loosening or removal of the
stoppers, 2.1.
It will be understood that the hereinbefore described improvements may be applied
and adapted in various other ways than are illustrated by the accompanying
drawings which are intended to be merely illustrative of the principle of the
Invention.
By such improved means I attain the object of the Invention without in any
way interfering with the drawing of the charge as the surface upon which the charge
rests is not in any way ribbed or raised above the general surface but is left
smooth.
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.
Constructing retorts and ovens used in the manufacture of gas and kindred
onerations with or adonting that

page_text: connecting the interior of the retort with such chamber or chambers by communi-
cating openings or ducts by which the gas evolved from the portions of the charge
laying on or against the bottom, sides and back end of the retort can freely
escape into such chamber or chambers, and thence into the mouthpiece, from
which it may pass away in any usual manner, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 28th day of January 1889.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.