IMPROVE MENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING GAS RETORTS, AND FOR DOING THE WORK IMMEDIATELY IN CONNECTION WITH THEM.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Warner, Engineer of the Gas Works,
South Shields, in the County of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING GAS
RETORTS, AND FOR DOING THE WORK IMMEDIATELY IN CONNECTION WITH
THEM.
"
Sealed the 11th October 1878, and dated the 24th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Warner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1878.
WILLIAM JOHN WARNER, Engineer of the Gas Works, South Shields, in the
County of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
CHARGING AND DRAWING GAS RETORTS, AND FOR DOING THE WORK IMMEDIATELY
IN CONNECTION WITH THEM."
This Invention is based upon Inventions for which Letters. Patent, No 2610,
bearing date July 22, 1875, and Provisional Protection, No. 3953, dated October 25,
1877, were granted to me.
The former Invention is a machine complete within itself for raising the coal from
the retort house floor by an elevator, an endless chain of buckets, and depositing
the same by means of shoots into scoops, and for raising in a bucket by a lift the
coke after being drawn from the retorts and carrying it over the framing of the
machine and discharging the bucket through openings in the walls of the house.
The latter Invention is for improvements in this machine. Instead of a travelling
frame a fixed beam is placed over the centre of each bed of retorts and carried
through openings in the walls to any convenient distance beyond the same, along
which beam the carriage of a travelling lift runs. The very cumbersome framing of
the machine necessary for the coke to travel over is thus dispensed with, and the
coke can be stacked or stored without any expenditure of manual labour in trim-
ming, as well as removed and deposited when delivered from the retorts. The latter
machine was made still further more compact by substituting mechanical shovels
for the Jacob's ladder, or chain and buckets, for raising the coal, and by lifting and
..

page_text: actuating the scoop and rake through a cylinder and piston placed immediately
under the cradles for carrying these two tools, the motion for actuating the several
parts of the machine on these cradles being conveyed from a centre or main driving
shaft to a grooved annular wheel working on the piston rod, the scoop and rake
being thus able to turn on their supports, the top ends of the piston rods were more
free to give to the inequalities of the work.
Three parallel
For giving motion to the machine an engine was attached to it.
channels were arranged along the house; one for the coke buckets, another for the
coal, and the third for the machine to travel in; the scoop, rake, and their cradles
being just clear of the retort house floor. Now this present Invention is for still
further improving and simplifying the machinery for charging and drawing gas
retorts, and for doing the work immediately in connection with them by mechanical
means, that is to say, preparing the charge of coal for the scoop and discharging the
coke from the retort house.
The improvements are, substituting a fixed engine for a portable one, and driving
the machine through the intervention of a square shaft and pendulous or bracket
bearings; two other shafts running the whole length of the retort house are
also employed; one for driving the overhead travelling lifts, the other under-
ground for actuating self-feeding machinery for filling iron buckets with the
charges of coal for the retorts. A channel just in front of the beds is built to
take the coke buckets, and so allow the rake and scoop to pass over when they
are in the lowest position. Another channel is also formed parallel with the
coke channel and running the whole length of the house; in this channel are
fixed the feeding tools for filling the coal buckets, revolving arms or recipro-
cating ones being used and actuated by the underground shaft, the object being
to draw out and partially break if necessary the coal from the bunkers or
stores through gates or openings into the channel and feeding the coal into
buckets which have been lowered by the overhead lift into the channel below
the openings. Along this channel are fixed rails, forming a tramway for the
machine proper to travel on, and which is driven by the square shaft running
also along this channel. The machine is carried by a quadrilateral frame mounted
on wheels, and consists of two vertical cylinders, each fitted with a hollow
piston or ram into which a screw is received through a nut below, the screw
being in length somewhat in excess of the difference in height between the highest
and lowest retort.
On the top of the pistons, and free to turn, are the cradles for carrying the scoop
and rake, in action each lift and tool being independent of the other. The retorts
being placed at equal distances along the house, and the distance from centre to
centre of the pistons being the same, the two tools are brought in succession to each
retort, but with only one adjustment to each as the machine travels along. Midway
between the two pistons is placed the major shaft of the machine, driven through
the intervention of mitre or bevil wheels in gear with the square main driving shaft.
From the major or vertical shaft of the machine two shafts are driven, square or
slotted. These shafts are the length of the lifts, and are parallel to them, and are
used for the purpose of actuating the rake and scoop through their mechanism at
whatever elevation they may be by means of spur wheels bushed. These wheels
revolve with their bushes and drive the shafts, but allow of their being raised and
lowered with the cradles. At the top of each of the piston rods is fixed an arm for
carrying the square or slotted shaft working through the bushed wheel. At the top
end of this shaft is a wheel, resting on the arm, for conveying motion to the annular
wheel on the piston rod, and thence through a pinion and bevil gear to a pulley for
driving an endless chain for actuating the rake and scoop, the object being to allow
the cradle on the top of the piston rod to move freely about it so that the scoop and
rake may be the better adjusted to any irregularities that may exist in the retorts,
and that too without affecting the independent action of the scoop and rake.
The cradle of the scoop is a ☐ shaped frame of rod or bar iron or steel, and some-
what longer than the retort and its mouth-piece; to this cradle is attached the genring

page_text: for communicating motion to the scoop, which is much in the usual form. On the
back end or head is fixed a mitre wheel. Geared to this wheel is another, on the
axis of which is a slotted arm, forming a crank by taking hold of a pin fastened to
an endless chain or band passed over a pulley at each end of the cradle and driven
through the intervention of the square or slotted shaft and wheels. It will be seen
that in action a forward motion will, through the pin attached to the endless band,
be given to the scoop, which is thus thrust into the retort, and then through the
intervention of the mitre wheels by the crank pin passing over or round the pulley an
axial movement to the scoop is given, the coals will be delivered into the retort, and
the scoop withdrawn being returned to its former position to receive its charge of
coal, and receiving again an axial motion of a half turn through the crank pin
passing over the back pulley.
The action of the rake for drawing is in principle the same, being sent into the
retort over the coke and receiving an axial motion (from the workman), thus
thrusting the tool into the coke, which by a return movement is withdrawn. There
is this difference however between the two, the axial motion is independent of the
reciprocating motion, and under the control of the workman, so as to draw any
portion of the charge at will. The rake and its shaft, which is attached near to the
periphery of a cylindrical or annular headstock, and sufficiently less in diameter
than the mouth-piece to secure freedom in working, may be kept cool by a current
of water being made to circulate through the shaft (which for this purpose should
be tubular), from and to the headstock, it being made water-tight for this purpose;
the rake may also be cooled by a stream of water flowing over the same as it with-
draws the coke.
The scoop cradle has attached to it a hopper which carries two scoops, each of the
capacity of a charge of coal. Those scoops turn on their axles only, and are for the
purpose of taking the charge for two retorts in the tier of each bed from one bucket
of coal; thus, when the machine is brought into position for receiving the charge,
the bucket is lowered into the hopper, and the bottom of this being hinged, on it
being opened and the bucket made to travel along the hopper, the coal is deposited
in the two scoops ready for filling in succession the charging scoop as it is brought
into position for charging; the hopper scoops being simply turned on their axes the
coal is discharged into the charging scoop as required.
The operation of working this plant is as follows:-The coal is filled into the
buckets by the feeders, and raised by the overhead lift to the height required, each
bed having its charge or charges suspended ready for feeding the machine. The
scoop and rake having been adjusted to the tier of retorts to be taken, and moved
up to the first retort which is then drawn, and the rake moved on to the next retort.
This movement brings the scoop into position for charging; the hopper scoops having
been previously charged, one is now made to discharge its contents into the scoop
proper with which the retort is then charged, as before described, and so on, from
bed to bed, until the whole tier is charged. The coal buckets then, which have
been left suspended during the operation of charging, are lowered into the channel
to be filled for the next operation. The coke buckets are subsequently raised
by the same lift, and the coke conveyed from the house and deposited where
required.
With this machine two stacks may be worked face to face, a tier taken on one
side, and then each tool and its cradle raised in succession to clear the other, and
swing round to draw or charge a tier upon the opposite side. With such an arrange-
ment the coal stores may be placed parallel with the beds and immediately behind
the retorts on either one or both sides of the house in the same or separate buildings,
the coke would then be stacked beyond the coal stores, or on the opposite side of
the house if only one store be constructed, the plan of the machinery in connection
with the lift and coal feeders being arranged to suit the altered general plan.
In houses to which the coal is delivered on the ground floor a lift is constructed
to raise a waggon, into which the coals are shot or delivered, and then raised by the
lift and distributed by means of a waggonway over the tops of the stores or bunkers,

page_text: the lift being worked through a winch geared to one of the shafts running through
the house.
The machine proper is propelled through bevil gearing connecting the main or
square shaft with the axles of the carriage through the major or centre shaft of the
machine. A portable engine or combined engines fed through a flexible pipe may
be employed for this purpose and for driving the machine, and a steam lift may be
employed for elevating the cradles and their tools; or hydraulic lifts may be
employed in connection with the square driving shaft for working the pumps and
driving the other parts of the machine, as already described. The lifts, whether
steam or hydraulic, may be used directly under the cradles and take the place of
the nuts, and screws, and bevil gearing in connection with the major shaft, through
which they are actuated and adjusted. Though toothed wheels are described,
grooved wheels and cords may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William John Warner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
October 1878.
WILLIAM JOHN WARNER, Engineer of the Gas Works, South Shields, in the
County of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
CHARGING AND DRAWING GAS RETORTS, AND FOR DOING THE WORK IMMEDIATELY
IN CONNECTION WITH THEM."
This Invention is based upon Inventions for which Letters Patent, No. 2610,
bearing date July 22, 1875, and Provisional Protection, No. 3953, dated October
25, 1877, were granted to me.
The former Invention is a machine complete within itself for raising the coal
from the retort house floor by an elevator with an endless chain of buckets, and
depositing the same by means of shoots into scoops, and for raising in a bucket by
a lift the coke after being drawn from the retorts, and carrying it over the framing
of the machine, and discharging the bucket through openings in the wall of the
house. The latter Invention is for improvements in the machine just referred to.
Instead of a travelling frame a fixed beam is placed over the centre of each bed of
retorts, and carried through openings in the walls to any convenient distance beyond
the same, along which beam the carriage of a travelling lift runs. The very cum-
bersome framing of the machine necessary for the coke to travel over is thus
dispensed with, and the coke can be stacked or stored without any expenditure of
manual labour in trimming, as well as removed and deposited when drawn from
the retorts. The latter machine was made still further more compact by substi-
tuting mechanical shovels for the chain and buckets for raising the coal, and by
lifting and actuating the scoop and rake through a cylinder and piston placed
immediately under the cradles for carrying these two tools, the motion for actuating
the several parts of the machine on these cradles being conveyed from a centre or

page_text: main driving shaft to a grooved annular wheel working on the piston rod, the scoop
and rake being thus able to turn on their supports, the top ends of the piston rods
were more free to give to the inequalities of the work.
For giving motion to the machine an engine was attached to it. Three parallel
channels were arranged along the house, one for the coke buckets, another for the
coal, and the third for the machine to travel in, the scoop, rake, and their cradles
being just clear of the retort house floor. Now this present Invention is for still
further improving and simplifying the machinery for charging and drawing gas
retorts, and for doing the work immmediately in connection with them by mechanical
means, that is to say, preparing the charge of coal for the scoop, and discharging the
coke from the retort house.
The improvements are substituting a fixed engine for a portable one, and driving
the machine through the intervention of a square shaft and pendulous or bracket
bearings. Two other shafts, running the whole length of the retort house, are also
employed, one for driving the overhead travelling lifts, the other underground for
actuating self-feeding machinery for filling iron buckets with the charges of coal
for the retorts. A channel just in front of the beds is built to take the coke buckets,
and so allow the rake and scoop to pass over when they are in their lowest position.
Another channel is also formed parallel with the coke channel, and running the
whole length of the house. In this channel are fixed the feeding tools for filling
the coal buckets, revolving arms or reciprocating ones being used and actuated by
the underground shaft, the object being to draw out and partially break, if necessary,
the coal from the bunkers or stores through gates or openings in the channel, and
feeding coal into buckets which have been lowered by the overhead lift into the
channel below the openings. Along this channel are fixed rails, forming a tramway
for the machine proper, which is driven by the square shaft running also along this
channel. The machine is carried by a quadrilateral frame mounted on wheels, and
consists of two vertical cylinders, each fitted with a hollow piston or ram, into which
a screw is received through a nut below, the screw being in length somewhat in
excess of the difference in height between the highest and lowest retort.
On the top of the pistons and free to turn are the cradles for carrying the scoop
and rake in action, each tool and lift being independent of the other. The retorts
being placed at equal distances along the house, and the distance from centre to
centre of the pistons being the same, the two tools are brought in succession to each
retort, but with only one adjustment to each, as the machine travels along. Midway
between the two pistons is placed the major shaft of the machine, driven through
the intervention of mitre or bevil wheels in gear with the square main driving
shaft. From the major or vertical shaft of the machine two shafts are driven,
square or slotted; these shafts are the length of the lifts, and are parallel to them,
and are used for the purpose of actuating the rake and scoop through their mechanism
at whatever elevation they may be by means of spur wheels bushed. These wheels
revolve with their bushes, and drive the shafts, but allow of their being raised and
lowered with the cradles. At the top of each of the piston rods is fixed an arm for
carrying the square or slotted shaft working through the bushed wheel. At the
top end of the shaft is a wheel resting on the arms for conveying motion to the
annular wheel on the piston rod, and thence through a pinion and bevil gear to a
pulley for driving an endless chain for actuating the rake and scoop, the object
being to allow the cradle on the top of the piston rod to move freely about it, so
that the scoop and rake may be the better adjusted to any irregularities that may
exist in the retorts, and that too without affecting the independent action of the
scoop and rake.
The cradle of the scoop is a D shaped frame of rod or bar iron or steel, and some-
what longer than the retort and its mouth-piece. To this cradle is attached the
gearing for communicating motion to the scoop, which is much in the usual form.
On the back end or head is fixed a mitre wheel. Geared to this wheel is another,
on the axis of which is a slotted arm, which forms a crank by taking hold of a pin

page_text: fastened to an endless chain or band. This chain or band is passed over a pulley
at each end of the cradle, and is driven through the intervention of the square or
slotted shaft and wheels. It will be seen that in action a forward motion will,
through the pin attached to the endless band, be given to the scoop, which is thus
thrust into the retort, and then through the intervention of the mitre wheels, by
the crank pin passing over or round the pulley, an axial movement to the scoop
given, the coals will be delivered in the retort, and the scoop withdrawn, being
returned to its former position to receive its charge of coals, and receiving again an
axial motion of a half turn through the crank pin passing over the back pulley.
is
The action of the rake for drawing is in principle the same, being sent into the
retort over the coke, and receiving an axial motion (from the workman), thus
thrusting the tool into the coke, which by a return movement is withdrawn; there
is this difference however between the two, the axial motion is independent of the
reciprocating motion, and under the control of the workman, so as to draw any
portion of the charge at will. The rake and its shaft, which is attached near to the
periphery of a cylindrical or annular headstock, and sufficiently less in diameter
than the mouth-piece to secure freedom in working, may be kept cool by a current
of water being made to circulate through the shaft (which for this purpose should
be tubular) from and to the headstock, it being made water-tight for this purpose.
The rake may be also cooled by a stream of water flowing over the same as it with-
draws the coke.
The scoop cradle has attached to it a hopper which carries two scoops, each of the
capacity of a charge of coal. These scoops turn on their axles only, and are for the
purpose of taking the charge for two retorts in the tier of each bed from one bucket
of coal. Thus when the machine is brought into position for receiving the charge,
the bucket is lowered into the hopper, and the bottom of this being hinged, on its
being opened and the bucket made to travel along the hopper, the coal is deposited
in the two scoops ready for filling in succession the charging scoop as it is brought
into position for charging. The hopper scoops being simply turned on their axes,
the coal is discharged into the charging scoop as required.
With this machine-two stacks may be worked face to face, a tier taken on one
side and then each tool and its cradle raised in succession to clear the other to
swing round and to draw and charge a tier upon the opposite side. With such an
arrangement the coal stores may be placed parallel with the beds and immediately
behind the retorts on either one or both sides of the house in the same or separate
buildings. The coke would then be stacked beyond the coal stores or on the
opposite side of the house, if only one store be constructed. The plan of the
machinery in connection with the lift and coal feeders being arranged to suit the
altered general plan. In houses to which the coal is delivered on the ground floor,
a lift is constructed to raise a waggon, into which the coals are shot or delivered,
and then raised by the lift and distributed by means of a waggonway over the
tops of the stores or bunkers, the lift being worked through a winch geared to one
of the shafts running through the house.
The charging and drawing machine is propelled through bevil gearing connecting
the main or square shaft with the axles of the carriage through the major or centre
shaft of the machine. A portable steam engine or combined engines, fed through a
flexible pipe, may be employed for this purpose and for driving the machine, and a
steam lift may be employed for elevating the cradles and their tools; or hydraulic
lifts may be employed in connection with the engine driving shaft for working the
pumps and driving the other parts of the machine, as already described. The lifts,
whether steam or hydraulic, may be used directly under the cradles and take the
place of the nuts and screws and bevil gearing in connection with the major shaft
through which they are actuated and adjusted. Though toothed wheels are described,
grooved wheels and cords may be employed.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily be understood, Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description.

page_text: Sheet 1 is a general plan and Sheet 2 a sectional elevation of the general arrange-
ment of the retort house and machinery.
A horizontal engine is shown for driving, by means of belts, the shafts A for
actuating the coal feeders; B, for driving the travelling machine for charging and
drawing; and C, for working the hoists for coal and coke. The coal having been
deposited in the bunkers D, D, from trucks running over the top direct from a
gantry or raised by the hoist E on the plan, is drawn from the bunkers by circular
diggers F, F, driven from the shaft A by pinions keyed on it and geared into wheels
on the shafts of the "feeders," which shaft may carry any number of "diggers" for
feeding the coal into buckets. These buckets may be of any desirable shape, but
that shown at G is deemed the most convenient, divided into two compartments to
take two charges of coal into the charging machine. For this purpose, hoists
H, H, H, are used to raise the coal from the feeders and for placing the buckets into
position for discharging their contents into the charging machine M, M, M. These
hoists may be of any construction, but it is thought that what is known as "Barker's
Patent Self-landing and Self-delivery Hoist" will be found the most useful and
convenient, having the control of its several motions brought to one handle at I, L
These hoists are driven from the shaft C and are used for raising and carrying the
coke out of the house and depositing it in the coke heap or yard. J, J, are the
buckets for raising the coke to be self delivering, which may be done by any con-
venient method. The most simple is that of landing the bucket upon two pins
attached to the bottom of it and caught by J shaped hangers K, suspended from the
girders of H, the bucket turning on its pins and discharging its coke. These
hangers K, K, are arranged to be shifted to suit the altering position of deposits.
A row of columns run through the middle of the house, supporting one side of
the floor of the same, the other side is carried by cross walls. On the sides of these
columns and ends of the walls are bolted brackets L, L, for carrying the metals or
rails for the charging and drawing machine M, M, M, to travel, on which it is made
to do by being geared to the square shaft B, supported by pendulous bracket bearings
in the usual way. The general plan shows the coal-feeding and charging and
drawing machine as driven by both shafts A, B, and rope A¹, B', either of which
may be employed.
Sheet 3 is for showing by diagrams the adaptability of the machine to the varying
conditions of the retorts.
Fig. 3 is a plan. At A the axes of the retorts are convergent; B, parallel; and at
C, divergent, the machine adapting itself to each condition.
Fig. 4 shows the vertical action of the machine, also its adjustment to a sinking
of the retorts. The former adjustments are effected by turning the two tools, the
rake α, and scoop b, with their cradles and gearing upon the head of the lifts c, and
altering the distances of the centres d, d, as shown by dotted lines, but the latter
action is effected by the lowering or raising of the tools by the lift as the tool
enters and leaves the retort. These two actions may be combined to bring tools for
scurfing or other purposes. into close contact with the whole interior surface of the
retorts.
Fig. 5 illustrates the passing of the one tool over the other.
The machine is shown in plan, side, and end elevations by Sheets 4, 5, and 6.
Similar letters refer to the same parts in these Drawings.
Fig. 6 on Sheet 4 is a plan of the machine with scoop, rake, and their gearing
removed, showing the square shaft a for driving the machine through the wheels
b, c, and d.
Fig 7 is a plan of the machine for being driven by a flying or endless rope. A is
the rope; B1, B2, B3, are the pulleys over which the rope passes for driving the
machine. From pulley B' the traversing motion of the machine is obtained through
the double disc C³, C³, and friction bowl C³, with a worm on its shaft D, D, driving
worm wheel with a pinion gearing into a toothed wheel on axle of carriage wheels.
Pulley B³, by means of bevil gear, drives the main shaft C of the machine. The

page_text: lower portion of this shaft has a bevil wheel keyed, on to which is geared two other
bevil wheels on opposite sides of the main shaft; each of these two wheels is keyed
on to horizontal shafts E, mounted with clutch and loose wheels for the changing
motion required for the screw to raise and lower the tools, which is obtained through
the vertical spindle F and spur wheels G. On the lower end of each screw is
fastened a wheel G¹ which drives the screw H by means of the nut I, carrying the
piston J, J, which with each tool and the whole of its gear is raised, lowered, and
adjusted.
The power for driving the machinery of each tool is obtained from the upper part
of the main shaft, through the spur wheels K, K, driving the secondary shafts L, L,
which, with the wheels M, M, geared to each tool, are raised and lowered with the
lift by the brackets N, N, keyed on to the cylindrical piston. These shafts are
grooved, and work through feathered bushes or fillbores which revolve in their seats
with the shafts; thus it will be seen that each tool has an independent vertical
action for adjustment to retorts, and that motion for working the tools is carried to
the same through the rising and falling shafts. The spur wheels M, M, keyed on to
these shafts, drive the double wheels O, O, bushed on the cylinders and geared to
the bevil wheels by the spindle P and spur wheels; through the bevil wheels and
clutch, on the small shafts, change of motion is obtained for driving and reversing
the two tools, and by means of belts, ropes, or pitch chain R, R, over the pulleys;
on these small shafts and pullies or sheaves, at the rear of the tools, the motion is
conveyed to the endless bands or chains T, T. The cradle S, S, S, carries the
sheaves at each end for the endless chains T, T, for driving the scoop and rake into
and withdrawing them from the retorts. To this point the action of the two tools
are alike, but here they diverge. In that of the scoop the axial motion for turning
the scoop to deliver the charge of coal into the retort is connected with the travelling
motion of the scoop, but the rake tool has an independent axial motion, and under
the control of the workman. This motion is obtained through the chain U, U, and
pulley V, keyed on to the axial shaft V, which is supported by pedestal W at the
rear and disc W₁ at the fore part of cradle. As the rake shaft is passed through
this disc, and attached at the rear end by the arm X to the axial shaft V', along
which it is free to travel, and as this arm is keyed to a fillbore working in a clutch
or fork X' on either side of the arm, which clutch or fork is fastened to the endless
chains T, giving the to-and-fro motion of the rake, it follows that the two motions
necessary for drawing the charge are entirely under control. The rake blade being
passed over the coke can be made to enter it at any distance from the mouth-piece
by receiving the axial motion, and the stroke of rake being reversed by change of
motion by the bevil wheels. The axial motion of the scoop is given by the bevil
wheels at the scoop head; one is keyed on to the shaft of the scoop, and is geared
into the other, which is keyed on to the cross shaft Y, and carried by the slide Z
working in the cradle. This shaft carries a crank arm Z¹ and pin, the pin being
fastened to the endless chains T for driving the scoop. The action is as follows:-
The scoop having received its charge is carried forward into the retort, and the
motion being continued the chain passes round the sheave, carrying with it the
crank;
the forward motion of the scoop is thus changed into a circular one, the
scoop receiving a half turn, and then being withdrawn by a continuation of the
same motion of the endless chain which continued carries the crank pin round the
rear sheave, and gives the whole revolution of the scoop, returning it to its former
position ready for receiving a charge. As it is desirable that the centre of sheave
and crank shaft should be coincident a more determinate action will be obtained
by having two stops in slide for the crank to abut against in commencing each
stroke, and to be released or withdrawn by fixed guides just as the circular motion
commences.
An enlarged view of this self-locking arrangement is shown on Sheet 6, Fig. 11;
Y is the cross shaft, and Z¹ the crank arm, and the slide Z carries the two hinged
catches Z³, Z. As the slide is driven to the two ends of the cradle S, S, Fig. 10,

page_text: these catches slide up wedged-shape pieces of metal Z³, as shown dotted in Fig. 11,
and relieve the stops, allowing the crank and wheels to make half a revolution
when the crank pin is again locked and the slide carried along its cradle. The two
tools have not only the power of vertical and radial adjustment and hence axial
adjustment, but also the power of adjusting the distances between the two centres
of tools, as shown in plan, Sheet 3. The arrangement for this purpose is a slide a,
Fig. 8, and Fig. 9, fixed to the top of rake lift, as shown on Sheets 4 and 5, and is
in construction similar to the slide rest of a lathe. The bed of the slide is attached
to the head of the lift, and the slide which carries the tool is actuated by a screw
and handle b, the whole of the work remains in gear through the shaft c being
lengthened to allow the pulleys the necessary transverse motion.
The platform d, d, d, d, in Figs. 7, 9, and 10, is carried by a light, but stiff
framing e, e, Figs. 7 and 10, bolted to the carriage of the machine. The platform
frame carries four rollers or wheels d¹ which assist in supporting and steadying the
machine.
-
On Sheet 6, Fig. 12, is shown a hopper attached to the cradle S, S. The hopper
A, A., is made of thin sheet iron on a frame of angle iron, and carries two scoops
B, B, supported by pins at their ends, on to which are keyed the sectors C, actuated
by the pinions D, which are moved by a chain round their shaft. This hopper
arrangement is for receiving two charges of coal direct from the coal bucket, sup-
ported by the hoist as carried along the top of the hopper delivering the charge.
This hopper may, however, be dispensed with, and the coal delivered direct into the
charging scoop if the coal bucket be constructed of sufficient length, with two
divisions, and provision made for delivering the two charges separately. The form
of bucket in position for filling and also for delivery is shown on Sheets 1 and 2 ;
cach of these buckets, vessels, or hoppers when in position is readily carried to its
position by the arms a, a, as the machine travels along the house, and is kept in
its position by being carried beyond its point of suspension, the weight of bucket
and contents hanging against the arms till the charges be delivered, when the bucket
is raised out of the way by the hoist.
The details of machinery for filling the buckets with coal are given on Sheet 7;
Fig. 13, is an end view; 14, a front view; and 15, a plan of "coal feeders" driven
by rope. A is the rope; B, B, pullies; and B¹, pulleys and frame for throwing in
and out of gear. On the spindle of B is a worm for driving its wheel B³, which is
keyed on to the shaft D, D, D, on which are keyed the diggers E, E, E, E; Figs. 16
and 17 give an enlarged view of shaft and digger, also an eccentric which, however,
might be for cheapness cast as a hub with the digger. The eccentrics are for
carrying bars along the bottom of coal bunkers to agitate the coal and feed it to
the diggers, the diggers and agitators breaking up the large coal and delivering it
on to the incline and shoot N, as shown on Sheet 2, which distributes it equally
along the bucket.
Figs. 18 and 19 are end and front views; and Fig. 20 is a plan of diggers driven
by shaft and spur gear.
Here the diggers are shown without agitators, but either
may be used separately or together, and as extended for a long bucket as at Fig. 14,
or for a shorter one, as at Fig. 19; in the latter case a long bucket may be used
and made to travel along under and in front of the feeder.
The node of working the whole machine is as follows:-The shaft or rope for
driving the feeders being set in motion, a bucket is filled with two charges of coal,
and lifted by hoist and put into position in front of each bed to be charged.
Assuming that the retorts have been charged and the charges worked off, the
machine has its tools adjusted by the screw lifts to the tier of retorts to be taken,
and is then run into position for drawing. The drawing is done by its attendant
on the drawing platform by passing the rake into the retort over the top of the
charge, giving it an axial motion and reversing at the same time, thus pressing the
rake blade into the coke, and withdrawing any desired portion of the charge, and
repeating the operation as often as necessary for the clearing of the retort. The

page_text: charge being drawn the machine is moved on, and the scoop brought into position
for charging; this carries also the rake into position again for the next retort, as the
retorts are at equal distances all along the house, and the centres of the two tools
are also equal; but if the retorts are not so set or get out of truth in working, the
slide may be used for adjustment.
In adjusting the machine for charging, the arms on cradle of scoop, if no hopper
is used, carry the coal bucket into position for delivering its charges. The attendant
of charging tool then delivers a charge into the scoop direct from the bucket, the
Бсоор is then driven into the retort, and arriving at the full extent of its travel,
receives its axial motion, then returns into its cradle, completes the one revolution,
and is ready to receive the next charge, which is then delivered, the bucket raised,
and the machine moved on to the next retort, and so till the whole of a tier of retorts
is taken.
If in working it is desired to take the retorts vertically in succession instead of
horizontally, or to suit other arrangements of delivering the coal into the scoop, a
quicker and more direct action for such purposes will be found in a steam or water
lift, dispensing with the screw, nut, and wheels, and using piston and cylinder or
rain in their place, driving the main vertical shaft for giving motion to the other
portions of the machine direct by steam or water; or the rope or shaft may be used
for transmitting the motive power and pumps geared to the main shaft of the
machine for driving the rams or lifts. The retorts having been taken either through
a whole tier or sufficiently in advance to work the coal and coke buckets, the empty
coal buckets are lowered for filling, and the hoists used to lift and carry the coke
from the house, the empty buckets being returned to their places to receive the next
charges. The buckets of coal are then raised into position, and left suspended along
the house ready to deliver their charges as the machine again travels along the
house, and so on in succession.
It will be observed that by such arrangement of working, the time occupied by
the operations of drawing and charging is reduced to a minimum, as the work in
connection with these operations during their progress is reduced to the lowest
possible amount. The charge of each bed is ready to be delivered into the scoop,
and the coke is delivered into buckets to be removed after the work of drawing and
charging is over, or drawn into waggons under the retort house floor in the usual
way, or the work may be done in both ways. It is evident however that with this
system of delivering the coke by overhead gear that the labour of stacking is
avoided, and that there will be less breeze made. There will also be less chance of
a break-down by such a division of the work, the coal charges being got ready
before the drawing and charging commences, these operations then being next effected,
and then the coke removed.
Again, if there be a break-down in coal feeders during the progress of this work,
time can be given for repairs, and so of the machine proper; if there be a break-
down with this, the coal charges are ready for delivery into ordinary hand scoops,
and the retorts may be charged in the usual way.
The general design of the machine is such that the several parts may, by being
duplicated, be replaced with the least possible delay; thus, if there be a break-down
in either of the two tools, it may be at once removed with the whole of its gear
from the head of its lift and the other mounted; the same with regard to the lifts;
they are adjusted to the tier to be taken before the work is commenced, and it is
thought that in practice no further adjustment will be necessary; but if it should,
another screw and piston can be fixed in a very short time, or if there be a break-
down in the lift of either tool, it may be placed on the other lift.
Though the machine is shown below the floor line of the retort house, yet it is
obvious the same general arrangement of machinery may be placed in suitable
framing, and made to travel on or over the floor of the house.
A modification of the machine may be made by placing the two tools on one slide
and lift; also a slide may be used with both or one tool, though the Drawings show

page_text: but a slide under the rake. The rake too may be carried by a cylinder, and mounted
in a cradle, and actuated in the same or a similar manner to the scoop, the rake
receiving its axial motion direct from the driving power; and for the drawing of D's
or oval retorts or ovens, the rake with its cradle, as shown, may be constructed to
turn on horizontal axis to allow the rake to pass over the coke, then be depressed
to enter the coke for its withdrawal; or double, or duplex, or combined rakes may
be used, with their blades turning together or in opposite directions, the axial shafts
being geared together. Double scoops may be also used, and actuated in the manner
described; or the lift and cradle with guides may be used for charging by a travelling
carriage, as in the system known as West's.
Though the tools are kept in their position on the heads of lift by a simple
tightening screw when adjusted by hand, yet a worm attached to the cradle of each
with a handle for turning the worm geared into a worm wheel on piston head will
give the power of adjustment by mechanical means, and dispense with the tightening
screws. The nut of screw is kept from turning by a square on end of piston,
socketted into the nut.
The handles, rods, levers, &c., for actuating the clutches and for starting and
stopping the machines are not shown, for the purpose of avoiding confusion.
To place the machine above the floor, so as to travel on a gantry or rail, the whole
machine could be inverted by the necessary alterations being made for support of
screw and shafts, and the necessary modification for the altered positions of working,
a hopper being placed alongside of scoop to feed them, the carriage also being
altered to travel on rails against the mouth-pieces and at the rear of the tools, or by
framing of platform.
For travelling on the floor the side of cylinder should be slotted, the piston dis-
pensed with, and the nuts made to carry the tools direct, sliding up and down the
side of the cylinder. In this case the shafts for actuating the tools would commu-
nicate their motion through fillbores made to slide up and down the shafts with the
tools, the whole being mounted on a suitable carriage,
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise
details or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this
Invention, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
The general arrangement of the whole of the combined machinery herein
described, whereby the coal is fed into buckets, tubs, or vessels, raised from bunkers,
and discharged into a scoop directly or through the intervention of other scoops,
and then deposited in the retorts; the withdrawal of the coke into tubs or vessels,
and the lifting or carrying of it from the house and depositing of it in the coke yard,
as herein-before described, and shown on the Drawings.
The revolving or combined revolving and reciprocating machine for feeding the
coal, as herein described, and shown on the Drawings.
The combined charging and drawing machine, with its carriage and driving
imachinery placed beneath the floor line of the retort house, as herein described, and
shown on the Drawings.
The construction of a charging and drawing machine with slides for altering the
relative positions of the centres of the two tools so as to adapt them to retorts with
centres not in the same vertical line.
The construction of machines with scoop and rake mounted and actuated, as
described, from a shaft common to both, and with the power of separate and inde-
pendent action and adjustment, each tool being actuated from its own centre of
support and action, and free to turn on the same, and to rise and fall to suit the
several tiers of retorts, as herein described, and shown on the Drawings.

page_text: The construction of machines with direct action steam or hydraulic lifts in sub-
stitution of the nuts and screws, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William John Warner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. J. WARNER. (LS.)