Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SIECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Charging and Drawing
Gas Retorts.
I, LEON SYXTUS D'ISZORO, of Grove Mount Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention consists in improved machinery or apparatus for charging and
drawing gas retorts and has for its principal object the saving of manual labour,
and facilitating such labour whilst performing the work, and to distribute the coaĺ
as evenly as possible in charging the retort and consequently to facilitate its
carbonization.
For this purpose I employ a scoop which has the shape of a rectangular box
open at the top with a loose sliding bottom. This bottom consists preferably of a
plain plate strengthened with a longitudinal web in the middle and may be made in
cross-section of an elliptical, oval or a semi-circular form, according to the shape of
the retort. The body of this scoop is formed of sides and ends holding the necessary
quantity of coal, which will drop when the bottom is withdrawn. To make it
work satisfactorily, I intersect the body of the scoop with a number of cross
bars, which I have placed high enough to be clear of the coal charged into
the retort when pulling out the body of the scoop from the retort and to
these bars I hinge plates which will swing inwards but not outwards, so
that when pulling out the bottom of the scoop they will be firm, and hold
the coal so that it drops upon the bottom of the retort, but when withdrawing
the body of the scoop the hinged plates will swing back and thus come out easily
with the said body of the scoop. For performing the operations of inserting the
filled scoop into the different retorts, withdrawing the bottom and subsequently the
body of the scoop mechanically, I use the following arrangements:
I arrange a prismatical principal frame, high enough to allow the scoop to
work in it from the lowest to the highest retort, and resting on four wheels which
may be flanged on both sides, or only on one, or plain, according to the kind of
These may
rails used, and which carries the mechanisms for operating the scoop.
be worked by means of hydraulic, or steam, or other power, but are preferably
driven by means of a rope or ropes. For this purpose arrange the driving
motion on the top of the said principal frame, hereinafter called machine frame, in
the following manner:
In the retort house, longitudinally and parallel to the mouth pieces of the
retorts I arrange an endless rope (or ropes) which at one end of the house
passes over a driving pulley receiving a rotary motion from steam or other
engines, and at the other end of the retort house passes over a set of carrier
pulleys and is provided with pulleys and mechanism for tension, so as to keep
the said rope (or ropes) tight automatically. One side of this rope passes
over three rope pulleys placed vertically on horizontal shafts on the top of
the machine frame. The two outer pulleys are carrier pulleys, while the
middle one serves for driving purposes. The rope passes underneath the carrier
pulleys and over the driving one, or vice versa, the carrier pulleys being
so placed as to give enough of working surface of rope on the driving pulley.
In this way the general continuous motion for the machine is secured.
The driving pulley is keyed on a horizontal shaft, hereinafter called first
motion shaft, and which revolves in pedestals on brackets or hangers secured
to the top of the machine frame. Upon the end of the first motion shaft a bevel
wheel is fixed which works two other bevel wheels running loose on the second

page_text: motion shaft, hereinafter called the top cross shaft, which revolves in pedestals on
brackets secured to the machine frame. These two bevel wheels and the top shaft
I provide either with patent or common friction clutches, and by engaging these
with one or the other of the said two bevel wheels, the top cross shaft will be driven
alternatively in one or the other direction, and will be at rest if both wheels are
disengaged from their respective clutches. The motion of this top cross shaft
is utilised to work the scoop up and down; to take it into the retort and out; and
to move the whole machine either way-longitudinally-in the retort house. On
one end of the top cross shaft I secure a bevel wheel which gears with two more
bevel wheels, one on an upright shaft and the other one on a horizontal shaft on
the top of the machine. Both these bevel wheels are running loose on their
respective shafts and are provided also with clutches. The top cross shaft by
means of these clutches may drive either the horizontal or the upright shaft. If
the horizontal shaft is set to work, it will, according to the rotation of the top cross
shaft, either lift or lower the scoop with the whole of its attached mechanism. If
the upright shaft is started, it will, according to the rotation of the top cross-shaft,
either move the scoop into the retort or withdraw it from the retort. The upright
shaft furthermore transmits the power to a bottom horizontal shaft of the machine
and by means of which the machine may be propelled-longitudinally-in the
retort house in either lirection. The lifting up and lowering of the scoop is
effected as follows:
The said horizontal shaft on the top of the machine frame is provided at
both ends with worms, each driving a worm wheel. The worm wheels are secured
on shafts carrying barrels for chains or ropes by means of which the scoop guide
hereinafter described and consequently the scoop itself is lifted up or lowered.
One of the shafts with worm wheel and barrel revolves in pedestals on the top of
the machine frame on the end nearest to the retort mouths, the other on the end
farthest from the retort mouths. The ropes or chains, of which there may be one
or two on each end of the machine, are attached with their top ends to the barrels
and with their other ends to the scoop guide. The latter are provided with screws
for adjusting the scoop guide with the scoop and attached mechanism to their
correct position. When the top horizontal shaft with the worms is rotated in the
manner herein before described the worm wheels and barrels will also be rotated, and,
according to the direction of the motion, will either wind or unwind the ropes or
chains on the barrels, and consequently either lift or lower the scoop guide, the
scoop, and the mechanism attached to it.
The motion of the scoop into and out of the retort is effected as follows:
The above described upright shaft is provided with a groove or key bed
long enough for the required vertical lift of the scoop. On this shaft is placed
a helical pinion, with a key fixed in it, which slides in the groove in the upright
shaft, and by means of which the pinion is driven when the upright shaft is in
motion. This pinion gears with a helical wheel on the scoop driving shaft, which
is carried by means of brackets secured to the scoop guide. One of these brackets
is provided with a branch to hold the pinion on the upright shaft, and keep it in
gear with the wheel on the scoop shaft. The said brackets have on each side of
the scoop guide studs fixed to them on which chain wheels are mounted. The
chain wheels are attached to spur wheels, which gear with another pair of spur
wheels fixed on the scoop driving shaft. This arrangement is at the farthest end
of the scoop guide from the retorts mouth. On the nearest end to the retorts
mouth, the scoop guide carries on each side a bracket with stud for a carrier chain
wheel here, also, provision is made for tension screws, so that when the chain,
rope or strap is stretched over the so-placed chain wheels (or pulleys), it may be
tightened by tension screws as required. When the upright shaft is in motion the
above described helical pinion will, through the helical wheel, rotate the scoop
driving shaft, and by means of the spur wheels also will drive the chain wheels and
with them the chain itself; which works- the scoop in the manner hereinafter
described.

page_text: The
The scoop guide is formed of two H irons-one on each side of the scoop-
braced together at each end. The scoop is formed as hereinbefore described of two
parts the sides with the hinged plates, and the loose bottom. The sides of the
scoop are secured to a special saddle shaped frame, hereinafter called inside
carriage which is provided with four wheels or rollers, two on each side working
in the interior of the scoop guide, thus permitting this part of the scoop to be
pushed or rolled forward and backward into the retort with great ease.
bottom of the scoop with its web in the middle as above described is secured to
another frame, hereinafter called outside carriage, which is placed below the inside
carriage and is provided also with four wheels or pulleys, viz. two on each side of
it, but arranged to work in the H iron on the exterior of the scoop guide, so that
this part also may be pushed or rolled into a retort and withdrawn from it
with great case. I further provide the front end (nearest to the retorts mouth)
of the scoop guide with rollers on which the scoop rests when it is charged
with coals.
From the preceding description it will have been understood that the sides
of the scoop serve to hold the necessary quantity of coal, whilst the bottom of the
scoop serves to hold and also to empty it, hence they must be pushed together in
the retort, but the sides secured to the inside carriage must stay in the retort till
the bottom of the scoop is withdrawn and the coal emptied into the retort. The
mechanism devised to perform this operation is of the following character: I let
the sides of the scoop with its inside carriage be pushed into the retort by the
outside carriage. Each of the above described chains on the scoop guide is
provided with two lugs, dogs or drivers at a convenient distance one from the other.
When the scoop is drawn back and at rest, one pair of these lugs on the lower side
of the chains is approximately opposite to the chain wheels at the back end of the
scoop guide. The outside carriage is provided with fast catches, sliding catches
and levers connected to the latter. When the scoop is at rest, the catches
permanently fixed to the outside carriage at the back of the chain wheels farthest
from the retort mouth, and reach up to the upper side of the chain, while the
sliding catches are placed in front of the chain wheel, one projecting on each side
of the scoop on the level of the lower side of the chain and guided at their outer
ends in slots provided for that purpose in the outside carriage, and with their
inner ends in a bracket which is secured in the middle of the same carriage. The
said levers to work these sliding catches rock on pins in this bracket or in separate
brackets and are connected with their bottom ends to their respective sliding catches
and with their upper ends reach to the inside carriage, where eventually they come
into contact with fast cams fixed to this carriage. "When the scoop shaft is set to
work the chain wheels driven by the spur wheels will also revolve, and the chains
with their hugs on the lower side of the chain which were between the sliding
catches and the fast catches encounter and push the sliding catches and with them
the combined scoop into the retort till they reach the chain wheels near the retorts
mouth. The stroke of the scoop being then completed the lugs leave the sliding
catches passing with the chains round the chain wheels to the upper side and meet
directly the fast catches at the back end of the outside carriage. By these means
they withdraw the bottom of the scoop from the retort and bring it to its position
of rest. Whilst this is done the sliding catches are drawn inside of the carriage by
means of the levers encountering the cams fixed to the inside carriage. Thus when
the bottom of the scoop is brought to rest, the chain lugs cannot take hold of these
sliding catches, which are now drawn in, and pass them. Meantime the other pair
of lugs on the chains seize the inside carriage and sides of the scoop, in the manner
hereinafter described, and bring it to its place of rest, when the cams on the inside
carriage push the sliding catches of the outside carriage out again and make them
ready for further work.
The inside carriage is operated in the following manner: When the combined
scoop reaches its required distance in the retort, catches on the top part of the
scoop, which may be sliding or hinged, take hold of the scoop guide, which is

page_text: provided with notches for that purpose, and the scoop sides will rest so till the
bottom is withdrawn. As soon as the bottom is withdrawn from the retort with
the one pair of chain lngs, the other pair of lugs encounters the said catches,
detaches them from the notches, and by their means brings the inside carriage with
the scoop sides etc., back to its primitive position of rest, where again the combined
scoop is ready to receive a fresh charge of coal. But before the said inside carriage
came quite to its rest, it brings as before described, with its fast cams, the sliding
catches on the outside carriage into working order, and also returns its own
moveable catches to their original position by means of a cam which for that
purpose is affixed to the outside carriage. At the same time another cam throws
the machine out of gear and stops it in the manner hereinafter described.
It will be seen from the preceding description that the chains always revolve in
the same direction, one pair of lugs pushing in the combined scoop by the sliding
catches of the outside carriage, and then withdrawing the latter and scoop bottom
by the catches fixed to it, after which the other pair of lugs draws the inside
carriage and scoop sides back by the moveable catches arranged on the same,
the moveable catches on each carriage being returned to their positions by
cams fixed to the other carriage. This uniform motion of the chains and automatic
reversal of the scoop motions is of the greatest importance, as the operator
need not keep watch continually on the reversing motion, and saves wear and
tear of the machine parts.
:
For
In the general description of the motion I pointed out that the upright shaft
serves for two different purposes, viz. to give the necessary motion for the scoop,
and also to traverse the whole machine longitudinally in the retorts house.
the purpose of traversing the machine, I secure on the bottom end of the upright
shaft a helical pinion which gears with a helical wheel on a bottom cross-shaft; on
this cross shaft is secured a worm or bevel wheel which again works another worm
or bevel wheel keyed on the bottom horizontal shaft on this shaft are keyed two
flanged wheels, one on each end of it, being two of the four on which the whole
machine rests; consequently when they are set to revolve, and according to the
direction of their rotation the machine will be transported in one or the other
direction. In order that the operator cannot possibly confound the longitudinal
motion with the scoop motion, I arrange the following mechanism: I provide the
helical wheel on the scoop driving shaft with a clutch, as well as the helical wheel
on the bottom cross shaft with a clutch, and in such a manner that they may be
both at the same time kept out of gear, but when one is in gear the other one will
be out of gear. For that purpose I put in proximity and parallel to the said
upright shaft another smaller shaft provided for its whole length with a groove or
key bed. On this shaft I place a hand lever with a fast key in it which can slide
easily up and down on this shaft. This lever which is made to work the clutch of
the helical wheel on the scoop shaft, is conveniently secured to the same bracket
that holds the helical pinion of the vertical shaft, and consequently will be always
in proximity of the scoop, in whatever position this may be. This will facilitate
the operator in controlling the machine. To this hand lever a link or bar is
attached which serves to check this lever, being so arranged that when the scoop
is out of the retort, the operator can move with the hand lever as he likes; he
may set to work the scoop, or to work the longitudinal motion, but as soon as the
scoop enters the retort, and until it comes back from it the said link will hold the
lever and by this means the confusion of the motions, and consequently accidents
which otherwise may occur, will be prevented. On the bottom of the same small
upright shaft is another lever secured which has to work the clutch of the helical
wheel on the bottom cross shaft. This lever, which is set contrary to the upper
one, may be provided also with a handle so that when the scoop and all its
mechanism is in the highest position and the operator on the ground, he can then
use the lower lever for the purpose of moving the machine in the retort house
longitudinally. The clutch on the bottom cross-shaft is preferably a double or two
sided one, one side serving to drive the helical wheel, whilst the other side. which

page_text: by coming into contact with a special bracket, serves as a brake on the longitudinal
motion of the machine. The bottom cross shaft is supported on the machine frame
by means of two brackets, one of these brackets, herein called special bracket, is
provided on the side towards the double clutch with teeth and the side of double
clutch toward the special bracket is likewise provided with teeth, whilst the other
side of the double clutch, that towards the helical wheel, may be a toothed or friction
clutch the double clutch being placed between the special bracket and helical
wheel. The lever for working the clutch of the scoop driving shaft, and the other
lever for working the double clutch on the bottom cross shaft, being placed on the
same upright shaft but opposite to each other, as above described, it follows that if
by moving the lever one way the operator engages one clutch say to work the
scoop, he also turns the shaft on which the levers are placed, and consequently
the lower lever does not only disengage the clutch from the helical wheel on the
bottom cross shaft, but also pushes this clutch towards the special bracket. As
this bracket is fixed, and the clutch is playing on a key which is fast in the
cross bottom shaft, this shaft becomes locked, and consequently the whole
longitudinal motion with it.
For controlling the reversing motion on the top cross shaft, I arrange the
following mechanism :-
On the top cross shaft or second motion shaft, a double friction clutch is, as
hereinbefore described, placed between two bevel wheels, which are running loose
on the same shaft. I make this shaft hollow and provide it with slots through
it where the double clutch is placed. From one end of the said shaft I insert
into it a rod which has also a slot to receive a cottar, by means of which I secure
the clutch to this rod, but in such a manner that the cottar will work easily in
the slots made in the shaft. By pulling this rod the clutch also will be displaced
and consequently will set either one or the other wheel to work. The end of the
rod projecting from the shaft I provide with a grooved coupling for a lever to
work in. This lever is keyed on the end of a shaft carried in brackets secured to
the machine frame; on the other end of this shaft another lever is fixed to the end
of which an upright rod is connected at its upper end and slides with its lower
end freely in a bracket fixed to the machine frame. By this means the operator
can easily reverse the motion by taking hold simply of the upright rod and moving
it up or down, and consequently throwing the second motion shaft clutch into gear
either with one bevel wheel or the other; or he can stop entirely by placing it in
the middle between the two bevel wheels.
For the setting in motion either the upright or the top horizontal shaft with its
worms etc., I make the following provision: As hereinbefore described, the bevel
wheels on the horizontal shaft as well as on the upright shaft are running loose and
are driven by clutches working easily on keys fixed in their respective shafts, each
clutch being provided with a grooved coupling to receive a lever. The levers are
set at convenient angles to each other on a shaft carried in brackets fixed to
the machine frame. On the same shaft is placed another lever to which an
upright rod is connected. This upright rod affords the same facilities to the
operator as the one hereinbefore described by moving the rod one way he sets in
motion the upright shaft and disengages the horizontal shaft, and by moving it
the other way he starts the horizontal shaft and disengages the upright shaft. The
rods or levers may be provided with springs or other means so as to hold the
clutches in one gear or the other or both clutches out of gear.
For charging the scoop with coals, I arrange the following mechanism: Icon-
struct the hopper of convenient shape and large enough to hold a quantity of coal
for several scoops. This hopper is placed above the scoop but affixed to the scoop
guide and in such a manner that it may be moved up and down with the whole
mechanism of the scoop. To keep the hopper steady and make it work easily up
and down, I provide it with grooved or flanged pulleys on its back or front, or at
all its corners, which pulleys work on the uprights of the machine frame. The
bottom of the hopper is left open according to the requirement of the charge,

page_text: and is tapered from back and both sides under an angle that will permit the coal
to slide into the scoop. The hopper thus constructed is provided with sliding or
rolling doors which, when withdrawn, allow the coal to drop from the hopper into
the scoop. The hopper is secured to the scoop frame by means of brackets which
are provided with grooves to receive the sliding doors, the doors may be provided
with rollers, so as to facilitate their working. To open and shut the doors
automatically three different arrangements may be used, namely, firstly, by fixing
lugs or catches to the sliding doors, and the other lugs or tappets for working the
door lugs to the scoop; secondly, by securing to the sliding door rods which pass
along the scoop, and projections, tappets or loops to the scoop, by means of which
the rods, and consequently the doors may be opened and shut; thirdly, by stretching
a chain or rope along the scoop and attaching the ends of the same to the sliding
doors and consequently by pulling one way or the other the door will be shut or
opened. I prefer the first arrangement with a convenient number of catches,
which may be considered as most practical, and which works as follows: Four
catches are attached to the sliding door, viz. two for opening and two for closing
(or only one for opening and one for closing). Similarly four lugs or tappets are
attached to the scoop, two of them on the front end of the scoop and to the top
part of it, for opening the sliding doors, and two other cams to the bottom part of
the scoop and in its rear for shutting the door. When the scoop is in its primitive
position or entirely at rest, the sliding door, which, being on the very front end of
the scoop, is open and this part of the scoop is consequently filled up with coals
from the hopper, and as soon as the scoop is set in motion to go into the retort it
will be also gradually filled up with coals. When the required length of the scoop
has been filled and before it has been quite filled up, the tappets on the bottom part
of the scoop gradually push the sliding door by means of its catches till the
⚫ admission of coal is quite shut off. Here the catches give way, the scoop completes
its full stroke into the retort and after having emptied its charge comes back, but
before it comes to its primitive position of rest, it opens again the sliding door
with the tappets of the top part of the scoop as above described, and lets the coal
drop again into the scoop. The front of the hopper is provided with a cut-out or
opening in such a manner that it will just permit the coal in the scoop to pass
through, and thus will regulate and give an even charge of coal to the scoop, and
also will prevent the door jamming against the coal or front of the hopper, which
otherwise might occur, especially when using large lumps of coal.
In the second place my invention relates to the machinery for drawing coke from
gas retorts mechanically. The apparatus consists of similar arrangements as
described for charging machine, namely: of the general machine frame and also
the general driving motion, but instead of the scoop for charging, a rake for
drawing is here arranged. The rake guide which is suspended here in similar
manner as the scoop guide, is a double one; the outside frame is made of two bars
of convenient section of steel or iron which are braced together, and suspended
by ropes or chains similarly as described with reference to the scoop guide. The
inside or swivel frame is formed of two channel irons which are braced together
with their flanges inward for the rake carriage to work in. In or about the middle
of its length this guide is suspended on a pin or pins attached to the outside frame,
so that it can swivel in the outside frame. The front end of the swivel frame
is provided with brackets and tension tackle for chain wheels, and the back end
of this frame, or the end farthest from the retort is provided also with brackets
carrying the rake driving shaft with chain wheels and also a helical wheel which
receives motion from the upright shaft, similarly as in the charging machine. When
the chain or chains are stretched over these chain wheels, and tightened by means
of the said tension tackle, a carriage is secured to the chain and by setting the
rake driving shaft in motion either one way or the other the rake carriage will be
worked forward or backward. The rake carriage is constructed from suitable
material and is provided with four wheels or rollers, two on each side, to work in
the swivel frame. To this rake carriage 1 secure a rake bar long enough, according

page_text: to the length of the retort, and which may be in one piece or more, and with a
loose or removeable hook or head. By setting the rake carriage in motiontoward
the retort the rake is also inserted into the retort and by pulling back it will be
withdrawn, bringing with it whatever quantities of coke is desired to be drawn
from the retort. This is effected in the following way: On the swivel frame at
the farthest end from the retort is secured a rake driving shaft, with driving chain
wheels and a helical wheel on it; this helical wheel is worked from the upright
shaft and a helical pinion on it, which pinion works similarly as the one on the
charging machine, and is held by means of brackets on the fast or suspended
frame. Hence if the upright shaft is set in motion, and with it the pinion on it-
in one way or the other, the helical wheel with the rake driving shaft will also
rotate either one way or the other, but as the pinion is secured to the suspended
frame and consequently is firm, while the helical wheel is working up and down
with the hinged or swivel frame, the pinion will perform each time double work,
Biz being helical or worm shaped it will at first pull up or push down the wheel
and its swivel frame. But as the swivel frame is provided with stops so as to swivel
only the required vertical stroke, the pinion after, say, pushing down the frame at
the back still continuing to run the same way, will next insert the rake into the
retort and when the motion is reversed it will pull up the back end of swivel frame
and withdraw the coke from the retort. For as above stated, the frame is hinged
in the middle and consequently if one end is pushed down the other end will be
lifted up.
The direction of working may be determined by making the wheel
and pinion either left or right hand, and setting the rake carriage to work either
with the top or bottom side of the chain. In some cases, e.g., when the retorts
are very near to the ground another shaft may be arranged on the swivel frame
parallel to the rake driving shaft and connected to it by means of spur wheels, and
this shaft may carry the helical wheel.
In cases where the retorts are very shallow 1 arrange mechanism by which the
head of the rake whilst entering into the retort will be almost horizontal either
way, ie, either toward the front or the back, but as soon as it reaches the required
distance in the retort, and just before the reversed motion starts to work the rake
carriage and rake backward, the said rake head will take automatically its vertical
position in the retort, and consequently by pulling it out from the retort it will
withdraw the coke. This arrangement is as follows: The rake bar or holder of
the rake head may be made of tubes, channel iron, or any other convenient section,
with one end attached to the carriage and on the other end carrying the rake head.
The rake head which is made of hard metal, is provided with lugs for hinging
purposes. The rake bar is provided on the end to which the rake head is to be
affixed, with brackets in which the lugs of the rake head swivel or hinge. Either
above or below the fulcrum of the rake head a rod is connected to the same
extending lengthways of the rake bar. This rod is connected at its extreme end
from the retort, by means of levers and links, or their equivalent, to a lever sliding
on a longitudinal shaft in the swivel rake frame and parallel with it, in such a
manner, that the oscillation of this shaft produces a corresponding oscillation of the
rake head. This shaft, which may be termed the rocking shaft, is provided for
the whole of its length with a groove or key bed, and on its extreme end with a
lever for working it. The said levers and links, or their equivalent, which connect
the rake rod with the rocking shaft are secured by means of a common bracket to
the rake carriage or directly to the rake bar, the bracket embracing the rocking
shaft and holding the sliding lever, which is provided with a fixed key sliding in
the groove of the rocking shaft, so that if the rocking shaft is twisted either one
way or the other, it works also the levers, rake rod, and consequently the rake head
in any position of the latter. The rocking shaft is secured on both ends by means
of brackets to the swivel frame, and in the middle I make provision so as to prevent
vibration and deflection of it. The lever on the end of the rocking shaft farthest
from the retorts mouth may be worked automatically by connecting same by means

page_text: of links to the firm or suspended frame or to the hand or operator's lever. Now
when the extreme end of the hinged frame goes up it also actuates the rocking
shaft, because the rocking shaft as above stated will work up and down with it,
but having secured on its end the described lever, which being connected to some
firm part of the machine, naturally will work or twist the rocking shaft and as
according to the working up or down of the hinged frame, the rocking shaft will
work also either one way or the other, consequently the rake head will also be
worked by these means.
The divers reversing motions here are similarly arranged as those of the
charging machine, only concerning the rake driving shaft I make a certain
alteration, viz. as above described the rake driving shaft works up and down;
consequently its driving helical wheel with the clutch will also work with it.
Hence to be able to command the clutch in its different positions I make the fork
operating the clutch long enough to answer the required purpose. The said fork
is mounted vertically in the hand lever and in such a manner that it can swivel.
The said hand lever which is here secured similarly as on the charging machine is
made in two pieces. The first piece mounted on the small vertical shaft contains the
socket for the said clutch fork and beyond this a pin by which the other part of
the lever is hinged to it so as to be able to oscillate vertically, so that the first
part can work horizontally only, whilst the outer part can work horizontally and
also vertically, and thus one handle serves to give motions in both directions. The
horizontal movement of the lever serves to engage or disengage the rake driving
shaft by means of the clutch and the helical wheel, whilst the vertical movement
of the lever serves to give the reversing motion to the rake, the combination for
the latter purpose being of the following character:
The upright rod for working the reversing motion on the second motion or top
cross shaft is provided with a sliding clip, which may be locked by means of a
screw either automatically or by hand to the said upright rod. This clip is con-
nected either directly or by means of intermediate parts to the outer part of the
said combined hand lever, thus by moving the said outer part up or down the
upright rod will be moved also, and consequently the motion will be changed
according to the desire of the operator.
For the purpose of controlling the vertical stroke of the swivel frame and rake,
I secure a set of levers by means of brackets on the extreme end of the suspended
frame, which are connected by means of a lever and link with the upright rod and
consequently with the said combined hand lever.
For checking the extreme stroke of the rake in the retort and also bringing it to
its primitive position of rest, I make the following arrangement: I mount in
proximity of the hand lever a bell crank lever on the suspended frame in such a
manner that with one branch it is connected to the said clip on the upright rod
and with the other branch to a horizontal rod which is placed parallel with the
suspended frame and slides in brackets attached to it. This rod is provided with
the two collars placed apart according to the required stroke of the rake. To the
rake carriage is secured a loop or tappet which plays between the said two collars,
thus when the rake reaches its full stroke in the retort the tappet in conjunction
with the collar pulls the rod, and consequently reverses the motion; similarly it
will reverse or stop the motion when the rake or rake carriage comes to its
position of rest.
On the front end of the suspended rake frame is secured a water tank, which is
provided with a valve and a rose arranged to work automatically, so that when the
rake draws the coke out of the retort, it opens the valve and pours water on the
coke and rake for cooling the same. This is effected in the following manner:
The valve is kept shut by either a spring or a counterpoise, in proximity to
which a swivelling-or-revolving catch is arranged on the water tank. To the rake
at the required distance a tappet to work this catch is secured: when the rake
goes into the retort it passes without producing any effect on the catch,-but coming

page_text: back it will open the valve by means of the catch, but as soon as it comes to rest,
the valve will shut itself again.
ol J
1000
Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Charging and Drawing
Gas Retorts.
I, LEON SYNTUS D'ISZORO of Grovemount, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 for improved machinery or apparatus for charging and drawing
gas retorts has for its objects to distribute the coal evenly in charging the retorts,
and consequently to facilitate its carbonisation and to increase the yield of the
retort; to construct the charging scoop and hopper so that ordinary unbroken coal
can be automatically fed to the scoop and so that a portion of the coal is not with-
drawn with it whilst it is being withdrawn from the retort to readily withdraw
the carbonised coal by means of a mechanically actuated rake; and to arrange the
mechanism for actuating the charging scoop and drawing rake in such manner that
they can be readily brought and fixed in position and operated to charge or draw
any retort at the will of the attendant.
In the accompanying six sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for charging gas retorts constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal vertical section.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation and
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an apparatus for drawing gas retorts constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 7 is a plan.
Fig. 8 is a part longitudinal vertical section.
Fig. 9 is an end elevation, and
Fig. 10 is a cross section of the same.
The
The scoop for charging the retorts is constructed in two parts 1, 2.
bottom, 1, consists of a flat or curved plate, according to the shape of the retort,
strengthened with a central internal longitudinal web 3. The body 2 consists
essentially of the sides connected by cross bars 4 on which are secured plates 6
which divide the scoop into divisions. The scoop charged with coal is fed into the
retort, the bottom is then withdrawn to deposit the coal in the retort, the division
plates preventing the coal from being drawn towards the mouth of the retort, and
the body 2 is then withdrawn. In order to prevent the division plates of the body
from drawing a portion of the deposited coal they are hinged to the cross bars in
such manner that they usually hang vertically but are free to swivel towards the
front of the scoop but cannot swivel backwards, so that when the scoop is
withdrawn they assume a more or less horizontal position as they are drawn over
the deposited coal.
The main frame 7 is built up in such a manner that the scoop can be raised and
lowered within it and be projected from one end and is mounted on wheels 8 running
on rails arranged parallel to the face of the retorts so that the scoop can be brought
opposite any set of retorts.
The power for operating the apparatus is derived from an endless rope 9 running
parallel to the face of the retorts. The rope 9 operates a vertical driving pulley 10,
mounted on the main frame 7, at the end furthest from the retort mouths, the arc
B

page_text: of contact of the rope 9 being increased by the guide pulleys 11. The driving
pulley 10 is keyed on a horizontal shaft 12, mounted in bearings on the main
frame 7, and from which the motions of the machine are derived.
The motions necessary for the proper working of the apparatus are as follows:-
A. Transporting the whole machine in either direction on its rails to bring it
opposite the required retorts.
B. Raising and lowering the scoop and its operating mechanism in the main
frame to bring the scoop to the required height.
C. Forcing the scoop into the retort, withdrawing first the bottom to empty the
scoop and afterwards the body.
The driving mechanisms are all at the end of the main frame remote from
the retort.
A bevel wheel 13 mounted on the main shaft 12 gears with two bevel wheels 14
mounted loosely on the horizontal hollow cross shaft 15 mounted in bearings on the
main frame 7. Either of these wheels 14 can be secured to the shaft 15 by means
of a double clutch 16. The clutch 16 is operated by means of a sliding feather
key 17 fixed to the clutch and traversed in a slot in the hollow shaft 15 by means
of the central rod 18 actuated by an arm 19 on a horizontal rocking shaft 20
operated through its arm 21 by the vertical hand rod 22. It will be readily seen
that the cross shaft 15 can be rotated in either direction according as to which
wheel 14 is fixed to the shaft by the clutch 16 or be kept stationary if the clutch
is in its central position, these motions being controlled by the hand rod 22.
On the cross shaft 15 is keyed a bevel wheel 23 gearing with two bevel
wheels 24, 25, which are mounted respectively on the vertical shaft 26 and the
horizontal shaft 27, and secured thereto when desired by clutches 28, 29.
The
clutches 28, 29 are connected by the bell crank lever 30 fixed on a rocking shaft 31
which is operated through its arm 32 by the hand rod 33. It will be readily seen
that either clutch can be engaged with its wheel or that both wheels can be left
free by means of the hand rod 33. The vertical shaft 26 serves to transmit the A
and C motions and the horizontal shaft 27 the B motion. On the vertical shaft 26
is secured by a sliding key a helical pinion 34 carried up and down on the shaft as
the scoop is raised or lowered in the main frame 7 by a bracket 111 on the scoop
guide frame. The pinion 34 serves to transmit the C motion whilst a similar
pinion 35 fixed on the bottom end serves to transmit the A motion.
A MOTION.
The pinion 35 gears with a helical wheel 36 on a shaft 37 carrying a bevel
wheel 38 gearing with a bevel wheel 39 on a longitudinal shaft 40 on which are
fixed two of the travelling wheels 8. Sliding on but rotating with the shaft 37 is a
double clutch 41, one side serving to fix the helical wheel 36 on the shaft 37 and
the other side engaging with a fixed bracket 112 on the main frame so as to prevent
the shaft 37 from rotating and consequently to fix the whole apparatus on the rails
when charging retorts. The clutch +1 is operated by an arm 42 fixed on the
vertical rocking shaft 43 actuated by the hand arm 44 which may form a continua-
tion of the arm 42. In order to traverse the main frame across the retort house,
the clutch 41 is put in gear with the helical wheel 36, the clutch 28 with the bevel
wheel 24 on the vertical shaft 26, (the clutch 29 being then necessarily out of gear
with the wheel 25) and the clutch 16 with one or other of the bevel wheels 14
according to the direction in which the main frame is to be traversed. When the
main frame has arrived at the desired position the clutch 41 is moved out of gear
with the wheel 36 and into gear with the fixed bracket 112 on the main frame so as
to fix it in this position.

page_text: The scoop guide frame is formed of two H irons 49, one on either side of the
scoop, extending the full length of the main frame and braced together at each
end. The back part of the body 2 of the scoop is secured to an inside saddle
shaped cariage 50 provided with four rollers 51 running within the inner
channels of the H irons 49. The back part of the bottom of the scoop is
secured to an outside carriage 52 provided with four rollers 53 running in the
outer channels of the H irons 49. At the front end the bottom 1 of the scoop
rests upon rollers 54 mounted on the scoop guide frame. From the above
description it will be seen that the body 2 and bottom 1 of the scoop are free
to slide independently in the scoop guide frame on their rollers. They are
operated by the following mechanism.
The helical pinion 34 gears with a helical wheel 55 on the cross shaft 56
mounted in bearings on the scoop guide frame. On the shaft 56 are two toothed
wheels 57 gearing with similar wheels 58 on gudgeons 59 mounted in brackets on
the scoop guide frame and carrying chain wheels 60. Carrier chain wheels 61 are
secured on the scoop guide frame at the end near the retorts and are provided with
adjusting screws for regulating the tension of the chains 62 passing over them.
Each chain is provided with two lugs 63, 64 projecting inwards from the chain and
situated, when the scoop is drawn back into the main frame, one 63 slightly behind
the centre of the driving chain wheel and the other 64 at a convenient distance
forward of the first in the direction of motion of the chain. The outside carriage 52
to which the bottom of the scoop is secured is provided with fixed catches 65
arranged (when the scoop is within the frame and at rest) behind the driving chain
wheels and extending to the height of the upper part of the chains and with
moveable catches 66 slightly in advance of the fixed catches. The moveable
catches 66 slide in guides in the carriage 52 and are connected to levers 67
fulcrumed on the said carriage and operated by cams 68 fixed to the inside
carriage 50. Catches 5 are also provided on the body of the scoop and corresponding
notches 69 on the scoop guide frame.
The operation of the scoop is as follows:-on the revolution of the chains 62
which revolve in the direction shown by the arrow (Fig. 1) the lugs 63 come in
contact with the moveable catches 66 and carry the scoop bodily forwards into the
retort and when the lugs 63 reach the carrier wheels 61 they ride up round the
wheels and leave the catches 66 free; at the completion of the forward motion of
the scoop the catches 5 fall into the notches 69 and hold the body of the scoop in
position whilst the bottom is being withdrawn. On the continued motion of the
chains the lugs 63 come in contact with the fixed catches 65 and (as they are now
on the upper part of the chain and consequently travelling in the backward
direction) they draw back the scoop bottom 1 and the moveable catches 66 are
drawn in out of the way by the action of the cams 68 on the levers 67. After the
bottom of the scoop is withdrawn the lugs 63 then pass round the chain wheels 60
whilst the catches 65 remain behind the wheels. The lugs 64 then raise and seize
the catches 5 and draw the body of the scoop backwards into its normal position as
regards the bottom; and slightly before this motion is completed the cams 68 again
force out the moveable catches 66 ready to again force forwards the scoop. The
whole operation of forcing the scoop into the retort and of withdrawing the bottom

page_text: and then the body is performed by the continuous revolution of the chains thus
preventing accidents caused by not reversing the direction of motion of the chains
and saving wear and tear of the machine.
The helical wheel 55 through which the chains are driven is fixed on its shaft by
a clutch 70 operated by an arm 71 sliding on the rocking shaft 43 (through which
the traversing gear clutch 41 is actuated) and is moved up and down with the scoop
guide frame by the bracket 111 so that the traversing mechanism and scoop driving
mechanism cannot both be in operation at the same time. A second hand lever 72
(additional to the handle 44) forms a continuation of the arm 71 and operates the
clutches 41; 70 so that the clutches can be readily operated in whatever position
the attendant may be. The lever 72 is provided with a link 73 which engages with
a part of the scoop guide frame except when the scoop is entirely out of the retort
when a cam 74 on the inside carriage raises the link and allows the clutch 70 to be
pulled out of gear. This arrangement prevents the traversing mechanism from
being put in operation whilst the scoop is in the retort. This link 73 also serves to
put the clutch 70 out of gear when the inside carriage is home and so to stop the
machine by means of the cam 75 on the inside carriage.
In order to automatically charge the scoop with coal a hopper 76 is fixed to the
scoop guide frame and moves up and down with it, being provided with guide
rollers 113 working in contact with the uprights of the main frame. The sides
and back of the hopper are inclined sufficiently for the coal to slide into the scoop.
The bottom is closed by a sliding or rolling door 77 opened by means of tappets 78
on the front end of the body of the scoop and closed by tappets 79 on the back end
of the bottom of the scoop. When the scoop is home the sliding doors are con-
'sequently open and as the scoop is forced forwards it fills with coal, the sliding
doors being closed slightly before the scoop has completed its stroke into the retort.
The tappets 78, 79 on the scoop may be made adjustable so as to regulate the
admission of coal to the scoop.
The front of the hopper is provided with an opening 80 to prevent jamming by
any lumps of coal that may be in the throat of the hopper. Just before the body
of the scoop completes its return stroke the tappets 78 again open the bottom of the
hopper.
DRAWING APPARATUS.
The arrangement of main frame and the three driving motions are similar to that
of the charging apparatus.
The rake guide frame is constructed in two parts, the inner part 81 being capable
of a limited oscillation in the outer part 82 which may be made of any convenient
section. The inner part 81 is formed of channel irons braced together with their
flanges inwards and is suspended at about the centre of its length on pins 83 fixed
to the outer part 82. The chain wheels 60, toothed wheels 57 and 58 and helical
wheel 55 are all mounted on the inner frame 81. The two chain wheels 60 are
mounted on the same shaft 59 and driven by a single toothed wheel 57 on the
shaft 56. The rake carriage 84 is provided with four rollers 85 working in the
channels of the inner frame 81 and is secured to the chains passing over the chain
wheels. The rake bar 86 is made of channel or tubular iron secured at one end to
the rake carriage 84 and carrying at its other end the rake head 87. The rake
head is pivoted to the rake bar and is forced more or less horizontal or drawn to a
vertical position by a link connected to one end of a rod 88 passing through the
rake bar. The rod 88 is provided at its inner end with a projection 89 taking into
a cam race on a cross head 90 sliding on a rod 91 mounted on the inner frame 81
in such a manner that when the rod 91 is rotated slightly in one or the other
direction, the rod 88 is traversed endways to operate the rake head. The rod 91
is connected by the arm 92, link 93, arm 94, shaft 95, arm 96 to the rod 22 or other
fixed part of the machine-so-that as the frame is oscillated as will be presently
described the rake head is automatically operated so that it is approximately hori-
zontal when forced into the retort and vertical when drawn out.

page_text: The operation is as follows:-The helical pinion 34 which is secured to the outer
frame 82 by means of a bracket 114 is rotated in the proper direction (its direction
being reversed by means of the hand rod 22) and first causes the helical wheel 55
to travel downwards carrying with it the inner frame 81 until this oscillation is
stopped, the helical wheel 55 is then rotated and actuates through the mechanism
described the rake carriage 84 to carry the rake bar and rake into the retort. The
motion is then reversed by the hand rod 22 and the helical wheel travels upwards
lowering the rake head, and afterwards withdraws the rake bar and head from the
retort and consequently the coke. The clutch 70 is moved up and down with the
helical wheel 55 and in order to allow of this motion the fork 97 embracing
the clutch is lengthened so that the clutch slides therein. This fork 97 is pivoted
in the arm 71 secured to the vertical rocking shaft 43. The outer part of the
handle 72 is hinged to the arm 71 so as to be capable of motion in a vertical plane
and is connected by links 98 to a lever 99 secured to a socket 100 capable of sliding
on the hand rod 22 and of being fixed in any desired position. The direction of
motion can then be reversed by raising the hand lever 72 which also serves for
throwing the clutch 70 out of gear when moved horizontally.
In order to operate the inner or swivelling frame 81 when desired by hand at the
same time that the rake motion is put into operation or reversed, the frame 81 is
adjustably attached to arms 101 fixed on the rocking shaft 102 to which one end of
the lever 99 is secured.
In order to prevent the rake carriage from being traversed too far in either
direction, a longitudinal rod 103 supported so that it can slide in brackets on the
frame 81 is attached at one end to a bell crank lever 104 connected at its other
end to the socket 100. A. tappet or lug on the rake carriage works between two
adjustable collars 105 on the rod 103 and slides it longitudinally at the end of the
traverse and thus operates the rod 22 to reverse the motion.
To automatically cool the coke as it is drawn from the retort, a water sprinkler 106
connected to a tank 110 mounted on the outer frame 82 or to any suitable supply 110
of water is provided with a tap 107 operated by an arm 108 free to move forwards
towards the retorts on its pivot but operating the tap 107 when moved backwards.
The tap is normally closed by a spring or weight. A projection 109 on the rake
bar passes by the arm 108 (which swivels on its pivot) on the rake being forced
into the retort but operates it to open the tap on the return movement and passes
completely beyond it as the rake is returned to its normal position so that the tap
is closed by its spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for charging gas retorts, a charging scoop adapted to be
projected as a whole into a retort, and consisting of a bottom adapted to be
separately withdrawn from the retort so that the coal in the scoop falls into the retort,
and of a body provided with division plates free to swivel forwards only on their
upper ends so that they prevent the coal from being drawn out of the retort with the
bottom and swivel forwards when the body is withdrawn so as not to disturb the
deposited coal, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for charging gas retorts, a charging scoop consisting of a body
and a bottom adapted to be separately operated the bottom being provided near
its rear end with two sets of catches, the scoop being fed as a whole into the retort
by the action of one pair of lugs, on a continuously revolving chain, on the forward
set of catches and the bottom being again immediately withdrawn, to deposit the
coal in the retort, by the same lugs acting on the rear catches; and the body being
provided with hinged or sliding catches taking into notches in the guide frame,
when the scoop is completely fed forwards, to prevent the body being withdrawn
with the bottom, and again raised and seized when the bottom is back in its normal

page_text: position by a second pair of lugs, on the said chain, which carry the body back to
its initial position substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for charging gas retorts, charging the scoop automatically as it
is fed forwards into the retort from a hopper fixed at the front end of the machine and
provided with a sliding bottom opened by a tappet on the scoop on its return to its
initial position and closed by another tappet on the scoop slightly before it is com-
pletely within the retort substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for charging and drawing gas retorts, preventing the traversing
mechanism from being put in operation when the scoop or drawing rake is within
or partially within the retort by means of a latched link engaging with the scoop
or take guide frame and attached to the lever controlling the two clutches through
which the traversing and scoop or rake driving mechanisms are respectively trans-
mitted and of a cam on the scoop or rake carriage which raises the link free of the
said frame when the scoop or rake returns to its initial position so that the said
clutch lever can then be operated as desired substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for charging and drawing gas retorts stopping the scoop or rake
driving mechanism when the scoop or rake returns to its initial position by means
of a cam on the scoop or rake carriage, acting on a link attached to the lever con-
trolling the two clutches through which the traversing and scoop or rake driving
mechanisms are respectively transmitted so that just before the scoop or rake comes
to its initial position the link is forced over, and forces the lever to its mid position
when neither clutch will be in gear substantially as described.
6. In apparatus for charging or drawing gas retorts driving the wheels supporting
the main frame on the rails through a double clutch adapted to gear either with
one of the intermediate wheels to traverse the whole machine or with a fixed part
of the main frame to fix the machine in position on the rails substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for drawing gas retorts mounting the rake carriage in a frame
capable of a limited oscillation and automatically oscillated as required by the
gearing through which the rake carriage is driven or by the hand lever which
controls the driving mechanism substantially as described.
8. In apparatus for drawing gas retorts, pivoting the rake head to the rake bar
and automatically operating it by the oscillation of the swivelling frame in which
the rake carriage works through the links and cam motion so that it is approximately
horizontal when forced into the retort and vertical when drawn out substantially
as described..
9. In apparatus for drawing gas retorts, fitting to the front of machine a water
supply controlled by a tap with a handle which is swivelled backwards by a pro-
jection on the rake bar so as not to open the tap as the rake is forced into the retort
but operated by the projection on the return to open the cock and closing
automatically when released by the said projection substantially as described.
10. The apparatus for charging or drawing gas retorts arranged and operated
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March 1891.
L. S. D'ISZORO.