IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING GAS RETORTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John West, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING GAS RETORTS."
the oath T. 1979 and dated the 4th Fabrna 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John West at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1878.
JOHN WEST, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent.
PARATUS FOR CHARGING GAS RETORTS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AP-
This Invention relates to improvements upon apparatus for which Letters Patent,
No. 1255, dated April 4, 1873, No. 3225, dated October 4, 1873, and No. 1978,
dated June 8, 1874, were granted to nie, and has for its object the increase of the
internal capacity of the charger, so that a greater quantity of coal or other material
may be introduced within the. retort at each operation, and at the same time a
portion of the coal may be thrown towards the side of the retort, and subsequently
distributed over its surface in a manner more conducive to its complete carbonization
than in any previous arrangement.
The Invention consists in hinging the sides of the charger at their upper part, so
that they may follow the movement of two hollow scoops which are pivotted upon
their longitudinal axes within the body of the apparatus..
The rod and handle by which the charger is thrust into the retort is connected to
a toothed wheel that is attached to the front of the charger, and this wheel gears
into a toothed wheel fixed to the axis of one of the scoops and into a pinion which
gears into a toothed wheel fixed upon the axis of the other scoop; the wheels so
geared being protected by a removable guard.
By these means, when the charger has received its proper quantity of coal, and
the apparatus has been thrust into the retort, the scoops will, upon partially turning
the handle, throw some of the coal towards the sides of the retort, while the
remainder falls in or near the centre, and in consequence of the sides being hinged,
as before, described, they follow the movements of the scoops, and thereby allow the
coal contained within them to be discharged with greater freedom. The coal so

page_text: thrown towards the sides and centre of the retort is subsequently distributed by
the withdrawal of the charger, the end thereof being expressly formed so as to lay
the coal in a manner most suitable for its economical conversion into gas. By this
arrangement, the system may be adapted to oval as well as to almost any other
form of retorts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John West in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1878.
JOHN WEST, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AP-
PARATUS FOR CHARGING GAS RETORTS."
This Invention relates to improvements upon apparatus for which Letters Patent
No. 1255, dated April 4, 1873, No. 3225, dated October 4, 1873, and No. 1978,
dated June 8, 1874, were granted to me, and has for its object the increased pro-
portion of the internal capacity of the charger, so that a greater quantity of coal or
other material may be introduced within the retort at each operation, and at the
same time a portion of the coal may be thrown towards the sides of the retort and
subsequently distributed over its surface in a manner more conducive to its complete
carbonization than in any previous arrangement.
The Invention consists in hinging the sides of the charger at their upper part, so
that they may follow the movement of two hollow scoops which are pivotted upon
their longitudinal axes within the body of the apparatus.
The rod and handle by which the charger is thrust into the retort is connected
to a toothed wheel that is attached to the front of the charger, and this wheel gears
into a toothed wheel fixed to the axis of one of the scoops and into a pinion which
gears into a toothed wheel fixed upon the axis of the other scoop; the wheels so
geared being protected by a removable guard.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation with the front plate of the guard removed, in
order that the gearing by which the scoops are turned may be shown.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the charger, a portion of the side of the guard being
also removed for the same purpose.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the charger, and Fig. 4 is a back end elevation.
In Fig. 1, A, A, is the front plate made of cast, malleable, or other suitable iron
or metal. Through this the driving shaft B works in a bearing C cast or fixed on
to the front plate shown in Fig. 2. The front end of this shaft has a square hollow
opening for the reception of the driving rod, which is fastened to it when in use by
a key. D is the driving wheel, which is toothed and gears into E direct, and drives
F by an intermediate pinion G. E and F are toothed wheels attached to the axes
upon which the scoops H; H; turn.

page_text: The top of the charger is open for the reception of the coal, but the sides are closed
by hanging flaps or sides I, I, hinged to the stretching or extension rods J, J, by the
hinges K, K. L is an inverted V or other curved shaped stretching bar fastened to
the front and back plates, and placed between the scoops. The object of this inverted
V or other curved shaped piece or bar is to provide means for the purpose of pre-
venting the binding of the scoops on being turned, and to allow coal to fall into the
centre of the retort, and thus produce a level layer. To the under part of this V
piece one of the wheels M is attached and protected, as shown in Fig. 3. M, M, M.
are the plain or serrated wheels upon which the charger runs.
In Fig. 4 the scoops H are more distinctly seen.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, N is the guard, the sliding front plate of which is
marked O.
P, P, in Figures 1 and 4 represent the stops to prevent the scoops from turning.
over too far.
From the foregoing it will be seen that when the charger has received its
proper quantity of coal, and the apparatus has been thrust into the retort, the
scoops will, upon partially turning the handle, thow some of the coal towards
the sides of the retort, and in consequence of the sides being hinged, as before
described, they follow the movements of the scoops, and thereby allow the coal
contained within them to be discharged with greater freedom. The remainder of the
coal that covers the inverted V piece falls in or near the centre, and thus fills up
the space left between each scoop of coal, and forms a layer of material as
nearly level as is practicable. The coal so delivered towards the sides and centre
of the retort is subsequently distributed by the withdrawal of the charger, the
end plate thereof being expressly formed as shown by the line Q, Q, Fig. 4. This
line may be varied both as to curvature and height to suit particular circumstances,
with the view of laying the coal in a manner most suitable for its economical con-
version into gas. By this arrangement the system may be adapted to oval as well
as to almost any other form of retorts.
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 which 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,―
Firstly. The construction of chargers made with hinged sides, and with two
scoops separated by an intervening bar L, as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
Secondly. The longitudinal inverted V or other curved shaped piece or bar L, as
herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement of gearing whereby motion is imparted to the scoops
and hinged sides, as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
And, fourthly. The arrangement of the wheels M, M, M, on which the charger
runs, as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John West, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN WEST. (L.S.)