Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Inclined Gas Retorts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Inclined Gas Retorts.
I, HENRY WOODALL, of Llandudno, in the County of Carnarvon, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct movable apparatus for charging
inclined gas retorts with coal or other material in such a manner as to ensure
strength, simplicity, casy adjustment in relation to the position of the retorts, and
great facility in charging the same.
For the purpose of carrying out this invention I make the apparatus in several
forms each being a modification of the other.
In the first arrangement I make a platform mounted upon wheels and capable
of running upon raised or sunken rails placed longitudinally in front of the retorts,
or in the space between the beds when the retorts are set face to face. On the
platform is fixed a vertical pillar to which are hinged one end of each of two
parallel arms or bars, the other ends being hinged or pivotted to a shoot, or to a
bar fixed to the shoot, and having at its upper end a funnel shaped opening. The
lower end of the shoot is curved, and of such a size and shape as will allow it to
easily enter the mouth of the retort to be charged. In this arrangement there is
to each platform only one shoot adapted to the height of the particular horizontal
row of retorts to be charged, the other rows of retorts having platforms and shoots
suited to their different requirements.
In the second arrangement the pillar or post is placed centrally on the platform
and is capable of rotating. In this case, three shoots are attached to the central
post in a similar manner to that before described, but at heights varying with the
several rows of retorts, so that on turning the pillar a shoot will be presented to
the retort at a corresponding height.
In each of the foregoing plans the arms or bars may be made of unequal length
so as to afford a motion adapted to special requirements.
With reference to the third arrangement I make a quadrilateral frame and mount
it upon a platform similar to that before alluded to. The shoot is furnished with
one or more rollers, fixed in front and behind, but at different heights. These
rollers work in slotted arms or bands that are fastened to the front and back of
the frame, and are so arranged that a common tangent of the two wheels shall be
parallel to the axis of the retort, thus giving an exact straight line motion to shoot
in the direction of the retort.
A fourth arrangement consists in the reversal of the plan just described, and in
which the wheels or rollers are attached to the frame, and the slotted bands or
bars are fixed to the shoot. The raising or lowering of the shoot may be also
done by means of a rack and pinion. The line of motion is however the same in
each case.
In each of the before described plans, a chain or rope is provided, together with
a winch or other means for suspending the shoot out of the way, when not in use,
and cach post or pillar is furnished with an adjustable stop so as to prevent the
shoot from entering too far into the retort.
In either of the foregoing arrangements the platform may be provided with a
secondary platform upon which the post or pillar, or frame is mounted, the
secondary platform being raised or lowered by screws, levers, or by hydraulic or
other suitable power.
The action of the apparatus is exceedingly simple. The platform is moved
opposite to the retort to be charged. The shoot is then lowered so that the
curved end enters the mouth of the retort, when the coal or other material may

page_text: be thrown into the funnel end or upper part of the shoot. The coal by its gravity
enters the retort and by virtue of the particular inclination of the said retort is
retained therein a suitable position for its proper carbonization. The shoot is then
withdrawn and moved on to the next retort in the same horizontal line to be
charged, or the pillar may be turned and the next upper or lower retort may be
charged by applying its appropriate shoot.
Dated this 9th day of June 1890.
W. H. BENNETT,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Inclined Gas Retorts.
I, HENRY WOODALL, of Llandudno, in the County of Carnarvon, Civil
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:-
The object of this invention is to construct movable apparatus for charging
inclined gas retorts with coal or other material in such a manner as to ensure
strength, simplicity, easy adjustment in relation to the position of the retorts, and
great facility in charging the same.
In order that the invention may be easily understood, drawings are attached
hereto of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus complete.
Figs. 2 and 3 are separate shoots, the length of which are made to correspond
with the height of the retorts to which they are to be applied, and shows the
manner of attaching the arms to them.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus and shows in dotted lines the shoot
lowered and partially turned round, and the position it assumes when not in use..
Fig. 5 is a plan of Figs. 1 and 3.
In each of the views similar letters refer to the same parts.
For the purpose of carrying out this invention I make a platform A mounted
upon wheels B, B, and capable of running upon raised rails C, C, placed longi-
tudinally in front of the retorts O, P, Q, or in the space between the beds when
the retorts are set face to face. Instead of raised rails, sunken ones or a tramway
may be used. On the platform is fixed a vertical pillar D which is capable of
revolving. Two collars or sleeves E and F, are fitted to turn upon (and slide up
and down if necessary) the pillar. These collars have pivotted to them one end G
of each of two parallel bars H. and I, the other end of the bars being pivotted or
hinged to a shoot J, which is curved at its lower end and at its upper end K is
hopper on funnel shaped. Fixed to the sleeve E is a quadrant R having notches
on its periphery. The arm or bar H is prolonged and furnished with a handle L
by which the shoot is raised, lowered, or adjusted. It has also attached to it a
latch or bolt M one end of which can enter either of the notches in the quadrant,
and thus support the shoot in its proper position when in use. In Figs. 2 and 3
the lower bar or arm I is pivotted or hinged to a bracket or bar N instead of
being fixed to the shoot itself, this method being applied to the shorter shoots
suitable for charging the second and third tiers of retorts.
In the foregoing arrangement it is intended that a separate apparatus shall be
used for each tier of retorts, but by employing the following modification, that
may be avoided. In this case the platform A. is provided with a secondary plat-
form upon which the post or pillar is mounted the secondary platform being
raised or lowered by screws, levers, or by hydraulic or other suitable power
attached to A.
The action of the apparatus is exceedingly simple. The platform A is moved
opposite to the retort to be charged. The handle L of the arm or bar H is then

page_text: manipulated and the shoot J raised or lowered so that the curved end enters the
mouth of the retort Q, where it is retained by the action of the latch, or bolt M.
The coal or other material may then be thrown into the funnel end K or upper
end of the shoot. The coal by its gravity enters the retort and by virtue of the
particular inclination of the said retort is retained there in a suitable position
for its proper carbonization. The latch or bolt is then operated upon when the
shoot can be withdrawn, and moved on to the next retort in the same horizontal
line to be charged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Apparatus for charging inclined gas retorts made or arranged as herein described
and shown on the drawings.