An Improved Method of and Means for Removing "Scurf" or Retort Carbon from Gas-retorts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897
°
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Mar.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Removing "Scurf" or Retort
Carbon from Gas-retorts.
I, CHARLES BILLINGTON, Junr., Albert Terrace, Wolstanton, Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire, Brass Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This my invention has reference to an improved method of loosening or detach-
ing "scurf" or retort carbon from the interior surface of gas-retorts, and con-
suming such carbon without impairing such retorts, and is supplementary to my
Application for a Patent No. 7280 dated 4th April 1896.
In carrying my said invention into practice I rigidly attach or fix one or more
mechanical blowers, blowing-engines, air-compressors, or the like suitable
appliances to a suitable bed or foundation in any suitable position, or such blower
or like appliance or appliances may be rigidly attached or fixed to a suitable
platform or carriage mounted upon wheels so as to enable such blowers or similar
appliances to be readily transferred from place to place, or from one retort-house
to another retort-house. An electric-motor, a steam-engine, a gas-engine, an
hydraulic motor or the like may be fixed or attached to a suitable platform or
carriage mounted on wheels or rollers, such motor may be rigidly secured to the
same platform as the mechanical blower, blowing engine, air compressor or the
like appliance, or such motor may be firmly fixed to a suitable foundation in any
suitable position.
One end of a wrought-iron, cast-iron or other suitable pipe or pipes with swivel
or socket connections being suitably coupled or united to the blowers or air-com-
pressors used, the nozzle or free end of such pipe or pipes being suitably tapered
and having an outer eccentric cast-iron, wrought-iron, or other suitable casing or
nozzle of suitable size formed on, or attached thereto at a suitable distance there-
from by any suitable means, the outer or smaller end of the outer nozzle or casing
projecting a suitable distance beyond the inner nozzle.
It will be readily understood that the nozzle end of one, or both of the pipes
attached to the blower or air-compressor is, or are placed within the mouth-piece
of a gas-retort after the charge or coke is drawn at its sides and secured therein
by any suitable means, and when the steam-engine, electric-motor, gas-engine,
hydraulic motor or the like is set in motion a suitable band, rope, chain or the
like passing around a suitable pulley, drum, rigger or wheel fixed on the shaft
of the motor, and around a similar drum, pulley, rigger or wheel fixed on, or to
the shaft of the blower, air compressor or like appliance will cause air to be blown
through such pipe or pipes against the lower edge of the hot or heated "scurf"
or carbon adhering to the interior surface of such retorts so as to loosen such
"carbon" or scurf" from the interior surface of such retorts, and be consumed
by the combined forced draught under pressure, and the induced current of air
passing through the space between the air-nozzle and the eccentric metallic or
other suitable nozzle or casing.
66

page_text: The nozzle end of each of the air-conducting pipes may be held by a workman,
or be adjustably mounted so as to allow such nozzles to be readily directed against
the "scurf" or carbon to be removed.
בד
00 1 1
100%
An Improved Method of and Means for Removing." Scurf" or Retort
Carbon from Gas-retorts.
I, CHARLES BILLINGTON, Junr., 'Albert Terrace, Wolstanton, Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire, Brass Founder, 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 my invention has reference to an improved method or methods of loosening
or detaching "scurf." or retort carbon from the interior surface of gas-retorts
without impairing such retorts, and is supplementary to the method described
in the Specification of Patent 7286 dated 4th April 1896.
In carrying my said invention into practice I rigidly attach or fix one or more
mechanical blowers, blowing-engines, air-compressors or the like suitable
appliance to a suitable bed or foundation in any suitable position, or such blower
or like appliance or appliances may be rigidly attached or fixed to a suitable
platform or carriage mounted on any suitable number of suitable wheels or rollers,
so as to enable such blowers or similar appliances to be readily transferred from
place to place, or from one retort-house to another retort-house.
An electro-motor, a steam-engine, a gas-engine, an hydraulic motor or the like
suitable motor may be fixed to a timber, timber and metallic or other suitable
platform or carriage mounted in any suitable manner on any suitable number of
wheels or rollers, or such motor may be rigidly attached or secured to the same
platform or carriage as the mechanical-blower, blowing-engine, air-compressor or
like appliance, or such motor or motors may be firmly attached or secured to a
suitable fixed foundation in any suitable position.
One end of a wrought-iron, cast-iron, or flexible metallic pipe with swivel or
socket connections being swivelly coupled or united to the blower or air-compressor
used, the nozzle or free end of such pipe or pipes being suitably tapered and
having an outer concentric cast-iron, wrought-iron or other suitable casing or
nozzle of suitable size formed on or attached thereto at a suitable distance there-
from by any suitable means, the outer or smaller end of the outer nozzle or
casing projecting a suitable distance beyond the aforesaid inner nozzle.
It will be readily understood that the nozzle end of one, or of two pipes attached
to the blower or air-compressor are placed within the mouth-piece of a gas-
retort, adjacent to, or at a suitable distance from its sides and secured therein
by any suitable means after the charge or coke has been withdrawn, and when
the steam-engine, electro-motor, gas-engine, hydraulic-motor, air-compressor or the
like is set in motion, a suitable band, rope, chain or the like passing around a
suitable pulley, drum, rigger or wheel fixed or fitted to the shaft of the motor,
and around a similar drum, pulley, rigger or wheel fixed on or to the shaft of the
blower, air-compressor, or like appliance will cause air to be blown, through such
pipe or pipes against the lower edge. of the hot or heated "scurf" or carbon
adhering to the interior surface of such retorts so as to loosen or detach such
carbon or scurf" therefrom, and be partially consumed by the combined draught
"

page_text: under pressure; the induced current of air passing through the space between the
air-nozzle and the concentric metallic or other suitable nozzle or casing.
The nozzle end of each of the air-conducting pipes (when two are used) may be
held by a workman or workmen, or be adjustably mounted so as to allow such
nozzles to be readily directed to convey the combined forced draught of air under
pressure against the "scurr" or carbon to be loosened or detached, any loose or
detached carbon remaining within such retorts after the air-blast nozzle or nozzles
have been removed being scraped therefrom by using any suitable tool or
appliance.
A method I preferably use for loosening or detaching such "scurf" or carbon
from the interior surface of what are known as "through retorts" is by placing
a steel or other suitable metallic tube of any suitable length, thickness or
thicknesses and transverse section within such retorts after the charge or coke
has been withdrawn therefrom, the inner end of such metallic tubes being solid
or in one with the body of such tubes, to the outer or other end of such tubes
which are contracted to a suitable size I connect one end of the nozzle or nozzles
of the air-conducting pipe or pipes so that the combined air-draught which is
forced by the blower, air-compressor or the like appliance into the interior of
such metallic tube or tubes will escape or be forced therefrom through any suit-
able number of suitably shaped holes or apertures formed in or through such pipes
at any suitable angle, on the outer upper surface of such metallic pipes I cast
or caused to be cast two or more longitudinal ribs of any suitable thickness, height
and length at any suitable distance apart, between which ribs I place or fix fire-
bricks, gannister, fire-brick and gannister or other suitable refractory material
for the purpose of protecting such metallic pipes from the action of heat.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings shewing two ways of
carrying my invention into practice, and on which letters of reference are
marked.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a steel, rolled-iron or like metallic fram-
ing mounted on cast-iron or other suitable metallic wheels, having a centrifugal
blower or fan mounted thereon, and an electro-motor fitted at or adjacent to one
end of the fan-shaft. One end of a flexible tube or pipe having a tapering cast-
iron or like suitable metallic nozzle at its outer end being connected to the outlet
end of such blower.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of a "through
retort" shewing a perforated cast-iron tube placed therein, and a tapering nozzle
similar to that shewn at Figure 1 inserted into the outer end of such tube, and
Figure 3 represents a transverse sectional elevation of the cast-iron tube shewn at
Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.
On reference to the drawings hereto annexed a represents a steel or rolled iron.
framing mounted on cast-iron wheels b, a centrifugal fan or blower c being mounted
and bolted or rigidly fixed to the upper side of the said framing a, an electro-
motor d being fitted at or adjacent to one end of the fan-shaft c², a cast iron
tapering pipe e being shewn connected to the flanged outlet end of the blower c,
and one end of a flexible pipe f attached to the other end of such tapering pipe,
to the opposite end of such flexible pipe I have shewn a cast-iron tapering nozzle
having a surrounding casing at an angle for directing the forced air or blast from
the blower or fan against the lower edge of hot or heated carbon h adhering to
the interior surface of the gas-retort after its charge has been withdrawn for
loosening or detaching such carbon or "scurf" from such retorts.
19
On reference to Figure 2 a represents a cast-iron tube having a closed or solid
inner end b, longitudinal ribs c between which is packed or laid fire-brick d or
like suitable refractory material, and supported by legs e upon the carbon h within
the retort i, the outer or contracted end f of such tube a having a tapering
metallic nozzle similar to that shewn at Figure 1 inserted therein.

page_text: When such motor d is set in motion the fan or blower c will force air through
the flexible pipe f, which air as it issues from the outer end of the inner nozzle
will cause a current of air to flow between such nozzle and its surrounding casing g³
and combine or mix with the forced air when entering the tube a and escape or
flow through the several holes or apertures a² in such tube at any suitable angle
against the "scurf" or carbon h for loosening or detaching same.
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
I claim is:-
1st. The combination of air draught produced and forced through a central
metallic nozzle of suitable size with a draught or current of air induced to flow
through a metallic pipe or casing arranged around and concentric to or nearly
concentric to the said central nozzle; such combined draughts being caused or
produced by means of a mechanical-blower or like appliance worked or set in
motion by means of an electro-motor, or like suitable motor fitted or attached
to a travelling or fixed bed or foundation, and used for loosening or detaching
"scurf" or retort carbon from the interior surface of gas-retorts in the manner
herein substantially described set forth and illustrated at Figure 1 of the drawings
hereto annexed.
2nd. The application of combined forced and induced draught or currents of air
produced and forced through a suitable nozzle by means of a mechanical blower
or like suitable appliance worked or set in motion by means of an electro-motor,
or like suitable motor fitted or attached to a travelling or fixed bed or foundation,
such combined draughts being conducted into a metallic pipe of suitable thick-
ness, length, width and cross-section placed within a gas-retort, such pipe having
its inner end solid or formed in one with the body of such pipe, from which pipe
such combined air-draught is forced through any suitable number of suitably
shaped holes or apertures formed at any suitable angle in such pipe against the
hot "scurf" or carbon adhering to the interior.surface of gas-retorts after their
charge has been withdrawn, for loosening or detaching such carbon therefrom as
herein substantially described set forth and illustrated at Figure 2 of the drawings
hereto annexed.
Dated this 92nd dow of Doomben 1007
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, Agent for Applicant.