IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING SHALE OR OTHER OIL- YIELDING MINERALS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Beilby, of Mid Calder, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING SHALE OR OTHER OIL-
YIELDING MINERALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Beilby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1881.
"
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY, of Mid Calder, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR
DISTILLING SHALE OR OTHER OIL-YIELDING MINERALS."
This Invention comprises improvements designed for the better or more complete
carrying out of the Invention described in the Provisional Specification accom-
panying an application for Letters Patent made by the present applicant and
dated 18 May 1881 (No. 2169).
In the system described in the said Provisional Specification, the lower parts of
retorts, which are by preference vertical, are subjected to a heat which is higher
than that applied to the upper parts, for the purpose of obtaining ammonia from
the shale after the most of the oil has been distilled off from it in the upper parts
of the retorts, and after the shale has descended to the lower parts. The retorts
may be made entirely of iron or entirely of fireclay, but it is preferred to make
that part of fireclay which is subjected to the greater beat, and the remainder of
iron. By the present Invention the upper parts of the retorts, whether the retorts
be made entirely of one material, or partly of iron and partly of fireclay, are
suspended by means of counterweighted levers, or are otherwise suitably held up,
so that their weight or a large part of it does not rest on the lower parts, which are
subjected to the higher heat and thereby rendered liable to injury by superin-
cumbent weight.
The retorts are also held in the brickwork in a manner to allow of their
expanding and contracting under changes of temperature without occasioning
injurious strains; that is to say, the upper parts are not rigidly fixed but are lett

page_text: free to move to the necessary extent through the openings in the brickwork or
supports. The retorts are by preference of circular section and of moderate
dimensions, being placed comparatively close together, and each group of four is
provided with a single feeding hopper at the top whereby labor and expense aro
saved, whilst a single pipe connected to the hopper piece serves for leading off the
oil from all four retorts. The upper body parts of the retorts are plain pipe-like
castings, which can be produced more economically and of more uniform shape and
thickness than most forms of retorts hitherto used. These pipe-like castings are
formed with sockets at their upper ends to receive the branches or legs of the
multiple hoppers, and their bottom ends are fixed in foot pieces formed with sockets.
The lower body parts of the retorts (which are subjected to the higher temperature)
aro formed with belts on which may rest the inner edges of the fireclay tiles used
to form the horizontal partition separating the upper part of the oven or retort
chamber from the lower part, and similar belts are formed at a lower level to
support the inner edges of a lower set of tiles which cause the fire gases to pass in
cortain directions.
In consequence of the comparatively high degree of the licat applied to the lower
parts of the retorts, the fire gases are still at a high temperature whon leaving tho
retorts, and in order to economise the cost of the fuel employed it is desirable to
utilise as much as possible of the heat then remaining in the gases.- -With-this-
object the fire gases are led from the spaces in which they act on the retorts into
one or more-chambers-or-ovens, in which is placed apparatus for generating and
superheating the steam which is injected into the retorts for the purpose of
promoting the distillation of the oil, and especially for assisting the separation of
the ammonia from the shale after the oil or the most of it has gone from it. The
steam generating and superheating apparatus is of an improved and very simplo
kind, and consists principally of horizontal or nearly horizontal tubes of malleable
iron or steel arranged in one or more vertical sets, those of each set being connected
at alternate ends by elbow pieces so as to form one continuous serpentine course
from top to bottom. The tubes are filled or partly filled with iron turnings or
borings or the like, small pieces of iron, and the water is injected into the upper-
most tube of each set in a small continuous strean, regulated according to the
quantity of steam required. The water is first converted into steam, and as this
steam passes onwards it becomes superheated to the desired extent, the iron
materials in the tubes presenting a large heating surface, and rendering apparatus
of comparatively small size very efficient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Thomas Beilby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st April 1882.
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY, of Mid-Calder, in the County of Mid-Lothian, North
Britain, Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR -
DISTILLING SHALE OR OTHER OIL-YIELDING MINERALS."
My said Invention comprises improvements designed for the better or more
complete carrying out of the Invention described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me, and dated 18 May 1881 (No. 2169).
In the system described in my said earlier Specification, the lower parts of the
retorts, which are by preference vertical, are subjected to a heat which is higher
than that applied to the upper parts, for the purpose of obtaining ammonia from
the shale after the most of the oil has been distilled off from it in the upper parts
of the retorts, and after the shale has descended to the lower parts. The retorts
may be inade entirely of iron or entirely of fireclay, but I prefer to make that part
of fireclay which is subjected to the greater heat, and the remainder of iron. By
my present Invention the upper parts of the retorts, whether the retorts be made
entirely of one material, or partly of iron and partly of fireclay, are suspended by
means of counterweighted levers, or are otherwise suitably held up, so that their
weight or a large part of it does not rest on the lower parts, which are subjected
to the higher heat, and thereby rendered liable to injury by superincumbent
weight. The retorts are by preference of circular section and of moderate
dimensions, being placed comparatively close together; and each group of four is
provided with a single feeding hopper at the top, whereby labor and expense are
saved, whilst a single pipe connected to the hopper piece serves for leading off the
vapors from all four retorts.
In consequence of the comparatively high degree of the heat applied to the
lower parts of the retorts, the fire gases are still at a high temperaturo when
leaving the retorts; and in order to economise the cost of the fuel employed, it is
desirable to utilise as much as possible of the heat then remaining in the gases.
With this object the fire gases are led from the spaces in which they act on the
retorts into one or more chambers or ovens, in which is placed apparatus for
generating and superheating the steam which is injected into the retorts for the
purpose of promoting the distillation of the oil, and especially for assisting the
separation of the ammonia from the shale after the oil or most of it has gone from
it. The steam generating and superheating apparatus is of an improved and very
simple kind, and consists principally of horizontal or nearly horizontal tubes of
malleable iron or steel arranged in one or more vertical sets, those of each set being
connected at alternate ends by elbow pieces, so as to form one continuous serpentine
course from top to bottom. The tubes are filled or partly filled with pieces of iron.
by preference in the form of light iron rods, or other small pieces may be used.
The water is injected into the uppermost tube of each set in a small continuous
stream, regulated according to the quantity of steam required. The water is first
converted into steam, and as this steam passes onwards it becomes superheated to
the desired extent, the iron materials in the tubes presenting a large heating
surface, and rendering apparatus of comparatively small size very efficient.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
to be hereinafter referred to, and representing my improved apparatus.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a transverse vertical section
of the upper part of a bench of retorts, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan, whilst

page_text: Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section. Figures 4 and 5 are an elevation and
horizontal section, showing the form which I prefer when making the lower part
of the retort of iron. Figures 6 and 7 are a plan and a side elevation of one set of
the steam generating and superheating tubes.
The description of the retorts and other parts given in my earlier Specification
herein before referred to applies, so far as that description goes, to the retorts and
parts shown on the accompanying Drawings; and it will not be necessary for me
on the present occasion to particularly describe more than may be required for
In the
explaining the parts or features constituting my present Invention.
Drawings accompanying the present Specification, and also in those accompanying
my earlier Specification hereinbefore referred to, the saine reference numerals are
used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The retorts are represented as having the upper parts of iron and the lower
parts 6 of fireclay; and each of the lower parts 6 may consist of a single piece or
of two pieces, or they may be built up of separate bricks, as indicated at 30, in
Figure 3. Each set of four retorts 5 is fitted with a single multiple hopper 19
having a single bell or valve, but formed with four legs or branches for the separato
retorts 5, the bottom ends of the legs being entered into sockets formed for them
at the tops of the retorts, and being fixed by rust cement. Each multiple hopper 19
with its four retorts 5 is suspended by means of a pair of counterweighted levers 31.
which are centered upon bearing plates 32, and are connected to the hopper 19 by
_linka-33-engaging-on-pins-or-studs formed on or fixed to the sides of the hopper
for the purpose, and by preference so placed that the lifting strain of the levers
will act equally on the retorts. The retorts are also held in the brick work in a
manner to allow of their expanding and contracting under changes of temperature
without occasioning injurious strains, that is to say, the upper parts 5 are not
rigidly fixed but are left free to move to the necessary extent through the openings
in the brickwork or between the lateral supports. The upper body parts 5 of the
retorts are plain pipe like castings which can be produced moro economically and
of more uniform shape and thickness than most forms of retorts hitherto used.
The lower ends of the parts 5 are fixed in socket rings 22, the bottoms of which
are fitted and cemented upon the upper ends of the fireclay tubes 6, which ends
project up through the horizontal partition 13, so that the joints may be in the
upper and cooler oven space. The several socket rings 22 are connected together
by tie rods 23 which serve to maintain the proper positions of the retorts. The
fireclay tubes G are formed with lower and upper belts 10, 11, which, together
with ledges or projections formed in the sides of the oven support the fireclay slabs
or tiles forming the horizontal partitions 12, 13.
When the lower parts (6) of the retorts are made of iron they are by preferenco
shaped as shown in Figures 4 and 5, which are an elevation and a horizontal
section. They are oval in section (the upper parts 5 being also made oval when
used with such lower parts), and they are formed with belts 10, 11, and with
vertical strengthening ribs 40. Such lower parts of iron may be used without
disadvantage when working with shales or other oil-yielding minerals not requiring
the application of very high heats.
The steam generating and superheating apparatus 26 placed in the chamber 16,
through which the fire gases pass after having acted on the lower parts 6 of the
retorts, consists, as represented in Figures 6 and 7, of slightly inclined tubes 34
arranged in vertical sets, one of which is shown in the Figures. These tubes are
connected at their ends by elbow socket pieces 35 in such a way as to form one
passage through the several tubes of a set from the uppermost one to the lowest
one. The elbow pieces 35 are fitted with screw plugs 36 opposite the ends of each
tube, and the bundles of small rods or other iron pieces which are put into the
tubes to subdivide the currents of water and steam and increase the heating surface,
can be conveniently introduced, and when required withdrawn through the plug
holes. Each set of tubes 34 is supported on a rack or frame 37. The water is
admitted through a regulating valve 38 into the outer end of the uppermost

page_text: tube 34, and as it finds its way along the tubes becomes converted into steam and
then superheated, the superheated steam passing from the lowermost tube 34 by
the pipes 27, 28, to the retorts. A safety valve 39 is fitted to the topmost tube or
to any other suitable part.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the
precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel
and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The constructing or fitting vertical retorts for distilling shale or other oil-
yielding minerals with multiple hoppers, each of which is in connection with four
retorts, as herein before described.
2. The applying of counterweights to hold up more or less of the weight of the
upper parts of the retorts, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described.
3. The employment of pipe like castings of simple circular section for the upper
parts of the retorts, such castings being combined with the other parts, sub-
stantially in the manner herein before described.
4. The arrangement or combination of parts wherein the fire gases are led or
directed by flues or partitions so as to act on the lower parts only of the retorts,
and then to pass through a separate chamber or space, in which they act on
steam generating and superheating apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.
5. The improved steam generating and superheating apparatus hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying Drawings when
arranged in connection with apparatus for distilling oil-yielding minerals, sub-
stantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Beilby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.