Coal-gas Generating Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Coal-gas Generating Apparatus.
1 JOHN JAY THOMAS, of Roxborough, County of Philadelphia, State of
Pennsylvania, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of my invention for COAL
GAS GENERATING APPARATUS, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to apparatus for generating illuminating and heating gas from
coals.
The first part of my invention relates to improved methods of connecting two
series or sets of retorts, two saddle-pipes, a connecting chamber with a valve or
grate, located between the receiving chambers of each series of retorts; so that
the gas of one set of retorts, may at will be mixed with the gas of the other set
of retorts, before the gas reaches the liquid seal in the hydraulic main; and
consists in the arrangement of a connecting chamber, and valve or grate, located
between the receiving chambers, of each series of retorts.
The second part of my improvement relates to improved methods for chargeing two
or more retorts, at one and the same time; and consists in a traveling car provided
with a separate pocket and gate, for each pocket in the series.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying into
practice my invention, referring to the sheets of drawings appended, to which by
letters, reference is made in the description.
Fig. 1 is a back elevation, of a bench of six retorts, showing the receiving, and
connecting chambers.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation, of a bench of six retorts, showing the hydraulic main,
saddle-pipes, and connecting rod for operating the intermediate valve.
Figs. 3 and 5, show end views of one of the retorts.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the retorts, taken on the dotted lines of
Figs. and 5.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section, taken on the dotted line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section, taken on the dotted line of Fig. 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
A, A, A, represent the retorts, these retorts are what is known as "through
retorts," and I prefer two 9 ft. retorts connected end to end, making an eighteen foot
retort, I also prefer to set them in the bench, at an angle of about 30 degrees, and one
retort above the other, three in a series.
B represents the receiving chamber, and frame for doors or lids. C the doors or
lids. B the door frame at the coke discharging ends of the retorts, these frames and
lids are made of cast iron, with gas tight joints, and the lids are fastened in the usual
manner.
D represents the connecting chamber, E the valve. F'the saddle-pipe. These parts.
may be made of cast iron, or other metal if desired.
The valve E is connected by rods G, G¹. At the lower end of rod G₁ is a cross-
bar, or handle b, which handle lies accross the two upper lids of the discharging ends
of the retorts, when the valve E is open.
The discharge end of the retorts, I make less in width, than the receiving end, as
is shown in section Fig. 4, the contraction to commence about one-third the length of
the retort, from the discharge end; a 26 inch wide retort at the receiving end, I
contract to 20 inches at the discharge end.
M represents the charging car, this car is hung on the axle of 'a overbanging
railway car, which runs between two rows of benches, and is hung by a swivel; so as
to turn and charge either row of benches. This car as shown by dotted lines, is
divided into three pockets, one pocket for each retort in the series to be charged;
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each pocket has a door, or gate, see dotted lines, these gates are by the bar W
connected to handle N.
Previous to describing the operation of my invention, I wish to say; that it is well
known to gas engineers, that the first running of gas, is always rich in illuminating
quality, but low of temperature, the last runnings poor in illuminating quality, but of
high temperature, and if the rich gas reaches the liquid seal. at a low temperature, it
will not be a permanent gas, but will yield a larger per cent. of tar, than when the
gas passes the liquid seal at a bigh temperature.
For the above reason I have invented what I term an intermediate mixing chamber,
placed between the two series of retorts, working the retorts with four hour charges,
one set of retorts being charged two hours previous to the other, and the com-
munication between the two sets of retorts is controlled by a valve or gate placed in a
connecting chamber.
The operation of my improved gas generating apparatus is as follows:-Each
pocket of the charging car M, is supposed to have been charged with the quantity of
coal, to charge each retort in the series, the car is run in so as to insert the car into
the mouths of each retort, the handle N, is then pressed down, and this handle moves
the bar W, which opens all three gates, and the coal will by its own gravity, be
discharged into the retorts, the retorts being contracted at their lower ends, as before
described, will cause the coals to be evenly distributed over the bottom of the retorts
their full length, the lids C, are then put on the mouths of the retorts, and fastened by
the usual appliances.
Fire is built as usual in the furnace, which heats the retorts and distils, or
drives the gas from the coals in the retorts, which gas from each series of three
retorts pass up through chamber B, and saddle-pipe F, to the hydraulic main P; after
one of the series of three retorts, have run two hours, the lids C, at the discharge
ends are opened, and the coke discharged, the lids C, are then replaced and fastened.
The lids C, at the charging ends of the retorts are opened, and the charging car
containing a charge of coals for the three retorts inserted in the ends of the retorts,
the gates opened as before described, and the coals run into the retorts, the lids C, are
then placed on the charging ends of the retorts, and made fast, the rod G' is then.
pulled down so as to bring the bar b, accross the lid C, as shown in Fig. 6, this will
open the valve E, and the hot gas rising from the retorts running more than two
hours, will pass the valve and mix with the gas from the retorts last charged, and the
rich gas will be heated by the poor hot gas, and the mixed gases will pass the seal a
rich and more permanent gas, than if they pass single.
When one of the sets have run four hours the rod G' is pushed up, which closes the
valve E, and the retorts that have run four hours are opened, coke discharged, and
refilled by coals from the charging car, as before described, the valve E opened, and
the rich cold gas mixed with the poor hot gas, as before described.
It will from the above be seen; that I can by my improvements mix the hot, but.
poor gas, with the rich gas of the last charged retorts, before the rich gas reaches the
liquid seal; making a permanent gas rich in illuminating power, and not so readily
condensed into tar, and thereby robbing it of its illuminating powers.
In some cases it may be desirable to encase the whole, or part of the mixing
chambers and saddle-pipes, with jackets, and heat the same by hot air from the
furnace.
The drawings show the charging car, as suspended from overhead tracks, but it is
obvious that the car may be run on a floor track.
In the above, I describe the charges, as four hour charges; but the charges may be
run more or less time, which will be governed by the quality of the coals, and heat of
the furnace.
.
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 :-
;
:
First In apparatus for making coal-gas, the combination of two series of retorts,

page_text: a mixing chamber having an intermediate valve, and two saddle-pipes, substantially as
described.
Second-In apparatus for charging retorts making coal-gas, a traveling car,
consisting of a series of fixed inclined pockets, in combination with a gate, one
for each pocket, and a connecting bar, connecting and operating the gates, sub-
stantially as described.
Third A retort for making coal-gas, constructed with a contracted discharge end,
as described.
Dated thin 04th day of
1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.