Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Mineral or other Tars, Hydro-carbons, or other analogous Liquids.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 16th Mar.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Mineral or other Tars,
Hydro-carbons, or other analogous Liquids.
We, JOHN ARTHUR YEADON, of 4, Albion Place, Leeds, Engineer, and
WILLIAM ADGIE, of 68, St. Mark Street, Leeds, Accountant, both in the
County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention is connected with our previous Patent of November 29,
1889 No. 19183, as hereinafter described; and consists in the application or
combination of the above mentioned Patent for a revolving retort or any parts of
it, for the purpose of distilling tars or other liquids, either alone or in combination
with coal, and converting such liquids, or liquids mixed with coal into gas, such gas
to be used alone or mixed with other gases for heating or illuminating; or for
other analogous purposes.
In our present Specification, to avoid repetition, we shall use the words "tar"
and "distil;' but we include within these terms, the distillation of any other
suitable liquids along with or instead of tar; and to heat or distil the same for
other purposes, if required, than converting them into illuminating or heating gas;
and whether such liquids are distilled alone or mixed with coal or other gas
producing materials.
In our Patent of Nov. 29, 1889, No. 19183, as referred to above, we describe our
revolving retort working with fixed and closed or gas tight end plates or mouth-
pieces for feeding and discharging, by means of which, coal can be continuously
and mechanically fed into and through the retort, where the coal is distilled, the
gas generated, and the cinders discharged, without any loss of gas or admission
of air.
In our present invention we propose to use this principle of our revolving retort,
with its continuous system of feeding and distillation, or a modification of the
same, for distilling tars, either alone or in combination with coal or other analogous
materials, and converting it or them into gas for heating or for illuminating, or into
other products.
In our previous invention of November 29, 1889, we arrange for the coal which
is to be distilled into gas, to be delivered into any suitable hopper, from the bottom
of which it is conveyed by an internal shaft fitted with adjustable blades or worms,
into the interior of the retort. In our present invention, when the tar is to be
distilled along with the coal, we use the same continuous feeding motion, with the
addition of a pipe leading from an overhead tank or cistern containing the tar and
connected to the feed hopper or worm box through which the coal is delivered into
the retort. This pipe can be fitted with a tap or valve to regulate the quantity or
flow of the tar fed in along with the coal into the retort; the arrangement being
that the pressure of the tar and the working of the internal shaft with its blades
or worms carries along the coal and tar into the retort without any escape of gas
or ingress of air. Arrived inside the retort, the distillation of the tar and coal,
and the discharge of the cinders are carried out in the same way as that described
in our previous Patent mentioned above when used for coal only.
When however tar alone is to be fed into the retort, this arrangement as for
feeding coal is unnecessary, and requires to be modified. We therefore dispense
with the internal shaft and its blades or arms, and substitute in its place a pipe or
cylinder fixed to the stationary feeding end plate and through the centre of the
same; this pipe being fitted with suitable gas-tight gland and packings.
We provide a suitable tap or valve for regulating the proper quantity of tar
admitted into the retort. The tar-can be fed under pressure from overhead tanks

page_text: into which it has been pumped or raised for the purpose. This feed or inlet pipe
for the tar projects some little distance into the interior of the retort and can be
fitted with one or more suitable sprays or jets for evenly distributing or spreading
the flow of liquid tar on the heated interior surface of the retort.
The gas thus generated, whether from the tar alone, or from tar mixed with coal,
passes out of the retort and through the ascension pipe into the condenser in the
ordinary way; and the cinders or ash produced from the tar, or tar and coal
combined, are discharged in the same way as described in our previous Patent of
Nov. 29, 1889, where coal alone is distilled or carbonised.
In applying our revolving retorts for the above purpose, they can be heated by
fire, gas, gas and fire combined, or other suitable means. They can be made of
metal, fireclay, or other materials as found most suitable; they can be constructed
of a parallel, conical, or other shape; and arranged to work in a horizontal or
inclined position.
The size and number of these retorts can be regulated to suit the quantity of tar
or tar and coal to be passed through. Any suitable motive power can be applied
for driving or working the same. The whole process can thus be made continuous,
mechanical, and automatic; and we propose carrying out our invention substantially
as above described.
Signed this Fifteenth day of March 1892
JOHN ARTHUR YEADON.
WILLIAM ADGIE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Mineral or other Tars,
Hydro-carbons, or other analogous Liquids.
We, JOHN ARTHUR YEADON, of 4 Albion Place, Leeds, Engineer, and
WILLIAM ADGIE Accountant of 29 Ash Grove, Hyde Park Leeds (formerly of
68 St. Mark Street Leeds) both in the County of York 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 :-
Our present invention is connected with our previous Patent of November 29,
1889, No. 19183, as hereinafter described; and consists in the application or com-
bination of the above mentioned Patent for a revolving retort, or any parts of it
for the purpose of distilling tars, oils, or other analogous liquids, either alone or in
combination with coal or other analogous materials; and converting such liquids,
or liquids mixed with coal or other materials, into gas; such gas to be used alone,
or mixed with other gases, for heating or illuminating, or for other analogous
purposes.
In our present invention, to avoid repetition, we shall use the words "tar,"
"coal," and "distil;" but we include within the term "tar," any oils, hydro-
carbons or other liquids which contain or are used for producing gas for heating or
illuminating purposes, in the term "coal," any shale or other bituminous material;
and with the word "distil," the distillation of any suitable liquids along with or
instead of tar, alone or mixed with coal or shale; and to heat or distil the same
for any other purposes, if required, than converting them into heating or 'illu-
minating gas; and whether such liquids are distilled alone or mixed with coal or
other gas producing materials.
In our Patent of Nov. 29, 1889, No. 19183, as referred to above, we describe
our revolving retort, working with fixed and closed gas tight end plates or mouth-
pieces, fitted with suitabie packing rings, for feeding and discharging, by means of
which, coal can be continuously and mechanically fed into and through the retort,
where the coal is distilled, the gas generated, and the cinders discharged, without
any loss of gas or admission of air.
In our present invention we propose to use this principle of our revolving retort,

page_text: with its continuous system of feeding and distillation, or a modification of the
same, for distilling tars, either alone or in combination with coal, and converting it
or them into gas for beating or illuminating purposes, or into any other products as
desired.
In the accompanying drawings,
Sheet 1 shows the arrangement for distilling the tar alone; and Sheet 2 for the
distillation of the tar mixed with the coal. In each drawing Fig. 1 represents a
longitudinal section of the retort; and Fig. 2 the front elevation of the same,
where the cinders and gas are discharged.
In our previous invention of Nov. 29, 1889, we arrange for the coal which is to
be distilled into gas, to be delivered into a suitable hopper G, from the bottom of
which it is conveyed by an internal shaft I fitted with adjustable blades or.
worms c, c, through the smaller cylinder H. into the interior of the retort A. In
our present invention and when the tar is to be mixed and distilled with the coal, we
use this same arrangement of revolving retort, with its continuous feeding motion
for the coal, with the addition of a pipe Y leading from an overhead tank or
cistern ✗ containing the tar, and connected as shown in accompanying Sheet 2, to
the feed hopper or worm box H, through which the coal is delivered into the
retort A. This feed pipe can be fitted with a tap or valve as at Z, to regulate the
quantity or flow of the tar fed in along with the coal into the retort; the arrange-
ment being that the pressure of the tar from the overhead cistern X, and the
working of the internal shaft I fitted with its blades or worms, carries or forces
the coal and tar into the retort, and that without escape of gas or ingress of air.
Arrived inside the retort, the distillation of the tar and coal is carried out in the
same way as in our previous Patent; the gas passes up through the ascension
pipe T whilst the cinders are delivered into a box U which is fitted with an internal
shaft V, having adjustable blades, and a tapering outlet pipe W, by means of
which this outlet pipe is always kept tightly full of cinders, thus preventing
ingress of air or egress of gas, the cinders being delivered if desired, hot and dry;
the breaking and compressing motion of the adjustable blades reducing the cinders
small enough to tightly fill the outlet pipe. As these adjustable blades and internal
shaft only enter a little way into this outlet pipe, the effect is that the cinders can
only be delivered at the same rate as they fall out of the retort.
As in our previous Patent of Nov. 29, 1889, No. 19183 the body of the retort
is supported by two metal sockets C, C', one at each end to which it is secured by
bolts. These sockets are turned up on the circumference at a, a¹, thus smoothly
revolving on and being supported underneath by the turned bearing rollers D, D,
which have suitable shafts and revolve in the metal frames or boxes E, E, outside
the brickwork of the furnace. The retort is heated by the fire at B and is fitted
with gas-tight glands and boxes at the feeding end at F, and at the discharging
end at S. The feeding shaft I is driven and regulated by chain wheels at K, K.
Driving motion is attached to the retort by the two spur-wheels M, M¹, one at
each end, these being fixed on the metal sockets C, C¹, and driven by spur pinions N
on the horizontal shaft O which again receives its motion from the bevel wheels P. P¹
through the main driving shaft R.
When however tar alone is to be fed into the retort for distillation, we use the
arrangement as shown in accompanying Sheet 1; the feeding of the coal being
unnecessary and therefore dispensed with. We therefore substitute (for the
internal shaft and blades) in its place an internal pipe H', projecting into the
interior of the retort A, and connected at the other end to the regulating valve Z,
through the gland and stuffing box B. The valve Z regulates the tar flowing
from the overhead cistern ✗ through the feed pipe Y into the retort. This tar
can be fed under pressure from overhead tank ✗ as shown, into which it can he
pumped or raised for the purpose. The inlet pipe H¹ projecting into the retort
Any suitable distance as required, can be fitted with orifices or suitable sprays or
ets for more evenly distributing or spreading the flow of liquid tar, as it falls upon
he heated interior blades or surface of the retort.

page_text: We prefer our retorts A to be made of metal with internal ribs or blades 6, for
strengthening the same and agitating the tar or tar and coal inside the retort.
When intended for distilling tar, these internal blades can have cross ribs cast
with them as at 6" to check the tar from flowing too rapidly to the outlet end
of the retort.
The gas thus generated whether from the tar alone or from the tar mixed with
coal, passes out of the retort and through the ascension pipe T in the ordinary
way; and the cinders or ash_produced from the tar, or tar and coal combined, are
discharged through the box U at outlet W making a gas tight joint. Where tar
or other liquids are distilled which produce no cinder or ash, the shaft V can be
dispensed with, and the outlet W turned down so as to dip into any tank or cistern
containing water, thus making a water-sealed joint.
In applying our revolving retort for the above purposes they can be heated by
fire, gas, or other suitable means. We preferably make them of metal, but they
can be made of fireclay or other materials, as may be found most suitable; they
can be constructed of a conical, parallel, or other shape; and arranged to work in
a horizontal or inclined position as desired.
The size and number of these retorts can be regulated to suit the quantity of
tar, or tar and coal, to be passed through. Any suitable motive power can be
applied for driving or working the same. The whole process can thus be made
continuous, mechanical, and automatic; and we purpose carrying out our invention
substantially as above described.
Having now therefore described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :—
1. The use or combination of a revolving retort for the distillation of tar, oil,
hydro-carbons, or other analogous liquids.
2. The use or combination of a revolving retort for the distillation of tar or
other liquids with coal, shale, or other analogous materials.
Dated this 14th day of December 1892.
JOHN ARTHUR YEADON.
WILLIAM ADGIE.