Improvement in Vertical Retorts for the Destructive Distillation of Carbonaceous Substances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
Improvement in Vertical Retorts for the Destructive Distillation
of Carbonaceous Substances.
ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM THOMSON Tarbrax, Cobbinshaw near Edinburgh
N.B. Works Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It consists of a bottom piece which is stationary, set below the lower mouth of
a vertical retort about 9 inches less or more. In or on this bottom at or near the
centre is placed a blade which can rotate on its axis for a short distance. There
is given to this blade a reciprocating motion on its axis by means of a lever
and rod passing along the front of the retorts..
The rod is made to have a reciprocating motion (by any motive power) and
drives the lever which is attached to the blade. The motion of the blade pushes
the material lying on the bottom situated below the retort over the sides, and thus
causes an almost continuous discharge of the material from the retort by mechanical
means.
A. C. THOMSON.
Improvement in Vertical Retorts for the Destructive Distillation
of Carbonaceous Substances.
1, ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM THOMSON, Tarbrax, Cobbinshaw, near Edinburgh,
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 invention which relates to vertical retorts such as are used in the destructive
distillation of shale and other carbonaceous substances, has for its object to provide
simple and efficient mechanical means for effecting the discharge either continuously
or intermittently of the residual or waste shale or ash from the lower end of the
retort.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is
a sectional elevation of part of two vertical retorts showing the improved dis-
charging apparatus and Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to that in Figure 1
showing two retorts in elevation and two in section.
The retorts A are each fitted with a bottom piece or table B set below the lower
mouth or end of the retort. At or near the centre of this bottom piece and
extending across it, is fitted a blade C which is adapted to rock on an axis along its
bottom edge and coinciding approximately with the surface level of the bottom
piece B. This blade C is extended out with the retort in the form of a shaft C¹ to
which is secured a lever D jointed to a rod E passing along the front of the retorts,
and which is adapted to operate the levers and rocking blades of the several retorts

page_text: of the series. The rod E has a reciprocating movement imparted to it by a lever
handle, or by a crank or gearing of any convenient kind; and acting through the
levers D it imparts a rocking movement to the axis of each blade C so that the
upper edge of the latter has a reciprocating motion through an arc of a circle, and
in its movement pushes aside the residual material lying on the bottom B and
discharges it over the sides.
I am aware that it has been proposed to effect the discharge of the residue from
vertical retorts by means of bars or scrapers traversed across the surfaces of flat,
convex and concave tables or bottom pieces situated below the lower ends of the
retorts, but the power required to drive the material outwards in front of such
moving bars is very great in comparison with that necessary to effect the rocking
movement of the blades employed in my arrangement in which the blades do not
travel over the bottom piece or table and are therefore not so liable to be broken.
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 :-
In a vertical retort having a bottom piece or table set below the lower mouth or
end, the provision of a blade extending across the middle part thereof and arranged
to rock on an axis approximately at the surface level of the bottom piece by means
of a rod and lever or other gearing outside, substantially as described.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.