IMPROVEMENTS IN COKE OVENS OR RETORTS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1884

page_text: Connected therewith.
I, JOHN MCCULLOCH, of Calderbank Iron Works, Airdrie, in the' County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COKE OVENS OR RETORTS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention comprises further improvements in and connected with the
apparatus described in the Specification of Letters Patent No 4122 of 1884, the
objects of the present improvements being generally the same as those of the
Invention forming the subject matter of the said earlier Letters Patent.
In carrying out the present Invention four or other convenient small number of
circular structures each like the one described in the Specification hereinbefore
referred to, but with modifications and additions hereinafter described, are combined
with each other and with apparatus for preparing the coal and supplying it to the
retorts, and with apparatus for cooling or quenching the coke.
In each circular structure or circle of retorts the retorts and heating flues are
constructed and arranged as before, but in each retort vertical passages or flues are
formed from the bottom to near the top to facilitate the escape of the vapors and
gases from the coal, there being one of these passages in the middle and at each
end of the retort, and numerous openings being formed in them for the entrance of
the vapors or gases. In the central space of each structure or circle there are
constructed in brickwork several vertical flues or combustion chambers having at
the bottom of each a small furnace or grate with fire door for burning some fuel to
aid the combustible gas which is used and to insure the ignition of that gas at all
times. The combustible gas employed, which may be the permanent gas produced
in the retorts, taken after the condensible products have been separated from it, is
led by a pipe to a central chamber within the circle of small furnaces and issues
by burner ports just above those furnaces into the vertical flues. Immediately
above the burner ports for the gas there are ports for the entrance of air into the
flues for the combustion of the gas, and the air so entering is previously heated by
passing down passages formed for it in the centre of the brickwork and also by
previously passing through pipes placed centrally in larger vertical pipes through
which the volatile products from the retorts proceed on their way to the condensers,

page_text: The volatile products from the several retorts in a circle first ascend by short
vertical pipes at the inner parts of the tops of the retorts into an annular
hydraulic main, and next proceed up a central vertical pipe which is connected by
a horizontal pipe with the central vertical pipe of another circle, a descending
vertical pipe being connected to the middle of this horizontal pipe and having 5
pipes leading from the bottom of it to the condensers and separating apparatus.
The pipes that have been described serve for cooling and partly condensing the
volatile products the heat given off being to some extent utilised for heating the air
for combustion as hereinbefore indicated. The permanent gas is also heated by
passing through pipes placed in larger pipes through which latter the volatile 1
products pass on their way to the condenseri. ! ..?
A tower is constructed centrally as regards the set of four retort circles and the
heating flues of these circles are led into it and continued by flues passing up its
sides to a chimney at the top. A chamber is formed in this central tower for drying
the coal which is washed and crushed by means of any suitable known kind of
apparatus and is conveyed by an elevator up to the top of the drying chamber in
the tower. The coal is withdrawn from the bottom of the drying chamber into
barrows or trucks in which it is conveyed on rails as required to the several retort
circles. It being inconvenient, however, to have rails on the tops of the retorts,
there is fitted above each retort circle a rotating cage supported at its central part
which embraces the central vertical pipe hereinbefore mentioned. This rotating
cage is arranged to receive the barrows or trucks, and when one is run into it it
is swung round to place the barrow or truck above the retort which is then to be
filled.
The apparatus for cooling or quenching the coke is arranged so as to avoid the
discharge of large volumes of steam into the atmosphere. Each truck of fresh
coke is run through a door in a chamber into a cage which after the door has been
closed is lowered into a tank of water, and then water contained in a cistern at
the top of the chamber is made to descend through a perforated diaphragm in a
shower so as to condense the steam which rises. Inclined plates are fixed above
the cage to cause the condensing water to pass to the sides, and thence into the
tank below. The truck with the cooled coke is then run out of the cage and
chamber through a door opposite to that by which it entered and a fresh truck
follows it into the chamber and cage. With this improved cooling or quenching
apparatus an appreciable amount of ammonia is absorbed by the water from which
it can be recovered by known means,
HABA

page_text: Connected therewith.
I, JOHN MCCULLOCH, of Calderbank Iron Works, Airdrie, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for "JMPROVEMENTS IN COKE OVENS OR RETORTS AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
bo particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is
to say :-
My said Invention comprises further improvements in and connected with the
apparatus described in the Specification of Letters Patent No 4122 of 1884, the
objects of the present improvements being generally the same as those of the
Invention forming the subject matter of the said earlier Letters Patent.
In carrying out my present Invention four or other convenient small number of
circular structures each like the one described in the Specification hereinbefore
referred to, but with modifications and additions hereinafter described, are combined
with each other and with apparatus for preparing the coal and supplying it to the
retorts, and with apparatus for cooling or quenching the coke.
My improved apparatus is shown on three accompanying sheets of explanatory
drawings, figure, 1, on sheet, 1, being a plan of part of one of the circular structures
of a set, whilst figure, 2, on sheet, 2, is a corresponding vertical section, figure, 3,
on sheet, 3, being partly a horizontal section as taken across the retorts and heating
Blues, and partly an inverted plan of the underside of the structure. In these
drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
In each circular structure or circle of retorts the retorts, 4, and heating flues, 5,
are constructed and arranged as before, but in each retort vertical passages or
flues, 6, are formed from the bottom to near the top to facilitate the escape of the
vapors and gases from the coal, there being one of these passages in the middle and
at each end of the retort, and numerous openings being formed in them for the
entrance of the vapors or gases. In the central space of each structure or circle
there are constructed in brickwork several vertical flues or combustion chambers, 7,
having at the bottom of each a small furnace, 8, with grate and fire door for
burning some fuel to aid the combustible gas which is used, and, to insure the
ignition of that gas at all times. The combustible gas employed, which may be
the permanent gas produced in the retorts, taken after the condensible products
have been separated from it, is led by a pipe to a concentric chamber or flue, 9,
beneath the circle of small furnaces, 8, and issues by burner ports, 10, (indicated
by dotted lines in figure, 2,) just above those furnaces into the vertical flues, 7.
Immediately opposite to the burner ports, 10, for the gas there are ports, 11, for
the entrance of air into the flues, 7, for the combustion of the gas, and the air so
entering is previously heated by passing down a passage or flue, 12, formed for it
in the centre of the brickwork, and also by previously passing through a pipe, 13,

page_text: placed centrally in a larger vertical pipe, 14, through which the volatile products
from the retorts, 4, proceed on their way to the condensers.
The volatile products from the several retorts, 4, in a circle first ascend by short
vertical pipes, 15, at the inner parts of the tops of the retorts, into an annular
hydraulic main, 16, and next proceed up the central vertical pipe, 14, which is
connected to a horizontal pipe, 18. The horizontal pipes, 18, from two circles of
retorts are connected to the top of a large vertical pipe or cylinder, 19, having pipes
leading from the bottom of it to the condensers and separating apparatus. The
pipes that have been described serve for cooling and partly condensing the volatile
products the heat given off being to some extent utilised for heating the air for
combustion as hereinbefore indicated. Thus within the large vertical pipe or
cylinder, 19, there is a somewhat smaller pipe, 39, the space for the volatile
products being between it and the larger pipe whilst the air for combustion is
passed through the inner pipe, 39. The air which is passed through the apparatus
by means of any suitable blowing apparatus if required, is lod into the bottom of
the inner pipe, 39, and proceeds from the top thereof by a pipe, 20, connecting
with the pipe, 13, bereinbefore referred to. The permanent gas may also be heated
by passing through pipes placed in larger pipes through which latter the volatile
products pass on their way to the condensers.
In cases in which my Invention can be carried out on a large scale I prefer to
have four circles or circular structures in combination, and to have a tower con-
structed centrally as regards the set of four circles. The continuations of the
heating flues, 5, of the retorts are lead into the central tower and into flues passing
up its sides to a chimney at the top. As shown at the left-hand side of figuro, 3,
the heating flues, 5, which immediately surround or enclose the retorts, 4, are con-
nected at their upper and outer parts by separate branch flues, 21, with an annular
flue, 22; and from this annular flue, 22, a flue, 23, proceeds across to the central
chimney tower. The branch flues, 21, are provided with dampers by means of
which the proper regulation and distribution of the heat can be secured."
In the central chimney tower a chamber is formed for drying the coal, which is
washed and crushed by means of any suitable known kind of apparatus, and is
conveyed by an elevator up to the top of the drying chamber in the tower. The
coal is withdrawn from the bottom of the drying chamber into barrows or trucks
in which it is conveyed on rails as required to the several retort circles. It being
inconvenient, however, to have rails on the tops of the retorts there is fitted above
cach rotort circle a rotating cage, 24, supported at its central part which embraces
the central vertical pipe, 14, herein before mentioned. The cage, 24, which is also
supported by wheels, 25, running on a single circular rail, 26, laid upon the top of
the retort structure, is arranged to receive the barrows or trucks, at one part of the
structure from suitable clevating apparatus, and when one is run into it it is
swung round to place the barrow or truck above the retort which is then to be
filled.
The apparatus for cooling or quenching the coke is arranged so as to avoid the
discharge of large volumes of steam into the atmosphere. Each truck of fresh coke
is run through a door in a chamber into a cage which, after the door has been
closed, is lowered into a tank of water, and then water contained in a cistern at
the top of the chamber is made to descend through a perforated diaphragm in a
shower so as to condense the steam which rises. Inclined plates are fixed above the
cage to cause the condensing water to pass to the sides, and thence into the tank
below. The truck with the cooled coke is then run out of the cage and chamber
through a door opposite to that by which it entered, and a fresh truck follows it
into the chamber and cage. With this improved cooling and quenching apparatus
an appreciable amount of ammonia is absorbed by the water from which it can be
recovered by known means.
Any parts of the apparatus not herein specially referred to are to be understood
as being the same as the corresponding parts of the apparatus described in my
carlier Specification hereinbefore referred to. It may be mentioned however, that

page_text: the apparatus, 27, shown in figure, 2, beneath the retorts at the right-hand side of
that figure, is hydraulic apparatus for raising and lowering the doors, 28, which
close the bottoms of the retorts, and comprises a pair of vertical hydraulic cylinders
with their rains together with a pump and gearing for working it. This
apparatus, 27, is placed on a platform, 29, which is of a segmental form in plan
and which rests by wheels and can move round upon circular rails, 30, for the
purpose of bringing the hydraulic apparatus, 27, into position beneath any of the
retorts.
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
1.-The combination of parts forming my improved coking ovens or retorts and
accessory apparatus substantially as herein before described.
2.-The improved construction of the retorts with the vertical passages or flues, 6,
to facilitate the escape of the vapors or gases arranged and combined substantially
as herein before described.
3. The improved combustion chambers or flues, 7, combined with the furnaces, 8,
and gas and air inlets, 10, 11, substantially as herein before described.
4. The arrangements or apparatus for utilising the heat of the volatile products
for heating the air substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved apparatus for cooling or quenching the coke substantially as
hereinbefore described.