IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING, DISCHARGING, AND SCURFING RETORTS AND FURNACES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Somerville, Gas Engineer, and John
Robinson, Mechanic, both of the Gas Works, in the City of
Dublin, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR CHARGING, DISCHARGING, AND SCURFING RETORTS AND
FURNACES."
Sealed the 4th June 1872, and dated the 9th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Somerville and
John Robinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th December 1871.
We, JOHN SOMERVILLE, Gas Engineer, and JOHN ROBINSON,
Mechanic, both of the Gas Works, in the City of Dublin, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING, DISCHARGING, AND SCURFING RETORTS AND
FURNACES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the construction of machinery or
apparatus whereby the manual labour now employed in the retort

page_text: houses of gas works may be greatly reduced, and consists in laying
along the floor of the retort house grooved rails or tram whereon a
platform supported by flanged wheels may run. Upon the platform,
and by preference on one side thereof, is fixed a steam boiler and
engine which propels it and gives motion to the various parts of
the machine. On the other side is constructed a substantial upright
and
quadrilateral frame, the corners of which serve as supports
guides for a sort of cradle or secondary platform upon which rests
the scoop or scoops for filling the retorts, or rake for discharging
them. On the top of the frame above the scoop a receptacle,
which is supplied with coals from another receptacle below by
means of an elevator of peculiar construction is furnished with an
archimedian screw or other equivalent contrivance whereby the scoop is
filled with coals.
When the apparatus is to be brought into action it is driven along
until the scoop stands opposite the retort to be charged, motion is then
communicated from the engine to the cradle, which is raised to the
height of the retort and there supported by pawls resting on lugs,
brackets, or other suitable device attached to the uprights at each corner
of the frame. While the scoop or scoops are being driven into the
retort they are at the same time being filled with coal or other material
from a vertical sliding shoot, supplied by the archimedian screw from
the top receptacle, or by means of the elevator from the bottom
receptacle, the scoop or scoops being driven forward into the retort by
means of the engine acting upon a common chain through the inter-
vention of a deferential pulley on the main shaft and other pullies fixed
to the carrier cradle. The scoop or scoops are now turned over by the
action of a volute spring upon an upright shaft operating upon two
bevel wheels. The motion is then reversed, whereon the scoop or
scoops is withdrawn, and being provided with a scraper is caused
to press against the retort in its passage outwards, thereby removing
the carbon or some portion of it should any have accumulated. Two
small scoops may be used instead of one large one, the advantage
of which is that the coal is more evenly spread on the surface of the
retort, or an archimedian screw, working in the scoop may be used to
deposit the coal in the retort.
The hoe or roka is attached to the cradle in a similar manner to that

page_text: rake bar is however made U shaped in order to admit of a bar sliding
within the hollow, so as to raise or depress the blade. The U shape of
the bar is also taken advantage of to allow a stream of water to run
down it and thus prevent the overheating and bending of the same.
The rake is moreover provided with a volute or other spring which,
while it keeps the rake in contact with the coke, furnishes sufficient
elasticity to obviate any damage which might arise from the jamming of
the coke in the retort when being withdrawn.
For the purpose of removing the carbon from the interior of the retort
the apparatus is so constructed as to allow of a scurfing bar fitted with
suitable points being attached to it in the place of the rake, the said bar
being provided with a tubular spring. This spring which is filled with
water in order to maintain its elasticity is used to press the bar against
the retort during the operation of scurfing.
Another method of removing the carbon consists in forming a hollow
bar (so that it may be supplied with water or steam) with a hollow boss
or head having cutters fixed to it, and small holes pierced in it for the
emission of jets of water or steam to impinge upon the points of the.
cutters. The bar thus arranged is made to revolve rapidly against the
sides of the retort, whereupon the carbon becomes speedily detached.
without injury to the retort itself.
The machine has also a contrivance whereby the coke drawn from the
retort may be delivered to the furnace. This is accomplished by con-
structing the furnace door of a peculiar shape, and attaching to the
machine a kind of shoot specially designed for this purpose.
The whole of the foregoing may be combined in one apparatus, but it
is preferred where circumstances will admit, to have two separate
machines, one for charging and another for discharging and scurfing,
each machine being provided with its own boiler and engine.
Manual labour or any other suitable motive power may be substituted
for steam in working the machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Somerville and John Robinson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 8th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
SOMERVILLE, Gas Engineer, and JOHN ROBINSON, Mechanic, both of
the Gas Works, in the City of Dublin, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Somerville and John Robinson,
Her special license that we, the said John Somerville and John
Robinson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said John Somerville and John Robinson, our executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE -
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING, DISCHARGING, AND SCURFING
RETORTS AND FURNACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said John Somerville and John Robinson, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under
the hand or seal of one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Somerville and John
Robinson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the construction of machinery or
apparatus whereby the manual labour now employed in the retort houses

page_text: of gas works may be greatly reduced, and consists in laying along the
floor of the retort house grooved rails or trams whereon a platform sup-
ported by flanged wheels may run. Upon the platform, and by preference
on one side thereof, is fixed a steam boiler and engine which propels it,
and gives motion to the various parts of the machine. On the other side
is constructed a substantial upright quadrilateral frame, the corners of
which serve as supports and guides for a sort of cradle or secondary
platform, upon which rests the scoop or scoops for filling the retorts, or
rake for discharging them. On the top of the frame above the scoop a
receptacle which is supplied with coals from another receptacle below,
by means of an elevator of peculiar construction, is furnished with an
archimedian screw or other equivalent contrivance whereby the scoop is
filled with coals.
When the apparatus is to be brought into action it is driven along
until the scoop stands opposite the retort to be charged, motion is then
communicated from the engine to the cradle, which is raised to the
height of the retort, and there supported by pawls resting on lugs,
brackets, or other suitable device attached to the uprights at each corner
of the frame. While the scoop or scoops are being driven into the retort
they are at the same time being filled with coal or other material from a
vertical sliding shoot supplied by the archimedian screw from the top
receptacle, or by means of the elevator from the bottom receptacle, the
scoop or scoops being driven forward into the retort by means of the
engine acting upon a common chain through the intervention of a
differential pulley on the main shaft, and other pullies fixed to the
carrier cradle. The scoop or scoops are now turned over by the action
of a volute spring upon an upright shaft operating upon two bevel
wheels. The motion is then reversed, whereon the scoop or scoops is
withdrawn, and being provided with a scraper is caused to press against
the retort in its passage outwards, thereby removing the carbon or some
portion of it, should any have accumulated. Two small scoops may be
used instead of one large one, the advantage of which is that the coal is
more evenly spread on the surface of the retort, or an archimedian screw
working in the scoop may be used to deposit the coal in the retort.
The hoe or rake is attached to the cradle in a similar manner to that of
the scoop, and is propelled and withdrawn in the same way. The rake
bar is however made U shaped, in order to admit of a bar sliding within
the hollow, so as to raise or depress the blade. The Ushape of the bar

page_text: is also taken advantage of to allow a stream of water to run down it, and
thus prevent the overheating and bending of the same. The rake is
moreover provided with a volute or other spring which while it keeps.
the rake in contact with the coke furnishes sufficient elasticity to obviate
any damage which might arise from the jamming of the coke in the
retort when being withdrawn.
For the purpose of removing the carbon from the interior of the
retort the apparatus is so constructed as to allow of a scurfing bar fitted
with suitable points being attached to it in the place of the rake, the
said bar being provided with a tubular spring. This spring, which is
filled with water in order to maintain its elasticity, is used to press the
bar against the retort during the operation of scurfing.
Another method of removing the carbon consists in forming a hollow
bar (so that it may be supplied with water or steam) with a hollow boss or
head, having cutters fixed to it, and small holes pierced in it for the emission
of small jets of water or steam, to impinge upon the points of the cutters.
The bar thus arranged is made to revolve rapidly against the sides of the
retort, whereupon the carbon becomes speedily detached without injury
to the retort itself.
The machine has also a contrivance whereby the coke drawn from the
retort may be delivered to the furnace. This is accomplished by con-
structing the furnace door of a peculiar shape, and attaching to the
machine a kind of shoot specially designed for this purpose.
The whole of the foregoing may be combined in one apparatus, but it
is preferred, where circumstances will admit, to have two separate
machines, one for charging, and another for discharging and scurfing,
each machine being provided with its own boiler and engine.
Manual labour or any other suitable motive power may be substituted
for steam in working the machinery.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed two Sheets of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the machine; Figure 2, a side
elevation shewing the archimedian screw and rake, the engine and

page_text: boiler being removed; Figures 3 and 3ª are respectively a side elevation
and transverse section of the scoops and their appendages; Figure 4
(Sheet 2) is a side elevation of the elevator and scurfing bar; 'and
Figure 5, a plan of the machine with a portion of the top framing,
engine, the boiler, and archimedian screw being removed in order to show
some of the details below.
a, a, are grooved rails or tramways laid along the floor of the retort
house, whereon a platform A, Figure 1, may run. Upon the platform,
and by preference on one side thereof, is fixed a steam boiler and engine
B, B, which propels it, and gives motion to the various parts of the
machine. On the other side is constructed a substantial upright quadri-
lateral frame C, C, the corners of which serve as supports and guides for
a sort of cradle or secondary platform D, upon which rests the scoop or
scoops E, E, Figures 3 and 3*, for filling the retorts. The rake shewn
at d and f, Figure 2, for discharging them, is also supported by it. On
the top of the frame above the scoop is a receptacle G, which is supplied
with coals from rail or tramway wagons overhead, where it is convenient
to do so.
The coals on falling into this receptacle or hopper are driven
forward through a trough by an archimedian screw H, from whence they
fall into an inclined trough I, communicating with a vertical shoot J,
which rises and falls with the cradle D, and which stands immediately
over the scoops and delivers the coal into them as they pass forward into
the retort. Lateral openings are made in this vertical shoot, one for each
tier of retorts, so that as the shoot rises one of these openings will come
opposite the end of the inclined trough I. A hinged door opening
inwards is fitted to each of the openings, except the top one, in order to
prevent any coal which may be discharged into the upper part of the
vertical shoot from escaping through the lower lateral openings.
Where it is inconvenient to bring the coals in overhead, they may be
brought in on the floor of the retort house and shovelled into the hopper
or receptacle K. This hopper has a slit in the bottom, through which
the coals fall into small troughs or buckets. L suspended on centres or
pivots, the extremities of which are connected to endless chains, and
together form an elevator of the description shown both in Figures 1, 4,
and 5. By the revolution of this elevator the coals are brought up to
the top of the machine, where on reaching the summit each bucket is
tipped, throwing its contents into the inclined trough I, which then pass
to the vertical shoot and scoops as before.

page_text: A small lever arm is secured to both ends of the pivots of the buckets,
and these arms work in guide grooves in the sides of the hopper or
receptacle K for the purpose of holding the buckets in position when
taking up the coal. On arriving at the top these arms come in contact
with fixed stops, which cause them to swivel and so tip over each bucket
in turn, thereby discharging their contents into the inclined trough I.
When the retort is to be charged the apparatus is driven along by the
engine (motion being communicated to the flanged wheels M through
the intervention of a worm wheel and screw N, the latter being fixed on
the fly wheel shaft N¹ of the engine), and the worm wheel fixed on the
main shaft N", until the scoops stand directly opposite the particular
retorts to be charged. The cradle D is then raised by throwing into
gear the mitre wheels O, O¹, the wheel O' being fast on the transverse
shaft O", which carries two pitch chain pullies having pitch chains P
passing around them and round two other corresponding pullies Q on a
shaft Q in the frame above, each chain being fastened to the cradle at
the opposite ends at the point R. The cradle when raised to the proper
height is supported by detents S resting in or on racks, lugs, or brackets
formed in the angles of the outer frame, the said detents being mounted
on each end of the working spindles S¹, and thrown out of gear simul-
taneously by levers mounted on the two spindles and connected together
by a pin and slot. The weight of these levers tends to keep the detents
in gear.
.
. The scoops having been thus placed in position, the pulley T is caused
to rotate and give motion to a common chain U, one end of which is
fastened to the saddle V, shewn in Figure 3, and the other end to a
drum V¹ attached to the under part of the saddle, the axis of the drum
being marked W. The use of this drum is to let out chain or take up
slack of the same as occasion may require when the cradle is raised or
lowered, a detent and rachet wheel being fitted to each drum to prevent
the chain from unwinding. This arrangement is seen attached both to
the scoops and rake saddles. The scoops, which are also attached to the
saddle, are thus driven forward while receiving their load of coals from
the shoot J, the scoops being supported and guided by the saddle at one
end and a roller X (Figure 3) at the other. When the scoops have
reached the full distance into the retort, the catch Y comes in contact
with the bar or stud Z, and releases a volute spring contained in the
circular box a¹, which through the bevel pinions a¹¹ and 6" turn the

page_text: scoops over, and so deposits their contents on the sides or bottom of the
retort. The scoops are made duplex or divided longitudinally, as shewn
clearly in Figure 3*, each half being by preference of an angular section
and turning on its own axis. Both halves of the scoop turn over in an
outward direction (the two being geared together by spur pinions a¹¹¹) so
as to deposit the coals against the sides of the retort.
b
On reversing the engine the scoops are withdrawn in an inverted
position until the lever 6 presses against a horizontal bar c fixed to the.
cradle. The lever bis fixed to an axis having a bevelled pinion 6¹¹,
which communicates motion to the other pinion a" at right angles to it,
the shaft of which passes through the fore end of the saddle and turns
the two common pinions a", which are fixed to the two scoops and gear
into each other. The result is that the pressure put upon the lever b
causes the scoops to resume their normal position, and fit to receive
another charge of coal. The end of each scoop is turned down some-
what, though not so shewn in our Drawings, so that on its being
withdrawn it scrapes the top of the retort and helps to remove any
deposit that may take place on its surface. In order to insure this
scraping action during the withdrawal of the scoops the axle of the
upper roller supporting the front end of the saddle works in a bearing
which plays in vertical slots in the two sides of the saddle, and is
pressed upon by a helical spring and adjusting screw working through a
plate bolted to a flange on the top of the saddle. As the screw is
screwed down it obviously elevates the front part of the saddle, and thus
raises the inner ends of the scoops.
The hoe or rake rides upon the cradle by means of a saddle V similar
to that of the scoops, and is shewn in Figure 2. The rake bar d is
however made U shaped in section in order to admit of a bar e sliding
within the hollow so as to raise or depress the head or blade of the
rake The U shape of the bar is also taken advantage of to allow a
small stream or jet of water to run down it from the pipe g; supplied
from the cistern g mounted on the top of the framing, and thus prevents
the overheating and bending of the same. The rake head f is grooved
or channelled, so that when in a horizontal position outside the retort
any water falling thereon from the pipe 9 will be retained, and thus tend
to prevent overheating of the head of the rake. When the rake is
introduced within the retort, it is thrust into it with the blade in the
position shewn on the Drawing, but on attaining the requisite distance

page_text: the catch h, forming the lower end of the lever O, comes into collision
with a fixed stud i, and releases a volute spring contained in the box j.
One end of this spring is fastened to the box and the other to an arbor,
upon which is fixed a lever m, the lower end of which lever works in a
notch on one end of the sliding bar e, as seen in the Drawing. The
effect of releasing the spring is to depress the blade of the hoe or rake by
causing the bar e, sleeve k, and connecting link to slide back. The
blade thus assumes a position suitable for withdrawing it together with
the coke on the reversal of the engine. The blade of the hoe may again
be raised by pulling back the lever m and engaging the catch n with a
projection on the lever o..
Figure 4 exhibits a side view of the elevator and a longitudinal view
of the scurfing bar and its accessories, which may be used for scurfing
retorts and furnaces. The scurfing bar p, p, is raised into position for
entering the retort by means of the chains q at each end. It is then
thrust forward by turning the hand wheel r, which actuates the endless
chain until it reaches the spot upon which it is designed to operate.
Motion is then communicated from the main shaft N" by means of the
chains passing over a pulley T¹ (Figure 5) and around a pulley u of
the same Figure, thereby causing the toothed wheel and pinion w,
Figures 4 and 5, to revolve with great rapidity. The bar p, to which the
small pinion wo is attached, will of course revolve with the same speed,
carrying with it the boss x with the points or cutters y. By this means
the scurf or accumulated carbon may soon be detached without injury
to the retort itself. In order to keep the points of the cutter cool water
is admitted from the cistern or tank g', shewn in Figure 1, down a
flexible pipe 1 to the metal tube 2 (Figure 4), which passes through a
stuffing box 3 into the hollow bar p. Water, cold air, or steam may
thus be caused to traverse the bar p, and be emitted through small holes
in the boss and made to impinge upon the cutting points Y. The points
are thus kept in a condition to do their work effectually.
The machine is also furnished with a shoot and connections, not
shewn on the Drawing, into which the hot coke may fall and pass into
the furnace for heating the retorts, or into barrows or wagons placed to
receive it.
The whole of the foregoing may be combined in one apparatus, or
where circumstances render it more convenient, two separate machines

page_text: Sinan Wheels which run along the top and TWO Blues of ап 14 парса
bar bolted to the said horizontal frame or cradle, as herein-before
described.
Seventh. The application of a volute spring for reversing the scoops in
combination with a catch lever and detent acted upon by stops attached
to the rising and falling cradle, or to the mouthpiece of the retort to be
charged, as herein-before described.
Eighth. The application of a winding drum or its equivalent for
taking in and letting out the chain employed in running in and
withdrawing the scoops and rakes out of the retorts, as herein-before
described.
Ninth. Elevating the end of the scoop so as to clear the coals after
they have been discharged into the retort, and to scrape off the carbon or
other deposit from the roof of the retort by causing the saddle which
carries such scoop to be tipped upwards slightly at its front end by
means of an adjusting screw and helical spring, as herein-before
described.
Tenth. The attaching a vertical sliding shoot to the cradle which
carries the scoop, such shoot having as many side openings therein as
there are tiers of retorts, each opening below the top one being provided
with a hinged flap or door opening inwards in combination with a fixed
inclined shoot and elevator, as herein-before described.
Eleventh. The charging the scoops at the time they are entering into
the retorts.
Twelfth. The construction of elevators for elevating the coals into the
fixed inclined shoot with buckets hung upon centres or pivots between
two endless pitch chains, such pivots being provided with guiding arms
which work in grooves or guides in the bottom hopper and strike against
a stop on the top of the framework for the purpose of holding the
buckets in a proper position for taking up the coal and for emptying
such buckets, as herein-before described.
Thirteenth. The combination with the fixed inclined shoot and the
peculiar vertical sliding shoot of a stationary hopper and horizontal
trough, the latter having an archimedean screw working therein, as and
for the purpose herein-before described.

page_text: Fourteenth. The hinging the head of the rake to the end of a bar of U
section, which bar contains the sliding rod for actuating the rake head
and serves as a reservoir of water, which in conjunction with grooves or
channels for holding water in the surface of the rake head, keeps the
rake bar and head cool, as herein-before described.
Fifteenth. The mode of actuating the hinged rake head by the
employment of a volute spring and finger taking into a notch in the end
of a longitudinal sliding bar, which is connected to a sleeve, such
sleeve being coupled by two links to the rake head, as herein-before
described.
Sixteenth. The combination of a catch lever and detent with the said
volute spring and with a stop attached to the H shaped bar, along which
the saddle carrying the rake travels to and fro for the purpose of
actuating the head of the rake, as herein-before described.
Seventeenth. The mounting of a water tank on the top of the framing
of a machine for charging and discharging gas retorts, ovens, and
furnaces when such tank is in connection with a pipe or pipes for
directing water on to the rake bar and head, and on to the coke as it is
withdrawn from the retorts, as herein-before described.
Eighteenth. The application and use to and in the "scurfing" of the
insides of gas retorts, that is to say, removing the carbon adhering
thereto, of a revolving tool provided with cutters and driven by gearing
or otherwise from the main shaft of an engine mounted on the platform
of the machine, as herein-before described.
Nineteenth. The application of a stream of water, air, or steam to the
interior of the spindle and head of the said revolving "scurfing" tool for
the purpose of keeping the same from becoming overheated, as herein-
before described.
Twentieth. The use of an inclined shoot for the purpose of enabling
the coke as it is withdrawn from the retort to pass direct into the
furnace, as herein-before described.
Twenty-first. The peculiar combination of the several parts consti-
tuting our improved machinery or apparatus for charging, discharging,
and scurfing gas retorts, ovens, and furnaces when arranged to operate

page_text: together, in the manner herein-before described and illustrated by our
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robinson, on behalf of myself
and the said John Somerville, have to this our Specification set
my hand and seal, the Seventh day of June, One thousand eight 5
hundred and seventy-two.
JOHN ROBINSON. (L.S.)