IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAWING OR DISCHARGING COKE OVENS AND LOADING COKE WAGONS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Jobson, of Darlington, in the County of
Durham, Colliery Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR DRAWING OR DISCHARGING COKE OVENS AND LOADING COKE
WAGONS."
Sealed the 12th January 1864, and dated the 24th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Jobson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
August 1868.
I, ALFRED JOBSON, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Colliery Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR DRAWING OR DISCHARGING COKE OVENS AND LOADING COKE
WAGONS," to be as follows:-
The ordinary mode of drawing or discharging coke ovens is to insert an
iron rake or other similar tool through the door and to draw the coke out on
the bench or quay in front, from whence it is thrown forward and subsequently.
filled into wagons or trucks by means of iron gripes or shovels.
The objects of the proposed improvements are to diminish the cost of these
operations and facilitate them by the partial substitution of steam power for
hand labor, and of improved tools and appliances for the tools at present in
These results are accomplished by placing a steam engine, portable,
self-propelling, or otherwise, with crane, rope, drums, chains, or other appli-
ances attached, upon a railway, tramway, or other road laid down or formed,

page_text: on the benches or elsewhere, at any desired or convenient listance from the
coke ovens, and when it is desired to draw or discharge one the engine and
appliances are moved up in front of or near to it. A tool similar to a rake,
or of other suitable shape, is then connected to the engine by peculiar
arrangement, and with the aid or by means of the steam power such tool is
used for drawing the coke out of the oven on to a moveable iron or other
screen, box, or basket, of proper size and peculiar construction, which is at
once, or subsequently, lifted by means of the crane and engine, and emptied
either directly into wagons or trucks or on to any adjacent part of the bench
or quay. Or otherwise the coke, if desired; may be drawn out of the oven by
the means and apparatus already described and placed at once on the bench
or quay, from whence it is subsequently loaded into wagons or trucks by any
ordinary means, or it is filled, either by aid of the steam power or otherwise,
into a suitable iron or other box, screen, or basket, of peculiar construction,
placed for that purpose either below the level of the bench or quay or other-
wise, as may be deemed most advantageous, and such box, screen, or basket is
then lifted by the crane and engine, as already described, and emptied into the
wagons or trucks or on to any desired place..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Jobson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
JOBSON, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Colliery Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alfred Jobson, Her special licence that I, the said
Alfred Jobson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alfred Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others; from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 FOR DRAWING OR DISCHARGING COKE OVENS AND LOADING

page_text: COKE WAGONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Jobson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 I, the said Alfred Jobson, do hereby declare. the
nature of my, said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
:-
The ordinary mode of drawing or discharging coke ovens, more especially
those of a circular shape, is to insert an iron rake or other similar tool through
the door and to draw the coke out on to the bench or quay in front of the
oven, from whence it is thrown forward and subsequently filled into wagons or
trucks by means of iron gripes or shovels.
My improvements are intended to facilitate those operations and to diminish
their cost; they consist in the employment of certain improved modes of
applying steam power in aid of or as a substitute for hand labour, and in the
application of improved tools and appliances for the tools heretofore and at
present in use.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The drawing or discharging of coke
ovens is accomplished by the employment (in the manner herein-after more
particularly described) of a steam crane, either self-propelling or otherwise, or
of a steam hoist, or of a portable or moveable steam engine of any suitable
description, with or without a crane, having a drum or drums and other
appliances attached.
I use for general purposes a self-propelling or other portable steam crane
mounted on wheels suitable for travelling on a railway, and made to raise,
lower, and turn round by steam, either partially or entirely. The ordinary
crane drum may be employed, in which case the outer end of the lifting chain
may be made capable of being unhooked or detached from the inner end as
occasion may require; but it will be found more convenient and advantageous
to use two drums working on one shaft if needs be, and so constructed that
by means of friction cones or other description of disengaging gear they may
be capable of being worked together or separately, and by means of wheels of
different sizes, as in ordinary cranes, made to work at either a quick speed or
a slow one, as may be desired. Where two drums are thus employed the
горе
or chain used for unloading the coke ovens, as herein-after described, is coiled

page_text: in one drum and the lifting chain on the other, and the drums are so fixed as
to allow of the ropes or chains being led as nearly from the centre of the
drums as may be practicable. The jib of the crane may be of the same con-
struction as that in common use, but it is preferred that it should consist of
either two or three sides or ribs with spaces between them in which are placed
guiding sheaves or rollers in suitable positions for the coke oven bauling chain
to work over. Guiding sheaves or rollers may also be fixed in any other
desired position on the crane or on the truck on which it is placed, or on a
strut or projection from any part of the frame or machinery, or on the quay or.
bench, or in any part of the coke oven masonry, or they may be fixed on
frames or standards, so that the chain may be led in any required direction,
and that thus the various circumstances connected with coke ovens of different
sizes, shapes, and positions may be effectually provided for. In certain cases,
also, where it is desired to lead the coke oven chain in a particular direction,
a snatch block or other loose sheave is hooked to the lifting chain of the crane
and used to guide the coke oven chain in the required direction.
For the purpose of applying the steam crane or steam engine above described
a road or railway is laid down on the quay or bench in front of the coke
ovens, or on some other adjacent and convenient place; it may either be a
tramway of narrow width, or a road or a railway of the usual dimensions,
which latter, although occupying more room, is preferred, as giving a wider
and steadier base for the engine to work from, and as being generally more
convenient. The exact position of this railway must be determined chiefly by
the width of the quay or bench. In many cases, especially where the quays
are narrow, the extreme outside of the quay, close to the wagon way, is pre-
ferred, whilst, in others, where there is more space, the railway will answer
best if laid down near the middle of the quay. In some cases the ordinary
truck or wagon railway may be used for the steam engine and crane to run
upon and work from.
The tool by which the coke is drawn out of the ovens is a large iron rake,
strongly made, with a head as wide as the oven door will admit of, and
having several prongs of suitable length, or with a solid head, if found
more serviceable. The handle should be long enough to allow of the
far side of the oven being reached, as in the case of rakes now used in the
ordinary manner. It may be made in one length or in two; if in two
lengths, the second is attached to the first by any simple fastening, and used
when the heat arising from a partially drawn oven renders close access
difficult. Or a tool having one prong or blade only, or at most two, is
employed to loosen and partially draw the coke in the centre part of the oven,

page_text: and the tool first described is then employed to complete the process; the
peculiar shape and strength of the tool must however be varied according to
the nature of the coke. Frequently it will be found that after the middle
portion of the coke has been removed the tool will be used with greater effect
if turned on its side, or a tool formed like an open box with iron bars or rods
for the sides and end, and having a handle of proper length attached, may be
employed after the coke has been loosened by the tools above described; this
tool is placed over and penetrates through the coke, which is then drawn
forward by the engine. The tools are attached by suitable fastenings to a
chain, or a rope and chain combined, leading from the crane or engine drum
worked by the steam engine. The fastening should be attached to that part
of the tool where the power is found to be most advantageously applied; in
most cases the under or upper side of the rake head or other tool will be found
best.
In working this machinery, the tool is guided into the oven over a rest or
loose roller, such as is now used, but when it is wished to draw the coke a
short distance beyond the door of the oven, or to give it a partial screening,
or when it is on other accounts found convenient so to do, the roller or rest
is suspended from two brackets of any required length, hung one on each side
of the door, or it is made capable of being turned in any required direction,
and placed on a portable frame or standard, which is removed from time to
time to a greater or less distance from the oven, or within it, as may be found
convenient, and sometimes a rest, or roller may be temporarily suspended from
a support placed in, through, or over the eye or crown of the oven; and in
addition to such-arrangement an iron screen or table, portable or fixed, with
or without sides may be secured close to the outside of the oven door, raised
on iron standards or wheels to a convenient height from the ground, and the
coke raked or drawn over it to any adjacent place.
When it is desired to draw or discharge a coke oven, the steam crane or
steam engine employed is placed upon the railway or other road, already
described, and moved up to a convenient position opposite or near the oven.
door. In some cases the steam engine and crane are placed on the quay on
the side of the wagon railway opposite to that in front of the oven intended to
be drawn, whereby greater facility for performing the work is obtained, or the
engine and crane are placed on the wagon railway itself.
;
The hauling chain should be of a lighter description than the crane-lifting
chain, and it is led from the high or low side of the drum, or over one of the
sheaves, before referred to, as may be convenient, and is then. hooked on to
the head or other part of the rake or tool, already described, and such rake

page_text: or other tool is then thrust into the oven, or it may be guided in over the
loose sheave or roller, either dependent from the brackets or fixed to the
standard near the door or otherwise; the prongs, or teeth, or head of the rake
or other tool are fixed in the mass of coke, which is then drawn forward at a
given signal by the engine. The centre portion may be first removed, and
then the side coke is loosened from the walls of the oven by the same method,
and either drawn out at once, or dragged towards the centre, and afterwards
removed in larger quantities. During this operation the position of the engine
may be altered slightly once or twice if needful, more especially if the shape
of the oven be circular, so as to prevent the chain and the coke from rubbing
against the oven jambs, and thereby injuring the brickwork.
Should it be desired to draw the coke a short distance beyond the door, the
object will be effected by the employment of an iron screen or table in the
manner already described. Under some circumstances, the rake or other
tool is forced into the oven, either under the coke or otherwise, by means of a
chain attached to the handle of the rake or tool, and drawn by the engine
over a sheave fixed in the masonry, or in any other convenient position near
the door of the oven. In thus working the engine, it is as far as possible so
placed, weighted, and supported, that whilst the drum is turned so as usually to
face the oven door, the strain of the hauling chain may be effectually counter-
balanced. If found necessary, the wheels of the engine must be locked by
a break, or wedged or otherwise secured to prevent any movement. Imme-
diately on the completion of the operation thus described, the various tools,
screens, and other apparatus may be placed upon the engine or crane, which
is then moved forward to the oven next intended to be drawn.
When the steam power is further used for loading the coke into wagons or
trucks, other appliances or apparatus are required. If the coke on being
drawn out of the oven requires no further cooling or screening, and when
wagons are in readiness to receive it, it is raked or filled at once into a box,
screen, or basket placed in a recess, described hereafter. This box may be of
-any convenient size or shape; it may be similar in form to the "kibble" or
tilting tub frequently employed. about collieries, and constructed to empty in
the same, way, or it may be of rectangular shape formed of iron bars with
spaces between them, strengthened with angle iron, and capable of containing
a considerable quantity of coke, which may be discharged from it either by
means of a bottom board on hinges, or by a door at one end or side, in which
latter case the chains or rods by which the box is slung must be so arranged,
that when suspended over the wagon, the box may have such an inclination
towards the door, that on its being opened the coke will slide freely into the

page_text: wagon below, or the bottom of the box may be inclined so that when the
side or end is opened the coke may be discharged, the required motion being
given by means of the chains or rods before mentioned, actuated by the steam
engine and crane. Should it be desired to store the coke on some other part
of the quay, the box is lifted by the steam crane, and emptied on the required
place. In most instances, however, the coke will have to lie on the quay for.
a short time for the purpose of cooling, or because wagons are not at hand to
receive it, and it will also generally require to be freed from ashes and other.
refuse, in any of which cases it is subsequently removed after it has been filled.
into any of the boxes above referred to, in the manner hereafter described.
Or I employ for thus loading the coke a box or screen of rectangular shape,
formed of iron rods and angle iron, and divided longitudinally by a slight.
division of iron bars into two compartments, at the end or side. of each
of which is a door hung on hinges from above, or it may consist of one com-
partment and one door only. Beyond the doors I place a short length of
screen, moveable or fixed as may be preferred, having low sides, and being
constructed in some respects the same as the bottom of the box or screen
with a chamber beneath it similar to that about to be described; over this
outside screen the coke slides when the doors of the box are opened. The
bottom of the box is formed of iron bars with spaces between them, through
which the ashes and small coke fall into a chamber beneath. This chamber
is a few inches in depth, and extends under the whole bottom of the box; it
is made of sheet iron, and divided into sections to prevent all the ashes sliding
into the lower end of it, and it has a moveable bottom board of ordinary con-
struction hung on hinges for the purpose of emptying it.
The doors of the box just described are each secured by a bolt of ordinary
description or spring catch, and they are readily opened or closed by means
of a chain or cord or rod attached to the fastening or to the doors, and they.
miay be used for the purpose of checking the too rapid descent of the coke
when it is so desired. The advantages of dividing the box into two compart-
ments are, that the quantity of coke to be put into any particular wagon can
thus be more easily regulated, and the screening accomplished more
effectually.
When the coke is lying on the bench or quay in readiness for loading, the
steam crane is moved up on the quay railway, between the rails of which, or
on the quay itself, and between each two ovens, or in any other convenient
position, is formed a recess properly bricked round, of sufficient size to admit
the box or screen, above described. The box or screen is lowered by means
of the steam crane into the recess, and the top of the box or screen being

page_text: then below the level of the quay, the coke is drawn or raked into it by steam
power, as herein-after described, or filled into it by hand; the steam crane
chain is then attached, and the box or screen is raised to any desired height,
and emptied into the wagon, as herein-before described.
I prefer to use engine power for filling the coke into the box or screen,
and I employ an iron rake, scraper, or other tool of large size with or without
wheels, curved and constructed so as to enclose a considerable quantity of coke
at once, and with chains or rods attached to both sides of such tool. This
rake, scraper, or tool is placed behind the heap of coke, and the hauling chain
of the engine is connected to the side chains or rods. The rake, scraper, or
tool is guided by a workman, and on being drawn forward by the engine in a
suitable direction, the coke is delivered into the box or screen.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Jobson; have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.