IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE, CHARCOAL, AND PATENT FUEL,' UTILIZING THE GASES THEREFROM. AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James George Beckton, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the
North Riding of the County of York, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, THE
MANUFACTURE OF COKE, CHARCOAL, AND PATENT FUEL,' UTILIZING THE
GASES THEREFROM. AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
$
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James George Beckton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd April 1880.
JAMES GEORGE BECKTON, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North Riding of
the County of York, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF
COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE, CHARCOAL, AND
PATENT FUEL,' UTILIZING THE GASES THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
One object of my Invention is to economise heat in the distillation in retorts and
other ovens of coal and other substances for the manufacture or production of
various products, such as tar or other oily matters or gases, and coke, charcoal, and
patent fuel." For this purpose I cause gases produced in suitable gas generating
or producing apparatus (it may be a generator, producer, or furnace such as hereinafter
described, or other furnaces or apparatus of like character may be used) to pass
therefrom, and be utilized and employed without ignition for heating the retorts or
ovens, which to this end I arrange in connection or communication with the gas
generating or producing apparatus, so that the gases may pass directly from the
generating or producing apparatus into the retorts or ovens. The gaseous products
which I utilize and employ as the distilling agent pass from the generating or
producing apparatus under slight pressure through suitable openings into the retorts
or ovens (which are provided with sliding dampers worked by levers or equivalent
means for cutting off the supply), for distilling the coal or other substances in such
retorts or ovens, and the uncondensed gases are drawn off, it may be by the
exhausting action of a steam jet fixed outside the condenser for that purpose.
Matters for distillation are supplied to the retorts or ovens through openings,
closed gas and air tight by removable covers. The lower ends of the retorts or
ovens may with advantago be of cast iron, the circular chamber being fitted with

page_text: an inner ring of cast iron perforated with holes for the free escape of the gases or
vapours.
In the bottoms of the retorts or ovens are suitable openings, whereby the matters
remaining after distillation are discharged, these openings being closed by bells or
valves.
The retorts or ovens as described, which should be air tight, may conveniently bo
made cylindrical in form. According to one mode of arranging my improved
apparatus the retorts or ovens are supported on columns and connected together in
single rows or in groups, with one or more retorts on each side of a gas generator,
and lines of railway running above and below; or one retort or oven and one
generator may be arranged in connection on the columns. The retorts or ovens
may be square, oblong, or of other suitable form, and be charged from the top and
drawn from the sides or ends, or they may be charged with a bogie and box run
into them on a railway.
One form of gas generator or producer is a modification of an ordinary gas
generator capable of using poor slack, small coke, peat, wood, lignite, or even
sawdust. In the firebrick wall of this generator there is a tuyere for admitting &
blast of steam and air. There are a sliding door lined with firebrick for cleaning
out at the bottom, and a sight hole fitted with a sliding door, closed with sliding
cam spindles, and movable cover for cleaning out the ashes into suitable wagons
travelling in rails placed beneath to receive them, and for inspecting the interior of
the generator. Above the hearths of the generators are fixed cast iron boxes bolted
to the casings and built in the fire-brick work, cach having openings with doors
for admitting iron bars to loosen the fuel or for supporting it during cleaning
out. On the top of each generator is a bell and hopper (connected with a lever)
through which fuel is supplied, and covered with a lid to provent the escape of gas
or admission of air. When the generator is filled with fuel to the working height
a fire is lighted urged by a steam jet, and steam and air being thus blown through
the tuyéres into the fire, the gases are produced.
The supply of steam and air is governed by valves, so that the supply of each
can be increased or diminished, and the temperature of the gases produced in the
generator be thus by careful regulation within certain limits under perfect control
so as to ensure a suitable temperature. The nature of the products depends on the
composition of the substance heated, and on the degree of heat applied.
The volume of gascous fuel from the gas generating apparatus having, after
passing into the retorts or ovens as herein before mentioned, been further increased
in volume and illuminating power by the addition of the gases generated from the
coal or matter submitted to distillation and remaining after passing through the
retorts or ovens and completion of condensation. I utilize for heating boilers or coke
ovens in the hearths of blast furnaces at or near the tuyeres in puddling and
heating furnaces, Bessemer converters and other processes in the manufacture of
iron or for calcining ironstone, limestone, gypsum, cement, etc., by direct application of
the gases after ignition in a combustion chamber, thereby saving fuel where a large
quantity of coal is now used. For such purposes it is a specially suitable fuel, as
the heat may be increased or diminished at the will of the operator.
Another part of my Invention relates to an improved method of closing the
retorts or ovens with bells or valves which I connect with rods passing upwards
through the insides of the retorts or ovens to pistons fitted into suitable steam or
other cylinders, so that the admission of steam or actuating fluid into the cylinders
below the pistons will cause the valves to remain closed, and on opening the exhaust
the pistons and valves will descend, thus allowing the contents of the retorts to fall,
or the valves may be lifted with a travelling crane arranged to run along a railway
at the top, and to lift the valves of all the retorts in one line. To keep the valves
to their faces I employ sliding cam spindles.
Another part of my Invention relates to the manufacture of coke. The strongly
caking coal of Northumberland and Durham when previously heated to a temperature

page_text: of 540° Fah. loses its property of swelling up and caking, and yields a coke
powdery and of little value. Now in order to make good sound coke from such
coal I treat the coal after it has been exposed to distillation in the retorts or ovens
by crushing in a suitable mill or apparatus and intimately mixing with it a due
proportion of caking coal crushed in like manner, say one third part more or less
according to circumstances. Thus a firm and resisting coke may be produced
from the coke ovens now in use by applying the gases from the gas generator and
retorts for combustion therein, the caking coal serving as a cementing material to the
particles of the former, and producing a coke, hard, solid and unyielding; or I mix the
residual carbon from the retorts, crushed or uncrushed, with a suitable quantity of
gas tar or pitch to form either coke or "patent fuel." The uncondensed gases from
the retorts can be applied to the coke ovens with a jet of hot or cold air for heating
them to any temperature required during coking operations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James George Beckton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd October 1880.
JAMES GEORGE BECKTON, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North Riding of
the County of York, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF
COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE, CHARCOAL, AND
PATENT FUEL,' UTILIZING THE GASES THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
"
One object of my Invention is to economise heat in the distillation in retorts
and other ovens of coal and other substances for the manufacture or production of
various products, such as tar, animoniacal liquors, and other matters, gases and
coke, charcoal, and "patent fuel."
•
For this purpose I cause gases produced in suitable gas generating or producing
apparatus (it may be a generator, producer, or furnace, such as hereinafter described,
or other furnaces or apparatus of like character may be used) to pass therefrom,
and be utilised and employed without ignition for heating the retorts or ovens,
which to this end I arrange in connection or communication with the gas generating
or producing apparatus, so that the gases may pass directly from the generating
or producing apparatus into the retorts or ovens.
The gascous products which I utilise and employ as the distilling agent are
caused to pass (it may be under slight pressure or by the influence of partial
vacuum) from the generating or producing apparatus through suitable openings
into the retorts or ovens (which are provided with sliding dampers worked by
levers or equivalent means for cutting off the supply) for distilling the coal or
other substances in such retorts or ovens, and the uncondensed gases are drawn off,
it may be by the exhausting action of a steam jet or jets, such jet or jets acting
upon and mixing with the gas from the generator or retort and partially cooled
will cause the deposit of tar and other matters.
Matters for distillation are supplied to the retorts or ovens through openings,
closed gas and air tight by removable covers. The lower ends of the retorts or
ovens may with advantage be of cast or wrought iron, and the circular chamber
may be fitted with a ring of cast or wrought iron perforated with holes for the
free escape of the gases or vapours, or two or more rings may be applied so as to
leave an annular space for such escape of gases or vapours.
In the bottoms of the retorts or ovens are suitable openings, whereby the
matters remaining after distillation are discharged, these openings being closed by
bells, or valves, or doors.
The retorts or ovens as described which should be air tight may conveniently
be made cylindrical in form. According to one mode of arranging my improved
apparatus, the retorts or ovens are supported on columns and connected together
in single rows or in groups, with one or more retorts on each side of a gas generator
and lines of railway running above and below, or one retort or oven and one
generator may be arranged in connection on the columns. The retorts or ovens
may be square, oblong, or of other suitable form, and be charged from the top and
drawn from the sides or ends, or they may be charged with a bogio and box run
into them on a railway.
One form of gas generator or producer is a modification of an ordinary gas
generator capable of using poor slack, small coke, pent, wood, lignite, or even saw
dust. In the fire brick wall of this generator there is a tuyère or tuyères for
admitting a blast of steam and air; there are a sliding door lined with fire brick
for cleaning out at the bottom, and a sight hole fitted with a sliding door closed
with sliding cam spindles, and moveable cover for cleaning out the ashes into
suitable wagons travelling on rails placed beneath to receive them and for

page_text: inspecting the interior of the generator. Above the hearths of the generators are
fixed cast iron boxes bolted to the casings and built in the fire brick work, each
having openings with doors for admitting iron bars to loosen the fuel, or for
supporting it during cleaning out. On the top of each generator is a bell and
hopper (connected with a lever) through which fuel is supplied, and covered with
a lid to prevent the escape of gas or admission of air. When the generator is
filled with fuel to the working height a fire is lighted urged by a steam jet, and
steam and air being thus blown through the tuyères into the fire the gases for
distillation are produced.
The supply of steam and air is governed by valves so that the supply of each can
be increased or diminished, and the temperature of the gases produced in the
generator be thus by careful regulation within certain limits under perfect control
so as to insure a suitable temperature. The materials may be fed to the generators
by an endless screw or other mechanical contrivance.
The nature of the products depends on the composition of the substance heated,
and on the degree of heat applied.
I have found that coal and other substances whose tarry matters and other
compounds distil over at a temperature not exceeding 1000° Fah., may be heated
in the retorts or ovens by contact of unignited gases arriving direct from gas
generators or producers, and that coal or other substances which require a higher
temperature than 1,000° Fah., may be heated to the required temperature for
destructive distillation by contact of unignited gases arriving direct from gas
generators or producers, and whereof the temperature has been raised by ignition
and combustion of only a small portion of the same gases.
The retorts or ovens may be heated externally with the gases from the gas
generators by ignition in a combustion chamber after having deposited their tar
and other matters, and by causing the heated products of combustion to travel
through flues beneath and around and external to the retorts or coke ovens.
latter plan may be readily applied to most of the existing forms of coke ovens now
in use.
This
The volume of gaseous fuel from the gas generating apparatus having after
passing into the retorts or ovens, as herein before mentioned, been further increased
in volume and illuminating power by the addition of the gases generated from the
coal or matter submitted to distillation, and remaining after passing through the
retorts or ovens and completion of condensation, I utilise for heating boilers or
coke ovens in the hearths of blast furnaces at or near the tuyères in puddling and
heating furnaces, Bessemer converters, and other processes in the manufacture of
iron or for calcining ironstone, limestone, gypsum, cement, etcetera, by direct
application of the gases after ignition in a combustion chamber. The temperature
of the gases can be reduced by a further admission of air after combustion, and
made suitable in temperature for the various purposes of calcination, thereby
saving fuel where a large quantity of coal is now used. For such purposes it is a
specially suitable fuel, as the heat may be increased or diminished at the will of
the operator.
Another part of my Invention relates to means for closing the retorts or ovens
where bells or valves are used. I connect such bells or valves with rods passing
upwards through the insides of the retorts or ovens to pistons fitted into suitable
steam or other cylinders, so that the admission of steam or actuating fluid into the
cylinders below the pistons will cause the valves to remain closed, and on opening
the exhaust the pistons and valves will descend, thus allowing the contents of
the retorts to full; or the valves may be lifted with a travelling crane arranged
to run along the railway at the top and to lift the valves of all the retorts in one
line.
To keep the valves to their faces I employ sliding cam spindles.
Another part of my Invention relates to the manufacture of coke. In order to
make good sound coke from coal that does not cake well, I treat the coal after it
has been exposed to distillation in the retorts or ovens by crushing in a suitable

page_text: mill or apparatus, and intimately mixing with it a due proportion of caking coal
crushed in like manner, say, one third part, more or less, according to circumstances.
Thus a firm and resisting coke may be produced from the coke ovens now in use
by applying the gases from the gas generator and retorts for combustion therein,
the caking coal serving as a cementing material to the particles of the former, and
producing a coke hard, solid, and unyielding; or I mix the residual carbon froin
the retorts, crushed or uncrushed, with a suitable quantity of gas tar or pitch,
usually about eight per cent., but varying according to circumstances, to form either
coke or "
patent fuel." The uncondensed gases from the retorts or ovens and gas
generators can be applied to the coke ovens with a jet of hot or cold air for heating
them internally or externally to any temperature required during coking operations,
which will permit all the gases generated in the coke ovens during coking operations
to be withdrawn, in order that the tar, ammoniacal liquors, and other matters
contained in the gases may be condensed, and the gases from the coking operations
then caused to mix with the uncondensed gases from the gas generator or producer,
and conveyed along the main pipe for supplying the combustion chamber at or in
the coke ovens; or the gases from the coke ovens and from the gas generators may .
be applied to the beforenamed purposes either separately or mixed together.
In the accompanying Sheets of Drawings the same letters of reference relate to
similar parts throughout the Figures. Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a line of retorts
with a genorator placed between each pair, according to one modification of my
Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 an end view.
a is a gas generator communicating with the retorts b, 61, by the passages c, c,
provided with regulating slides d, d, and serving to conduct the gas or gases from
the generators to the spaces above the substances to be distilled.
If the process of distillation requires the employment of a temperature exceeding
1,000° Fah., a partial combustion of the gases will be necessary as they enter the
retort, and for this purpose air may be admitted by the tubes x, x, built into the
fire brick flues near the dampers.
The products of distillation, together with the heating gases derived in the first:
instance from the gas producer, are drawn off through the pipe e into the condenser f,
ejectors being used for the purpose of creating sufficient draught through the
apparatus. The jets from the ejectors acting upon and mixing with the gas from
the generator or retort when partially cooled will cause the deposition of tar and
other matters.
The jets may be emitted from any form of ejector besides the one illustrated, and
may be placed, as shewn at g¹, g², g³, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, between the generators,
retorts, and condensers, or between two or more condensers, and also after the last
condenser. g' is a jet between the generators or retorts b, b¹, and the condenser f;
g is a second jet to exhaust the gas from the first condenser f, and to force it
through the pipes and depositing tank f³ to the second condenser f*; g³ is another
jet placed beyond the condensers, and any of the ordinary purifying appliances that
may be added thereto, such as scrubbers and washers, to completo the exhaustion
and deposition of the matters.
The matters for distillation are supplied to the retorts through openings at the
top closed by removable covers h. The lower ends of the retorts are formed by
preference of cast iron foundation rings perforated with holes for the purpose of
allowing the gases or vapours to be drawn from the retorts to the circular chamber k,
and thence by the ejector g¹ to the condenser f. The openings in the retorts
whereby the matters remaining after distillation are discharged are in this case
closed by conical valves or bells 1, 1, opening downwards, and each connected by a
rod m passing upwards through the retort to a cylinder m fitted with a piston, or
to a travelling crane m² running along the line of rails above. When it is required
to discharge the contents of the retorts the cam spindles ', ', which lock the
valves, are turned by a key until the cams or eccentrics upon them are out of
contact with the valves, when they are drawn endways in their bearings so as to
cause no further obstruction, and the valves may be lowered by gradually exhausting

page_text: the steam or other fluid from the cylinders m, or by the use of the crane, into suitable
wagons placed beneath to receive them. When a crane is used it runs on rails
outside, and set to a wider gauge than those used for the coal trucks, so that the
latter can pass freely through it without coming into contact with any of its parts.
The crane may be of any suitable construction, such as the ordinary travelling
crane.
In the retort marked b' is shewn an arrangement whereby thin layers of the
substances to be distilled are kept at certain distances apart by means of a series
of gratings n, capable of being partially rotated by lovers m² provided with balance
weights m³ to keep them in their normal position, namely, horizontal.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the gas generator with steam jet g and air regulator
valve o; a is the generator standing on columns; p, the hearth; q are the tuyéres;
?", the holes for opening up the fuel; s, the bell and hopper with cover or lid to
prevent the escape of gas; w is a sliding cover for the removal of ashes and
clinkers; and w sliding cover for sight hole.
Fig. 5 is a plan shewing a general arrangement of a series of retorts or ovens
according to my Invention, together with the lines of rails upon which the wagons
for supplying the coal and other materials travel, and the platform whereby the
wagons are raised to and lowered from the level of the rails; t representing the
steam lift; u, the balance drop; and the lines of rails.
ย
Figs. 6 and 7 are two vertical sectional elevations taken at right angles to one
another, and Fig. 8 is a plan of a coke oven similar to those ordinarily used, but
with a combustion chamber p and flues c', c', underneath and around of large
capacity to ensure a slow transit of the ignited gases and a uniform temperature
for the purpose of preventing the destruction of the brickwork.
The gases for
combustion enter first the combustion chamber p, then the flue c, and finally,
the circumferential flues c³, before entering the main channel c³ leading to tho
chimney.
Fig. 9 is an end elevator, and Fig. 10 a plan of gas generators showing the
arrangements of pipes for connecting and carrying the gases from the generators
and coke ovens to the condensers for condensation, and from the condensers to the
coke ovens, and also to the combustion chambers and flues beneath and around
the coke ovens for heating the ovens either internally or externally, or both
internally and externally, to obtain the tar, ammoniacal compounds, and other
matters that may be driven off by distillation, and also for manufacturing coke.
a, a, nro the gas generators; y, the outlets for tar and other matters which pass
into the hydraulic main e under the action of the jet g', and go thence into the
condenser f. After traversing the two upper coils and being partially cooled
therein they are forced by the jet g' through the pipes g', g, (which form portions
of a depositing tank) into the second portion f¹ of the condenser. The gases and
vapours emitted from the matters in the coke ovens are conveyed by the pipe =¹
into the hydraulic main and accompany the gases from the generators through the
condensers and depositing pipes, and the uncondensed portions of them return
through the pipe to the coke ovens. They can be admitted to the interiors of
the ovens by the pipe or to the combustion chambers and flues by the pipe
may be required, and delivered after combustion by the flues ¹ or c² to the main
flue e³.
as
Fig. 11 is a plan showing a general arrangement of a series of coke ovens and
gas generators according to this modification of my Invention; f', f¹, are blocks of
coke ovens, each block containing twenty ovens; ff, are condensers; g, a row of gas
generators with steam lift and drops u, and a line of rails similar to the
arrangement shewn in Fig. 5.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of carrying
it into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as secured to
me under the Letters Patent herein before in part recited is,--
1. Distilling coal, wood, shale and other substances by direct action, substantially
as hereinbefore described, of unignited gases produced in a gas generator,

page_text: 2. The method, substantially as described, of utilizing gases produced in gas
generators, first unignited in direct contact with coal, wood, shale, or other substances
for purposes of distillation, and afterwards mixed with additional air and in a
state of combustion in combustion chambers or coke ovens.
3. Causing the deposit of tar and other matters from gases by subjecting them
to the action of a steam jet or jets, substantially as described.
4. The improved gas generating apparatus supported on columns, and constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as described.
5. The improved retorts or ovens constructed with suspended valves or doors at
their lower parts arranged to be raised and lowered from above by steam or other
power applied to the rods to which said valves or doors are suspended, substantially
as described.
6. The improved general arrangements in combination or connexion of gas
generators and retorts or ovens, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described with reference to and illustrated respectively in Figs. 1 to 5, and
in Figs. 6 to 11 of the Drawings.
7. The improved manufacture of coke, substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. The improved manufacture of charcoal, substantially as herein before
described.
0 The improved manufacture of "Patent Fuel” substantially as hereinbefore