Improvements in Mechanism for Charging Gas Retorts.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Charging Gas Retorts.
I, JOHN WOODWARD, of 4 St. Anns Square, in the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention,
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to and consists in an improved combination and arrange-
ment of mechanism for charging gas retorts, more especially those of D shaped cross
section, with coal or cannel.
I employ two scoops which are mounted, arranged and worked in a manner similar
to the single scoops used for charging gas retorts, that is to say, both scoops are
mounted side by side on the ends of shafts or axes to which one end of each scoop
is attached.
The axes or shafts of the scoops are mounted in a frame at their outer end and
pass through bearings in a frame at their inner ends.
Both these frames have pivots for wheels one at each side, and the wheels of each
bearing frame run in channel irons or rails one of which is on each side, and form
part of the framing of the machine.
.
The inner bearing frame can slide to and fro on the shafts for the scoops.
The scoops at the retort end are both supported and slide in hollows in a horn
plate attached to the framing.
The shafts of both scoops are geared together by spur wheels, one on one shaft,
the other on the other shaft, or by other means.
The scoops are moved in and out by a chain passing over suitable guide pulleys,
one end of this chain is attached to a drum (which is driven one way or the other
as required as for ordinary single scoops) and passes over guide pulleys and is then
attached to one groove on a boss at the outer end of one of the shafts of one
scoop-the other end of the chain is attached to the said actuating drum and passes
over suitable pulleys and is attached to another groove on the boss at the outer end
of the same shaft for the scoop but on the reverse side of it.
There are two notches in the boss at the end of one scoop for a catch to enter,
which can slide (with the scoops) on a square shaft passing lengthway of the
framing, and this shaft can be oscillated by a suitable handle to bring the catch out
of either of the two notches in which it may be in.
There is a stop arranged that will allow the scoops to partly rotate one way or
the other, to a given extent, that is, to bring them to the filling and emptying
positions.
The said catch, is to prevent the scoops from being partly rotated except when
required.
The pull of the chain when pushing the scoops into the retort would partly
rotate the scoop shafts, but this is prevented by the catch until the scoops have
been pushed into the required extent, and the same effect would happen when
drawing the scoops outward, but for the catch.
The frame carrying the scoops, and connected mechanism is arranged in a carriage
so as to be moved from one retort or series of retorts to another, and is raised and
lowered by ordinary arrangements of mechanism, similar to that used for actuating
single scoop mechanism..
17
The scoops are so shaped and attached to their shafts as to be partly concentric
on one side (the outer side) of the scoop but are excentric as to the other or inner
side of the scoop.
Desiger
When filled with coal or cannel, the edges of the scoops are level, and the coal or

page_text: retort they are turned over, the two inner edges of the scoops turning upwards, and
from each other to the sides of the retort.
As soon as the scoops begin to turn, a space is formed between them, and the
heaped coal or cannel above falls between them to the bottom of the retort and
part of that remaining in each scoop is delivered towards the sides of the retort,
and when the scoops are turned to the required extent they are withdrawn and
when fully drawn back they are rotated backwards ready to receive the next
charge.
My improved combination and arrangement of mechanism for charging gas retorts
may be varied in details without departing from its essential features.
Dated this Eighth day of April 1892.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Charging Gas Retorts.
I, JOHN WOODWARD, of 4 St. Anns Square, in the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to and consists in an improved combination and arrangement
of mechanism for charging gas retorts, more especially those of D shaped cross
section, with coal or cannel.
I employ two scoops which are mounted, arranged and worked in a manner
similar to the single scoops used for charging gas retorts, that is to say, both scoops
are mounted side by side on the ends of shafts or axes to which one end of each
Scoop is attached.
The axes or shafts of the scoops are mounted in a frame at their outer end and
pass through bearings in a frame at their inner ends.
Both these frames have pivots for wheels one at each side, and the wheels of each
bearing frame run in channel irons or rails one of which is on each side, and form
part of the framing of the machine.
The inner bearing frame can slide to and fro on the shafts for the scoops.
The scoops at the retort end are both supported and slide in hollows in a horn
plate attached to the framing.
The shafts of both scoops are geared together by spur wheels, one on one shaft,
the other on the other shaft, or by other means.
The scoops are moved in and out by a chain passing over suitable guide pulleys,
one end of this chain is attached to a drum (which is driven one way or the other
as required as for ordinary single scoops) and passes over guide pulleys and is then
attached to the groove on a boss at the outer end of one of the shafts of one scoop-
the other end of the chain is attached to the said actuating drum and passes over
suitable pulleys and is attached to another groove on the boss at the outer end of
the same shaft for the scoop but on the reverse side of it.
1.
;
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There are two notches in the boss at the end of one scoop for a catch to enter,
which can slide (with the scoops) on a square shaft passing lengthway of the
framing, and this shaft can be oscillated by a suitable handle to bring the catch out
either of the two notches in which it may be in.
There is a stop arranged that will allow the scoops to partly rotate one way or
the other, to a given extent, that is, to bring them to the filling and
positions.
**
.]
!
..
emptying
The said catch, is to prevent the scoops from being partly rotated except when
required.
The pull of the chain when pushing the scoops into the retort would partly rotate
"the scoop shafts, but this is prevented by the catch until the scoops have teen

page_text: pushed into the required extent, and the same effect would happen when drawing
the scoops outward, but for the catch.
The frame carrying the scoops, and connected mechanism is arranged in a
carriage so as to be moved from one retort or series of retorts to another, and is
raised and lowered by ordinary arrangements of mechanism, similar to that used for
actuating single scoop mechanism.
The scoops are so shaped and attached to their shafts as to be partly concentric
on one side (the outer side) of the scoop but are excentric as to the other or inner
side of the scoop.
When filled with coal or cannel, the edges of the scoops are level and the coal or
cannel is heaped upon both of them, and when the scoops are inserted into the
retort they are turned over, the two inner edges of the scoops turning upwards, and
from each other to the sides of the retort.
As soon as the scoops begin to turn, a space is formed between them, and the
heaped coal or cannel above falls between them to the bottom of the retort and
part of that remaining in each scoop is delivered towards the sides of the retort,
and when the scoops are turned to the required extent they are withdrawn and
when fully drawn back they are rotated backwards ready to receive the next
charge.
My improved combination and arrangement of mechanism for charging gas
retorts may be varied in details without departing from its essential features.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation when looking towards the mouths of the retorts
showing parts of the mechanism necessary to illustrate the explanation of my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the frame, scoops, and some of the mechanism
connected therewith. There is a break shown in this figure (the scoops not being
shown in their full length) in order to bring the parts within the limits of the
sheet.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism or part of it shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a diagram representing the outline of the inside of a D shaped retort
with the two scoops in the position in which they are filled with coal or other
material, and in which they are inserted into the retort, and
Fig. 5 is another diagram showing the position of the scoops when inserted to the
full extent into the retort, at which time they are rotated to the desired extent to
discharge the coal or other material carried by them into the retort, and also the
position in which the scoops remain while being withdrawn from the retort.
The mechanism to be hereinafter described is or may be worked in a manner
similar to ordinary scoop mechanism for charging gas retorts, with one scoop except
as modified as hereinafter explained.
There is a carriage formed by two frames a, connected together each frame
having two wheels a, to run upon carrying rails a², set at the required distance
apart on the floor of the retort house, these rails a³, passing along the fronts of the
mouths of the retorts, and being in their lengthway at a right angle to the length-
way of the retorts.
A part of one of these frames a, and one wheel a', only is shown in Fig. 1, and
part of one carrying wheel a', is shown for each frame a, in Fig. 2.
Upon these frames a, there is a vertical frame a³ (partly shown only in Figs. 1
and 2) which guides the scoops and their frame when moved up and down to bring
the scoops opposite to the mouth of the retort to be charged. The mechanism
and arrangements for raising and lowering the scoop mechanism is or may be the
same as that for single scoop mechanism.
The scoops are filled with coal or other material from a hopper and by other
mechanism, which discharges into the full length of the scoops, which arrangements
and mechanism are or may be the same or similar to the well known mechanism
for supplying coal or cannel to single scoop.gas retort. charging mechanism.
In Fig. 1, there is a drum b, shown on a vertical shaft b, which represents a
drum which is or may be the same as the drum used in ordinary single scoop

page_text: mechanism for giving motion to the scoop to move it into and out of the retort
and partly rotate it. Part of a segment of the drum b, is also shown in Fig. 3.
c, is the frame which carries the two scoops. It is formed by two box angle irons
connected together at each end.
On the scoop frame c, there are two cross carriages d, and d', each of which
has an axle or axis d, having a pulley or wheel d', on each end, each wheel d,
entering the cavity of the box angle iron of the scoop frame c, the wheels d³,
running freely on the lower flanges of the box angle irons.
These cross carriages d, and d', have bearings formed in them for the two
scoop shafts (solid or tubular) e, and e', and each cross carriage has a cap_d,
which can be secured by a screw to its cross carriage when the shafts e, and e',
are placed in position.
The outer ends of the two shafts e, and e', have collars on each side of the
bearing on the carriage d, so as to be free to rotate, but not to move endways in
the bearing except with the cross carriage d.
The shafts e, and e', can rotate and slide endways in the bearings in the other
cross carriage d', to a limited extent that is to say between the collars on the
shafts e, and e¹.
On each shafte, and e¹, one end of a scoop e, is formed or otherwise attached,
and the inner ends of these scoops e³, are guided in a horn plate c', secured to
the end of the longitudinal framing c.
The scoops e, are of the form in cross section best shown in Figs. 4 and 5
and the two sides of the scoop e, which come nearest together when being filled
with coal or other material are further from the axes of their respective shafts
than the sides of the scoops nearest the sides of the retort f, when the scoops
are being inserted therein.
The dotted circles e, and e¹, in Figs. 4 and 5 represents the position of the
axis of the shafts of the scoops e³.
When the scoops e, are being inserted into the retort the coal or other material
is heaped up upon them as represented by dotted line e, in Fig. 4 and when the
scoops have made their partial rotation as shown in Fig. 5, the surface of the
coal or other material assumes a line about similar to that shown by the dotted
line e, in Fig. 5.
The scoops c, are worked by a chain secured to the barrel of the drum b,
which passes from it as shown by the dotted line 62, in Figs. 2 and 3, passes partly
round a pulley 3, on an axis secured to the framing, then passes to a grooved
pulley, on an axis secured near the outer end of the framing c, and over the
groove in one collar e, on the shaft e, to which its end is secured.
The chain, from the other side of the drum b, passes from it to a pulley 6º,
having its axis on a bracket secured to the end of the framing c, and then passes
under a pulley b', having its axis upon the framing c, and then to the groove in the
other collar e, of the shaft e, to which its end is secured.
When the drum b, is rotated one way, the scoops e³, are slided into the retort
and when moved the other way they are withdrawn from the retort and at each
extreme of their movement the scoops are rotated to the extent required by
the pull of the chain when it is permitted to operate.
The two shafts e, and e', may be geared together by spur wheels, but I prefer
to gear them by jointed or ordinary chains.
There are two grooves formed at the outer ends of each shaft e, and e³.
The end of one chain g, is attached to the groove e³, of the shaft e, at e³, and
passes partly round it, and then to the groove e, in the other shaft e¹, partly round
it and the other end of the chain 9, is secured to the groove e, of the shaft e',
at eb.
:.
The end of another chain g', is secured to the groove e, of the shaft e, at ed,
and passes partly round it and then to the groove e, in the shaft e¹, and
is secured to it at e. Thus the two shafts e, and e¹, are yoked and partly rotated
together

page_text: There is a shaft h, square in cross section. It has bearings in the horn plate c¹,
at the inner end, and in a bracket c³, secured to the framing, at the other end, at
which end a hand lever h', is secured upon it for oscillating the square shaft h.
There is a two ended pawl, on the square shaft h, which pawl can slide freely on
the shaft h, but must oscillate with it. One side of this double pawl ², comes
against one side of the carriage d, and is held in such position by a plate d, on
the other side of the pawl h³, which is secured by bolts to the side of the
carriage d.
By this means the double pawl 2, must slide along the square shaft h, and keep
connection with it as the carriage d, is moved to and fro.
There are two notches formed in the collar eh, on the shaft e¹, like in form the
V part of a ratchet tooth, and one end of the double pawl will enter one notch
when the handle h', is moved one way and the shaft el, is partly rotated in one
direction and will prevent it in that position of the handle ', from oscillating in
the other direction, but when there is strain upon one or the other chains, or b³,
as the case may be, and the handle h', is moved to release the holding end of the
double pawl 2, from its notch, the shaft e', is partly rotated and as both shafts are
connected they are both partly rotated.
By this means the scoops e, are allowed to be partly rotated to the position
shown in Fig. 5 when they have arrived at their extreme inward position in the
retort, and they are partly rotated backwards to the position shown in Fig. 4, when
they have been fully withdrawn from the retort.
When the scoops es, are pushed into the retort the carriages d, and d¹, move also
on the framing e, aud when at the extreme inward position (or before) the
carriage d, comes against the carriage d'. When the scoops e³, are withdrawn
from the retort, the carriages d, and d', move along the framing c, but the
carriage d', is held back by friction, the shafts e, and e', sliding through the bearings
in the carriage d', until the collars e, on the shafts e, and e, come against the side
of the carriage d', as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
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 two scoops arranged to be partly rotated for charging
gas retorts at one operation, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.
2. The combination of two scoops and connected mechanism for charging gas
retorts at one operation, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the drawings.
Dated this Eleventh day of November 1892.
PETER J. LIVSEI,
Agent.