IMPROVEMENTS IN RETORTS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND ALSO IN PURIFYING GAS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Fox, of Stockbridge Works, Deepcar, near
Sheffield, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RETORTS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND
ALSO IN PURIFYING GAS."
Sealed the 2nd June 1863, and dated the 12th December 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Fox at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
December 1862.
I, SAMUEL Fox, of Stockbridge Works, Deepcar, near Sheffield, in the
County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RETORTS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND
ALSO IN PURIFYING GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in retorts and apparatus
employed for the manufacture of gas, and also in purifying gas. Instead of
the retorts being placed horizontally, as heretofore, they are, according to this
Invention, placed vertically, that is to say, the retorts are placed on end. For
this purpose a strong metal plate or saucer, one for each retort to stand in, is
placed midway over the crown of the arch of the furnace. Six or other
suitable number of small flues rise from the furnace into one circular flue,
such circular flue tapering somewhat towards the upper end; this tapering of
the circular flue or space around cach retort causes the heat to be distributed

page_text: more evenly over the surface of the retort than would be the case if it were
cylindrical. At the upper portion of the conical flue or chamber are six or
other suitable number of small flues branching out radially into a circular flue,
in which circular flue is a division of brickwork to cause the heat from the
three flues on its one side to pass in one direction to the general flue, while
the heat of the other three flues is caused to pass to the general flue in the
other direction and meet at one point, from which general flue it passes to the
stack or chimney. In order to discharge the coke from the retort a strong
disc of metal is first placed within, which rests upon the bottom of each retort.
In this disc is an opening of such form that an instrument passed down into it
and then turned partially round becomes fixed, so that by withdrawing such
instrument the disc would also be withdrawn, and consequently the coke
resting thereon contained in the retort would be brought up with it. In order
to obtain free access to insert the rod or instrument used into the opening
formed to receive its end in the disc, a tube or metal cylinder is employed,
which is placed within the retort, one end resting upon the disc, which is pro-
vided with suitable projections, which enter the tube or metal cylinder to
steady and keep it correctly in place while the retort is charged. This tube
or cylinder also serves to regulate the thickness or body of the coal exposed
to the heat. While charging the retort a cover is placed over the tube or
internal cylinder to prevent the coal from entering therein, and when charged
this cover is removed, and the cover of the retort put on and secured by
screws and bars of the ordinary kind; there is also a small opening or plug
in the cover, which the attendant may from time to time remove to ascertain
the state of the materials within the retort. When necessary to discharge a
retort the lid is removed by handles placed on either side; they receive tubes,
which the workmen slide on to avoid the heat. The cover having been
removed, the rod or instrument is passed down the inner tube or cylinder and
into the slotted opening. The end of such instrument having lugs or enlarge-
ments, which nearly fit the slotted opening in the disc, the end of the
instrument having passed through the slot in the disc is then turned partially
round, and thereby becomes locked to the disc, so that when it is raised by a
crane, or other suitable purchase, the disc and coke resting thereon will also
be raised out of the retort in one solid mass to be knocked off by a suitable
instrument by the attendant. In order to steady the internal tube or cylinder
while it is being withdrawn from the retort, there is a ring on the rod or
instrument introduced nearly fitting the internal cylinder, and at the top of
the rod or instrument is a ring to receive a hook attached to the chain of the
crane or other purchase employed for discharging the retort. When about to

page_text: recharge the retorts, a bucket or vessel containing sufficient coal for a charge
(about half a ton) is by the crane or other purchase swung, or otherwise
brought over the mouth of the retort, and the attendants, one on either side,
draw or slide away the bottom of such bucket or vessel in opposite directions,
the bottom being for that purpose suitably divided in the centre, thus dis-.
charging its contents into the retort, which is closed and sealed as before.
Instead of purifying the gas by lime, as is commonly done according to this
Invention, iron turnings or filings, both wrought and cast iron, are employed
either together or separately, it having been found to answer the purpose
better than lime, and the use of such materials for the purpose has this
advantage, viz., that it may be used many times over and over again, never
losing its purifying properties, it only being requisite after each time of using
it to allow free access of external atmosphere.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th June 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
Fox, of Stockbridge Works, Deepcar, near Sheffield, in the County of York,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Samuel Fox, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Fox, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel
Fox, my executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RETORTS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND ALSO IN
PURIFYING GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel
Fox, 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

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Fox, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in retorts and apparatus
employed for the manufacture of gas, and also in purifying gas.
Instead of the retorts being placed horizontally, as heretofore, they are
according to this Invention placed vertically that is to say, the retorts are
placed on end. For this purpose a strong metal plate or saucer, one for each
retort to stand in, is placed midway over the crown of the arch of the furnace..
Six or other suitable number of small flues rise from the furnace into one
circular flue, such circular flue tapering somewhat towards the upper end;
this tapering of the circular flue or space around each retort causes the heat
to be distributed more evenly over the surface of the retort than would be the
case if it were cylindrical. At the upper portion of the conical flue or chamber
are six or other suitable number of small flues branching out radially into a
circular flue, in which circular flue is a division of brickwork to cause the heat
from the three flues on its one side to pass in one direction to the general
flue, while the heat of the other three flues is caused to pass to the general
flue in the other direction, and meet at one point, from which general flue it
passes to the stack or chimney. In order to discharge the coke from the
retort, a strong disc of metal is first placed within, which rests upon the bottom
of each retort. In this disc is an opening of such form that an instrument
passed down into it, and then turned partially round, becomes fixed, so that by
withdrawing such instrument the disc would also be withdrawn and consequently
the coke resting thereon contained in the retort would be brought up with it.
In order to obtain free access to insert the rod or instrument used into the
opening formed to receive its end in the disc a tube or metal cylinder is
employed which is placed within the retort, one end resting upon the disc which
is provided with suitable projections which enter the tube or metal cylinder
to steady and keep it correctly in place while the retort is charged. This
tube or cylinder also serves to regulate the thickness or body of the coal
exposed to the heat. While charging the retort a cover is placed over the
tube or internal cylinder to prevent the coal from entering therein, and when
charged this cover is removed, and the cover of the retort put on and secured
by screws and bars of the ordinary kind, there is also a small opening or plug
in the cover which the attendant may from time to time remove to ascertain

page_text: the state of the materials within the retort. When necessary to discharge a
retort the lid is removed by handles placed on either side, they receive tubes
which the workmen slide on to avoid the heat. The cover having been
removed the rod or instrument is passed down the inner tube or cylinder, and
into the slotted opening the end of such instrument, having lugs or enlarge-
ments which nearly fit the slotted opening in the disc, the end of the instrument
having passed through the slot in the disc, is then turned partially round, and
thereby becomes locked to the disc so that when it is raised by a crane or
other suitable purchase the disc and coke resting thereon will also be raised
out of the retort in one solid mass to be knocked off by a suitable instrument
by the attendant. In order to steady the internal tube or cylinder while it is
being withdrawn from the retort there is a ring on the rod or instrument
introduced nearly fitting the internal cylinder, and at the top of the rod or
instrument is a ring to receive a hook attached to the chain of the crane or
other purchase employed for discharging the retort. When about to re-charge
the retorts a bucket or vessel containing sufficient coal for a charge (about
half.a ton) is by the crane or other purchase swung or otherwise brought over
the mouth of the retort, and the attendants, one on either side, draw or slide
away the bottom of such bucket or vessel in opposite directions, the bottom
being for that purpose suitably divided in the centre, thus discharging its-
contents into the retort, which is closed and sealed as before.
Instead of purifying the gas by lime as is commonly done according to this
Invention iron turnings or filings, both wrought and cast-iron, are employed
either together or separately, it having been found to answer the purpose better
than lime, and the use of such materials for the purpose has this advantage,
viz., that it may be used many times over and over again, never losing its
purifying properties; it only being requisite after each time of using it to allow
free access of external atmosphere.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a vertical section of a retort and furnace arranged for
carrying out the first part of my Invention; Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal
sections taken respectively at the dotted lines 1, 1 and 2, 2 in Figure 1 ; and
Figure 4 is a plan showing the upper part of the retort closed as when at
work; Figure 5 shews a vertical section, and Figure a plan in section of a
bucket used in charging the retort; Figure 7 shows a side elevation, and
Figure 8 a plan of the rod used for lifting out the coke from the retort.

page_text: In each of these Figures the same letters are used to indicate the same
parts.
a is the fire: place or furnace above which the metal plate 6 is placed to
receive the lower end of the retort c, c. The heat and products of combustion
rise from the fire through flues d, d, into the tapering circular space e, e, around
the retort; f, f, are outlet flues at the upper part of the space e, e, into the
circular flue g, which is divided by a partition at h, so that the products of com-
bustion passing out of the space e are caused to pass in the direction shewn by
the arrows to the flue i, which leads to the chimney. The apparatus for closing
the top of the retort is clearly shewn in the Drawings. Within the retort is
a cylinder j, and it is between the exterior of this cylinder, and the interior of
the retort that the charge is introduced, and the thickness of a charge will
depend on the diameter of the cylinder j, and the interior of the retort. The
lower end of the cylinder rests on a disc or plate k, in the centre of which is a
hole to receive the lower end of the rod 1, by which the coke is lifted out of
the retort together with the cylinder and disc or plate k. The charge having
been worked out the rod is to be inserted into the position shewn in Figure 1
after the cover of the retort has been removed; m is the outlet from the upper
end of the retort by which the gas flows away from the retort. When a charge
in the retort has been worked off, and the coke has been lifted out as above
explained a similar disc or plate and cylinder are to be lowered into the retort,
and the space between the retort and the cylinder is to be filled with coal,
and this is accomplished by means of a bucket n, which has at its lower end
two slides n, 22, which when the bucket has been lowered on to the top of
the retort are to be withdrawn so that the charge of coal therein may
descend into the space between the retort and the exterior of the moveable
cylinder, the upper end of which cylinder being covered when so charging the
retort.
The second part of my Invention consists in a mode of purifying coal gas
by employing iron turnings or filings. These turnings or filings of wrought or
cast iron are used in apparatus such as are known as dry lime purifiers, and
such as those wherein precipitated or other oxides of iron have been heretofore
used for like purposes. The turnings or filings are applied in their metallic
state as free from oxide as may be, and without subjecting them to any process
to produce oxides thereon before they are used in the purifiers. The gas is
caused to pass in contact with these turnings or filings of iron till the gas
comes away in such a degree of impurity as to indicate that the iron is no
longer acting sufficiently when the turnings or filings are to be removed from
the purifiers, and for a time subjected to the action of the atmosphere in like

page_text: manner to that which has been resorted to, when using precipitated or other
oxides of iron for.like purposes.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood in respect to the first
part of my Invention that I make no claim to any of the mechanical parts
separately, but what I claim is, first, the combined arrangement herein described,
and secondly, I claim the employment of the turnings and filings of wrought
or cast iron in the metallic state for purifying coal gas, as herein decribed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Fox, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
SAM. FOX. (L.S.)