Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
I, JOHN RUSCOE, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to further improvements in apparatus for actuating or
working the movable division plate for charging inclined gas retorts described in
the Specification of Trewby's Patent No. 19,256 of 1889, though it may also be
applied to operate an ordinary charging scoop or drawing rake in inclined retorts.
Instead of actuating the apparatus as described in the Specification of my former
Patent No. 14,720 of 1890, by means of gearing, by my present invention I move
the several parts of the apparatus as required by direct acting rams or pistons
actuated by fluid pressure such as water or air with the object of lessening the
number of working parts by doing away with wheels and gearing and thereby as
far as possible simplifying the apparatus.
The inclined sliding division plate is mounted upon or connected to a table to
which is attached a ram or plunger or is connected direct to a ram or plunger
capable of being moved to and fro by fluid pressure. The inclined division plate is
mounted upon a carriage so as to have the required movements in both directions
and is supported on one, two, or more rams from which it receives a vertical move-
ment whereby it is lifted or lowered to the required height.
To move the inclined division plate into and out of the retorts a second ram is
applied to the carriage either working direct upon it or where the movement is too
long for a single ram the movement of the ram can be extended by the use of
chains geared together as in a hydraulic crane. This second ram may be placed
either on an incline or horizontally as may be found most convenient for drawing
the inclined plate into and out of the retorts.
The valve which controlls the opening and closing of the outlet from the
measuring chamber or hopper is also connected with a ram or plunger by which it
is opened and closed as required.
In each case the ram or plunger works in a cylinder or chamber in which it is
operated by water, air, or other elastic fluid under pressure whereby the movement
can be brought to bear direct upon the part to be moved without the intervention
of rotating parts or gearing. I at present prefer however to use hydraulic
power.
The apparatus is moved from place to place in the retort house by means of
hydraulic apparatus similar to what is applied to actuate a hydraulic crane or
other apparatus.
The floor of the retort house is made hollow or excavated below the apparatus to
provide room for the rain for raising and lowering being suspended below the
machine.
An accumulator and pumping engines are fixed at any suitable place the water
under pressure being carried from the former in mains with a number of connections
or branch pipes to which the apparatus is connected by flexible pipes or other
suitable means. Each machine is preferably fitted with an upright pipe or other
chamber to which the several parts are connected by flexible pipes or otherwise.
Dated this 15th day of May 1801
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
I, JOHN RUSCOE, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, 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 stateinent:-
This invention relates to further improvements in apparatus for actuating or
working the movable division plate for charging inclined gas retorts described in
the Specification of Trewby's Patent No. 19,256 of 1889, though it may also be
applied to operate an ordinary charging scoop or drawing rake in inclined retorts.
Instead of actuating the apparatus as described in the Specification of my former
Patent No. 14,720 of 1890 by means of gearing, by my present invention I move
the several parts of the apparatus as required by direct acting rams or pistons
actuated by fluid pressure such as water or air with the object of lessening the
number of working parts by doing away with wheels and gearing and thereby as
far as possible simplifying the apparatus.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2. plan of division plate frame.
Fig. 3. plan below division plate frame showing traversing gear.
The framework is as described in the Specification of my former Patent pre-
ferably built up of upright beams or girders A. and transverse beams or girders B
of any convenient section riveted or bolted together.
The division plate is similar to that shown in Trewby's Patent No. 19,256 and
in my, former l'atent No. 14,720% and I have not thought it necessary to show it
again in these drawings, and is mounted in a similar way upon the vertically
moving frame C.
To the division plate frame C is connected a table or plate D capable of
sustaining its entire weight and to this table is attached a ram or plunger E of an
hydraulic cylinder F. The hydraulic cylinder F is secured to the framework by
suitable stays and supports bolted or riveted thereto. The table D is preferably
cast iron and the longitudinal members of the division plate frame C are riveted
thereto.
To the division plate frame C there are also attached two hydraulic cylinders G
and H with rams I and J which actuate the division plate and draw it into and out
of the retorts as required. The hydraulic cylinders G and H are fixed side by side
directly under the longitudinal members of the division plate frame at the bottom
end between uprights, and are constructed with sheaves or pulleys g, h, i and j at
the ends arranged in the same way as in hydraulic cranes. The chain by which the
division plate is raised and lowered is led round the pulley K carried on the shaft k
at the upper end of the division plate frame C. On the shaft & are two chain
drums L, M, by which it is rotated. Chains pass round the pulleys g, and i of the
hydraulic cylinder and ram G, and I to the chain drum L and from the pulleys h
and j of the cylinder and ram H and J, to the "chain drum M, the chains being
wound onto the drums in opposite directions so that when the ram ! is in the act of
unwinding its chain from the drum L the chain from the other ram J is being
wound upon the drun M and the ram pulled back into the cylinder H.
The travelling gear for traversing the apparatus from place to place in the retort
house on the rails N comprises two more hydraulic cylinders O, P, and rams R, S,
affixed to the lower members of the structure with chains therefrom passing round
a drum T. These chains are also wound in opposite directions round the drum T
so that by alternately forcing out one ram and then the other a reciprocating rotary.
motion is given to the drum. On the shaft t which carries the drum T are two
loose bevel wheels U with a clutch V between, which slides on a key. The bevel
wheels U gear with a bevel wheel W and by alternately moving the clutch V to

page_text: gear with one wheel or the other as the motion of the drum T and shaft t is reversed
a continuous movement in one direction is obtained for the gear wheels W, W¹,
which latter drives the main axle X whereon the wheels are carried that rest and
run upon the rails N.
The valve which controlls the opening and closing of the outlet from the
measuring chamber or hopper may also be connected with a ram or plunger by
which it is opened and closed as required.
In each instance I prefer to use an hydraulic cylinder and rain, but air or other
elastic fluid under pressure may be applied to actuate the rams the apparatus being
so arranged that the movement of the ram or plunger is brought to bear direct
upon the part to be moved, without the intervention of rotating parts or gearing.
The floor of the retort house may be excavated below the apparatus to provide
room for the cylinder and ram for raising and lowering, being suspended below the
machine.
An accumulator and pumping engines are fixed at any suitable place, the water
under pressure being carried from the former in mains with a number of connections
or branch pipes to which the apparatus is connected by flexible pipes or other
suitable means. Each machine is preferably fitted with an upright pipe Y or other
chamber to which the several parts are connected by flexible pipes or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) An apparatur for charging or drawing gas retorts having the several movable
or operative parts attached direct to and actuated by the rams of hydraulic or other
cylinders arranged substantially as described and shown.
(2) Apparatus for charging inclined gas retorts, having the several parts con-
structed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 15th day of Wah 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.