IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS AND COKE
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS AND COKE."-A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th October 1852.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING
GAS AND COKE" to be as follows:-
The present Invention embraces several improvements on an Inven-
tion for which I obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent on the 27th
day of May 1851. These improvements refer to certain novel arrange-
ments of apparatus, and to the following of a certain routine of ope-
rations, whereby a rich illuminating gas and good sound coke may be
obtained at one and the same time. The distilling chambers (in which.
the gas is generated) may be inclined, as shewn in my Patent of 1851,
to allow of a ready discharge of the coke, or horizontal as commonly
employed. In either case they are to be protected from the direct
action of the heat, except at the lower side or floor, below which is à
caloric reservoir in connection with the ordinary cross flue which runs
under the whole series of retorts. This reservoir tends to maintain the

page_text: temperature at the requisite degree by supplying to the said distilling
chamber a portion of the caloric which it had acquired at the close of
the preceding operation, and in this manner there will be a constant
tendency to maintain an equilibrium in all parts of the apparatus.
Instead of a vertical sliding door being used for closing the discharge
vent of the inclined distilling chambers, a segmental swing door is
employed, which when raised will allow the incandescent coke to slide
down into a cooling chamber.
A vent is made in this door, as well as in the doors of the horizontal
distilling chambers, to admit air into the chamber for the purpose of
expelling those gaseous products whose "presence"would be injurious to
the coke and gas, and to-aid in the discharge of the poor gas (which is
distilled after the rich illuminating gas has been generated) into the
furnace to be consumed.
.
J. 1+
..
In order to keep up a proper degree of exhaustion in the distilling
chamber during the generation of the illuminating gas, and prevent the
engine from drawing atmospheric air into the chamber when the gas
is being given off slowly, the flow of the gas is made to regulate the
speed of the engine which works the exhauster.
The gas passing from the distilling chambers is conducted into an a
inverted bell suspended from one end of a balanced beam, and dipping
into a tank: containing water: To the other end of the beam, which is
weighted, a throttle valve set.in the gas main is-connected. This valve is
capable of closing the passage along which the gas passes to the exhaust
apparatus, and thence to the gas holder. On the axle of the balance
beam is an arm which by means of connecting rods communicates the
oscillating motions of the beam to the steam 'supply valve' of the engine.
When, therefore, the gas comes off in great quantities from the dis-
tilling chambers the pressure of the gas below the.bell, will cause it to
rise, and thereby depress the opposite end of the beam to that with s
which it is connected. This will cause a corresponding opening of the
valve in the main to allow the gas to pass, and will open the valve of
the engine to allow of a greater supply of steam, and a quicker action
of the engine. When the generation of gas is slower the bell will
descend, and an.opposite effect.will be produced.
B

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
"Office, on the 6th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS AND COKE," being a.com-
munication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare. the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed; to be particularly-described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Draw-
-ings hereunto annexed; and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say): .
This Invention embraces several improvenients upon an Invention

page_text: patented by Messrs. Pauwels and Dubochet, on the Twenty-third April,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty, and also improvements upon an
Invention connnunicated to me from abroad, and for which Letters
Patent were granted to me on the 'Twenty-seventh May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-one. The present Invention has the same
objects in view as the two former Inventions, viz:—
First, the simultaneous production (by the distillation of coal) of
gas suitable for illumination, and also of coke suitable for sniclting
nietals and generating steam in locomotive boilers, &c.
Secondly, the production of a better quality of gas by distilling uni-
formly the mass of coal under operation; that is to say, by submitting
it to heat applied in the most advantageous manner.
Thirdly, the regulation of the extraction of the gas in apparatus in
which extractors are employed, by proportioning the action of these
latter to the quantity of gas produced, so that the extractor employed
shall always have sufficient power to draw off all the gas produced, and
shall never act with such force as so create a vacuum in the distilling
chamber.
APPARATUS WITH INCLINED CHAMBERS.
"In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, is a longitudinal
sectional elevation of a coke oven with inclined chambers. Fig. 2, is a
cross section taken in the line A, B, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, is a cross
section taken in the line C, D, of Fig. 1.
It will be understood that any number of distilling chambers may be
arranged side by side, as shown at Fig. 2, cach one being furnished
⚫with a refrigerating chamber, as represented in the longitudinal section,
Fig. 1. The whole series of distilling and cooling chambers are worked
by one crane, which opens and closes them, and which is caused for
that purpose to run upon a railway, as shewn also at Fig. 1. These
ovens or chambers are all of like construction, whatever number may
be included in the series.
As the improvements forming the subject of the present Invention
apply particularly to the apparatus described in the Patents above
nientioned, many details are shewn in the Drawings to render such

page_text: application the more evident, but it is not intended to include such
details when not specially referred to under the present Patent. The
object of the Invention, as concerns the inclined distilling chambers,
whether straight or curved, is to apply the heat to one side only of the
said chambers, and by preference underneath, (that is to say) under the
bed, and to make the upper side parallel to the bed, so that the charge
of coke may be of an uniform thickness throughout.
"
Another improvement applicable to these distilling chambers, which
are shewn at B, B, consists in a modification of the door N, for closing
the discharge aperture This door is so constructed as to rock upon a
centre pin, and present to the charge of coal which it sustains a
segment of a circle, by which means the mass is compressed at the
lower part of the chamber, and thereby takes a form suitable for facili-
tating the discharge of the coke without its being broken when the
distillation is completed. The door N, is provided with a small aper-
ture, which is closed by a plug N', during the distillation of the
gas for
illumination, and opened to allow of the access of air, and to produce
the results hereafter mentioned, during the progress of the operation.
The last improvement applicable to this arrangement of distilling
apparatus relates to a caloric reservoir, represented at Figures 1, and
3. and marked with the letter K. It consists of a chamber interposed
between the bed of the distilling chamber B, and the orifice of a hori-
zontal flue L. This reservoir being kept from contact with the masses
of coal successively introduced into the distilling chamber, tends to
maintain the temperature at the requisite degree by supplying to the
said distilling chamber a portion of the caloric which it had acquired at
the close of the preceding operations, and in this manner there will be
a constant tendency to maintain an equilibrium in all parts of the
apparatus. In this reservoir, the form of which is shewn best in the
plan view, Fig. 3, and which is in direct communication with the hori-
zontal flue L, two currents are established, the lower one of which.
being the one at the lowest degree of temperature, is constantly directed
towards the flue L, and the other, which is at the highest degree of tem-
perature, issues from the said flue, reascends into the reservoir, and
proceeds thence under the bed of the distilling chamber."

page_text: I shall describe the manner of conducting the operation according to
the improved system after I have adverted to the several arrangements
of apparatus shewn in the Drawings, as it is in effect the same in all
these modifications.
HORIZONTAL OVENS.
"
"
In Sheet II. (which is divided into four parts to suit the regulations,
of tho Commissioners of Patents) the improvements are shewn as
applied to an arrangement of horizontal distilling chambers. Fig. 1, is
a longitudinal sectional elevation of two groups of distilling chambers
taken in the line A, B, of Fig. 2, shewing also the machinery or
apparatus in connection therewith for assisting in carrying on the
opérations of manufacturing gas and coke. Fig. 2, is a sectional plan
taken in the lincs C, D, E, F, of Fig. 1. Fig. 8, is a front view of the
apparatus. Fig. 4, is a vertical cross section taken in the line M, N,
of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5, is a similar section taken in the line G, H, I,
J, of Fig. 2.
The charge is fed into the ovens through suitable apertures, which
serve also for the extraction of the gases. The coal fed into the cham-
ber is spread so as to form a layer of uniform thickness throughout the
entire length of the apparatus, as high as the spring of the arch.
The heat is applied to one side only of the distilling chamber or oven,
and by preference at the bottom.
The caloric reservoir is situated as described with reference to the
inclined chambers.
The chambers are closed at both ends by sliding doors or covers,
which are intended to be provided with apertures (fitted with stoppers
as explained) for the introduction of air at stated times during the
operation.
In the Figures in Sheet II., A, is the fire-place; A', the ash-pit;
B, the distilling chamber, oven, or retort; C, a flue or passage through
which the chamber is charged, and through which the gases gene-
rated in the chamber are drawn off. D, is the flue for the absorption
of the gases. D', is a pipe serving to establish a communication be-
tween the flue for extraction and that for absorption. E, is a vertical

page_text: due, and E', a horizontal flue for conducting the gases to the fire-
places. F, is a flue for admitting the gases to the fire-places. F', are
registers for the admission of the gases to one or other of the fire-places.
F", is a flue for working the said registers. F™, is a regulating
stopper for the admission of the air. G, G, shew the passages for the
heated products of combustion. H; is the caloric reservoir; I, a hori-
zontal flue. J, J, are the doors of the distilling chamber; and J', are
the bolts or fastenings of the same. K, are openings in the doors for
the introduction of air to the distilling chambers. L, is the pusher for
discharging the coke from the chambers. L', is the shield for the same;
and L", the bar by which it is attached. L, is the moveable support
for the rack. Q, is a carriage set above the range. of chambers, and
used for charging the apparatus. R, are brackings for giving strength
to the brickwork; and S, is the mechanism for removing the doors or
covers of the distilling 'chambers.
The discharge of the coke in solid masses is preferred to be effected
by means of the pusher shewn in side elevation at Fig. 1, consisting of
a long rod furnished with a shield mounted upon suitable wheelwork,
and worked by winch handles. In order to perform this operation, the
sliding doors are removed, and the shield is brought into contact with
the mass of coke, and moved forward into the distilling chamber until it
has driven all the coke before it on to the inclined plane T, where it is
cooled by any of the known means.
a
If preferred, a cooling chamber may be employed for the reception of
the coke on its being driven from the distilling chamber, the two
chambers being made to communicate with each other when necessary
by means of a trap, as shewn at Fig. 1, Sheet I.
When the pusher shewn in the Drawing is not employed, the distil-
ling chambers may be worked by means of rables in the ordinary manner.
A space A", is provided behind the fire-bars for the purpose-first, of
distributing the heat more uniformly in the main flues G, by means of
the flues G', at each side of the fire-place; and, secondly, to allow of the
charge of fuel being pushed back upon the said hearth when the fire-bars
are required to be cleaned; so that when this-latter operation has been
performed the furnace may be quickly set to work again by bringing the

page_text: charge of fuel forward upon the fire-bars. The mouldings or projections
J", which form part of the top of the distilling chambers, and shown by
dotted lines in the Drawings, are substituted with advantage for springs
these latter being liable to get out of order. These mouldings are
situated behind the supporting irons.
The double dampers 1', and I", Fig. 1, are intended to regulate the
draft at once, and thereby to obviate the necessity at each operation of
making trials which demand the exercise of a certain amount of skill
and intelligence.
It is well known that in each distillatory operation there is a certain
portion of time during which the fire-place is not in action, and when the
vertical flue through which the draft necessary for combustion passes
must be closed by means of a damper, as at I".
For good combustion an amount of draft is required which must be
determined at each operation when only one damper is employed. 1
propose to adapt a second damper I', which, when once the draft is
properly regulated, will remain stationary in any position in which it
may have been placed, while the other I", will serve to close the vertical
flue as may be required.
charge of fuel forward upon the fire-bars. The mouldings or projections
J", which form part of the top of the distilling chambers, and shewn by
dotted lines in the Drawings, are substituted with advantage for springs
these latter being liable to get out of order. These mouldings are
situated behind the supporting irons.
The double dampers 1', and I", Fig. 1, are intended to regulate the
draft at once, and thereby to obviate the necessity at each operation of
making trials which demand the exercise of a certain amount of skill
and intelligence.
It is well known that in each distillatory operation there is a certain
portion of time during which the fire-place is not in action, and when the
vertical flue through which the draft necessary for combustion passes
must be closed by means of a damper, as at I".
For good combustion an amount of draft is required which must be
determined at each operation when only one damper is employed. 1
propose to adapt a second damper I', which, when once the draft is
properly regulated, will remain stationary in any position in which it
may have been placed, while the other I", will serve to close the vertical
flue as may be required.
HORIZONTAL OVENS.
Sheet III. of the accompanying Drawings shows the mode of applying
the chief features of the Invention to an arrangement of ovens or retorts
intended to be charged and discharged by the ordinary means.
The features embraced by this arrangement are,-
Firstly, the application of heat to the bed of the oven:
Secondly, the caloric reservoir:
Thirdly, the introduction of air (when necessary) through the oven
doors:
"
Fourthly, the collecting of the gas fitted for illumination, and convey-
ing to the furnace the gas to be employed as fuel.
This latter feature, which is an improvement upon the ordinary plan,
consists in drawing off the gases from underneath, in order to obtain a
circulation of air at the proper time, and it may be applied to retorts or
ovens of any dimensions.

page_text: In Sheet III. (which is divided into two parts), Fig. 1, is a front
view of the arrangement of ovens or retorts adapted to be worked
according to this Invention. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section taken in
the line A, B, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a cross section taken in the line
C, D, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, is a sectional plan taken at two levels (viz.)
at the lines E, F, and G, H, of Fig. 2.
In these Figures A, A, are the fire-places; B, are the passages
for conducting off the products of combustion; C, is the caloric reservoir;
D, D. are the distilling chambers; E, are the doors or openings of the
said chambers; E, snall openings for the introduction of the air to the
chambers; F, F, are the flues for the extraction of the gas; and F, arc
pipes forming the continuation of the flues; G, are moveable plungers
dipping in the hydraulic mains H, and severally forming an hydraulic
joint; H', are the stoppers for the extraction flues; 1, are the absorp-
tion flues; and J, J, are flues for conducting the gases from the distilling
chambers D, to the fire-places A, to be consumed as fuel; K, is a filling
of sand; L, is a horizontal flue; and M, M, are bent pipes for connecting
the flucs F, and I, together, when it is required to turn the gas it is
generated into the fire-place. To effect this object the covers of the
flues F, and I, are removed; the pipes M, are applied in their place,
and luted, to prevent the escape of the gas into the atmosphere.
OSCILLATING REGULATOR.
It is well known that in drawing off the gas resulting from the ‹lis-
tillation of coal, either in horizontal or vertical retorts. or in any other
apparatus, the extractors performing that office are worked by a steam
engine, and that, therefore, a constant and uniform movement is imparted
to them. As, however, there is a continual variation in the production
and consequently the flow of the gas to be drawn off (it being some-
times rapid and abundant, and at other times slow and small in
quantity), it follows that the generating apparatus is alternately sub-
jected to an internal pressure resulting from the production of too large
a quantity of gas, and to an exhaustion consequent upon the too powerful
action of the extractor or drawing off apparatus; the result in the first
instance being a loss or escape of gas, and in the second the intro-

page_text: duction of atmospheric air into the retorts, whereby the illuminating
power of the gas is decreased, and the gas is rendered liable to explode.
To remedy these evils, the apparatus represented in Sheet IV. of the
accompanying Drawings (denominated by the Inventors "the oscillator,")
has been devised. Its action is, firstly, to regulate the extraction of the
gases from the retorts by acting upon a register or valve situated in the
pipe through which the gases are drawn off'; and, secondly, to regulate
the speed of the extractor, and proportion its action to the amount of
gas produced. The horizontal pipe A, through which the gas is drawn
off and conducted to the extractor or exhausting apparatus, has a vertical
pipe H, branching from it, and leading to an hydraulic box C, con-
taining an inverted bell C'. This box is fitted with rods and stops C¹¹¹,
for guiding and limiting the motions of the bell C³. This bell is
suspended by rods C", to one end of a beam D.
'
It will be understood, on examining the Drawing, that any increase
of pressure in the apparatus occasioned by the working of a fresh charge,
and consequently a quicker generation of gas, will, by reason of the gas
being conducted under the bell C¹, tend to raise it. On the contrary,
when the quantity of gas given off from the retorts begins to diminish.
the pressure being consequently decreased, the bell or float will descend
by its own gravity. These movements of the oscillator caused by variations
in the production of the gas will produce the following results (viz³) :-
Firstly, by the rising or falling of the bell the orifice for the passage of
the gas through the draw off pipe A, will be increased or diminished in
size. When the apparatus is at rest, the counterweight E, at the lower
extremity of the rod D¹, will keep the bell in the required position; but
on the pressure increasing, the bell C will rise, and cause the beam D
to turn on its axis and depress the rod D¹, whereby the valve E¹, will
be acted upon and made to present an enlarged opening for the escape
of the gas along the pipe A. On the pressure diminishing, the bell will
descend, and through the beam D, and rod D', will cause the valve E,
to contract the capacity of the escape opening proportionately to the
quantity of gas produced. The second office of this apparatus is to regu-
late the motion of the steam engine.. By a similar combination to that
above described.the movement of the beam D, is transmitted to the

page_text: throttle valve of the steam pipe B², by means of the rods G. This throttle
valve will thus be acted upon simultaneously with the valve E¹, and
thereby regulate the admission of steam to the steam cylinder, and
determine the proper speed for the engine. By this means the action
of the extractor will be regulated according to the quantity of gas pro-
duced. By increasing or diminishing the weight of the counterweight
E, any required degree of pressure may be put upon the generating
apparatus. The regulator should be so arranged as to submit the
apparatus to a slight degree of pressure in order to avoid the liability
of the admission of air to the extractor, the mixture of which with the
gas would be attended with the disadvantages above indicated.
throttle valve of the steam pipe B', by means of the rods G. This throttle
valve will thus be acted upon simultaneously with the valve E¹, and
thereby regulate the admission of steam to the steam cylinder, and
determine the proper speed for the engine. By this means the action
of the extractor will be regulated according to the quantity of gas pro-
duced. By increasing or diminishing the weight of the counterweight
E, any required degree of pressure may be put upon the generating
apparatus. The regulator should be so arranged as to submit the
apparatus to a slight degree of pressure in order to avoid the liability
of the admission of air to the extractor, the mixture of which with the
gas would be attended with the disadvantages above indicated.
MODE OF OPERATION.
In order to effect by one operation, in a satisfactory manner, 'the
extraction of gas for illumination, and the production of coke suitable
for smelting metals, and for fuel in locomotive engines, the following
rules or conditions should be observed.
The charge of coal is to be of uniform depth or thickness through-
out the retort. oven, or distilling chamber; that is, its surface is to be
parallel with the bed of the said chamber, and the charge should be at
least twice the thickness or depth usual in gas retorts.
The distilling operation is divisible into four stages. The first stage
is that which immediately follows the introduction of the charge of
coal into the retorts or chambers; the products at this stage being
neither applicable as fuel nor for illuminating purposes, are not to be
collected. The second stage is that at which the gas for illumination
is produced: during this stage of the process the products of distilla-
tion may be collected for subsequent submission to any of the ordinary
processes of purification. At the third stage the gas, ceasing to possess
sufficient illuminating power, may, when required. be conducted by
suitable arrangements, represented in the Drawings, to the furnaces or
heating flues in which it may be employed as fuel. During the fourth
and last stage a certain quantity of air may be introduced into the
retort or distilling chamber on the side opposite to that from which
the gas flows, in order that the sulphurous gases may be driven off,

page_text: and the carburets of hydrogen consumed; the air being introduced
through apertures either in the side of the distilling chambers, or in
the doors serving to close the same.
When an extractor is employed it must only be allowed to act
during the second stage above described, and during the other stages of
the operation the draw off or absorption flues only must be allowed
to act.
I have described the arrangements by which, to the best of the In-
ventor's knowledge, the results above indicated may be obtained in the
most certain and economical manner. I would, however, observe that
they may be modified or varied in form without detriment to the suc-
cessful operation of the apparatus, provided the following conditions be
observed:-
First, that all sides of the distilling chamber, with the exception of
one, and that by preference the lower side, are protected from the
direct action of the heat:
Secondly, that the apparatus is provided with the caloric reservoir
above described, and represented in Sheets I., II., and III.:
Thirdly, that the apparatus is constructed so as to allow of the
introduction of air, and the expulsion of the vapours which are injurious
to the coke and gas, and of the gases being, when requisite, conducted
to the fire-place and consumed therein.
The above conditions being observed, the means and processes above
described may be applied to any other construction of apparatus for
distilling coal.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of Improvements
in Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas and Coke, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under thea bove in part
recited Letters Patent I claim―
First, as respects the apparatus with inclined chambers represented
in Sheet I., giving to the upper side of the said chambers a direction
parallel with the bed, so that the charge of coal may be of uniform
thickness throughout.
Secondly, I claim generally the application of heat to one side only
$

page_text: of ovens, retorts, or distilling chambers used in the manufacture of gas
and coke as above explained.
Thirdly, I claim the application to such chambers of the caloric
reservoir as above explained.
Fourthly, I claim the introduction of atmospheric air into the dis-
tilling chambers in the manner and for the purpose above expressed.
Fifthly, I claim the arrangement of the hearth behind the fire-place
as described with reference to Sheet II. of the Drawings, and likewise
the application of the double damper (therein shewn) for maintaining
the required draft without the necessity of regulating it at each succes-
sive operation.
Sixthly, I claim drawing off the gas from underneath, as shewn in
Sheet III., and also the arrangements therein shewn for conducting the
gas which is not collected for illuminating purposes to the fire-places
to be employed as fuel.
Lastly, as regards the "oscillator," represented in Sheet IV., I claim
the arrangement and application of this apparatus as above described
and shewn for effecting the purposes above mentioned.
In witness whercof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, havo
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness, J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)