Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1887.
I, ELI JACOB BARNFIELD of the Gas Works, Swanage, Dorsetshire, Gas Manager,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the construction of furnaces specially adapted for
the heating of gas retorts for small "settings" and has for its object the utilization of
spent gases from the back of the retorts in combination with atmospheric air for
heating the retort furnace.
In carrying out my invention I employ in close proximity to the furnace a mixing
chamber to which the gases from the back of the retorts are conducted by suitably
arranged flues after they have been used for heating the said retorts. I also introduce
into the mixing chamber cold air, which on entering with the spent gases intermingle
and blend together so as to become one and the same specific gravity, when they pass
off through suitably arranged openings and flues into the furnace where they become
ignited and materially assist in generating the heat thereof.
Suitable dampers are employed so as to regulate the admission of spent gases and
atmospheric air which is not allowed to enter the furnace until the openings between
the grate bars are covered by clinkers, after which the mixture from the mixing
chamber may be continuous.
By this means the heat of the furnace can be maintained with economy and
regularity. The various flues required to conduct the gases and air to the mixing
chamber will vary with almost every construction of furnace.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Commercial Street, Halifax,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Retort Furnaces.
1 ELI JACOB BARNFIELD, of the Gas Works, Swange, Dorsetshire, Gas Manager
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:
This invention has reference to the construction of furnaces specially adapted for
the heating of gas retorts for small "settings" and has for its object the utilization of
spent gases from the back of the retorts, in combination with atmospheric air for heating
the retort furnace.
In carrying out my invention I employ in close proximity to the furnace, a mixing
chamber to which the gases from the back of the retorts are conducted by suitably
arranged flues after they have been used for heating the said retorts. I also intro-
duce into the mixing chamber cold air which on entering with the spent gases inter-
mingle and blend together so as to become one and the same specific gravity, when they
pass off through suitably arranged openings and flues into the furnace where they
become ignited and materially assist in generating the heat thereof.
Suitable dampers are employed so as to regulate the admission of spent gases and
atmospheric air which is not allowed to enter the furnace until the openings between
the grate bars are covered by clinkers, after which the mixture from the mixing chamber
may be continuous.
By this means the heat of the furnace can be maintained with economy and
regularity.
The various flues required to conduct the gases and air to the mixing chamber will
vary with almost every construction of furnace.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will now make reference to
the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate several methods of putting my
invention into practice. Fig. 1 is cross section of a gas retort furnace, Fig. 2. longi-
tudinal section, and Fig. 3. sectional plan thereof. a are ordinary retorts, the furnace
arranged with a grate c. The primary object of my invention in small "settings" is
the collection of a portion of spent gases from the back of the retorts and the mixing
therewith of atmospheric or secondary air, so as to enter into combination with and
effect complete combustion with any carbonic oxide gases which would otherwise
escape and be lost, ensuring thereby the application and utilization of such gases in
the said furnace, and this I propose to do, with the least possible cost. of erection,
economy in fuel, and durability of furnace linings.
To carry out my invention the spent gases arising from the back of the furnace
are conducted by flues to the part marked d in Fig. 3. and after traversing in the
direction of the arrow, pass (when the damper e is removed) down the flue into the
chamber divided by a diaphragm g, through the opening, into the mixing chamber i
arranged on one side of the furnace. The secondry air enters the "setting" at point j
and enters into the chamber and passes on to the mixing chamber where it blends

page_text: with the spent gases, after which the said mixture passes through small openings & in
the sides of the furnace and becomes ignited, producing thereby a great amount of
heat, which materially assists in the generation of the coal gases, and is a considerable
saving of fuel.
The modus operandi is as follows:
The furnace is supplied with fuel in the ordinary manner and when a certain degree
of heat is attained atmospheric or secondry air is admitted at point ; by the removal
of a damper or sliding door.
By the time a proper heat is attained and the retorts are in full operation, the fire
bars c are allowed to be covered with clinkers which will prevent any air from
passing up between the bars. I then open damper e and admit the spent gases, which
after arriving in the mixing chamber, enter into the furnace through the slits or
openings and this may afterwards go on continuously.
In Fig. 4. which is cross section, Fig. 5. longitudinal section, Fig. 6. sectional
plan, and Fig. 7. section of parts shewing furnace; I have shewn the mixing
chamber to be in a different position to the one already described, in this case tho
mixing chamber i is arranged over the furnace b. The atmospheric or secondry air
is admitted at both sides of the furnace at points j, and after traversing through flues
enters the mixing chamber i through openings & where it meets and mingles with the
spent gases from the retorts, becoming at once converted into carbonic oxide, when
combustion takes place and increased heat generated thereby.
Referring back to sheet one, another slightly varied arrangement is shewn with
the mixing chamber again over the furnace. Fig. 8. is cross section, and Fig. 9.
sectional plan. Atmospheric or secondry air is admitted at jon both sides of the
furnace, and after passing through flues, enters the mixing chamber i through aper-
tures or slits k, where as in the preceeding case it meets the spent furnace gases
and immediately ignites.
On sheet 3 another arrangement of flues is shewn. Fig. 10 being cross section,
Fig. 11. longitudinal section, Fig. 12. sectional plan, and Fig. 13. another sectional
plan shewing furnace and some of the flues. The mixing chamber is above the
furnace whilst the secondry air is admitted at point on both sides of the furnace
and after traversing through zigzag flues enters the mixing chamber and mingles
with the spent gases issuing from the back of the retorts, which come to the mixing
chamber in the direction of the arrow m behind part n to the chamber i, where the
carbonic oxide is ignited and becomes at once a ready and economical generator. In
this case I employ a chimney p to each retort and by means of dampers at the part »
or at any other convenient place, either of the retorts can be working independantly
of the other. This method may be adopted with single retorts as shown in the
drawings, or with sets of retorts, as the case may be, but each set would require to be
divided by a division wall such as s in Fig. 10.
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―
In small retort "settings" the means and method of gathering spent gases and secondry
air in a mixing chamber arranged as herein set forth and for purposes described.
Dated this 26th day of February 1887.