Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
I WILLIAM FIDDES of The Gas Works Bristol in the County of Gloucester
(ras Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of a steam or air blast shoot
especially adapted for propelling coals into gas retorts in a more simple and
inexpensive manner than those hitherto made for such purposes.
In order to carry out this invention I allow coals to fall from a hopper into the
apparatus for charging the retorts which consists of a series of short shoots fixed by
distance pieces one beneath the other so that. spaces or passages are left between
the shoots. I surround this with a jacket, and into the chamber thus formed I
admit steam or air under pressure which escapes as a series of blasts through the
spaces or passages between the series of short shoots.
The charging of the retorts consists in having the apparatus, constructed as
before described, attached in a suitable manner so. that it can be brought in front
of the monthpieces of the retorts and for some portion of its length be inserted into
them. Coal is then allowed to fall into that end of the apparatus which is outside
the retort and at the same moment the steam or air is turned on. The coal falling
into the shoot meets with the blast of steam or air issuing from the first space or
passage which carries it forward where it meets with the blast from the second
space or passage and so on until the coal is finally projected into the retort.
the coal is deposited in the retort so is the apparatus gradually withdrawn and the
operation stopped.
As
The form of the apparatus may be varied to that of a circular or oval or angular
tube similarly constructed.
Dated this 10th dor of June 1803
WILLIAM FIDDES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Gas Retorts.
1 WILLIAM FIDDES of The Gas Works, Bristol in the County of Gloucester
Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my 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 for its object the construction of a steam or air blast shoot,
e-pecially adapted for propelling coals into what are known as through gas retorts
in a more simple, inexpensive and efficient manner than hitherto.
In an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention I allow coals to
fall from a hopper, or otherwise to be delivered, into the apparatus for charging
the retorts which apparatus consists of a series of short shoots fixed by distance
pieces one beneath the other so that spaces, or passages, are left between the
shoots. I enclose this with a jacket and into the chamber thus formed I admit
steam, or air under pressure, which escapes as a series of blasts through the spaces,
or passages, formed by the distance pieces between the series of shoots, so that the
currents of steam, or air, sweep over each such shoot. The said apparatus is
mounted, or arranged in any suitable manner so that it can be brought in front of
the mouthpieces of the retorts and, if desired, so that some portion of its length can
be inserted into the mouthpieces. Coal is then introduced into the rearward end
DQ21

page_text: of the apparatus and the steam, or air, is turned on. The coal falling into the
apparatus meets with the blast of steam, or air, issuing from the first spaces, or
passages which blast carries the said coal forward where it meets with the blast
from the second spaces, or passages, and so on, until the coal is projected along
each shoot and finally into the retort.
In order that this invention may be fully understood I will now describe the
manner in which it may be carried into practical effect with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus constructed according to my
invention and Figure 2 is a section of the same on the line C D of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a rear end elevation and Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figures 5 & 6 are enlarged sections taken on the lines A B & C D of Figure 1
respectively.
Figures 7 & 8 are a side elevation, and a back elevation, of the said apparatus
(marked E) shewing how it may be mounted on any suitable movable frame work
to enable it to be readily brought into position to charge the retorts R.
This framework may be of any usual or suitable construction.
I allow coals to fall from a hopper or hoppers (placed in any suitable elevated
position but preferably above and in front of the retorts) down a shoot F and into
the apparatus E which consists of a series of short shoots s¹, s², s³, 81, s³ the forward
end of each overlapping the hinder end of the one in advance of it and fixed by
distance pieces so that spaces or passages are left at the rear of each shoot.
I encase the lower side of the shoots with a jacket L and into the chamber L'
thus formed I admit by the pipe P steam, or air under pressure which escapes
as a series of blasts through the spaces or passages k at the rear of the
shoots to s³.
In charging the retorts R the apparatus is brought in front of the mouthpieces M
of the said retorts and if desired some portion of its length may be inserted into
them. Coal is then allowed to fall down the shoot F into that end of the
apparatus E which is furthest from the retort and at, the same time (or prior to it)
the steam, or air, is turned on by the pipe P. The coals falling from the shoot F
into the apparatus meet with a blast of steam, or air issuing from the first set of
spaces or passages k beneath the shoot at which blast carries the said coal
forward where it meets with the blast from the second set of spaces or passages k
beneath the shoot at 82 and so on with regard to the remainder of the spaces or
passages beneath the shoot at sand & until the coal is finally projected into
the retort.
The apparatus may be of any suitable form instead of the semi-circular form
shewn in cross section and it, may be mounted for vertical, lateral and angular
adjustment for presenting it to the retorts as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A retort charging apparatus, consisting of a series of shoots, with means for
discharging coal thereinto, and with means for admitting fluid under pressure
at the rear of each shoot, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting a retort
charging apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 1,
2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 2nd day of March 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.