Drawing Gas Retorts.
Year: 1886

page_text: 1
Drawing Gas Retorts.
I, JOHN WEST of Albion Iron Works, Miles Platting, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING GAS
RETORTS " to be as follows:-
-
This Invention relates to Improvements in machinery and apparatus for which
Letters Patent No. 2346, dated June 28 1875, No. 453, dated February 4th 1878,
No. 1221, dated March 22 1880; and No. 789 dated February 24 1881, were
granted to me, and has for its object the application of such additions and
modifications as will permit of their being worked by steam, compressed air, or
any other fluid, or gas under pressure in a more expeditious manner than
heretofore.
The Invention refers in the first place to improvements in the charging
apparatus, and I avail myself of the power of steam compressed air or other fluid
or gas under pressure to drive machinery which actuates a charging scoop in the
manner hereinafter described. When it is convenient or preferable to use steam
as the motive power I arrange the parts of the machine in the following manner :-
Upon a suitably constructed framework which runs on wheels; any or all of
which may be provided with grooves, or flanges for running on rails laid in
front of the retort stack. I place in any convenient position a steam boiler from
which steam and water are supplied to a specially constructed cylinder, fixed to the
framework and fitted with a piston rod, the piston rod being directly connected
with a toothed rack.
By the alternate forces of steam and water from the steam boiler the piston is
caused to move at will from one end of the stroke to the other, or to make any
portion of a stroke in either direction as desired. The arrangement of valves and
levers by which this object is achieved will be described hereafter in detail, in
connection with a description of the specially constructed cylinder. In one
modification of the machine the cylinder is fixed vertically to the framework and
the rack gears with a toothed pinion fixed at one end of a horizontal overhead
shaft, which conveys the motion imparted by the rack to the opposite side of the
machine to that on which the cylinder is fixed. The overhead shaft runs in
bearings supported by brackets bolted to the main framework of the machine. To

page_text: one end of the overhead shaft is keyed a bevel toothed pinion, gearing into another
bevel toothed pinion keyed on the upper end of a vertical shaft, supported by a
footstep bearing at its base, and held in position by a bracket and bearing near the
upper end. The vertical shaft has a featherway, or groove in it of a convenient
length, and a bevel wheel or pinion fitted with a sliding feather, slides up or down
the vertical shaft as desired for adjustment to the varying heights of the retorts,
which are in tiers above each other This bevel wheel is kept in gear with
another bevel wheel by a bracket which couples the two together and serves to
raise or lower the sliding bevel wheel in a manner now to be described.
On the main frame of the machine and forming part thereof, I fix four upright
standards, or guides connected together at the top by girders two of which carry
chain pulleys; the four standards are placed one at each corner of the machine and
enclose a rectangular space. A hopper, or bin for containing coal is hung between
the standards by means of chains passing over the chain pulleys above described,
one end of each chain being fixed to the hopper while the other end of each chain
passes round a chain barrel of the hoisting gear hereafter described. At the lower
part of the hopper is a feeder box with gearing and a hand wheel for regulating
the supply of coals to the charging scoop, the amount of coals supplied being
governed by the number of revolutions made by the band wheel. The feeder box
consists of a cylindrical tube open on two sides and fitted with revolving blades or
vanes which, when they are made to revolve allow a certain quantity of coal to
pass from the hopper into the scoop.
Suspended from the hopper is a large frame in which the charging scoop and
the carriage of the same run.
The scoop and carriage are entirely supported by the suspended frame, so that no
part of the scoop shall bear on the retort in the operation of charging the retorts.
The suspended frame consists of two girders provided with flanges and kept at a
suitable distance apart by cross stays, placed at intervals. The two top flanges of
the suspended frame, form the rails upon which two side wheels of the charger
carriage run. There is also a centre rail, supported by the cross stays and upon
this rail the front or centre wheel of the charger carriage ruds.
At each end of
the frame, and between the girder forming the same a chain pulley is placed, and
on the outside of one of the girders a box is fixed for carrying bearings in which
a horizontal shaft revolves.
The shaft carries a chain drum keyed on it between the bearings and a bevel
wheel at one end outside the bearings, this bevel wheel gears with the sliding
bevel wheel before described in connection with the vertical shaft, and raises or
lowers the same by means of the coupling bracket.
If the vertical shaft be caused to rotate by the motion of the rack, then the
chain drum will also rotate, being connected to the vertical shaft by gearing and if
the rack be made to move in a reverse direction then the direction of motion of
the chain drum will also be reversed.
The charger consists of a carriage and scoop, the latter being supported by the
former. The carriage is provided with three wheels, one in front and two behind;
the centre or front wheel runs on the top of the centre rail of the suspended frame,
while the two back wheels rin with their upper surfaces bearing against the
underside of the top flange of the suspended frame girders. The axle upon which
these two back wheels revolve, does not revolve with them but can move in slides
which allow it to be adjusted upwards or downwards to throw the scoop level.
Between the sides of the frame of the carriage, a long pulley or barrel provided
with grooves, for two chains is placed upon the axle which has a stop upon it to
prevent the barrel from making a complete revolution. There is also a spur wheel
bolted to the barrel. This spur wheel transmits motion to another shaft by means
of a spur wheel in gear with it, and keyed to the shaft, and upon this latter shaft
are placed two bevel wheels running loose upon it, but kept in gear with a bevel
pinion keyed on the end of the scoop shaft. One bevel wheel gears with the bevel
pinion on one side, the other bevel wheel gears with the pinion on the opposite

page_text: side. Each bevel wheel is provided with clutch teeth and there is a sliding clutch
between the bevel wheels, which clutch is driven by a feather on the shaft, and
can be put in gear with either of the bevel wheels at will by means of a hand
lever, which slides the clutch along the shaft as desired. By these means the
scoop shaft and with it the scoop can make a portion of a revolution in either
direction, according to which wheel the clutch is in gear with. The scoop is semi-
cylindrical in form and is provided with a vertical division plate throughout its
length. This division plate is used to secure a more perfect distribution of coal in
the retorts. The scoop can be made of any convenient length to suit the various
lengths of retorts used for producing gas in different works. In order to facilitate
the removal of a scoop from the carriage, the scoop is provided with a headstock
socket which can be drawn off the scoop shaft whenever desirable.
The operations of drawing the scoop into and out of the retort and reversing the
scoop to deposit the coal, are effected by a chain attached to the chain druin before
described. The chain is partly coiled on the drum and one end is led round the
chain pulley placed at that end of the suspended frame,, which is nearest the retort
from thence it goes to one of the chain grooves on the barrel, which is on the axle
of the charger carriage, about one fourth round the barrel in one direction and is
then made fast thereto by a bolt through a link. The other end of the chain is
led from the chain drum round the pulley at the other end of the suspended frame,
from thence it goes to the other groove on the chain barrel which is on the axle of
the charger carriage, passes about three fourths round the barrel in the opposite
direction to the first described chain, and is attached to it in the same manner.
The chain is coiled on the chain drum in such a way that if the latter be made to
revolve one end of the chain will be coiled up while the other end will uncoil.
The operation of charging a retort is as follows:
The scoop being in a suitable position for filling, the hand wheel of the feeder
box is turned and the scoop is filled with coal.
The hand lever controlling the action of the cylinder (described hereafter) is
then moved so that the rack makes an up stroke, the chain drum is thereby
revolved, and it coils up the chain attached to the charger carriage, thus drawing
the scoop into the retort. As soon as the rack has come to the end of its stroke
two pawls fixed to the charger carriage drop into racks or ratchet teeth fixed to the
girders of the suspended frame. The motion of the rack and with it the chain
drum is now reversed, but the charger cannot return because the pawls are in gear
with the racks or ratchets, therefore the chain barrel on the axle of the charger
carriage is pulled round until it comes against the stop on the axle, this causes the
bevel wheels to make part of a revolution and the scoop is turned partly over
towards one side of the retort depositing its coal towards that side of the retort.
Just before the chain barrel comes in contact with the stop on the axle it causes a
cam to raise the pawls out of gear with the ratchets and so enables the charger to
return to its original position in the frame. A slight upward motion of the rack
reverses the scoop into the proper position for refilling with coal.
The clutch lever is now moved so that the clutch is drawn out of gear with one
bevel wheel and put in gear with the opposite one. The scoop is again filled and
the same operation as before takes place, but this time the scoop is turned over
towards the opposite side of the retort to that already charged. After the charger
has been drawn back into the suspended frame, the retort is closed and the
machine proceeds to the next retort.
In the operation of charging a retort by the charger above described, the amount
of power required to drive the charger into the retort is greater than the power
required to draw the same out of the retort, owing to the load of coal, and the
power required to turn the scoop over is often greater than either of the above
because of obstructions in the retort. Now as these various motions are for con-
venience and simplicity performed by the same mechanism it is necessary that
some form of automatic check be applied to balance the difference in power, else
one stroke would be made at a dangerous speed while the following one would be

page_text: done at a proper working speed. Owing to the expansive action of steam or
compressed or other gas under pressure it would not be sufficient to close the valves
and cut off the supply of steam or air because the confined steam, or air would
expand and continue to force the piston forwards, or backwards as the case may
be until the decreased pressure due to the expansion balances the resistance. To
overcome this difficulty I have invented the following check which forms part of
the cylinder of the machine The body of the cylinder is made in the usual
manner, but instead of using an ordinary piston and piston rod, I use a piston
provided with a large hollow rod, which is bored inside so as to allow of its sliding
up and down over a fixed central column.
The one cylinder cover has a stuffing box and gland sufficiently large to allow
the large piston rod to work through it in the usual manner.
The other end cover has a hollow stem or column cast with it or affixed to it by.
bolts or lugs as most convenient and this stem or column projects up the centre of
the cylinder and is also about the same length as the cylinder.
The upper part of the fixed column is on its outside fitted with spring rings the
same as an ordinary steam cylinder piston, and the top of the hollow piston rod
thus becomes a supplementary piston, as the rod slides up and down over the fixed
column.
To the cylinder cover and in direct connection with the hollow stem, or column
I attach a junction pipe and a valve box provided with a. valve of the ordinary
mushroom kind, or any other kind of valve may be used for the same purpose.
The space above the valve is in direct communication with the hole through the
centre of the hollow stem or column while the space below the valve is con-
nected by means of a pipe with the water space of the boiler. There is also a
bye pass hole in the metal of the valve box to form a direct constant connection
between the water pipe from the boiler and the hollow column. This hole can be
made of the proper area to achieve the object described hereafter, or it may be fitted
with an adjusting conical plug to regulate the area as desired. The opposite end
of the cylinder, that above the main piston is also connected by means of a pipe
with the waterspace of the boiler. This pipe is also provided with an ordinary
plug cock or any other form of stop valve or cock, or an arrangement of valve
and bye pass hole as described above can be used if found more convenient.
The end of the cylinder below the main piston is connected to a steam space of
the boiler through a valve box provided with an ordinary slide valve. This slide
valve has a hand lever, working round a fulcrum attached to it. By moving the
hand lever and with it the slide valve, steam can be admitted to the space below
the piston or exhausted therefrom as desired.
.
In connection with the slide valve is an arrangement of levers worke auto-
matically at both ends of the stroke by tappets on the toothed rack so as to cut
off steam, or close the exhaust to prevent concussion at the ends of the stroke.
From the above description it will be seen that one end of the cylinder is always
connected to the water space of the boiler, and that the inside of the hollow piston
rod is also always in connection with the water in the boiler, so that there is
always water above the piston and inside the hollow piston rod, while the space
below the piston can be filled with steam or exhausted at pleasure. The effective
area of the piston on the top or waterside of the cylinder is reduced by the area of
the large piston rod. The effective area of the piston on the steam side of the
cylinder is also reduced by the area of the piston on the top of the hollow stem,
or column, but as there is an area exposed to the boiler pressure, inside the piston
rod equal in area to the piston on the hollow columns the effect in the upstroke
is the same as if the whole area of the main piston was exposed to the steam
pressure.
The action is as follows:
Supposing the piston to be at the bottom of the stroke: Steam is admitted by
the alide valve above described, to the bottom of the cylinder, and owing to the
area below the piston exposed to pressure being greater than that above the piston

page_text: 18 forced up, driving the water above the piston back into the boiler through the
water pipe which is of such an area that the water can only get away at a certain
moderate rate thus checking the speed in the upstroke to within the desired limits..
To make the down stroke the steam is allowed to exhaust out of the cylinder
(by moving the hand lever before described) and then the pressure of the water
upon the top of the piston forces the same down. But here again a check action
is supplied by the water within the hollow piston rod, which water can only get
away at a moderate speed through the bye pass hole before mentioned.
It is necessary to have the valve opening upwards, or its equivalent, in combi-
nation with the bye pass hole because the latter, if small enough to check the
speed on the downstroke would be too small to allow water to get into the hollow-
rod fast enough to fill the space made during the upstroke, therefore the pressure
would fall and as the water is at the same temperature as the steam in the boiler,
steam would be generated from the water to fill the space left empty by the
upward motion of the piston, this action would completely spoil the water check
desired. But with the valve opening on the upstroke a sufficiently large area of
supply is provided so that enough water can be ensured. Of course the valve
closes during the down stroke and the water is forced out through the bye pass
hole only.
An engine is provided on the main frame of the machine for propelling the whole
machine along the rails laid in front of the retort stack The saine engine is also
used for hoisting the coal hopper with its suspended frame and charger from one
tier of retorts to any others-The engine may be of any suitable kind and should
be provided with reversing gear. The means whereby the machine is propelled is
as follows:
Upon one of the main axles of the machine a worm wheel is keyed which is
driven by a worm gearing with a train of wheels to the engine shaft. By reversing
the engine the machine may be made to travel in either direction. A clutch is
provided by which the propelling gear can be thrown out of action, and another
set of gearing put in action so that the same engine which propels the machine
may also hoist the hopper. This is done by two chain barrels keyed one at each
end of a shaft. The hopper suspending chains are attached to these barrels and
the whole is driven by a worm and worm wheel actuated by the engine through
the gearing and clutch before described.
Instead of using the steam cylinder before described for actuating the charger
I may actuate the same by the propelling engine through suitably placed gearing
and clutches.
I may also use the charger described and patented by me on the 4th of February
1878 No. 453 instead of the single scoop going in twice as herein described.
In another modification of the machine the steam cylinder is placed horizontally
and the toothed rack gears with a spur pinion on the vertical shaft without the
intermediate overhead shaft.
When it is convenient to use compressed air or other gas under pressure a vessel
partly filled with water, or other liquid is provided instead of the steam boiler, and
the air or other pressure is allowed to act in the same way as described for steam,
the air being conveyed to the machine by a hose pipe which can be coiled on
a drum.
My Invention relates in the second place to the drawing apparatus the general
arrangement of the framing, boiler, cylinder, rack vertical shaft and propelling
engine being similar to that described for the charging machine but instead of the
rectangular framing supporting the coal hopper and suspended frame I use in this
case four braced uprights, two of which act as guides for the brackets hereafter
described These brackets are suspended by a chain carried over a chain pulley on
the top of the machine which chain is connected to the hoisting gear before
described, but in this case there is only one chain barrel instead of two used for
the charging machine,

page_text: The brackets are provided at their upper ends with bearings which support a
horizontal shaft on which is keyed a chain drum between the bearings and a bevel
wheel at one end and outside the bearings This bevel wheel gears with the bevel
wheel on the vertical shaft and is connected to the same in the same manner as
described for the charging machine In addition to the chain drum the brackets
also support a guide frame for the rake rod. The brackets are provided near their
bottom ends with bearings for the pivots or gudgeons which support the guide
frame for the rake bar, and allow it to swing through a small are of a circle. The
guide frame consists of two long channel irons braced together by cross stays at
suitable intervals. At the end of the guide frame near the retorts two grooved
rollers are fitted one above the other and the rake bar which goes into the retort is
guided and supported by these rollers. The other end of the rake bar is supported
by a cross head having B roller at each end,-one of these rollers runs in each
channel iron of the guide frame so that the rake bar runs between the channel
irons. One end of the rake rod is provided with a removable rake head which.
may be made to swing, or close up if necessary to get over the coke in the retort,
and may be made of any shape to suit the retort. One end of a chain partly
coiled on the chain drum is led round a pulley fixed near the retort end of the
guide frame, while the other end of the chain passes round a pulley at the opposite
end of the guide frame and both ends of the chain are connected near together at
the crosshead of the rake rod. The chain is so coiled on the chain drum that if
the latter revolves one end of the chain will be coiled up while the other end will
uncoil. By these means the rake can be propelled into the retort or drawn out of
it at pleasure by making the rack move in one direction or the reverse.
suitable leverage on the guide frame a set of adjustable hand levers and rods are
fitted; the fulcrum of the main lever being attached to the frame of the machine.
These levers are for rocking the guide frame through a small are of a circle so that
the rake head can be kept above the coke while going into the retort and can be
depressed into the coke when it is desired to draw the latter out of the retort.
A supply of cold water is carried in a tank on the top of the machine and a flexible
hose pipe or other kind of jointed pipe supplies water to form a spray for cooling
the rake head and bar near the end when they get hot.
At a
The modification of the machine by which the cylinder is placed horizontally
may also be used for the drawing machine.
D1 th Jau 1000

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Charging and
Drawing Gas Retorts.
I, JOHN WEST of the Albion Iron Works, Miles Platting, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING GAS
RETORTS," 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 accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery and apparatus for which
Letters Patent No. 2346 dated June 28, 1875,-No. 453 dated February 4, 1878,-
No. 1221 dated March 22, 1880, and No. 789 dated February 24, 1881 were granted
to me, and has for its object the application of such additions and modifications
as will permit of their being worked by steam, compressed air or other fluid or gas
under pressure in a more expeditious manner than heretofore.
The invention refers in the first place to improvements in the charging apparatus
and I avail myself of the power of steam, compressed air or other fluid or gas
under pressure to drive machinery which actuates a charging scoop or drawing
rake in a manner hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the machine
for charging the retorts and Fig. 2 an end elevation of the same machine. Fig. 3
represents a side elevation of the machine for drawing the coke out of the retorts
and Fig. is an end elevation of the same machine. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal
section of the specially constructed combined steam and water cylinder described
hereafter; Fig. 6 an elevation of the slide valve face, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 two views of
the slide valve itself, Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the charger and its carriage and
Fig. 10 a plan of the same.
When it is convenient or preferable to use steam as the motive power I arrange
the parts of the machine in the following manner, see Figs. 1 and 2.
Upon a suitably constructed framework A, A, A, A, which runs on wheels a, a, ɑ ɑ,
any or all of which may be provided with grooves or flanges for running on rails
B B, laid in front of the retort stack b I place in any convenient position a steam
boiler C from which steam and water are supplied to a specially constructed
cylinder c fixed to the framework, and fitted with a piston and piston rod c³, the
piston rod being directly connected to a toothed rack D.
By the alternate forces of steam and water from the steam boiler C the piston
is caused to move at will from one end of the stroke to the other, or to make any
portion of a stroke in either direction as desired. The arrangement of valves
and levers by which this object is achieved will be described hereafter in detail in
connection with a description of the specially constructed cylinder c.
In one
modification of the machine the cylinder is fixed vertically to the framework, and
the rack D gears with a toothed pinion d fixed at one end of a horizontal overhead
shaft which conveys the motion imparted by the rack D through the rack
pinion d to the opposite side of the machine to that on which the cylinder is fixed.

page_text: The overhead shaft & runs in bearings E, E supported by brackets ee bolted to
the main framework H H of the machine. To one end of the overhead shaft d
is keyed a bevil toothed pinion e¹, gearing into another bevel toothed pinion e
keyed on the upper end of a vertical shaft F which is supported by a footstep
bearing fat its base and held in position by a bracket and bearing f¹ near the
upper end. The vertical shaft F has a featherway or groove in it of a convenient
length and a bevel wheel or pinion G fitted with a sliding feather slides up or
down the vertical shaft F so as to suit it for adjustment to the varying heights of
the retorts which are in tiers above each other. The bevel wheel G is kept in
gear with another bevel wheel g by a bracket g₁ which couples the two together
and serves to raise or lower the sliding bevel wheel G in a manner now to be
described.'
あな
On the main frame of the machine and forming part thereof I fix four upright
standards or guides HHHH connected together at the top by girders hh two of
which carry chain pulleys h¹¹; the four standards are placed one at each
corner of the machine and enclose a rectangular space. A hopper or bin I for con-
taining coal is hung between the standards H by means of chains ii passing over the
chain pulleys h¹¹ above described one end of each chain being fixed to the hopper
while the other end of each chain passes round a chain barrel J J of the hoisting
gear hereafter described. At the lower part of the hopper I is a feeder box
with gearing and a hand wheel ; for regulating the supply of coals to the charging
scoop K, the amount of coals supplied being governed by the number of revolutions
made by the hand wheel j. The feeder box consists of a cylindrical tube i³ ³
open on two sides and fitted with revolving blades or vanes which when they are
made to revolve, allow a certain quantity of coals to pass from the hopper I into
the scoop K.
Suspended from the hopper I is a long frame L in which the charging scoop and
the carriage of the same run. The scoop and carriage are entirely supported by
the suspended frame L so that no part of the scoop shall bear on the retort in the
operation of charging the retort. The suspended frame consists of two girders pro-
vided with flanges and kept at a suitable distance apart by cross stays placed
at intervals. The two top flanges 11 of the suspended frame form the rails upon
which two side wheels M M, see also Figa. 9 and 10, of the charger carriage run.
There is also a centre rail m supported by the cross stays and upon this rail
the front or centre wheel m² of the charger carriage ruos.
At each end of the frame and between the girders forming the same, chain
pulleys N N are placed, and on the outside of one of the girders a box O is fixed
for carrying bearings o in which a horizontal shaft, o' revolves. The shaft o¹
carries a chain drum P keyed on it between the bearings oo and a bevel wheel g
at one end outside the bearings. This bevel wheel gears with the sliding bevel
wheel G before described in connection with the vertical shaft F and raises or
lowers the same by means of the coupling bracket 9'. If the vertical shaft F be
caused to rotate by the motion of the rack D then the chain drum P will also
rotate being connected to the vertical shaft F by gearing G. g, and if the rack be
made to move in a reverse direction then the direction of motion of the chain drum
will also be reversed.
The charger consists of a carriage and scoop the latter being supported by the
former, see Figs. 9 and 10. The carriage QQ is provided with three wheels
M M m², one in front m' and two behind M M. The centre or front wheel m³
runs on the top of the centre rail mof the suspended frame L L, while the two
back wheels M M run with their upper surfaces bearing against the under side
of the top flanges of the suspended frame girders.-The axle R upon which these
two back wheels revolve does not revolve with them but can move in slides Tr
which allow it to be adjusted upwards or downwards to throw the scoop K level.
Upon the axle R and between the sides of the frame of the carriage is placed a
long pulley or barrel S provided with grooves 8 81 for two chains. The axle B
has a stop upon it to prevent the barrel S from making a complete revolution.

page_text: There is also a spur wheel T bolted to the barrel. This spur wheel T transmits
motion to another shaft by means of a spur wheel t¹ in gear with it and keyed
to the shaft are placed two bevel wheels UU' running loose upon it, but
kept in gear with a bevel pinion V keyed on the end of the scoop shaft v'.
One bevel wheel U₁ gears with the bevel pinion V on one side while the other
bevel wheel U gears with the pinion V but on the opposite side. Each bevel
wheel is provided with clutch teeth, and there is a sliding clutch W between the
bevel wheels UU, which clutch is driven by a feather on the shaft and can be
put in gear with either of the bevel wheels Ui U at will by means of a hand lever
w which slides the clutch along the shaft as desired.-By these means the scoop
shaft and with it the scoop K can make a portion of a revolution in either
direction according to which wheel the clutch is in gear with.
The scoop K is semi-cylindrical in form and is provided with a vertical division
plate throughout its length. This division plate is used to secure a more perfect
distribution of coals in the retort. The scoop can be made any convenient length
to suit the various lengths of retorts used for producing gas in different works. In
order to facilitate the removal of a scoop from the carriage the scoop is provided with
a headstock socket w which can be drawn off the scoop shaft whenever desirable.
The operation of drawing the scoop into and out of the retorts and reversing the
scoop to deposit the coal are effected by a chain attached to the chain drum P
before described, see Figs. 1 and 2. The chain is partly coiled on the drum P and
one end is led round the chain pulley N, placed at that end of the suspended frame
which is nearest the retort, thence it goes to one of the chain grooves on the
barrel S which is on the axle of the charger carriage, passes about one fourth round
the barrel S in one direction and is then made fast thereto by a bolt through a
link, The other end of the chain is led from the chain drum P round the
pulleys N¹ N¹ at the other end of the suspended frame L, thence it goes to the
other grooves 8' on the chain barrel S which is on the axle of the charger carriage,
passes about three fourths round the barrel in the opposite direction to the first
described chain and is attached to it in the same manner. The chain is coiled on
the chain drum P in such a way that if the latter be made to revolve one end of
the chain will be coiled up while the other end will uncoil.
The operation of charging a retort with the foregoing apparatus is as follows.
The scoop K being in a suitable position for filling, the hand wheel ; Figs. 1
and 2, of the feeder box is turned and the scoop is filled with coal. The hand
lever X controlling the action of the cylinder c (described hereafter) is then moved so
that the rack D makes an upstroke, the chain drum P is thereby revolved and it
coils up the chain attached to the charger carriage, thus drawing the scoop K into
the retort. As soon as the rack D has come to the end of its stroke two pawls x¹ x¹
fixed to the charger carriage Q Q Figs. 9 and 10, drop into racks Y or ratchet
teeth fixed to the girders of the suspended frame L. The motion of the rack D and
with it the chain drum P is now reversed, but the charger cannot return because
the pawls are in gear with the racks or ratchets Y Y, therefore the chain
barrels S on the axle of the charger carriage QQ is pulled round until it comes
against the stop on the axle R. This causes the bevel wheels U¹ U to make part
of a revolution and the scoop is turned partly over towards one side of the retort,
depositing its coal also towards that side of the retort. Just before the chain
barrel S comes in contact with the stop on the axle it causes a cam z, Figs. 9
and 10, or its equivalent to raise the pawls out of gear with the ratchets Y-and so
enable the charger to return to its original position in the frame. A slight
upward motion of the rack D reverses the scoop into the proper position for re-
filling with coal. The clutch lever w³ is now moved so that the clutch W is drawn
out of gear with one bevel wheel and put in gear with the opposite one. The scoop
is again filled and the same operation as before takes place, but this time the scoop
is turned over towards the opposite side of the retort to that already charged.
After the charger has been drawn back into the suspended frame the retort is
closed and the inachine proceeds to the next retort.

page_text: In the operation of charging a retort by the charger above described the amount
of power required to drive the charger into the retort is greater than the power
required to draw the same out of the retort owing to the load of coal, and the
power required to turn the scoop over is often greater than either of the above
because of obstructions in the retort. Now as the various-motions are for con-
venience and simplicity performed by the same mechanism, it is necessary that
some form of automatic check be applied to balance the difference in power, else
one stroke would be made at a dangerous speed while the following one would be
done at a proper working speed. Owing to the expansive action of steam or com-
pressed air or other gas under pressure it would not be sufficient to close the valves
and cut off the supply of steam, or air, because the confined steam or air would
expand and continue to force the piston forwards or backwards, as the case may be,
until the decreased pressure due to expansion balanced the resistance. To over-
come this difficulty I have invented the following check which forms part of the
cylinder c of the machine.
The body of the cylinder c Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 is made in the usual manner, but
instead of using an ordinary piston and piston rod I use a piston c' provided with
a large hollow rod c³ which is bored inside so as to allow of its sliding up and down
over a fixed central column. The one cylinder cover c³ has a stuffing box and
gland sufficiently large to allow the large piston rod to work through it in the
usual manner. The other end cover c has a hollow stem or column c cast with it
or affixed to it by bolts or keys as most convenient, and this stem or column
projects up the centre of the cylinder and is also about the same length as the
cylinder. The upper part of the fixed column is on its outside, fitted with spring.
rings co the saine as an ordinary steam cylinder piston, and the top of the hollow
column thus becomes a supplementary piston, as the piston rod slides up and
down over the fixed column c. To the cylinder cover c and in direct connection
with the hollow stem or column c³, I attach a junction pipe and a valve box ft
provided with a valve ƒ of the ordinary mushroom kind or any other kind of
valve may be used for the same purpose. The space 1 above the valve is.in direct
communication with the hole through the centre of the hollow stem or column c³
while the space 2, below the valve is connected by means of a pipe f6 with the
water space of the boiler. There is also a bye pass hole 3 in the metal of the valve
box f' to form a direct constant connection between the water pipe f* from the
boiler C Figs. 1 and 2, and the bollow column. This hole can be made of the
proper area to achieve the object described hereafter, or it may be fitted with an
adjusting conical plug f' to regulate the area as desired. The opposite end of the
cylinder, that above the main piston c¹, is also connected by means of a pipe 4
with the waterspace of the boiler. This pipe is provided with an ordinary plug
cock f near the boiler Fig. 2 or any other form of stop-valve or cock; or an
arrangement of valve and bye-pass hole as described above can be used if found
more convenient. The end of the cylinder c below the main piston c¹ is connected
to the steam space of the boiler through a steam pipe 2 and a valve box z provided
with an ordinary slide valve 21 This slide valve has a hand lever z' working
round a fulcrum attached to it. By moving the hand-lever and with it the slide
valve steam can be, admitted to the space below the piston c¹ or exhausted
therefrom as desired. In connection with the slide valve is an arrangement of
levers Figs. 1 and 2, worked automatically at both ends of the stroke by
tappets qq on the toothed rack D so as to cut off steam or close the exhaust to
prevent concussion at the ends of the stroke.
From the above description it will be seen that one end of the cylinder is always
connected to the water-space of the boiler and that the inside of the hollow piston-
rod is also always in connection with the water in the boiler so that there is always
water above the piston and inside the hollow piston-rod, while the space below the
piston can be filled with steam or the steam can be exhausted therefrom at pleasure.
The effective area of the piston on the top or water side of the cylinder is reduced
by the area of the large piston rod. The effective area of the piston on the steam

page_text: side of the cylinder is also reduced by the area of the piston on the top of the
hollow stem or column but as there is an area exposed to the boiler pressure inside
the piston rod equal in area to the piston on the hollow column the effect on the
upstroke is the same as if the whole area of the main piston was exposed to the
steam pressure.
The action is as follows. Supposing the piston to be at the bottom of the stroke,
steam is admitted by the slide valve above described through the steam port 2³
to the bottom of the cylinder, and owing to the area below the piston exposed to
pressure being greater than that above, the piston is forced up driving the water
above the piston back into the boiler through the water pipe f which is of such an
area that the water can only get away at a certain moderate rate, thus checking
the speed on the upstroke to within the desired limit.
To make the downstroke the steam is allowed to exhaust out of the cylinder
through the exhaust ports (by moving the hand lever before described) and then
the pressure of the water upon the top of the piston forces the same down. But
here again a check action is supplied by the water within the hollow piston rod
which water can only get away at a moderate speed through the bye-pass hole 3.
before mentioned.
It is necessary to have the valve opening upwards, or its equivalent, in com-
bination with the bye-pass hole, because the latter if small enough to check the
speed on the downstroke would be too small to allow water to get into the hollow
rod fast enough to fill the space made during the upstroke, therefore the pressure
would fall, and as the water is nearly at the same temperature as the steam in the
boiler steam would be generated from the water to fill the space left empty by the
upward motion of the piston, this action would completely spoil the water check
desired. But with the valve opening on the upstroke a sufficiently large area of
supply is provided so that water alone can be ensured. Of course the valve
closes during the downstroke and the water is forced out through the bye-pass
hole 3, only.
An engine n³ Figs. 1 and 2 is provided on the main frame of the machine for
propelling the whole machine along the rails laid in front of the retort stack. The
same engine is also used for hoisting the coal hopper I with its suspended frame L
and charger from one tier of retorts to any other. The engine may be of any
suitable kind and should be provided with reversing gear. The means whereby
the machine is propelled is as follows.
Upon one of the main axles of the machine a worm-wheel n' is keyed, which is
driven by a worm gearing with a train of wheels to the engine shaft. By reversing
the engine the machine may be made to travel in either direction. A clutch is
provided by which the propelling gear can be thrown out of action, and another set
of gearing put in action, so that the same engine which propels the machine may
also hoist the hopper. This is done by two chain barrels keyed one at each end of
a shaft. The hopper suspending chains are attached to these barrels J J and the
whole is driven by a worm and worm wheel ne actuated by the engine through
the gearing and clutch before described.
Under some circumstances it may be found more desirable to use the charger
described by me in the specification of my Patent No. 453 dated February 4, 1878,
instead of the single scoop going in twice as herein described.
In another modification of the machine, the steam cylinder is placed horizontally
and the toothed rack gears with a spur pinion on the vertical shaft, without using
the intermediate overhead shaft d¹ Figs. 1 and 2.
When it is convenient to use compressed air or other gas under pressure, a vessel
partly filled with water or other liquid is provided instead of the steam boiler C,
and the air or other pressure is allowed to act in the same way as described for
steam, the air being conveyed to the machine by a hose pipe which can be coiled
on a drum.
My invention relates in the second place to the drawing apparatus the general
arrangement of the framing, boiler, -cylinder, rack, vertical shaft, and propelling

page_text: engine being similar to that described for the charging machine, but instead of the
rectangular framing supporting the coal hopper and suspended frame, I use in this
case, see Figs. 3 and 4, four braced uprights H'H', H³ H³ two of which H³ H³ act
as guides for the brackets hereafter described. These brackets are suspended by a
chain carried over a chain pulley h¹ on the top of the machine, which chain is
connected to the hoisting gear before described, but in this case there is only one
chain barrel J instead of two used for the charging machine.
The brackets O'O' are provided at their upper ends with bearings which
support a horizontal shaft O³ on which is keyed a chain drum P¹ between the
bearings and a bevel wheel g at one end and outside the bearing-This bevel
wheel g gears with the bevel wheel G on the vertical shaft F and is connected to
the same in the same manner as described for the charging machine.
In addition to the chain drum the brackets 0° 0' also support a guide frame L'
for the rake rod. The brackets 0 0' are provided near their bottom ends with
bearings for the pivots or gudgeons p p which support the guide frame L for the
rake bar, and allow it to swing through a small arc of a circle. The guide frame
consists of two long channel-irons braced together by cross stays at suitable
intervals. At the end of the guide frame near the retorts two grooved rollers R* R*
are fitted one above the other, and the rake bar which goes into the retort is
guided and supported in the grooves of these rollers. The other end of the rake is
supported by a movable crosshead R' having a roller at each end. One of these
rollers runs in each channel iron of the guide frame so that the rake bar runs
between the channel irons. One end of the rake rod is provided with a removable
rake head K' which may be made to swing or close up if necessary to get over the
coke in the retort, and may be made of any shape to suit the retort. One end of a
chain partly coiled on the chain drum P¹ is led round a pulley N' fixed near the
retort end of the guide frame while the other end of the chain passes round a
pulley N³ at the opposite end of the guide frame, and both ends of the chain are
connected near together to the cross head R7 of the rake rod. The chain is so
coiled on the chain drum P¹ that if the latter revolves, one end of the chain will
be coiled up while the other will uncoil.-By these means the rake can be propelled
into the retort or drawn out of it at pleasure by making the rack move in one
direction or the reverse.
At a suitable distance on the guide frame L' to give the requisite leverage, a set
of adjustable hand levers kkk and rods are fitted, the fulcrum k of the main
lever being attached to the frame of the machine. These levers are for rocking
the guide frame through a small arc of a circle so that the rake head can be kept
above the coke while going into the retort, and can be depressed into the coke
when it is desired to draw the latter out of the retort.
A supply of cold water is carried in a tank T* on the top of the machine, and a
flexible hose pipe T or other kind of jointed pipe supplies water to form a spray
for cooling the rake head and bar near the end when they get hot. The modifi-
cation of the machine by which the cylinder is placed horizontally may also be
used for the drawing machine.
The operation of drawing the coke out of the retorts is very similar to that for
charging the retorts with coal. After having placed the machine opposite the
retort, the operator depresses the lever which admits steam through the slide
vale to the bottom of the cylinder. This causes the piston and with it the
rack D¹ to move upwards and cause the chain drum P¹ to revolve and draw the
rake rod K into the retort, the rake head k³ being kept above the coke by means
of the rocking levers k³ ³ k before described. As soon as the rack has come to
the end of its stroke the tappet q* causes the slide valve to be returned to its mid-
position and cuts off the steam. The operator then moves the lever k³ which
depresses the rake head into the coke by moving the channel frame L³ round the
pivots pp. The hand lever x is then raised so that the exhaust port z* of the
slide valve opens and the steam escapes from the bottom of the cylinder into
the atmosphere. The pressure of the water upon the upper side of the piston then

page_text: causes the rack to return to its original position, and the rake head with the coke
is drawn out of the retort.
It is not necessary to make a full stroke every time, but the operation is the
same for a short stroke, except that the tappet does not come into action because
the operator reverses the position of the handles x before the tappet touches the
striking lever ³.
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,
1. The combined steam and water cylinder with its attendant adjuncts and
appliances as herein described and shown on the drawings Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
2. The construction of the scoop having a central division plate as herein
described and shown on the drawings Figs. 9 and 10.
3. The gearing attached to the scoop whereby the same is turned over either to
the right or left, as herein described and shown on the drawings Figs. 9 and 10.
4. The combination of the various parts constituting the charging and drawing
apparatus arranged as herein described and shown on the drawings Figs. 1, 2, 3
and 4.