IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING KETORTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Richards, Gas Engineer, of Burton
Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING
KETORTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Sealed the 8th August 1873, and dated the 12th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Richards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th February 1873.
I, WILLIAM RICHARDS, Gas Engineer, of Burton Road, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING
RETORTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
These machines may be constructed either for charging and drawing
retorts at fixed elevations, when two or more retorts are charged simul-
taneously, or for charging and drawing retorts at variable elevations when
the scoop or rake has to be raised or lowered, so as to be opposite the
retorts to be acted upon.

page_text: Both kinds of machines consist of a vertical quadrilateral frame for
supporting the various parts for giving motion, the gearing and wheels.
The base of the frame is extended at one or both sides, on which is
erected a platform or platforms for storeage of coals ready for charging
retorts. The whole of the machine together with platform and coals
are conveyed from one part of the retort house to another by motive
power, upon suitable rails and wheels.
When retorts at fixed heights are to charged, horizontal stages or
shelves are fixed on the outside of vertical frame, these stages being
rather longer than the distance the scoops and rakes pass through when
working, each one of the stages being on a level with each retort about to
be charged. The stages are detached from the scoops, and serve for sup-
porting and guiding the scoops into and out of retorts, and aid to reverse
them when desired. Suitable guides and rollers are provided in order to
avoid unnecessary obstruction or friction.
To obtain the to-and-fro motion necessary for charging and drawing
retorts, I employ one or more series of horizontal pullies with endless
link chains, wire ropes, or bands. These pullies with axles and gearing
are placed within the vertical frame. Each series is composed of two
horizontal pullies, one of them being the driving pulley which is fixed
on its axle; this axle has reversing gear, so that it can rotate to right or
left; the other pulley runs loosely on its axle. Each endless chain
which is attached to its corresponding scoop passes over the two pullies,
the axles of which are placed at a distance somewhat greater than the
space the scoops pass through when operating.
Instead of one only of the series of horizontal pullies being the driver,
they may be so constructed that each of them will be loose on its axle
in one direction and active in the opposite direction, so that each pulley
is active but in opposite directions.
The scoops are made of steel, and at the further end from the retort
are cylindrical, and may have rollers for facilitating their rotating. At
that end the scoop is furnished with a lever groove and a short quick
screw, or its equivalent, working into a corresponding boss. The boss is
fixed in its support, which glides along the stage with the scoop, and by
these means the scoop is reversed when at each end of the stage. The
action of turning over the scoop may also be done by a lever er quadrant
and toothed wheel.

page_text: In charging and drawing retorts at variable elevations one scoop and
rake is preferred. This machine is similar to the other, but the scoop
stage instead of being fixed slides up and down the vertical frame
in a horizontal position. For raising and lowering the stage and scoop
one or two long quick screws are provided, the screws having several
very coarse threads, and suitable bosses which carry the scoop stage, the
screws being set in motion by gear work and having reversing action.
The scoop stage may also be raised and lowered by being attached
to endless chains placed vertically and passing over pullies suitably
arranged for their reception; reversing gear being provided for altering
the direction of the motion. To meet the varied heights of the scoop
a vertical bar is fixed to an upper and lower horizontal chain, and is
attached to the scoop in all its different positions, and propels it when
required.
The machines may be so constructed as to carry on the principal
frame a steam boiler and double engines, which would serve for trans-
porting all the coals necessary, and for communicating the power for
working. The action of the machines is obtained by bevel and other
wheels, levers and clutches, so placed in combination that the operation
of charging and drawing is continuous and almost self-acting.
By attaching rakes to endless chains and having control of the rakes,
the machines are adapted for drawing retorts also. To do this I also
propose to employ the mechanical contrivance known as the " 'lazy
tongs," this being a number of flat rods of equal lengths, connected in
pairs by loose pins at their centres, as also at their extremities, so that
a short stroke of a piston, eccentric, cam, or lever, would by means of
the "lazy tongs" be sufficient to communicate the propelling and with-
drawing motion. This apparatus is mounted on a frame with means of
being transported similar to charging machines as described, and is
actuated by steam power which may be combined with it. Means are
provided similar to those described for raising and lowering the tongs,
to which the rake is attached at one end, the other end of tongs
being in connection with the driving power. The workman has thus
the means of controlling the rake, of turning and guiding it, so that
the process imitates closely the ordinary hand labour.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Richards in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
RICHARDS, Gas Engineer, of Burton Road, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand- eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Richards, Her special licence
that I, the said William Richards, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Richards, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DRAWING RETORTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
or Gas," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Richards, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, 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 William Richards, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to reduce the manual labour ordinarily
employed in retort houses; and to effect this I construct machines for
charging and drawing retorts at fixed elevations, when two or more
retorts may be charged or drawn simultaneously, or the machines may
be so made as to permit the charging and drawing of retorts at variable

page_text: clevations; and for this purpose the scoop or scoops and rakes are
arranged so as to allow of their being raised or lowered to suit the
situation of the retorts.
Whether the machines be intended to have the scoops arranged for
charging retorts at fixed elevations, or whether they be made to suit
those of variable height, they are constructed in many respects much
alike, and consist of a vertical quadrilateral frame for supporting the
various parts, and for attaching the gearing and wheels for communi-
cating motion to those parts that require to be put in action. The base
of the frame is extended on both sides, so as to admit of the erection of
a platform on each side, one being intended to carry the boiler and
steam engine or other motive power, and the other to carry a quantity
of coals, from which the scoops are to be filled by hand. The whole of
the machine, including the platforms and coals, are capable of being
conveyed on wheels running upon suitable rails from one part of the
retort house to another by the action of the engine.
When all or a great number of the retorts in one house are set at the
same elevation it may be preferable to charge two, three, or more retorts
at one time; and in such case it will be desirable that the frames
carrying the scoops shall be fixed to the main framing at heights corre-
sponding to the different tiers of retorts, which frames are longer than
the distance the scoops pass through when working. The rakes may be
mounted upon frames to support and guide the rakes into and out of the
retorts, and to aid in turning them when desired, suitable guides and
rollers being provided in order to avoid unnecessary obstruction or
friction.
To obtain the to-and-fro motion necessary for charging and drawing
retorts, one, two, three, or more series of horizontal pullies with endless
link chains, wire ropes, or bands are employed. To ensure a firm grip
upon the wheels or pullies the latter may be provided with pins or
recesses, which may take into or correspond with the links of the chain,
but that form known as the differential wheel is the kind preferred.
These wheels or pullies with their axles and gearing are placed within
the vertical frame, and each series is composed of two horizontal pullies,
one of them being the driving pulley, which is fixed on its axlc. In
connection with this axle reversing gear is placed so that the wheels can
rotate to the right or left. The other pulley runs loosely on its axle.

page_text: 1
Each of the chains, whether one or more retorts are charged at a time,
is connected to its corresponding scoop through the medium of a vertical
bar, and passes over the before-mentioned pullies, the axles of which are
placed at a distance somewhat greater than the space the scoops pass
through when operating.
The scoops are made of steel, and at the further end from the retort
are cylindrical, and may have rollers for facilitating their rotation. At
the rear end the scoop is furnished with a short quick screw, or its
equivalent, working into a corresponding boss with female thread. The
scoop is fixed in its support or poppet to a sliding carriage or scoop
carrier, which glides along the stage or frame with the scoop until the
poppet meets a catch or stud, when by the continued progressive move-
ment of the scoop the screw is brought into action, and the reversal or
turning over of the scoop is the result. The turning over of the scoop
may also be effected by a lever or quadrant and toothed wheel.
In charging and drawing retorts at variable elevations one scoop is
preferred. This form of machine is depicted in the Drawings attached
hereto, because all the moving parts are there illustrated, the principal
difference in the two machines being that one is made with but one rake
and scoop with suitable lifting gear, while in the other the scoops and
rakes are attached to stationary frames or stages fixed at the requisite
heights. In the Drawing however three rakes are shown as fixed to an
upright bar as an illustration of the manner in which they may be
supported where more than one rake to be employed is found desirable.
The machine, as preferably adapted to retorts of irregular height, is
similar to the other, but the scoop stage instead of being fixed slides up
and down the vertical frame in a horizontal position, the frame or stage
being provided with a boss or bosses, through which one or more long
quick coarse threaded screws work. The screw on being set in motion
raises or depresses the scoop stage as required, in accordance with
the gearing which is furnished with reversing action. To meet the
varied heights of the retorts a vertical bar is fixed to the upper and
lower horizontal chains, and is fastened to the scoop by an adjustable
attachment, as shown in all its different positions, and propels it when
necessary. The rakes are also attached to a vertical bar fixed to the
horizontal chains on the opposite side of the pullies, and are propelled
or drawn back by the chains in a similar manner to that of the scoop.

page_text: operator.
"
The rakes may also be controlled by means of the mechanical con-
trivance known as the "lazy tongs; but as it is found that the
foregoing arrangement is much to be preferred, no description of the
details is here necessary.
In order that the foregoing may be more readily understood, Drawings
are attached hereto, of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the machine, on the side to which the rakes
are attached; Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine; Fig. 3 is an end elevation
representing that end at which the operator will stand; Fig. 4 is a
sectional elevation through A, B, looking towards the retorts, and Fig. 5
is an elevation as it appears at the end nearest the retorts; Fig. 6 is an
elevation of tliat side of the machine to which the scoops are fixed;
Fig. 7 is a section of part of the scoop; and Fig. 8 is an arrangement of
pullies and chains to be referred to hereafter.
In the Drawings, similar letters or figures refer to the same parts of
the machine, from whatever view they may be exhibited.
In Fig. 1, C, C, represents the main framing of the machine with its
appropriate tie bars to give rigidity thereto. D, Fig. 2, is the main
driving shaft with its cranks E and F, to which the piston rods of the
engine are connected. On the main shaft are keyed two toothed
wheels G and H; G communicating motion to other toothed wheels I
and J, while H which is of smaller diameter than G communicates
motion to wheels K and L through the intervention of pinions M and N.
The reason for employing these pinions is to obtain a reverse action upon
the shafts O and P without reversing the engine. The shaft P is used to
turn the flanged wheels 1, 1, which run upon rails 2, 2, and so propel
the machine from one part of the retort house to the other. The
shaft O is used to convey motion to the horizontal wheels or pullies Q, Q,
by means of the bevel wheels R and S, and these wheels or pullies Q, Q,
transmit the motion to the endless chains T and U, which pass round
the corresponding pullies V, V, at the opposite end of the machine.
The wheels I, J, K, L, together with the bevelled wheel R and worm Y
with their respective clutches run loose upon their shafts, and are only
brought into action by their attendant sliding clutch boxes. The shaft O

page_text: also causes the screw X to rotate through the action of the worm Y
upon the worm wheel Z. The result of the rotation of the long screw X
is to raise or depress the scoop frame or stage a by working through
the boss b, which is fixed to the scoop frame. c is the scoop which
lies upon a sliding carriage or scoop carrier fand is supported generally
by the scoop frame a. The scoop is of the form shown, and is cylindrical
at the rear end, as will be observed on inspecting the Drawing. The
scoop is immediately supported by and turns in the journal d and the
poppet e, which are fixed to a frame ƒ that slides with the scoop along
the scoop stage a. 9, 9, is a vertical bar fixed at or near its top and
bottom to the chains T and U and has attached to it a hinged piece
forming a clip, which, while it embraces the bar firmly when desired,
also admits of the frame f sliding freely up and down when requisite
and connects the bar g to the frame f. The hinge piece is clearly shown
at h, h, in the various Figures i, i, i, are the rake bars shown at various
clevations and in different positions, a rake head ; being depicted in
Fig. 1. These rake bars are made hollow so as to admit of the intro-
duction of a square rod or bar k, l, k, which extends to nearly the whole
length of the rake bar, but are made round near the points 1, 1, 1, so as
to allow of their being turned freely in the collars m, m, m, when the
handles n, m, n, are moved. The square rods may be made hollow, to
admit of water passing into the rake bars to cool them. At the
points o, o, o, each rake bar is furnished with a collar with a square
opening in its centre, through which the square bar k passes, so that
when the handle n is turned the rake head j is also turned in the same
direction. Each rake bar i is supported at the requisite height and
guided at one end by friction pullies p, p, p, and at the other it is
supported by the square bar and bracket q. The rakes are propelled by
being attached to a vertical bar which is fastened at or near its top
and bottom ends to the chains T and U in a similar manner to that of
the vertical bar in connection with the scoops. The attachment of each
rake to the vertical bar is by a hinged piece or clip 8, which is capable
of being detached from the rake bar by the action of the eccentric t.
The detail of this attachment is distinctly shown in each of the Figs.,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
When necessary to change the action of the machine from charging
to drawing, or vice versa, the scoops and rakes can be attached or
detached by the hinge pieces shown at 8 and 7, so that the two operations
can be carried on by the same machine.

page_text: In the Drawings all the clutches are out of gear and the machine is
supposed to be at rest, but the action of it is as follows:-The engine
power having been applied to the main shaft D and made to rotate, the
clutch box to is thrown into gear with its corresponding clutches, or
catches x or y, according to the direction in which it is wished that
the machine should travel, when the machine will be propelled forward
or backward until it has reached the particular retorts to be charged or
drawn. When it has reached the desired spot the clutch wo is thrown
out and the machine is brought to a stand still; the handle of the rod u
is then pulled forward; this causes the lever z to throw the clutch 3
into the corresponding clutch or catch 4; clutch 7 is then put in gear
with clutch 8 by thrusting forward rod 5, when the screw X will rotate
and the scoop stage descend. When the scoop has been lowered
sufficiently the clutch 7 is thrown out of gear, and the scoop frame or
stage is brought to rest; the scoop is then filled with coal. When this
operation is completed, clutch box 7 is put into connection with
clutch 13; the screw X will then revolve in the opposite direction to
that previously, and the scoop stage will rise. When the scoop is raised
to the proper height for entering the retort the clutch box 3 is brought
into gear with clutch 9, which puts the bevelled gear and consequently
the horizontal wheels and chains into motion. The scoop being
attached to the chains through the medium of the vertical bar g, the
scoop will begin and continue to glide along the scoop stage until the
poppet head 12 strikes against the stop 10, when by the continued
forward movement of the scoop a short quick threaded screw 11,
situated at the rear end of the scoop, and working through the poppet
or boss 12 is brought into play, and the scoop carrier which has a collar
bolted on to its end and fitting into a groove on the spindle that passes
through it, permits the scoop to turn over and deposit its charge of
coal in the retort. The clutch box 7 is then put into gear with clutch 8
when the chains will travel in the contrary direction to that before,
bringing the scoop out of the retort. When the poppet head reaches
the end of the stage the continued backward movement of the scoop
will cause the quick-threaded screw to act again and restore the scoop to
the position occupied before starting, and ready for a repetition of the
operation when necessary. Should the attendant fail to throw the
clutches out of gear at the proper moment, provision is made to prevent
any undue strain being put upon the machine through such neglect,
and this is effected by means of a horizontal bar 14 with a slot into which

page_text: the end of the vertical lever 6 takes. When the chain has got nearly
to the full distance it can travel, the end of the slot presses against the
lever and throws the clutch out of gear. The rakes are manipulated
with in a very similar manner to the scoops. The rake bar is
attached to the vertical bar» by the clips; clutch 3 being in gear with
clutch 9, the to-and-fro motion is obtained by clutch 7 gearing with
8 and 13 respectively. When the rake bar has moved forward and
reached its full extremity, or at any intermediate stage, the rake head j
may be turned down or in any suitable direction by the handle n. A
reverse movement of the chains will then cause the rake to be drawn
out bringing with it the coke to be discharged.
Although in the foregoing description and in the Drawings attached
hereto but four pullies are mentioned or shown, the number is not
limited thereto, since in addition to the top and bottom series of
pullies, one or more intervening series of pullies, or a series for cach
tier of retorts may be engaged.
And although but one screw is alluded to for raising and lowering the
scoops, it may be found desirable to employ two or even more.
Again, in lieu of the scoop being turned over in the manner before
described, the screw poppet may be made to advance when the scoop
carrier is stopped, and so cause the scoop to turn over and discharge
itself.
The clutches are shown as of particular form, but any other
suitable clutch may be substituted.
Another modification consists in employing the apparatus as shown in :
Fig. 8. According to this method instead of only one of each pairs of
pullies being the driver, both pullies of each series are active or driving
in one direction, as marked by the arrows, and loose in the opposite
direction. This is arranged by a ratchet wheel being fixed to each
shaft, and a pawl and spring fastened to each pulley. In this modifica- 3
tion the endless chain can also be employed as before described, or a
single chain, one end of which is attached to a pulley on one shaft and
the other end fixed to the opposite pulley on the other shaft. The
length of chain or band equal to the traverse of the machine being coiled
round the active pulley while it is being recoiled from the loose pulley. 3
The wheels L and J are loose on their axle and put into gear by the

page_text: sliding clutch box w, by which means the pullies are caused to revolve
sufficiently to produce a to-and-fro motion of the chains.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
3 carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
described or referred to, as variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention, but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The application of horizontal wheels or pullies for the
purpose of driving endless chains, bands, or belts, as a means of
obtaining the necessary to-and-fro motion, and by preference for the
use of that kind of wheel known as the differential," as herein-before
described.
$6
Secondly. The construction and application of the scoops with their
attendant frames and sliding carriages, and the short quick-threaded
screws used to turn the scoop over, as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The application of the vertical bars fixed to the chains
and used for communicating motion to the scoops and rakes, and
for the adjustable attachments of the scoops and rakes to their
respective vertical bars, as herein described and exhibited in the
Drawings.
Fourthly. The application of one or more quick-threaded screws for
the purpose of raising and lowering the scoops.
Fifthly. The construction and application of the rakes, as herein
described.
Sixthly. The construction and application of clutches with teeth, or
catches of the peculiar form shown on the Drawings.
Seventhly. The construction and application of a horizontal slotted
bar used for automatically throwing the gear out of action, as herein-
before described.
Eighthly. The construction and use of a suitable platform whereon
coals may be stored and carried, and from which the scoops may be
filled by hand.

page_text: Ninthly. The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 for actuating the chains,
belts, or bands, as herein-before described.
Tenthly. The general arrangement of the shafts, gearing, and clutches
for giving motion to, stopping, or reversing the action of the various
parts, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Richards, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.