IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF RETORTS AND SETTINGS IN COMBINATION WITH MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COAL OR OTHER GASES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Percival Ashton Batchelor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
October 1866.
I, PERCIVAL ASHTON BATCHELOR, of No. 1, Eskdale Villas, Mostyn Road,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT
OF RETORTS AND SETTINGS IN COMBINATION WITH MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF COAL OR OTHER GASES," to be as follows:-
This Invention, relates to the employment and adaptation of one or more
retorts of cylindrical or other form composed of suitable material calculated to.
bear a high degree of heat, and made to revolve or rotate at any desired speed.
By the constant revolution of the retorts the charge contained therein will be.
continually agitated or turned over, and thoroughly and effectively exposed to
the action of the heat from the furnace, which is permitted to circulate freely
around the exterior of the retorts.
In some cases preference will be given to construct the retorts with angle
irons, or ribs internally, forming shelves, so as to take up and distribute when
in motion the charge therein to a much greater degree.
A series of retorts may be arranged in a horizontal position, somewhat
similar to the present system, but supported in bearings at each end, so as to

page_text: permit of rotary or other motion being imparted from one to the other by
means of toothed or other gearing driven by any available power. In
charging and discharging retorts arranged in the manner described a series
of levers or other suitable mechanism may be arranged to act in place of
manual labour.
Retorts may be so constructed and arranged as to admit of being elevated
to a suitable angle, in which position the requisite charge is fed or conducted
into the mouth thereof from a floor or stage; they are then lowered into
position and effectually sealed and exposed to the action of the heat from the
furnace, and caused to rotate. When it is required to withdraw the
exhausted charge the retort is again elevated into position, and on the removal
of the cover at the lower end the contents will be at once discharged.
The furnace or furnaces are so arranged as to prevent any material loss of
heat during the operation of charging and discharging the contents of the
retorts, and allow of rotatory or other motion being given thereto. It would
be preferred in some cases to increase the size and proportions of the retorts,
arranging them in couples to each furnace, each retort being of sufficient
capacity to effectually carbonise a much larger quantity of coal or other
material than by the present system at each charge, but the size and proportions
of the said retorts, as well as the number of furnaces for heating the same, may
be increased or diminished as circumstances may require.
In raising and lowering retorts, where several are employed, a traveller may
be arranged to run on a beam or rails fixed overhead, and along the whole
length of the series, to which suitable pulleys are attached and connected by
means of a chain and balance weight to the retorts by a moveable clip or other
suitable arrangement, the balance weight being sufficiently heavy as to over-
come the weight of the retort and its exhausted charge of coke or other
material, but not heavy enough to sustain the weight of the retort and its
charge previous to being subjected to the heat from the furnace, so that the
raising and lowering may be easily effected by the difference in the weight of
the charge before and after being exposed to the action of the heat from the
furnace. When the retorts are in position rotatory or other motion may be
given to them by any simple mechanical means, but in some cases preference
will be given to carry the weight of the retort and its charge upon friction
rollers suitably arranged under each end, so as to permit of rotatory or other
motion being imparted, and allow for expansion and contraction. Some
of these rollers may be toothed and assist in communicating the required
motion.

page_text: By this Invention a considerable saving will be effected, a larger quantity
of gas
for a given amount of fuel will be more rapidly and economically pro-
duced of superior quality as compared with the present system. The number
of retorts and furnaces will be materially reduced, also the settings, ascension
and other pipes and connections, as compared with the present system.