IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION AND SETTING OF RETORTS AND IN PROCESSES OF OPERATING RETORTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND SETTING OF RETORTS AND IN PROCESSES OF OPERATING RETORTS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS."-A communication from
abroad by Darius Davison, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
ealed the 7th July 1874, and dated the 13th March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th March 1874.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery.
Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND SETTING OF RETORTS AND IN PROCESSES OF OPERATING RETORTS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS,". to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of

page_text: the retorts used in the manufacture of illuminating gas, and in the
damper and flue arrangements for heating the retorts; also to improve-
ments in the building up and working of the retorts.
The retorts are made with their back halves or portions wider on their
bottoms than their front halves or portions to give bottom surface and
capacity in their back parts, or enlarged portions of the retorts, for the
whole charge of coal or substance being distilled, whereby a more equal
time and distance is obtained for the passage of all the vapour distilled
from the coal through and out of the retorts, and a more thorough and
general contact of such vapours. with the hot surfaces of the retort is
produced.
Furthermore the retorts are or may be made with outer transverse ribs
arranged to strengthen the arched top of the retorts, and to form a
support or bearing for the superincumbent retort or retorts to rest upon
directly (or for the reception of interposed blockes) when set up for use
in the oven.
The charges of coal are contained in the back halves or portions of the
retorts, the bottom of the hot front ends of the retorts being left free
from coal, and forming heating surfaces for the illuminating gas to pass
over in its escape from the retort.
The retort oven is arranged with a central flue, which leads up from
the fire-place to the arched top of the oven. From this central flue the
gases of combustion circulate between and around the retorts, and then
descend by side flues to horizontal flues below the bottom retorts, and
thence to a vertical flue at the back of the oven.
The horizontal flues under the bottom retorts may have a return taking
the gases of combustion from their rear end, leading them to the
front, and then returning them to the back vertical flue. Between the
brickwork forming the inner sides of the bottom horizontal flues a a
horizontal block of fire-clay (constituting, a damper) may be placed
above the burning fuel in the fire-place to direct the play of the flame
towards the back of the oven.
:
The Invention also in part consists in a novel process of manipulating
retorts and the charges of coal and residual coke for the manufacture of
illuminating gas, whereby there is obtained an increased quantity of
gas from a given amount of coal distilled, and a better quality of gas

page_text: from the charges of coal in the retorts, without of necessity involving
any change in the construction of the apparatus now used."
The coke or material resulting from one charge of the retort or retorts
after all the good illuminating gas desired, or which it is beneficial to
obtain for use, has been distilled therefrom, is withdrawn while at a
comparatively low temperature, and before the non-luminous gas has
been distilled therefrom. The retort is then temporarily closed, and
reheated while empty to the necessary degree before receiving the
succeeding charge.
The retorts will have duplicate or light sheet-iron lids to temporarily
close their mouths for the purpose of excluding the air after the charge
is drawn, so as to admit of their being heated while empty to a proper
temperature before a succeeding charge is placed therein for distillation.
These lids may be used without luting, or the ordinary lids may be
employed instead.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
•
filed by the said Alfred. Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence that
I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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
THE CONSTRUCTION AND SETTING OF RETORTS AND IN PROCESSES OF OPERATING

page_text: RETORTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS," being a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Darius Davison, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or ad-
ministrators, 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 Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the dato
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Drawing here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
This Invention consists generally in certain novel constructions of the
retorts, and in the damper and flue arrangements for heating the retorts,
including the following among other peculiarities, namely:-
The retorts are made with their back halves or portions wider on their
bottoms than about their front halves or portion, to give bottom surface
and capacity in their back parts, or enlarged portions of the retorts, for
the whole charge of coal or substance being distilled, whereby a more
equal time and distance is obtained for the passage of all the vapor
distilled from the coal through and out of the retorts, and a more
thorough and general contact of such vapors with the hot surfaces of
the retort is produced.
Furthermore the retorts are or may be made with outer transverse ribs
arranged to strengthen the arched top of the retorts, and to form a
support or bearing for the superincumbent retort or retorts to rest upon
when set up for use in the oven.
The Invention also embraces a process of distilling the whole of the
charges of coal in about the back halves of the retorts or any other
portions of the retorts, by which any portion of the bottom of the hot
front ends of the retorts are left free from coal in excess of what occurs
under the usual mode of operation in retorts of the ordinary or any other
form:

page_text: Likewise the Invention in part consists in a novel process of manipu-
lating retorts and the charges of coal and residual coke for the
manufacture of illuminating gas, whereby. there is obtained an increased
quantity of gas from a given amount of coal distilled, and a better.
quality of gas from the charges of coal in the retorts of any required
amount and at any required period of distillation, without of necessity
involving any change in the construction of the apparatus now used,
excepting if convenient having duplicate or light sheet-iron lids to
temporarily close the mouths of the retorts for the purpose of excluding
the air after the charge is drawn, so as to admit of the retort being
heated while empty to a proper temperature before a succeeding charge
is placed therein for distillation. These lids may be used without luting,
or the ordinary lids may be employed instead.
Having thus specified generally the object or objects and nature of
the Invention, its description will first be proceeded with in reference to
the accompanying Drawing by way of explaining more fully the con-
struction, operation, and effects, and objects of certain portions of the
Invention.
Fig. 1 represents a front view of a bench of six of the improved
retorts with their connections, which are exterior of the oven and made
in the usual way; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same,
the upper retort of the three seen in said Figure being shown in section,
in illustration of the placing of the coal to be distilled therein; Fig. 3 is
a vertical cross section through about the middle of the retorts or length
of the oven; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section immediately below the top
retorts, and showing one of the retorts in section for the purpose of
illustrating its shape and the position of the coal as placed therein for
distillation; Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the retorts beneath
the upper ones, showing an arrangement of transverse outer ribs on the
former for purposes herein-after described; Fig. 6 is a vertical longi-
tudinal section of the lower portion of a bench of retorts under and
around the bottom retort, in illustration of a novel method of circulating
the draught air under the bottom retort, and from thence into the vertical
fluc at the back of the oven, such draught arrangement differing from
that represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Referring in the first instance to the first five Figures of the Drawing
A represents the retorts as constructed and set in a bench of six; B, the

page_text: shewn in Figures 1 and 4, may or may not be used, as the case may be,
and the draught air from the furnace, in case the damper F is not used,
would be permitted to rise into the oven directly from the fire, in such
directions as it would then take, finally descending in the oven and
passing out of the bottom back end thereof, as described.
The brick oven surrounding the retorts with its draught-air flues may
be constructed in the usual way, and the iron mouth-pieces may be made
and bolted on to the front ends of the retorts in the usual way.
In making the retorts of clay, as and for the purposes herein described,
the outer transverse ribs B are moulded on the retorts during the con-
struction of the latter, and thus form an integral part of the retorts
when they are burned and completed.
In setting up these retorts in a bench they stand firmly and solidly
on each other with ample spaces between and around them for the free
circulation of the hot air around them in the oven. No saddle, tile,
arch, or tie blocks are required, as with the ordinary retorts, and which
obstruct the space around the retorts, increase the expense of setting the
retorts, and prevent the proper cleaning of the ashes and dust from off
and around the retorts. The importance of this will be seen from the
fact that the lodgement of ashes and dust on the retorts after their use a
short time decreases the power of the fire in the furnace to properly
heat the retorts to a sufficient degree for an effective distillation, and
hence the active utility of the retorts from that cause is materially
decreased.
The supporting blocks C when put upon the ribs of the retorts, as set
in the oven, are designed to be bedded on the top of the ribs B with any
suitable flux mortar which will melt at the temperature at which the
retorts are heated when ready for use, and thus be cemented upon the
top surface of the ribs and form an integral part thereof, giving
additional strength to the arched top of the retort to support the super-
incumbent weight thereon.
The top retorts in a bench are made in the usual way without any
ribs B as nothing rests on them. The back halves of the top retorts
however are made wider than the front halves, the same as the lower
retorts for a bench of retorts. Thus the back halves of the several
retorts are made as wide as admissible for the oven they are to be placed
in, so as to obtain bottom surface and capacity for a full charge of coal

page_text: to be placed properly in about the back halves of the retorts, or any
other portion thereof away from the front ends of the retorts, while about
the front halves of the retorts are made the usual size of the ordinary
mouth-pieces, and their connections being properly joined thereto.
The reduction in the width of the retorts is made gradual and at or
near the centre of the length of retorts, as shown in Figures 4 and 5,
or their width is correspondingly reduced at any other point of their
length as desired. By placing the coal to be distilled in the large back
halves of the retorts, or any other portion of the retorts away from the
front ends thereof, and leaving the front halves or any other portion of
the bottoms away from their front ends free from coal, a more equal
time and distance is obtained for the passage of all the vapor distilled
from the coal through and out of the retorts, and a more thorough and
general contact of such vapors with the hot surfaces of the retorts, pro-
duced especially in the front halves of the retorts, or such hot portions
thereof as are free from coal, than is obtained in retorts of the ordinary
form and proportions and subject to the. usual mode of distributing tho
coal therein for distillation through nearly their whole length.
By the process of distilling all the coal of a charge in or about the
back halves of the retorts the front halves are left vacant and become
more highly heated than if coal were laid therein to be distilled, and all
the vapor distilled from the coal in the back halves, or such portions as
the coal rests in, has to pass in more immediate contact with the highly
heated gas producing surfaces of the top, sides, and bottom of the front
halves of the retorts, or whatever portion of the front ends are left free
from coal in its passage through and out of the same.
The more equal time the more cqual distance, and the more equal the
hot surfaces of the retorts (to the extent required to produce the best
results in quantity and quality of gas) that all the vapor distilled from
the coal in a retort or retorts is subjected to, the more thorough and
complete will be the conversion of such vapor into permanent illumi-
nating gas before it passes from the hot retort, and consequently the
greater will be the body of gas obtained from the coal thus distilled with
a corresponding decrease in the quantity of coal tar produced. And
furthermore the more thorough heating of all the vapor from the coal by
this form of retort and process combined converts more of the heavy
luminous burning oil into permanent gas by its contact with the hot

page_text: bottoms of the front ends of the retorts thus left free from coal, which
gas has high illuminating power when burned, and thus a gas of a
higher candle power is obtained, as well as a large increase in the
volume of gas made.
The plan of constructing clay or other retorts with the, transverse
ribs B and the process of placing the coal to be distilled in about the
back halves of the retorts, as and for the purposes before described, are
not confined to this particular form of retort, but they may be either
both together or each separately applied to retorts of the ordinary or
different constructions. Thus instead of the form and construction of
retorts herein before described the retorts may be set and operated in
through benches, in which the back ends of the retorts are made open,
and such open back ends of the retorts, when the latter are set in ovens
opposite to each other, are joined together so as to form continuous
through retorts from the front end of the one retort to the front end of
the other, directly behind and connected with it.

page_text: Ordinarily the usual charge of coal is placed in the retorts and the
period the distillation is continued, say three, four, five, or six hours,
more or less, dependent upon the heat of the retorts, and the amount
of the charge to be distilled. The coke however remains in the retorts
during the whole period of distillation, and absorbs a large per-centage
of the heat required to reheat the retort or retorts for the succeeding
charge without any useful effect whatever, and during the latter portion
of the period, generally varying from half an hour to one hour the
coal or coke is thus exposed, there is necessarily distilled from it a
limited quantity of very poor gas having but little illuminating property,
and which mixes with the rich illuminating gas produced during the
carly distillation of the charge. This detrimentally reduces the illu
minating quality of all the gas derived from the charge, inasmuch as
the small increase in the volume of gas so obtained is very much more
than counterbalanced by the deterioration in quality, which is an
important consideration in the manufacture of illuminating gas.
A description will now be given in detail of the improved process
or mode of manipulating gas retorts, and the coal and coke therein,
together with the resulting effects thereof, namely, of increasing the
quantity and quality of the gas without the same being due to the
quantity or quality of the coal used, thus effecting the best distillation,
inasmuch as quality of the gas is an important element in all gas
manufacture for illuminating purposes, and the quality being improved
as well as the quantity of gas increased from or by the distillation of a
given quantity of coal.
Retorts to be operated by the improved process are first heated to a
certain temperature which may vary from a low to a high white heat,
according to the amount of the charge designed to be distilled at any
or less.
period of time, varying from, say, 3 to 6 hours, more
Supposing however the time of distillation is fixed at four hours it
would be proper to regulate the heat so that all the good gas obtainable
from the charge would be exhausted in about three and a half hours,
more or less, and upon this result being obtained, and without waiting
for any further distillation from the charge, and before reheating the
retort for a succeeding charge, the retort or retorts are opened and
the cock withdrawn in the condition it then is, being at a low heat.
The ordinary or any suitable lid with or without luting is then tem-
porarily placed on or in the mouths of the retorts to close the same

page_text: for the purpose of excluding the circulation of air within the retort
or retorts operating to cool the same, and the retorts thus closed are
allowed to stand empty in the hot oven for, say, half an hour, more
or less, in a four-hour distillation to become quickly and highly heated
to the desired temperature for the proper distillation of the succeeding
charge. By this means a sufficiently high temperature is quickly
obtained to produce an active and proper distillation of the rich
vapor from the coal, and conversion of the same into gas in the early
part of the distillation of the whole charge, and a more thorough or
nearly complete conversion of such large volume of rich vapor into
permanent gas before it passes from the retort or retorts is insured..
In this way there is both an increase in quantity and an improvement
in quality of the gas, and less of the luminous burning carbonaceous
oils distilled from the coal in the early part of distillation escape from
the retort in a vaporous condition for want of sufficient heat, to be
subsequently condensed in the stand pipes or hydraulic main and pass
off wastefully into the coal tar receiver.
By withdrawing the charges from the retorts after all the good
illuminating gas is distilled and the residual coke is at a low temperature
and afterwards temporarily closing the empty retorts, while the latter
are being heated for the succeeding charge, no poor gas is made as a
deteriorating element of the good illuminating gas produced in the early
part of the distillation. Heat also is cconomized by reason of the
residual coke of the one charge not being allowed to remain in the
retort and absorb heat while the retort is being heated for the next
charge. Time too is economized in the distillation or in a succession of
distillations, for the reason that the heat can be kept up in the retorts
to the required degree to produce the best results in less time between
the charges than in the usual mode of procedure, a higher heat being by.
the improved process more quickly obtained with the best effects during
the carly stage of distillation when the largest and richest flow of gas
and vapor is produced in the retorts, subject to the proper heating of the
latter during that time.
By this process the hot dry poor gas, made in the retorts in the usual
method of procedure near the end of the time of distillation is prevented
from passing up the stand pipe to dry therein and produce incrustation
and stoppage therein when the retorts are run at a high heat, as occurs ·
frequently in the ordinary practice in all kinds of retorts,

page_text: The transverse ribs on the retorts, the enlarged back halves of the
retorts, the under draught flue arrangement, shown in Fig. 6 of the
Drawing, the process of distilling the coal in about the back halves of
the retorts, and the process of withdrawing the coke when at a low
temperature and reheating the retorts while empty, all being constructed
or operated snbstantially as herein-before described, may cach be used
separately with the ordinary retorts, or any combination of two or more
of these parts of the Invention may be used with advantage, and such
combinations and use are embodied in this Invention.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in the Construction and Setting of Retorts, and in Processes of Operating
Retorts for the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas," as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent, I claim,―
First. The retorts formed with about their back halves or portions
wider on their bottoms than about their front halves or portions, to give
bottom surface and capacity in the back parts or enlarged portions of
the retorts in a bench for the whole charge of coal, said retorts being
gradually reduced in width at or near the centre of their length,
substantially as shewn in the accompanying Drawing, and hercin
described for the purpose set forth.
Second, Tne transverse outer ribs B made in connection with and as
an integral part of the retorts, irrespective of the form of the latter,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. The supporting blocks C in combination with the outer
transverse ribs B of the retorts, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Fourth. The damper F in combination with the fire chamber D and
retorts A, as described for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The double return draught air flues H and K, as shewn in
Fig. 6, constructed and operated substantially as described for the
purposes set forth herein.
Sixth. The process, substantially as herein described and irrespective
of any particular form or construction of retorts, to accomplish the
results hercin-before specified, of distilling the whole charge of coal in

page_text: or about the back halves of the retorts, leaving the bottom of about the
front halves or any portion thereof free from coal.
Seventh. The process, substantially as herein described, of manu-
facturing illuminating gas from coal or other substances by withdrawing
the residual coke or material of one charge from the retort or retorts,
when all the good illuminating gas desired, or which it is beneficial to
obtain for use has been distilled therefrom, and while the residual coke
in the retort or retorts is at a comparatively low temperature, and the
non-luminous gas has not been distilled therefrom, then temporarily
closing and reheating the retort or retorts, while empty, to the
necessary degree to properly distil the succeeding charge, and then
recharging the retort or retorts in time and manner described, as a
regular, systematic, continuous mode of operation, for the purpose or
purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.