Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
We JOHN SOMERVILLE of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Bankside, Southwark,
Civil Engineer, and SAMUEL CUTLER of Providence Iron Works, Millwall, Engineer,
both in the County of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of apparatus whereby the reduction
of manual labour and the more expeditious and convenient charging and drawing of
gas retorts may he effected.
In carrying out this invention in reference to the charging apparatus we make a
strong quadrilateral frame both in longitudinal and transverse section, and mount it
upon wheels or castors, either of the ordinary or ball form. At one end of the frame
three or more, or less, horizontal shafts are mounted in suitable bearings fixed to the
uprights, one end of each shaft being squared so as to be turned with a winch handle
having a long socket. Each of these shafts carries a spur wheel. Three other
horizontal shafts are also mounted in bearings similar to those just mentioned each of
them carrying a pinion which gears into its corresponding spur wheel. At one end of
each of these latter shafts a chain pulley is keyed. Upon the lower part of the end
of the frame, and upon brackets placed a little below each chain wheel, horizontal
rollers are mounted in suitable short standards. A similar set of rollers are mounted
at the other end of the frame, and there are also intermediate rollers, all of which
serve to bear the scoop, which will presently be described. At the end of the frame
next to the retorts, and at or about the height of each retort mouthpiece a budge picce
is pivotted and so arranged as to be adjustable to the exact height and admit of its
entering the mouthpiece.
The scoop is made with a framework, the lower part of which is shod with half
round iron, and the end nearest the operator being closed while the end nearest the
retort is open. On the upper part of the frame the two sides are hinged, and when
brought together at their bottom edges form the coal holding V shaped trough
or cavity constituting the scoop. Pivotted to the frame there is on each side a long
bar cranked at intervals and to each of these bars there is an arm attached and so
arranged that upon actuating a lever handle in one direction the sides of the scoops
are closed together, while in operating in the reverse direction they may be
instantly opened and caused to fall against the sides of the frame. The front end of
the scoop has an arm to which the ends of a chain which passes round each pair of
chain wheels attached to the frame, are fastened.
The scoops when placed in position on the rollers of the frame may be filled with
coal either by hand or by bringing them against a hopper furnished with revolving
valves, or a sliding shutter arrangement whereby a certain regulated quantity of
coals may fall into the scoop.
The mode of using the machine for each scoop is as follows. The scoop having
been filled with coal the machine is brought in front of the retort to be charged, the
bridge piece is then adjusted and upon turning the winch handle the pulleys revolve
and cause the chain to draw the scoop into the retort. When the scoop has reached
its extrémity the scoop handle is actuated by the attendant when the sides of the scoop
diverge and the coal falls on to the bottom of the retort. Upon reversing the motion
of the winch handle the scoop will be drawn out into its original position and the
mouthpiece may be closed.
The drawing machine consists of a frame similar to that of the charging machine,
but instead of long cylindrical rollers such as the scoop slides upon, deeply cut sheaves
or pulleys are placed to receive and support the rake bar. The rake head is hinged

page_text: to the rake bar and is provided with a stop, so that when thrust into the retort it will
pass over the coke, but upon withdrawing it the head falls and brings the coke
with it.
The manner of actuating the rake is precisely similar to that of the scoop.
W. H. BENNETT,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and Drawing Gas Retorts.
We JOHN SOMERVILLE of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Bankside Southwark,
Civil Engineer, and SAMUEL CUTLER of Providence Iron Works; Millwall, Engineer,
both in the County of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the construction of apparatus whereby the reduction
of manual labour and the more expeditious and convenient charging and drawing of
⚫ gas retorts may be effected.
In order that the invention may be easily understood drawings are attached hereto,
of which the following is a description. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the frame for
carrying the scoops, the framework of one of which is seen supported by the lower line
of rollers, while the scoop on the middle tier is drawn complete. Fig. 2 is a front
elevation of Fig. 1 but in this view neither of the scoops are shown complete. Fig. 3
is a front end view of the scoop, drawn to a larger scale, and Fig. 4 is a transverse
sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan of the front end of the scoop and the
levers for actuating it. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevation of the rake in position for
thrusting into the retort, and Fig. 7 shows it in position for withdrawing the coke.
In each of the views similar letters refer to the same parts.
In carrying out this invention in reference to the charging apparatus we make a
strong quadrilateral frame both in longitudinal and transverse section A, and mount it
upon wheels B, or castors, either of the ordinary or ball form. At the front end of
the frame three or more, or less horizontal shafts C, D, and E are mounted in suitable
bearings fixed to the uprights F of the frame A, one end of each shaft being squared
so as to be turned with a winch handle & having a long socket. Each of these shafts
carries a spur wheel H, I, J. Three other horizontal shafts K, L, M are also mounted
in bearings similar to those just mentioned, each of them carrying a pinion
respectively N, O and P, which gears into its corresponding spur wheel. At one
end of each of these latter shafts a chain pulley Q is keyed. Upon the lower part of
the end of the frame and upon brackets R placed a little below each chain wheel,
horizontal rollers S are mounted in suitable short standards T rising from the
brackets R. A similar set of rollers are mounted at the other end of the frame, and
there are also intermediate rollers, all of which serve to bear the scoop which will
presently be described.
At the back end of the frame, next to the retorts, and at or
about the height of each retort mouthpiece a bridge piece is pivotted and so arranged
as to be adjustable to the exact height and admit of its entering the mouthpiece.
The scoop U is made with a framework, the lower, part of which V is shod with
half round iron. The end nearest the operator is closed while the other end nearest
the retort is open. On the upper part of the frame the two sides W which are made
of sheet iron or steel, are hinged, and when brought together their lower edges which
are bent, as shown in Fig. 4, meet and form the coal holding V shaped trough or
cavity constituting the scoop. Pivotted to the frame there is on each side a long
rod or bar X cranked at intervals and bent at right angles to its length at its front
end as seen in Fig. 5. 'The bent end of each rod forms an arm a and b which are
connected together by a toggle joint c and are operated upon by the handled Fig. 5
and rode which terminates in a short slotted arm pivotted to the extremity of a.
Upon turning the handle d in one direction the sides of the scoops will be closed

page_text: together, while by operating in the reverse direction they may be instantly opened
and caused to fall against the sides of the frame.
The front end of the scoop has fixed to it the ends of a chain g that passes round
each pair of chain wheels borne by the frame, and by the aid of which the scoop is
drawn into or out of the retort.
The scoops when placed in position on the rollers of the frame may be filled with
coal either by hand or by bringing them against a hopper furnished with revolving
valves, or a sliding shutter arrangement whereby a certain regulated quantity of coals
may fall into the scoop.
The mode of using the machine for each scoop is as follows. The scoop having been
filled with coal, the machine is brought in front of the retort to be charged, the
bridge-piece is then adjusted and upon turning the winch handle the pulleys revolve
and cause the chain to draw the scoop into the retort. When the scoop has reached
its extremity the scoop handle is actuated by the attendant when the sides of the scoop
diverge and the coal falls on to the bottom of the retort. Upon reversing the motion
of the winch handle the scoop will be drawn out into its original position and the
mouthpiece may be closed.
The drawing machine consists of a frame similar to that of the charging machine,
but instead of long cylindrical rollers such as the scoop slides upon, deeply cut
sheaves or pulleys are placed to receive and support the rake bar. The rake head h
Fig. 6 is hinged to the rake bar i, is weighted at j and is provided with a stop k so
that when thrust into the retort it will pass over the coke, but upon withdrawing it the
head will fall and bring the coke with it.
The manner of actuating the rake is precisely similar to that of the scoop.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. The frame A with its wheels, pulleys, rollers and chains arranged as herein
described and shown on the drawings in Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The scoop together with its handle and levers jointed and arranged as herein
described and shown on the drawings.
3. The combination of the frame and scoop arranged and used as herein described
and shown on the drawings, and,
4. The rake made with a weighted head as herein described and shown on the
drawings in Figs. 6 and 7.
Dated this 1st day of July 1890
W. H. BENNETT,
Agent for the Applicants.