IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cort, of Lower Bland Street, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Sealed the 12th September 1879, and dated the 13th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cort at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th March 1879.
JAMES CORT, of Lower Bland Street, in the County of Surrey.
IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has reference to improvements in retort lids and mouthpieces, and
to valves introduced between the upper part of the ascension pipes and the Hipipes,
and has for its object the securing of a gas tight junction between the lid and the
mouthpiece without the aid of luting, and the provision of means for relieving the
retorts entirely from pressure while distillation is going on, while at the same time
the sealing of the dip pipe in the hydraulic main is dispensed with.
The Invention consists in forming the mouth-piece round its front edge, and part.
of its periphery being turned true. The mouthpiece has a lug on each side of it,
and to one of these lugs is hinged a cross bar, the opposite end of the cross bar:
falling into or on to a catch, furnished with or without a spring. The lid is made
hollow, so as to overlap and cover the edge of the mouthpiece, the posterior edge of
the lid being turned true, and a part of its interior circumference being also turned
true and taper: From the centre of the lid projects a screw that is fixed to it, and
this screw works through a nut formed in the middle of the cross bar. The result:
is that when the cross bar is placed in its appropriate catch, and the lid is turned or
partially turned round; the chamfered or tapered interior circumference of the lid ist
brought closely into contact with the turned edge of the mouthpiece, thereby making
a very effective gas tight joint.
To the socket for the reception of the ascension pipe, or to a projection cast on
the upper part of the mouthpiece for the purpose; there is attached a piece or pieces.
of metal with or without teeth; and so arranged that when the lid is opened or
closed it operates either upon a quadrant or a horizontal rod, and so communicates:
motion to an upright shaft, which is attached to the valve to be described..

page_text: Between the junction of the top of the ascension pipe and the bottom of the H
pipe there is introduced a horizontal valve enclosed in a suitable case. The lower
part of the spindle of this valve is connected to the top of the upright rod before.
referred to, so that when the rod is partially turned, as before described, the valve
will be opened or shut. In order to bring the valve close to its seat while being
turned, and so keeping the faces clean, the upper part of the spindle works in a box
in which there is a spiral spring. This spring pressing against the head of the
spindle and the bottom of the box draws the valve upwards against its seat until it
is nearly shut, when a wedge piece on the bottom of the valve comes into contact
with an inclined projection in such a manner as to close it so completely as to render
the valve gas-tight.
It will be seen that the closing of the retort lid will, through the intervention of
the apparatus described, open the valve in the top of the ascension, and the opening
of the lid will, by the same means, cause the valve to be shut, and as it is impossible
to open or shut the lids without effecting a change in the position of the valve, the
greatest freedom from danger is secured without necessitating any special care on
the part of the workman.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Cort in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th September
1879.
."
JAMES CORT, of Lower Bland Street, in the County of Surrey. IMPROVEMENTS'
IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
This Invention has reference, to improvements in retort lids and mouthpieces, and
to valves introduced between the upper part of the ascension pipes and the H pipes,
and has for its object the securing of a gas-tight junction between the lid and the
mouthpiece without the aid of luting, and the provision of means for relieving the
retorts. entirely from pressure while distillation is going on, while at the same,
time the sealing of the dip pipe in the hydraulic main is dispensed with.
The Invention consists in forming the mouthpiece round its front edge, and a part
of its periphery being turned true. The mouthpiece has a lug on each side of it,
and to one of these lugs is hinged a cross bar, the opposite end of the cross bar
falling into or on to a catch, furnished with or without a spring. The lid is made
hollow so as to overlap and cover the edge of the mouthpiece, the posterior edge of.
the lid being turned true, and a part of its interior circumference being also turned:
true and taper. From the centre of the lid projects a screw that is fixed to it, and
this screw works through a nut formed in the middle of the cross bar. The result
is that when the cross bar is placed in its appropriate catch, and the lid is turned
or partially turned round, the chamfered or tapered interior circumference of the lid
is brought closely into contact with the turned edge of the mouthpiece, thereby,
making a very effective gas-tight joint.
f

page_text: To the socket for the reception of the ascension pipe, or to a projection cast on the
upper part of the mouthpiece for the purpose, there is attached a piece of metal,
so arranged that when the lid is opened or closed it operates either upon a quadrant
or a horizontal rod, and so communicates motion to an upright shaft, which is
attached to the valve to be described.
'
Between the junction of the top of the ascension pipe and the bottom of the H
pipe there is introduced a horizontal valve enclosed in a suitable case. The lower
part of the spindle of this valve is connected to the top of the upright rod before
referred to, so that when the rod is partially turned, as before described, the valve
will be opened or shut. In order to bring the valve close to its seat while being
turned, and so keeping the faces clean, the upper part of the spindle works in a box
in which there is a spiral spring. This spring pressing against the head of the
spindle and the bottom of the box, draws the valve upwards against its seat until
it is nearly shut, when a wedge piece on the bottom of the valve comes into contact
with an inclined projection in such a manner as to close it so completely as to render
the valve gas-tight.
It will be seen that the closing of the retort lid will, through the intervention of
the apparatus described, open the valve in the top of the ascension, and the opening
of the lid will, by the same means, cause the valve to be shut, and as it is impossible
to open or shut the lids without effecting a change in the position of the valve, the
greatest freedom from danger is secured without necessitating any special care on
the part of the workman.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the
retort lid and mouthpiece; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Figs. 3 and
4 are sectional elevations of the mouthpiece and lid separately; while Fig. 5 is a
side elevation of the retort lid alone; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the cross bar;
and Fig. 7 is a plan of it; Fig. 8 shows the way in which the mouthpiece of an
oval retort is made so as to admit of the present improvements being applied to it.
It will be seen by this that the improvements are equally applicable to D or any
other form of retorts. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a middle retort lid and mouth-
piece, showing the means employed to open and shut the ascension pipe valve; and
Fig. 10 is also a front elevation of a retort, showing the method adopted for opening
or closing the valve when the retort is placed on one side of the centre. In Figs.
9 and 10 the lugs, cross bars, and catches are omitted, with the view of showing a
front elevation of the lid more clearly; Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the valve
drawn to a larger scale; and Fig. 12 is a plan of the same. In Fig. 1 A is the
flange of the mouthpiece; B, the retort lid; C, the hinged cross bar; and D, the
catch; while E is a handle used to turn the lid, so as to tighten it should it be found.
necessary. In Fig. 2, F is a lug cast on to the mouthpiece to support the cross bar
C, and Ġ is the pivot of the catch D, which retains the cross-bar in such a position
as to ensure the tightness of the joint between the lid and the mouthpiece.
Fig. 3 H is the outer edge of the mouthpiece, which is turned true and forms a tight
joint when the interior chamfered or tapered surface I of the lid, Fig. 4, is brought
into contact with it. In Fig. 5 J represents the screw attached to the lid. Figs. 6
and 7 explain themselves. In Fig. 8 the face and outer edge H of the mouthpiece
are turned true. In Fig. 9 it will be observed that the lid has a stud or projecting
piece K bolted or otherwise fastened to it, and to the top of the mouthpiece there
is a quadrant or portion of a bevilled wheel M pivotted to a suitable lug or projec-
tion cast on the mouthpiece or socket of the ascension pipe. From this quadrant
depends a piece of metal L, which is free to swing when pressed to one side or the
other. N is a bevilled pinion which gears into the quadrant M, and O is the upright
spindle, upon which the pinion is fixed. P is a joint made between this spindle and
the valve spindle Q, and R is the valve inserted between the ascension pipe S and
the rising portion of the H pipe T. In Fig. 10 there is a somewhat similar arrange-
ment, but in this case the stud on the lid operates through the intervention of the
swinging piece L, and causes the horizontal bar U to slide to one side or the other.
In

page_text: It will be seen that an action of this kind will partially turn the quadrant M, ánd
so give motion to the bevilled pinion N and its spindle O. In Fig. 11, V is the
valve case, and W the valve fixed to its spindle Q at X. Y is the spiral spring
before mentioned contained in the box Z, and A is a stuffing box through which the
spindle
passes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:- When the retort is charged the lid is
closed, the cross-bar C rests on the lug F, and the catch D falls and retains it there.
The handle E is then slightly turned. The action causes a partial revolution of the
screw and lid, the latter being brought thereby into close contact with the mouth-
piece, any deposit on either the lid or mouthpiece being removed by so turning
the lid. This same action of the lid causes the stud K, Fig. 9, to strike against the
piece of metal L, and so give motion to the quadrant M, pinion N, and spindles O
and Q, thus opening the valve R, and so forming a free passage for the gas to the
hydraulic or conducting gas main. When the lid is opened the stud will strike the
piece of metal L in the opposite direction, thus causing the quadrant and pinion to
act in the reverse way, and so close the valve.
I am aware that retort mouthpieces have been made with an interior chamfered
surface, and that a lid presenting a rounded edge to be brought into contact with it
have been devised, but the present arrangement is not open to the objections of such
a plan, and has advantages which constitute a real improvement upon retort lids
and mouthpieces as usually constructed.
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 carried into effect; I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements that 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 construction of mouthpieces and lids, the former with a truly turned
exterior edge, and the latter with a tapered or chamfered interior surface, as herein
described and shown on the Drawings.
Secondly. The screw J attached to the lid, as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
Thirdly. The cross bar C with a female screw therein, as herein described and
shown on the Drawings.
Fourthly. The stud K, piece of metal L, sliding bar U, quadrant M, and pinion N,
as herein described and shown on the Drawings; and
Fifthly. The valve shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 in its entirety, as herein
described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cort, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.