Improvements in Coke Ovens.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coke Ovens.
I, CONRAD HEUCKEN, of Aix la Chapelle, Rhenish Prussia, Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The ordinary bee hive ovens employed in the production of coke, that is ovens of
circular form in cross section and having a domed top produce the best sort of coke,
known as "patent coke," but have the drawback as compared with other systems of
ovens, that they only produce a small output, in consequence of the considerable
burning away of the coal. This waste results from the inlet of air, consequent on
these ovens not being hermetically closed during working. Such ovens are usual in
England, Pennsylvania, and partly also in the mining district of Westphalia; they
are also known to some extent under the names of "English" and "Scotch ovens.
In them the process of driving off the gases proceeds from top to bottom within the
oven in consequence of air supplied from the outside.
"
Thus, for example coals having about 20% of gas, produce about 60% of coke.
When such ovens are modified to admit of the recovery of the bye-products (tar and
ammonia) contained in the oven gases, and are altered so as to effect the hermetic
closure necessary for the process of distillation, the gases generated in the ovens and
freed in the condensation apparatus from the bye-products, are led under the floor of
the oven for the purpose of heating it. By this modification it has been rendered
possible to increase by 16-20% the output of coke produced in such ovens which are
thus transformed, as it were, into retorts, whilst obtaining a product of the same
quality and commercial value as the coke produced in ovens of the old form.
But since these bee hive ovens as altered for distillation working, are heated from
the floor only, the time required-for the coking process is considerably greater than in
ovens of other systems that are heated both from the floor and sides. The time
required for coking in the aforesaid modified ovens is almost double that of the last
mentioned ovens, with the same charge and the same dimensions.
Now the present invention relates to the construction of an oven in which not only
fine patent coke can be produced, but in which also the time required for coking is
brought down to the reduced amount required for ovens of the more modern systems.
This said oven can also be employed for ordinary coking in lieu of the bee hive ovens
of the old form with small output. When it is so employed, without any attempt
being made to effect the recovery of bye-products, the time required for coking is
reduced by utilizing the raw and powerful gases generated within the oven.
gases are made to heat the oven from the sides, simultaneously with the heating from
the floor. Thus there is effected the driving off of the gases and also the complete
shutting off of air from the interior of the oven and in this manner the output is
considerably increased.
These
An oven of this kind is adapted to be employed not only in the production of coke
from gassy fat coals, but also from a mixture of dust from dry coals or dust from
flaming coals, with coal tar or gas coals containing sufficient gas for coking.
This oven is also adapted for producing coke from briquettes or blocks made from
a mixture of coke waste and dust from dry coals or dust from flaming coals (with a
percentage of coal tar of 6-8% or 58%).
If the content of gas of such a mixture be not sufficient alone to permanently
maintain the heating of the sides and the floor of the oven, the oven can be connected
with any existing battery of ovens, and can take from it the requisite additional
quantity of gas necessary for coking.
The drawing of the coke from an oven of this kind is effected by manual labour in

page_text: The third partition t is situated behind the side flue o and in front of the exit
flue N. The course of the gases through all the oven flues is therefore as
follows
--
The gases passing from the inside of the oven into the gas flue, are arrested in
their course by the second partition; they accumulate and are compressed, and are
obliged to flow through the side flues a to g inclusive. They then pass through the
floor flues r from a to g and rising up through the side flues A-G they reach the
opposite side of the flue, and are there by accumulation and compression by means
of the third partition t again obliged to continue their course downwards through the
side flues ho and through the floor flues of h-o.
Then again rising up through the side flues H JKLOPR, they again reach
the opposite side of the flue, where in their further course they are again caused to
accumulate and be compressed by the third partition t, and are thereby obliged to
escape down through the side flues M & N into the collecting flue u, on their passage
to the chimney.
All the floor partitions, with the exception of the central partition x, are formed in
the half of their length through which the floor gases first pass, with one or more
openings or interruptions. These openings are designed to produce a uniform
distribution of the gases in the several floor flues and thus to compensate for the
non-uniform width of the side flues, and consequent non-uniform density of the gases
passing through the side flues.
Above the niche or recess Y situated above the vault W of the door, there are
provided on each side two openings (1, 2, 3, 4) capable of being closed, of which the
opening 1 is designed to allow of observation of the gases passing down or up in the
side flues (on the left No. 1 for the descending gases, on the right No. 4 for
the ascending gases), and the other opening 2 or 3, for the observation of the gases
circulating in the flue.
Furthermore in each part of the vault of the flues bounded by the partitions, one
or more stones or bricks is or are provided capable of being removed, for the purpose
of observation of the side flues and of the gases flowing through the spaces thus
bounded, in order that any stoppages in the annular flue may be regulated by
supplying air.
Datad this 2nd day of March 1890
C. HEUCKEN.
Per. L. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coke Ovens.
1, CONRAD HEUCKEN of Aix la Chapelle, Rhenish Prussia, Empire of Germany, 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 state-
ment :-
The ordinary bee-hive ovens employed in the production of coke, that is ovens of
circular form in cross section and having a domed top produce the best sort of coke,
known as "patent coke," but have the drawback as compared with other systems of
ovens, that they only produce a small output, in consequence of the considerable
burning away of the coal. This waste results from the inlet of air, consequent on
these ovens not being hermetically closed during working. Such ovens are usual in
England, Pennsylvania, and partly also in the mining district of Westphalia; they
are also known to some extent under the names of "English" and "Scotch" ovens.
In them the process of driving off the gases proceeds from top to bottom within the
oven in consequence of air supplied from the outside.
Thus, for example coals having about 20% of gas, produce about 60% of coke.
When such ovens are modified to admit of the recovery of the bye-products (tar
and ammonia) contained in the oven gases, and are altered so as to effect the hermetic
closure necessary for the process of distillation, the gases generated in the ovens and

page_text: freed in the condensation apparatus from the bye-products, are led under the floor of
the oven for the purpose of heating it. By this modification it has been rendered
possible to increase by 16-20% the output of coke produced in such ovens which
are thus transformed, as it were, into retorts, whilst obtaining a product of the same
quality and commercial value as the coke produced in ovens of the old form.
But since these bee-hive ovens as altered for distillation working, are heated from
the floor only, the time required for the coking process is considerably greater than in
ovens of other systems that are heated both from the floor and sides.
The time required for coking in the aforesaid modified ovens is almost double that
of the last mentioned ovens, with the same charge and the same dimensions.
Now the present invention relates to the construction of an oven in which not only
fine patent coke can be produced, but in which also the time required for coking is
brought down to the reduced amount required for ovens of the more modern systems.
This said oven can also be employed for ordinary coking in lieu of the bee-hive ovens
of the old form with small output. When it is so employed, without any attempt
being made to effect the recovery of bye-products, the time required for coking is
reduced by utilizing the raw and powerful gases generated within the oven.
gases are made to heat the oven from the sides, simultaneously with the heating from
the floor. Thus there is effected the driving off of the gases and also the complete
shutting off of air from the interior of the oven, and in this manner the output is
considerably increased.
These
An oven of this kind is adapted to be employed not only in the production of coke
from gassy fat coals, but also from a mixture of dust from dry coals or dust from
flaming coals, with coal tar or gas coals containing sufficient gas for coking.
This oven is also adapted for producing coke from briquettes or blocks made from
a mixture of coke waste and dust from dry coals, or dust from flaming coals (with a
percentage of coal tar of 6-8% or 58%)
If the content of gas of such a mixture be not sufficient alone to permanently
maintain the heating of the sides and the floor of the oven, the oven can be connected
with any existing battery of ovens, and can take from it the requisite additional
quantity of gas necessary for coking.
Now
The drawing of the coke from an oven of this kind is effected by manual labour
in a similar manner as in the ordinary beehive ovens or in beehive ovens that have
been transformed for the purpose of recovery of bye-products, since a drawing
machine is not effective in consequence of the round form of the said ovens.
since the drawing operation requires much time, the glowing coke must be cooled
by quenching within the oven, in order to prevent loss by the burning of the coke in
consequence of the continued influx of air when the oven door is opened.
For two reasons the circular beehive form has been departed from in favour of an
elliptical cross section in which the major axis exceeds the minor axis in length by
about one fourth as best illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings filed with my Pro-
visional Specification. One reason is that in a circular oven sufficient width of door
for the drawing out cannot be readily obtained without interference with the side
flues which occupy the parts of the periphery of the oven that are necessary for the
oven door. Another reason for adopting the elliptical form is to obtain a large area
of floor, or a larger charging space.
In an elliptical oven the door can be arranged on the side of the oven fronting the
major axis, at the point where the side flues are situated which are furthest apart, and
between which there is sufficient space for accommodating the door.
For the construction of the oven it is more convenient to follow not the strict
elliptical form, but an approximation constructed geometrically by means of circular
arcs.
The invention is illustrated by the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan shewing the floor of the oven with the side flues.
Fig. 2 is a top view (a portion of the dome being removed).
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line A-B of Fio. 1

page_text: Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line C-D of Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 1, the space below the floor of the oven is divided by a partition x
following the direction of the major axis, into two equal parts, not communicating
with each other. Each of these parts has floor flues or ¹, whose ends are connected
each with one of the side flues a, b or A B &c.
There are thus below the oven floor fourteen flues of equal width and height, which
are in communication with lateral flues a, b; A, B &c. that are of unequal width,
and whose width increases with their respective distance from the major axis.
In the intermediate space between the two side flues that are farthest from the
major axis, there is, at the front of the oven, space for an oven door opening S. This
space does not interrupt the communication of the two side flues a, A, situated next
to this opening, with the floor fluer.
As is further shown in the sections on the lines A B and C-D, Figs. 3 and 4,
there is provided over and around the periphery of the oven dome and adjacent to the
This arched flue is for the
same an arched flue T covering all the side flues.
reception of the gases generated within the oven; these gases enter it at one part
through an opening y provided in the oven dome, and pass down the side flues into
floor flues. They then rise through other side flues into the flue T at another part and
in time escape into the collecting flue at U by means of the side flues indicated at M
and N as will be described more in detail later on. For the purpose of a regular
circulation of the generated gases through the side flues and floor flues, the flue
running round the oven dome is traversed in three places by a partition (Fig. 2) in
order to cause an accumulation or obstruction of the gases in the spaces situated
between them and to oblige the gases to flow through the side flues and floor flues,
and again on the other side up through the side flues there, till they escape into the
collecting flue at u.
The first partition is situated, as shown in the section C D), Fig. 5, above the
middle of the vault of the door, in front of the gas outlet y provided in the oven
vault or dome; the second partition z as shown in the section AB, Fig. 3, is situated
between the side flues g and H.
The third partition t is situated behind the side flue o and in front of the exit flue N.
The course of the gases through all the oven flues is therefore as follows
:-
The gases passing from the inside of the oven into the gas flue, are arrested in their
course by the second partition; they accumulate and are compressed, and are
obliged to flow through the side flues a to g inclusive. They then pass through the
floor flues from a to g, and rising up through the side flues A-G, they reach the
opposite side of the flue, and are there by accumulation and compression by means of
the third partition t again obliged to continue their course downwards through the
side flues -o and through the floor flues of -0.
Then again rising up through the side flues H J KLOPR, they again reach the
opposite side of the flue, where in their further course they are again caused to
accumulate and he compressed by the third partition t, and are thereby obliged
to escape down through the side flues M and N into the collecting flue u, on their
passage to the chimney.
All the floor partitions, with the exception of the central partition x, are formed in
the half of their length through which the floor gases first pass, with one or more
openings or interruptions. These openings are designed to produce a uniform
distribution of the gases in the several floor flues and thus to compensate for the non-
uniform width of the side flues, and consequent non-uniform density of the gases
passing through the side flues.
Above the niche or recess Y situated above the vault W of the door, there are
provided on each side two openings (1, 2, 3, 4) capable of being closed, of which the
opening 1 is designed to allow of observation of the gases passing down or up in the
side flues (on the left No. 1 for the descending gases, on the right No. 4 for
the ascending gases) and the other opening 2 or 3, for the observation of the
gases circulating in the flue.
Furthermore in each part of the vault of the flues bounded by the partitions, one

page_text: or more stones or bricks is or are provided capable of being removed for the purpose
of observation of the side flues and of the gases flowing through the spaces thus
bounded, in order that any stoppages in the annular flue may be regulated by
supplying air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A coke oven for coking fat coals, dry coals, coal dust, coke dust, and briquettes or
blocks made therefrom, the said oven having an elliptical form and the arrangement
being such that it is possible to provide a door of convenient size without detriment
to the floor flues.
2. In an elliptical coke oven side flues of varying width (depending on the form of
the oven) the width increasing from the middle of the oven towards the ends of the
minor axis, in combination with floor flues, in communication with the 2nd side flues
and of equal width, the partitions of the 2nd floor flues being interrupted in the first
half, in order that the gases passing through the side flues of unequal width into the
floor flues shall by means of the openings provided in the floor partitions, become
distributed as uniformly as possible below the oven floor and then pass through the
second half of these floor flues during their continued course with a density as
uniform as possible.
3. In a coke oven the construction of the flue arranged around the oven dome, for
the reception of the raw gases generated within the oven, and the continuation of the
same through the side flues and floor flues as far as the collecting flue that leads to the
chimney.
13->
C. HEUCKEN.
Per L. W.