IMPROVEMENTS IN RETORTSIGO
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rowbottom, of Halifax, in the County of
York, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RETORTS
Ann
Annan Lawa
DAR
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DIGOTTA
mxa
"
Scaled the 5th March 1875, and dated the 9th September 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rowbottom at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th September 1874.
I, JOHN ROWBOTTOM, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN RETORTS AND IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DIS-
CHARGING THE SAME," to be as follows: -
The first part of this Invention relates to the mouth-picces and doors
of retorts, and consists in constructing them with a water space in such
manner that water may be caused to circulate therein, and thereby keep
the jointing cool, so that any ordinary packing may be used for making
gas-tight joints without the aid of clay or other plastic material now in
use. I also have the door and the cross bar hinged to the mouth-

page_text: piece in such manner as also to admit of a lateral movement thereof,
whereby the opening and closing for charging and discharging is greatly
facilitated.
Secondly. It relates to mechanical means and apparatus for charging
and discharging, or feeding in the fuel and removing the coke, by the
same apparatus, and this consists of a receiver of suitable form and size
to contain a proper quantity of fuel for one charge or supply, which
receiver is fixed on a slidable arm capable of being operated by rack and
pinion, screw, or other mechanical means. This arm is fitted and
movable in a slide bed carried on framework, or a carriage which is
mounted on wheels arranged to run on rails laid for the purpose in front
of the retorts; the said arm is capable of being moved from one retort
to another as required by racks and pinions, or other similar means. On
this framework or carriage is also fixed a hopper having a recess therein
of capacity sufficient to contain one charge of fuel, so placed and
arranged that the receiver may be brought under the recess in the
hopper to receive its supply of fuel, the recess being provided with a
valve or movable bottom to allow the fuel to drop through a movable
aperture into the said receiver. This receiver, or as I propose to call it
promover," is provided at its outer end with a hinged door which acts
to keep in the fuel while being pushed into the retort, and at the same
time as a pusher to force the coke out at the other end of the retort, and
at the return stroke allows the fuel to pass out of the said promover, the
other end of which being provided with a stop piece which is held fixed
in position so that on the return or back movement the stop piece holds
the fuel which forces the door open.
"
Thirdly. The Invention relates to means of cooling and carrying away
the coke, which consists of an endless creeper or chain of buckets, one
end of the creeper working in a cistern of water so placed that the coke
in falling from the retort will fall into the water in the cistern and
upon
the
creeper, which will convey the said coke to a waggon or cart,
or other receptacle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Rowbottom in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th March 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ROWBOTTOM, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gas Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Rowbottom, Her special licence
that I, the said John Rowbottom, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Rowbottom, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RETORTS AND IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING
THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Rowbottom, my executors or administrators, 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 Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Rowbottom, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying four Sheets of Drawings,
that is to say :-
The first part of this Invention relates to the mouth-pieces and doors
of retorts, and consists in constructing them with a water space in such
manner that water may be caused to circulate therein and thereby keep
the jointing cool, so that any ordinary packing may be used for making
gas-tight joints without the aid of clay or other plastic material now

page_text: in use.
I also have the door and the cross bar hinged to the mouth-
piece in such manner as also to admit of a lateral movement thereof,
whereby the opening and closing for charging and discharging is greatly
facilitated.
Secondly. It relates to mechanical means and apparatus for charging
and discharging or feeding in the fuel and removing the coke by the
same apparatus. This consists of a receiver of suitable form and size to
contain a proper quantity of fuel for one charge or supply, which
receiver is fixed on a slidable arm capable of being operated by rack
and pinion, screw, or other mechanical means. This arm is fitted and
movable in a slide bed carried on framework, or a carriage which is
mounted on wheels arranged to run on rails laid for the purpose in front
of the retorts; the said arm is capable of being moved from one retort
to another as required by racks and pinions or other similar means. On
this framework or carriage is also fixed a hopper having a recess therein
of capacity sufficient to contain one charge of fuel, so placed and
arranged that the receiver may be brought under the recess in the hopper
to receive its supply of fuel, the recess being provided with a valve or
movable bottom to allow the fuel to drop through a movable aperture
into the said receiver. This receiver, or as I propose to call it "promover,"
is provided at its outer end with a hinged door which acts to keep in
the fuel while being pushed into the retort, and at the same time as a
pusher to force the coke out at the other end of the retort, and at the
return stroke allows the fuel to pass out of the said "promover," the
other end of which being provided with a stop piece which is held fixed
in position, so that on the return or back movement the stop piece holds
the fuel which forces the door open.
Thirdly. The Invention relates to means of cooling and carrying away
the coke, which consists of an endless creeper or chain of buckets, one
end of the creeper working in a cistern of water so placed that the coke
in falling from the retort will fall into the water in the cistern and upon
the creeper which will convey the said coke to a waggon or cart, or
other receptacle.

page_text: Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 (Sheet 1) illustrate the first part of my Invention.
A is the mouth-piece of a retort; B, the door or lid. This mouth-piece
and door are each constructed with a water space a and b, a constant
supply of cold water being admitted at a and b¹ from the taps c and c¹,
which after circulating through the water spaces until it rises to the
level of the pipe C (see Fig. 2) in the door, where it is discharged
into the space in the mouth-piece, from whence it is conveyed by the
pipe C¹ to the ordinary cistern or ashes box placed under the furnace
to keep the bars cool. For the purpose of admitting of a lateral or
parallel movement of the door in the opening and closing thereof to
afford a secure jointing or bedding in the packing used, I make a
slot e in those parts of the hinge which are attached to the door, so
that when the door is closed and pressed by the screw D in the
cross bar it is free to bed evenly in the packing as if not hinged,
and when it is required to open the door the screw is loosened or
turned back, and then by pulling at the handles E and E¹ the door
may be pulled off to the extent of the slot c in a lateral direction
before it begins to turn upon its hinges, the cross bar and screw
turning with the door. Near the door in the bottom of the mouth-piece
is a recess F formed to receive any tar which me be produced by the
distillation of the fuel; the said tar is drawn off at intervals through the
plug hole F', or by a cyphon pipe fixed thereto.
"
The second part of my Invention is shewn in Figs. 5, 6, and 7
(Sheets 2 and 3) A is the receiver or "promover large enough
to contain a sufficient quantity of fuel for charging a retort. This
receiver is mounted upon wheels or pullies a which run upon the
rails or ledges 6 attached to the iron plates B, and other pullies c
are employed which run or bear against the said iron plates B to
preserve a lateral steadiness. The plates B and receiver A are mounted
upon movable beds C which are carried by the screw shafts D, so
that by turning the said screw shafts right or left the beds and all
attached thereto can be raised or lowered as required. Motion is
communicated to the screw shafts by worms D₁ and worm wheels E,
the worms receiving their motion from the pairs of bevil wheels
F and G and driving pulley H. Under the receiver or promover A
is a rack d extending from end to end thereof. By means of the
toothed pinion e gearing with this rack the receiver can be moved
backwards and forwards nearly the whole of its length upon the rails b.
The pinion receives its motion from the bevil wheels J and K and

page_text: driving pulley L. The wheel J' slides in a groove in the shaft K
so as to keep in gear with the wheels J when the bed C is raised
or lowered. The whole of the machinery above described is carried
by a framework M mounted on wheels N capable of moving on the
rails N. Supported by the pillars O is a hopper P capable of con-
taining a considerable quantity of fuel for supplying the receiver A.
The fuel is measured in the recess Q above the valve Q, which
recess is of the same dimensions as the receiver A, and when required
to be supplied to the said receiver the valve or bottom Q' is removed
and the fuel passes from the measure to the receiver, being guided
in its descent by the series of guides R, see Fig. 7, which are capable
of sliding within one another telescopically, the top one being sus-
pended from the floor of the hopper, and the other two by chains
attached to the top one, the chain f being for raising or lowering
them as required. The valve or bottom swings or turns upon a shaft
or hinge g, on the end of which is a lever handle h from which
projects an arm K resting on a catch or notch in another lever arm 1,
which arrangement, by aid of the spring m, keeps the moveable bottom
closed, and by withdrawing the lever so as to release the arm k
the valve or bottom falls and leaves the aperture open. The carriage N
can be moved upon its rails either by hand or other power; if moved
by hand or lever is inserted into one of the holes of the boss S on
the upright shaft S₁, by the operation of which motion is communicated
to be bevil wheels T, T¹, and T. From these wheels the motion is
communicated to the pinions U, and by them to the toothed wheels V,
which are fixed on the same shaft as the wheels N. Travelling motion
is given to the machine by steam or other motive power, which may
be communicated to the driving pulley X either from a small engine
fixed on platform of the machine and carried with it, or from shafting
provided for the purpose, thence from the pulley X by the bevil wheels
W and W to the shaft S', which gives motion to the wheels N, as
explained. The adjusting of the receiver or promover A to each retort
if effected by a hand lever inserted into one of the holes in the boss of
the said shaft, as before explained. Motion may also be given to the
said receiver or promover A by such power communicated to the driving
pulley L, or it may be moved by hand winch and gearings applied to the
shaft K' if desirable.
The third part of the Invention is shewn on Sheet 4, Fig. 8, where it

page_text: the receiver or promover A it falls into a cistern of water upon a creeper
or endless travelling apron W (see Fig. 8), one end of which works in
the water in the cistern. The coke in passing through the water is
cooled, and the creeper conveys it to a wagon, cart, or other receptacle
placed under the other end of the creeper. To prevent the coke from
slipping upon or not being carried forward by the creeper projecting ribs
are placed across it at intervals sufficiently high to prevent the coke
falling over them. This creeper is composed of round bars connected
together at the ends by links, and works over cylinders or drums, which
are corrugated or recessed so as to receive the said bars.
The method of using the machine or apparatus for charging and
discharging retorts is as follows:-After the machine has been moved
to a proper place with the promover, immediately in front of a retort,
and under the slot and guides in the hopper, with its lid or cover open,
the valve or bottom of the measure is opened, as before explained, when
the proper quantity falls into the said receiver or promover; the lid
thereto is then closed, and the doors to the mouth-pieces of the retort
are opened at each end thereof, and forward motion is then given to the
promover, which enters the retort, pushing the coke out at the other end
into the cistern of water upon the creeper, which conveys it away as
cxplained; the stop piece or stopper inside the promover is then made
fast and return motion is then given to the promover, when the fuel will
be prevented from being brought back by reason of the stopper holding
it, and the door at the end of the promover will be opened by the
backward movement, when the fuel will be deposited in the retort in an
even and regular manner. Thus the same instrument, the " promover,"
in its forward motion pushes out or discharges the coke or spent fuel,
and in its return movement leaves the new fuel or charge in the retort,
when the doors at each end thereof are closed, as herein-before explained.
The machine is then moved and the promover placed opposite the
mouth-piece of another retort, the doors opened, and the promover being
supplied with fuel as before, is moved forward through the retort,
pushing out the coke, and on its return stroke leaves the fuel in the
retort and the doors are closed. The machine is thus moved from one
retort to another on the rails properly laid for the purpose, discharging
and charging simultaneously or by the same operation, as will now be
clearly seen. The coke also being slacked or cooled by falling into the
water and carried away as discharged by the creeper, which may be

page_text: worked by strap from a rotary shaft, or it may be worked by hand
winch. This cistern and creeper is also provided with rails to run on, so
that it can be moved from one retort to another at suitable times to
accommodate the discharge of the coke.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention and
shewn by Drawings and explanations thereof in what manner the same
is to be performed or carried into practical operation, I would have it
understood that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise con-
structions and arrangements of the several parts shewn, but what I claim
as my Invention is,—
Firstly. The constructing of the mouth-pieces and doors of retorts
with water spaces, so that water may circulate therein to keep them
cool, and thereby to admit of any ordinary packing being used for
making the gas-tight joint as required, also the provision in the hinge
of the said door for lateral motion.
Secondly. The constructing and arranging of mechanical means or
apparatus for charging and discharging retorts, whereby both operations
are effected by the same instrument, in manner substantially as shewn
and described.
Thirdly. The construction and use of a creeper and trough in com-
bination therewith for slacking or cooling and carrying away the coke
as discharged from retorts, in manner substantially as shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Rowbottom, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year of:
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
JOHN ROWROTTOM
Gal