IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE AND TO OVENS THEREFOR"
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE
AND TO OVENS THEREFOR" to be as follows :—
This invention relates to the manufacture of coke and to improvements in
the coke-ovens described in the specification of former Letters Patent dated
May 30th A D. 1883 N° 2699.
It has been discovered that the mode of levelling the coal, described in the said
former specification besides being employed in ovens having horizontal or slightly
inclined heating surfaces, may also be applied to ovens having the heating surfaces
at a great inclination or even vertical, a proportionately greater compression being
effected, and this refers to ovens for the distillation of pit and brown coal as well as
to peat ovens.
In cases where the walls of the distillation chamber are very steep thè trough is
in the form of a deep hollow.
The heat radiating from the coke cakes heats the vault or. roof of the oven very
considerably when the oven is fully charged and this has an injurious effect upon
the bye-products on the one hand and produces on the other hand coke cracked on
the surface, thus increasing the waste.
For the purpose of obviating these defects, and with the view of attaining a
much more favorable extraction of bye-products, than heretofore as regards both
quantity and quality, and to diminish the loss occasioned by the waste coke, I
employ the means hereinafter described which may be applied either collectively or _
separately.
According to the said invention the material to be distilled when in the oven is
covered with a substance which-employed with coke-has no injurious effect upon
the same and can be easily separated therefrom such as pulverized coke, lime or a
Prica 6d1

page_text: mixture of the same or other suitable materials In case the surfaces are very steep,
the entire trough may be filled up with the said covering substance so as to prevent
the particles of coal from falling.
Lime is added to the material to be distilled, by which means I obtain a greater
amount of bye-products than heretofore, especially ammonia. Pulverized coke is
also added to the material to bo distilled. In this manner the number of injurious
cross cracks is reduced, if the quantity added be moderate and the mixing carefully
executed, and at the same time a means is obtained for utilizing the fine waste coke
which has been altogether useless up to the present.
With the object of obtaining, partially at least, the advantages accrueing from the
use of ovens of trough shaped section, and the ovens usually employed which have
vertical or slightly inclined side walls, the foundation pillar is placed underneath
the heating chamber and the partition wall with the horizontal and vertical flues is
supported on the arch of the heating channel or furnace. By this arrangement
apart from the decrease in the amount of waste coke, the effectiveness of the oven
is materially increased by a better utilization of the heat, whilst with the usual
shape, the heat, in passing from the wide channel into the narrow ones and vice
versa, is to a great extent given off. In the new arrangement the heat passes
entirely over the chamber walls.
A further improvement consists in arranging the side-walls. of the horizontal flue
obliquely instead of vertically. The said horizontal flue is necessary when vertical
flues resting on the arch of the heating channel are used and is constructed in the
top of the partition wall.
The mechanical levelling of the coal or other material can be effected in ovens
having sloping or vertical walls as well as in ovens having horizontal walls.
While levelling, care must be taken that the levelled surfaces will retain their
shape during the distillation, and that when the chamber is emptied the covering
material can easily and completely be separated from the coke.
To attain this end the material to be distilled should be suitably compressed' on
the surface.
Apart from the consolidation which is thus effected a portion of the tar is simul-
taneously retained in the compressed portion from the gases of distillation, thereby
producing a binding of the surface.
.
In order to be enabled, not only to produce by mechanical means all sections of
plain and combined surfaces, but also to exert a definite pressure upon each surface,
the shape of the levelling head, and the iuclination of its external surface which
comes in contact with the material to be levelled, must be arranged in accordance
with the desired section, the position of the inlet orifices whether lateral or central,
and according to the intensity of the proposed pressure. These external surfaces of
the levelling head may therefore be plain or curved and can at the same time
be arranged in such a manner that a portion of the work is executed when the
levelling is moved forward and the remainder when it is drawn back.
The levelling head may terminate in an edge, a point, a straight or curved surface,
or in a combination of surfaces and lines. With an arrangement of this discription
the pressure is obtained, by the weight of the levelling head or its guide, and a
further load may be added at the back thereof, or a support may be used which,
through the medium of rolls acts upon the surface of the distillation chamber.
Instead of sloping surfaces, rollers may, in all cases, be employed for the compres-
sion, or they may be used simultaneously with the sloping surfaces.
The sloping surfaces, as well as the rollers, may be made adjustable in such a
manner that various sections and various compressions may be obtained with the
same levelling instrument, the head making either one or more strokes as necessary.
The beam carrying the levelling head, instead of having the shape described in
the said former specification may be of any other suitable shape; for instance, one
which allows the material to be levelled to be wholly or partly fed into the chamber
after the levelling head is introduced and the compression to be effected while the

page_text: stamp is being drawn back; or by pressing the external walls outside in case they
are movable.
In order to be able to work the material to be distilled under varying circum-
stances, the levelling mechanism is preferably made adjustable so that either the
whole beam, or only the levelling head, or both, are adjustable. The levelling head
may be actuated by any suitable means.
If the section of the trough to be formed is circular, the levelling and compression
may be effected by a rotary levelling head which may be in the form of a screw.
By way of example I will describe two different arrangements of levelling
apparatus.
For producing a plain moderately compressed surface in narrow ovens, the
adjustable beam is firmly connected with the levelling head which comprises two
external surfaces by which the pressure is exerted; the said beam is held in position
by means of bars,
The levelling wings are connected to the head by hinges and terminate in rolls,
which are pressed against the walls of the oven by a spring or springs.
According to another arrangement the levelling device consists of an adjustable
hollow beam of a shape which is in conformity with the section to be levelled.
The head is constructed separately and connected with the beam by bolts passing
through slits in the same, in such a manner that it may be raised and lowered.
The Interal sides of the head form surfaces which meet in a sharp edge,
levelling and compressing surfaces between the horizontal surfaces and the steeply
inclined sides.
In both the arrangements described, the levelling and compression of the material
to be distilled is accomplished by passing the levelling head once over the same,
and the levelling of the covering material is performed when the stamp is drawn
back. The covering material, during the first operation, falls between the surfaces
by which the pressure is exerted, and the levelling wings. The space which has
become free by the compression fills with the covering material; and the excessive
material is taken back by the levelling wings, the surplus material falling into a
depression.
If the head retains its original position during the back movement, only a small
space is filled with covering material; if, however, the levelling head is lifted, a
definite distance, at the termination of the forward movement, a protecting cover
of a certain thickness remains on the surfaces of the material to be distilled during
the back movement of the head.
The arrangement of the levelling mechanism depends in each case upon the shape
of the oven, the condition of the material to be levelled, the distribution of tho
labour, and the purposes for which the products obtained are desired.
For pit and brown coals containing a great deal of gas, and under certain circum-
stances, also water, which furnish good coke only in case the steam and the gas
can easily escape, it is advantageous to add tar or pitch to the material before its
introduction and to transform it by machinery into pressed cakes having a stellate
section. For the coking of these cakes, permanently worked ovens may be
employed when and where there are greater advantages to be derived from them
than from ordinary ovens, as is the case in burning bricks and similar articles.
With the object of improving the process of slacking, the slacking chamber which
is capable of being taken to pieces, and which is described in the said former
specification, can be substituted by a movable slacking truck which is caused to
pass by the front or underneath the distillation chamber receiving in consequence of
the lower position, the coke which is divided by the downfall.
If the distillation chamber is to be emptied without causing an interruption the
slacking wagon, even in case it consists of several suitably connected wagons, must
present a closed surface. The surface is preferably level, but may have a greater or
smaller number of trough or funnel shaped depressions.
Between the distillation chamber and the slacking wagon are insertod; where
requisite, inclined and sometimes also vertical surfaces in order to obtain a suitablo

page_text: division of the coke substances. By increasing or diminishing the velocity with
which the slacking wagon is moved I am enabled to distribute the coke upon a
surface varying in dimensions, and to obtain in this manner the most favourable
cónditions for the slacking operation in each particular instance.
The surfaces upon which the coke is caused to fall are either closed or are similar
to a sieve or grate so as to cause the smaller pieces of coke to be separated and fall
in receptacles beneath.
The surfaces between the distillation chambers and the slacking wagon may also
be perforated or the like, so that the separation of the small coke commences on the
said surfaces.
The slacking operation being finished, the slacking train is entirely or partly
moved to the loading rails, if these are not placed directly before the oven and
emptied either by hand or tipping.
The wasto coke from the slaking wagon collects in receptacles which are connected
with the said slacking wagon, and all waste from the wagon as well as from the
sloping surfaces is collected in suitable receptacles.
The surfaces upon which the coke falls may be movable and the lump coke, after
cooling, tipped directly into the slacking wagon.
The slacking commences upon the inclined grate surfaces.
Steps are arranged for the workmen to stand upon. For the protection of the
workmen, screens may be employed between the surface of the grate and the said
steps. If necessary, there may also be an appliance for distributing the falling coke
upon the whole surface of the slacking wagon and for effecting as perfect a separation
as possible of the small coke.
The small coke falling through the grate collects under the rails upon which the
slacking wagon runs and may be conveniently collected, after the lump coke has
been carried off, by means of a slide.
The principal advantages of a slacking wagon of this description are (First). The
slacking, separation, and loading operations are effected in the most convenient,
rapid, and cheap manner; (Second) the doors and front surfaces of the ovens aro a
not injured by the water; (Third) the loading at or the removal to, any proposed
place does not materially increase the costs, and therefore (Fourth) the position of
the oven is independent of the position of a railway.
Dan AL: DOLL

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF
COKE AND TO OVENS THEREFOR" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to coke ovens and comprises the improvements herein.
after described with reference to the accompanying drawing, the figures of which
are hereinafter referred to.
-
For the advantageous utilization of the heating gases and the prevention of
injurious cracks in the coke-cake, the coke oven is made of cup shaped section as
shown in figure 6. The heating walls are arranged on as steep an inclination as
possible and sharp edges are avoided. They can also be curved or polygonal
or partly straight and partly curved, the internal angles being not less than 125°..
By reason of this slight inclination of the side-walls from the vertical they are
more stable than would otherwise be the case and can therefore be made thinner
than heretofore, and are consequently more effective.
In order to obtain the advantages of the cup-shaped section, at least partially,
with narrow ovens having vertical or slightly inclined walls, as heretofore used, the
heating channel or furnace can be so arranged that the coking chamber walls, with
the intermediate flue, rest upon the middle of the arch thereof.
To increase the stability of the chamber walls of narrow ovens, in which a
horizontal flue is below the supporting arch, it is advantageous to construct the
said walls sloping at the lower ends, as shown in figure 1.
Another advantage resulting from this construction is that the heating channel
or furnace, by reason of the greater width obtained, has a more suitable section
and requires less high wall-plates than would otherwise be the case.
In order to ensuro a very rapid and equable burning of the layers of coal, the
latter must be equally dense at all parts and the thickness must every whero be in
accordance with the heating power of the heating surface upon which it lies, that is
to say it must diminish in thickness towards the top.
To this end the surface of the coke has a trough formed in it, and, whorever
possible, is compressed at the same time. By shaping the surface of the coals in
this manner, the products of distillation escape more easily, and the yield of tar is
accordingly greater.
With the object of retaining in the coke-cake the heat which, with a free surface,
leaves by radiation, thus preventing the waste of coke, and with the further object
of ensuring a more advantageous yield in accessory products, the following means
are employed either together or separately:-
1st The material to be distilled is provided with a protecting cover of a material
which is not injurious to the coke, and which separates easily therefrom, such as
small coke, lime, or the like, or a mixture of the same. When the trough has very
steep surfaces it can be partially or entirely filled with said covering material so as
to prevent, at the same time, the particles of coal from falling.

page_text: 2nd Fine coke-powder is added to the mass. With a moderate addition and
careful mixing, the number of injurious cross cracks in the coke-cakes is reduced.
Small coal which has hitherto been valueless is thus advantageously utilized.
The mechanical shaping of the surface of the filling material can be effected in
distillation chambers having horizontal, vertical, or sloping walls, and the material
operated upon may be pit coal, brown coal, peat, coko or the like, with or without
the simultaneous compression of the said filling material.
The form of the surfacing device depends upon the section to be produced and
the pressure to be exerted. In general, a kind of piston will be used, which is
introduced at one end of the distillation chamber and has at its front end a fixed or
movable head by which the surfacing and compressing are effected.
The surfacing device is, as a rule, moved to and fro in a straight line and
does the required work either entirely in its forward motion, or partly in its
forward and partly in its backward motions. The movement of the surfacing
device can, however, be rotary, if the form of the surface to be produced admits
of this.
.
The pressure necessary for the compression is obtained by the weight of the
surfacing device. The pressure can be increased by providing guides, or through
the medium of rollers suitably supported and bearing against the walls or roof of
the distillation chamber.
The compression is generally effected by inclined surfaces. Pressing rollers alone,
or in conjunction with inclined surfaces, can, however, be employed. Either of
them can be made adjustable for obtaining various degrees of compression. Also,
the surfacing device itself can be made partially or wholly adjustable, in order to
enable the material to be distilled, to be treated under various conditions.
The surfacing device may be operated by an engine, by hand power, or by any
other suitable means.
Two different arrangements of surfacing apparatus are shewn in the accom-
panying drawing by way of example.
For producing a plain, moderately compressed surface in narrow ovens, the
apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 may be employed. The adjustable beam T,
Figures 2 and 4, which is firmly connected with the surfacing head, consists of an
iron bar of I-shape. The inclined surface D, Figures 1 to 4, is fixed in position
by means of the bent bars B and B¹, Figures 1 and 4. The surfacing wings P
and P¹, Figures 2 to 4, are connected by a hinge C, Figure 4, and have, at their
ends, rollers R R¹ which are pressed by a spring against the oven walls.
In Figures 5 to 10, a surfacing device for an oven having a cup-shaped section,
and for forming a trough in the material to be distilled, is represented.
The beam T (Figures 7 and 10) of this device is hollow, and is formed of plates
adjustable relatively to each other so as to enable them to be set to correspond to
the form of the surface desired..
The head K, figures 5, 7 and 10, is constructed independently and connected with
the beam T in such a manner that it can be lifted and lowered on the line Zľ
figures 7 and 10. The lateral wings S S¹, figure 5, of the head are bent, and
converge to a vertical edge. These wings level and compress the surfaces F and F¹
between the horizontal surfaces H H, and the nearly vertical surfaces w w³, as
shown in figure 0.
-
The inclined projections A A¹, figure 10, level and compress the horizontal:
surfaces H H', whilst, with the lateral surfaces w and w', the levelling and com-
pressing is effected by the inclined surfaces h, i, j, k and h¹, i¹, j¹, figures 6 and 7,
converging in an edge; in conjunction with the inclined triangular surfaces h, k, m
and h¹, k¹, m³, figures 6, and 7.
In both cases described, the surfacing and compressing of the material' to be
distilled takes place by pushing the surfacing head once through the oven, and the
surfacing of the covering material is effected when drawing the bead back.
In the former case, the covering material falls between the compressing surface D
and the wings P and P¹; that is to say; it falls in the chamber F; figures 1 and 4,

page_text: upon the levelled surface. The space which has become free by the compression
fills with the covering material, and the surplus material is taken back by the
levelling wings P and P' in their return motion.
In the second case the covering material falls in the space R, figures 7 and 10,
into the depression m i m¹, figure 6. If, in the return motion, the head & remains
in its original position, only the space m, i, m³, j, figure 6, is filled with covering
material; if, howevor, the head K, after the termination of the forward motion, is
lifted a certain distance, a protecting cover of the height X remains on the
surfaces F, F, H, and H', when the piston is drawn back.
The arrangement of the surfacing apparatus depends, in each case, upon the form
of the oven, upon the condition of the material to be surfaced, upon the division of
labour, and upon the requirements from the products obtained.
For coal, which is very rich in gas and also in water, and which yields good
coke only when water-steam and gas can easily escape, it is advisable to add tar
and pitch to the material before the filling, and to convert them by machines
similar to presses for bricks, tubes, or patent fuel, into blocks of a pierced or
stellato section. For coking these blocks, continuously operating ovens with equal
or unequal temperatures in the various sections can be employed, as in the case of
bricks or similar blocks, whenever and wherever they may appear to be moro
advantageous than common ovens.
With the object of improving the slacking process, a movable slacking truck or
train can be used, which, during the emptying, is caused to pass in front of, or
below, the distillation chamber, receiving, in consequence of its lower position, the
coke, which is divided by the downfall.
If the distillation chamber is to be emptied without interruption, the slacking
truck or train, even when it consists of several suitably connected wagons, must
present a continuous surface. This surface will mostly be level, but may have a
greater or smaller number of trough or funnel shaped depressions. Between the.
distillation chambers and the slacking wagon are placed, where required, inclined,
and sometimes also vertical surfaces, in order to obtain a suitable division of the
coko lumps.
The surfaces upon which the coke falls are either continuous or made similar to
a grate or sieve, so as to cause the smaller pieces, which are not to be loaded, to
fall into receptacles beneath. The slacking operation being terminated, the slacking
train is conveyed, either entirely or partly, to the loading rails, if the latter are not
situated directly before the oven, and there is emptied by hand or by tipping, into
the railway trucks.
The waste coke from the slacking 'wagon collects either in receptacles which are
attached to the slacking wagons; or provision is made so that all waste from the
slacking train, as well as from the sloping surfaces, collects in suitable receptacles
below the rails.
In figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawing is represented, by way of examplo,
an arrangement in which all surfaces upon which the coke falls are movable and
made similar to grates. The lump coke, after cooling, is tipped directly into the
railway wagons. The small coke which falls through, collects below the rails of
the slacking truck or train L, figures 2 to 4, and can, after the lump coke is
removed be conveniently collected by means of the slide 8, figure 2, in a wagon
upon the loading rails.
Upon the fixed platform in front of the oven, or upon the lattice wagon, a shield-
like appliance is sometimes arranged for distributing the falling coke upon the
lattice work and effecting as complete a separation of the small coke as possible.
The principal advantages of the improved slacking trucks or trains are
1st The slacking, sorting, and loading are effected in the most convenient, rapid,
and cheap manner; 2nd The doors and front surfaces of the ovens are not injured
by the water; 3rd The loading can, without materially increasing the cost, take
place in any proposed place, and also the temporary storing, if the set-off or the

page_text: railway wagons are absent; and 4th the position of the ovens is quite independent
of the loading rails..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to bo performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First In the distillation of pit-coal, brown coal peat, or the liko, in ovens having
inclined, or vertical sides, forming a trough like or hollow surface in the material
to be distilled, for the purposes specified.
Second In a coke oven the distillation chamber of cup shaped form substantially
as represented in tho drawing, the boundary line of the said chamber being a curvo
or polygonal, with straight or curved, or partly straight or partly curved sides, the
internal angles of which are not less than 125 degrees.
Third The process of increasing tho yield of accessory products from the gases of
distillation, improving the quality of the coke and diminishing and utilizing the
waste, by (1st) covering the material to be distilled with waste coke, lime, or other
material, or mixture of materials, which separates easily and is not injurious in the
use of coke and (2nd) by admixing small waste coke.
Fourth The arrangement of the heating channels or furnaces of coke-ovens
vertically below the partition-walls and flues between the chambers.
Fifth The inclined position of the side walls of the horizontal heating channels,
at the upper end of the partition walls, which side walls lean towards the arch of
the oven.
Sixth The process for surfacing, with or without simultaneously compressing,
the material to be distilled (pit-coal, brown coal, peat, or covering material) in
horizontal, inclined, or vertical distillation ovens by means of the mechanical :
appliances described,
Seventh The process of distilling pit-coals and brown coals, in which the coals
are converted, prior to filling the intermittingly or continuously operating ovens,
into blocks of a perforated or stellate section by the addition of tar or pitch.
Eighth The movable slacking, sorting and loading trucks or trains herein before i
described.