Improvements in Inclined Gas-retorts and in Apparatus for Charging the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1890-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inclined Gas-retorts and in Apparatus for
Charging the same.
I, CHARLES HUNT, of the Gas Works, Windsor Street, in the City of
Birmingham, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The objects of the present invention are twofold. In the first place it is to
prevent the tendency on the part of inclined retorts, as at present made, to slide
upon their bearings and thus endanger their structure--and in the second place to
charge them with facility.
To meet the first object I mould or form on either or both of the upper and
lower surfaces of the retorts suugs suitably shaped and placed by which those on
the under side of the retort take a vertical bearing upon the walls supporting them,
thus converting a side thrust or strain into a vertical one, while upon the upper
snugs the cross walls may be built and supported, the stability of the whole being
thereby greatly increased.
When inclined retorts are used it has hitherto been usual to attach a curved or
bent mouthpiece to each retort, and frequently to bring the tops of all these
mouthpieces to the same level in order that the retorts may be charged by trucks
running on a stage also at an uniform level. The second object of this invention is
to construct apparatus by the use of which the curved or bent mouthpieces may
be dispensed with and allow of a larger number of retorts of the usual size to be set
in a given space, than is done at present. The apparatus is further adapted for
charging long, or what are commonly called "through retorts," with almost equal
facility as short ones."
To carry out this invention I make a horizontal iron framework or platform,
mounted upon wheels and suitable for running upon a rail or tramway laid longi-
tudinally on the floor or stage in front of the retort benches. On this framework
is erected another framework rectangular in front elevation and plan, but of a right
angled triangular form in side elevation, the vertical side being next to the retort
benches. The framework is not confined to this particular form as a modification
may be found more convenient under some circumstances. This framework is also
mounted upon wheels so that it may be moved forward or backward upon rails
placed on the platform, and at right angles to the benches. Between the uprights
of this framework there a triangular or other suitably shaped hopper suspended by
chains which pass over pulleys attached at or near the top of the framework, and
is therefore capable of being raised or lowered to any requisite height, guides
being provided to ensure the rising and falling being uniform. If preferred the
hopper may be raised or lowed by winch, wheels. racks, and pinions, or be
actuated by steam from an engine mounted on the platform and provided with a
suitable boiler. The hopper has an opening at its lower part, and is furnished
with a shoot of suitable size and form for entering the mouthpiece of the retort.
The opening is provided with a door which may either slide up or down, or be
hinged to the hopper, and may be solid if arranged to open outwards, or comb
shaped if arranged to open inwards. This door is opened or closed by means of a
lever placed within easy reach of the attendant, and the hopper is formed or placed
at such an angle as shall give a proper impetus to the coal when charging the
retort.
The hopper receives its coal from a trough or continuous hopper. furnished with
shoots at convenient intervals and running through the retort house, where it is

page_text: placed above the hopper first mentioned. The movable hopper being supplied
with coal all that is necessary to charge the retort is to wheel the platform up to
the bench and adjust the height of the hopper so that the shoot may enter the
mouthpiece when upon operating the lever the door will be opened and the coal
fall into the retort. The shoot may then be withdrawn, the platform wheeled
onwards and the retort closed.
For the purpose of obviating the necessity of raising and lowering the hopper
as before mentioned, a modification of the foregoing may be employed. In this
case a series of hoppers may be fixed to the frame, each hopper having an
inclined nozzle adjusted so as to correspond with the top of each retort, the
operation of charging being conducted similarly to that before described.
Dated this 1st day of April 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inclined Gas-retorts and in Apparatus for
Charging the same.
I, CHARLES HUNT of the Gas Works, Windsor Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Civil Engineer, 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:-
The objects of the present invention are two-fold. In the first place it is to
prevent the tendency on the part of inclined retorts as at present made to slide upon
their bearings and thus endanger their structure, and in the second place to charge
them with facility.
In order that the invention may be easily understood drawings are attached hereto
of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an inclined retort made in accordance with this
invention and
Fig. 2 is a full size section of a part of the same with its appropriate snug.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a part of a retort house with its inclined retorts,
and stationary coal trough or hopper, together with the travelling apparatus for
charging such retorts.
Fig. 4 is a front view drawn to a larger scale, of the charging apparatus, and
Fig. 5 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 6 being a view of the hopper facing the retorts.
To meet the first object I mould or form on either or both of the upper and lower
exterior surfaces of the retorts A Fig. 1, snugs B suitably shaped and placed by
which those on the under side of the retort as seen in the fig., take a vertical bearing
upon the walls C supporting them, thus converting a side thrust or strain into a
vertical one, while upon the upper snugs the cross walls may be built and supported,
the stability of the whole being thereby greatly increased. In Fig. 1 the snugs on
the upper outer surface are not shown, the description given being considered
sufficient.
When inclined retorts are used it has hitherto been usual to attach a curved or
bent mouthpiece to each retort and frequently to bring the tops of all these mouth-
pieces to the same level in order that the retorts may be charged by trucks running
on a stage also at an uniform level. The second object of this invention is to con-
struct apparatus by the use of which the curved or bent mouthpieces may be
dispensed with and allow of a larger-number of retorts of the usual size to be set in
a given space, than is done at present. The apparatus is further adapted for
charging long or what are commonly called " through retorts" with almost equal
facility as short ones.

page_text: To carryout the secondobject of this invention I make a horizontal iron framework
or platform 1) Figs. 3 4 and 5 mounted upon wheels E and suitable for running
upon a rail F, or tramway laid longitudinally on the floor or stage G, in front of the
retort benches H. On this framework is erected another framework I, rectangular
in front elevation and plan, but of a right angled triangular form in side elevation,
the vertical side being next to the retort benches. The framework is not confined
to this particular form as a modification may be found more convenient under some
circumstances. This framework is also mounted upon wheels J so that it may be
moved forward or backward upon rails K on the platform D and at right angles to
the benches. Between the uprights of this framework there is a triangular or other
suitably shaped hopper L suspended by chains M which pass over pulleys N.
attached at or near the top of the framework, and is therefore capable of being
raised or lowered to any requisite height, guides being provided to ensure the rising
and falling being uniform. If preferred the hopper may be raised or lowered by
winch, wheels, racks, and pinions, or a combination of these as in the figs., and may
be actuated either by hand or from an engine mounted on the platform and driven
by steam or compressed air. The hopper has an opening 0 Figs. 5 and 6 and is
furnished with a shoot P of suitable size and form for entering the mouthpiece of
the retort. The opening is provided with a door Q which may either slide up and
down as seen in Fig. 6, or may be hinged to the hopper. The door if hinged is
opened or closed by means of a lever placed within easy reach of the attendant,
and the hopper is formed or placed at such an angle as shall give a proper impetus
to the coal when charging the retort.
The hopper receives its coal from a trough or continuous hopper R furnished with
shoots Shaving doors which may be opened or closed by levers T and placed at
convenient intervals and running through the retort house, where it is placed above
the hopper first mentioned, and may be supported by girders U placed transversely
in the retort house. The movable hopper L being supplied with coal from the
trough R all that is necessary to charge the retort is to wheel the platform D up to
the retort and adjust the height of the hopper so that the shoot may enter the
mouthpiece when upon operating the lever or chain attached to the door, the said
door will be opened and the coal fall into the retort. The coals having been
delivered to the retort the shoot may then be withdrawn, the platform moved
onwards, and the retort closed.
to
The adjustment of the shoot to the rightposition for entering the mouthpiece of the
retort is effected through a winch handle V which gives motion to a pinion W and
spur wheel X. When the pinion is in gear with the spur wheel the chain pulley a
will be made to revolve and though the chain b will cause the chain pulley
revolve also, thus winding up or down the chains M and so raising or lowering the
hopper L. By means of the levere the pinion W may be thrown out of gear with
the wheel and at the same time a clutch f is caused to engage with the chain
pulley 9.
The chain of this pulley passes under another chain pulley fixed upon
the same spindle as the railway wheels J, so that when the winch V is turned the
frame is made to advance to or recede from the retorts as desired.
For the purpose of obviating the necessity of raising and lowering the.hopper as
before mentioned a modification of the foregoing may be employed. In this case a
series of hoppers may be fixed to the frame each hopper having an inclined nozzle
adjusted so as to correspond with the top of each retort, the operation of charging
being conducted similarly to that before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The construction and application of inclined gas retorts with snugs on their
outer surfaces as herein described and shown on the drawings Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The construction and application of movable apparatus in combination with

page_text: inclined gas retorts for charging the said retorts as herein described and shown on
the drawings Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Dated this 31st day of December 1890.
W. H. BENNETT,
Agent for the Applicant.