IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Colvin Fraser, of Loughborough, in the
County of Leicester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Sealed the 12th July 1864, and dated the 20th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Colvin Fraser
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1864.
I, ALEXANDER COLVIN FRASER, of Loughborough, in the County of
Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction, of iron retorts used in the
manufacture of gas.
The improvements are applicable to retorts of various forms, but that
technically known as the D is preferred, and consists in casting three or more
longitudinal ribs upon the top and sides of the interior thereof, those from its
sides being carried around the back of the same and forming one continuous
line. Upon the bottom of the interior one or more ribs are also cast, the
middle one of which is extended to the back and continued vertically up its
centre till it joins the one at the top, so that at the back the ribs are disposed
at right angles to each other. By these means the retort is strengthened at
but little expense, and the liability to collapse greatly reduced. The back is
also rendered more capable of resisting the great heat to which it is subjected,
its chance of falling is lessened, and the durability of the whole considerably
increased. Where it is desirable some or all of the ribs may be cast on the
exterior of the retort, instead of the interior, as before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Colvin Fraser in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
COLVIN FRASER, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Colvin Fraser, Her special licence that I, the said
Alexander Colvin Fraser, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alexander Colvin Fraser, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Colvin Fraser, 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 Alexander Colvin Fraser, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the construction of iron retorts used in the
manufacture of gas.
The improvements are applicable to retorts of various forms, but that
technically known as the D is preferred, and consists in casting three or more
longitudinal ribs A, B, C, Fig. 2, upon the top and sides of the interior
thereof, those from its sides being carried around the back of the same so as to 3
form one continuous line. Upon the bottom of the interior three or more or
less ribs are also cast, D, E, F, Fig. 2, the middle one of of which, E, is extended
to the back, and continued vertically up its centre till it joins the one B at the

page_text: top, so that at the back the ribs are disposed as shown in Fig. 3 of the
Drawings annexed. There may be also a number of ribs cast upon the sides,
top, bottom, and back of the retort, perpendicular to those before mentioned.
On the outside of the retort, and opposite to each of the lines of ribs, the metal
is slightly thickened, as indicated in the Drawings; this, however, is not
essential, and I not claim it as part of my Patent.
In order to make the Invention more clearly understood, Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, are drawn. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through G, G,
Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a section through H, H, Fig. 1, looking towards the
mouth; Fig. 3 is a section through I, I, Fig. 1, looking towards the back,
and showing the manner in which the ribs are disposed at the end of the
retort; and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan through J, J, Fig. 2. The whole of the
ribs are chamfered off towards the mouth so as to offer but little or no
impediment to charging with the scoop or otherwise. By the adoption of this
Invention the retort is strengthened at but little expense, and the liability to
collapse greatly reduced. The back is also rendered more capable of resisting
the great heat to which it is subjected; its chance of falling in lessened, and
the durability of the whole considerably increased.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the
precise details or arrangements which 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, the construction of retorts substantially as
herein described..
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Colvin Fraser, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
A. C. FRASER. (L.S.)