Improvements in Heating Retorts or Furnaces for the Distillation of Coal or other analogous purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heating Retorts or Furnaces for the Distillation
of Coal or other analogous purposes.
We, JOHN ARTHUR YEADON, of 4, Albion Place, Leeds, Engineer, and
WILLIAM ADGIE, of 68, St. Mark Street, Leeds, Accountant, both in the
County of York do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
Our present invention is partially connected with our previous Patent of
November 29, 1889, No. 19183, and consists of an improved system or method of
heating retorts, whether revolving as therein shown, or for any fixed retorts for
the above purpose such as are at present heated with coke fires in the ordinary way.
In the description of our revolving retort as contained in the above mentioned
Specification, we show it as suitable for being heated underneath by a coke fire,
such being the ordinary method at present used in gas works, which system
necessitates the employment of firemen for working the same.
Our present
invention has for its object the reducing or altogether dispensing with coke fires
as at present used, and also with the necessary labour of the attendant firemen
for working the same, by substituting the use and application of gas, preferably
crude and unpurified as it comes from the retorts; mixing along with it in any
suitable manner a sufficient quantity of air for the ignition and combustion of
the same; the heating being thus effected continuously and automatically instead
of intermittently as in the present systems.
In carrying out our invention, we make a connection in any point or part of
the piping containing gas, crude or purified, between the retorts and the street
mains, but preferably at some point between the retorts and the hydraulic main,
as we consider that the gas in its crude & unpurified condition is the most suitable
for our purpose.
Underneath the retorts, we erect any suitable combustion chamber, with fire
doors and frames fitted with adjustable and regulating valves or slides, one or
one set of which is for the admission of the gas, and the other for the admission
of sufficient air for the efficient combustion of the gas for heating. Where our
revolving retorts are applied they will be quite surrounded by the heat generated
in the combustion chamber, as shown in our above mentioned Specification with
a coke fire. When our present invention is applied to fixed retorts the heat can
be conveyed through suitable flues formed in the brick work as in the ordinary
plans now in use.
If found desirable, we can arrange for the gas to be fed with sufficient pressure
direct from the ascension pipes over the retorts into the combustion chamber;
or we can arrange to draw it from the ascension pipes through an exhauster and
thus secure the regular and necessary pressure required; our opinion being that
the gas it its crude and unpurified condition is best and most suitable for our
purpose. The gas to be used can be generated either in a revolving or fixed
retorts; and the gas thus generated can be used by us for heating either revolving
or fixed retorts as required.
Our invention can also be used if found desirable by a combination of the above
with any ordinary coke fire by admitting the gas and air over or through the coke
fire into the combustion chamber for the purpose of generating the temperature
necessary for heating the retorts.
We are fully aware that gas, crude or otherwise, has already been adapted in a
variety of ways for heating purposes; but so far as we know it has not yet been
used for heating retorts for the distillation of gas and other analogous purposes;
and our present invention is for the purpose of using or applying it for heating

page_text: these retorts, whether revolving or fixed; our object being to reduce or altogether
dispense with the labour of the firemen, the use of coke for firing, and to secure a
more regular and uniform temperature in the retorts than can be obtained with the
present system of heating; our objects. being carried out substantially as above
described.
Signed this Nineteenth day of December 1891.
JOHN ARTHUR YEADON.
WILLIAM ADGIE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heating Retorts or Furnaces for the Distillation
of Coal or other analogous purposes.
!.
We, Joux ARTHUR YEADON of 4 Albion Place, Leeds, Engineer, and
WILLIAM ADGIE, of 68 St. Mark Street, Leeds, Accountant, both in the
County of York 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:-
:
Our present invention is partially connected with our previous Patent of
November 29, 1889, No. 19183; and consists of an improved system or method of
heating our revolving retorts as therein shewn or any other retorts to which it may
be applied.
In the following particulars we shall confine ourselves more particularly to. the
description of the application of this system or method of heating our revolving
retort; at the same time we wish it to be clearly understood that we claim its use
or application to any other design of retort fixed or otherwise, where it is applied
for the distillation of coal or other analogous purposes.
.
In the description of our revolving retort as contained in the above-mentioned
Specification, we show it as suitable for being heated by a coke fire underneath as
in the ordinary method at present used in gas works; which system necessitates.
the employment of firemen for working the same. Our present invention has for
its object the dispensing altogether with a coke fire underneath as at present used,.
& also with the necessary labour of the firemen for tending the same, by substituting
the use of gas of any suitable description for the purpose, either alone, or mixed
with any suitable quantity of air for combustion, as may be found most advan-
tageous; the heating of our retort being thus effected automatically and
continuously, instead of intermittently, as in the present systems where coke is
used for the purpose.
In the accompanying plan we show two views of our revolving retort and the
mode or application of gas mixed with air for heating the same..
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the retort with the plan of feeding the
coal into the retort, carbonising the same, and discharging the spent cinders; whilst
Fig. 2 shows the back elevation of the same at the end where the gas and air enter
into the combustion chamber for heating the retort.
:
In carrying out our invention we make a connection with any pipe containing
gas suitable for the purpose, whether it be the gas usually produced at gas works, or
water-gas, or any other kind preferably that usually produced in gas-works. We
also prefer it crude and unpurified as containing more heating properties. For
that purpose we prefer to make the connection for the gas to be used at any point]
of the ascension pipe G, between the retort and the hydraulic main, as we consider
the gas thus obtained most suitable for our purpose.
Underneath the retort we build or erect any suitable combustion chamber A
which can be fitted, if required, with suitable fire door and frame F; also
adjustable and regulating valves for the admission of the air and gas separately or
for the air and gas previously mixed together in the proper proportions for
satisfactory combustion and heating. If we use the gas already mixed with air in

page_text: the proper proportions for heating our retorts, we dispense with any regulating
valves in or near the furnace door, and carry out our improvements as follows.
Through the centre of the fire door F we insert a pipe B extending a little way
into the furnace itself; to this we connect a pipe C continuing say some 20
or 30 feet from the fire door and open at its other end D to the atmosphere having
a valve at that end which we may call the inlet air end for regulating the admission
of the air as required. Within a few feet of this inlet air end we connect a pipe E
of a smaller diameter to the pipe containing the gas to be used. This inlet gas
pipe is also fitted with a valve or tap to regulate the quantity of gas required to be
used. The furnace is constructed that no air or gas can enter into the combustion
chamber except through the fire door For other suitable orifice. The continuous
action of combustion draws the air and gas through this main feed pipe C into the
combustion chamber A, the regulating valves adjust the proper quantity and
proportion of air and gas found most suitable for combustion and heating, and
which become mixed together as they pass through the main feed pipe C into the
combustion chamber A. Where our revolving retorts are applied it will be seen
that they will be quite surrounded by the heat generated in the combustion
chamber as shown in our above-mentioned Specification with a coke fire. When
our present invention is applied to any other moving or fixed retorts where the
whole circumference is not exposed to the direct heat of the combustion chamber
the heat can be conveyed through suitable flues formed in the brickwork as in any
ordinary methods now in use.
If found desirable we can arrange for the gas to be fed with sufficient pressure
direct from the ascension pipe G or passed through a suitable exhauster as required
to suit different cases; our opinion being that crude gas is the most efficient for
our purpose. Any suitable gas can be used for our purpose whether for heating
our revolving retort or any other retort working on a different principle to ours.
If found desirable our invention can also be used by a combination of the above
with any ordinary coke fire, by admitting the gas, or gas and air, over or through
the coke fire in the combustion chamber for the purpose of generating the
temperature necessary for heating the retorts. We are fully aware that gas of
various kinds, crude or otherwise, has already been adopted in a variety of ways
for heating purposes; but so far as we know it has not yet been used in any
form for heating revolving retorts for the distillation of coal or other analogous
purposes; nor has crude or water gas been used for the heating of either revolving
or fixed retorts. Our present invention is therefore in the first place for using any
kind of gas for heating revolving retorts and in the second place for heating any
retorts fixed or revolving with crude i.e. unpurified gas, or with water gas, either
with or without coke fires, so as to reduce or altogether dispense with the labour of
the firemen, and to secure a more uniform & regular temperature in the retorts
than can be obtained with the present system of heating; our objects being carried
out substantially as above described.
Having now therefore described & particularly ascertained the nature of our
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The use of suitable gas of any kind or quality for heating a revolving retort
for distilling coal or other analogous purposes.
2. The use of crude and unpurified gas or water gas for the purpose of heating
any retorts revolving or otherwise, for distilling coal or other analogous purposes.
3. The use of suitable gas of any kind in combination with a coke fire for
heating revolving or other retorts, for distilling coal or other analogous purposes.
Dated this 12th dow of Sentember 1809
JOHN ARTHUR YEADON.
WILLIAM ADGIE.