IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR DISTILLATION OF SHALE, COAL, AND OTHER. BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles McBeath, of Blackburn, in the County of
Linlithgow, North Britain, Carpenter, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR DISTILLATION OF SHALE, COAL, AND OTHER.
BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
Sealed the 24th April 1867, and dated the 29th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles M.Beath at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th October 1866.
I, CHARLES M'BEATH, of Blackburn, in the County of Linlithgow, North
Britain, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR DISTILLATION OF SHALE, COAL, AND OTHER.
BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR,'
to be as follows, that is to say :-
"
This said Invention consists essentially in the decomposition, treatment, or
distillation of bituminous shale, coal, or other bituminous minerals or sub-
stance for the purpose of obtaining or abstracting the gases, spirits, and crude
oils containing paraffine and other valuable matters from the same by the heat-
of its or their own combustion with the air in open-ended vessels or retorts,
and allowing or directing the currents of rich inflammable and oily heated
gases or products of such combustion to pass in at or up from the open end of

page_text: the vessel or retort where the combustion is effected directly up, through, and
amongst the bituminous materials being so treated or decomposed, and which
improvements or Invention the Petitioner believes will cause a great saving
both of fuel and heat, and consequently a proportional great economy in the
production or cost of these crude oils, spirits, paraffine, inflammable gases, and
other substances over or in comparison with any of the modes at present or
heretofore adopted or used for producing or distilling off these substances
from such materials, by or in close retorts, whether heated internally by
superheated air or steam, or as generally heated on their outer surface by the
use and combustion of special or separate coal or fuel for the purpose, in
which case the heat utilized has to radiate through the body of the retort to
the material within it being treated for distillation.
One modification or arrangement for practically carrying out this Invention
as applied to the treatment or distillation of shale or other bituminous mineral
for obtaining the crude oils and gaseous products therefrom (from which
paraffine and other substances are subsequently produced) consists of a
cylindrical or conical retort, by preference constructed of sheet iron, and
placed or built vertically with an annular wall of brickwork round it, having
its lower end or mouth open all round at the base for some inches above a
horizontal fire-grate, with a round or square hearth and ash-pit formed in the
brickwork, of the same shape at the base below the grate, and fitted with
doors to regulate the admission of air under the hearth, which is fitted with
doors by preference one on each side above the hearth for lighting and raking
the shale, also for regulating the admission of air, and consequently the com-
bustion all round the open mouth of the retort. The open top of the retort
is fitted or formed with a hopper or filler, by preference of an inverted hollow
conical shape, having an annular deep rim or throat considerably smaller than
the top of the retort, and. projecting somewhat below it and the end of the
pipe or close conduit for conducting the gases as they ascend or are evolved
from the decomposition or combustion of the shale going on at the lower open
mouth of the retort. The retort is charged from time to time by filling the
hopper with broken shale, by the hand and shovel, or otherwise by measured
quantities from elevators or tilting barrows, or wheeled "hutches," which is
charged into the retort at once by the raising of a conical plug or other valve
or lid fitted in the throat of the hopper, controlled by a hand lever arrange-
ment, so as to conveniently open and close the charging throat or orifice by
hand. When the retort is full the shale is ignited at the annular open mouth
below all round the hearth by wood or coal in the first instance, but when
properly kindled will keep constantly burning with ordinary attention and

page_text: cleaning away of the ash, and the proper rate of combustion and heat is
regulated by the admission of air at the doors of the hearth and ash-pit, so as
to keep the shale burning, by preference at or about a dull red heat, which
gives off the gases as abundantly and as pure and unsinged or unburned as
heretofore produced in close retorts, and the hot gases ascending up through
the column of unburned shale prepares it for ignition and combustion as it
falls or reaches the open mouth and hearth where the air is admitted to
support combustion. As the gases reach the top of the retort they escape or
are conducted by a close pipe or conduit to condensers, either in the same
manner and of the same arrangement and construction as those now in use
for the like purpose of distilling crude oils from.shale, or as preferred by
another improvement under this Invention a jet or stream of steam is
introduced down the centre of the conducting pipe near the top, which has
the effect of drawing off the gases better from the retort so as to assist the
combustion of the shale, and also by superheating the gases materially assist
their condensation into oil in the first or lowest main condenser, into which
they are forced by the steam. The condensation of the gases is further
assisted by one or more longitudinal pipes placed through the centre or body
of the lower main condenser, so as to lead a current of cold air in through
them and out at one end into the chimney, which causes the necessary
draught for the current of air, and as the hot gases impinge on the outer
surface of the cold pipes they are condensed in the interior of the condenser.
The condensers are preferred to be formed of three or more horizontal close
cylindrical vessels arranged vertically over each other, the lowest being the
largest in diameter, and the upper ones gradually decreasing in size cach to
about half the cubical contents or less of the one below it until they reach the
top one, from which the permanent gases which have not been condensed
after passing through each condenser in succession from one end to the other
by short branch pipes are either allowed to escape, or are conducted in close
pipes or conduits direct, or stored in large vessels for use for general lighting
or heating purposes; or they are conducted back to the under side of the.
grate, where they are allowed to impinge on the, burning shale all round the
lower open end of the retort, where by the heat of their combustion with the
oxygen of the air admitted to the hearth they materially assist the combustion
and decomposition or distillation of the shale. In some cases a hollow conical
grate is erected over the hearth so as to project up into the centre of the
column of shale in the retort, and a portion of the said residuary inflammable
gas admitted by a pipe up through the hearth, which by its combustion with
the air causes the shale to burn all round the interior of the conical grate in

page_text: addition to that taking place all round the open edge or mouth of the retort,
the quantity of gas passing through the pipes to the hearth being regulated
by cocks or valves. The drawing off and forcing of the residuary inflammable
gases from the top condenser may in some cases when desired be assisted by
a vane, fan wheel, or screw worked within the conduits, or in a close vessel
connected therewith, and the currents of cold air through the surface con-
densing tubes or pipes of the lower condenser may when desired be effected
by a fan blast in place of or in addition to the draught of the chimney. As
the crude oil is formed in the several vessels of the condenser it runs or finds
its way down through the branch pipes at each alternate lower side and end
of the vessels to the upper side of the next in succession below (the same
branch pipes answering for the ascending gas to rise from the lowest to the
highest vessel), until the oil is all collected in the lowest vessel, from which it
is drawn off at the lowest end by a bent dip or inverted syphon, escape or
overflow pipe in the usual manner into portable vessels for removal. The
gases and products of combustion from the outer burning rim of shale round
the open mouth over the hearth are carried up a single or double spiral screw
flue in the brickwork close to the outer surface or circumference of the iron
retort to the top, where after heating it they pass off to the chimney by a
main flue fitted with a damper near the retort to regulate the draft and
escape of these non-combustible waste gases. And this mode and arrange-
ment of open mouth retort herein described under this said Invention as
applied to the treatment of shales for their decomposition and distillation into
crude mineral oils, gases, and other substances is also applicable to the
decomposition or distillation of bituminous coal and other substances for the
production of the mixed or crude gas now used for illuminating purposes,
which can be subsequently purified and used by the ordinary means and
processes now in use for that purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles M Beath in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
27th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
MOBEATH, of Blackburn, in the County of Linlithgow, North Britain,
Carpenter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles McBeath, Her special licence that I, the said Charles M*Beath, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
M'Beath, 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 THE TREATMENT
OR DISTILLATION OF SHALE, COAL, AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Charles M.Beath, 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 Charles McBeath, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
:
My said Invention consists essentially in the decomposition, treatment, or
distallation of shale, coal, or other bituminous minerals or substances for the
purpose of obtaining or abstracting the gases, spirits, and crude oils (con-
taining paraffine and other valuable matters) from the same by the heat of
its or their own combustion with the air in open-ended vessels or retorts, and
allowing or directing the currents of rich inflammable and oily heated gases
or products of such combustion to pass in at or up from the open end of the
vessel or retort, where the combustion is effected directly up, through, and
amongst the bitumenous materials being so treated or decomposed; and the
said Invention or improvenients I believe will cause a great saving both of
fuel and heat, and consequently a proportional great economy in the pro-
duction and cost of these crude oils, spirits, paraffine, inflammable gases, and
otlier resultants over or in comparison with any of the modes at present or
heretofore adopted or used for distilling off these resultants or products from
such materials by the use of or in close retorts, whether heated internally by
superheated air or steam, or as generally heated on their outer surface by the
usc and combustion of separate coal or fuel in a furnace or oven surrounding

page_text: the retorts, in which case the heat utilized has to radiate through the body
of the retort to the material within it being treated for distillation.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures upon the two Sheets
of explanatory Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing several of what I at present believe to be the best modifications for
working out in practice the several improvements contained therein; the same
reference letters indicating the same or corresponding parts in all the modi-
fications and Figures.
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of one arrangement of a set of
stills or retorts taken on the lines 1-1, in Figures 2 and 3, in a plane passing
through the axis of one of the stills or retorts and conduit leading to the
lower main condenser; the upper minor condensers and other parts being
shown in elevation, all constructed in accordance with and embodying one
modification of most of the improvements contained in my said Invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same corresponding to Figure 1, showing
the extreme end retorts with their conduits and condensers attached, but
with a great part of the central portion shown as broken away, and
Figure 3 is a plan of the same corresponding to Figure 2, with portions
shown in horizontal section taken at different planes; this arrangement,
Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, for practically carrying out my said Invention
as applied to the treatment or distillation of shale or other bitumenous
mineral for obtaining the crude oils, spirits, and gaseous products there-
from (from which paraffine and other resultants are subsequently produced)
consists of a bench or set of cylindrical or slightly conical retorts A, say,
by preference ten or twelve, constructed of sheet iron, though they may also
be formed of cast iron, fire-clay, or other suitable refractory or fire-resisting
material, and built vertically in longitudinal rows with an annular or rec-
tangular wall of brickwork B round each retort, which has its lower end or
mouth open all round at the base C for some inches above a horizontal, round,
or square fire-grate or hearth D and ash-pit E of the same shape formed
in the brickwork at the base below the grate D; each retort being hung or
supported by the four brackets a attached to their upper end resting on and
built into the brickwork B; the hearth and ash-pit of each retort being
provided with two doors d and e respectively arranged at each side along the
lower part of the whole rectangular line of brickwork B to regulate the
admission of air both above and below the hearth, fitted with "brander slides"
and slots, and perforated chambers for admitting and heating the air as it
passes through them as shown at d¹ and e' (Figure 2); the doors & above

page_text: T
the hearth being necessary and used for lighting, stirring, or raking and opening
up the shale, and clearing away the ashy deposits of the same after all the
gases or oils are abstracted or distilled off, as well as for. regulating the
admission of air, and consequently the rate or intensity of the combustion of
thic shale and air all round the open mouth C of the retorts A; the air being
partially heated in passing through the perforated boxes d³ on the inside of
the doors d by radiation from the burning shale, which materially assists or
promotes the combustion and distillation thereof. The cover a', which is
formed of cast iron, and jointed tight on the top of the retort A, is formed
with the circular orifice F in it for charging the shale into the retort, and is
fitted or formed with a hopper F", by preference formed of malleable or cast
iron of an inverted hollow conical shape, having an annular rim at the
throat F considerably smaller than the top or cover a¹ of the retort A, and
which when desired may also project down into the retort (as shown dotted
in Figure 1) somewhat below the cover and end of the crown pipe or close
conduit G, for conducting off the gases from the top as they ascend or are
evolved from the decomposition or combustion of the shale going on at the
lower open mouth C of the retort. The retort A is charged with the shale
from time or time as it descends in the retort by being distilled or burned
and withdrawn at the open mouth C and doors d by filling the hopper F with
broken shale in lumps, by preference under six inches square, either by
the hand and shovel, or otherwise in measured quantities by elevators or tilting
barrows, or wheeled hutches from the platform 6 provided for the purpose.
Each charge of shale or bitumenous mineral is let into the retorts A from the
hoppers F at once by raising the conical plug F tightly ground and fitted
into the annular ring or orifice F by pulling the simple linked rod or handle f
attached to it for the purpose, or by the action of a hand lever arrangement
attached to the linked rod for plug F, or other equivalent valve and lever
mechanical arrangement so as to conveniently open and close the charging
throat or orifice F by hand when desired. When each retort A is so filled
the shale is ignited at the doors d of the hearth at the annular open mouth C
below all round the hearth by wood or coal in the first instance, but when
properly kindled the shale will keep constantly burning with the ordinary
attention of stirring and clearing away of the ash; while the proper rate of
combustion and heat is easily regulated by the admission of the proper rate or
quantity of air necessary at the doors d and e (of the hearth and ash-pit
respectively). through the slide and gratings & and e¹ fitted to them for
the purpose, so as to keep the shale burning by preference at or about a
dull red heat, which gives off the gases simply by the heat of its own

page_text: combustion with the air as abundantly and as pure and unsinged or unburned
as produced in close or other retorts or stills hitherto employed for this
purpose, whilst the hot gases being evolved from the burning shale below
ascend up through the column of unburned shale, and prepare it for ignition
'and combustion as it falls or reaches the open mouth and hearth C and D,
where the air is admitted to support combustion. As the gases given off
reach the top of the interior of the retorts they escape or are conducted
through the crown or curved trumpet-shaped pipe or close conduit G, branch
or intermediate neck pipe G', and main conduit G³ into the condensers H, I, J,
ranged in a stack or set vertically and longitudinally over each other in front
of the bench of retorts; but these conduits and condensers may also be
'constructed and arranged in accordance with almost any of the plans or
arrangements of condensing apparatus or modifications of these at present or
heretofore in use for the like purpose of distilling crude oils from shale or
otherwise, and as I prefer by means of another and additional improvement
under this my said Invention, applicable to all such distilling apparatus, con-
sisting in the application or use of a jet of steam introduced, by preference,
near the throat of the crown or swan-necked pipe G, or into the branch or
neck pipe G¹ leading from it into the main conduit G2 leading to the lower
condenser H from each retort by a steam nozzle g¹ directing a stream or jet
of steam down the centre of the main conduit G, which has the effect of
drawing off the gases from the retort A and through the pipes G and G¹, so
as to assist the draught and combustion of the shale at the mouth of the retort,
and also by superheating the gases and forcing them down the conduit G³ into
the lower main condenser H, common to all retorts A, and the pipes and
conduit G, G¹, and G³, the condensation or liquefaction of the gases is materially
assisted. The condensation of the gases besides being promoted by their
sudden expansion and cooling on entering the condenser in this improved
'superheated state, and the great cooling surface of the body or shell of the
condenser is also further assisted by the longitudinal pipes H' and I', placed
through the centre or body of the two lowest main condensers I and I
respectively, for the purpose of increasing the cooling surface and leading a
current of cold air in through them and the body of the gases to be condensed.
The necessary current of cold air is caused and kept up by conducting it out
at the highest end of the tubes where the air is hottest, indicated by the dotted
lines z, ³, into the chimney; the draught of fresh cold air entering freely at
the lower ends y and y², respectively left open to the atmosphere, as tho
heated gases impinge on the outer enclosed surface of the pipes H, I, and
on the inner surface of the main condensers H and I, they are cooled, liquified,

page_text: or condensed in the interior of the condenser. Although I prefer the con-
denser in this modification to be constructed and arranged as shown and so
far described in relation to Figures 1 to 3 composed of three horizontal close
cylindrical vessels H, I, and J, arranged vertically and longitudinally over each
other, the lowest one H being the largest in diameter, and the upper ones
gradually decreasing in size, each to about one-fourth of the cubical
contents of the one immediately below it, that is to say, the diameter of the
condenser I being one-half that of H, and the diameter of the condenser J-
being one-half that of I, yet these arrangements may be varied to suit
circumstances or space, and condensing power required in particular
cases.
The permanent gases which have not been condensed after passing
through each condenser in succession from one end to the other and up
through the short branch pipes h, i, and j, joining them at their alternate
ends, are either allowed to escape at the valved pipe and burned, or are
conducted in close pipes or conduits direct, or stored in large vessels for
use for general lighting or heating purposes, or the whole or a portion of them
may be conducted back to the under side of the grate, where they will be
allowed to impinge on the burning shale all round the lower open end of the
retort, where by the heat generated in their combination with the oxygen of
the air admitted to the hearth D they would materially assist the combustion
and decomposition or distillation of the shale. I prefer to heat the air
admitted at the hearth D and ash-pit E either by the radiated heat from the
burning shale acting on the perforated boxes and slides d', d, and e¹ of the
. doors d and e; the boxes de may also be fitted with thin surface heating
plates when desired, or the current of air, after being heated by passing.
through the tubes H' and I' of the condenser, may be conducted in special
conduits and entered into the hearth, and when the tubes are so used they
may be made more numerous than as shown in the Figures for mercly con-
densing purposes. When desired this air from the tubes of the condensers, or
other separate or fresh air may be specially heated by passing the same
through pipes within heating chambers or furnaces, provided for the purpose.
In some cases a hollow conical grate may be erected over the hearth D, or
the furnace bars may be formed so as to project up conically into the centro
of the column of shale in the retort, as indicated by the dotted lines 2-2, in
.Figure 1; and a portion of the before-mentioned residual inflammable gas
from the escape pipe k might be conducted to and admitted by a pipe and
.regulating cock up through the hearth, which by its combination with the air
would assist the shale to burn round the interior of the conical grate and all
round the open edge or mouth of the retort, the quantity of gas passing

page_text: through the pipes to the hearth being regulated by cocks or valves as well as
the heated air when such is used and conveyed into the hearth by special
pipes. The conical form of the grate or hearth would also assist the central
burnt shale to diverge towards the circumferential open part of the mouth C
for removal. The drawing off and forcing of the residual inflammable gases
from the top condenser J may in some cases, when desired, be assisted by a
fan blower K (or by a screw, vane, or other apparatus for forcing fluids) worked
in direct connection with the pipes or conduits K³, K³, and K³ (or in a close
vessel connected therewith), from the latter of which pipes K³ connected with
a few of the branch pipes L those gases, or a portion of them which have not
been conducted away and allowed to escape by opening the valve in the pipe k,
are drawn from the, condensers, and impelled or forced through the branch
pipe L and its discharge nozzle L' surrounding the vertical branch steam
pipe g and nozzle g¹ in the neck pipe or conduit G¹, either assisted by and in
connection with the force and action of the jet of steam from the steam
nozzle g¹, or in some cases when desired the steam jet may be used alone
without the action or assistance of the fan K or other mechanical blower for
the purpose of drawing portions of the said non-condensed gases from the con-
densers, and forcing or returning them in a reheated state down through a few
of the conduits G' along with the fresh gas evolved, and passing over from the
retorts A to the bottom condenser H. The vertical branch pipes g with the
nozzles g¹ are furnished with suitable cocks g³ for regulating the supply of
⚫steam from the main steam pipe g³ injected through the nozzles g¹; thus the
jet of steam is used either solely for the purpose of superheating, drawing, and
forcing the gases direct from the retorts A to the condensers, or for this purpose
combined with that of reheating, drawing, forcing, and returning through the
condensers a portion of the gases which have previously escaped uncondensed
from the top of the condensers, as before described, and been conducted into
the branch pipe L, furnished with the discharge nozzle L'; this drawing or
forcing through of the said portions of gases may as before stated be assisted
or worked or not in connection with the fan blower K as desired; and
these improved applications or appliances of the steam jets and returned
gases for the purposes just described may also be used in connection with any
of the ordinary forms or arrangements of retorts and condensers heretofore
or at present in use for the distillation and treatment of the said substances.
The circulation of currents of cold air through the surface condensing tubes
or pipes H¹ and I of the lower condensers may when desired be produced
by a fan or other foroing or drawing blast in place of or in addition to the
draught caused by the said currents becoming heated, and being drawn off at

page_text: a chimney or through the hearth D, as heretofore described. As the crude
oil is formed in the several vessels H, I, and J of the condenser it runs or
finds its way down through the branch pipes H', I', and J' at each alternate
lower side and end of these vessels placed at a slight angle off the horizontal
for the purpose to the upper side of the next in succession below (the same
branch pipes answering for the ascending gas to rise from the lowest to the
highest vessel) until the oil is all collected in the lowest vessel H, from which
it is drawn off at the lowest end thereof by a bent dip or inverted syphion
escape or overflow pipe M in the usual manner into portable vessels for
removal, or into the oil separators usually employed, and which may when
desired be placed close to the condenser. The carbonic acid gas and other
waste products of combustion from the outer burning rim of shale round the
open mouth C of the retort over the hearth are carried up the annular space
or flue C¹ in the brickwork B close to the outer surface or circumference of
the iron retort A to near the top, or when desired the flue may be made in
the form of a single or double spiral flue where after being used in heating
the retorts these gaseous products pass off by the long horizontal flue C² in
the brickwork B, and down through the main vertical flue C³ off to the
chimney, the throat of each flue being fitted with a damper c near the retort
to regulate the draught and escape of these non-combustible waste gases. In
some cases I prefer to still further utilize the heat of these waste gases after
heating the outer surface of the retorts A, before finally passing off to the
chimney, by causing them to heat the air conveyed to the hearth D, and
ash-pit E for the combustion of the shale by passing the pipes y³ conveying
the air through the longitudinal flue C³, or immediately over it, so that the hot
gases impart their heat to the air pipes and air within them, as both currents
run in opposite directions through their respective lower ducts D and y³,
shown in the red lines and arrows in Figures 1 and 2, and the branches y³
lead the heated air down to each pair of burning hearths controlled by
regulating valves y*. To ensure the free combustion of the shale round the
open mouth of the retort it is also necessary that it be frequently raked or
stirred by the attendant, the doors d allowing convenient access for the
purpose, and the crown pipe G is furnished with an opening fitted with
a ground plug a³ to allow of the insertion of a rod or bar for assisting tho
sbale down towards the bottom of the retort A when required, this plug hole
also allows of the attendant occasionally inspecting and ascertaining how the
progress of combustion or distillation of the shale or other bitumenous mineral
under treatment in the retort A is going on, and if the retort is properly
working; and as the shale is gradually consumed the retort is kept. replenished

page_text: by charging in fresh fuel at the charging throat or orifice F in the manner
before described.
Figures 4 and 5 on Sheet 2 are respectively a vertical section and partial
plan and horizontal section of a bench of retorts similar in all respects to those
described in reférence to Figures 1, 2, and 3 on Sheet 1, but shown as having
applied thereto another arrangement of conduits and condensers for conveying
and condensing the gases evolved from the shale being decomposed within
the new or improved retorts, and for conducting off the residual inflammable
and other permanent gases which have not been condensed (for use for
illuminating and other purposes) and also of a slightly different modification
or arrangement of the jets of steam and return currents of uncondensed
gases introduced at the throat or branch pipe G₁ of the retort to superheat
and draw and force the gascs into the condensers, all constructed in accordance
with and for the purposes of my said Invention; Figure 6 is a detached
transverse section of the condenser shown at Figure 4. This improved
modification or arrangement of retorts, conduits, and nozzles, and which I
prefer to those described or referred to in relation to Figures 1, 2 and 3,
consists of a separate large cylindrical condenser H connected to the
throat pipe G fitted to the crown pipe G of each retort A, from which it
declines at a considerable angle towards the ground, and rests, as shown, on
suitable walls or pillars of brickwork or other material; this condenser is
fitted with six pairs of transverse diagonal surface condensing pipes or tubes H³
open to the atmosphere, and through which currents of cold air ascend and
escape at the top, or these currents may be conducted by one conduit
connecting all the pipes H at their upper ends to a chimney, or this heated
air current or a portion of it from all these tubes may be led into the hearth
and ash-pit regulated by valves, so as to support the combustion of the shale
at the open mouth of the retort over the grate or hearth, as described in
reference to the first arrangement, being that shown on Sheet 1. A small second
vessel or a large conduit I* is placed over each main condenser H directly
connected to it by the branch pipe h², the upper end of the conduit I' is
connected by the curved branch pipe L and nozzle pipe L' to the pipe G¹ by
a tight faucet and flange joint to the latter, as shown, so as to allow the heavy
or olefiant gases which have not been condensed by passing once or so through
the condenser being returned therethrough and also connected by the
branch pipe N to the conduit O common to the whole range of condensers
H for receiving all the residual permanent gases which ascend through the
branches N from all the condensers, and are allowed to escape at the valve K
for the purpose at pleasure, or conducted into a vessel to be stored and used

page_text: for lighting and heating purposes, or otherwise, as desired. The main steam
pipe g from which the branches g of the nozzles gare each led off is passed
through the centre of the receiver or conduit O so as to heat and assist the
escape of the residual permanent gases after leaving the upper portion of
the condenser I. The action in this arrangement is nearly analogous to
that described in the former arrangement in reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3 (except that each retort of the set, having its own separate condensing
apparatus acts separately and independently of each other), namely, the force
of the steam jet regulated by the cock g³ and led into the nozzle L³, draws
and forces a portion of the gases which have not been condensed after
passing through the condenser again into the upper end of the lower
main condenser H along with the fresh gas from the interior of the retort
so as to draw and superhcat both currents of gas passing within and
without the nozzle L' and force them into the condenser H where they
are liquefied on coming in contact with the interior of the condensing
tubes H³, kept cool by the external cold air acting on their outer surface.
In some cases a valve may be fitted in the branch pipes L, shown in red
lines in Figures 1 and 4, so as to regulate or shut off at pleasure the return
current of uncondensed gases from the upper part I of any one of the
condensers, and when so shut off the steam jet would act upon the fresh gas
only so as to draw, superheat, and force it into the condenser, thus each
distilling apparatus could either work with or without the return current of
non-condensed gases. The oleaginous liquid thus condensed or deposited is
drawn off from the lower end of each condenser H by the discharge syphon
trap pipe M leading into a long pipe P which conducts it to a cistern or
separator provided for the purpose of renewing it as before described in
reference to the former modification, and Figures 1, 2, and 3. The arrangement
of open-mouthed retorts herein described as applied to the treatment of
oleaginous shales for their decomposition and distillation for the production
of crude mineral oil, gases, and other resultants is also applicable to the
decomposition of ordinary bitumenous and other kinds of coal and other
bitumenous or bitumeniferous minerals and substances used for the production
of the mixed or crude gas to be employed for illuminating purposes, and which
may be subsequently purified and used by the ordinary means and processes
at present employed for these purposes.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same may be used or carried into
effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe and

page_text: delineate, as many variations may be made therefrom without departing from
the main or essential features thereof; neither, on the other hand, do I claim
as new or as my Invention the decomposition or distillation of coal or other
bitumenous minerals by the heat of their own combustion merely, without the
assistance of a separate fire or other heat, as distinguished from the distillation
of coal in close vessels for the production of gases and other resultants, as
I am aware that this has been done to a small extent and imperfectly for the
like purposes of this my said Invention in close-ended furnaces and kilns,
such as now used for smelting ores and for making coal coke, provided with
air holes near their lower ends to allow of the admission of air through them,
either by forced blasts through tuyeres provided for the purpose, or by slow
natural currents of air unassisted by a free open ended retort or open hearth
or-force to draw off the gases from the kiln; neither do I claim all the details
of mechanical construction separately which I have had occasion to describe
and refer to (as many of these have heretofore been used) except in com-
bination with and forming part of the essential features and for the objects or
purposes of my said 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,―
First. The general construction and arrangement of apparatus and the
modes of using or applying the same for the treatment or distillation of shale,
coal, and other bitumenous substances for the production of crude mineral oils
and illuminating gas therefrom, substantially in the new or improved manner
herein described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Second. The construction and use of an open-mouthed retort erected over a
hearth or grate for the treatment or distillation of shale, coal, and other
bitumenous substances into gases by the heat of their own combustion at the
open mouth of the retort (whether these gases are condensed into oils in the
improved form of condensers herein described, or in any others heretofore in
use, or whether these gases are treated and used without being condensed) all
substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and shown in
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The application and use of a jet or stream of steam at or near the
neck of the conduit conveying the distilled gases from these improved retorts
to their condensers, or applied to other retorts and condensers heretofore or at
present used for the treatment or distillation of shale, coal, or other bitumenous
or bitumeniferous substances, whether used in connection with the returned
currents of uncondensed gases from the condensers or not and whether these

page_text: currents of gases to and from the condensers are assisted or partially produced
or not by a fan or other equivalent blast in addition to the said steam jet, all
for the purpose and substantially in the new or improved manner herein
shown and described in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles McBeath, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
20, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
CHARLES MCBEATH. (L.S.)