Improvements in Apparatus for Discharging Gas Retorts.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Discharging Gas Retorts.
I WILLIAM FIDDES of the Gas Works Bristol in the County of Gloucester
Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide in combination with metallic rams or
to metallic bars suitably constructed in themselves so that they are capable of
being used as a ram specially constructed plates so that the charge of coke in
through gas retorts can be pushed out of the opposite ends of them.
In apparatus hitherto arranged the charge of coke has been pulled out from each
end of the retort.
According to this invention a charge of coke can be pushed along the bottom of
the retort until it falls from the opposite end.
The invention may be practically applied in various ways for example.
A metallic bar long enough to reach through a retort may be fitted with specially
constructed plates at the end for receiving the coke as it rests in the retort so as
to transmit the motion of the bar to the coke without breaking it.
Motion may be imparted to the bar by manual force hydraulic, pneumatic, steam,
or electrical power so as to make it travel through the retort and withdraw it
from it when the coke has been discharged.
The metallic bar or ram may be made in sections or pieces to slide as a telescope
so as to take up less room than a rigid bar or ram would do long enough to reach
through a retort.
Dated this 20th day of May 1895.
WILLIAM FIDDES.
Improvements in Apparatus for Discharging Gas Retorts.
I WILLIAM FIDDES of the Gas Works, Bristol in the County of Gloucester
Gas 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:-
This invention has for its object the construction in combination with a metallic
ram: or a combination of bars constituted to act as a ram plates of metal especially
adapted to propel coke from what are known as through gas retorts in a more
simple, inexpensive, and efficient manner than hitherto.
In an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention I discharge coke
from a retort of the aforesaid description by means of specially constructed plates
fast on the end of a ram which said plates pass above and beneath the near end of
the coke upon the forward motion of the ram and the said plates are a headpiece
to the ram by means of and through which the forward movement of the ram is
conveyed to the whole mass of the said coke which said coke passes over the
bottom of the retort by means of and in front of the said ram until the said coke
falls from the furthermost end of the retort when the apparatus is withdrawn.
The ram may be constructed to work telescopically when space is not available
to admit of its being in one rigid piece.

page_text: The said apparatus is mounted or arranged in any suitable manner so that it
can be brought in front of the mouthpieces of the retorts.
In order that this invention may be fully understood I will now describe the
manner in which it may be carried into practical effect with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shews a side elevation of the end of a ram provided with arrangements
according to this invention and Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Referring to Figures 1 & 2 A is the end of the ram which receives reciprocating
motion to travel the end of it through a retort and to withdraw it therefrom B are
the specially constructed plates, the uppermost plate being longer than the lower
These plates are secured to the ram by angle irons C and wing plates D and
the cross plate E. Rollers F attached to the wing plates D prevent scraping action
upon the bottom of the retorts.
one.
The plates B are of suitable width for the size of the retorts and they pass
above and beneath the near end of the coke lying within the retort and upon the
forward movement of the ram the said plates protect the coke from being crushed
or broken to pieces or from heaping and by the protective action thus secured the
forward motion of the ram is imparted to the mass of the coke which said mass
of coke passes over the bottom of the retort until the said coke falls from the
furthermost end of the retort after which the ram is withdrawn, and when moved
in front of another retort it is then ready to repeat the same operation.
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 :-
A retort discharging apparatus consisting of plates of metal fast on the end of
a ram for propelling coke from "through gas retorts substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and shewn in Figures 1 & 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 15th day of February 1896
WILLIAM FIDDES.