IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL AND SHALE, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN و
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Meldrum, of Bathgate, in the County of
Linlithgow, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
DISTILLATION OF COAL AND SHALE, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN
و"
Sealed the 24th April 1866, and dated the 30th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Meldrum at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1865.
I, EDWARD MELDRUM, of Bathgate,in the County of Linlithgow, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
DISTILLATION OF COAL AND SHALE, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,'.
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar constructionand arrangement of retorts,
and mode of working the same, with a view to the economical distillation of
coal and shale. According to this Invention it is proposed to adopt a cellular
arrangement of retorts, which are constructed by subdividing the longi-
tudinal space between two parallel brick or masonry walls, by means of metal
diaphragms or positions placed transversely across the space between the
walls, and at suitable intervals according to the required size of each
Priced

page_text: retort. These partitions may be made of one or more pieces, but I prefer
the latter mode of construction as it affords facility for renewing a damaged
part without casting aside the rest of the partition. These partitions may
be built of tongue and groove metal bars jointed with fire-clay, and held
together with bolts passing through their ends, each bar being made longer
than the distance of the two walls from each other to allow them to be
built in, and the walls themselves may be lined with iron inside. The
tops of the retorts may consist of a metal plate placed over them, and
provided with feeding hoppers and closing plugs for the introduction of
the material to be distilled. A door is formed at the bottom of each retort
through both walls, each door being provided with a tight-fitting metal
lid like a gas retort door, and a partly moveable grating is situate near
the bottom of the retorts, for the support of the coal or shale therein. Beneath
this grating a pipe leads to a depositing vessel, from the upper part of which
a branch pipe leads to an ordinary hydraulic main.
In commencing the operation of distillation by this apparatus I charge each
alternate retort with coal, coke, or shale, and the intermediate retorts with the
coal or shale to be distilled. The coke in the retorts is then lighted at the top
or bottom, but I prefer the top; each coke retort being left open both at the
topand bottom to allow air to pass through to support combustion. Supposing
the coke to be lighted at the top it will continue to burn downwards, so that
there will be a line of red or incandescent fuel gradually descending at each
side as the combustion goes on from the top to the bottom of the retort. The
heat is transmitted to the coal or shale in the next adjoining retorts or cells
through the metal partitions, and the oil and oil vapours escape bya pipe atthe
bottom, if the distillation takes place downwards, or at thetop if the distillation
takes place upwards. So soon as the charges are distilled, the ashes are
removed from the retorts which had been previously burning (the bars being
pushed to onesidefor thatpurpose); and a charge of coal or shale is introduced
whilst the coke or residuum left in the retorts which had been previously
distilling is lighted at the top or bottom, and serves as the fuel for effecting
the distillation of the contents of the other adjoining retorts, and so on, the
process being alternate and continuous. Should it be found that the coal or
shale after its distillation leaves a coke containing too small a quantity of
carbon to effect the distillation of the next charge, it must be mixed when
first introduced into the retort with a coal or coke which shall assist its
subsequent combustion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Meldrum in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
MELDRUM, of Bathgate, in the County of Linlithgow, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the 29th year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Edward Meldrum, Her special license that I, the said
Edward Meldrumi, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I,the said Edward Meldrum, my executors, administrators, or 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 DISTILLATION OF COAL AND SHALE. AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,the said Edward
Meldrum, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 Edward Meldrum, 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, that is to say -
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
retorts, with a view to the economical distillation of coal and shale. According
to my Invention I propose to adopt a cellular arrangement of retorts, which
are constructed by subdividing the longitudinal space between two brick or
masonry walls by means ofmetal diaphragms or partitions placed transversely
across the space between the walls, and at suitable invervals according to the
required size of cach retort. Fire-clay or metal coverings are provided at
the top, the whole arrangement forming a series of retorts or cells adjoining
each other. The partitions may be made of one or more pieces, but I prefer

page_text: the latter mode of construction, as it affords facility for renewing a damaged
part without casting aside the rest of the partition. These partitions may be
built up of tongue and groove metal bars, jointed with fire-clay and held
together with bolts passing through their ends, each bar being made longer
than the distance of the two walls from each other, to allow them to be
built in, and the walls themselves may be lined with iron inside. If the
several bars or metal plates be provided with flanges or projections at each
end they will serve for binders to keep the walls in position.
I shall now proceed to describe the mode of working this apparatus; the
various parts consisting of hoppers, fire-bars, and plugs, or valves and pipes,
herein-after described, being susceptible of alteration at pleasure. The tops
of the retorts are provided with feeding hoppers and closing plugs for the
introduction of the fuel and material to be distilled. An opening is formed at
the bottom of each retort or cell through both walls, each opening being.pro-
vided with a tight-fitting metal lid, similar to a gas retort door, and a partly
moving grating is situated near the bottom for the support of the coal, shale,
or fue! therein. Beneath this grating a pipe leads to a depositing vessel, from
the upper part of which a branch pipe leads to an ordinary hydraulic main.
In commencing the operation of distillation by this apparatus I charge each
alternate retort with fuel, such as coal, coke, or shale, and the intermediate
retorts with the coal or shale to be distilled. The fuel in the retorts is lighted
at the top or bottom, but I prefer the top, each heating or fuel cell being left
open both at the top and bottom to allow air to pass through to support com-
bustion. Supposing the fuel to be lighted at the top it will continue to burn
downwards, so that there will be a line of red or incandescent fuel gradually
descending at each side as the combustion goes on from the top to the bottom
of the retort, and the heat will be transmitted through the metal division to
the coal or shale in the adjoining retorts or cells. The oil and oil vapour
escape by a pipe at the bottom if the distillation takes place downwards, or at
the top if the distillatton takes place upwards. So soon as the charges are
distilled the ashes are removed from the retorts which had been previously
burning (the bars being pushed to one side for that purpose) and a charge
of coal or shale is introduced, whilst the coke or residuum left in the
retorts, which had been previously distilling, is lighted and serves as the fuel
for effecting the distillation of the contents of the other adjoining retorts, and
so on the process can be alternate and continuous. If so carried on the pipes
by which the oil vapours escape must be provided with stoppers or valves to
change at each operation. Should it be found that the coal or shale after its
distillation leaves a coke containing too small a quantity of carbon to effect

page_text: the distillation of the next charge, it may be mixed when first introduced
into the retort with a coal or coke, which shall assist its subsequent com-
bustion. In order to expedite the process an additional quantity of air may
be forced through the burning material.
It is evident from the foregoing description that these cellular retorts need
not be charged alternately unless desired. The whole set may be charged
with fresh material at each time, keeping one cell for fuel and the next for
material to be distilled, again one for fuel, and the next for distilling material,
and so on to the end of the series.
The cells may be vertical, as I have described them, or they may be placed
horizontally or at any angle.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me bytheherein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the cellular arrangement of retortsfor
the distillation of coal and shale, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Meldrum, have to this mySpeci-
fication hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-eighth day of
March, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ED. MELDRUM. (L.8.)