Improvements in the Apparatus for the Discharging and Measuring of Charcoal from Charcoal Kilns.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for the Discharging and Measuring
of Charcoal from Charcoal Kilns.
I, JOHN HOUSTON of Cartsburn Foundry, Greenock in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer and Iron Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the discharging and
measuring of charcoal from charcoal kilns, and consists essentially of two feed
hoppers, the one fixed, while the other is capable of oscillation by mechanical
means. The char passes from the coolers to the fixed hopper from whence the char
is fed to the lower or measuring hopper through long slot holes.
The lower hopper, having openings on the vertical or angular sides and bottom,
controlled by balanced doors or weighted lever or spring doors, for the discharge
of the charcoal, has an oscillating motion given to it by rocking lever driven by
eccentric or rocking shaft or by disc or crank. Each cooler pipe has its own
receiver, the upper and lower hoppers being subdivided into as many divisions as
there are pipes.
Dated this 20th day of February 1893.
J. Y. JOHNSON,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for the Discharging and Measuring
of Charcoal from Charcoal Kilns.
I, JOHN HOUSTON, of Cartsburn Foundry, Greenock in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer and Iron Founder, 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 which relates to improvements in apparatus for the discharging
and measuring of charcoal from charcoal kilns has for its object to provide an
automatic acting apparatus which owing to its continual motion and regular feed
will prevent hanging or bridgeing in the burning pipes or driers, also the char will
be more evenly burned in the burning pipes which will not be so severely tested as
hitherto, and lastly, the char will not be ground as is the case with the present
hand slides.
The invention consists essentially of two fixed hoppers the upper one of which is
stationary while the lower one is capable of being oscillated by mechanical means,
the arrangement being such that the char passes from the coolers into the fixed
hoppers from whence it is fed into the measuring or lower-hoppers through slot
holes or openings in the upper or fixed hoppers. The lower hoppers have openings
on their vertical or angular sides or bottoms which may be controlled by means of
balanced or weighted. lever or spring doors.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are part front elevation, and part cross section, of an
arrangement of cooler pipes, hoppers and connections, arranged according to my
present invention.

page_text: +
Figure 3 is a section of the hoppers drawn to a larger scale, and Figures 4 and 5
are similar views of modifications.
Referring to the said drawings, I suitably mount underneath each row of cooler
pipes A a fixed or stationary hopper B, preferably shaped as shown more
particularly in Figure 3. Underneath this hopper B, I mount a measuring or
lower hopper, in such a manner, that is by means of the fixed centres c as to enable
it to be oscillated from side to side, by means of the rocking shaft D, cranks or
rocking levers D', D2, links D' sleeve D' and connecting rods D' or it may be by
means of an eccentric, disc or other arrangement. Both the upper hopper B and
the lower hopper are subdivided into as many hoppers or divisions as there are
cooler pipes, and each of the said divisions in the upper hopper B is formed with a
long slot or opening E in its bottom, so as to permit of the char passing from the
upper hoppers to the lower hoppers in a continuous stream, which as a rule runs
out out in the form indicated by the dot and dash lines F. The lower or measuring-
hopper is also formed with a central rib or division G so as to form the said lower
hopper as a double hopper, the one half of which would be filling while the other
half would be emptying itself into the receiver H, as shown in Figure 3 in dot and
dash lines, owing to the oscillation given it. The said divisions in the lower hopper
are provided or formed with openings c¹ in their angular sides which are controlled
by hinged doors J having balance weights J', the lower ends of which come against
suitable stops or brackets K, when required, so as to allow the char to freely pass
from the lower hopper to the receiver H; this action or position of the lower
hopper is shown in dot and dash lines Figure 3.
As a modification I may employ a lower or measuring. hopper C₁ of a shape as
shown in Figure 4, in which case I dispense with the weighted doors and simply
provide vertical hinged doors L, which on the hopper being oscillated or tilted
over, open of their own accord and so allow the char to pass from the lower hopper
to the receiver. Or as another modification I may employ a lower or measuring
hopper of a shape as shown in Figure 5, in which case I form the openings
near the lower ends of the vertical sides, and dispense with the use of doors by
forming the said openings as shown, that is with their top and bottom sides
inclined upwards at an angle to the vertical side and I also form the central
rib G of an inverted V shape as shown this form being found very suitable for
fine char. Or in lieu of any of the foregoing, I may employ a
lower or
measuring hopper having hinged and spring actuated doors.
The whole arrangement thus forms an effective automatic working apparatus,
which when working with char driers, owing to the continual motion obtained by
the regular feed, prevents any hanging or bridging in the burning pipes and driers,
and so enables the char therein to be burnt more equally. The burning pipes will
not be so severely tested, as hitherto, owing to the char being gradually heated
therein. Also the char. will not be ground and the apparatus is worked with less
expenditure of power than the present six hand slide arrangement; the apparatus
also measures the exact quantity of char drawn in 20, 25 or 30 minutes as
required.
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
1st. The general arrangement, construction and combination, of the various
parts constituting the apparatus for discharging and measuring charcoal from
charcoal kilns, substantially as bereinbefore described and shown in the annexed
drawings.
2nd. In apparatus for discharging and measuring charcoal from kilns, the two
hoppers, one of which is stationary and the other capable of being oscillated
substantially as and for the purposes, herein before described and shown in the
annexed drawings.

page_text: 3rd. In apparatus for discharging and measuring charcoal from kilns, the
measuring hopper having openings in its vertical or angular sides or bottoms,
controlled by means of balanced or weighted lever or spring doors, or any mere
modification of same, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and shown in the annexed drawings.
Daid thi. 05th day of Octuber 1802
J. Y. JOHNSON,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.