February 23, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

401

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

14800 (1915). Improvements in the Separation of Vola-
tile Products from Solid Carbonaceous Material. W. W.
White, of 125, High Holborn, London. — Relates to an
improved continuous process and apparatus for the separa-
tion of volatile products from solid carbonaceous material,
such as coal, shale, peat, and the like, passed through a
progressively heated retort chamber, of the kind in which
vapours produced at different temperatures are withdrawn
immediately from the heated material into a separate
vapour chamber. The drawing is a longitudinal section,
with parts in side elevation. A, A are retort tubes receiving
the carbonaceous material, which is carried along by screw
conveyors B. C is the furnace in which the retorts are
heated by means of the gas jet D at or near the discharge
end. E, E are the vapour condensing tubes or receivers
above and between each pair of retort tubes, with which they
communicate at different points by means of connecting
pipes e, the tubes E having at their cool end the gas and
oil outlets e1 and e2. The carbonaceous material to be dis-
tilled is fed to the retort tubes through the hoppers E, each
hopper having a rotary feeding valve f operated by chain
gearing f1 from the shaft b of the screw conveyor, which
shaft is rotated intermittently by the hydraulic ram or motor

G acting through an arm g and pawl g1 on a ratchet wheel
b1 on the said shaft. At the coke discharge outlet H is a
rotary discharge valve h driven by the chain h1 from the dis-
charge end of the conveyor shaft b, so that the inlet and
discharge operations proceed steadily under the same con-
trol. The retort tube is heated at a progressive temperature
from the inlet end to a point situated beyond the last con-
necting pipe e leading to the condensing tube E. This pro-
gressive heating can be effected by the single jet D supplied
with gas and preferably with hot air heated by the waste
heat from the furnace. The hot gases from the furnace
chamber c containing the jet D pass up through the per-
forated firebrick floor c1, thence into a space surrounding the
retort tube, and, after flowing along the retort tube towards
the inlet end, escape through a flue into the main flue. The
condensing tubes E are outside the furnace proper, but are
situated so that unduly rapid cooling of the vapours is
avoided. The tubes also extend for some distance beyond
the inlet end of the retorts, this extended portion, clear of
the furnace casing, serving for the final condensation of the
liquefiable part of the vapours. (Four claims.)

100967. Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Sort-
ing Coal and other Minerals. P. Habets, of Montegnee,
Belgium; and A. France, of 233, Rue de I’Esperance, Liege,
Belgium.—Relates to the washing and sorting of coals and
other minerals, and more particularly to apparatus of the
kind described in Patents Nos. 22655/12, 17011/13, and
15689/14, and in which the minerals are passed along a
trough having transverse slots in the bottom thereof. Fig. 1
is a side sectional elevation, showing part of a trough with
a washing unit; fig. 2 is a section E—F, fig. 1; fig. 3 is a
sectional elevation of a modification; figs. 4 and 5 being
sections on A—B and C—D respectively. In figs. 1 and 2
the main trough t is provided with a transverse slot s in the
bottom leading to a collecting or discharge chamber u, by
a passage v, up which a flow of water is maintained from
an inlet w, the rate of flow being regulated by a hinged flap
y, as described in the specifications before referred to. In
front of the transverse slot s a number of longitudinal slots



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a

&

6

a are provided, separated by bars b, of a lozenge or diamond
shape in cross section. The space d1 between the upper
edges of adjacent bars b depends on the grade of mineral to
be separated out. Generally, it will be equal to the dia-
meter of the holes of the gauge or grading sieve correspond-
ing to the grade to be separated. The upper edges b1 of
the bars b, and the side edges b2 thereof, are not neces-
sarily horizontal. A certain obliquity will often be useful
in order to prevent obstruction. When longitudinal slots
are used in combination with transverse slots, the former
will separate out the flat pieces, and the latter those of
approximately cube form. In fig. 3 the bars b project above
the level of the bottom of the trough, and also extend along
the bottom in front of the slots, these parts of the bars
tapering to a point, so that they act as wedges when the
pieces of coal or other mineral engage with them, and are
thereby gradually tilted. (Three claims.)

103139. Improvements in Apparatus for Charging and
Discharging Retorts. Riter-Conley Manufacturing Company,
H. A. Carpenter, R. L. Hibbard, and A. W. Warner, all of
Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.—Relates to apparatus for
charging and discharging retorts of the character disclosed
in the British Patent No. 17855/1912, the chief objects being
to facilitate the delivery of the material to the charger, to

control the shape of the charge therein, and enable the
material to be delivered in a clean and reliable manner to
the charger, so as to avoid the escape of dust. The drawing
is a rear elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a charg-
ing machine, showing the wings as raised and their relation
to the charger and the charge, and also showing portions of
operating mechanism. 1 is a portion of the frame, and 2
a portion of the hopper secured to the upper end of the
frame, and provided with gates 3, mounted on and operated
by shafts 4. 5 is a charger and discharger, and interposed
between the lower end of hopper 2 and 5 is a dust-tight
telescopic chute 6, the chute and charger being indirectly
supported by beams 7, which in turn are connected with
vertical screws 8, for raising and lowering the beams and the
parts carried thereby, the screws 8 being operated by suit-
able mechanism. The chute structure 6 includes a fixed
section 9 secured to the lower end of the hopper and a series
of telescopic sections 10, the lower end of section 9 having
an external band 11, and the sections 10 similar bands 12.
Sections 10 additionally have inward flanges 13 and out-
ward flanges 14 at the upper ends of the sections, the inner
edges of the portions 13 having a loose fit on the adjacent
inner section, while portion 14 rests upon the projecting
portion of -the adjacent outer section. The outermost section

15	of the chute has its lower end entered in a metallic.casing

16	provided with flanges 17 connected with girders 7 by
brackets 18. In this manner, section 9 is fixed with respect
to the hopper, section 15 is fixed with respect to the girders
7, and the intermediate sections 10 are nested between sec-
tions 9 and 15. When the girders 7 are in their uppermost
position, the sections 10 provide a conduit from the hopper
to the charger below section 15. When, however, the beams
7 are lowered to bring the charger into position relative to
a lower retort, the sections 10 and 15 move downward with
the beams until the flange 13 of the inner section 10 con-
tacts with the band 11 of section 9, and so on. Since section
15 is fixed with respect to the girders 7, and the latter also

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have a fixed relation relative to the charger, the distance
between the charger and lower end of the chute is constant,
leaving between the top of the charger and the bottom of
the chute a space to be enclosed by the wing structure. This
wing structure comprises side members 19, a front member,
and a rear member 21, all pivotally supported by the seat 16,
suitably reinforcing strips being provided for these members
and connected to the seat or casing 16 by hinges. The front
wing is formed with side portions (adapted to overlap the
front ends of wings 19) and is provided with a depending
portion which enters the interior of the charger 5. The rear
wing 21 is provided with a horizontally projecting portion 30
designed to overlap a cover plate of the charger, and also
with side flanges 32, which, when the wings are closed,
overlap the rear ends of side members 19. 34 designates an
electric motor mounted on channels 35 supported by girders
7. The motor shaft 36 drives a worm shaft 39 through
pinion 37 and gear 38. Shaft 39 drives a worm wheel
driving an eccentric 40 connected with arm 41 keyed to
shaft 42. Shaft 42 carries a bevel gear adapted to mesh
with a bevel pinion on shaft 45, extending along one side
of the chute. On the opposite side of the chute is a shaft
46, said shafts 45 and 46 carrying gear sectors, which cause
the shafts to operate in unison but in opposite directions.
Movements of the motor thus provide an oscillating move-
ment to shaft 42, and thence to shafts 45 and 46. The side
wings 19 are connected to the shafts 45 and 46 by members
49 keyed to shafts 45 and 46, members 51 secured to the
wings by bolts, clips, and intermediate members. The
wings are connected with these shafts by a link connection.
(Six claims.)

103315. Improvements in Removal of Clinker and the
like Refuse from Moving Furnace Grates. A. W. Bennis,
of Little Hu]ton, Bolton, Lancashire.—Relates to improve-
ments in furnaces of the type in which an adjustable bridge
is arranged over a moving grate to allow of clinker, ash,
and the like refuse to be automatically discharged from the
furnace. The drawing is a side elevation, in part section,
of a pivoted and balanced bridge placed outside a marine
type water tube boiler. The chain grate is taken right
through the rear wall of the boiler furnace, part of the
rear wall being shown at 9. The chain grate 1 is supported
by spaced rollers 4, and revolves, over the rear drum 2,
mounted on the rear axle 3, which is placed in this case
outside the furnace, whereby providing easy access to the
bearings. A pivoted bridge 10 is formed of brickwork and
suitable metal, the metal being so disposed as to support
the refractory brick. The bridge 10 has pivots 11 which
carry the lever or levers 13, which in turn carry the balance
weights 14 by means of the hook rod 15. The pivot is
supported on a bearing 12 carried on the side frame 21.
The chain grate frame 5 is shown supported by wheels 6
and rear axle 7. A hopper 17 is designed to carry away
the ashes and clinker which fall over the end of the grate
into an underground culvert or tubs may be placed under-
neath the end of the grate, or the clinker can be caused to
fall into a suitable conveyor for removal. Hinged side seals
20 prevent excess air leaking round the sides of the pivoted
bridge. To prevent air leaking in over the top of the
pivoted bridge, a swing sealing plate 18 is provided with a
sealing hook and a trough 19, which, when filled with ©and

or the like, forms an efficient air seal. The rear wall of
the furnace may be arched where the grate goes through it,
or may be supported by an angle plate 8, the lower portion

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of which may be protected by another plate in case of over-
heating. (Ten claims.)

103168. Improvements in Recuperators for Coke Ovens or
the like. A. Roberts, of 608, South Dearborn-street, Chicago,
U.S.A.—Has reference to coke ovens of that type in which
a portion, if not all, of the waste heat contained in the spent
heating gases is recuperated for the heating of the incoming
air, which is to be used in the combustion passages or cham-
bers. The drawing is a cross section through a portion of a
bench of coke ovens. 20 and 21 are two adjacent carbonising
chambers formed by the side walls 22 and 23. Beneath each
carbonising chamber is a
sole channel 24, which runs

across the width of the
bench, and is connected to
the passages 25 by down-
ward openings 26. Each
of the sole passages 25 in
turn connects to the lower
or discharge ends of the gas
passages of the adjacent
heating walls for the corre-
sponding oven, so that the
spent heating gases for each
oven collect in one of the
channels 24. At the upper
end of each of the oven
heating walls there are
nozzles 27, which direct
the heating gases down-
wardly in the correspond-
ing heating wall. These
nozzles are provided with
gas by headers 28 and con-
nections 29. The air for
combustion is delivered ad-
jacent to the nozzles 27,
after being heated by recu-
peration to the desired ex-
tent. For this purpose pass-
ages extend upward between
consecutive coke ovens and
between the adjacent heat-
ing walls, so that the air
flowing through said pass-
ages may be heated by recu-
peration from such walls.
The wall 30 is separated
from the coke oven heating
ovens are cold. When the.

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a slight distance when the
s have been heated up to

to such an extent as to



working temperature they expand

completely take up this space or clearance, so that the adja-
cent oven walls, with the intermediate walls, come together
to form a solid wall construction, extending through from
the inner surface of one carbonising chamber to the inner
surface of the next adjacent carbonising chamber. Each of
the walls 30 is provided with passages for the accommoda-
tion of the up-flowing air, being built up by the use of
notched or recessed blocks, which, when laid together, pro-
vide a network of inter-connected air passages. Underneath
each recuperating wall is an oven channel 31, which sup-
plies air to the lower portion of the corresponding recuper-
ating wall throughout its entire length. In the upper por-
tion of each wall structure there are transverse openings 32,
having their inner ends in communication with the upper
portion of the network of passages in the recuperating wall,
and having their outer ends communicating with the adja-
cent burners, to which they supply air for combustion.
(Nine claims.)

103169. Improvements in Charging and Gas-Withdrawing
Means for Coke Ovens or the like. A. Roberts, of 608, South
Dearborn-street, Chicago, U.S.A. — Has reference to
improvements in charging and gas-withdrawing means for
coke ovens or the like, and provides for direct charge through
the same ports through which the gases are withdrawn, so
that coal dust, etc., will not find its way into the take-off
flues or passages. The drawing shows a cross section of an
oven equipped with the improved charging means. The
carbonising chamber 7 has a roof 8 provided with a plur-
ality of ports 9 along the centre line. Each of the ports
extends up through the roof, and communicates directly
with a tubular flange or the like 10. A cast iron collar or
the like 11 is seated down into the upper surface of the roof,
and the flanges 10 support the dome 12, which extends along
lengthwise over the roof, and carries the distillate gases
towards the desired point of delivery. The dome 12 com-