GB147965A - Improvements in retort mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

147,965. Smith, C. H. Feb. 17, 1919. Retorts.-Relates to retort mechanism of the type in which the coal is moved progressively through the retort by means of one or more rotary paddle shafts, and consists in providing reducing variable-speed-gear mechanism for driving such shafts, and improved paddle shaft bearing members and supports therefor. In one construction, two parallel shafts with overlapping paddles have intermesh. ing spur-wheels on their ends driven through a worm gear, and either high-speed or lowspeed pulleys and belts, from a motor or a power pulley. In a modification, the paddle shafts, and if desired, the conveyer shaft for feeding the coal into the retort, are driven through change-speed mechanism of the sliding spur-wheel type. The ends of the paddle shafts are journaled in bearing-members 59, 60, which pass through openings in ,end plates or castings 57, 58 and are supported independently of the retort structure by platforms 61, 62, so that the shafts have no contact with the end walls, which are thus not subjected to vibration. The openings in the end walls are of sufficiently large diameter to prevent the shafts from being affected by expansion or contraction of the end walls. Several constructions of the end plates or castings through which tho bearing members pass are described.