GB320853A - Improvements relating to the automatic coke-charging of gas generators and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

320,853. Humphreys & Glasgow, Ltd., and Stelfox, J. C. June 22, 1928. I I Shoots. - Apparatus for feeding measured quantities of coke to water-gas generators from a bulb container 1, comprises a charging hopper 3-connected to the container 1 by a shoot 2 which communicates with the bunker through a restricted opening x and is inclined at such an angle that, when the amount of coke corresponding to a charge has passed a predetermined point, the coke comes to rest, leaving only a relatively thin layer to be cut through, jammed, or displaced by the device employed to prevent further flow of material. The hopper 3 is fitted with a discharging bell 6 and a sliding inlet valve 4 to which may be pivoted a hinged guard-plate 5 forming the lower part of the base of the shoot 2. In operation, the bell 6 is closed and the valve 4 opened to allow passage of coke from the bunker 1 to the hopper 3 ; when the latter is substantially full, the coke, owing to the restricted aperture x and the inclination of the shoot, comes to rest, the thin laver remaining in the shoot offering little resistance to the closing of the valve 4. The charge in the hopper 3 is then dumped into the generator. In a modified construction, the hopper 3 is of greater capacity than the required charge and an additional valve 5<a>, preferably of the kind described in Specification 329,110, is arranged near the upper end of' the shoot and interconnected, as shown, with the bell 6. In this form. when the valve 4 is closed and the bell 6 opened to deliver a charge to the generator, the valve 5a is also opened and coke flows into the shoot 2 until bv reason of its inclination and the restricted aperture x, it comes to rest leaving at the upper end only a thin layer which is readily jammed to prevent further flow when the valve 5<a> is closed by the closing of the bell 6. The slide 4 is now opened and the charge contained in the shoot 2 passes into the hopper 3: owing to the greater capacity of the latter the valve 4 is quite free and may be easily closed. In a further modification, the valve 5a is in the form of a rotary drum provided with spikes adapted to crush lumps of fuel. The magnitude of a charge can be varied by adjusting a slide controlling the opening x.