US1112978A - Means for controlling the operation of gas-retorts. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. CARPENTER 6; A. W. WARNER.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION 02 0A8 nmoms.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2,1914.

Patented Oct. 8. 1914.

)Q VENTORS I 1 T/m I n {iii-T v UNITED sTATEs PATE T OFFICE.

HENRY A. CARPENTER AND ARTHUR W. WARNER." OF SEWIGKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO RITER-CONLEY MANUFACTURING" COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEWNJERSEY.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF GAS-RETORTE.

Specification of ietterl Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 19.14.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we. Ilnxav A. CARPEN- 'ri-:R and ARTHUR W. \VARNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Sewicklcy, in the county of .Ulegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvtunents iu Means for Controlling the Operation of (ms-ltetorts, of which the following is a specification.

'lhose manipulations of gas leaking retorts, such as charging and discharging, involving the opening and closing of the retort at its front and rear ends necessitate cooperation of the attendants at opposite ends of the bench. The manipulations are usually carried out at the front or charging end, and for charging and discharging which are ordinarily accomplished by one and the same inward movement of a scoop or charging tool it is necessary to open or clear the rear end. Under the present: practice accidents are not uncommon due to the forward or entering movement of the tool before the rear end has been opened, or before the rear operative is out of the way, resulting in'damage to the apparatus, or injury to the workman, or both, depending on the conditions existing when a premature operation takes place.

The primary object of the present invention is to forestall accident by controlling the retort-entering movement of the tool at both ends of the retort instead of only the front end as heretofore. rendering it. impossible for the tool to advance even though everything is in readiness at the front end until the operator at the rear end has actuated a controlling device, movement of which is necessary before the tool can advance. The necessary rear end adjustment may be accomplished with the operator out of the range of tho retort before the requisite adjustments have been made at the front end, in which case the setting of the rear controller will not alone accomplish the forward movement. the mechanism remaining inactive until the front controller is also set. Conversely. the setting.of the front controller will have no effect until the rear controller has been set. Thus, the controllers cooperate and are dependent on each other for accomplishing the advancing movement of the too thereby preventing premature operation.

j as here shown, the invention embodies an electric circuit whiclrcontrols the tool operating motor, with controllers in the circuit at both the charging and discharging ends of the retort, both controllers being necessarily thrown or set before the motor can advance the tool. Provision is also had for autonuttically releasing the controllers so that they may return to normal )osition after the tool has started on its iorward movement.

The retort entering tool is ordinarily carried by the retort charging machine which moves on a track along the front of a bench for operating on different retorts. and at the rear or discharge end a similarly movable gas producer char or is employed for delivering coke from tie retorts into gas producers. The retort charger at one side of the beach and producer charger at the opposite side are each motor driven, and a further purpose of the present invention is to render the motors thereof inope'ative when the controllers above referred to are in set position. This is desirable for the producer charger as thereby after having been properly positioned relatively to a retort such position cannot be disturbed prior to entering the tool in the retort. And with the controller in set position at the discharge end of the retort the producer charger cannot be moved, the operator at such end thereby necessarily knowing that a tool operation is impending and avoiding premature or untimely movement of the producer charger.

A form of apparatus embodying the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing. Referring thereto, 2 designates a bench, and 3 is one of a series of retorts therein which is adapted to open through the front and rear faces of the bench in the customary way. Removable closures. not shown, of usual or any preferred construction are provided for the front and rear ends of the retort.

4 designates the frame of a retort charging machine which is movable along the face of the bench on track 5.

Mounted in any suitable manner on the traveling charging machine is a carriage i from which projects a retort charging and discharging scoop or other tool 7. Carriage 6 may be actuated on track 8 by a threaded shaft 9 which extends through a-nut or head 10 onthe carriage, shaftt) being geared at 11- to an electric motor 12. Also geared at 13to shaftfiis a screw shaft 14, rotation of which slides contact bar 15 relatively to certain circuit terminals as will be presently explained. An electric motor 16 operates to move the retort charging machine on its track I).

.-\t the discharge side of the bench, 17 indicates gas producers surmounted by track 18 on which moves the producer charging machine 19 which may be propelled by an electric motor 20.

The mechanism as here shown is embodied in a three-phase electric system, having three conductors A, B and C for the retort :hargin' machine which, respectively, are engaged by the trolleys a, b and 0 carried by the latter. Three like conductors A, B and C are, respectively, engaged by trolleys a, b and 0' carried by the producer charger. Conductors A and A, B and B, C and C, are, respectively, pairs or branches of the three main conductors D, I) and F.

(i and G, H and H are two pairs of dummy conductors with those ofeuch iair connected. I Engaging conductors G an H, respectively, are the trolley contacts 7 and Ii. carried by retort charging machine 4, and similar trolley contacts g and it carried by the producer charger 10 engage, respectively conductors G and It.

A double or reversing switch directs the current to motor 12, the current for the forward movement bein controlled by solenoid 26 and for the hue ward movement by solenoid 27. This double solenoid switch is of usual and well known construction.

The wirin for motor 12 and switch 25 is as follows: Vire 28 from trolley u loads to switch 25; wire Qt) from trolley b to switch .25; and wire 30 from trolley c to motor 12, a branch 30 of wire 30 extending to the charging machine travel motor 10. The circuit 31 for the forward solenoid 26 extends across the traveling contacts h and h to interruption :12 of controller X carried by the producer charger 1t), and from thence by line 33 to trolley 11'. The other line 34 for solenoid 26 extends to an interruption 35 on hand switch Z carried by the charging machine 4, thence to interruption 80 of controller Y also carried by said machine, thence to contact arm 37, through contact bar 15 to contact arm 38, the latter uniting with line 30 leading to trolleys. Thus it will be seen that to close the circuit through forward solenoid 2t), interruptions 82 and 36 located, respectively. at the rear and front. of the retort must be closed. For interruption 32 this is accomplished by blade 39 of the pivoted arm 40 of controller X, and at the front. by similar blade 41 of pivoted arm 42 of controller Y. Blade 39 is adapted to be held in circuit-closing 'osition against the pull of spring 43 hyfpivoted latch 44 conneetcd to the core of solenoid 45. And similarly, blade 41 is held in circuit-closing po- -closed by blades 39 and 41, respectively, and

with the hand switch Z turned to close interruption 35. the circuit is closed through forward solenoid 26 and hence. switch 25 is operated to so direct the current to motor 12 as to'aclvance tool 7 into the retort. But this cannot be accomplished until after controller X has been properly set at the discharge end of the retort utter the operator has that end in readiness, nor can it proceed until controller Y has been latched back by the charger operator after everything is in readiness at the front. or charging end of the retort. Solenoids 45 and 47 operate to autonnitically release the controller arms -t0 and 42, respectively, permitting them to move to the positions shown in the drawing, when the tool 7 has reached the. forward limit of its travel. These solenoids are arranged in two branches at one side 48 of the solenoid operating circuit, the branches join ing at 48'. with one branch 49 extending through solenoid 47 and from thence by line 49' to line 2.) leading to trolley b. The other branch 50' extends through the traveling contacts 1 and 1 and thence through line 51 and solenoid 45 with the opposite end of the latter connected by line 51 with line 33 leading to trolley I). From junction point 48' circuit -18 extends to the contact 52 which is enga red by bar 15 when in lowermost position, 2. 0., with tool 7 fully projected into the retort, and with bar 15 making connection between contact 59. and contact arm 38 which is connected by line 30 of trolley o, the circuit for solenoids 4;) and 47 is energized and the resulting elevation of their cores releases the controller arms 40 and 42, thereby opening the controller circuit at 32 and 36.

The circuit 5:) for the lnieltward or reversing solenoid 27 extends from the latter to switch '25, thence by motor circuit line 29 to trolley 72. The line from the opposite end of said solenoid extends to interruption 35 of controller Z and thence bv line 50 to contact arm 57 and .to the traveling bar 15, across the latter and through arm 38 and line 30 to trolley 0. Thus, when pivoted arm Z of hand switch Z is moved to the position shown in the drawing and bridging mtcrruJtion 35'. the circuit through solenoid 2 is closed and switch .25 is operated to reverse motor 12 and withdraw tool 7.

in the position of the parts shown in the drawing, tool 7 has completed its forward travel into theretort and is bcingwithdrawn therefrom, contact bar 15 rising from its lowermost position. It'will bc undcrstoodthat the gearing which synchronizes the movement of screw shafts l4 and l) places bar 15 in its lowermost )osition \vhcu tool T has been fully entere in the retort, at which time the circuit through solenoids and 47 is closed as heretofore explained, thereby automatically releasing the latches -14 and -l and deiinergizing the "forward solenoid 26. v The arrangement is pref erahl y such that the circuits'for operating the travel meters 16 and 20 are controlled lrv the controllers X and Y. in such manner that when the latter are latched hack preparatory to advancing tool 7 into the retort,.neithcr the retort charging machine nor the producer charger can be moved. The. circuits for motors 16 and 20 may be readily traced to their respective trolley contacts through the two interruptions 58 and 58' at controller Y, and similar interruptions as and 50' at controller X the interruptions 58 and 58' bcingbridged by arm 42 of controller Y, and the blade (50 of arm 40 of controller X similarly l ridgin interruptions 59' and 50'. Thus, while tic travel motors are ino Jerative so long as controllers X and Y are held by the latches, they are each fullyo erative as soon as the arms are released. T ic direction of travel of the retort charging machine may he determined by the reversing switch ll. and a similar switch 69. may be provided for the circuits leading to motor 20 of the producer charger.

'0 claim:

1. In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to he charged at one end and discharged at its opposite cud. a tool adapted to enter the retort, a tool actuating motor, and conjointly operating motor controlling devices at opposite ends of the retort.

2. In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to be charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end. a tool actuating motor, and motor controlling deviccs at opposite ends of the retort and opcrativelv connected to each other and to the motor or conjointly controlling the rctort-cntcring movement of the tool.

il. in gas generating apparatus, the combination ol n retort adapted to be charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end, a tool iurtuating electric motor, an electric circuit for the motor, and controllers for the circuit located at opposite ends of the retort.

4. In gas generating ap iaratus, the combination of a retort ada itod to he charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end, a tool actuating electric motor, a motor circuit, an electrically operated device for opening and closing the motor circuit, a controlling circuit for actuatingsaid device, and conjointly operating controllers forthe controlling circuit located at opposite ends of the retort.

13. In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to be charged at one end and discharged at its op iosite end, a tool adapted to be entered in tie retort, a tool actuating electric motor, a controlling circuit for the motor extending to and having interruptions at opposite ends of the retort, and circuit closing devices at oppositeends of the retort and adapted to be separately operated to close said interruptions.

6.-In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to be charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end, a retort chargin machine and a producer charger movalile respectively relatively to opposite ends of the retort. a retort entering tool and a tool actuating motor mounted on the charging machine, conductors, a motor operating circuit having travcling contacts for the conductors, a motor controlling circuit extending to and having interruptions at the retort charging machine and producer charger and separately operated CllClllt closing devices for said intcrru itions 7. a gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to he. charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end, a retort chargin machine and a producer charger mevalile respectively relatively to opposite ends of the retort. traction motors for the charging machine and producer charger. conductors, interrupted circuits for the traction motors having traveling contacts for the conductors, a retort entering tool and a tool actuating motor mounted on the charging machine, a controlling circuit for the tool actuating motor with said circuit extending to and having interruptions at the charging machine and producer charger, and controlling devices on the charging machine and producer charger, respectively, each controlling device bein common to one of the traction motor circuit interruptions and an interruption of said controlling circuit and with each device adapted in one position to close one of said circuit interruptions and open the other interruption and in another position adapted to close the previously open interruption and open the previously closed interruption.

8. In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to be charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end, a retort entering tool and a tool actuating motor. a circuit for the motor extending to and having interruptions at opposite ends of the retort, controlling devices separately operated to close the circuit, interruptions, and means actuated by the tool motor for causing said circuit interruptions to he opened.

9. In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort adapted to be charged at one end and discharged at its opposite end, a retort charging machine and producer charger movahle res ectively relatively to opposite ends of tlie retort, electric motors for moving the charging machine and producer charger and interrupted circuits for said motors, a retort entering tool and a tool actuating motor mounted on the charging machine, a controlling circuit for the tool motor with said circuit extending to and interrupted at the charging machine and producer charger, a spring-actuated controller common to an interru tion in the controlling circuit and to the interruption in the circuit of the motor for moving the charging machine and adapted normally to close the last mentioned circuit interruption and open the controlling circuit interruption, a spring actuated controller common to an interruption in the controlling circuit aud to the interruption in the circuit of the motor for moving the roducer charger and adapted normally to e ose the last mentioned circuit with the interruption in the controlling circuit open, devices for holding the controllers out of normal osition and closing the controlling circuit interruptions and with the circuits for the motors of the charging machine and producer charger open, and means made operative by the tool actuating motor for releasin said controller holding devices.

10. n gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort, a tool adapted to enter the retort, a tool actuating motor, a controlling circuit for the motor extending to and having interruptions at opposite ends of'tho retort, means for moving the tool to and from retort-entering position, a traction motor for the tool-positioning means, a traction motor circuit, a centre ler common to the traction motor circuit and to one of the interruptions of the tool-controlling circuit, and means for closing the other interruption of the tool-controlling circuit.

11. In gas generating apparatus, the combination of a retort, a producer charger and a retort-entering tool located, respectively, at opposite ends of the retort, a tool actuating motor, a controlling circuit for said motor extending to and having interruptions at opposite ends of the retort, a traction motor for the roducer charger, a controller common to t 1e traction motor circuit and to one of the interruptions of the toolcontrolling circuit, and means for closing the other interruption of the tool-controlling circuit.

In testimony whereof we atiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. CARPENTER. ARTHUR \V. WARNER. Witnesses:

J. M. Nssurr, F. E. GAI'IHER.

Copies of this potent msy be obtained tor flvc oents csoh, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. O."

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