US1176429A

US1176429A - Gas-producer.

Info

Publication number: US1176429A
Application number: US1847415A
Authority: US
Inventors: John O Carrey
Original assignee: CARREY PROCESS Co
Current assignee: CARREY PROCESS Co
Priority date: 1915-04-01
Filing date: 1915-04-01
Publication date: 1916-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1933-03-21

Description

J. O. CARREY.

I GAS PRODUCER.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1915.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IJV'V'ENTOR. My a Gzzrqy BY W Y ZZZ .5 ATTORNEYS.

J. 0. CARREY.

- GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1915.-

1,176,429. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

' 4 SHEETSSHET 2. 5 J

I I l I I 5 5| I I I I I I I I I I 88' \I I I I I I f I I I I I I4 58 9 lzzl IJZI I hf! I I I WITNESSES: w Z IJVVENTOR.

,jSZIS ATTORNEYS.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH .co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. 0.'CARREY. GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 19l5. 1,176,429. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. xii? W/TNESSES.

' TED, SIS FFNT OFFICE.

JOHN O. CARREY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO CARREY PROCESS COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

GAS-PRODUCER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. CARREY, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Gas-Producer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gas producers.

An ob ect of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will be automatic in operation including a distillation chamber for receiving a body of coal or other carbonaceous material in which a distillation of said material is effected, a gas chamber arranged adjacent to and included within a single unitary wall structure with saidodistillation chamber, and a rotary grate mounted below said two chambers adapted to advance a portion of the carbonaceous mass from the distillation chamber 'to the gas chamber, in combination with connections and devices for drawing the volatile combustible products from the distillation chamber and driving the same through the incandescent mass of material below the gas chamber, with provision for introducing a forced draft of air into and through the bed of fuel below the gas chamber to maintain the same at an incandescent heat whereby the moisture and heavy hydrocarbons are eliminated from the volatile combustible products, thereby producing a fixed or permanent gas of high quality in said'gas chamber.

Another object of the invention is to equip a gas producer of the class described with an improved form of feeding device Whereby coal or other carbonaceous material is fed to the distillation chamber in predetermined quantities effectively to maintain a supply suflicient to produce a predetermined volume of gas in a given period oftime.

Another object of the invention is to equip a gas producer of the class described with means for agitating the body of a carbonaceous material within the distillation chamber whereby the mass will be maintained in a. condition for efficient distillation resulting in the driving 01f therefrom of a maximum per cent. of the volatile combustible product of the carbonaceous mass.

Another. object of the invention is to eouin a gas producer of the class described with an eflicient revoluble grate equipped with 1(. tatable grate bars adapted to be automatically actuated.

Patented Mar. 21, l lfi.

Serial No. 18,474.

Additional valuable features of construction attained from the present invention will be readily observed without mentioning them in specific detail and other valuable objects attainable from the use of the construction hereinafter more fully described will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates.

Having particularly the objects mentioned and also additional ends and advantages in View I have designed, combined and arranged the construction hereinafter described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through the producer, taken substantially on the line 8-3 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the producer with a portion of the side wall being broken away to more clearly disclose the details of construction of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on different horizontal planes through the lower portion of the producer. Fig. 4: is an elevation of the producer viewed from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the'feeding device. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the feeding device taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the feeding drum of the feeding device in perspective. Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of the means for actuating the grate bars. Fig. 9 is a view illustrating certain details of construction of the driving mechanism for the agitator and is taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is an elevation of one of the grate bars utilized in the rotary grate. Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are cross sectional views of the grate bar illustrated in Fig. 10 and taken on the lines 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, respectively, of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is an elevation of one of the grate bars of the alternate series of bars utilized in the rotary garage. Figs. 15 and 16 are cross sections thereof taken respectively on the lines 15-15 and 16-16 of Fig. 1 1, and Fig. 17 is a plan view of the plate or grid in which the grate bars are mounted.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings a cylindrical shell or casing 1, lined with a wall of heat non-conducting material 2 and provided with a lining of fire brick or other refractory material is supported by a frame work F. The wall 2 is composed of mineral wool or analogous material that is elastic as well as a non-conductor of heat, so as to protect the outer shell from working from the expansion and contraction of the wall '3, as well as serving to prevent the radiation of heat. Vithin the shell or casing 1 is an inclined bridge wall 4: of fire brick or other suitable refractory material dividing the upper part of the producer into a distillation chamber A and a chamber B. The upperend of the wall 4.- is supported by the fire brick lining 8 and the lower end of the wall rests upon a support in the form of a pipe 5 which extends transversely through the shell or casing and which in the operation of the producer is supplied with a current of water. The purpose and function of the pipe in addition to supporting the wall 4 will be explained more fully hereinafter. The wall 4; is additionally supported and strengthened by struts 6, formed of fire brick or other suitable material, disposed between the wall 3 and the wall 4 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood that the struts are placed so that there will be a free passage 7 for the gas through the chamber B.

Ato'pplate 7 is bolted to the casing l and is provided with an opening 8 at the center thereof. The upper wall of the fire brick lining 3 inclines inwardly and develops upwardly in the form of a cylindrical passageway 9, the upper end of which registers with the opening 8. Above the opening 8 and passage-way 9 is mounted a feed device adapted to deliver coal or other carbonaceous material tothe distillation chamber in predetermined quantities. The feeding mechanism comprises a cylindrical casing 10 which is bolted to the top plate 7 above the opening 8. The upper end of the casing is flared outwardly forming a hopper or chute 11. W'ithin the casing 10 is mounted a revoluble hollowdrum 12.

At the top of the frame work F is a charging platform 13, provided with an opening over the open end of the hopper or chute 11,

7 from which platform the coal or other material is fed into the hopper from whence it passes into the revoluble drum 12. The drum 12 is provided with a segmental opening 14 through which it receives the coal or other material when the opening is in registration with the base of the chute or hopper 11. .As the drum is revolved the contents of the drum is discharged into the passage-way 9 through the opening 8. In order to prevent the feeding device from becoming choked the edge of the opening 14 is serrated or toothed as shown at 15, said serrated portion 15 being adapted to cooperate with a serrated portion 16 formed in the casing 10 to crush any lump of the coal or other material which may be engaged therebetween as the drum is rotated.

The mechanism for rotating the drum 12 may be of any suitable form but as I have illustrated it, comprises a chain drive 17 driven by a sprocket on a shaft geared to the main drive shaft of the apparatus, said chain 17 cooperates with a sprocket 18 mounted on the worm shaft 19, which meshes with a worm wheel 20 secured to a stud 21 integral with a side face of the drum 12, the sprocket 18 and the worm shaft 19 being suitably journaled in a bracket 21 secured to the top plate 7 of the producer.

The producer is equipped with an agitator located within the distillation chamber A for moving the mass of carbonaceous material, in the process of distillation, to agitate 1t and maintain 1t 111 a cond1t1on so that it will be most efficiently distilled. In other words it is the function of the agitator to move and crush the mass of material'in the distillation chamber A so that the gases may be freely driven therefrom, and to prevent the body of fuel in the chamber A from forminga solid massand causing it to feed freely to the grate structure below the said chamber.

The agitator comprises a curved plate 22 which has pivoted connection at its upper end at each side with the wall 3 so that it may IDOVG in and out from the wall at its free lower end as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing The plate 22 conforms with the curve of the inner wall; of

the chamber A and is of a width sufficient to embrace a part of the bed of material in the chamber. It will be understood that the space between the plate 22, the wall 4, and the sides of the chamber A is filled with coal or other carbonaceous material in the process of distillation and that as the plate 22 moves inward the mass will be compressed between the plate 22 and the walls of the chamber A and that when the plateis retracted the mass will lower onto the grate structure below the chamber.

The mechanism for moving the plate 22 comprises a connecting rod 23 pivoted at its inner extremlty to a boss formed on the outer face of the plate 22 and carrying at ts loo opposite end an eccentric strap 24, operating,

on an eccentric 25, the eccentric 25 being carried on the shaft 26. The shaft '26. is geared to a countershaft 27 which is driven from the main drive shaft of the producer.

A pinion 28 and a gear 29 constitutethe gear pit C and is adapted to remove therefrom the accumulation of ashes and other products of combustion passing into the pit. The opening through the wall in the pit through which the conveyor operates is sealed with a water seal to prevent air from entering the pit and passing into the producer. The pit C also constitutes a foundation or mounting for the revoluble grate section D of the producer. A ring 36 is mounted upon and embedded in the upper edge of the pit C, and has formed therein a raceway, in which a series of ball bearings 37 are mounted.

The base casting of the revoluble section D of the producer is shown in plan view in Fig. 17 of the drawing, and, as shown, comprises an outer annular ring 38 adapted to rest upon the ball bearings 37, a series of integrally formed radial. arms 39 which project inwardly from said ring and terminate in a reinforcing annular ring 40, within which is integrally formed a spider member having arms 41 and a hub 42. The ring is provided with a series of brackets 43 which constitute bearings for the inner end of the series of short grate bars 44 shown particularly in Figs. 14 to 16. The grate bars 45 shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are journaled at their inner ends in the hub member 42. The grate bars that are mounted in the casting just described are preferably polygonal in cross section and are preferably of the construction clearly illustrated in Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive, of the drawings, the long and the short bars being alternately arranged as best illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each of the grate bars is provided with an axially disposed shaft which projects beyond each end of the bar, the inner end of each of said shafts being carried in a corresponding bearing in the hub 42, or in the brackets 43, respectively, as the case may be, and the outerend of each of the shafts projects through a corresponding tile block 46 and bearing cap 47, seated within recesses in the side walls of the rotatable portion D of the producer. The tile blocks 46 and the bearing caps 47 are so designed that the grate bars may be independently mounted or removed, without interfering with the normal operation of the producer. a

Each of the grate bar shafts carries a disk 49 at its outer end. Upon the outer face of each disk is arranged a triangular series of outwardly projecting pins 50. An arm 51 is attached to the frame work and has at its lower end a triangular projection 52,

which is adapted to engage with one of the pins 50 of each of the grate bars in succession, at each revolution of the lower part of the producer, effectively to cause each of the grate bars to be turned or rotated one third of a revolution at each complete cycle of the lower part of the producer.

The automatic turning of each of the grate bars in succession agitates or shakes the lower surface of the bed of fuel carried by the grate and also prevents the surface of the grate bars in contact with the fuel from becoming overheated sufficiently to cause them to burn out, as a fresh surface is exposed to the bed of fuel upon each revolution of the rotary portion of the producer.

The side wall of the rotary portion D of the producer is carried by the base casting, and comprises an outer metal shell or drum having a lining 54 of non-conducting material and is provided with an inner wall of fire brick. This wall construction of the rotary portion D of the producer is the same as the wall structure of the upper stationary portion, the corresponding walls of the stationary portion and the rotary portion being in vertical. alinement.

In order to provide a sealed joint between the lower foundation portion of the producer and the rotary portion D of the producer, I provide a trough 56 disposed around the outer wall of the ash pit C ad- 'acent to the top edge thereof, which trough, during the operation of the producer, is supplied with water through a supply passage 57 controlled by any suitable automatic device effectively to maintain a predetermined level of water in the trough 56. An annular ring 58 depending from the lower edge of the base casting of the rotary portion D of the producer projects downwardly into the water carried by the trough 56. This construction provides an etlicient water seal between the ash pit and the lower edge of the rotary portion D of the producer.

In order to efiiciently seal the joint between the upper edge of the stationary upper section, I provide a trough 59 which encircles the outer wall of the rotary portion of the producer adjacent to the top edge thereof. The trough 59 is supplied with water through a supply pipe 60 which is controlled by any device of a similiar character to that for controlling the pipe 57, the purpose being to maintain a predetermined level of water in the trough 59. A depending-ring 61 is secured to the outer face of the wall 1 adjacent to the lower edge thereof, which ring extends downwardly into the trough 59 and below the level of the water maintained therein, effectively to provide a water sealed joint between the rotary section and the upper stationary section of the producer.

The mechanism for eflecting the rotation of the rotary section D of the producer comprises an annular rack 62 which is permanentlysecured to the outer wall 53 of the lower rotary section D of the producer, which rack is adapted to cooperate with a worm 63 mounted upon the shaft 27.

W'ithin the rotary portion D of the .producer and supported on the hub 42 is a block 64 of refractory material, which block is in the form of a truncated cone the larger end thereof resting upon the upper face of the hub a2. The block 64 extends upwardly, the upper face being disposed adjacent to the lower edge of the pipe 5. The block 64; serves to protect the bearings for the inner end of the shafts of the long grate bars and also provides a support for the central part of the bed of fuel within the rotary portion of the producer. As the section D of the producer is rotated the contents of the rotary portion of the producer below the chamber A is carried under the pipe 5, which is continuallycooled by the passage of water therethrough, the upper surface of the carbonaceous mass being smoothed and leveled off by contact with said pipe, as it is advanced to a position below the chamber B.

The devices and connections for withfrom the upper zone of the distillation cham- 7 her A, comprise an exhaust conduit 65 leading through the wall of the chamber A to a fan or blower 66 mounted adjacent to the producer. A conduit 67 extends: around one side of the producer and is connected at one end with the exhauster and blower 66. This conduit is adapted to receive the volatile products of the distilled carbonaceous mass from the blower and to advance the same, under pressure or forced draft, to a series of twyers 68 which are located at spaced intervals below the lower portion of the rotary section D of the producer beneath the chamber B. The connections between the conduit 67 and each of the twyers 68 comprise cast iron T-fittings, which are provided with removable clean-out caps 70. The end of the conduit 67 is also equipped with a cleanout cap 71 so as to provide ready access to the interior of the distributing system that the same may be kept free from accumulation of foreign substances.

The devices and connections for supplying a forced draft of air to the fixing chamber comprises a blower 72 arranged adjacently to the exhauster and blower 66 and preferably. driven from the same shaft. Leading from the blower 72 is a c nduit 73 which is connected into twyers 7 4 which are disposed, on alternate lines with the twyers 68 beneath the revoluble section of the producer. The connections between the conduit from a common prime mover. The

blowers

66 and 72 are supported on a platform 78 and are in axial alinement so that the blade wheels thereof may be mounted upon a common shaft which is driven directly by a motor M. The motor M has an extending drive shaft 7 9 which carries a worm 80 meshing with a worm wheel 81 on the short stud shaft 82; The shaft 82 is journaled in a bracket 83 carried on the platform 7 8 and is equipped at the end opposite to the end that carries the worm wheel with a worm screw 84, the worm screw 84 in turn meshes with a worm wheel 85 which is fast on the shaft 27.

. In order to give an approximate idea of the speed at which the different driving mechanisms are designed to operate, so'that the relative gearing may be practically designed for commercial use, we'may assume that the motor operates at 800 revolutions per minute and the connections between it and the rotary portion of the producer are in such'ratio that the rotating section of the producer will make two complete revolution per hour. The connections between the shaft 27 andthe countershaft 26. are in such ratio that the agitator will be reciprocated twenty-four times an hour. And the gearing connections between the shaft 27 and the V feeding device are 1n such ratlo that the drum will be filled and discharged approximately four times per hour. course, be understood that these aremerely practical suggestions for commercial operation and that the speeds at which the different mechanisms operate may be varied to suit the requirements of the varying conditions under which the producer may be operated.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the operation of'the producer is practically automatic and that after it has been adjusted and initially charged it will con tinue to operate to produce a continuous volume of fixed gas as long as it remains under power.

The gas that is generated and that rises in the upper part of the chamber B is conducted therefrom through a supply or service conduit 86 which may lead to any suita will, of

able destination, for instance. to a gasome 87 adapted to open in theevent an over pressure is attained in the producer. The valve 87 enters into a smoke stack 88.

In practice the chamber A is first filled with a quantity of bituminous coal or other combustible carbonaceous material to a point substantially on a level with the lower edge of the opening of the conduit 65, and the fuel thus introduced ignited, and after the producer is heated sufficiently to carbonize the fuel in the chamber A, the power is applied to the producer. Thus the material in the chamber A is distilled and the volatile or gaseous products of combustion accumulated in the upper zone of the chamber A. The portion of the partially burned material on the grate below the chamber A is carried below the chamber B by the r0- tation of the section D of the producer. As each section of the grate passes into the zone below the chamber B the mass is subjected to the blast of air and volatile gases injected therein through the twyers 68 and 74:. The mass of fuel brought into the zone below the chamber B is thus raised to a high tem perature producing a state of incandescence and while in this state alternating currents of air under a forced draft and of the volatile gas drawnfrom the upper zone of the chamber A, are forced through the mass. The volume of gas is thus freed from the condensible matter such as tar or other hydrocarbon and moisture, thereby producing a volume of combustible gas free from all impurities and of a fixed and permanent character. By the time the section of the burning material has passed through the zone beneath the chamber B practically complete combustion has been effected and the residue of waste material is removed from the section of the grate passing out of the zone beneath the chamber B for a re-charge from'the chamber A by the rotation of the respective grate bars as they pass from one zone to the other. The waste material and ashes drop into the pit below the grate and are raised out of the pit by thespiral conveyer.

It will be understood that as the operation continues the agitator in the chamber A maintains the mass in a condition for substantially complete distillation.

After the apparatus has been in operation for a time the wall 4 becomes thoroughly heated by the radiated heat from the chamber B and assists in the distillation of the mass in the chamber A.

As all of the openings to the atmosphere are thoroughly sealed air is excluded from the interior of the producer. The rotating drum at the top serves to seal the opening in the chamber A and the water seals between the stationary portion of the producer and the rotary portion of the producer and between the rotary portion of the producer and the pit, prevent any air from entering at these points, while the water in the bottom of the pit seals the opening through which the spiral conveyer operates.

As the fuel is being heated in the chamber A preparatory to starting the operation of the producer, the valve 87 should be open to prevent any over pressure from being created in the producer, and to give a natural draft to facilitate the combustion of the iuel.

It is obvious that many of the details of construction may be modified without in the least departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. T desire it to be understood, therefore, that I do not deem myself limited to exact features of construction shown and described, but

What I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. A gas producer, comprising a shell, a partition dividing said shell into two chambers, a rotatable grate mounted to rotate below said chambers, means for withdrawing the volatile products of combustion from one of said chambers and blasting it through the bed of fuel carried by said grate below the other of said chambers, and means for introducing a forced draft of air through the bed of fuel simultaneously with the blast of said volatile products effectively to convert said volatile products into a fixed gas, substantially as specified.

2. In a gas producer, the combination with a distillation chamber and a gas chamber arranged adjacent thereto, of a rotary grate section mounted below said chambers and adapted to advance a bed of fuel from said distillation chamber to said gas chamber, of means for withdrawing the volatile combustible products from the distillation chamber and forcing the same through the bed of fuel below said gas chamber, and means for introducing a forced draft of air into and through the bed of fuel below said gas chamber effectively to convert said volatile combustible products into a permanent gas, substantially as specified.

3. In a gas producer, a rotary section equipped with a grate adapted to support a bed of carbonaceous material, a distillation chamber and a gas chamber arranged above said grate, power mechanism for rotating said rotary portion, means for withdrawing the products of distillation from the upper portion of said distillation chamber and forcing said products through the bed of fuel below said gas chamber and means for supplying a forced draft of air to a point beneath the bed of fuel carried by said grate while the same is below said gas chamber, substantially as specified.

4. A gas producer, comprising a distillation chamber, a gas chamber, means for advancing the bed of fuel from below said Ciu distillation chamber to a zone below said gas chamber, means for simultaneously blasting the volatile distillates from the dis tillation chamber and a forced draft of air through the bed of fuel below the gas chamber effectively to convert the distillates into a fixed gas, and means for withdrawing the gas from said gas chamber, substantially as specified. p,

5. In a gas producer, the combination with a shell, a partition dividing said shell into a distillation chamber and a gas chamber, a movable grate section arranged to rotate below said shell, means for withdrawing the volatile distillates from the upper portion of'said distillation chamber and conveying them to a point below said movable grate portion below said gas chamber, means for introducing a forced draft of air below said grate portion while the same is below said gas chamber, and means for withdrawing the contents of said gas chamber, substantially as specified.

. 6. A gas producer, comprising a cylindrical wall structure composed of an outer shell lined with a wall of an elastic heat non-conducting material and an inner wall of refractory material, a partition wall of refractory material dividing said structure into a distillation chamber and a gas chamber, a revoluble section also composed of an outer shell lined with elastic heat non-conducting material and provided with an inner wall of refractory material in vertical alinement respectively with the walls of said first-named structure, rotary grate bars supported in the lower portion of said rotary section, a passage leading from the upper portion of said distillation chamber, an opening below the rotary section which is disposed beneath the gas chamber and a passage leading from said gas chamber, substantially as specified.

7. A gas producer, comprising a rotary grate section, a series of grate bars rotatably located in and adapted to form the bottom wall of said rotary grate section, means for rotating said grate bars independently and at predetermined intervals, a stationary section located above said rotary grate section and divided into a distillation and a gas chamber, means for delivering fuel to said distillation chamber, and power mechanism foroperating said fuel delivering means and said rotary grate section, substantially as specified.

8. A gas producer comprising an annular foundation wall having an ash receiving compartment therein, a rotatable section mounted upon said foundation, a stationary portion mounted above said rotatable section, means for sealing the joints between said rotatable section and said foundation andbetween said rotatable section and said stationary section, a partition wall in said stationary section and a conduit for conducting the gases from one of said chambers to a point beneath the rotary section that is disposed below the other of said compartments, substantially as specified;

9. In a gas producer, a container having a stationary and a movable part, grate bars rotatably mounted within said movable part,

means adapted to rotate said grate bars au-' deliver fuel to said distillation chamber, a-

gas chamber, means for advancing the fuel from beneath the distillation chamber to a.

zone below said gas chamber, a series of twyers arranged below thesupport for the bed of fuel in the zone below the gas, chamber, means for conveying the distillatesfrom said distillation chamber to selected ones of said'twyers, and means for introducing a forced draft of air into others of said twyers, substantially as specified.

12. In a gas producer, a container, a revoluble grate below said container, mechanism for feeding material onto one side of said grate, means for withdrawing the distillates from the material on said grate in the process of combustion and delivering the same to apoint below the other side of said grate, means for raising the temperature of the material to a point of mean descence supported by the grate to which said distillates are delivered, and means for withdrawing the volatile products after they have passed through the material upon that portion of the grate carrying theincandescent material.

13. A gas producer having a shell sub divided into two chambers, 'a rotating section equipped with a grate structure 'located below said'shell, a foundation wall for supporting said rotary section, a seal between said foundation and said rotary section, a seal between said shell and said rotary section, anti-friction devices interposed between said foundation and said rotary section and mechanism for driving said rotary section.

14. A gas producer, comprising a sta tionary upper portion divided intoa distillation and a gas chamber, a movable section arranged to rotate below said upper section and adapted to carry a bed of fuel, a series of rotatable grate bars adapted to support e bed of fuel, a feeding device adapted to deliver fuel to said distillation chamber and to serve as a closure for the charging opening of the distillation chamber, and driving mechanism for rotating said rotatingsection and for operating said feed device, substantially as specified.

gas producer, comprising a distillation chamber and a gas chamber contained within a unitary wall structure, a wall comprising a series of revoluble grate bars located below said distillation and gas chamber, means for automatically revolving said grate bars at predetermined intervals to agitate the bed of material supported by said grate bars, a conduit leading from the upper portion of said distillation chamber to a point below the gas chamber, a blower and exhauster in said conduit for withdrawing the gas from said distillation chamber and advancing it under a forced draft through said conduit, and means for introducing a forced draft of air through the material when the same is below the gas chamber, substantially as specified.

16. A gas producer, comprising a distillation chamber and a gas chamber arranged in a stationary shell, a movable section located adjacent to said shell and adapted to advance a bed of fuel from beneath the distillation chamber to a Zone beneath the gas chamber, grate bars rotatably mounted in said movable section and means for moving said grate bars incidental to the movement of said movable section, substantially as specified.

17. A gas producer, comprising a distillation chamber and a gas chamber, means for withdrawing the distillates from said distillation chamber and forcing the same through a bed of fuel to the gas chamber, a service passage leading from said gas chamber and a safety valve outlet from said service passage adapted to open when a predetermined maximum pressure has been attained in said producer.

18. A gas producer, comprising a distillation chamber and a gas chamber, means for placing the upper portion of said distillation chamber 1n communication with the lower portion of said gas chamber, and a safety device operated by the over pressure of gas generated within said producer, substantially as specified.

19. A gas producer, comprising a distillation chamber and a gas chamber contained within a unitary wall structure, means for advancing the solid contents from a zone below the distillation chamber to a zone below the gas chamber, a conduit leading from the upper portion of said distillation chamber to a point below said gas chamber, a device in said conduit for causing the movement of gas through said conduit, and means for introducing a forced draft of air through the bed of solid material when the same is below said gas chamber, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN O. CAR-REY. WVitnesses:

J OHN D. RIPPEY, R. M. LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.