US1204789A - Method and apparatus for low-temperature distillation of coal. - Google Patents

Description

A. KUHN.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE DTSTILLATION 0F COAL.

H. A. KUHN.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE DISTILLATION 0F COAL.

lAPPLICATION FILED FEB.29.1916.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/NVENTR afw- ,4 TTOR/VEYS HARRY A. KUHN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE DISTILLATION 0F COAL.

i ,scarsa Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 29, 1`916. Serial No. 81,154.

To all lwlw-m 'it may concern: y

lle 1t known that l, HARRY A. KUHN,

residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and llnprov'ed Method and Apparatus for Low-Tem])el'ature Distillation of Coal, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of distillation of coal having for its obiect the production of coal gas and the resultant by-prodnets coke, tar and ammonia, the principal (bject of the invention heilig to provide for as complete an abstraction of the gas and recovery of the vaporizable by-products as possible, and the production particularly of a coke or semi-hard coal product that can be employed satisfactorily as metallurgical ecke in blast furnace work; or the ordinary coke for domestic fuel purposes can be formed.

Those processes of carbonizing coal Which have heretffore been commonly employed involve conducting heat through the Wall of a retort and into and through a mass of coal. In using retorts, such as the Wellknown gas-house retorts` the temperature outside the retort has to be very much higher than that necessary to drive the volatileI matter out of the coal and the heat is conducted very slowly through the Walls of the retort and through the mass of coal, so that for charges three inches or four inches thick it takes from four to six hours to drive out the volatile matters in a semivacuum. The coke left is more or less spongy. The temperature of the Walls of the retort is so high that the resinous matter in the coal, which volatilizes at about 700o to 750O F., cracks up when the vapors come under the influence of the higher temperatures, thereby depositing carbon in the retort and also giving the tars a heavier carbon content. This resinous matter in coal, which is the first to volatilize, asstated before, also acts as the binding material in the coke body; the vapors on comingunder the influence of higher temperatures crack up and release finely divided carbon, part of which is afterward found deposited in the cell walls of the coke body, and serves to bind the other particles of carbon into a hard cellular mass.

The by-products or retort oven is merely a variation of the lgas-house retort.

The temperatures are higher and because of the thicker mass of coal (about 9 inches) 1t takes from eighteen to twenty-four hours of extremely high temperatures (2000 to 2500o F.) in the lues to conduct sufficient heat to carbonize (or distil the volatiles out of) 9 inches of coal. The higher temperatures acting on the resinous vapors create a slightly harder deposit of finely divided. carbon. the result being a. hard coke.

'lhe low temperature, processes usually involve the employment of a retort (which may be of iron) and the conduction of heat through the walls of the retort, and also the slow conduction of heat through the mass of coal. In low temperature processes where the charge is undisturbed, the cells are large, the fuel body spongy so that itwill not stand handling, the binding material having been vaperized and drawn ofi". Even the application of pressure to the mass is of little effect when the binding material is absent. Some of these latter processes involve the stirring up of the mass of coal so that as much of the coal as possible may come in contact With the hot'walls of the retort. The diflicultv. ho\vever,in these processes lies in this that there isino chance for a Quiet deposit of sufficient finely divided carbon as happens in the gas-house retort or the by-product oven, and the fuel body left is uncemented, or if cemented it is usually so spongy and so soft that it is of no market value, as it is liable to reach the customer partly in the shape of breeze or dust. These various processes involve a very large investment of capital in each retort compared with the amount of coal carbonized.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a process and an apparatus through which. the-objectionable features in the old processes are in large measure eliminated. y.

In its generic nature. the process constituting my invention consists inthe production of a current of hot gas through a vertical chimney structure into Which coal dust is dropped out of contact With the surrounding atmosphere, whereby the necessary heatl for the distillationis applied to the coal dust. and the gaseous and volatile products are liberated from the coal dust as it falls through the hot gases; the gaseous vapors being 'taken up bv 'the hot gases and conveyed to the condensing and recovery appa- Patented Nov.14,1916.

ratus for the volatile products while the coal dust particles are deposited at the bottomy of the vertical retort chamber from which they are Lconveyed through a passage which serves, as it were, as a secondary heating chamber in which the heated. mass is mixed and agitated to drive o/any gases or vapors that may not have been liberated in the first chamber; the mass in the secondlchamber is mixed with raw coal dust prior to its discharge from the second chamber for the purpose of supplying, the necessary binding material to the mass to take the place of the the coal dust is dropped to assist inthe re covery of the ammonia..

The apparatus which also constitutes a part of my invention consists essentially of a vertical retort chamber or stack having a jacket around which the hot gases of previous distillation are.l passed upwardly and thei downwardly into the stack, the gases being drawn through the stack and discharged at the bottom of the same into a horizontal conveyer chamber in which the heated coal dust deposit is collected, the conveyer having provision for mixing the mass and passing it to the discharge end of the conveyer chamber where'the gases and solid products pass out'of the conveyer into a separation chamber from which the gaseous products are removed and further treated in the usual way to separate the as, ammonia and tars, the solid product being deposited into a final retort through which it is forced by a plunger device, thedischarge end of the final retort being water-jacketed to cool .the product prior to its discharge from the Same; provision is made whereby the boiler feed water of the plant can be passed through the water jacket to absorb the heat from the pressed coal or coke product before passing the water into the boiler, thus conserving the energy as much as possible. The apparatus also includes a water-jacketed hopper for receiving the coal dust and a throat for conveying the coal dust from the hopper into the upper end of the vertical retort chamber or stack in such manner that fusion of the coal dust will not occur until it is passed away from the discharge end of `the hopper thus preventing clogging. The

invention also provides means' for introducing hot water gas mto the heating gases prior'to their admission into the vertical charge place where it enters the separating chamber so that raw coal dust; may be introducedand mixed with the mass at a predetermined time .and place and to a predetermined extent, to supply the necessarybinding material for holding the particles of the mass in coherence in order to' give a strong body to the solid material finally discharged from the apparatus.

The process, which constitutes a part o the invention, includes several sub-processes or steps by which the art of coal distillation is advanced and the invention also includes novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts of apparatus as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, I have shown, graphically,.an apparatus for carrying out my process and by reference to the drawings it will be seen that Figure 1 is a vertical section largely diagrammatic illustrating the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the discharge end of the hopper. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1,. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig. l. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the air and gas pumps. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail vertical longitudinal sections showing modified forms of the nal retort tunnel.

By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the vertical structure of the apparatus is in the nature of a chimney or stack composed of the inner wall 2 and the outer wall 3, thus providing an inner chamber 1 and a surrounding chamber 4. The outer wall 3 extends above the top of the inner wall 2 and supports a head 6. 5 designatesl the space through which the hot gases are drawn from the annular chamber 4E into the interior chamber 1, suitable bafiies 8 being provided to render a quiescent iiow of the gas.

In order to deposit the coal dust into the gaseous atmosphere in the chamberl 1 in such a manner that the coal dust will not fuse together at its place of entrance, I employ a mechanism whereby the temperature of the coal dust iskept down below the fusion point until the dust shower comes into contact with the hot gas current in the chamber 1. As a preferred way. of accomplishing this result, I have provided a i hopper 9 having' a throat 10 that is provided with discharge orifices 12 the cross sectional areas of which increase from the hopper side toward the outlet side. These orihces, being located somewhat above the head 6 are arranged to deliver the coal dust into a duct 7 that projects through the head l6 into the chamber 1 and discharges the dust into such chamber at a place somewhat below the gas inlet 5; The duct 7, like the orifices 12 is preferably of greater y cross sectional area at its discharge end than at its entrance end, the object of this being to permit separation of the. dust par. ticles in falling, so that when -the particles meet the gaseous atmosphere in the chamber 1, they will be completely bathed in the hot gases and almost instantly brought vto the temperature at which the volatiles are liberated.

In order to assist further in preventing fusion of the dust particles as they pass through the orifices 12 in the bottom 11 of the hopper, I water-jacket the bottom of the hopper, the walls of the throat, the walls of the orifices 12 and the upper or receiving end of the duct 7. A screw-shaft 14, having an agitator 16, is driven by a, pulley 15 (or in any other suitable manner) and serves to prevent bridging of the coal dust in the hopper, thus insuring a continuous How of coal dust from the hopper into theduct 7.

The horizontal structure vwhich constitutes a part of the apparatus includes a duct 17 with a mixing chamber in which a screw conveyer 18 is located, the'shaft of the conveyer passing through a packed bearing 20 (which also acts as a seal) and is provided with a driving pulley 21. The conveyer may be provided with mixing paddles 19, if desired. The duct 17 has an entrance 22 which is in communication with the lower end of the chamber 1 so that the coal dust as it is deposited at the bottom 4 of the chamber 1 will be conveyed away from the chamber 1 as fast as it falls and at the same time the mass will be agitated and tumbled over to allow as complete liberation of the volatiles as possible.

The duct 17 is surrounded by an outer.

wall 23 which incloses a heat chamber 24 one end of which communicates with the lower end of the annular chamber 4 of the stack or vertical structure, while the other end communicates with the heat chamber of the final retort, hereinafter referred to.

25 designates' what I term, for convenience, the separating box. The separating box receives both the solid and gaseous contents of the duct 17 and it is from this separating box that the gaseous products are withdrawn (as later described) for further treatment Thabor is provided with a 'baille 26 over the entrance from the duct' 17 so that the solids will not be sucked up with the gaseous products or volatiles as the latter are withdrawn from the separating box. rllhe solids a's they enter the separating box gravitate toward the outlet 28 and in this they may be assisted by a feed screw 27, driven in any suitable way, as for instance by a pulley 29.

30 is an auxiliary hopper whose throat 31 is arranged to discharge into the duct 17 at a place 32 located at a predetermined distance from the discharge end of the duct. The hopper throat 31 may be provided with a feed screw 33 which may be driven by a pulley 34.'

The final retort into which the carbonized mass is deposited may also be utilized for the generation of the hot gases. The

retort furnace includes an outer wallv 35, closed at its ends by heads 36 and through which the open ended retort 37 passes. The entrance end of the retort 37 is arranged to receive the solids from the separating box 25, the mass being rammed through the retort 37 `and discharged therefrom by a piston 38, whose rod 39 -is reciprocated by a suitable lcrank motion 40.

41 is a baffle arch that extends from the front head 36 toward the rear head 36 and 42 designates another baffle arch which is located above the arch 41 and extends from the rear head 36 to form a zig-zag passage .in which the hot gases are generated prior t0 their liberation into the heating space 43 that surrounds the retort 37.

The retort 37 may be of uniform cross section, as indicated in Fig. 1, or it may increase in cross sectional -area from the.

that communicate with separate air andgas pumps 45 and 46 respectively. Any suitable type of pump-having provision whereby the amount of fluid pumped can be regu-lated at will may be used. The object in using separate air and gas pumps is to enable measured quantities of air and gas to be introduced into the combustion chamber as desired.

I prefer to water-jacket the outlet end of the retort 37 inorder to cool the mass prior to its final discharge from the apparatus. Any suitable gas may be used as the combustible, although in practice it is convenient to use gas of previous distillation, the gas being taken from the clean gas denser is operated by cool gas, gas from the tank 51 may be forced by a gasA pump 60 through pipes 59 into pipe 5 2.

To assist in the ammoma-recovery I may provide a water-gas generator 61 from Y which hot `water gas may be conveyed by a pipe 62 into the gas chamber 4, a control valve 63 being provided, if desired. Instead of using the water gas, or in addition thereto, if desired,.I may introduce superheated steam intov the hot gaseous atmosphere and in that event I provide a steam boiler 644 and introduce the steam vthrough a pipe 65, preferably, into the combustion chamber where the hot gaseous atmosphere is generated. The steam pipe 65 may have a throttle .valve 66 for controlling purposes.-

It should be stated that the walls of the apparatus may be constructed of any suitable material, such as brickfor iron, as may l be found most advantageous in practice.

- In practice, the vertical structure or stack may be of any height desired, in order to obtain the reuuired distillation ofthe dust during its fall. A height of approximately thirty feet is believed sufficient. I do not desire to be understood, however, as limiting myself to `any particular proportion of parts of the apparatus, as the respective proportions of parts will be determined in the practical application of the invention.

t In operation, the coal is ground to dust and placed in the hopper 9, the feed screw 14 being driven ,by any suitable power applying medium. Gas and air are pumped into the .combustion space 44 in such proportions that there will be an excess of unburned gas so that there may be no uncombined oxygen in the heated gas, sulhcient ai'r and gas, however, being admitted to raise the temperature of the heated gas to the desired degree, the inert or non-oxidizable gas being drawn from the retort chamber 43 through the chamber 24 in' a direction opposite to the travel of the coke mass andthen up the outer space or chamber 4 of the stack, the gas passing through the passage 5 down into the inner chamber 1 of the stack and bein drawn down into the conveyer chamber 1 along the conveyer chamber 17 to the separating box 25 and up through the gas and volatiles recovery apparatus, as before indicated.

stack and in the chambers 24 an 43 are kept at the desired temperature say, about 900 to 1200 degrees F. and as the coal particles are showered into the top of the stack, they will gravtate vto the bottom, being assisted in this act by the gas current and at the same time will be heated to the temperature necessary to drive ofl' the volatiles.

The passage of the volatiles, gases and solids through the conveyer chamber 17 has already been referred to and need not be here repeated. It should be stated, however, that the entrance 32 ofthe raw coal dust. through 31 is located a predetermined distance from the discharge end of the conveyer. vThis distance will depend u4 on the temperature employed and the spee of the conveyer 18 so that the mixture of "raw coal dust with the heated solids reduces the temperature ofthe mixed mass but not below the meltingl point of the raw coal, so that by the time the mixtures enter the final chamber the heat of the carbonized mass has penetrated the raw dust, with the result that the temperature of the mixture causes the binding material to iow or fuse with some small evolution of ,gaseous product forming cells in the mass, which may be eliminated'if desired by exerting extra pressure on the mass.

It will be observed that by grinding up the coal into coal dust and letting it drop down the chimney, or vertical retort structure, in the atmosphere of semi-spent gas free from uncombined oxygen, each par- A ticle is' bathed for a few seconds in the hot gases and has its temperature raised to a degree which will almost instantly vaporizeV the volatiles, especially the first volatiles (rich in light oils and acids) which supply the binding material for the coke body 1n the ordinary process; I therefore secure for a given amount of apparatus and investment in the same, a very large tonnage in twentyfour hours. dropped every second down the chimney in an atmosphere of gas maintained at a temperature of between 800 F. and 1400 F. two hundred sixteen tons of coal may be carbonized and the volatiles distilled out of the same in twenty-four hours; thereby securing the rst great advantage of my invention,- a large tonnage from a small investment in apparatus and an excess production of the rich oilsand acids as compared to the production heretofore in by-product ovens.

A second great advantage which I secure by the use of my process may be outlined as follows: American coal enerally contains about 1.5% of nitrogen. educed to a sulfate of ammonia basis this nitrogen is worth about $3.00 net value per ton of coal. In gas-house and by-product practice about 15% of the nitrogen is caught as ammonia If five pounds of dust are gas (NH3) and turned into the sulfate; 85% is lost or unavailable, of Which about 50% stays fixed in the coke and about 35% goes off in the gas as free nitrogen. The 35% is lost partly on account of the high temperatures of the common retorts, which) free hydrogen and at a temperature under 14400 F. that the nitrogen driven out of the coal body combines very largely with the free hydrogen, forming ammonia gas (NH-l). rlhe reason that about half the nitrogen stays fixed in the coke is partly on account of the deposit of finely divided carbon in the cell Walls or in the surface surrounding the bubbles in the coal body When the distillation starts. rlf`his deposit of finely divided carbon acts as a seal so that half the nitrogen is practically sealed in through the deposition of the fine carbon (cracked out of the resinous vapors). lt is obvious thatvhen each particle of dust is bathed in an atmosphere of hot, semi-spent gas that the nitrogen has full opportunity to escape and when this occurs in a gas rich in vfree hydrogen under a temperature of.

14400 F., a very large part of the nitrogen will combine with the hydrogen, forming ammonia gas, so that instead of securing 60 'or 70eI worth of sulfate of ammonia per ton of coal, treated under the other process We are able to secure several times this amount. i

A third great advantage of this process is in the introduction of binding material in its cheapest forni. c., raw coal'dust. rlhe hot gases through which the coal dust is dropped down the chimney (in a semi-vacuum which helps the distillation and helps the escape of nitrogen) subtracts from the coal particles the resinous matter or binding material which is necessary to cement or fix the mass together .in order to make a merchantable fuel body.

It will be seen that in order to provide a fuel which may be either in the shape of something similar to hard coal (with a small amount of volatile matter in it) Well cemented together and free from large cells, or to supply a hard coke bound together by a sufficient amount of the resinous matter, l provide for the introduction into the screw conveyer and mixer, of raw coal dust which mixes With the chimney coal dust that has been denuded of its binding materials. The second injection of coal dust being introduced as a mass and mixed en masse, and not exposed to heat for a very long period until it reaches the finishing retort, does not lose much of the volatiles,-as 7o its temperature has to be raised by mixing and by the time this is well accomplished, it has reached the finishing retort. The mixed product has a temperature sufficient to melt down the resinous matter and bind the whole matter together as it passes through the final retort under pressure. The raw coal will not heat sufficiently long to lose much of its binding material before it enters the final chamber, so that the mass entering the final chamber or retort is at a melting and carbonizing temperature, the material is mixed and the heat mixed or distributed, or, in other Words, the introduction of the raw coal dust and its intimate mixture with the heated mass in the conveyer results in the reduction of the temperature of the aggregate by the time the mixture enters the final retort, but the tem perature is still high enough to fuse the mass together and for the formation of cells if the latter is desired,-or by pressure these may be eliminated. The small amout of gas liberated in the final retort may be drawn off and used. The open end of the final re tort may have a large receiving hopper which may be normally closed from the outside atmosphere in order to effect the almost complete recovery of gas evolved in the final retort. For example, assume 1000 pounds of chimney dust in the mixture at 12000 1+". and 500 pounds introduced and mixed With the same at 0000 F. rEhe mixed aggregate of 1500 pounds Will be at a temperature of approximately 10000 F.

fhe Walls of the final retort are kept heated but the necessary heat is disseminated throughout the mass before it enters the final retort, and the heated Walls of the final retort help but do not dominate the 110 finishing process so that there is no delay or lost time as is found in other processes where heat must be conducted slowly through retort Walls and then through a mass of coal. 115

It will be observed that when the raw coal dust is mixed with the hot mass in the mixing conveyer, there is a gradual transfusion of heat into the raw coal dust from the carbonized solidsg-this transfusion cul- 120 minates about the time the mixture enters the final retort; the temperature throughout the entire mass, as it enters the final retort, is high enough to carbonize and bind together the mixture; it is during the short 125 period of time when the heat is being conducted from one small particle of heated' coal to a raw coal particle that the mixture is conveyed and moved into the final retort; this small period of time is not sufhciently 130 ofthe binding material in the mass to any great extent.

When the -inal .retort is constructed so as to flare outwardly and the coal is through under slight pressure, the ce ls, due to the melting of the resinous matter and whatever of gas, are formed and the resultant product has a cellular body, the necessary fhardness being given by the cementing material fixed under heat and pressure.

If a fuel body is desired in the sha eof something like hard coal where the cel s are to be very small or practically invisible, the retort may be reduced in area at the far or outlet end which tends to create a heavier pressure on the coal body and the heat and pressure cements the `fuel together by means ofthe resinous matter in practically a solid mass. This latter product can afterward be broken up by crushers (in the manner that hard coal is treated) and marketed as a semi-hard coal. It is obvious also that my processwould increase the output of a typical ley-product oven plant. The heated mixture could be conveyed to the oven, the charge would be heated already throughout and the heat of the oven walls would quickly harden the mass into hard cellular colte, thereby increasingithe output of an oven plant several times.

Instead of using a gas ump and an air pump atthe primary com ustion engine, I desire it understood that- I may inject coal dust and air in such proportions as to partly burn the coal dust and yet leave the hot gaseous product free from uncombined oxygen, the suction of the exhauster Working on the plant Will create sufficient current to carry over such particles of coal dust as may be entirely unconsumed and these particles would be caught in the mass in the con'veyer tube. i y

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the 'advantages and also the construction of the apparatus which is preferably employed in carrying out the process, will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, and I desire to say that while Ihave illustrated an apparatus for carrying'out my process, it is obvious that slight changes in the details ofthe process and of theapparatus may be made to adapt the same to the manufacture of the particular grade of fuel body desired.

What I .claim is:

1. A method of distilling coal Which includes the following steps namely,-provid ing aretort having a vertical chamber and a horizontal chamber into which the vertical chamber discharges, creating a current of hot gases down through the vertical chamber andalong through the horizontal chamber, dropping coal; dust down through the chamber, conveying the accumulated heatedv mass along the horizontal chamber from its receiving end to ,its dischargin end, drawing oi the volatile products o distillation for further treatment, introducing a quantity 4of raw coal dust into said horizontal chamber, and mixing the same with the mass therein rior to the discharge of said mass substantlally -as specified.

v2. The method of distilling coal which includes the following steps namely,-the provision of a retort having a vertical chamber and a horizontal chamber, the bottom of said vertical chamber communicating with said horizontal chamber adjacent to one end,

-said horizontal chamber having a discharge end, establishing a circulation of hot gases through said chambers while excluding the external atmosphere from said chambers, in-

troducing coal dust. into -the said vertical chamber near its top, whereby the coaldust falling through the heated atmosphere within the vertical chamber will become` fused, conveying the deposited mass through said horizontal chamber and introducing raw coal dust into the mass'while in said horizontal chamber, mixing the mass together and discharging it from the horizontal chamber. and then separately .collecting the mass and volatile products for further treatment.

3. A method of distilling coal which conf sists in providing a retort having a vertical chamber and a horizontal chamber into which the vertical chamber discharges, said method consisting further in creating acurrent of hot gases at approximately a temperature from nine hundred to twelve hundred degrees Fahrenheit down through said vertical chamber and along through said horizontal chamber, dropping coal dust down through the atmosphere of gases in the vertical chamber, agitating the mass received in the horizontal chamber and conveying the same from the receiving to the discharging end of the horizontal chamber, applying external heat to the horizontal chamber, introducing a quantity of raw coal dust into the mass prior to its discharge from the horizontal chamber, mixing the raw coal along through said horizontal chamber, dropping coal dust through the atmosphere of gases in the vertical chamber, agitating the mass received in the horizontal chamber and conveying the same from the receiving to the discharging end of the horizontal chamber, applying external heat to the horizontal. chamber, introducing a quantity of raw coal dust into the mass prior to its discharge from the horizontal chamber, mixing the raw coal dust so introduced with the remainder of the mass in the horizontal chamber prior to the discharge of the same, and separately collecting the resultant mass and gaseous distilled products.

5. rlhe method of distilling coal which includes the following steps: establishing a circulation of hot gases out of contact with the atmosphere through a retort having two distinct zones, dropping coal dust into and through the first zone to effect a primary distillation of the coal dust, collecting the deposited mass as it forms and conveying the same through the second zone while maintaining the temperature of the mass at the required degree to complete the driving off of the gases and volatile products from the mass, and separately collecting the resultant mass and the discharged gases as they pass from the second zone.

6. The method of distilling coal which includes the following steps: establishing a circulation of hot gases out of contact with the atmosphere through a retort having two distinct zones, dropping coal dust into and through the first zone to effect a primary distillation of the coal dust, collecting the deposited mass as vit forms and conveying the same through the second zone while maintaining the temperature of the mass at the required degree to complete driving oft' the gases and volatile products from the mass, separately collecting the resultant mass and thedischarge gases as they pass from the second zone, and mixing raw coal dust with the mass at a predetermined place while in the second zone to supply the necessary binding material to the mass.

7. rlhe methodof distilling coal which includes the following steps: establishing a circulation` of hot gases out of contact with the atmosphere through a retort having two distinct zones, dropping coal dust into and through the first zone to effectv a primary distillation of the coal dust, collecting the deposited mass as it forms and conveying the same through the second zone while maintaining the temperature of the mass at the required degree to complete driving off the gases and volatile products from the mass, mixing raw coal dust with the mass at a predetermined place while in the second zone to supply the necessary binding material to the mass, receiving the mass of material discharged from the second zone and applying pressure to the same to form a semi-hard product.

8. The method of distilling coal which consists in first passing coal dust through an atmosphere of hot gases of previous distillation outof contact with the external atmosphere t0 heat the dust to the point of fusion, collecting and confining the mass and the gasses out of the influence of the external atmosphere for a time in a second heat zone before discharging the same, and admitting fresh coal dust to the mass while in the second heat zone prior to the discharge of the mass therefrom.

9. The process of distilling coal which includes the following steps namely: establishing an atmosphere of hot gases containing no free oxygen, showering coal dust through said atmosphere to cause a separation of the volatile and non-volatile products of the coal dust, collecting the non-volatile mass as it forms and passing the same together with the atmosphere of gases and volatile distillates through a duct out of the iniiuence of the external atmosphere, introducing raw coal dust into said duct and mixing the same with the passing mass, and separately collecting the discharge volatile and non-volatile products from the duct.

l0. A process of distilling coal which includes the following steps :--showering coal dust into an atmosphere of semi-spent gas free from uncombined oxygen, which gas is at such temperature that each particle bathed in the gas for a short space of time will quickly have its volatiles vaporized.

l1. A process of distilling coal which includes the following steps showering coal dust into an atmosphere of semi-spent gas free from uncombined oxygen, which gas is at such temperature that each particle bathed in the gas for a short space of time will quickly have its volatiles vaporized, collecting the resultant non-volatile mass and liberated volatiles and passing the same from the place of collection to a place of separation, introducing binding material into the mass while being conveyed to the place of separation, and separately collecting the re- -sultant mass and volatiles for further treatcollection to a place of separation, introducing binding material into the mass while being conveyer to the place of separation, and separating the volatiles from the non-volatiles and passing the same from the place of tile mass, and collecting the same, collecting the non-volatile mass and applying pressure to the same to condense its structure.

13. A process of distilling coal which in- 5 cludesthe following steps:-.showering coal dust into an atmospherev of semi-spent gas free from uncombined oxygen, which gas is at such temperature that each partlcle bathed in the gas for ashort space of time will quickly have its volatiles liberated, colis at such temperature that each particle bathed in the gas for a short space of time will quickly have its volatiles vaporized, collecting the resultant mass and liberated volatiles and passing the same from the place of 3o collection to a place of separation, introducing binding material into the mass while being conveyed to the place of separation, drawing oli the volatiles and condensing the mass into a hard formation by the applica- 36; tion of pressure.

15. A process of distilling coal which includes the following stepsz-showering coal dust into an atmosphere of semi-spent gas free from uncombined oxygen, which gas 4o ,is at such temperature that each particle bathedin thev gas for a short space of time will quickly'haveits volatiles vaporized, collecting the resultant mass and liberated volatiles and passing the same from the place of 451 collection to a place of separation, introducing binding material into the mass while being conveyed to the place 4of separation, drawing off the volatiles and condensing the mass into a hard formation by the-applicaf tion of pressure to the mass and cooling the same.

16. The process of distilling coal which consists in establishing an atmosphere of partially spent gasesfree from uncombined oxygen., maintainingthe temperature of the said gases between the limits of substantially 750 F. to 1440 F., showering coal vdust into said atmosphere to subject the particles to a substantially instantaneous bath 80 inthe hot gases to thereby liberate the volatiles from the non-volatiles as they are deposited from the bath and separating the samefor further treatment.' L.

417. The process of distilling coal which e6 consists in establishing an atmosphere of partially spent gases free from uncombined ox gen, maintaining the temperature of the said gases between the limits of substantially 750 to 1440" F., showering coal dust into said atmosphere to subject the particles to a substantiall instantaneous bath in thel hot gases to f there y liberate the volatiles from the non-volatlles as they are deposited from the bath and reducing the temperature of the mass by the admixture therewith of raw coal dust to supply binding material to the mass and subsequently collectingthe mass under sufficient pressure to cause coherence.

18. The process of distilling c'oal which consists in establishing an atmosphere of partially spent gases free from uncombined oxygen, maintaining the temperature of the said gases between the limits of substantially 750 F. and 1440o F., showering coal dust into said atmosphere to subject the particles to a substantially instantaneous bath'in the hot gases to thereby liberate the volatiles from the non-volatiles as they'are deposited from the bath and reducing the temperature of the mass by the admixture therewith of raw coal dust to supply binding material to the mass, subsequently collecting the mass under suflicient pressureto cause coherence, said process consisting further of the introduction into the gaseous atmosphere of an agent 954 to assist in the liberation of the ammonia.

19. The process of distilling coal which includes the following steps namely applying heat to the coal to distil the volatile products from the same, mixing raw coal 10o dust with the hot mass residue, charging the mixture into a heatedretort or oven to qulickly harden the mass into hard cellular co e.

20. The process of distilling coal which 105 consists in heating hot coal dust out of contact with atmospheric oxygen to liberate the volatiles from the same, introducing raw coal dust to the heated mass and mixing the aggregate together, placing mass into a final retort whlle at a melting., and carbonizing temperature to complete theA coking operation before the binding material supplied by the raw coal dust shall have been liberated. 1.15

21. An apparatus for the distillation of coal which comprises an upright stack or retort, means for circulating an atmosphere of heated gases downwardly through said stack while excluding the atmospheric air, means f or introducing coal dust into said stack to drop down through the same, means for collecting the deposited mass in said stack and conveying the same away from the stack, said-means having provisions forex- .125 cluding` the atmosphere, means for introducing raw coal dust into said conveyer to mix with the heated mass,vmeans for separately 'collecting the solid and "gaseous products discharged from the conveyer for fur- 13.0

the aggregate 11oA Lacasse.

ther treatment, said last lnamed means including a separatlng chamber from which 1 the gaseoiis products are withdrawn, said l ao.

separating chamber having a discharge opening for the solid produca-and means for compressing said solid'product while hot to form a semi-hard coal product, and means for cooling said product while under com# pression prior to its final discharge from the apparatus.

22. An apparatus for the distillation of coal which includesa vertical -double Wall structure having anvinner chamberand anouter chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent Ato their. tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an inner chami ber, and an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communica`-v tion with the lower end of said chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, said outer chamber of-said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said verti cal structure being in communication, means for`- drawing hot gases through said ,outer chamber of saidhorizontal structure up'said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and thenthrough said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current of `hot gasesV and become heated therebyto drivefoii the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the en-v trant ,end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end `of thesame. n

23. An apparatus for Ythe distillation of coal whichincludes a vertical double wall structure having an inner chamber and an .outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an. inner chamber and an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure,

said outer chamber ofsaid horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication, means for drawing hot gases through said outerchamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamber `of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber oi said vertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the dis-l charge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamberof said vertical structure to drop down vwith the current of hot gases and become heated thereby 'I to drive ofi' the gaseous and Vaporousproducts from the coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said structure and mixed and conveyed through .said horizontal'structurel and out'ofthe discharge end of the same, and a supplemental device for introducing raw coal dust into said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to mix with the heated material prior to the discharge Aof the same from-said inner chamber of said horizontal structure.

24. iin apparatus for the distillation of coal which includes a vertical double wall structure' having -an inner chamber and an outerv chamber, said chambers communieating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal Y,

double 'wall structure having an inner cham'l ber, and an outer chambensaid inner chamber havingits entrant end in communication with the lower end oi said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said Yinner chamber of said'horizontal structure,

said outer chamber of said horizontal structure and said outer chamber ci said vertical structure being in communication, kmeans for drawing hot gases through said outer chamber of said horizontal structure upsaid outer chamber` of said vertical structure down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and thenthrouglisaid inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, mea-ns for introduc- .ing coal dust into said inner chamber of' said vertical structure to drop down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive o the gaseous and vaporous 'products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure-and out of the dis- V charge end of the same, and means for introducing water gas into said hot gaseous ber and an outerchamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, said outer chamber of said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication,

means for' drawing hot gasesthrough said outer chamber of said lhorizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner-chamber of gases andi-become heatedfthereby to drive of the gaseous and vaporou's products from the coal dustathe resultant mass being collected at the entrant end ofsaid inner chamber of said structure and mixed and conveyed--through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, a supplemental device Jfor introducing raw coal dust into lsaid inner chamber of said horizontal structure to mix with the heated material prioreto the discharge of the same from said. inner chamber of saidhorizontal structure,

and means for introducing waterrgas into 'said hot gas current before it enters said v inner chamber of said vertical structure to assist inthe recovery of ammonia.

26. An apparatus for the' distillationof coal which includes a vertical double wall structure haviggw'an inner chamber and an outer chamber,f s a id chambers communicating adjacent 'to'- their tops, a horizontal double Wall structure having an inner chamber andv an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its' entrant end/'in communication with the lower end of sald inner chamber of Said vertical structure, a mixer Awithin said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, said vouter chamber of saidl horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure' belng 1n communical tion, means for drawing hot` gases through .said outer chamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of saidvertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said .inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current o'f hot .gases and become heated thereby to drive oif the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and' out of the discharge endof the same, and means rent prior -toy the entrance of the same into said inner chamber of said vertical struc-' ture.

27. An apparatus for. the-.distillation of coal which includes la vertical doublewall structure having an inner chamber .and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops,`al horizontal double wall structure having aninnei-'gchamber with the lowerend of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within 'said innerchamber of said horizontal structure, said outer chamber of saidhori'zontaly structure and said outer chamber of Asaid vertical structure being in communication5` means for drawing hot gases through said to the discharge end of the s`me', means for Y introducing coal dust into said inner charnber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current ofI h-ot gases and become vaporous products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant -v4of said inner chamber of said structursgand mixed and conveyed through l said horizontal structure and out 'of the discharge end of the same, a supplemental device for introducing raw cal dust into said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to mix with the heated material prior to the discharge of the same from said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, and means for' introducing steam-into said hot gas current prior to the entrance of the sameinto said inner chamber of said vertical structure.

28. An apparatus for coal whichincludes a vertical double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, said outer chamber of saidv horizontal structure and'. said outer chamber of' said.

heated thereby tordrive oii' the gaseous and the distillation of outer chamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure7 down through said inner chamberof said vertical structure, and then through saidiinner chamber of said horizontal'structure to thedischarge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop `down' with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive oi the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being Icollected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, a.

separating chamber into which the gases-are drawn frgmsaid conveyer and into which the solid mass from said conveyerjis deposited, means for conveying the' gaseous matterl from said last named chamber, and a retort into which the solid productfrom the receiving chamber-'is deposited, means for forcing the solid mass through said retort and dlscharging the same to the atmosphere. j p

29. -An apparatus for the distillation of coal which includes a vertical double wall structure having aninner. chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontalv double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outerchamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer Within said inner chamber of said horizontall structure, said outer chamber of said horizontal structure and saidouter chamber of said vertical structure being in communication,

means for drawing hot gases through said outer chamber 'of said horizontal structure up said outer chamberozt said vertical structure, down through said.y inner chamber of said vertical structure and then vthrough said inner chamber of said horizontal 'struc-n ture to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal .dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive ofi' the gaseous.

and vaporous products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end ofV said inner chamber oi' structure 'and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal Structure and out of the discharge end of 'the same, and a supplemental device for introducing raw coal dust into saidinner chamber of said horizontal structure to mix with the heated materiall prior to the discharge of the same from said inner chamber. of said horizontal structure,

a 'separating chamber ,into which the gases.

coal which includes a lvertical double wall structure having an inner chamber andan outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an inner chamber, and an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner cham! ber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontaL.

said

apparatus for the distillation of structure, said outer chamber of said hori! tical structure toI drop down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive od' the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust, the result ant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out. of the d1'scharge end of the same means for introducing water gas into said hot gaseous current before it enters said inner chamber of said vertical structure to assist in the recovery of ammonia, a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn romsaid conveyer and into which the solid matters from said conveyer are deposited, means for conveying the gaseous matter Afrom said last named chamber, and a retort into which the solid product from the receiving chamber is deposited, means' for forcing the solid product through said retortand discharging the same tothe atmosphere.

31. An apparatus for the distillation of coal which includes a vertical double wall structure having an inner and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adouter chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end `of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber -of said horizontal structure, said outer chamber of said horizontal structure and'said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication, means for drawing hot gases through said outer chamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure 'to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current of hot ases and become heated thereby to drive o the gaseous and vapoi'ous products from thecoal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant en d of said inner chamber of said structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, a supplemental device for introl jacent to their tops, ahorizontal double wall structure having an inner chamber and an .v

4:Lef

ducin `raw coal dust intol said inner cham-` ber o said horizontal strgcture to mix with the heated material prio'r to the' dischar en of the same from said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, means for introducing water gas into said hot gas current before it enters said inner chamber lof said vertical a retort into which the Solid product from the receiving' 'chamber is deposited, means' for forcing the solid product through said retort and discharging the same to the at- 32.- An apparatus for the distillation of coal which includes a vertical double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an inner chamin said 'inner chamber of said horizontal structure, said outer chamber` of said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication, means for drawing hot gases through, said outer chamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and then through said'inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current of hot ases and become heated thereby to drive o the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust,the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and out 4of the `discharge end 'of the same, means for introducing steam into said hot gas current prior to the entrance 'of the same into said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn from Said conve -er and into which the solid mass from v sald ,conveyer is deposited, means for conveying the gaseous matter from said last named chamber, and a retort into which the.

solid product from-the receiving chamber is deposited, means for feeding the solid product through said retort and discharging the same to the atmosphere.

33. An apparatus for the distillation of" '-'ble wall structure having an inner chamber ,i and an outer chamber, sa1d 1nner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of sald mner chamber Aof said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure,.

saidouter chamber of'saidhorizontal structure and sald outer chamber of said vertical structure bemg in commumcatlon, means for 'drawing hot gases through said outer chamber ofsaid horizontal structure up said-outer chamber of said .vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of said. vertical structure and the'n through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end ofthe same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said A vertical structure to dropv down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive off the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust,the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of Ysaid inner chamber of said structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structureand out of. the discharge end of theI same, a supplemental device for introducing raw coal dust into said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to mix with the heated material priorto the discharge of the same from said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, means for introducing steam into said hot gas current prior to the entrance of the same into said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn from said-conveyer and into which the solid mass from said conveyor is deposited, means for conveying the gaseous matter from said Ilast named chamber and a retort into which the solid product from the receiving chamber is deposited, means for forcing the solidv 34. An apparatus for the distillation of-coal `which includes a vertical double wall str ucture having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating. adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said inner-chamber having its entrant end in communication with the v vlower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, saidy outer chamber of said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said verticalstructure being in communication, means lfor drawing hot gases through said outer chamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamof said vertical structure to drop down zontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out ofA the discharge end of the same, a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn from said conveyer and into which the solid mass from said conveyer is deposited, means for conveying the gaseous matter from said last named chamber, a retort -intowhich the solid product from the receiving chamber is deposited, means for forcing the solid productuthrough said retort and discharging the same to the atmosphere, gas and air pumps for injecting fuel into said last named retort, said fuel adapted to be ignited to produce incomplete combustion around the compressing means, the spent gases from said incomplete combustion being conveyed into the outer chamber of said horizontal structure to form the hotgases aforesaid. 4

35. An apparatus for the distillation of coal which includes a vertical double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure havingan inner chamber and an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure', said outer chamber of said horizontal structure .andsaid outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication, means for drawing hot gases through said outer chamber of said horizontal structure upl said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, means forV introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive off the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust,

the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, and a supplemental device for introducing lraw coal dust 'into said inner chamber of said .horizontal structure to mix with the heated material prior to the discharge of the same from said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, a' separating chamber into which the gasesa're drawn froml said conveyer, and into which the solid mass from said conveyer is depos ited, means for conveying the gaseous mat' f ter from said last named chamber, 'a retort intoI which the solid product from the receiving chamber is deposited, means for forcing the solid product through said re-' tort and discharging the same to the atmosphere, gas and air pumps for injecting fuel into said last named retort,`said fuel adaptedf to be ignited to produce incomplete combustion around the compressing means, the

spent gases from said incomplete combustion being conveyed into the outer chamber of said horizontal structure to form the hot gases aforesaid. i

36i An apparatus for the distillation of coal which includes a vertical double wall structure having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall structure having an inner chamber, and an outer chamber having'its entrant end in communication with the lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in said vertical structure down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontalstructure to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamber of said vertical structure to drop down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive ofi' the gaseous and vaporous. products from the c oal dust, the resultant mass being collected at the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, means for introducing water gas into said hot gaseous current before it enters said inner chamberY of said vertical structure to assist in the recovery of ammonia,`a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn from said conveyer and into which the solid matter from said conveyer is dep osited, meansv for conveying the gaseous l 'which includes a verticali double wall struc-n ture having an inner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adi jacent to their tops, a horizontal double wall ber of said vertical structure to drop down structure having lan inner chamber and an outer chamber, said innerl chamber having its entrant end in communication withthe lower end of said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a mixer within said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, saidouter chamber of said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication,means for drawing hot gases through said outer chamber of said horizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure down through said inner chamber of vertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, means for introducing coal dust into said inner chamwiththe current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive oli' the gaseous and vaporous products from the coal dust, the resultant mass being colected at the entrant end of said inner chamber .of said' structure and mixed and conveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, a supplemental device for introducing raw coal dust into said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to mix with'the heated material prior to the discharge of the same from said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, means for in-v troducing water gas into said hot gas current before it enters said inner chamber of said vertical structure to assist in the recovery of ammonia, a separating chamber into whichrthe gases are drawn from said conveyor and' into which the solid mass from said conveyor is deposited, means for conveying the gaseous matter from said last named chamber and aretort into which the solid product from the receiving chamber is deposited, means for forcing the solid product through said retort and dischargin the same to the atmosphere, gas and air pumps for injecting fuel intoA said last named retort, said fuel yadapted to be ignited to"l produce incomplete combustion around the compressing-means, the spent gases from said incomplete combustion-be- 5`5 ing conveyed into the;- outer chamber of said horizontal structure to form thehot gases aforesaid. 7

38. An apparatus for the distillation of.

'coal which includes a vertical double wall structure having aninner chamber and an outer chamber, said chambers communicating adjacent to the'irtops, a horizontal dou,-V ble wall structure having an inner chamber and, an outer chamber, said inner chamber having its entrant end in commumcation with the lower vend of said chamber of for introducin l chamber of sald vertical structure to -drop vertical structure, a

asa-04,790"

Said vertical structure, a mixer within sairdi:

v.inner chamber of said horizontal structure,

said outer chamber vof said horizontal structure and said outer chamber of said vertical structure being in communication, means for drawin hotgases through said outer chamber o said horizontal structure up said outer chamber of said vertical structure, down through said inner chamber of said vertical structure and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure to the discharge end of the same, means coal dust into said inner down with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive/off the gaseous and vaporous products from thel coal dust, the resultant mass being collected at' the entrant end of said inner chamber of said horizontal structure and mixed and vconveyed through said horizontal structure and out of the discharge end of the same, means for introducing steam into said hot gas currentl rior to the entrance of the same -into said mner'chamber of said-ivertical structure, a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn from said conveyor and into `which the solid mass fromV said con- VV veyer is deposited, means for conveyinthe gaseous matter from said last named c amber, a retort into which the solid product vfrom the receiving chamber is deposited,

means for forcing the solid product through said vretort and discharging the same to the atmosphere, gas and air pumps for'injecting fuelv into said last named retort, said fuel adapted to be ignited to vproduce incomplete combustion around the compressing means, the spent gases from such inlcomplete, combustion being conveyed into the outer chamber of said horizontal structure to form thehot ases aforesaid.

39. An apparatus or the distillation of coal which includesa vertical double wall' 'down through saidinner chamber ofsaid `vertical structure: -and then through said inner chamber of said horizontal structure introducin coal dust into said inner chambei' of sai vertical structure to drop downI -to the discharge endv of the same, means Afor with the current of hot gases and become heated thereby to drive off the gaseous and inner chamber of said horizont-al structureto mix with the heated material prior to the discharge of the same from said inner chamber of said horizontal structure, means for introducing steam into said hot gas current prior to the ent-rance of the same into said inner chamber of said vertical structure, a separating chamber into which the gases are drawn from said conveyer and into which the solid mass from said conveyer is deposited, means for conveying the gaseous matter from said last named chamber and a retort into which the solid product from the receiving. chamber is deposited, means for forcing the solid product through said retort and discharging the same to the atmosphere, gasl and air pumps for injecting fuel into said last named retort, said rffuel adapted to be ignited to produce combustion around the compressingmeans, the spent gases from said incomplete combustion being conveyed into the outer chamber of said horizontal structure to form the hot gases aforesaid.

40. An apparatus for the distillation of .coal which comprises an upright stackv or retort, means for circulating an atmosphere ofheated gases downwardly through 'said stack while excluding the atmospheric air, means for dropping coal dust through said stack, means for collecting the deposited mass in said stack and conveying the same away from the stack, said 'means having provision for excluding the atmosphere, means for introducing raw coal Vdust into the conveyer to mix with the heated mass,-

means for separately collecting the solid and gaseous products discharged-from-the conveyer for further treatment.

41. An apparatus for the distillation of coal which comprises an upright or retort, means for circulating an atmosphere of heated gases downwardly through said stack while excluding the'atmospheric air, means for dropping coal dust through said stack, means for collecting the deposited mass in said stack and conveying the same away from the stack, said means having provision for excluding the atmosphere, means for introducing raw coal dust into said conveyer to mix with the heated mass, means for separately' collecting the solid and gas# eous products discharged from the conveyer for further treatment, said last named means including a separating chamber from which the gaseous products are withdrawn, said separating chamber having a dischargel opening for the solid product and means for compressing said solid product while hot to form a semi-hard coal product.

42. The method of distilling coal which consists in first passing relatively iinely di-l vided coal particles through an atmosphere of hot gases to heat the coal particles to cause a separation of the volatile andnonvolatile products, collecting the non-volatile mass as it forms, introducing raw coal dust into said collected non-volatile mass and separately collecting the volatile and nonvolatile products.

43. The process of\distilling coal which includes the following steps showering relatively nely divided -coal particles into an atmosphere of semi-spent gas out of contact with the atmosphere, which gas is at such temperature that each particle bathed in the gas for a short space of time will have its volatiles vaporized, and separately col-4 lecting the resultant non-volatile mass and volatiles, and permanent gases.

' HARRY A. KUHN.

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