Machine Labour in Gas Making.

Progress, Volume VI, Issue 9, 1 July 1911, Page 727

Machine Labour in Gas Making.

At no time in the history of gas manufacture (says _ “Engineering”) has there been such activity in the replacement of hand labour by machinery as at the present time. The chief area for the exercise of such machines is that of which the retort-house is the centre, embracing the coal-store and the coke-store. Whilst vertical retorts are in some works being installed, as the more or less natural development of the inclined system, yet in many others the horizontal retort is being retained, with the application thereto of mechanical operation. The mode of transmission of the motive power to these various machines has something to do with determining the collateral features in the coal stores and the coke stores. Whilst wire rope, compressed air, hydraulic, and electrical _ transmission have all their representatives in this field, yet in the combined schemes of taking in coal, stoking, and delivering coke, the electrical appears to have advantages worthy of careful consideration. Of the several types of elec-trically-driven stoking machines, the Fiddes-Aldridge occupies a unique position, inasmuch as it is the only one charging and discharging simultaneously a 20ft. to 22ft. length of horizontal retort. To this distinction is added another—of taking automatically a supply from the overhead hoppers into the machine as desired. The result is that one machine attendant performs what is often three distinct operations in other systems. The only conceivable drawback to the system of simultaneous discharge and charge is that the retort is not ordinarily inspected at each operation and to its general condition and soundness. But if such inspection is desired, ii may be arranged by the operator not taking in coal until the retort has been discharged. In practice, however, this hypothetical objection has not been found a serious one, and as the economy of operating is unquestioned, the machine is meeting with very much favour.