Horizontal retort with reciprocating agitator

Claim 1

A RETORT MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING ONE END OF SAID HOUSING, AN ELONGATED CHARRING PLATE IN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING HIGH HEAT CONDUCTING PROPERTIES, MEANS FOR APPLYING HEAT TO SAID PLATE, MEANS FOR REGULATING THE AMOUNT OF HEAT APPLIED TO DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF SAID PLATE, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING COAL PARTICLES ONTO SAID PLATE, RECIPROCATING AGITATOR MEANS FOR SCRAPING AND LIFTING COAL FROM SAID PLATE FOR ENABLING UNHEATED COAL TO CONTACT SAID PLATE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A SERIES OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING STIRRING AND SCRAPING BLADES PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY INTO THE LAYER OF COAL AND MOVING IN CONTACT WITH SAID PLATE ON BOTH STROKES, EACH BLADE HAVING A CONCAVE CUTTING FACE ON EACH SIDE THEREOF, CARRIAGE MEANS RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING IN WHICH SAID AGITATOR MEANS IS SUPPORTED; MEANS FOR TILTING ONE END OF SAID HOUSING FOR REGULATING THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF THE COAL OVER THE PLATE, SAID AGITATOR BLADES ADVANCING THE LAYER ON EACH CYCLE MATERIALLY LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE FORWARD STROKE, AND COUNTERPOISE CONTROLLED MEANS FOR RAPIDLY RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIAGE MEANS FOR REPEATEDLY PERMITTING COAL PARTICLES TO CONTACT SAID PLATE.