Method for continuous production of coke and heat

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF PRODUCING HEAT AND COKE FROM GREEN PLASTICISABLE COKING COAL, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF PREHEATING THE COAL UNTIL SUBSTANTIALLY ALL MOISTURE IS DRIVEN THEREFROM AND THE COAL IS DRY; PASSING A HOMOGENEOUS BED OF THE DRIED PREHEATED COAL IN A HORIZONTAL PATH THROUGH A COKING OVEN HAVING A FURNACE MOUTH OVER PART OF THE BED PATH; AND IGNITING PART OF THE BED AS IT ENTERS THE OVEN: THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH COMPRISE THE STEPS OF ZONE FEEDING HOT PRIMARY AIR UPWARDLY THROUGH THE BED FROM AN INITIAL ZONAL REGION BENEATH THE BED AT THE START OF THE PATH IN AMOUNTS SUFFICIENT TO COMPLETELY IGNITE THE BED BUT INSUFFICIENT TO COMBUST WITH A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE VOLATILES LIBERATED FROM THE COAL THEREABOVE; SIMULTANEOUSLY ZONE FEEDING HOT PRIMARY AIR UPWARDLY THROUGH THE BED FROM SUCCEEDING ZONAL REGIONS DISPOSED BENEATH THE BED PROGRESSIVELY AWAY FROM THE INITIAL ZONAL REGION AND TOWARDS THE END OF THE PATH IN SUCCESSIVELY DECREAS-