IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF FUEL
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gwynne, of Essex Wharf, Essex Street,.
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and James.
Egleson Anderson Gwynne, of the same place, Engineer, for the.
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE
OF FUEL."
Sealed the 20th October 1853, and dated the 13th August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gwynne-and
James Egleson Anderson Gwynne at the Office of the Commis-
sioners.of. Patents, with their Petition, on the 18th August 1853.
We, JOHN GWYNNE, of Essex Wharf, Essex Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and JAMES EGLESON. ANDERSON
GWYNNE, of. the same place, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR
MANUFACTURE OF FUEL" to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in the combining with small coal or
with peat prepared according to an Invention already patented by the

page_text: said James Egleson Anderson Gwynne, or by any other of the modes
now in use, tar, pitch, or other bituminous matter whilst in a state
of powder, which greatly simplifies the process of manufacturing the
fuel, and produces a better result, all boiling or heating the pitch or
bituminous matter being entirely dispensed with. According to one
mode of carrying out this Invention the small coal or the peat in a
dry powered state are fed together by any suitable means, and in the
proportions required, into holes or recesses the size of the blocks into
which the fuel is to be formed in a horizontal revolving table heated
by any suitable arrangement, into which holes the combined materials
are compressed by descending rams actuated by eccentrics; another
series of rams serving to expel the compressed materials from the holes
or recesses. When desired to add the bituminous matter to the coal
or peat in a liquid state the peat, small coal, or other material may, after
coming from the drying cylinders, be blown through a pipe or passage,
above which and connected with it is placed a cylinder or other vessel
containing the bituminous matter in a highly heated state, either by.
means of an outer casing or jacket of steam, or any other suitable
means; the bottom of this cylinder or vessel communicating with the
pipe or passage is perforated with very small holes, through which the
bituminous matter is expressed in the quantity required, and the whole
matter is then carried forward together to undergo the necessary
compressing operation..
ic³.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Gwynne and James Egleson Anderson
Gwynne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th February
1.854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JOHN GWYNNE and JAMES EGLESON ANDERSON GWYNNE, of Essex
Wharf, Essex Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Gentlemen,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year'

page_text: of our Loril One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-.
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Gwynne and James Egleson:
Anderson Gwynne, our executors, administrators, and assigns, Her:
especial licence that we, the said John, Gwynne and James Eglèsón.
Anderson Gwynne, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such.
others as we, the said John Gwynne and James Egleson Anderson.
Gwynne, our exccutors, 'administrators, and assigns, should at any time..
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all tiines thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention. for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF FUEL," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Gwynne and James
Egleson Anderson Gwynne; by an instrument in' writing under our
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,.
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within.
six calendar months next and immediately after the late of the said
Letters Patent...
I NOW KNOW YE; that we, the said Jolin Gwynne and James:
Egleson Anderson Gwynne, do hereby declare. the nature of our said:
Invention, and in, what. manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say:
1. The nature, object, and intention of the said Invention consists.
in a new mode of effecting the combination of the materials used and
generally entering into the composition of artificial fuel. 2nd. A new
mode of making peat, coal, &c. more dense, or solidifying the same.
3rd. The manufacturing from peat and its combinations ornamental:
surfaces and articles. 4th. The mode or manner by which we effect
such operations, and the mechanical arrangements by which we find
it. convenient in practice to conduct such process. The general nature
of the Invention consists in the mechanically combining of substances
that are bituminous, as tar, pitch, resins, or the compounds. of the

page_text: same that. may properly enter into the composition of artificial fuel,'
with coal, peat, &c. in a state of preparation or condition for that
purpose, and this in a. more efficient and economical manner than has
been hitherto practised. The mode of operation by which we effect
this improvement is as follows, (that is to say,) we simplify the process
of combining or intermixing the component materials by which we.
form our artificial fuel by two processes distinct in their general
arrangements and the order of their action, but of like nature 'and'
intention. in their resulting practical effect. By the first of such
processes we dispense with all operations of boiling or heating the
bituminous matter to be added to cause or effect the cohesion-of the
coal, peat; &c. after pressure, thereby effecting improvement in the
article manufactured, and economy both in working and production.'
We perform this the first of these improvements by taking the peat,
small.coal, or any of the component materials that are proper to enter
into the manufacture of an artificial fuel, and-reducing them into a state-
of powder or small pieces, such reduction being performed by any cont
venient mode of pulverization; it is then dried and heated according to
the. Invention secured to James-Egleson Anderson Gwynne by Her
Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth of May, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three; we then reduce or grind
to a fine powder the bituminous matter, which, is fed along with the
heated lust in their relative proportions into the moulds, in which
the mass is compressed, and which may be either oval, conical, sphe-
rical, cylindrical, oblong, square, spherodical, cubical, or of prismatical-s
sides, or of any other.form required. The machinery for compressing
it we prefer to use as described in the aforesaid Patent. Another
mode of effecting this mixture of the materials is by heating the bitu-
minous matter in a cylinder or other conveniently formed vessel, having.
a steam jacket or casing into which the steam or hot water is passed,
or it may be heated by another convenient arrangement; the bottom
of this vessel communicating with the passage through which the
heated. fuel is passed is perforated with small conically formed holes,"
having the apices of the cones inwards or pointing towards the vessel
containing the bituminous matter. A scraper may be so arranged as-S

page_text: to keep these holes open, should it be found they become obstructed.
The bituminous matter and the powdered and hot dust is thus fed into
the moulds where they are compressed. The bituminous matter may
be also added in the form of steam or vapour to the dried materials,
to be pressed by any convenient arrangement. The pcat, coal, or other
substances may be dried by blowing through them a jet of high-pressure
or surcharged steam or currents of cold or heated air. Peat, coal, or
coke may be combined in the one mass and treated as before described.
For economy and facility in the manufacture of fuel we adopt an arrange-
ment of tubes made either of cast iron, carthenware, or other material
found suitable, and set in. an oven or furnace similar to gas retorts, or
in any manner for to heat to the best advantage. An archemedian'
screw of the length of each tube is adjusted to revolve inside of each
of these tubes, and thoroughly mix and expose the small coal, pent, &c.
to the heat, and traverse it forward to the delivery cind of each tube,
where it is conducted to the moulds for pressing and solidifying. The
coal, &c. is fed from a spout into an aperture on the top of each tube
at the end opposite to the delivery orifice, and it acquires heat as it
passes along the tube by the operation of the screw. The coal, &c.
may be mixed with bituminous matter or not, and the tubes may be
made of a conical form, and the fuel under treatment, by being forced
into the smaller end of the tube, will be solidified. Our mode or
method of treating or solidifying peat, &c. is as follows:- We take
peat in the state termed air-dried, or we take it in its wet state, and
cut it into thin portions or slices, and in that state pass it through
rollers in order to express. and remove the moisture contained in it;
and, if found necessary, after one operation of such rolling we repeat'
by passing it through a second set of rollers, and so continue to repeat
the operation till it is found sufficiently dry; we then subject such
air-dried. or rolled and pressed portions or cakes to the action of
rollers constructed with projecting cutters or teeth in order to reduce
them to such portions or dimensions as they may freely pass into com-
pressing machinery, by which it is further solidified by being forced
into the sizes and forms required, or otherwise it may be pressed
through conically formed: tubes of any of the forms before described.

page_text: The compressing rains, mould boxes, or tubes are raised to the required
temperature by any convenient means of heating tools of metal, and
thus a smooth and polished surface is produced upon the blocks under
treatment; the practical effect of which tends to prevent absorption of
moisture and attrition in. stowage; or the blocks and figures so pro-
duced may be coated with a protective matter. We also propose to.
make from such peat, after the addition of bituminous matter, oils,
glue, venis turpentine, coal tár, gums, or any other material which may
be found to give it tenuity, and render it capable of being formed into
ornamental articles, such as picture frames, mouldings, embossed
surfaces, or images, stauettes, or toys. When the materials are
combined in the proper proportions they are passed under suitably cut
dies, moulds, or plates attached to descending rams; which rams and.
moulds may be heated or not, as found necessary. When one dic
cannot be conveniently made to produce the proper forms, two or more
dies may be made to converge upon the article to be pressed or moulded.
In compliance with the rules and instructions issued by Her Majesty's
Law Officers to be observed (Rule 13); we now introduce a copy of:
the Provisional Specification, as allowed by the Law Officers, that is
to say:
.
.65
COPY OF THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION OF THIS OUR SAID PATENT,.
AS ALLOWED BY THE LAW OFFICER.
•
"Provisional Specification of the Invention of Messrs. Johr and.
James Egleson Anderson Gwynne for Improvements in the Pre-
paration or Manufacture of Fuel.' These improvements consist in the.
combining with small coal or with peat prepared according to an
"Invention already patented by the said James Egleson Anderson:
"Gwynne, or by any other of the modes now in use, tar, pitch, or other
bituminous matter whilst in a state of powder, which greatly simpli-
"fies the process of manufacturing the fuel, and, produces a. better
result, all boiling or heating the pitch or bituminous matter being
"entirely dispensed with. According to one mode of carrying out this.
Invention the small coal or the peat in a dry powdered state are fed:
together by any suitable means, and in the proportions required, into

page_text: C
46
"holes or recesses the size of the blocks into which the fuel is to be
formed in a horizontal revolving table heated by any suitable arrange-
"ment, into which holes the combined materials are compressed by
descending rams actuated by eccentrics; another series of rams serving
"to expel the compressed materials from the holes or recesses. When
"desired to add the bituminous matter to the coal or peat in a liquid
"state the peat, small coal, or other material may, after coming from
"the drying cylinders, be blown through a pipe or passage, above which
and connected with it is placed a cylinder or other vessel containing
the bituminous matter in a highly heated state, either by means of
an outer casing or jacket of steam, or any other suitable means;
"the bottom of this cylinder or vessel communicating with the pipe or
passage is perforated with very small holes, through which the bitu-
minous matter is expressed in the quantity required, and the whole.
"matter is then carried forward together to undergo the necessary
"compressing operation."
26
44
Having thus described the nature and intention of our said Invention,
and the manner in which, in general practice, we prefer to organize
and carry the same into effect, we desire to have it understood that
although we have herein set forth particular examples of express
organizations in shewing and describing the same, and management,
more or less in detail, of the manufacture, machinery, and apparatus
used and applied by us in carrying out our said Invention, yet we say
that we present the same in this our Specification rather as a mode of
elucidating the principle of the treatment of the matter and construc-
tion of the apparatus, and as giving some positive mode of organiza-
tion for such principle of treatment and construction, (in accordance
with the requisition to that effect in the grant of our said Letters
Patent,) than as exclusively and strictly confining ourselves to or giving
them as the only definite and positive mode of treatment or construction
in which our said Invention can be carried out, but that we claim them
generally as they are herein stated so far as they are new, but not
confining ourselves to the minute precision of such organization, such
combination, or such definite and fixed applications, provided that and so
far as the peculiar character of any or either part of our said Invention, as

page_text: well as the entirety thereof, in its general principle of treatment or.
construction, application and use, be retained or put in practice under
any minor change of form anil configuration, transposition of parts, or.
modification thereof whatsoever.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Gwynne and James Egleson
Anderson Gwynne, have hereunto set our hands and seals,, this
Thirteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four.
Witness,
JOHN WALKER DUNCAN.
JOHN GWYNNE.
(L.S.)
JAMES E. A. GWYNNE. (L.S.)