IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND SOLIDIFYING COAL, CLAY, LIGNITE, PEAT, AND OTHER ANALAGOUS SUBSTANCES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINERY EMPLOYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Georgo Fairburn, of 45, Goswell Road,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND SOLIDIFYING COAL,
CLAY, LIGNITE, PEAT, AND OTHER ANALAGOUS SUBSTANCES, APPLICABLE ALSO
TO MACHINERY EMPLOYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Scaled the 25th June 1869, and dated the 7th January 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry George Fairburn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th January 1869.
I, HENRY GEORGE FAIRBURN, of 45, Goswell Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND SOLIDII YING
COAL, CLAY, LIGNITE, PEAT, AND OTHER ANALAGOUS SUBSTANCES, APPLICABLE
ALSO TO MACHINERY EMPLOYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of improvements in that class of machinery
for compressing and solidifying coal, clay, and other analagous sub-
stances for which Letters Patent were granted me on the 14th December
1865, No. 8242, in which the blocks of fuel are formed by pressing them

page_text: through a tube in positions divided and shaped by pallets or dies, ana
consists,―
1st. In improvements in the construction of the cylinder portion
of the machinery, the objects being to economise the consumption of
steam and to prevent breakage or injury to the dies or pallets.
And, 2ndly. In an improved arrangement for introducing the dies or
pallets into working position.
And, lastly. In an arrangement whereby for pressing coal and other
substances that require the pallets to be cool the said pallets may, after
having being in contact with the heated material be cooled before
being reintroduced into the machine, while for pressing peat and other
substances that require the pallets to be hot the said pallets can
be introduced into working position in a highly heated state.
The first part of this Invention I accomplish as follows:-I bore out
the centre of the cylinder caps at both ends of the cylinder and form in
continuation of such bore a small cylinder at each end of the large
cylinder, into each of which I insert a moveable packing or plug which
I call my adjusting plugs. These plugs are capable of moving forward
into the large cylinder, but cannot move backward or out further than
will bring their inner surfaces flush with the inner surfaces of the ends
of the large cylinder. The piston being in the centre of its stroke and
the piston rod passing right thro' the large cylinder and out at each
end and thro' each of the said adjusting plugs, stops are placed on the
said piston rod, one just at the outer edge of each of the said adjusting
plugs, so that the said piston cannot move in either direction without
drawing one of the plugs into the interior of the large cylinder. If now
the piston be passed to one end of the large cylinder it will have drawn
with it, by reason of the stop on the piston rod, one of the said plugs as
far into the cylinder as it can be drawn, while the stop on the piston rod
at the outside of the other plug will have left that, plug by the same
distance as the first-mentioned plug is projecting within the large
cylinder. The steam slide valve which has let the steam into the
cylinder to bring the piston up to one end now opens a communication
between the two ends of the cylinder, thus producing an equal pressure of
steam on each side of the piston, but as on one side thé steam acts on the
moveable plug drawn into the cylinder by the piston rod, the tendency
of the plug to regain its position acts on the piston and forces it back
until the stop on the piston rod on the outside of the other plug comes

page_text: into contact with that plug, when the piston remains stationary, at the
same time closing the communication between the two ends of the
cylinder; communication between one end of the cylinder and the
exhaust is now opened in the usual manner, and the steam being let in
on the other side of the piston it is driven home with the full pressure
of the steam.
The second part of my Invention, viz., the placing of the pallets
into working position, I accomplish as follows:-I employ a flat
circular ring in a horizontal position of such a diameter that while one
extremity of its circumference is in a position to introduce the pallets
in front of one end of the pressing tube, the opposite portion of the
circumference of the said ring just passes beyond the other end of the
said pressing tube to receive the pallets expelled therefrom after they
have passed through the said tube between the blocks of pressed
material. Around this ring on its flat surface the pallets are laid
at equal distances apart, and a circular step-by-step motion being given
to the ring the pallets are brought one after the other in front of the
mouth of the pressing tube to be forced therein by the plunger or piston
rod, as already alluded to. Or instead of the said ring I may employ
an endless chain worked in a similar manner, and each link carrying
a horizontal platform to receive a die or pallet.
The third part of my Invention viz., the heating and cooling of the
pallets I accomplish as follows:-To heat the said pallets I cause them
on their journey from the discharge end of the pressing tube to the end
in which they are admitted to pass through a easing in which they are
subjected to either furnace or steam heat, while for cooling the said
pallets they are therein subjected to a blast of cold ain
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry George Fairburn in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd July 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GEORGE FAIRBURN, of 45, Goswell Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year

page_text: .
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for-Herself, Her. heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry. George Fairburn, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry George Fairburn, my executors, adminis-
frators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry. George
Fairburn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no, others, from time to time and at all times
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 MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND SOLIDIFYING COAL,
CLAY, LIGNITE, PEAT, AND OTHER ANALAGOUS SUBSTANCES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO
MACHINERY EMPLOYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry George Fairburn, my executors. or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
onc' of their hands and seals, 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 Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry George Fairburn, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 :— .
My Invention consists of improvements in that class of machinery for
compressing and solidifying coal, clay, and other substances for which
'Letters Patent were granted to me on the 14th December 1865,
No: 3242, in which the blocks of fuel are formed by passing them
through a tube in portions divided and shaped by palletts or dies, and
consists,―
First. In improvements in the construction of the cylinder portion of
the machinery, the objects being to economise the consumption of steam
and to prevent breakage or injury to the dies or palletts.
And, Secondly. In an improved arrangement for introducing tho dies
or palletts into working position..
And, lastly. In an arrangement whereby for pressing coal and other
substances that require the palletts to be cool, the said palletts may, after
having been in contact with the heated material, be cooled before being

page_text: reintroduced into the machine, while for pressing peat and other
substances that require the palletts to be hot, the said palletts can be
introduced into working position in a highly heated state.
The first part of this Invention I accomplish:-I boro out the
centre of the cylinder caps at both ends of the cylinder and form in
continuation of such bore a small cylinder at each end of the large
cylinder, into each of which I insert a moveable packing or plug, which
I call my adjusting plugs; these plugs are capable of moving forward
into the large cylinder, but cannot move backward or out further than
will bring their inner surfaces flush with the inner surfaces of the ends
of the large cylinder. The piston being in the centre of its stroke, and
the piston rod passing right through the large cylinder and out at cach
end, and through each of the said adjusting plugs stops are placed on
the said piston rod, one just at the outer edge of each of the said
adjusting plugs, so that the said piston cannot move in cither direction
without drawing one of the plugs into the interior of the large cylinder.
If now the piston bo passed to one end of the large cylinder it will have
drawn with it, by reason of the stop on the piston rod, one of the 'said
plugs as far into the cylinder as can be drawn, while the stop on the
piston rod at the outside of the other plug will have left that plug by
the same distance as the first-mentioned plug is projecting within the
large cylinder. The steam slide valve which has let the steam into the
cylinder to bring the piston up to one end now opens a communication
between the two ends of the cylinder, thus producing an equal pressure
of steam on each side of the piston, but as on one side the steam acts on
the moveable plug drawn into the cylinder by the piston rod, the
tendency of the plug to regain its position acts on the piston and forces
it back until the stop on the piston rod on the outside of the other plug
comes into contact with that plug when the piston remains stationary,
at the same time closing the communication between the two ends of
the cylinder, communication between one end of the cylinder and the
exhaust is now opened in the usual manner, and the steam being let in
on the other side of the piston it is driven home with the full pressuro
of the steam.
The second part of my Invention, namely, the placing of the palletts
into working position, I accomplish as follows:-I employ a flat circular
ring in a horizontal or oblique position, of such a diameter that while
one extremity of its circumference is in a position to introduce the

page_text: pallets into the moulding chamber or pressing tube the opposite portion
of the circumference of the said ring just passes beyond the end of the
said pressing tube to receive the palletts expelled therefrom after they
have passed through the said tube between the blocks of pressed
material; around this ring on its flat surface the palletts are laid, and
are carried to their position by their own gravity, or a step-by-step
motion being given to the ring the palletts are brought one after the
other into the mouth of the moulding chamber or pressing tube to be
forced therein by the plunger or piston rod, as already described. Or
instead of the said ring I may employ an endless chain or belt worked in
a similar manner, and each link carrying a horizontal platform to
receive a die or pallett. In this manner the said palletts may be heated
or cooled in their transit by any ordinary process. For the better
supplying the moulding chamber or pressing tube with materials I
discharge the measurer when over the cavity of the moulding chaniber
by means of the admission of steam or air under pressure.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood
and readily carried into effect, I now proceed to describe the same by
the aid of the accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the
letters and figures.
Figure 1 represents the elevation of the machine, part in section, with
portion of framing removed.
Figure 2 represents the plan of the machine, also part in section, with
the upper portion of one side removed.
Figure 3, section of plan of cylinder and pistons.
Figure 4, transverso vertical section of discharging and measuring
apparatus.
Figure 5, transverse vertical section of moulding tube through dotted
lines.
In each Figure the same letters of reference denote similar corre-
sponding parts.
A, steam cylinder; B, B, cylinder caps; C, C, moulding tube; D,
valve box or steam slide; E, E, hopper; F, measurer; G, discharger;
H, piston rod; I, plunger; J, ring or channel for conveying palletts;
k, k, k, palletts; 2, 1, 2, blocks or bricks; M, piston; N, plugs or
pistons.
In conclusion to the foregoing description I would here briefly note

page_text: that by the reciprocating motion of the piston rod and plungers the
measurer is caused to pass under the bottom of the hopper to be charged,
and is brought back with the plunger over the charging cavity of the
moulding chamber, and the materials ejected out of the measurer into
the moulding chamber by the admission of steam, air, or gas, &c. into
the chamber above marked G, Figure 4.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed or
carried into effect, I would have it clearly understood that I do not
intend to confine myself to the precise details herein-before described,
as the same may be otherwise varied without departing from the general
principle of this my said Invention, nor do I claim as new and of my
said Invention the exclusive use of the several parts and combinations
thereof hercin-before set forth and described, except when the same are
employed in and for the purpose of my said Invention, which I hereby
declare to consist,―
First. Of causing the piston and plunger to take their position with
the palletts and materials with a small per-centage of the maximum
power of the steam before the moulding and pressing force is put on.
Second. The application of a horizontal or oblique ring or endless
chain or incline plane with semicircular ends or other polygonal areas
for conveying the palletts from the discharge end of the tube to the
moulding chamber.
Third. The introduction of the pallets through the side of the moulding
chamber.
Fourth. The application of fluid, steam, gas, or air under pressure for
chancing the moulding chambon with mater
chamber.
pressure for
Fourth. The application of fluid, steam, gas, or air under
charging the moulding chamber with materials for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry George Fairburn, have
hercunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
HENRY GEORGE FAIRBURN. (L.S.)