A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DISTILLING COAL
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Souquière (called Emile), of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DISTILLING COAL,"
Sealed the 27th October 1859, and dated the 30th April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Souquière at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th April 1859.
I, JOSEPH SOUQUIÈRE, (called Emile), of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
in the Empire of France, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DISTILLING COAL," to
be as follows —
When coalis distilled principally for the purpose of obtaining gas for lighting
purposes, it is of great advantage that the coke which is in the proportion of
about 70 to 75 pr cent. of the coal distilled, should be of the highest possible
commercial value. Hitherto the coke produced from the retorts has been
light, spongy, & friable, in fact, unfit to be employed in apparatus requiring a
very high temperature, such as blast furnaces, and copulas, and railway
locomotive furnaces. When distilling coal, either in closed or open vessels
(coke furnaces of various forms) for the purpose of obtaining coke as the
principle product, the cokes obtained are of various qualities, depending on
the nature of the coal treated, & are often light, spongy, friable, and present
the same objections as the coke obtained from gas retorts. Hence immense
advantages would be obtained by a method of producing from all kinds of coal,
either in closed or open vessels, coke suitable for all purposes. This result is
Price T

page_text: the present application for Letters Patent.
1ST. PRINCIPLE OF THE PROCESS.
When a spongy substance is pulverized, the dust which results will increase
in density in proportion as the grains are more formly pounded, this result
which is true for all spongy substances is obtained with coke, so that a mass
of coke of an apparent density of from 1 lb. to 14 lb. for every 50 cubic inches
will acquire by pulverizing and moderate pressure a density of from 3 lbs. to
3 lbs. pr 50 cubic inches. Further, coke may be increased in density of
whatever quality by poinding and agglomerating it, the first of these processes
may be readily performed, this, however, is not the case with the process of
agglomeration. The various known methods of forming cakes or blocks of coal
are not applicable for this purpose, by reason of their expense, and especially
because the addition of bituminuous matters forms a combustible which runs in
furnaces at a high temperature. I, however, mention the disadvantages of
this method of agglomeration to render the description of the improved system
more definite, and which I will now describe.
2ndly. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCES
The method of agglomeration comprised in this improved arrangementcon-
sists in pulverizing the coke produced by any of the known processes (coke
obtained in closed vessels, gas retorts, or in coke furnaces, either open or
closed) and mixing it with various proportions of pounded coal of the samcor
different kind as that from which the coke has been produced. This mixture
is then heated, either in the distilling apparatus used for making the cake
originally or in a separate apparatus, and thus new coke is obtained, composed
of one part coke twice distilled, and another part coke which has been once
distilled; the coke twice distilled being always of greater density than that only
once treated. Further this improved coke does not presenta spongyappearance,
it is also sonorous and firm, and suitable for all purposes, hence its commercial
value is incontestably superior to that of the coke prepared by known pro-
From the foregoing, it will be understood, that the proportions of
coke and coal forming the mixture may vary according to the nature of the
coal and the quality of the coke desired to be obtained.
cesses.
3rdly. PRINCIPAL RESULTS OBTAINED.
1st, the herein-before described process will furnish coke of great density,
and suitable for all purposes; but besides this important result I will mention

page_text: the principle and immediate advantages arrising from the employment of my
improved process in gas works, which are as follows:-Gas is more abundantly
produced from the distillation of this improvedmixture,and possesses a lighting
power superior to that produced from raw coal; the operation is moreover
effected more rapidly, and as the contents of the retort deminish in volume,
the coke produced may be withdrawn in a single lump.
In conclusion, by the employment of this improved process in gas works,
coke may be obtained of great density, suitably for all purposes, and producing
gas in a greater abundance and volume. Further, it is suitable to remark,
that in ordinary gas works where the retorts are heated by means of coke, in
consequence of its small actual value, this combustible which is so much
improved by my improved process, may be replaced by any other fuel of less
value, such as raw coal, peat, or other substance.
Finally, the use of my improved process tends to produce great economy in
the management of gas works.
2ndly, by the use of this improved process in coke furnaces of all kinds
coke may be obtained at any required density and suitable for all purposes.
Coke may also be obtained by means of it from coal, which till now has only
furnished coke dross, unsuited for metalurgical operations, especially those
which produce coke too light for employment in blast furnaces, or locomotives.
3rdly, and lastly, this improved process permits of the utilization of coal
dross, and waste coke, which have not hitherto been used or which at best
have only been used on conditions comparatively inferior to the value of the
coke furnishing the waste.
It is unnecessary to add that the use of my improved process forms no
obstacle to the employment of washed coal, which is necessary and as at
present used when coke of the first quality is required to be obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Souquière in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPIL
SOUQUIÈRE (called Emile), of 29,Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, in the Empire
of France, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Souquière (called Emile) Her special licence that I, the
said JosephSouquière(calledEmile), executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Joseph Souquière (called Emile), executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
rom time to time and at all times thereafter during the term thereinexpressed,
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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DISTILLING COAL," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Souquière (called Emile),
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one 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 Joseph Souquière (called Emile), 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:-
When coal is distilled principally for the purpose of obtaining gas for
lighting purposes, it is of great advantage that the coke, which is in the pro-
portion of about 70 to 75 per cent. of the coal distilled, should be of the
highest possible commercial value. Hitherto, the coke produced from the
retorts has been light, spongy, friable, in fact, unfit to be employed in
apparatus requiring a very high temperature such as blast furnaces, cupolas,
and railway locomotive furnaces.
When distilling coal either in closed or open vessels (coke furnaces of
various forms) for the purpose of obtaining coke as the principal product, the
cokes obtained are of various qualities, depending on the nature of the coal
treated, often being light, spongy, friable, and present the same objections as
the coke obtained from the retorts. Hence, immense advantages would be
obtained by a method of producing from all kinds of coal, either in close or
open vessels, coke suitable for all purposes. This result is obtained by means
of the improved process, which forms the principal object of the present
Invention.

page_text: IST. IRINCIPLE OF THE IROCESS.
When a spongy substance is pulverized, the dust which results will increase
in density in proportion as the grains are more finely pounded. This result,
which is true for all spongy substances, is obtained with coke, so that a mass
of coke of an apparent density of from 1 lb. to 14 lb. for every 50 cubic inches
will acquire by pulverizing and moderate pressure a density of from 3 to
3 lbs. pr 50 cubic inches. Further, coke may be increased in density of
whatever quality by pounding and agglomerating it; the first of these pro-
cesses may be readily performed; this, however, is not the case with the
process of agglomeration.
The various known methods of forming cakes or blocks of coal are not
applicable for this purpose by reason of their expense, and especially because
the addition of bituminous matters form a combustible which runs in furnaces
at a high temperature. I, however, merely mention the disadvantages of this
method of amalgamation, to render the description of the improved system
more definite, and which I will now describe.
2ndly. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS.
The method of agglomeration comprised in the improved arrangement
consists in pulverizing the coke produced by any of the known processes
(coke obtained in closed vessels, gas retorts, or in coke furnaces either
open or closed) in mixing it with various proportions of pounded coal of
the same or different kinds as that from which the coke has been produced.
This mixture is then treated, either in the distilling apparatus used for making
the cake originaly, or in a separate apparatus, and thus new coke is obtained,
composed of one part coke twice distilled, and another part coke which has
been only once distilled, the coke twice distilled being always of greater
density than that only once treated. Further, this improved coke does not
presenta spongy appearance; it is also sonorous and firm, and suitable for all
purposes; hence its commercial value is incontestably superior to that of the
coke prepared by known processes. From the foregoing it will be understood
that the proportions of coke and coal forming the mixture may vary according
to the nature of the coal and the quality of the coke desired to be obtained.
Thirdly. PRINCIPAL RESULTS OBTAINED.
1st, the herein-before described process will furnish coke of great density,
and suitable for all purposes; but besides this important result, I will mention
the principle and immediate advantages arising from the employment of my

page_text: improved process in gas works, which are as follows:-Gas is more abun-
dantly produced from the distillation of this improved mixture, and possesses
a lighting power superior to that produced from raw coal. The operation is
moreover effected more rapidly, and as the contents of the retort diminish in
volume, the coke produced may be withdrawn in a single lump. In con-
clusion, by the employment of this improved process in gas works, coke may
be obtained of great density suitable for all purposes, and producing gas in
greater abundance and volume. Further, it is suitable to remark, that in
ordinary works where the retorts are heated by means of coke, in consequence
of its small actual value, this combustible, which is so much improved by my
process, may be replaced by any other fuel of less value, such as raw coal,
peat, or other substance. Finally, the use of my improved process tends to
produce great economy in the management of
gas work.
2ndly, by the use of this improved process in coke furnaces of all kinds,
coke may be obtained of any required density, and suitable for all purposes.
Coke may also be obtained by means of it from coals, which till now have
only furnished coke dross unsuited for metalurgical operations, especially those
which produce coke too light for employment in blast furnaces or in
locomotives.
3rdly, and lastly, this improved process permits of the utilization of coal
dross and waste coke which have not hitherto been used, or which at best
has only been used on conditions comparatively far inferior to the value of
the coke furnishing the waste. It is unnecessary to add, that the use of my
improved process forms no obstacle to the employment of washed coal which
is necessary, and as at present used when coke of the first quality is required
to be obtained.
In conclusion, I may remark, that this Invention is distinguishable from all
others more or less analogous which have been heretofore in use for the
agglomeration of the residues of coke by its applicability for the manufacture
of gas, and for the manufacture of coke in general, the principle feature con-
sisting in the trituration of coke obtained by ordinary processes, and then
mixing it with the coal to be distilled.
Having described the nature of my Invention, & the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part-recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the calcination or destructive distillation of a mixture of pulverized
coke and coal in the manufacture of gas, for the purpose of obtaining a larger
quantity of gas, and also to render the coke resulting therefrom of more
value.

page_text: Secondly, the calcination or destructive distillation in coke ovens of a
mixture of pulverised coke and coal for the purpose of producing coke of
greater density which will also produce coke of good quality from any kind
of coal.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Souquière (called Emile) have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.