IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR THE TREATMENT OF SMALL COAL AND SIMILAR MATERIAL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Edward Hall, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
AND APPLIANCES FOR THE TREATMENT OF SMALL COAL AND SIMILAR
MATERIAL"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Edward Hall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1882:
"
CHARLES EDWARD HALL, of Sheffield; in the County of York, Engineer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR THE TREATMENT OF
SMALL COAL AND SIMILAR MATERIAL."
My invention relates to the washing, grinding, and elevating, of coal, coke, or
other substances, and to improved forms of apparatus to be employed therein, for
separating by specific gravity, dirt and other impurities, for grinding the wet or
washed coal, and for elevating or carrying the same.
'
My improved method of washing consists essentially in the use of an internal
and external tank so arranged in relation to each other that the pulsating action
usually employed for working the coal and water together is kept distinct in the
internal tank, and separate from the circulating flow of discharged water, so as to
destroy the backwash common to other machines. This gives a more certain and
quicker continuous action to my washer, increasing its capacity for a given area
of jigging plate and facilitating the discharge of washed material by the more
perfect system of circulation and settling of dirt et.c. in the outer tank, whence it
can be discharged through valves, trap doors, or other suitable exits, and enabling
the water to be used over and over again.
My apparatus for effecting this part of my improved method consists first, of a
rotary screen with several series of perforations to effect the classification of the
different sizes of coal. The coal is thence delivered on to perforated screens or
bars, the water in the inner tank being kept in constant pulsation and circulation
by the action of a reciprocating piston or plunger, horizontal or vertical, and valves
or other equivalent means, operated by a crank, eccentric, or other similar appliance.

page_text: :
The reciprocating shaft passes through the outer tank by a stuffing box and gland
when horizontal.
The dirt et. c. is allowed to pass through a long valve, operated by levers, into the
external tank, where it collects and is discharged at suitable intervals by valves or
traps from the bottom of the outside tank.
.
The second part of my improved method of treating washed coal et. c. is the
grinding of the same by differentially speeded rollers, and my apparatus consists
of three rollers arranged in a suitable frame, two of which work together in the
same horizontal plane and parallel to one another, whilst the third is situated
underneath and in or near the centre between the two upper ones.
The lower
roller is driven at a higher circumferential speed than the two upper rollers, to
effect more perfect pulverisation, and to prevent the caking and clogging of wet
coal common to other roller machines, and to preserve the truth of the surface of
the said rollers. To give motion to the rollers 1 may conveniently drive the faster
speed roller direct, and take the slower speed of the other rollers from this by
suitable gearing. Or I may use a counter-shaft driving the upper roller by
ordinary external spur gear, and the fast speed under roller, by a pinion thereon
gearing with an internal spur wheel of large diameter, secured to the said spur
wheel on the upper Roll Shaft. Or again two spur wheels or pinions on the
counter shaft, one on each side of the frame, may be used to drive an upper and
the lower roller at their different speeds. One of the upper rollers rotates on a
fixed centre, the other being adjustable, both to its fellow and to the lower roller,
to adjust the fineness of the ground product.
The third part of my improved method of treating washed coal is to carry it
during all its movements from and to the machine by my improved creeper or
elevator.
My improved apparatus consists essentially in the construction of the links,
which are so made as easily to couple and uncouple without the aid of bolts or
packing pieces, the chain not being necessarily weakened in the coupling.
This is effected by making the male end of one link circular at the part where
it engages with the socket or female end of the neighbouring link, and taking off
a flat at the back of the male end. The socket or female end is. turned over so
that the gap is of less size than the diameter of the round part of the male end,
which when once engaged, is thus securely held. The fat enables the male end
to be entered through the gap in the socket or female end, when one link is at
.right angles to the other. When stretched at work the links are securely held and
.cannot get apart by accident.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Edward Hall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th April 1883.
CHARLES EDWARD HALL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR THE TREATMENT OF
SMALL COAL AND SIMILAR. MATERIAL"
My invention relates to the washing, grinding, and elevating, of coal, coke, or
other substances; and to improved forms of apparatus to be employed therein; for
separating by specific gravity, dirt and other impurities, for grinding the wet.or
washed coal, and for elevating or carrying the same.
My improved method of washing consists essentially in the use of an internal
and external tank, so arranged in relation to each other, that the pulsating action
usually employed for working the coal and water together, is kept distinct in the
internal tank, and separate from the circulating flow of discharged water, so as to
destroy the backwash common to other machines. This gives a more certain and
quicker continuous action to my washer, increasing its capacity for a given area of
jigging plate, and facilitating the discharge of washed material by the more perfect
system of circulation and settling of dirt &c in the outer tank, whence it.can be
discharged through valves, trap doors, or other suitable exits, and enabling the
water to be used over and over again.
My apparatus for effecting this part of my improved method consists, first, of a
rotary screen with several series of perforations to effect the classification of the
different sizes of coal. The coal is thence delivered on to perforated screens or
bars, the water in the inner tank being kept in constant pulsation and circulation
by the action of a reciprocating piston or plunger, horizontal or vertical, and valves
or other equivalent means, operated by a crank, eccentric, or other similar appliance.
The reciprocating shaft passes through the outer tank by a stuffing box and gland
when horizontal.
:
The dirt etc. is allowed to pass through a valve, operated by levers, into the
external tank, where it collects, and is discharged at suitable intervals by valves or
traps from the bottom of the outside tank, or by screws and an elevator, or by a.
bucket wheel.
The second part of my improved method of treating washed coal etc., is the
grinding of the same by differentially speeded rollers, and my apparatus consists of,
three rollers arranged in a suitable frame, two of which work together in the same
horizontal plane and parallel to one another, whilst the third is situated underneath
and in or near the centre, between the two upper ones. The lower roller is driven
at a higher circumferential speed than the two upper rollers, to effect the more
perfect pulverisation, and to prevent the caking and clogging of wet coal, common.
to other roller machines, and to preserve the truth of the surface of the said
Rollers. To give motion to the rollers I may conveniently drive the faster speed
roller direct, and take the slower speed of the other rollers from this by suitable.
gearing. Or I may use a counter-shaft driving the upper roller by ordinary
external spur gear, and the fast speed under-roller, by a pinion thereon, gearing
with an internal spur wheel of large diameter, secured to the said spur wheel on
the upper Roll Shaft. Or again two spur wheels or pinions on the counter-shaft,
one on each side of the frame, may be used to drive an upper and the lower roller,
at their different speeds. One of the upper rollers rotates on a fixed centre, the.
other being adjustable, both to its fellow and to the lower roller, to adjust the
fineness of the ground product.
The third part of my improved method of treating washed coal is to, carry it
during all its movements from and to the machine by my improved creeper,
bucket wheel or elevator.

page_text: My improved apparatus consists essentially in the construction of the links,
which are so made as easily to couple and uncouple without the aid of bolts or
packing pieces, the chain not being necessarily weakened in the coupling. This
is effected by making the male end of one link circular at the part where it
engages with the socket or female end of the neighbouring link, and taking off a
flat at the back of the male end. The socket or female end is turned over, so that
.the gap is of less size than the diameter of the round part of the male end, which
when once engaged, is thus securely held. The flat enables the male end to be.
entered through the gap in the socket or female end, when one link is at right
angles to the other. When, stretched at work the links are securely held, and
cannot get apart by accident..
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same with regard to the drawings hereto annexed, reference being had
to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figures 1 and 2 are a sectional elevation and plan respectively of my improved
washing tank and apparatus connected therewith, as suitable for being driven by
steam power.
A A¹ is a rotating perforated screen, through which the dirty coal is fed on to
the perforated jigging plates or screen bars B B¹, but a trough and feed worm may
be employed in lieu of it. The perforations in the two parts A and A', of the
rotary screen, may be of different sizes, so as to separate and classify out the
different sizes of coal. In this way the machine may be divided vertically into
two or more compartments B B', each treating a different size of coal.
The jigging plates B are supported in the frame M of an inner closed tank,
which is distinct from and without communication with the outer tank N, except
through the valves F and f, which can be opened to let out any accumulation of
dirt etc. when desired.
CC are two plungers, passing through two stuffing boxes E E in the outer tank,
and each attached to a piston P, working in an open cylinder, fixed in the inner
framing of the tank M. The pistons P are reciprocated backwards and forwards
by the rotating cranks C',. driven by the gearing D from the counter-shaft and
pulley G, the whole being supported on a main framing H.
The reciprocation of the pistons P thus causes by one face a constant circulation
through the outer tank N by means of the foot valve C,, and by the other face
produces a constant pulsation of water through the jigging plates B B and thus
through the mass of coal upon them. As the washed coal accumulates upon the
plates B B it is sent over and carried away, by the apron K, revolving on the
drums K¹, one of which is driven by the chain or other gearing K,, and delivered
by the spout L, or by an alternative rotating perforated bucket. wheel shown at
Fig 1. A.
A dirt elevator I or rotating bucket wheel & dirt screw (Fig 1 A) may be
combined with this apparatus and may be conveniently driven by the same counter
shaft b 61, from the crank shaft C¹, as drives the rotary screen A, or feed worm
used in lieu of it.
Figures 3 and 4 show a sectional elevation and plan respectively of a modified
washing tank, suitable for hand power. Like letters in these Figures refer to
similar parts as in Figures 1 and 2. The two compound compartments of the
tank M N, M³ N¹, are in this case placed one on each side of the crank C¹, which,
rotating in a slotted link, operates the two pistons P P. At one end the travelling
band K is shown, whilst alternatively at the other end is a simple spout L, for hand
delivery. The reciprocation of the pistons P. P. causes a regular circulation in the
outer tank N by means of the foot valve C, as before, and a pulsation in the inner
tanks through the jigging plates B B': f and f. f. are the plug valves by which the
dirt may be removed.
Figures 5 and 6 are a sectional elevation and plan respectively of my differential
crushing rolls, illustrating the second part of my invention.
The lower roller C is driven from any convenient source of power by the

page_text: pulley H The pinion G upon this shaft gears into the internal gearing on the
wheel F, keyed to the shaft of the roller B. The other roller B' is connected to B
by the gearing b. A is the hopper into which the washed coal is fed, and E is
the shoot by which the ground material is delivered. By the arrangement as
described, the lower roller C, runs at a considerably faster speed than the two
upper rollers, to prevent caking and clogging. One of the upper rollers B works
on a sliding centre, which is adjustable both to the other roller B¹, and to the
under-roller C, in order to adjust the fineness of the ground product.
Figures 7 and 8 show an elevation and plan respectively of my improved creeper
for carrying and straining the washed coal, and Figures 9 to 18 inclusive, show
alternative arrangements and details of the links of the said creeper, in illustration
of the third part of my invention.
Figures 7 and 8 show the creeper formed of plain or perforated metal plates K,
of which the back edge is turned up to cause the creeper to lift the coal up a
considerable elevation as in Figure 1. The creeper is carried on a chain of links
(of which the detail is shown in Figures 9 and 10) upon the circular sprocket
wheels K'.
Figures 11 and 12 show in elevation and plan an alternative jointed trough
creeper, driven on hexagon drums M M¹, the details of the joints 61 63 being shown
in Figures 13 and 14..
Figures 15 and 16 show a sectional elevation and plan of a scraper creeper with
attachable joints, similar to the links shown in detail in Figures 17 and 18. These
latter Figures show, in elevation and plan respectively; a link of which the back
bar or stirrup K* has a flat filed off its back face, perpendicular or nearly so to its
length. The female joint J is turned over so far, that the stirrup bar or male
joint can only enter or issue when the one link is placed perpendicularly to the
other, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 17.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and the
method in which the same may be carried into effect, be it known that what I
consider novel and desire to protect by letters patent is :-
First. In a coal washing machine, the combination of separate inner and outer
tanks with a reciprocating piston and open cylinder in the wall of inner tank, and
a foot valve in outer tank, to effect a constant circulation in the outer tank and
over the coal alternately, with a constant pulsation of the water in the inner tank
through the coal, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination with such a compound washing tank of a perforated
metal Bucket-wheel or creeper to carry away and strain the washed coal
automatically substantially as described.
Third. The construction of a link for such a creeper, elevator, or drive chain,
with a flat on a round stirrup bar or male joint, and the female joint so formed
that the links will only disengage when at right angles to one another, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 17 and 18.
Fourth. In apparatus for the washing and treatment of small coal, the
construction of a differential crusher, one roll running at a higher speed than the
other two, substantially as and for the purpose specified in relation to Figures 5
and 6.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Edward Hall have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
CHARLES EDWARD HALL (L.S.)