A New Process for Making Combustible Blocks or Cakes from Particles or Dust of Waste Coal, Anthracite, and Lignite.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Dec.. 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Process for Making Combustible Blocks or Cakes from
Particles or Dust of Waste Coal, Anthracite, and Lignite.
I, ETIENNE JUMEAU, Engineer-in-Chief of French India, and residing at
Pondicherry, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The process consists in the use of Tamarind seed (Tamarindus indica), which after
being pounded and made into powder and fermented, is converted by means of about
half-an-hour's boiling into an agglutinative paste of a mucilaginous consistency,
which becomes capable of joining together particles of coal, anthracite and lignite,.
and forming them into combustible pieces shaped like bricks, blocks or other similar
articles.
In order to prepare this agglutinative paste, the seeds are first pounded and made.
into powder; when this is done the flour is placed in a vessel in which it is boiled,
four and a half volumes of potable water to one volume of the above powdered seed
being poured upon it. This mixture is then stirred round for some time in order that.
the water may soak well into the mealy lump, which being done the mixture is left to
stand for twenty four hours, so as to produce a slight fermentation and to thus obtain
a good yield.
At the end of this time viz. twenty four hours, the mixture is placed over a.
fire, after having added to it a further quantity of three volumes of potable water
to one volume of the powder.
The boiling lasts only a short time varying according to the heat of the fire and the
quantity of paste used in the process; generally from twelve to fifteen minutes boiling
is sufficient.
While the mixture is on the fire, it must be frequently stirred round the lump, in order
to prevent any formation of crust at the bottom of the vessel, which would be prejudicial
to the quality of the agglutinative paste. With a view to test the boiling operation, a.
rod or spatula is plunged from time to time into the mixture and taken out quickly;
the rod is slightly pressed between the thumb and forefinger, and if a paste of
mucilaginous consistency attaches to the fingers as they disengage themselves, then
the agglomerating substance may be considered as approaching completion. Nothing
remains to be done then but to wait for the formation of a sort of cream which soon
sets on the surface of the mixture. This peculiarity is a very important one one to be
observed during the process; it is produced towards the end of the time of boiling
which it determines exactly. The fire may then be put out.
One kilogramme (two pounds and a fifth avoirdupois) of the seeds yields about
twelve litres (1 litre being equivalent to one English pint and three-quarters) of
agglutinative paste. The substance thus obtained must be employed when cold,
without adding any water; it keeps two or three days in hot climates or as long as it
does not give a sour and mouldy smell.
The mixture of this paste with particles of coal, anthracite or lignite, may then be
performed in any ordinary manner and by any suitable machine, in the proportion
of about ten per cent. ; this proportion however, varies according to the size of the
substances to be agglomerated. When the agglutinative paste is in excess, the sides
of the combustible cakes, if exposed to the air, get covered with a thin crust of
mould which may be avoided by diminishing the agglomerating substance. The

page_text: blocks prepared as above described have a great force of cohesion and will bear
extremes of all weathers.
It is optional to use any kind of pulverizing machine for making the seeds into
powder, and the same apparatus which is used for forming the blocks with pitch
and tar can be employed in this process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of making combustible blocks, bricks, cakes and the like
from particles or dust of waste coal, anthracite or lignite, substantially as herein
.specified.
2. In the manufacture of blocks or bricks from coal dust, anthracite and
lignite, the use of the paste obtained from Tamarind seed, substantially as, and for
the purposes, described.
Dated this second day of December 1895.
ETIENNE JUMEAU,
By his Agents, Gedge & Feeny,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.