IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MOULDING OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hodgson, of Ballard Rathdrum, in the
County of Wicklow, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,
PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MOULDING OF BRICKS, TILES, AND
OTHER LIKE MATERIALS."
Sealed the 17th December 1861, and dated the 20th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hodgson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th June 1861.
I, CHARLES HODGSON, of Ballard Rathdrum, in the County of Wicklow,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MOULDING OF BRICKS, TILES,
AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in applying to peat in a state of dry "mull"
great pressure, say, about 15 tons to each square inch of surface, and con-
tinued for about 30 seconds on each block of peat, whereby it is solidified into
a dense and durable fuel, without resorting to the dangerous and costly process
of heating it previous to compression.
Secondly, in an improvement on my dry peat compressing machine, patented
December 10th, 1858, No. 2837, to adapt it for giving this great and con-
tinued pressure.
This improvement consists in attaching to the outer

page_text: extremities of the straight and untapered tube a prolongation of exactly
similar size and shape in section, and of about equal length, say, about 18
inches, and alike untapered; this prolongation is constructed wholly or in part
of thin metal, say, about th inch thick, and split by longitudinal slots into
two or more parts, throughout the whole length, or a portion of its length.
One or more screw clamps or other contrivances for pressing together the
sides of this tube are affixed outside, by tightening which the sides of the
supplementary tube will be pressed against the advancing and already solidified
or partly solidified blocks of peat, thus retaining them under pressure a longer
period. This period and the pressure may be increased or diminished at
pleasure, and a greater or less amount of pressure may be exerted on each
block as it is formed before the whole mass yields to the forward thrust. My
improved compressing apparatus is applicable to the moulding of bricks, tiles,
and other like materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Hodgson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HODGSON, of Ballard Rathdrum, in the County of Wicklow, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Hodgson, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Hodgson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Hodgson, 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 THE MANUFACTURE
OP FUEL PROM PEAT, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE
APPLICABLE TO THE MOULDING OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Hodgson, my 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

page_text: 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 Charles Hodgson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
:
My Invention consists, first, in applying to peat in a state of dry mull great
pressure, say, about 15 tons to each square inch of surface, and continued for
about 30 seconds on each block of peat, whereby it is solidified into a dense
and durable fuel, without resorting to the dangerous and costly process of
heating it previous to compression. To counteract the heat developed during
compression, I find it useful to keep a stream of cold water passing over the
machine.
Second, in an improvement on my dry peat compressing machine, for which
Letters Patent were granted to me on the 10th day of December 1858,
No. 2837, to adapt it for giving this great and continued pressure. This
improvement consists in attaching to the outer extremities of the straight and
untapered tube a prolongation of exactly similar size and shape in section, and
of about equal length, say, about 18 inches, and alike untapered; this pro-
longation is constructed wholly or in part of thin metal, say, about inch
thick, and split by longitudinal slots into two or more parts throughout the
whole length, or a portion of its length. One or more screw clamps or other
contrivances for pressing together the sides of this tube are affixed outside, by
tightening which the sides of this supplementary tube will be pressed against
the advancing and already solidified or partially solidified blocks of peat, thus
retaining them under pressure a longer period. This period and the pressure
may be increased or diminished at pleasure, and a greater or less amount of
pressure may be exerted on each block as it is formed, before the whole mass
yields to the forward thrust. My improved compressing apparatus is
applicable to the moulding of bricks, tiles, and other like materials.
I place a number of blocks under pressure at the same time, and for a con-
siderable time in the same machine, for the purpose of completing their
solidification by a number of consecutive strokes from the ram. By this plan
fuel of a far more dense and durable kind is produced than by any act of
pressure of short duration.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-

page_text: First, compressing peat, coal, or other material in a dry state without
heating the same, as herein-before described.
Second, retaining a number of blocks under continued pressure in the same
machine at the same time, for the purpose of completing their solidification,
as herein-before described.
Third, the construction and employment of a supplementary tube for the
purpose of continuing and at pleasure modifying the pressure given to the
blocks during manufacture, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hodgson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one.