IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFacture
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rae Wilson Smith, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, and Julius Frederick Moore Pollock, of Leeds, in the
County of York for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFacture
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rae Wilson Smith
& Julius Frederick Moore Pollock at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 21st April 1880.
WILLIAM RAE WILSON SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, and JULIUS FREDERICK MOORE POLLOCK, of Leeds, in the County of
York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention has reference to the manufacture of artificial fuel from small coal,
or from small coal mixed with house refuse and pitch with or without a mineral or
other oil, such materials being made into blocks or briquettes by machinery
analogous to certain machinery employed in making bricks for building, but
provided with improved means for perforating the said blocks or briquettes so as to
render them more readily combustible than are solid blocks of fuel.
The said machinery consists of mixing apparatus and apparatus for ensuring a
proper distribution of the component parts (which apparatus may be similar to
apparatus employed for analogous purposes in making bricks for building), and also
of a machine consisting of a mixing or pugging mill, a disc table revolving on edge,
that is to say, placed vertically, in which are the moulds for moulding the blocks or
briquettes; a powerful apparatus for compressing the blocks or briquettes from
both sides simultaneously, and at the same time effecting perforation of the said
blocks or briquettes. This perforating apparatus consists of punches passing
through one of the opposed pressing plates, opposite to which punches are tubes
passing through the other pressing plate, and so situated that the punches will
enter the said tubes, and push through them any small portions that they may
carry with them. The motions are so arranged that the pressing plates approach

page_text: sufficiently near to close the block or briquette in its mould or die, but do not
finally squeeze it until after the solid punch lias entered the hollow one.
The intermittent motion for the table enables it to be filled from the sliding
bottom of the pugging mill, then pressed, and lastly delivers off the finished block
or briquette, or two or more at once according to size may be produced.
The machine may be made double, that is to say, with two mould tables or discs,
the.actuating machinery being placed between the tables, and the compression and
filling taking place alternately in one and the other table, one table consequently
moving while the other is still. In this arrangement one pugging mill may be
mado to suffice for the double machine, and a great saving in labour and power
besides prime cost will result. According to this Invention a servicable fuel can be
made from midden and house refuse, with a small per centage of small coal and
pitch or other bituminous substance. A little mineral or other oil, or an
equivalent inflammable or cementing substance may in some cases be added.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Rae Wilson Smith & Julius Frederick Moore Pollock
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st October 1880.
WILLIAM RAE WILSON SMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, and JULIUS FREDERICK MOORE POLLOCK, of Leeds, in the County of
York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Our said Invention has reference to the manufacture of artificial fuel from small
coal, or from small coal mixed with house refuse and pitch, with or without a
mineral oil or other oil, such materials being made into blocks or briquettes by
machinery analogous to certain machinery employed in making bricks for building,
but provided with improved means for perforating the said blocks or briquettes, so
as to render them more readily combustible than are solid blocks ef fuel.
The said machinery consists in mixing apparatus and apparatus for ensuring a
proper distribution of the component parts (which apparatus may be similar to
apparatus employed for analogous purposes in making bricks for building), and also
of a machine consisting of a mixing or pugging mill, a disc table revolving on edge
(that is to say, placed vertically), in which are the moulds for moulding the blocks
or briquettes; a powerful apparatus for compressing the blocks or briquettes from
both sides simultaneously, and at the same time effecting perforation of the said
blocks or briquettes. This perforating apparatus consists of punches passing
through one of the opposed pressing plates, opposite to which punches are tubes
passing through the other pressing plate, and so situated that the punches will
enter the said tubes, and push through them any small portions that they may
carry with them. The motions are so arranged that the pressing plates approach
sufficiently near to close the block or briquette in its mould or die, but do not
finally squeeze it until after the solid punch has entered the hollow one. The
intermittent motion for the table enables it to be filled from the sliding bottom of
the pugging mill, then its contents pressed, and lastly delivered of the finished
block or briquette, or two or more at once according to size may be produced.
The machine may be made double, that is to say, with two mould tables or discs,
the actuating machinery being placed between the tables, and the compression and
filling taking placo alternately in one and the other table, one table consequently
moving while the other is still.
According to our Invention a servicable fuel can be made from midden and
house refuse, with a small per centage of small coal and pitch, or other bituminous
substance: A little mineral oil, or other oil, or an equivalent inflammable or
cementing substance may in some cases be added.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and Figures marked
thereon, that is to say,—
In the accompanying Drawings Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the arrangement of our
improved perforating apparatus, which is capable of application to existing
machines when the pressure is given from both sides. Figure 1 is a side elevation;
Figure 2, an end elevation, and Figure 3, a plan; a, a, is the frame or base plate of
the machine, and b, the mould plate or table placed vertically, one of the moulds in
which is shown at b'; c, c, are fixed saddles carrying transverse moving slides d, d.
These saddles are provided with projecting vertical arms or standards c', c'. 'The
moving slides d, d, are also provided with projecting arms d', d', rising to about
half the vertical height of the arms c¹ on the fixed saddles; on the arms d¹, d', are.

page_text: hinged rocking levers d³, d², connected by links d³ at their top ends to the
arms c', c', and by links d', at their bottom ends to the sliding plates e, e¹; these
plates are arranged to slide freely to and fro inside the moving slides c, d, in which
they are retained by plates, or keeps, shewn at d³ in Figures 1 and 2. Tho plate e
(the one in front of the machine by preference) is provided with projecting tubes
(3 to each briquette are shown in the Drawing) e, e², e, passing through the
pressing plates do, which are attached to the moving slides d, d. The opposite
plate e (on the other side of the table) is provided with projecting punches e³, e³, e³,
arrangod opposite the tubes e, e², e, and of a size to fit into the said tubes, so that
when made to approach from opposite sides the punches will enter the tubes. The
fixed saddles and moveable slides have openings through their under sides, shewn
at in Figure 1, through which auy material passing through the tubes may fall
away clear of the machine in the direction indicated by the arrows.
The action is as follows:-The moving slides d, d, receive (say) 2 inches of
horizontal motion from the actuating parts of the machine, as they move along
towards the table; they carry with them the centres of the rocking levers d³, the
upper ends of which are held back by their attachment to the fixed arms c¹, c', the
lower ends will therefore have an increased motion in accordance with the relative
position of the centres of the rocking levers. In the Drawing these are shewn
central, so that the bottom ends of the said levers, and consequently the plate and
tubes on one side, and plate and punches on the other side will advance, say 4.
inches, while the slide themselves advanco 2 inches. By this means the punches
will enter the tubes in the centre of the briquette before the final squeeze received
from the plates do is given to the saine. The shaded parts of the moulds b¹ show
the briquettes after compression with the holes through them having necessarily two
diameters. The Drawing shews three briquettes being pressed simultaneously and
each with three holes arranged diagonally, but this is simply a matter of selection.
The second part of our Invention consists in the arrangement of a double
machine, of which the apparatus already described may, or may not, form a part.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 4 is a front elevation; Figure 5 is a side
elevation of one half of the machine; Figure 6 is a plan, and Figures 7 and 8, are
detached views of parts not clearly presentable in the general views. The same
reference letters indicate the same parts throughout these views; a, a, is the main
base plate or frame of the machine; b, b, are the two tables placed vertically;
b', b', are the moulds (shown as before to press three briquettes simultaneously)
c, c, are fixed saddles carrying the moving pressing slides d, d, furnished with the
pressing plates do, dº. Up to this point the reference letters correspond with
those in Figures 1, 2, and 3. To avoid complexity ordinary pressing slides are
shewn without our improved perforating apparatus, but it is evident from these
views to what parts this apparatus can be applied, it being one of our improvements
that the perforating motions are self-contained in the pressing slide, and applicable
to existing machines not constructed according to our Patent; e are pug mills
(omitted from Figure 5), each provided with a vertical shaft e' having helical blades
of the ordinary description and a sliding bottom e. The shafts e¹ are continued
upwards and receive motion from above by means of bevel wheels, and an ordinary
counter shaft with fast and loose pulleys, which need not here be more fully
described. The other parts of the machine receive motion from the fast and loose
pulleys f, f¹, carried on the shaft f2, which also carries the pinion f³, driving the
large spur wheel g, and the main shaft of the machine g'; this shaft has a cranked
or eccentric portion at g², and carries at its inner end the mitre wheel g³. The
crank g imparts reciprocating motion to the connecting cross-bar h, which imparts
its motion to the vertical levers i, i, through the pins ; these levers are
extended downwards to the runners 1, 2, on which the crossbar h is supported, and
upwards to the pins ³, 13; they are keyed in the centre to the rocking shafts j, j.
The levers i give direct motion to the pressing plates at the points it on the inner
side of the mould tables, and through the connecting rods %, and the external
levers k¹ ; similar motion is imparted at the points to the pressing plates outside

page_text: the mould tables. The combined action of these pressing levers acting simul-
taneously from both sides is practically a duplication of the arrangement forming
part of the subject matter of Letters Patent, No. 3235, granted to one of us, viz.,
Julius Frederick Moore Pollock, as of the 16th September, A.D., 1875. Springs
are provided at ³ to moderate the pressure and avoid accident.
Each rocking shaft j also imparts reciprocating motions, first, through the arm l
and bell crank lever and connecting link to the slide 3, by which the briquettes
are expelled when they arrive at the highest position in the mould plate; and,
second, through the arms m and intermediate levers m', and links m², m³, to the
sliding bottom of the pug mill which motion is separately shewn in Figure 8. The
various levers and connections actuated by the shafts will be clearly understood
by reference to Figure 7 where a front view of them is given detached from tho
rest of the machine, it being a section taken on line A, B, of Figure 5.
Intermittent motion is imparted to the mould plates b by the mitre wheel g³
driving the mitro wheel n and through it the shaft n' which carries a disc at each
each end n², n³, imparting motion through hanging slotted levers n³, n³, and
pawls n, n, which take into ratchet teeth b, b, formed on the periphery of the
mould table b. The discs n³, n³, are arranged so as to operate the two tables
alternately.
21
The throwing out gear is so arranged that the two sides of the machine may be
cach operated independently of the other, so that one side may even be repaired
while the other is in operation, thus giving the advantages of two separate machines
in the compound machine. This is done as follows:-The cross-bar h acts on tho
pin through the sector-like piece o, which is capable of partly rotating with the
pin which forms its hinge; when in the position shown the machine is in gear, but
if its bottom side o¹ be elevated into a vertical position (as shewn at o³, in Figure 5
in dot and pick lines), the bar will then be free to reciprocate without moving the
lever i, thus throwing out of gear all the reciprocating motions actuated by the
shaft j. The pin i' which carries the piece o also carries a lever o³ having a ratchet
joint at the point o. A sliding bolt p passing through the side frame of the
machine and caused to slide to and fro by the shaft p' acting through the lever p³,
and actuated by an external hand lever p³ is arranged so that when thrust inwards
by moving the hand lever through the arc p, p, it comes in contact with the
lever o which can pass by it in the direction in which its jointed end can give
(that is, while pressing), but on the return motion it will be caused to turn on its
axis, thus turning the piece o into the position shewn in dot and pick lines at os
and throwing the reciprocating motions out of gear, which it will be observed takes
place always at the extreme backward stroke of all the pressing slides and
reciprocating motions which is the position in which it is always most desirable
to stop.
The same action of the hand lever p³ is also made to arrest the motions of the
mould table and the pug mill, the first through the long arm p³ carried on the
shaft p which being moved downwards comes in contact with the pin no projecting
from the pawl n', thus preventing the pawl from taking into the teeth b' formed
on the periphery of the mould table; the second through the mitre wheels q which
give a partial rotation to the vertical shaft q' which actuates an ordinary strap
lever motion, throwing the belt which drives the pug mill counter shaft off the fast
on to the loose pulley.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The material being fed to the pug-
mills e is by them forced downwards till it comes in front of the sliding bottom c²,
by the action of which it is forced into the set of moulds at. 1 in Figure 4, from
there it is carried round till by the intermittent motion of the table it arrives at the
position of the set of moulds numbered 2; here it receives the pressure, and if the
perforating apparatus is applied, is also perforated, and continuing to move with
the table till it arrives at the position numbered 3; is then delivered in the form of
briquettes or bricks on to a suitable shelf or table r, from which it is finally removed
by the attendant.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that
we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of our Invention; but what we consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The mechanism for perforating briquettes or bricks or blocks of artificial
fuel, the said mechanism being provided with tubes and punches opposite each
other and operating essentially as described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The duplex machino as shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the
accompanying Drawings, in which pressure is given from both sides of the blocks
or briquettes, in the manner herinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Rac Wilson Smith and Julius
Frederick Moore Pollock, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
WM. R. W. SMITH.
(L.S.)
2
JULIUS F. M. POLLOCK.
(L.S.)