Improvements in the Manufacture of Blocks of Fuel from Granulated or Pulverised Coal and other Materials.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Mar.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Blocks of Fuel from Granulated
or Pulverised Coal and other Materials.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.M.E., of the firm of Wm. P. Thompson & Co., of
Manchester, Liverpool and London, in the Counties of Lancaster and Middlesex,
respectively, Patent Agents (a communication from abroad by William Underwood,
of 23, Rue du Mail, Paris, in the Republic of France Merchant) do. hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Hitherto it has been customary to employ, in the preparation of blocks from
granulated or small particles of coal of all kinds, combustible substances alone, s'ich
as for example tar resin, petroleum refuse and other carbonaceous substances to cause
the particles to adhere together, thinking that the employment of other inert materials
would necessarily diminish the combustion and increase the production of cinders or
residue in a greater proportion, as the quantity of these added materials is much more
considerable in virtue of their feeble adhesive properties. This use of carbonaceous
substances as well as being very costly has also as an inconvenience the production of
abundant smoke presenting a disagreeable odour and producing the deposit of soot
which rapidly obstructs the passage for the smoke.
My invention consists essentially in the use of a special non-combustible and non-
burning substance, but presenting very energetic agglomerating or adhesive properties
which render it very suitable to bind together very solidly the pulverised and
granulated particles of coal which are desired to be compressed into blocks of a certain
form.
This substance or material consists of a soluble silicate such as the silicate of soda,
potash or alumina, etcetera, which is dissolved in a hot state in a proportion of water
such that the solution presents a density of about 25° Beaumé.
This liquid is then mixed in a cold state in the proportion of 10 per cent. with the
pulverised or granulated coal which is required to be compressed; this mixture can
be brought about by the aid of any kind of a mixer. The pasty mass coming from
the mixer is then moulded into the form of blocks by means of a hydraulic press or
other apparatus capable of subjecting the material to a high pressure. The amount of
pressure depends on the size of the blocks to be produced and on the size of the
particles of coal under treatment.
These blocks are then dried in the open air or in a stove if the operation is required
to be accelerated and can then be placed upon the market. It is intended that the
employment of silicates to effect the adhesion of the particles shall not prevent the
addition to the mixture of any other combustible, burning or even inert substances
which it may be useful to add to it according to the nature of the blocks to be obtained
and the special purpose they are to be applied to in the arts.
It is thus for example in the case where it is desired to obtain blocks of small
dimensions such as those suitable for kitchen fires, stoves, fire-places, and the like,
there is introduced either into the mixture, or into the pasty mass during its passage
through the mixer a small proportion, say one per cent. of nitrate of potash or chlorate
of potash for the purpose of furnishing a quantity of oxygen suitable for combustion
Dated this 6th day of March 1889.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Blocks of Fuel from Granulated
or Pulverised Coal and other Materials.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.M.E., of the firm of Wm. P. Thompson and Co., of
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, in the Counties of Lancaster and Middlesex,
respectively, Patent Agents, (a communication from abroad by William Underwood,
of 23, Rue du Mail, Paris, in the Republic of France, Merchant,) 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:-
Hitherto in the manfacture of combustible blocks from coal of all sorts it has been
customary to make use of materials which are themselves combustible, such as for
instance, tar, resin, petroleum-residue, and other carbonaceous bodies, to cause the
pieces of coal to unite, because it was thought that the use of inert materials caused
a diminution of combustion and an increase in the production of ash or residue, and
that the proportion would be greater inasmuch as the quantity of these carbonaceous
materials to be added is necessarily very large owing to their feeble cohesive
power.
This use of carbonaceous material besides being in itself very costly has the further
inconvenience of causing copious formatiom of smoke which gives off an unpleasant
odour and induces the deposit of soot which quickly obstructs the smoke passages or
flue.
This invention consists essentially in the application to this purpose of a cohesive
material of special chemical composition which is neither combustible nor a supporter
of combustion but which possesses very powerful cohesive properties which enable it
to bind firmly together the pulverized or granular pieces of coal which are to be
formed into blocks of any shape.
This cohesive material consists of a soluble silicate such as the silicate of soda,
potash, which is dissolved in such a quantity of water preferably hot that the solution
shall have a density of about 25° Baumé.
This liquid is when cold intimately mixed in a proportion of about 10 per cent.
with the powdered or granular coal which it is intended to make into blocks, the
mixture being made by means of any kind of mixing machine. The mass on leaving
the mixing machine is then moulded into the form of blocks, by means of an hydraulic
press or other apparatus capable of subjecting the material to a high pressure the
amount of which depends upon the dimensions of the blocks which are required and
the size of the particles of coal to be compressed.
The blocks are then dried in the open air, or in an oven to hasten the operation.
They are then ready for use.
°
It is intended that the use of silicates, as cohesive material should not prevent
the addition to the mixture of any other substance, whether it be combustible, a
supporter of combustion or even an inert body which it may be useful to add
according to the nature of compressed material required and the special industrial uso
for which it is intended.
Thus when for example blocks of small dimensions are required, such as are suitable
for kitchen fires, stoves, etc. a small quantity, say about
potash or chlorate of potash is introduced either into the cohesive solution, or into
per cent. of nitrate of
the material during its passage through the mixing-machine in order to provide a
sufficient quantity of oxygen to ensure combustion.
4
4
But what essentially characterises the process and differentiates it from all that has
been hitherto done in the same direction is that the cohesive material which is used is
án alkaline silicate, used by itself and without the addition of any other chemical
product intended to combine with this silicate or in any way to help in the cohesion
of the blocks. Experience has shown that blocks obtained in the way described above 5
have always been sufficiently hard, and sufficiently impervious to moisture for
industrial purposes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of coal-blocks or artificial coal; the use as a cohesive
material, of a soluble alkaline silicate such as the silicate of soda, or potash, in the
proportions and in the manner indicated above without the addition of any other
material intended to aid in the cohesion of the blocks; substantially as described.
2. In the manufacture of coal blocks or artificial coal obtained by the method
herein before indicated; the addition to the mass, of inert substances of any kind, or
of supporters of combustion, such as the nitrate or the chlorate of potash, for the
of retarding or rendering more active the combustion of the coal substantially as
described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1880
purpose
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.