THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT AND SUCH LIKE VEGETABLE MATTER MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT AND SUCH LIKE VEGETABLE MATTER
Year: 1866

page_text: THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT AND SUCH LIKE VEGETABLE MATTER."
A communication from abroad by 'Louis Elsberg, residing at the City
THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT AND SUCH LIKE VEGETABLE MATTER."
-A communication from abroad by 'Louis Elsberg, residing at the City
of New York, United States of America.
A communication from abroad by 'Louis Elsberg, residing at the City
of New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 31st July 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN, that I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM PEAT AND
SUCH LIKE VEGETABLE MATTER," (a communication to me from abroad by Louis
Elsberg, a person resident at the City of New York, United States of America,)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:―
The fuel manufactured by the Inventor is termed by him Feugot coal; it
is a hard dense material obtained from peat, and having properties similar to
those of mineral coal. The subject-matter of this Patent, consists of the
process and machinery devised by him for manufacturing it.

page_text: For convenience of description the subject-matter of this Patent may
be divided into two parts or main divisions, each of which comprehends
several improvements, some of which may be used without others if deemed
expedient.
Peat in its natural state consists of vegetable matter partially disorganised
or decomposed by the action of moisture and other natural agents, and mixed
with water to such an extent that the latter constitutes the greater part of the
material.
The first division of the Invention consists of the processes devised by Louis
Elsberg for getting rid of the water, furthering the decomposition of the
vegetable matter, changing its structure, and solidifying it, so that it is
transmuted into Feugot coal. This division of the Invention is based upon
the discovery that when peat is subjected to the joint action of artificial heat
and moisture a change takes place in the character of the vegetable fibres of
which it is composed, which change facilitates the solidification of it by
pressure, and that the agencies that are essential for the thorough solidifica-
tion of peat are heat, moisture, and pressure. These agencies may be applied
to the material in various ways. If the material be in the wet condition in
which it is usually found in nature; the most economical method is to dry it.
by exposure to air and then to heat and moisten it by injecting steam into it.
In this method the steam imparts to the air-dried material the amount of
heat and moisture required to change its character. Another method of
applying the heat is to heat the material while it is in a moist condition
immediately previous to or during the application of the pressure to it, and
the heat in this method may be applied either by means of steam, by
friction produced by the arrangement of the machinery, or by other means as
found expedient. Either method of conducting the process may be employed
with advantage.
The first part of the first division of the Invention consists of the process of
changing the character of peat and other partially decomposed vegetable
matter by the direct application of steam to it. This division of the Invention
consists further of the process of applying to peat or other partially decom-
posed vegetable matter the quantities of heat and moisture required to change
its character, by first drying it (either by exposure to air or by artificial
means) and then steaming it. The effect of this process is to get rid of the
superfluous moisture by carrying the drying so far that there is not sufficient
moisture left in the mass to permit it to be economically manufactured into
Feugot coal by the application of heat alone, and then to charge the material
with the requisite quantity of moisture at the same time that it is heated.

page_text: This division of the Invention consists further of the process of solidifying.
peat and other partially decomposed vegetable matter by the application of
heat (whether applied by steam or otherwise) and mechanical pressure
applied successively or simultaneously to the material while it is in a moist
.state, by which state is meant in this Patent one in which the peat contains
from 15 to 40 per cent. of water as distinguished from the wet state in which
peat generally exists in the bog. that is. when it contains from 80 to 90 per
cent. of water.
This division of the Invention consists further of the process of transforming
peat and other partially decomposed vegetable, matter into fractitious coal.
termed Feugot coal. by the application of steam and mechanical pressure.
thereby furnishing the heat, moisture, and pressure required to produce the
desired result.
4..
The most convenient method of practising the Invention is as follows:-
The peat bed is drained to a depth of two or more feet by the cutting of.
parallel lines of ditches through it so as to carry off the water: then the
surface is harrowed by a common harrow drawn by animals or by steam
power, so that the surface is divided and exposed to the action of the atnios-
phere.. which rapidly dries it, this operation being furthered by the heat
received from the sun. After this drying the dried peat is collected by means
of the implement known as the road scraper, and is conveyed by means of
cars, carts, or wheelbarrows to sheds, where it is kept for further use. The
air dried peat may be steamed in a tank or chamber, and may then be
conveyed to a press, by which the mechanical pressure is applied; but it is
deemed best to combine the steaming chamber and pressing mechanism so
that the material after steaming passes directly to the pressing. mechanism
without intermediate handling. It has also been found expedient to stir,
grind, or agitate the peat during the application of the steam, the effect of
which is to shorten the time occupied in the process by exposing the whole of
the peat rapidly to the action of the steami, so that it is more quickly
permeated thereby and more thoroughly heated. In practising the Invention
herefor the Inventor prefers to use a steaming chamber of the form of the
ug mill employed to temper brick clay, and to combine with this chamber a
stirrer or agitator (consisting of an upright shaft fitted with radiating arms)
nd also a steam pipe which is connected with a high-pressure boiler, and is
rovided with orifices for the discharge of steam into the chamber, so that
team may be injected into the peat while it is stirred, worked, or kneaded
herein.
The steaming chamber and its appurtenances as above described are

page_text: combined with one or more piston presses, each having a piston or plunger
which is caused by means of a crank or eccentric to move to and fro longi-
tudinally in a cylindrical chamber open at one side for the reception of the
steamed material and at one end for the ejection of the solidified matter.
The friction of the material against the sides of the exit passage of the press
affords sufficient resistance to effect the requisite compression, and this
resistance may be increased by making the escape passage longer, or by
forming it tapering, or by both of these means.
The machinery thus generally described constitutes the subject-matter of
the second division of this Patent, to which reference may be had for a
complete knowledge of its construction.
The dried peat may be conveniently delivered into the top of the steaming
As the
chamber by means of an elevator, such as is used for elevating grain.
peat passes down the chamber it is acted upon by the heat and moisture
applied by the steam; it then passes from the steaming chamber to the
presses from which it is ejected in a solidified condition. The quantity of
steam that has been injected into the material with success is one sufficient to
moisten it so that it will slightly cohere when compressed in the hand, and to
raise its temperature to about 100° Fahrenheit. The mechanical pressure
that has been applied with success is equal to about 4 tons per square inch of
surface of the piston of the press, but it has been found expedient in some
cases to increase this pressure and to vary the quantity of steam injected into
the peat according to the nature of the article. The substance manufactured
in the above described manner is hard and dense and is black, or nearly so, in
color; it resembles mineral coal in its appearance and properties, and burns
with a flame wholly unlike the smouldering fire produced by the use of air-
dried peat.
It may be used either for fuel or for the manufacture of articles
of utility or ornament, as it is susceptible of a high polish. If it is to be
nianufactured into articles of utility or ornament, such, for example, as
buttons, knife handles, picture frames, &c., it is expedient to use a press with
dies of proper form to impart the desired shape to the article, and to subject
the steamed material directly to these dies either in a pure state or after i
has been combined in the steaming chamber with other materials.
Although the above described mode of practising this division of the
Invention is believed to be the best, yet the Invention is not limited to tha
mode nor to the construction of the machinery which will herein-after be
described, as both may be changed without avoiding material parts of thi
division of the Invention. Thus, for example, if the peat contain so large a
quantity of water that the additional moisture derived from the injection o

page_text: ordinary steam would render it too wet to be directly compressed, it is
expedient to superheat the steam by causing it to pass through a pipe heated
in a furnace before it enters the steaming chamber, so that the mass may be
heated without introducing too much moisture. If again the peat contain the
requisite quantity of moisture to produce the change in its character when
heat is applied, as may be the case when the drying is stopped at a certain
point, or when dried peat is sprinkled with water, the slightly moist peat may
be heated to about the temperature of 100° Fahrenheit, or higher. during the
stirring or compression of it without injecting, steam into it in this case if
the heat be sufficiently great steam is formed in the material by the action of
the heat upon the water which is contained in the moist material.
What is claimed under the first division as the Invention to be secured by
Letters Patent is.-
The process of changing the character of peat or other partially decomposed
vegetable material by treating it with steam, substantially as set forth, the
steam being injected into the material..
Also the process of applying to peat or other partially decomposed vegetable
material the requisite amounts of heat and moisture to change its character
by first drying the material and then steaming it. substantially as set forth.
Also the process of solidifying peat or other partially decomposed vegetable
material by the application of heat and mechanical pressure while it is
in a moist state (containing from 15 to 40 per cent. of water), substantially
as set forth.
Also the process of transforming peat or other partially decomposed vege-
table material into fractitious coal by the application of steam and mechanical
pressure, substantially as set forth.
The second division of the Invention which constitutes the subject-matter
of this Patent consists of the machinery for manufacturing Feugot, coal.
accotding to the process described in the preceding 'division. This machine
comprehends means of heating the peat by steam, of stirring, grinding, or
working it, of compressing it; and of delivering it, in a compressed state
utomatically. The first part of this second division of the Invention consists
of the combination of an agitator; stirrer, or grinder, and a chamber (fitted at.
ts lower end with one or more delivery openings) with a steam pipe to apply
team to the article which is worked by the agitator in the chamber, so that
he material is simultaneously steamed and worked as it passes through the
hamber of the machine to the delivery opening thereof, and the operations of
Forking and steaming the material may be performed continuously.
This division of the Invention consists further of the combination of the

page_text: agitator or stirrer and chamber above described with a piston press, provided
with a discharge passage for the escape of the compressed material, and
operating in such manner that the material compressed at one stroke of the
piston acts as the bed against which the material operated upon at the next
siroke is compressed.
This division of the Invention consists further of the combination of the
second part of the Invention with a steam pipe to supply steam to the
chamber of the agitator, so that the peat subjected to the machine is worked.
steamed, compressed, and delivered by the continuous operation of the
machine without intermediate handling.
This division of the Invention consists further of the combination of the
piston chamber of the press with a discharge passage, whose interior is
tapering so as to increase the resistance to the movement of the compressed
material through it, thereby increasing the resistance of the material to move-
ment by the piston, and consequently increasing the force with which the
compression is effected.
This division of the Invention consists further of the combination of the
piston and piston chamber of the press with a discharge passage, whose
interior is cylindrical or tapering for a portion of its length, and is then
widened out so that the material after being compressed is permitted to
expand gradually, whereby its form is made more perfect.
The machine represented in the accompanying Drawings embodies all the
above improvements, Figure 1 being a side elevation of it upon a scale of
three-quarters of an inch to one English foot, Figure 2 being a plan of it,
Figure 3 being an end view of it, Figure 4 being a transverse section of parts
of it following the dotted line A, B, of Figure 1, and Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 10, being views of parts of the machine denoted by the same letters of
reference as the corresponding parts in other Figures.
In the machine thus represented the chamber A in which the material is
steamed is connected with the frame that supports the presses and the gearing
that imparts motion to them, so that the whole forms a substantial machine
which may be conveniently supported upon two strong cross beams B, B
The upper end of this chamber is enlarged so as to form a hopper mouth, inte
which the material to be treated can be readily thrown. The interior of the
chamber is divided by several perforated diaphragms or gratings b, b, and is
traversed by the agitator or stirrer, which is composed of an upright shaft C
and a series of blades d, d', P, secured to arms radiating from the said shaft
The upper series of blades when the shaft is revolved agitate the material and
work it through the gratings, so that it is reduced to a granular or powdery

page_text: condition when the steam is injected into it. The lowermost series of
blades d complete the working of the material while it is heated by the steam
and eject it from the chamber into two lateral delivery passages D. D, from
which it passes to the presses. The shaft C of the agitator is fitted with a
bevilled wheel E which gears into a bevelled pinion F that is mounted upon
a. shaft G, and power is applied to this shaft by a belt H encircling a belt
pulley secured to the shaft. The chamber A has a steam delivery pipe J
applied to it. and this pipe is provided with branches a, a, that enter the
chamber so as to supply steam to the material contained therein. The steam
delivery pipe J is connected with a main K proceeding from a high-pressure
boiler, and a stop valve is inserted between the main and delivery pipe so as
to permit the delivery of the steam to the peat in the chamber A to be
controlled. The delivery passages D. D. into which the material is ejected
from the chamber A. are enlarged to form hoppers by which the material is
conducted to the presses beneath. In the machine represented in the
Drawings there are two presses at each side of the heating or steaming
chamber A. Each of these presses has a piston chamber L which is, traversed
by a piston or ram M, to which a reciprocating movement is imparted, as will
herein-after be described. The piston chamber has an opening through its
upper side to permit the material to enter it; it is open at one end to permit
the stem of the piston or ram M to pass out to the operating mechanism, and
it is open at the other end to permit the pressed material to be discharged.
The length of stroke of the piston or ram is such that in its backward move-
ment it opens the opening c into the piston chamber, thus permitting the
material to enter it and in its forward movement its end passes beyond the
opening, thus pushing the material forward towards the discharge passage m,
and cutting off its escape through the lateral opening to the hopper d
above. The reciprocating movement is imparted to each pair of pistons at.
one side of the machine by means of a pair of crank pins e, e', which are
secured to a pair of cog wheels N. N. The cog wheels are mounted upon a
shaft O, and are driven by a pair of pinions P, P, secured to a driving shaft
Q. to which power is applied by means of a belt fitted to a driving pulley R
on the pinion shaft, or in any other convenient manner. The crank shaft O
s constructed to turn in a suitable pillow block, and the crank pins e, e', are
connected by means of a pair of connecting rods, S. S'. with a cross head T
which slides in guides g. g. upon the frame of the machine and takes hold
of the heads h of the pistons or rams M, M. When these presses are in
peration the discharge of the compressed material is retarded by its friction
gainst the sides of the discharge passages m.
When the presses are first

page_text: started the friction is not great, but as each charge is forced forward against
the preceding one the resistance to movement increases until it becomes
sufficiently great to ensure the required compression of the material by the
piston or ram before the compressed material is moved forward. The amount
of resistance may be increased by lengthening the discharge passage, by
making it with a diminishing taper, or by fitting to it a tapering adjutage.
such as is shown at Figure 10. The bore of this adjutage is made pro-
gressively smaller at the rate of one-eighth of an inch to the foot of length for
about half its length, thence it is made progressively larger so as to permit the
material to expand progressively as it escapes, whereby the cracking due to
too rapid or irregular expansion is prevented or lessened. If, however, it is
not deemed expedient to control the expansion of the compressed material the
discharge passage may be made with a diminishing taper only, and on the
other hand if it be deemed expedient to control the expansion without
obtaining the great compression due to the employment of a discharge
passage having a diminishing taper, an adjutage with a bore of increasing
diameter, such as is shewn at Figures 8 and 9, may be applied to the cylin-
drical discharge passage of each press.
In the operation of the machine each charge of material that is acted upon
by the piston of a press is firmly pressed against the last preceding one, and
naturally tends to adhere to it. In order to lessen the adherence so that the
material passing from the presses will readily separate into fragments of
uniform size a slight rotary motion is imparted to each piston so as to cause
its end to smooth the compressed mass before the piston is withdrawn from it
to compress a new portion against it. This rotary motion is imparted by
fitting the head of each piston to turn in the cross head T, and by fitting to
its projecting end an arm n, whose end is forked to embrace the adjacent
connecting rod S or S'; hence the lateral movement of the connecting rod
compels the arm n to vibrate and turn the piston or ram on its axis.
The machinery thus described is adapted to practicing the first division of
the Invention when the heating of the peat is effected by injecting steam
directly into it. If the heating is to be effected without the injection of
steam, as may be the case when the first two parts of the first division of the
Invention are not used, the above described machinery may be modified by
forming the steaming or heating chamber with a steam jacket, into which the
steam may be passed for the purpose of heating the material without being
injected into it, or by arranging a coil of pipe in the interior of the chamber.
or by enlarging the shaft of the worker or agitator, and making it hollow so
as to form an internal steam chamber, into which steam may be admitted

page_text: from above or beneath by a pipe passing through a stuffing hox: or two or
more modes of heating by surfaces may be combined with each other. This
mode of heating by the employment of heated surfaces may also be employed
in connection with the mode of heating by injecting the steam into the
material if found advantageous, and the waste steam discharged from the steam
engine that drives the machinery may be conveyed into the steam jacket coil
or internal steam chamber for the purpose of greater economy.
The new combinations embodied in the machinery thus described are not
limited to any peculiar form of agitator or chamber. although I believe that
the forms represented in the Drawings are the best, neither is the Invention
limited to any peculiar mode of imparting motion to the pistons of the presses.
as an eccentric or other suitable means of imparting a reciprocating move-
ment may be substituted for the cranks. if deemed expedient, and when two
or more presses are used it is advantageous so to arrange them that they
exert their greatest pressure at different times so as to divide the strain upon
the prime mover. Nor is the Invention limited to any form or construction
of steam pipe or boiler, all that is essential being that the steam pipe shall be
so arranged as to deliver steam to the steaming or heating chamber, and the
steam boiler must of course be strong enough to supply steam at a sufficiently
high pressure to force its way into the mass of peat which is under treatment
in the chamber. Moreover this division of the Invention is not restricted to
any particular form or position of the chambers of the presses, as they may be
made of polygonal or other form according to the shape to be imparted to the
article, and the presses may be arranged vertically instead of inclined or in
horizontal positions. The presses also may be so constructed that their pistons
or rams remain at rest while the press chambers are moved to and fro upon
them or both piston and press chamber may be moved in the direction of
their axes if desired by connecting them with suitable mechanism or the
press chambers may be arranged to move laterally while the pistons are acting
upon the material within them. The heating or agitating chamber of the
machine also may have its position changed by inclining it or even by laying
it on its side. provided the agitator or stirrer be so constructed as to move
the material along it. So also the form and construction of the agitator,
stirrer, or grinder may be modified. In case the peat require to be torn apart
blades may be secured to the interior of the chamber, and corresponding
blades may be secured to the agitator shaft, so as to revolve between the
blades of the chamber. Or if the peat require grinding, grinding surfaces
similar to those of the ordinary bark mill may be arranged to operate either

page_text: in the chamber or upon the peat before it enters the chamber: crushing rolls
also may be used in the same ways for the same purpose.
What is claimed under this second division as the Invention to be secured
by Letters Patent is.-
The combination in a machine of the following inplements, viz.. the
agitator or worker. heating chamber. and steam pipe, all operating in com-
bination, substantially as set forth.
Also the combination in a machine of the following implements, viz., the
agitator or worker, chamber. and piston press, all operating in combination,
substantially as set forth.
Also the combination in a machine of the following implements, viz., the
agitator or worker, heating chamber, piston press, and steam delivery pipe, all
operating in combination, substantially as set forth.
Also the combination of the piston and piston chamber of the press with a
discharge passage fitted with an adjutage whose interior is tapering, all
operating in combination, substantially as set forth.
Also the combination of the piston and piston chamber of the press with a
discharge passage which is widened out or increases progressively in diameter,
all operating in combination substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof. I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (...)