Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1854
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel.
We GRAHAM SARJEANT CORY and COLIN CORY, Manufacturers, both of the
Port Tennant Chemical Cos.' Works Swansea in the County of Glamorgan, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of artificial fuel, which is made from coal dust and pitch
mixed together, and formed by pressure into blocks, it is usual to grind up the
pitch and mix it with the coal in a dry, finely divided or powdered state.
The object of thus grinding the pitch is to facilitate the mixing, for it is found
much easier to mix the coal and pitch together when both are in a dry, finely
divided condition, than when the coal is powdered and the pitch is melted.
In this mode of manufacture there is however a difficulty, which it is the object
of the present invention to obviate.
The pitch which is to be incorporated with the coal must be sufficiently hard
and dry, otherwise it cannot be easily ground, but in that hard and dry state which
is favourable for grinding, it is apt to be deficient in the qualities which give
cohesion to the particles of coal, when pressed into blocks, and richness to the fuel
thus obtained.
In order, therefore, that the pitch may be easily ground, and yet may, when
incorporated with the coal particles, have ample richness and cohesive qualities,
we add to the already ground pitch and powdered coal, a small percentage of
ground or powdered naphthaline salts, often called creosote salts, which, when the
mixture is submitted to the usual process of steaming and pressing, will incorporate
themselves with the other materials, and give to the fuel the properties desired.
Dated this 19th day of April 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel.
We GRAHAM SARJEANT CORY and COLIN CORY, Manufacturers, both of
Port Tennant Chemical Cos.' Works, Swansea in the County of Glamorgan, 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:-
In the manufacture of artificial fuel blocks or briquettes, it is desirable, for
reasons of economy, to consume as small a percentage of coal pitch as possible
consistent with effective manufacture. For the purpose of intimate mixture, it has
been found necessary to use the pitch in a solid grindable condition, and to grind
it along with the coal into a more or less free powder, in a disintegrator, or by
other well known suitable means. Subsequently the powder is treated by steam
and compressed into blocks.
The use of the pitch in a grindable condition makes it necessary to employ a
larger percentage of pitch than would be necessary were it practically possible to

page_text: form an intimate mixture between the coal dust and the pitch in a more or less
plastic state.
It has long been known that naphthaline and salts of naphthaline, and other
hydrocarbon substances, have the power, under proper conditions, of softening and
enriching pitch, and of making it much more suitable to the manufacture of fuel
blocks, but great difficulty has arisen, in actual practice, in incorporating the coal
dust with the softened pitch.
The object of this invention is to enable naphthaline, and other of the well-
known hydrocarbon substances, which have the power of softening and enriching
pitch, to be used, and yet whilst the pitch is being mixed or ground with the coal
dust, to maintain it in its grindable condition.
In carrying our invention into practice, we grind together (or grind first
separately, and afterwards intimately mix) approximately 92 per cent. of coal and
7 per cent. of pitch, and we add to this, whilst the grinding is in progress (or, if the
materials are ground separately, whilst the mixing is in progress), about per cent.
of naphthaline, care being taken that the naphthaline is added at such a time, and
in such a manner, that the intimate mixture of coal and pitch dust has been effected
before the pitch is acted upon by the naphthaline. The compound is then steamed
and pressed, as is well understood.
In actual work, we have found that the grinding of the coal and pitch, and the
addition of the naphthaline, may be done practically simultaneously, the work of
the disintegrator being accomplished so rapidly that the pitch and coal are
sufficiently mixed before the naphthaline has time to affect the pitch.
Having now particularly described our invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not claim the use of
naphthaline or other similar hydrocarbons in the manufacture of artificial fuel
blocks, but what we claim is :-
The process of (by grinding or mixing) obtaining an intimate mixture of coal
dust and grindable pitch, and, either simultaneously with the grinding, or sub-
sequently, but always so as to prevent the softening of the pitch before the mixture
is accomplished, adding a small percentage of naphthaline or other suitable
hydrocarbon, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.