Improvement in Fuel, and the Process of Making the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of. Application, 19th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th- Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Fuel, and the Process of Making the same.
1, GEORGE JOHN ALTHAM, of Swansea, in the County of Bristol and State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
The invention has for its object to provide an economical and efficient fue!
as a substitute for coal, and it consists in a fuel composed of asphaltum and
peat, or any analogous material such as sawdust, tan bark, etc.
In carrying out my invention, I grind or otherwise comminute the ingredients
together, thereby pulverizing and thoroughly mixing the same.
I then thoroughly
heat the mixture to make the ingredients thereof adhere, after which the
mixture is permitted to cool and is broken up in pieces of any desired size.
It is necessary for the best results, that the asphaltum be used in some sub-
stantial quantity, as from twenty per cent. to fifty per cent. Experience has
shown that it is not practicable to use more than fifty per cent. of asphaltum,
for the reason that above fifty per cent. the fuel softens and will not stand up
while burning; while if less than twenty per cent. of asphaltum be used, the
proportion is so small as not to materially affect the mixture. Preferably
the best results are obtained where the asphaltum and peat are combined in
substantially the following proportions, to wit: asphaltum from twenty-five to
fifty rer cent., and peat from fifty to seventy-five per cent., respectively.
I do not wish, however, to be understood as limiting myself to any particular
per cent. of asphaltum, my invention including a fuel composed of asphaltum and
peat, where the asphaltum is used in substantial quantities, the particular per
cent. of asphaltum to be used depending upon the use to which the fuel is to
be put. In place of peat, I may use sawdust, tan bark, or similar materials;
but peat gives the best results. I may use any preferred machine for grinding
and mixing the ingredients together. In heating the mixture, a gas is given off,
which may be and preferably is utilized to furnish a part of the heat for such
purpose. Among the advantages possessed by a fuel made in accordance with
my invention may be recited the following: This fuel ignites readily,--much
more so than peat by itself, or coal; it burns with an intense heat; it leaves
practically no ash or residue; in burning, the fuel stands up in the grate like
coal, and does not melt or run down.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is declared that
what is claimed is:
1. A fuel composed of peat and asphaltum, the asphaltum being used in
substantial proportions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A fuel composed of peat and asphaltum comminuted and united by heat,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
.3. A fuel composed of peat and asphaltum in substantially the following
proportions, to wit: peat from fifty per cent. to seventy-five per cent., and
asphaltum from fifty per cent. to twenty-five per cent., respectively, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
4. An improvement in the process of making fuel composed of peat and

page_text: asphaltum, which consists in thoroughly comminuting and mixing the ingredients,
afterwards heating the same to make the particles thereof adhere, and then
permitting said mixture to cool, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 24th day of January 1895.
GEORGE JOHN ALTHAM.
H. D. Fitzpatrick,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.