Improvements in Coal Briquettes, and in the Manufacturing thereof.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Briquettes, and in the Manufacturing
thereof.
ROBERT FERGUSSON STRONG 75 Victoria Street London S.W. Civil Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Briquettes made of small coal & pitch have not been satisfactory hitherto owing
to the high percentage of ash resulting from the dirt contained in the coal as
compared with the large coal from the same seams, consequently the evaporative
power is much lower, dirt not being equal to coal even with a high percentage of
pitch added.
Some of the manufacturers have tried to remedy this by washing the dirt out
of the small coal and thus reducing the ash in many cases from over 20% to
3 or 4%, only to find the pitch would not bind properly with wet coal, even with
the quantity of pitch increased from 10% to 15% and more, and drying the coal
being too slow and expensive to allow the manufacturers to compete in ordinary
trade.
Other manufacturers have added 25 to 30% of ground anthracite to their
ordinary small coal with a view to reducing the average percentage of ash. In
burning this combination however it has been found that the ash contains a very
large percentage of unconsumed carbon, so that this addition is of no value as
a fuel.
My invention is simple, the fuel superior to the ordinary, and the cost of
production is less.
I first wash the dirt out of the coal in the usual way and then convey it from
the drainers to a disintegrator and grind it, at the same time adding a powdered
alkaline earth in a caustic state which absorbs the moisture in the coal and heats
it. From the grinding mill I pass the coal to a mixing machine and add
pyroligneous acid (essence of smoke) preferably in a hot state; this at once
absorbs the caustic alkaline earth, the mixture is then pressed in the ordinary
way (but without adding steam in the pug) and as the briquettes leave the press
I cool them with an air fan and they may be conveyed direct to the ship or where
required.
The invention is also suitable in lieu of pitch for unwashed coal or coke, the
materials being added after grinding the coal or coke & treated after as
described.
n
تيمم
T
La 100%

page_text: Improvements in Coal Briquettes, and in the Manufacturing
thereof.
ROBERT FERGUSSON STRONG of Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of London, Civil Engineer, at present temporarily residing at 21 Elford Place,
Leeds, in the County of Yorkshire 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 carrying my invention into practice, I wash the small coal in order to free
the same from shale and dirt and convey it from the drainers to a disintegrator by
which it is ground, adding about 2% of fresh calcined powdered alkaline earth
(preferably lime) in order to absorb the moisture in the coal, to this I add
4 to 10% (according to the nature of the coal or the purpose the fuel is intended)
of pyroligneous acid, preferably from a steam jacketted tank. This acid is the
whole of the distillate from destructive distillation of wood or other ligneous
substances and immediately absorbs the lime and solidifies the mixture, which is
at once pressed in briquette form in the usual way and on leaving the press may
be cooled by a fan or blower and shipped or used at once.
In carrying out the invention with unwashed coal, I only use one per cent. or
less of the caustic alkaline earth, to give a hook to the pyroligneous acid to act
on, all other treatment being as before described.
Fuel manufactured as described is suitable for household, steam, or metallurgical
purposes, and burns with a clear bright flame, and is produced at a less cost than
heretofore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :.
The manufacture of briquettes for fuel by taking small coal washed or unwashed
and first grinding the coal with a dry caustic alkaline earth such as lime
2ndly. Adding to the mixture pyroligneous acid and
3rdly. Compressing the resulting mass into blocks all in the manner and in the
proportions hereinbefore described.
Dated this 30th day of September 1896.