IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR MIXING, PRESSING, AND MOULDING COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FOR THE FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND DIVIDING THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, SUCH APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Barker, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS
FOR MIXING, PRESSING, AND MOULDING COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FOR THE
FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND DIVIDING THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, SUCH
APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS."
Sealed the 16th July 1867, and dated the 17th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Barker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
January 1867.
I, DAVID BARKER, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
APPARATUS FOR MIXING, PRESSING, AND MOULDING COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FOR
THE FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND DIVIDING THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, SUCH
APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANNALOGOUS OPERATIONS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of
mechanism whereby coal and other substances employed for the manufacture of
artificial fuel can be thoroughly mixed, pressed, and moulded, and divided into
blocks of any suitable size, such apparatus being also applicable to other
analogous operations.
The body of the machine is a rectangular receptacle placed upon a bed
plate, a vertical shaft mounted in suitable bearings being placed in the centre
thereof; the upper portion of the shaft is furnished with blades or knives
affixed thereto at convenient distances from each other, and to the lower end

page_text: thereof is attached eccentrically a circular disc so as to revolve therewith as
herein-after mentioned. The disc is placed in the interior of a rectan-
gular box of cast iron or other suitable material, such box fitting the
interior of the lower portion of the before-mentioned receptacle, but free to
move therein upon the bed plate. At each end of the main body of the
machine and extending beyond the same is placed a series of tubes of rectan-
gular section, such tubes being constructed of cast iron or of any other suitable
material; the upper portions of such tubes which are within the body of the
machine are open for the admission of the substances under treatment as
herein-after mentioned; above the tubes and within the main body of the
machine are hollow iron rollers, the faces of which have slots formed therein,
through which slots iron points or teeth pass, such points or teeth being
mounted loosely on eccentric spindles in the interior of the rollers in such
manner that they shall project the requisite distance from the faces of the
rollers during the revolution thereof. The rollers forming each pair revolve
in contrary directions so as to draw down between them by means of their
motion and of the said points or teeth the substances under treatment; the
substances to be submitted to the operation of the machine having been, if
necessary, prepared in a pug mill or in any other suitable manner are conveyed
by means of endless bands, or in any other convenient mode, and introduced at
each end of the machine on either side of the central shaft. Upon the central
shaft being caused to revolve (the revolution of which, together with that of
the before-mentioned rollers, is effected by means of wheels and gearing
actuated by any suitable motive power as well understood), the materials
introduced into the machine are subjected to the action of the knives or blades,
and also of the points or teeth carried by the rollers, and being thereby mixed and
incorporated pass into the before-mentioned horizontal tubes. By the action
of the eccentrical disc the rectangular box in which the same is contained is
alternately moved backwards and forwards so as to force the materials through
the tubes towards their respective extremities, the entrance of such materials
into the tubes being alternately permitted and prevented by the motion of the
box. In order to guide the materials into the respective tubes, and also to
clear the sides thereof, metal plates coinciding with the interior of the tubes
are attached to each end of the box, and move therewith in each to-and-fro
motion. The effect of forcing the materials into the tubes as before mentioned
is to compress such materials by means of the friction which takes place against
the internal surfaces of the tubes, the length and capacity of which proportions
the degree of compression. At any desired distance from the respective ends
of the tubes are arranged knives or other analogous cutting or dividing con-

page_text: trivances working through the tubes, the same being caused to rise and fall
alternately at any desired intervals by means of jointed levers, the motion of
which is regulated by the operation of pins attached excentrically to ratchet
wheels placed respectively at each end of the machine, the pawls or detents
of which are operated by rods attached to the moving box, and respectively
advancing and retiring therewith, slots being provided in the sides of the machine
for the working of the studs to which the rods are attached. To a bracket
carried by the moving box, or otherwise connected therewith, are connecting
rods by which trucks or slides for the purpose of receiving the blocks as they
issue from the tubes are alternately advanced or withdrawn. Additional rods
are also attached to or connected with the moving box for the purpose of
operating metallic plates so as to pass over the open portions of the tubes within
the machine, thus forming close tubes and preventing the materials from
passing upwards towards the rollers as pressure is exerted by the moving box
during its advance. As the blocks issue from the tubes they may be received
by revolving moulds divided into compartiments, and mounted upon axes, and
caused respectively to revolve through the required distances by rods con-
nected with the moving box. Upon the blocks issuing from the tubes and
being received by the moulds the latter are caused partially to revolve by the
operation of the connecting rods, whereby the blocks are brought into such a
position that they can receive additional pressure or impressment from any
suitable apparatus which it may be considered desirable to use in connection
with this Invention, or instead of using revolving moulds the blocks may be
subjected to additional pressure or impressment upon issuing from the moulds
in the usual manner. The like process takes place alternately at either end
of the machine with the motion of the box. Instead of the machine being
constructed with several tubes as before described, one tube only may if desired
be employed, and in cases in which machines of large size are required two
or more shafts with their eccentrics and moving boxes may be used, the
general arrangement and combination of mechanism being in either case
substantially the same as herein-before mentioned.
The machine may also be constructed so as to work vertically instead of
horizontally, in which case the shaft by which the eccentric and moving box
are actuated would of course be horizontal.
In the treatment of some substances, such, for instance, as clay, it may
sometimes be desirable to use rollers with plain surfaces instead of rollers
furnished with points or teeth as before bescribed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
BARKER, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said David Barker, Her special licence that I, the said David
Barker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,
the said David Barker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR MIXING, PRESSING,
AND MOULDING COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FOR THE FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL, AND DIVIDING THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, SUCH APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said David Barker, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Barker, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of
mechanism whereby coal and other substances employed for the manufacture
of artificial fuel can be thoroughly mixed, pressed, and moulded, and divided
into blocks of any suitable size, such apparatus being also applicable to other
analogous operations.
The body of the machine is a rectangular receptacle placed upon a bed
plate, a vertical shaft mounted in suitable bearings being placed in the centre

page_text: thereof; the upper portion of the shaft is furnished with blades or knives
aflixed thereto at convenient distances from each other, and to the lower end
thereof is attached excentrically a circular disc so as to revolve therewith, as
herein-after mentioned. The disc is placed in the interior of a rectangular
box of cast iron or other suitable material, such box fitting the interior of the
lower portion of the before-mentioned receptacle, but free to move therein
upon the bed plate. At each end of the main body of the machine, and
extending beyond the same, is placed a series of tubes of rectangular section,
such tubes being constructed of cast iron or of any other suitable material;
the upper portions of such tubes, which are within the body of the machine,
are open for the admission of the substances under treatment, as herein-after
mentioned. Above the tubes and within the main body of the machine are
hollow iron rollers, the faces of which have slots formed therein, through
which slots iron points or teeth pass, such points or teeth being mounted
loosely on eccentric spindles in the interior of the rollers in such manner that
they shall project the required distances from the faces of the rollers during
the revolution thereof. The rollers forming each pair revolve in contrary
directions, so as to draw down between them by means of their motion and of
the said points or teeth the substances under treatment. The substances to be
submitted to the operation of the machine having been, if necessary, prepared
in a pug mill, or in any other suitable manner, are conveyed by means of
endless bands, or in any other convenient mode, and introduced at each end of
the machine on either side of the central shaft. Upon the central shaft being
caused to revolve (the revolution of which together with that of the before-
mentioned rollers is effected by means of wheels and gearing actuated by any
suitable motive power as well understood), the materials introduced into the
machine are subjected to the action of the knives or blades, and also of the
points or teeth carried by the rollers, and being thereby mixed and incor-
porated pass into the before-mentioned borizontal tubes; by the action of the
eccentrical disc the rectangular box in which the same is contained is
alternately moved backwards and forwards so as to force the materials
through the tubes towards their respective extremities, the entrance of such
materials into the tubes being alternately permitted and prevented by the
motion of the box. In order to guide the materials into the respective tubes,
and also to clear the sides thereof, metal plates coinciding with the interior of
the tubes are attached to each end of the box, and move therewith in each to-
aud-fro motion. The effect of forcing the materials into the tubes, as before
mentioned, is to compress such materials by means of the friction which
takes place against the internal surfaces of the tubes, the length and capacity

page_text: of which proportions the degree of compression. At any desired distance
from the respective ends of the tubes are arranged knives or other analogous
cutting or dividing contrivances working through the tubes, the same being
caused alternately to rise and fall at any desired intervals by means of jointed
levers, the motion of which is regulated by the operation of pins attached
eccentrically to ratchet wheels placed respectively at each end of the machine,
the pawls or detents of which are operated by rods attached to the moving box,
and respectively advancing and retiring therewith, slots being provided in the
sides of the machine for the working of the studs to which the rods are
attached. Attached to a bracket carried by the moving box, or otherwise
connected therewith, are connecting rods by which trucks or slides for the
purpose of receiving the blocks as they issue from the tubes are alternately
advanced or withdrawn; additional rods are also attached to or connected
with the moving box for the purpose of operating metallic plates, so as to
pass over the open portions of the tubes within the machine, thus forming
close tubes and preventing the materials from pressing upwards towards the
rollers as pressure is exerted by the moving box during its advance. As the
blocks issue from the tubes they may be received by revolving moulds divided
into compartments and mounted upon axes, and caused respectively to revolve
through the required distances by rods connected with the moving box.
Upon the blocks issuing from the tubes and being received by the moulds the
latter are caused partially to revolve by the operation of the connecting rods,
whereby the blocks are brought into such a position that they can receive
additional pressure or impressment from any suitable apparatus which it may
be considered desirable to use in conjunction with this Invention; or, instead
of using revolving moulds the blocks may be subjected to additional pressuro
or impressment upon issuing from the moulds in the manner usually practised
in similar operations. The like process takes place alternately at either
end of the machine with the motion of the box.
Instead of the machine being constructed with several tubes, as before
described, one tube only may, if desired, be employed; and in cases in which
machines of large size are required two or more shafts with their eccentrics
and moving boxes may be used, the general arrangement and combination
of mechanism being in either case substantially the same as herein-before
mentioned.
The machine may also be constructed so as to work vertically instead of
horizontally, in which case the shaft by which the eccentric and moving box
are actuated would of course be horizontal.
In the treatment of some substances, such, for instance, as clay, it may

page_text: sometimes be desirable to use rollers with plain surfaces instead of rollers
furnished with points or teeth, as before described.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, and from which
the nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 a cross section, Figure 8 an end view,
and Figure 4 a plan of the machine.
A is the central shaft, the upper part thereof furnished with knives or
cutting blades, as before mentioned, and being driven by wheels and gearing,
as represented. The rollers, with the points or teeth, are shewn at B, and
the tubes through which the coal is pressed at a; the rectangular box is
shewn at b, holes being provided in the sides thereof through which any coal
which may have found its way into the box will be driven by the action of the
eccentric disc, and thus prevent the same becoming clogged; c, c, are the
jointed levers by which the knives are actuated; d, d, the ratchet wheels with
the regulating pins, before mentioned, shewn at e, e; the rods by which the
pawls or detents are actuated are represented at f, f, and the rods by which
the motion of the trucks or slides is regulated are shewn at g, g.
Having thus fully declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion
that I do not claim the several and distinct parts of the said apparatus separate
and apart from each other as being of my Invention, neither do I restrict
myself to the precise details and arrangements herein-before described,, as
variations may be made therefrom without departing from the principles of
my said Invention; but what I consider novel and original and therefore
claim as constituting the Invention secured me by the said herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the combination and arrangement of parts and
mechanism for effecting the purposes aforesaid, as substantially herein-before
set forth and described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Barker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
E. P. H. VAUGHAN,
54, Chancery Lane,
Agent for the Patentee.
DAVID BARKER. (L.S.)