IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL FUEL
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Easthope at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1878..
ROBERT EASTHOPE, or the Firm of "Easthope and André,” of Bordeaux, in the
Republic of France, Merchants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING
ARTIFICIAL FUEL."
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of machino
for making artificial fuel into the forms of half, three-quarter, or complete spherical
lumps or balls, or of any other suitable form. It consists principally of two circular
wheels or discs arranged vertically, and carried by two shafts or axles mounted in
suitable bearings, cast or connected with each other, and strengthened by bars in a
strong and substantial manner, the whole being boltod or otherwise secured to the
two side frames of the inachine.
On the peripheries or edges (which revolve in contact) of the wheels or discs there
are formed close to each other, and extending entirely around the said edges,
depressions or moulds, those on one wheel or disc being of a half spherical form, and
those on the other wheel of a quarter spherical form. From the bottom of these
depressions or moulds are tubes oxtending through the rims of the wheels or discs,
and in these tubes are rods, the outer ends of which are normally kept flush with
the bottoms of the depressions or moulds by springs acting upon small pistons
attached to the inner ends of the said rods, and with thom projecting slightly from
the inside edges of the rims of the wheels or discs.
Fixed wipers or cams are arranged in suitable positions, so that the projecting
pistons or inner ends of the rods come in contact therewith at a certain portion of
the revolution of the wheels or discs, by which means the rods are pushed on
towards or projected slightly into the depressions or moulds for the purpose here-
after described.
To the sides of the wheels or discs are secured spur wheels gearing into each other,
and acted upon by pinions and gearing suitably arranged and driven by belt or
otherwise from any available power.
Iminediately over the meeting space, between the peripheries or edges of the
wheels or discs, is a hopper for receiving the materials of which the fuel is to be

page_text: made. This hopper is supported and automatically shaken or moved downwards
by a series of levers actuated by bolts or studs projecting at suitable distances apart
from the outer face or side edge of the rim of one of the spur wheels, and it is
returned upwards to its normal position by the rebounding of a spiral spring placed
between the under side of the main lifting lever and the framework receiving the
lower end of the hopper.
The latter having been charged with the materials from which the fuel is to be
made, the machine is set in motion, and the wheels or discs beginning to revolve
the material is drawn down between their meeting edges, and thereby compressed
and squeezed into the depressions or moulds, that is to say, into the half spherical
inould on one wheel and into its meeting quarter spherical mould on the other wheel,
until having well passed the horizontal centre line of the wheels or discs the pistons
or projecting inner ends of the rods come in contact with and move over the fixed
wipers or cams, causing the rods to be pushed outwards against the three-quarter
spherical lumps of fuel, which are thereby prevented from sticking to the moulds,
and caused to drop out of the same ready for use.
To prevent breakage of the machinery in the ease of stones or other obstruction
to the free passage of the material between the wheels or discs, each of the bearings
of the shaft or axle carrying one of the wheels or discs is formed at its back part
with a curved V or other shaped projection or rib cast or connected with the middlo
or weakest portion of a hollowed or joggled plate in such a manner that when any
undue pressure arises the said bearings pressing upon the hollowed plate cause
fracture of the same, thereby allowing the bearings to slide or yield.
Instead of making the lumps of fuel in a three-quarter spherical form, as here
described, they may be made in quarter and half spherical lumps, as well as in a
variety of other shapes, by simply altering or changing the forms of the depressions
or moulds to suit the required configuration.
Our improved machine may be used for making "artificial fuel" of every
description.