IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEPARATION, RAISING, AND LOWERING OF COAL AND OTHER MINERALS, AND IN COKING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1858

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Herbert Mackworth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th February
1858.
I, HERBERT MACKWORTH, of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEPARATION,
RAISING, AND LOWERING OF COAL AND OTHER MINERALS, AND IN COKING, AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
It is generally acknowledged that great loss occurs in the process of pre-
paring coal and other minerals, and delivering them in the best condition for
commercial purposes, by the imperfect means usually employed for separating
the impurities, by the loss of time and power in the process, by the unnecessary
fracture, and the waste of useful products. In raising or lowering coal, and
other minerals by an endless band, I contract or bring nearer together the
edges of the band by rollers or wheels, and rails, to confine the minerals, or I
form a cover to the band of rods or chains and plates pressed against the
mineral by flexible cords or springs. The endless band may be made in loose
folds to adjust itself to large fragments. In raising or lowering minerals
either dry or in the state of sludge, or suspended in water, I use. two endless
bands with elastic ribs or edges on one or both of them, and in removing the
fragments detached in boring by currents of water, one or more flexible tubes

page_text: may be used for conveying the minerals, and suspending the boring tool and
rods, or for lining the inside of the bore hole to conduct the water. To save
breakage in loading into a vessel, I employ a revolving shoot or an elevator on
a sliding frame inside the hold. Below the bottom of a highly inclined endless
band I place a shoot in a less inclined position to support the column of
mineral descending with the endless band. By jointing the frame of an end-
less band, I facilitate its shipping and unshipping from a vessel. I employ
broad linked chains to support the endless band and stud, or cam rollers at
intervals to keep the band even and square in travelling long distances. I
curve the top of the band to give it greater capacity. I convey platforms or
bars, supporting heavy substances on an endless band, and provide for placing
them on and removing them from the band. In tipping the waggons I make
use of vulcanized india-rubber cords or springs to produce reaction and act as
breaks. I employ elastic wheels to communicate motion to the machinery.
In separating coal or other minerals from their earthy impurities by
currents of water, I withdraw the water at intervals so as to allow the
coal or mineral to be delivered in a drier state. I also introduce steam by
pipes or apertures into the shoots by which the coal leaves, the purifying
machine. In employing vertical trunks, or continuously ascending currents
of water for the separation. of small grains which differ in specific gravity, I
work the machine by the same current of water which effects the separation.
I divide and draw off the gases evolved in the coking of coal, in numerous
currents so that the coking may be regulated and rendered more perfect.
With this object I build portions of the side and bottom of the oven or kiln
of bricks or stone, set without or partially without mortar or cement, or I
perforate and shape the bricks, and conduct the gases which have passed
through the joints or openings by numerous separate flues in the side and
bottom of the oven or kiln. The bricks or stone may be furrowed diagonally.
Iron with suitable channels and perforations may be used. In round or other
ovens or mounds I make a number of small chimnies in lieu of one large
chimney, and I cover them with plates of nica or glass so as to be able better
to watch the operation and control the chimnies by valves or dampers. I
place coke ashes, clinkers, or loose stones in the oven or kiln to facilitate
the removal of the gas, and prevent waste of coal. I remove the gas from
above as well as from below the surface of the coal. I provide for the
removal of the dust and coke which may collect in the small flues. I place one
or more partition walls perforated with openings and flues across or along the
oven or kiln, to render the coking operation more rapid and complete, and I
draw one part of the charge of a kiln at a time. I cause the gas or,
gaseous

page_text: products of one oven to pass through the coal or coke in another oven. I
employ water or steam in jets or otherwise to regulate and keep down the
temperature of the oven or kiln, and I cause steam to pass into or through
the coke. By these means I also remove a larger proportion of the sulphur.
I also partially quench the red-hot coke, and reheat it for the same object.
I employ pressure to force gas or steam into or through the coal or coke.
By these improvements coal may be loaded and unloaded with facility,
and with very little loss by breakage, and its purification is facilitated, and
the purified coal is converted into coke of superior quality and large in
quantity.