Improvements in the Composition and Manufacture of Fuel from Coal Dust and similar Material.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Composition and Manufacture of Fuel from
Coal Dust and similar Material.
We, WILLIAM HENRY BUCKLAND, of Oak Villas, South Hayling in the County
of Hants, Gentleman, and GEORGE MYERS, of South Hill Park, Hampstead,
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be. as
follows:-
The object of our present invention is to produce fuel in blocks of convenient form
and dimensions for use in ordinary domestic stoves or fire places, or wherever coal
is used for heating or lighting purposes.
In the composition of such blocks, the material we prefer to employ is coal or
coke dust, or coal divided into particles so small that the adhesion of the same is
readily effected in combination with certain substances introduced therewith in a
solid or liquid state, or in combination with moisture in other ways. We have
found in practice that in order to utilize coal dust to the best advantage, and to
produce fuel of this description which shall during combustion give radiant heat
with little or no smoke, it is necessary to dispense with some of the ingredients
generally introduced in coal block fuel. It is customary in the manufacture of
the fuel commonly known as "briquettes" to use pitch, or a mixture of pitch with
other resinous compounds or substances, to give the requisite consistency and inflam-
mable qualities to the fuel.
But there are numerous objections to be raised against the addition of these
constituents to the fuel; and notably that they cause an undue liberation of the
products of combustion in the form of smoke, whereby the beneficial effect of the
richest parts of the fuel is almost or completely lost. Further, the resinous
ingredients, while burning away rapidly, yet prevent the obtaining of a bright fire.
In the manufacture of fuel according to my invention, the coal dust or finely
divided coal is only supplemented by the addition of vegetable substances.
We mix with the coal dust substances of a glutinous, or farinaceous character,
such as are obtained from wheat barley, rye, or other cereals or vegetables.
The mixture may be brought to the requisite uniform consistency throughout by
hand or by hand tools as an aid to manual operations, and the solidification and setting
of the blocks is produced by means of cooling or evaporation, without the inter-
vention of any machinery outside the vessels in which for the sake of convenience
the mixture is placed for kneading if required. The fuel made in this way sets or
hardens in a short time, and it is quite unnecessary for all ordinary purposes, to place it
in moulds or closed vessels, although it is obvious these adjuncts, with other
appliances, may be adopted in some cases, to facilitate the rapid production of large
quantities.
Thus, by our invention, we are enabled to obtain block fuel from coal dust mixed
with such ingredients as hereinbefore mentioned, without the necessity of using
machinery, the block fuel so obtained being devoid of the objectionable qualities
incidental to the use of pitch or resinous materials at present employed in the
manufacture of "briquettes," being practically smokeless, more economical in use,
and giving much radiant heat with slow combustion.
We are also enabled by our invention to utilize ashes or refuse matter from
ordinary coal fires, either with a certain proportion of unburnt coal or coal dust, or
alone with the other materials herein described.
11
C. R. BONNE & Co.,
Authorized Patent Agents, 41, Eastcheap, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in the Composition and Manufacture of Fuel from
Coal Dust and similar Material.
We, WILLIAM HENRY BUCKLAND of Oak Villas. South Hayling, in the County
of Hants, Gentleman, and GEORGE MYERS of South Hill Park, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, 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 object of our present invention is to produce fuel in blocks of convenient
form and dimensions for use in ordinary domestic stoves or fire places or wherever
coal is used for heating or lighting purposes.
In the composition of such blocks the material we prefer to employ is coal or
coke dust, or coal divided into particles so small that the adhesion of the same is
readily effected in combination with certain substances introduced therewith in a
solid or liquid state, or in combination with moisture in other ways. We have
found in practice that in order to utilize coal dust to the best advantage and to
produce fuel of this description which shall during combustion give radiant heat
with little or no smoke, it is necessary to dispense with some of the ingredients
generally introduced in coal block fuel. It is customary in the manufacture of fuel
commonly known as "briquettes" to use pitch or a mixture of pitch with other
resinous compounds or substances to give the requisite consistency and inflammable
qualities to the fuel. But there are numerous objections to be raised against the
addition of these constituents to the fuel and notably that they cause an undue
liberation of the products of combustion in the form of smoke, whereby the beneficial
effect of the richest parts of the fuel is almost or completely lost. Further the
resinous ingredients while burning away rapidly yet prevent the obtaining of a
bright fire.
We
In the manufacture of fuel according to our invention the coal dust or finely
divided coal is only supplemented by the addition of vegetable substances.
mix with the coal dust substances of a glutinous or farinaceous character such as
are obtained from wheat, barley, rye, or other cereals or vegetables. The mixture
may be brought to the requisite uniform consistency throughout by hand or by
hand tools as an aid to manual operations and the solidification and setting of the
blocks is produced by means of cooling or evaporation without the intervention of
any machinery outside the vessels in which for the sake of convenience the mixture
is placed for kneading if required.
We judge by experiment that a mixture of about 95% of the dust of soft coal
with 5% of the gluten or similar substance will give good results. The mass
should however be moistened with enough water to enable it to be moulded. The
fuel made in this way sets or hardens in a short time and it is quite unnecessary for
all ordinary purposes to place it in moulds or closed vessels although it is obvious
these adjuncts with other appliances may be adopted in some cases to facilitate the
rapid production of large quantities.
Thus by our invention we are enabled to obtain block fuel from coal dust mixed
with such ingredients as hereinbefore mentioned without the necessity of using
machinery, the block fuel so obtained being devoid of the objectionable qualities
incidental to the use of pitch or resinous materials at present employed in the
manufacture of "briquettes," being practically smokeless, more economical in use
and giving-much radiant heat with slow combustion.
We are also enabled by our invention to utilize ashes or refuse matter from
ordinary coal fires, either with a certain proportion of unburnt coal or coal dust, or
alone with the other materials herein described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of an artificial fuel composed of powdered
carbonaceous material mixed with a vegetable gluten and moulded into blocks or
lumps substantially as described.
2. The manufacture and use of an artificial fuel composed of ashes or refuse
matter from coal fires and a vegetable gluten either with or without a proportion
of coal dust, moulded into blocks or lumps substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of April 1891.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for W. H. Buckland.