IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SUBSTANCES OF WHICH SUCH FUEL IS COMPOSED, AND IN THE METHODS OF MOULDING THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, AND OF EMPLOYING THE LATTER FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMBUSTION."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Haggett, of Watford, in the County of Herts,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL, AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SUBSTANCES OF WHICH SUCH FUEL IS
COMPOSED, AND IN THE METHODS OF MOULDING THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, AND
OF EMPLOYING THE LATTER FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMBUSTION."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Haggett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1876.
WILLIAM HAGGETT, of Watford, in the County of Herts. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SUB-
STANCES OF WHICH SUCH FUEL IS COMPOSED, AND IN THE METHODS OF MOULDING
THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, AND OF EMPLOYING THE LATTER FOR THE PURPOSES OF
COMBUSTION."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of artificial
fuel from a great variety of substances, and in the treatment of the latter, and also
in the methods of forming such fuel into blocks, and of employing the latter for the
purposes of combustion.
For the purposes of this Invention coal, whether anthracitic or bituminous, coal
dust, breeze, lignite, wood, wood and other vegetable pulp, sawdust, peat, bog earth,
turf, beath, shale, chalk, line, limestone, gypsum, sand, clay, marl, metallic ores,
reeds, sedge, spear straw, hay, corn, seaweeds, spent hops, malt, bark, apple-cheese, and
any other substances capable of becoming subject to, or of assisting in, the process
of combustion, are employed in their natural state, or after portions thereof have
been charred or small coal added thereto, and either separately (when their nature
will admit of such separate use) or as mixtures thereof, or of any of them. Such
of the before-mentioned substances as require such treatment by way of preparing
them for the purposes of combustion are (after having been disintegrated or
reduced to a state of fine division) partially charred in suitable receptacles by the
application of sulphuric acid, lime, steam, or fire-heat, or any other substance or
substances capable of exercising an oxidizing effect. The materials are then sub-
jected in their prepared state (or in their natural state when requisite, or if the case
will admit of such treatment) to the influence of steam and vapour of petroleum
or other hydrocarbon oils or substances suitable for the purpose, and when desired

page_text: gluten, farina, or other adhesive substance or substances mixed therewith, and
afterwards manufactured into blocks, as herein-after mentioned, and dried by any
suitable ineans, and coated on the outside with any waterproof composition when so
required.
The substances herein-before mentioned as being used for the purposes of this
Invention are, when necessary, disintegrated or reduced to a state of fine division,
and afterwards moulded into blocks and perforated by means of any known
machinery and appliances, or in any suitable manner, but in some cases undulating
and perforating plates or dies of such forms as may be desired or most suitable,
according to the nature of the materials and the purposes to which the blocks are
to be applied, are used; mouth-pieces, dies, and presses for perforating, and cutters
being also in some cases added to such machinery and appliances, and in cases in
which furnaces, ovens, boilers, tanks, or other apparatus for steaming, washing,
evaporating, desiccating, or carbonizing the substances under treatment are used, it
is preferred that one or more thicknesses of perforated plates shall be employed,
between which and, when required, over the materials under treatment is or are
placed peat, peat or other charcoal, lime, oxide of iron, wire gauze, felt, or other
substances with or without water (the latter being used to condense moisture),
according to the nature of the materials, so that when the steam or fire-heat is
applied thereto the carbon and other valuable matters will be retained, but water,
gases, and other substances injurious to combustion will pass off.
The undulations of the said plates should be made in accordance with an In-
vention for "Improvements in Manufacturing, Arranging, Combining, Compressing,
and Treating Iron, Steel, and other Metals and Materials to Increase their Strength,
Power of Resistance, and. Usefulness," for which Letters Patent bearing date the
23rd day of April 1873, No. 1461, were duly granted to ime. Each description of
fuel may be treated with steam and fire-heat separately, or in connection with the
vapour of petroleum or other hydrocarbon substances and steam, sulphuric acid,
oxide of iron, lime, chloride of sodium (common salt), coal tar, and gluten made
from farina, or any other substance or substances capable of producing cohesion, or
any of such substances separately or in mixture.
The fuel prepared and moulded and perforated, as before mentioned, will be
found to promote combustion, and afford other advantages in a remarkable degree
by reason of the ready and gradual admission of atmospheric air, whether in
ordinary fires, or in blast or other furnaces, the effect of such air when heated
being to promote.combustion and to carry off gases which would be prejudicial
thereto.
When the fuel is manufactured in the nature of coke or charcoal for steam, manu-
facturing, and other purposes, the blocks may be coked or charred in the ordinary
ovens, but it is preferred to use such as are specially built and fitted with the
undulated and perforated bricks, plates, materials, and arrangements, as before
mentioned, so as to allow the azote and other injurious substances to pass off, and to
retain the carbon.
In some cases blocks not undulated, but perforated only, are used separately or
in conjunction with blocks of fuel which are both undulated and perforated.
For the manufacture of gas the fuel is formed into blocks of any suitable shape
and size to suit the description of retort employed, and by being perforated the
heat readily permeates the entire compound mass. For these purposes the fuel
will be so prepared and disposed or arranged as to combine with the other coal used
or placed in separate layers or blocks corresponding with the latter, oxide of iron,
lime or peat and other charcoal being also employed, whereby the sulphuretted
hydrogen, sulphur compounds, ammonia, and coal tar resulting from the distillation
of the coal will be taken up, partly purifying the same. Like advantages are
obtained by employing the fuel produced in accordance with this Invention with
similar combinations in smelting metallic ores.
In the treatment of peat, turf, bog earth, and heath, when the same is situated
on a hill or in a sloping position, it is preferred to make below the surface thereof

page_text: a series of horizontal shallow drains, either with mole ploughs or other suitable
apparatus or appliances, in order to intercept the flow of water at different
clevations so that the peat, turf, bog earth, or heath, or portions of pasture may
have the benefit thereof until required to be cut, and when the land is too much
saturated with moisture diagonal and vertical drains are cut from the highest point
so as to prevent the water at the top overflowing the lower portion. The manu-
facture of peat into fuel is thus carried out:-The same is cut in the ordinary way
of the size required, and at once, with or without pulping and macerating, or
mixing with charred peat or small coal, pressed and moulded into blocks and per-
forated, and layers of fuel or the same may be of the undulated or of other form and
perforated, or having slots or apertures made therein for the purpose of promoting
combustion, as before mentioned. Steam and vapour of petroleum oil or other
hydrocarbon substances, or sulphuric acid, and adhesive substances, and in some
cases chalk, or lime, or shale will be used in the preparation of the fuel for the
manufacture of gas.
In making the blocks of fuel, as before described, it is preferred that the same
shall be undulated longitudinally, transversely, and diagonally, and of square,
oblong, circular, radiated, or oval form on one or more sides thereof, as embraced by
my said Patent of the 23rd day of April 1873, No. 1461, and perforated in the
centre of each undulation with perforations, slots, or apertures of any size or number
in one or more directions for the purpose of retaining the valuable principles con-
tained in the substances of which the fuel is formed, and of allowing the escape of
such matters as would be detrimental to the process of combustion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Haggett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th August
1876.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
WILLIAM HAGGETT, of Watford, in the County of Herts.
THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SUB-
STANCES OF WHICH SUCH FUEL IS COMPOSED, AND IN THE METHODS OF MOULDING
THE SAME INTO BLOCKS, AND OF EMPLOYING THE LATTER FOR THE PURPOSES OF
COMBUSTION."
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
artificial fuel from a great variety of substances and in the treatment of the latter,
and also in the methods of forming such fuel into blocks, and of employing the
latter for the purposes of combustion.
In carrying out my said Invention coal, whether anthracitic or bituminous, coal
dust, coke, breeze, lignite, wood, and other vegetable pulp, sawdust, peat, bog, earth,
turf, heath, shale, chalk, lime, limestone, metallic ores, gypsum, sand, clay, marl,
reeds, sedge, spear straw, hay, corn, seaweeds, spent hops, malt, bark, apple cheese,
and any other substances capable of becoming subject to or of assisting in the process
of combustion are employed in their natural state, or after portions thereof have
been charred, or small coal added thereto, either separately, when their nature will
admit of such separate use, or as mixtures thereof. Such of the before-mentioned
substances as require such treatment by way of preparing them for the purposes
of combustion are (after having, if necessary, been disintegrated or reduced to
a state of fine division by any suitable means) partially charred in suitable
receptacles by the application of sulphuric acid, lime, steam, or fire-heat, or any other
substance or substances, or treatment capable of exercising an oxidising effect.
The materials are then subjected in their prepared state (or in their natural state
when requisite, or if the case will admit of such treatment) to the influence of steam
and vapour of petroleum, or other hydrocarbon oils or substances suitable for the
purpose, and when desired gluten, farina, or other cohesive substance or substances

page_text: mixed therewith, and afterwards manufactured into blocks as herein-after mentioned, .
and dried by any suitable means, and if requisite, coated on the outside with any
suitable waterproofing composition.
The substances herein-before mentioned as being used for the purposes of my said
Invention having been combined are moulded into blocks and perforated by means
of any known machinery and appliances, or in any suitable manner; but in some
casos undulated and perforated plates or dies of such forms as may be desired or most
suitable, according to the nature of the materials and the purposes to which the
blocks are to be applied are used; mouth pieces, dies, and presses for perforating, and
cutters being also in some cases added to such machinery and appliances, and in
cases in which furnaces, ovens, boilers, tanks, or other apparatus for steaming, washing,
evaporating, desiccating, or carbonizing the substances under treatment are used, it
is preferred that one or more thicknesses of perforated plates shall be employed,
between which and, when required, over the materials under treatment is or are
placed peat or other charcoal, lime, oxide of iron, wire gauze, or other sub-
stances, with or without water, according to the nature of the materials, so that
when steam or fire-heat is applied thereto, the carbon and other valuable and useful
matters will be retained, but water, gases, and other substances injurious to com-
bustion will pass off.
The undulations of the said plates should be made in accordance with an Inven-
tion for "Improvements in Manufacturing, Arranging, Combining, Compressing,
and Treating Iron, Steel, and other Metals and Materials to Increase their Strength,
Power of Resistance, and Usefulness;" and for which Letters Patent bearing date
Each descrip-
the 23rd day of April 1873, No. 1461, were duly granted to me.
tion of fuel may be treated with steam and fire-heat separately, or in connection
with the vapour of petroleum or other hydrocarbon substances, and steam, sul-
phuric acid, oxide of iron, lime, chloride of sodium (common salt), coal tar, and
gluten made from farina, or any other suitable substance or substances capable of
producing cohesion, or any of such substances separately or in mixture.
The fuel which has been prepared and moulded and perforated as before men-
tioned, will be found to promote combustion and to afford other advantages of
great importance in a remarkable degree by reason of the ready and at the same
time gradual admission of atmospheric air, whether in ordinary fires or in blast
and other furnaces; the effect of the air when heated and applied in such manner
being to promote combustion and to carry off gases which would be prejudicial
⚫thereto.
When the fuel is manufactured in the nature of coke or charcoal for steam, manu-
facturing, and other purposes, the blocks may be coked or charred in the ordinary
ovens, but it is preferred to use such as are specially built and fitted with the undu-
lated and perforated bricks, plates, covers, materials, and arrangements, as before
mentioned, so as to allow the azote and other injurious substances to pass off and to
cause the carbon to be retained.
In some cases blocks not undulated but perforated only are used separately
or in conjunction with blocks of fuel, which are both undulated and perforated.
For the manufacture of gas the fuel is formed into blocks of every description of
coal or other suitable substances, and of any shape and size suitable for the
description of retort employed, and by being perforated the heat readily permeates
and liberates the gas from the entire compound mass. Such blocks will be manu-
factured in combination with certain proportions of oxide of iron, lime, peat,
and other charcoal, and separate blocks of these substances will be formed to be
used with such patent and other coal and fuels, so disposed and arranged
(as will be well understood by persons conversant with such or cognate opera-
tions) so as to combine with the patent or other coal used or placed inseparate
layers or blocks, corresponding with those formed of oxide of iron, lime, or peat
and other charcoal, whereby the sulphuretted hydrogen, sulphur compounds,
ammonia, and coal tar, resulting from the distillation of the coal will be corrected
or taken up, thereby partly purifying the same without requiring any alteration of

page_text: the present works or retorts, but these may however be therewith filled or emptied
more conveniently by this patent fuel, if so desired.
In the operation of smelting iron ore in the blast furnace the use of fuel
manufactured in accordance with this Invention will be found peculiarly advan-
tageous, inasmuch as the same is froin its form well calculated to sustain the burden
of ore when introduced into the shaft of the furnace, whilst free access is allowed
for the heated atmospheric air to pass through the charges of fuel and of ore and
fluxes, and thus to expose every portion of the ore to contact with the incandescent
fuel.
In smelting copper ore, in which a long series of roasting processes are necessary
in order to get rid of the sulphur and sulphurous compounds contained in the ore,
such treatment may be very much shortened by the use of the fuel, the manufacture
of which forms the subject of my said Invention, inasmuch as by a proper disposition
of the blocks or plates of fuel a ready passage is afforded for the heated atmospheric
air to the ore, thus ensuring a perfect combustion of the fuel and a consequently
powerful action upon the sulphur or sulphurous compounds which are evolved from
the ore with great rapidity. In like manner other metallic ores, such as those of
lead, tin, and zinc, especially when the latter is in the form of sulphide, may be
advantageously treated in accordance with my said Invention, and a great saving of
time and cost of reduction thereby effected.
I should mention that in all cases in which this Invention is applied to smelting
or reducing metallic ores the requisite fluxes are employed; and I should also
observe that the fuel the manufacture of which forms the subject of my said
Invention, is applicable to all such smelting and reducing operations for all metallic
ores as before mentioned, whether the same are performed in blast, reverberatory, or.
any other furnaces.
A further mode of utilizing my said Invention is as follows:-Coal, coal dust,
coke, charcoal, peat, peat charcoal, breeze, lignite, wood, wood or other vetetable
pulp, sawdust, bog earth, shale, turf, heath, reeds, sedge, spear straw, hay, corn,
seaweeds, spent hops, malt, bark, apple-cheese, and other substances capable of being
subjected to the process of combustion are, cither singly or as mixtures thereof, and
when required partially charred, treated with steam, vapour of petroleum and
other hydrocarbon fluids, and then mixed and prepared by means of pug mills or
any other suitable appliances. The fuel thus prepared is then mixed in various
proportions with chalk, gypsum, lime or limestone, marl, clay, chalk or cement
stones in a pulverized state, together with farina, starch, or any other suitable
cohesive substance or substances, and afterwards moulded into blocks and perforated,
as herein-before mentioned. The blocks having been thus formed and perforated
and dried, may then be burnt in any description of furnaces, kilns, or clamps, for
whatever purpose the fuel may be required, when the carbonaceous portions of the
fuel will be consumed and the gaseous products resulting from the combustion
thereof will be carried off through the perforations, the chalk, gypsum (or plaster of
Paris resulting therefrom), lime or limestone, marl, clay, chalk or ceinent stones,
being left in a condition either with or without grinding, crushing, or pulverizing
by any of the ordinary mills or appliances, will be applicable to building and other
useful purposes.
Again, I mix portions of the prepared fuel with seaweeds and chloride of sodium
(common salt) after pulverizing and preparing the same with farina, starch, or other
cohesive substance or substances, and afterwards mould the same into blocks which
are perforated and dried. Such blocks may then be burnt as fuel in any description
of furnace, and for any useful purpose, when the carbonaceous portions will be
consumed and the gases carried off through the perforations, whilst the alkali and
substances other than those of a carbonaceous character will be left in a fit state for
grinding, and for being used for any purpose to which the same are applicable.
In the treatment of peat, turf, bog earth, and heath, when the same is situated on
a hill or in a sloping position, I prefer to make below the surface thereof a series of
horizontal shallow drains, either with mole-ploughs or other suitable apparatus or

page_text: appliances, in order to intercept the flow of water at different elevations, so that
the peat, turf, bog earth, or heath, or portions of pasture, may have the benefit
thereof until required to be cut; and when the land is too much saturated with
moisture diagonal and vertical drains are cut from the highest point, so as to
prevent the water at the top overflowing the lower portion. The manufacture of
peat into fuel is thus carried out; the same is dug in the ordinary way of the size
required, and at once, with or without pulping and macerating or mixing with
charred peat or small coal, pressed and moulded and perforated into blocks and
layers of fuel; or the same may be made of the undulated or of other form and
perforated, or having slots or apertures made therein for the purpose of promoting
combustion, as before mentioned. Steam and vapour of petroleum oil or other
hydrocarbon substances, or sulphuric acid, being applied to the whole or portions
thereof and cohesive substances, and in some cases chalk or lime or shale are used
in the preparation of the fuel for the manufacture of gas; the coke from which
when taken from the retorts, as well as the residues of all these patent fuels,
contains so many valuable natural and other properties, will be crushed, ground,
pulverized, and prepared by the ordinary mills and appliances for agricultural,
horticultural, sanitary, and general purposes, by the use thereof for disinfecting,
deodorizing, filtering, and purifying water and other substances under all circum-
stances, and giving out these valuable properties when applied to the soil.
In inaking the blocks of fuel above described, I prefer that the same shall be
undulated longitudinally, transversely, and diagonally, and of square, oblong, radiated,
or oval form, on one or more sides thereof, as embraced by my said Patent of the
23rd day of April 1873, No. 1461, and perforated in the centre of such undulations
with perforations, slots, or apertures of any size or number in one or more direction,
for the purpose of retaining the valuable principles contained in the substances of
which the fuel is formed, and of allowing the escape of such matters as would
be detrimental to the process of combustion.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
my said Invention and its various applications will be more clearly understood. It
will be observed that the several Figures are not in all cases referred to seriatim,
but in such a manner as will best explain and elucidate the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which it is applied.
In the treatment of coal it is intended to keep every description thereof separate
during the manufacture, and each quality from every pit will bear a distinguishing
brand, so that the quality thereof will be fully known, and the proprietor of the
several pits may under license produce the same description of blocks on the spot
for sale, as the machinery and moulds employed can be easily provided for that
purpose.
Figure 1, in Sheet 1, illustrates a block of coal in a solid state as taken from the
pit, with fire applied to the under part marked a, the heat therefrom causing the
carburetted hydrogen and other gases to ascend without the proper introduction of
atmospheric air therewith. The carbon and hydrogen not being operated on
chemically from the absence of oxygen and flame to produce fire pass up the
chimneys and flucs in the formn of smoke, as shewn, issuing from the surface thereof,
causing great loss of heat when employed for all purposes.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, illustrates a similar block of coal when broken up, pulverized,
mixed, moulded, and perforated, by which means the oxygen is enabled to mix
immediately in a heated state with the carbon and hydrogen of the fuel, when by
the application of flame a chemical action takes place, and the whole heat therefrom
is thereby secured free from any nuisance or disadvantage from smoke. The azote,
which will not burn, is also by such perforations allowed to pass freely off by the
chimneys and flues.
Figure 3, Sheet 1, is a representation of a block of my said fuel when employed
in that form for hot-plates or cooking stoves, with perforations in two directions,
radiated so as to carry the heat to the two ends for boilers or ovens a and b, as
well as to the front c, the azote passing off by the flue at d under the hot-plates,

page_text: which are to be raised when fuel is required to be added, either in blocks or broken
up for the purpose.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, illustrates blocks of coal in its solid state piled with fire
underneath, the effect of which is to distil from the solid coal above the hydrogen
and carbon without the intermixture of the oxygen necessary with the flame in
every part to produce the chemical action requisite for combustion and heat; the
consequence of which is that they are carried off by the draught in the flues and
chimneys unconsumed, and the heat thereof lost.
Figure 5, Sheet 1, shews broken blocks of the perforated fuel piled up in a similar
way to that last mentioned, with fire passed underneath, when the oxygen will pass
freely through the perforated portions thereof, and with the flame produce such a
chemical action in every part that the whole of the hydrogen and carbon will
produce heat, instead of so large a proportion thereof being lost, as is the case when
coal is consumed in its natural state.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, shews the undulated and perforated layers or blocks of fuel
made of all descriptions of coal, coal dust, coke, breeze, lignite, wood, wood or other
vegetable pulp, sawdust, peat, bog earth, shale, turf, heath, reeds, sedge, spear
straw, hay, corn, seaweeds, spent hops, malt, bark, apple-cheese, and other substances
capable of becoming subject to the process of combustion, the different layers being
marked a, b, c, d, e, and f. Similar blocks or layers will also be formed of chalk,
lime, limestone, oxide of iron, peat and other charcoal to be used there with for
sinelting, or in the manufacture of gas, or for other purposes of such sizes and forms
as may suit the description of fire-places in the furnaces or retorts employed, which
substances being so formed and mixed with coal of all descriptions take up in the
manufacture of gas therefrom in the usual manner sulphurated hydrogen, sulphur
compounds, ammonia, and coal tar, thereby at least partly purifying the same
without interfering with or requiring any alteration in the present works, although
new apparatus may be constructed for the use thereof. The filling and emptying
the retorts may be more conveniently carried out with blocks of the before-mentioned
fuel and materials of the form shewn in Sheet 2, Figures 4, 5, and 6, whether keep
distinct, as shewn, or added together in the requisite proportions in course of manu-
facture in bulk before the same is moulded into any of the forms of plates or blocks,
in which state such materials will, when so prepared, mixed, and treated, be sold so
as to be formed under license into any of the before-mentioned shapes of any sizes.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, shews similar blocks of coal and other materials as last described,
not undulated, but perforated, so as to be used separately or with the others, as may
be desired.
Figure 3, Sheet 2, shews similar blocks or layers of coal and other materials
having contrary perforations and slots, with sinkings and projections on the outside
fitting each other, such slots being used for receiving orcs, and when the same are to
be exposed to intense heat the outer layers or blocks will be composed of undulated
layers or blocks made of fire-clay or sand capable of resisting the requisite heat to
be applied, or these blocks so charged may be burned in any of the ordinary furnaces
for smelting the ores therein with great advantage, or as may be required for any
description of furnace, retorts, grates, or manufacture by the owners thereof, or to be
burnt with portions of the patent blocks for all purposes.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, is a section of a stove or furnace for burning shale in the grate
marked a, so as to impart the ammonia and other valuable manurial properties to
the perforated layers or blocks of peat, turf, heath, reeds, sedge, spear straw, hay,
corn, seaweed, spent hops, malt, bark, apple-cheese, sawdust, bog earth, and other
substances placed in the oven above marked b, or in the layers of prepared and
perforated fuel placed on the undulated plates over the same, in order that the
whole when sufficiently charred may be pulverized or ground in any of the ordinary
mills for manure, to be used with or without lime, chalk, or such like substances.
Figure 1, Sheet 3, is a section, and Figure 2 the plan of a series of stoves of a
circular form so as to allow the passage of the heat of the burning peat or other
fuel in the grates a to operate on the peat to be dried after being perforated in the

page_text: stoves b, and thus allowing such to be emptied when dried, and filled with other
and damp peat and other fuel regularly, so as to afford a regular supply. In these
stoves, the fire-places to which are shewn on an enlarged scale at Figure 3, it is
intended to treat portions of the peat and other fuel with steam and vapour of
petroleum or other hydro carbon oils so as to decompose any water therein, and to
This treat-
make the same more suitable for and affording more speedy combustion.
ment will be carried out by steam from any ordinary boiler, passing through or over
the vapour of petroleum or other hydrocarbon oils which will be kept in proper tanks
for that purpose of the ordinary forms and sizes. Over these stoves plates or blocks
of the perforated fuel will be placed at c and d on the perforated iron plates so as
to allow the escape of steam, and over these will be placed tanks of cold water e to
condense the same, and which will be carried off by pipes, shewn at f, prepared
for that purpose, the dried or prepared blocks of fuel being taken off the stove g.
Figure 10, Sheet 1, shews the commencement of the plan adopted for cutting
peat, turf, and heath with the ordinary tools and of the ordinary sizes, so as to
enable all who are at present engaged to continue their works. Portions of such
substances will be macerated in the ordinary pug mills, with or without heating
with steam, vapour of petroleum and of the hydrocarbon oils as before mentioned,
and shewn in Figure 6, Sheet 1; when being put in the hopper and pug mill a it
will be macerated by the revolving screw knives, and forced out of the mouth pieces
b and c. The same will then be pressed and perforated ready for drying by the
prepared moulds and cutters at d of any required forms or sizes, when by reversing
the screw as at e, the moulds will leave for removal two perforated blocks by the
action of the counter-weights i and h, forcing the same out of the before-mentioned
moulds.
Figure 7 illustrates the mouth-pieces intended to be added to the ordinary pug
mills and brick-making machines, or such machines as may be needful to produce
from the macerated peat, coal, and other fuel, when mixed with cohesive substances
or brought to the state needful for forming thereby perforated blocks of any size and
form that may be desired or required, or the same prepared, macerated, and mixed
fuel whilst in a soft state will be formed in blocks by perforating hand moulds,
illustrated by Fig. 8, in Sheet 1, in which the perforations are fixed, but with a
moveable plate at the bottom to be actuated only by the screw below, so that when
the fuel is thrown therein by the moulder, and the cover c shut, the same may be
compressed into proper form, and when the cover c is removed the same screw will
lift out the block properly perforated and ready for removal. Similar moulds will
be made for the forms of blocks which may be required either for peat, coal, or
mixed fuel of every description herein described.
Figure 11, Sheet 1, is a block of peat on a larger scale, and with larger perforations,
which is shewn still further enlarged in Fig. 13, Sheet 1, to explain that it is
intended to introduce into such perforations portions of peat prepared with petro-
leum or other hydrocarbon oils, or coal and wood of any of the forms marked a, b,
c, d, e, f, and rg, as shewn in Fig. 13, Sheet 1, so as to promote the more rapid
chemical action and combustion of the whole without requiring any expensive
treatment of the bulk thereof. The same treatment will be adopted with some
descriptions of coal and other fuel, when by the introduction of small portions of
cannel or free burning coal or wood, the whole will be operated on and quicker
chemical action takes place in burning, by which means the waste of carbon will
be prevented, and greater effect produced for manufacturing steam, household, and
all other purposes.
The same plan will be adopted for the introduction of oxide of iron, lime, peat
and other substances herein mentioned for taking up sulphuretted hydrogen, sulphur
compounds, ammonia, and gas tar in the making of gas, when separate blocks of
such purifying materials are not made and introduced into the retorts for that
purpose, which however I prefer doing in order to regulate the quantity of each
according to the nature and quality of the coal to be employed for such gas
making.

page_text: Figure 9, Sheet 1, is a steam chest in which the last mentioned portions of peat
and other fuel will be prepared after they are moulded, cut, or formed of the shapes
and sizes required. a, b, is the reservoir for petroleum or other hydrocarbon
oils with a pipe and top d to admit the vapour thereof into the part marked e
for the admission of steam for the action thereof, and for the vapour to penetrate
and prepare the portions of fuel for the before-mentioned purposes.
Fig. 12, Sheet 1, is a section of a stove for charring portions of the peat and
other fuel, or for making the blocks thereof into charcoal, fire being placed into the
portion marked A. The peat to be made into charcoal is placed in b, damp peat at
c, to intercept the carbon. d indicates the fire heat for charring the peat in e and f
or the same will be charred by lime in larger quantities for manufacturing and
other purposes.
Figure 23, Sheet 3, represents circular blocks or plates of fuel which will be
found of great advantage in ornamental and other stoves, as giving out heat and
light on all sides, the azote being carried off by a small vase at a, and they will be
made suitable for all stoves and grates of different forms.
Figure 22, in Sheet 3, shews some of the last mentioned blocks of fuel in a stove
constructed so as to produce with the fire a gas, which being purified by the
addition of plates of oxide of iron, lime, and peat will pass over and through the
water at b, and thence out at c, for use. This Figure illustrates the application of
the patent fuel to stoves, grates, cooking apparatus, and ovens, and where the gas
may be used with great advantage.
Figure 4, in Sheet 3, illustrates the application of the perforated fuel to blast
and other furnaces, brick, pottery, glass, malt, hop, and other kilns, so as to produce
greater effect in smelting or for manufacturing purposes by the introduction of
heated air and gas through the perforations in the fuel, which is introduced into
apertures formed therein at every available place, so that the whole contents
of such blast or other furnaces used for smelting or other purposes, as well
as all the bricks, pottery, glass, malt, hops, or other goods subjected to such
treatment may have the full effect of the gas and heat produced by the combustion of
such fuel, simultaneously and regularly in every part, the azote which will not burn
being carried off from the flues above.
The application of the fuel which forms the subject of my said Invention for
such purposes will not interfere in the least with the present arrangements, but may
be employed as supplemental thereto. In this section of a blast furnace it will be
seen that twelve openings, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, l, m, are shewn, whilst four more
on the opposite side will make up sixteen, which may if desired be supplied from
time to time with blocks of the fuel similar to those shewn at Figure 8, or if the
openings are square, then the blocks of fuel shewn in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13,
may be used, it being understood that such openings are to be fitted with iron plates
outside, and with fire-clay inside (as shewn in Figure 5, in which the parts are respec-
tively indicated by oblique and vertical lines), the same being undulated and per-
forated, as shewn in Figure 5, to correspond so as to carry the several streams of
hot atmospheric air or heated gas into the furnace, ovens, and kilns, whether
supplied from the external atmosphere or increased by the blowing apparatus
through the pipes 1 b, shewn on the enlarged plan of such openings, Figure 7, each
of which are to be fitted up with an iron frame with one perforated door 3 b, and
one not perforated 4 b, to close the opening effectually when not required to be in
The door 3b will be opened when the fuel 2b is desired to be used or added
and kindled on the outside of the fire-clay plate with similar perforations, and then
the door 3 b is to be closed, when the action of the atmosphere will at once take
place, and being heated by passing through the perforations in the inside fire-clay
plate, and the fuel will, with the heated air and gas from the fuel, be taken towards
the centre, similar to the heat from blow pipes producing great effect on the ores
contained therein, which can be further increased if the force from the blowing
apparatus is added by opening the taps in the pipes 1 b, which are to communicate
therewith for that purpose. Although it is intended to mix the ores with tlie fuel
lise.

page_text: when intended to be smelted, yet that used for the last-mentioned openings will
not contain anything but fuel.
In filling the furnace blocks of fuel will be placed around the outside, and the
centre part will be filled with blocks of fuel containing the ore, or ore in the usual
state, and also blocks of fuel composed of all descriptions of coal and peat, and
containing limestone, lime, chalk, clay, or sand producing the needful flux, so that
the whole mass will be rapidly operated on, and the smelting such metals be greatly
expedited.
It will be understood that the blocks formed in accordance with this Invention
may be broken up, and supplied as ordinary fuel, and also used therewith if desired
for the perforated blocks, will expedite the chemical action needful to produce the
requisite heat, and the same result will be obtained by the purchase of the coal,
peat, and other materials prepared under my said Invention, and which will be sold in
bulk for such purpose, and thus enable each manufacturer under license to prepare
the perforated blocks of any forms and sizes to suit their several works, or the
purpose for which such fuel is to be employed.
Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is a ground plan of the before-mentioned blast furnace, and shews
the fire-plates and pipes from the blowing apparatus as at present employed; and
it will be understood that although I prefer altering the same as described, yet
my improved fuel can and will be manufactured and supplied of every description
of coal, coke, peat, lime, limestone, chalk, clay, sand, and other materials to produce
the flux for the iron and other ores to be smelted therewith by filling the furnace
with alternate layers of ores and fuel as at present, but the blocks being prepared
and perforated, the action of the fire on the whole will be more rapid, and the
chemical action between the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen supplied as it is in a hot
state through the perforations to every part of the ores a greater quantity thereof
will be smelted, and in less time, and the metal produced will be better, as the
impurites will be consumed as with the hot blast, or carried off out of the furnaces,
instead of being shut in and carried down with the molten metal in a mechanical
state, in which case the pig iron therefrom requires much more purifying after-
wards.
Figures 14 and 15, Sheet 3, illustrate the channels made of fire-clay, which will
be prepared and set in the ordinary sand for casting, in which blocks of peat, char-
coal, and fuel will be placed, through which the molten metal will be allowed to
run, so that if preferred the same may be carried whilst hot to any distance into
another furnace prepared for refining the same before it is allowed to cool, and
thence on a lower level to another or puddling furnace prepared for that purpose,
and if so desired, and the levels thereof are suitable, into another or connecting
furnace, in which several furnaces the usual addition of fuel made of charcoal will
be added for producing steel, so as to expedite the processes of the preparation and
conversion of iron, and avoiding the loss of the fuel which must take place by
allowing the metal to cool in the several processes.
If preferred the iron ore may be prepared or run into sows and pigs as at present,
with the fuel formed under my said Invention, as shewn in Figures 14 and 15, Sheet 3,
and the slag may be allowed to be taken away as at present, but it is preferred to
form cast-iron or other suitable moulds to receive the same to produce building
blocks with or without perforations similar to section, Figure 16, plan 17, section 18,
plan 19, section 20, plan 21, in Sheet 3, which would also be used for the preparation
of fuel, iuto which from a small supplemental furnace prepared for that purpose, in
which the slag will be mixed with clay, marl, shale, chalk, sand, and fuel prepared
for that purpose, and afterwards will be allowed to run into the before-mentioned
moulds to form building materials, as well as paving stones for roads, streets,
building and other purposes alternately with similar blocks of clay, wood, wood
pulp, chalk, marl, lime, limestone, clay, sand, and other materials, prepared so as to
interlock therewith, and be valuable and useful for such purposes.
It is not only intended to prepare fuel containing iron ores for smelting in blast
furnaces as at present constructed, but also fuel containing lead, copper, tin, zinc,

page_text: and other metallic ores for smelting in such furnaces, which may also be altered in
a manner similar to that shewn in the plan of the blast furnace for iron herein-
before referred to, or in any other manner most suitable, so that by the intimate
connection of the ores with such fuel, and the constant stream of heated air and
gas brought into contact therewith through the perforations therein, the smelting
thereof will be greatly expedited.
Having thus 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 what I
consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured
to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent are, the improvements
in and processes for the manufacture of artificial fuel, and in the treatment of the
substances of which such fuel is composed, and in the methods of forming the same
into blocks, and of employing the latter when so formed, substantially as and for
the purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any merc modifications
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Haggett, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of August One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six,
WILLIAM HAGGETT. (L.S.)