CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE RESIDUAL PRODUCTS TO USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
BERTRAM, of Gateshead, in the County of Durham, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of
May, in the ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles Beitram, my exors,
adiñiors, and assigns, Ier especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Charles Bertram, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Bertram, my exois, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, fiom time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, and also in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL,
AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE RESIDUAL PRODUCTS TO USEFUL PURPOSES," in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Charles
Bertram, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in
Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent.

page_text: as m and by the same, reference being thereunto had, wall more runy and at
lage appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Bertiam, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described in and by the
present Specification thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say
The fist branch of my said Invention has reference to those parts of the
manufacture of artificial fuel which concern the moulding, compiessing, and
discharging of the fuel and to the machinery employed therein, and to that
desciption of machinery more especially in which hydraulic power is employed
for these purposes, and for which (inter alia) Letters Patent for England and
the Colonies were granted to William Wylam, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, of date
the Seventh day of April, One thousand eight hundred and forty-five A plan
of the moulding, compressing, and discharging parts of the machinery of an
artificial fuel manufactory, constructed and arranged according to my said
improvements, is given in Figure 1 of the said Drawings, and an elevation of
the same, partly in section, in Figure 2 A, A, are two stone pillars or founda-
tions on which are mounted two circular plates B, B". C, C, are two
square drums, which are secured to the top of the circular plates Ba, Bb, by
screw bolts and nuts. These plates with their drums turn freely round
spindles D, D. Each spindle D is connected by a triangular frame E to two
vertical rollers G, G (raised above the platform I, afterwards mentioned), and the
two frames E are linked together by a horizontal rod F, screwed at both ends
to admit of its being eased or tightened at either end, as may be required.
II is a continuous chain of cast-11 on moulds W, W (each divided into eight
partitions, and open both at top and bottom, which revolves with the diums
when acted on in manner herein-after explained, in an oblong path round the
spindles D, D, as two pivots, and is guided in its course by the rollers G, G.
I, I, is an oblong platform (with rims on the two longer sides), which s
supported in the midspace between the circular plates B, B", on pillais K, K,
and is in the body thereof (the space within the rims) on the same level as
the plates B, Bb. The moulds as they move onwards pass in close contact
with the surfaces of the plates B, 13b, and platform 1, which seive accordingly
as supports to the chain of moulds at the two ends and one of the sides.
On the other side, or that opposite to the platform I, the chain is carried by
rollers G, G, supported on vertical pillars (not seen in the Drawings). Lis
a hydraulic compressing press, and M a hydraulic discharging picss, both of
which are supported on pillais 1, 1, and m, m, raised upon the platform I.

page_text: N is the hopper from which the artificial fuel is discharged in a warm and
plastic state into the moulds as they pass beneath it (having been manufactured
in the manner described in the Specification of the Letters Patent granted as
aforesaid to William Wylam, or in any other suitable manner). A transveiso
sectional elevation of the compressing machine L is given separately on an
enlarged scale in Figure 3, and a similar view of the discharging machine M
in Figure 4 A (Figure 3) is the bed plate of the machine. B³, B²,
columns, from which is suspended the cylinder C³, C³. D is the 1am.
E, E, are two punches cast in one piece, which are bolted to the 1am, and
represented as in the act of pressing two blocks of fuel in the moulds W, W.
F, F, are the pipes for admitting the water above and below the 1am.
In Figure 4, A3, A³, represent the bed plate of the discharging machine,
B3, B³, columns in which the cylinder C³, C³, has its bearings. D³, the ram,
to which there is keyed at bottom a cross piece P³, to which cross piece are
attached the punches, which are here represented as in the act of discharging
the blocks from the moulds W, W. F, F, are the pipes for admitting the
water above and below the ram. P, P, (Figure 1,) represent a system of
levers, by which the cross piece P³ of the discharging machine is connected
to a loose jointed arm Q, with a U or crutch shaped termination, which acts
against the chain of moulds, and pushes it forward to the extent of one pan
or division of the moulds at a time, at each ascent of the cross piece 1³.
The two machines L and M are actuated by a set of double-acting valves,
common to both, which are represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 Fignie 5
is a plan of these valves, Figure 6, a sectional elevation on the line m, of
-the plan, Figure 5; Figure 7, a sectional elevation on the line n of the plan,
Figure 5, Figure 8, honzontal section of the line p of Figure 7, and
Figure 9, a horizontal section on the line q, q, of Figures 6 and 7. A is a
supply pipe, which leads from the air vessel to the inlet valves. D' is a pipe
which leads from the valve F to the bottom of the cylinder of the compressing
machine L when it is required to raise the ram of that cylinder E' is another
pipe which leads from the valve F* to the bottom of the discharging
cylinder M, in order to raise the ram of that cylinder. B' is a pipe wluch
leads from the top of the cylinder of the compressing machine L to the
discharge valve II* C is a pipe which leads from the top of the discharging
cylinder M to the valve U. S is a double-acting lever, which moves on two
smaller canages K, K, and opens and shuts the admission and discharge
valves alternately, that is to say, when the valves G and I are open then H'
and Fare shut, and the action of the press is reversed. L, L, are two bais
of uon, which connect the levci S with the valves. 0, 0, (Figure 1,) is an

page_text: endless belt, which passes under an aperture in the platform I, and receives
the blocks of fuel upon it as they are pushed through that aperture by the
discharging press, and canies them away to a store-room or other place of
The chain of
deposit, all as presently herein-after more fully explained
moulds H is so acted on (by the arm Q) as to travel in its oblong path by a
continuous succession of moves, each move advancing the chamn the extent of
the width of the mould, or one fourth of each set at a time, so that there are
always at ono and the same time two moulds (at least) in the act of being
filled, two in the act of being pressed, and two in the act of being discharged;
and the distance between the filling and discharging points X, X, following the
duection of the arrows, and the rate of motion, is such, as to allow of time foi
the blocks of fuel to become so cooled and hardened that they may be pushed
out of the moulds by the discharging piess (M), without risk of injury. Sup-
posing, therefore, the chain to have performed one round, the mode of operation
in the first and all the succeeding rounds is as follows -On the moulds imme-
diately under the hopper N being filled, water is let in beneath the 1ams of
the two hydraulic machines L and M, by opening the inlet valves by means of
the double-acting lever S, as before explained, when the ascent of the 1am
of the machine M. and with it the cross piece Ps, causes the aim Q, through
the medium of the levers P-to-push the chain H one move forward upon the
platform I, and thus removes the filled moulds from under the hopper-N.--A
person (man or boy) stationed between the hopper and compressing machine then
drops an on plate V (shewn in Figure 3) on the top of the materials in the
filled moulds, such plate being of just so much less area than the mould as to
pass easily through the same, and having, if desired, the name of the manu-
facturer or other trade mark formed in rehef on the under side the cof. By a
few moves forward of the chain II, two of the filled moulds are brought under
the ram of the compressing machine L, when, by reversing the action of the
double-acting lever S, and admitting water above that ram (as well as the 1am
of the other machine MI), it descends, and brings the punches E, E³, down
upon the plates which cover the materials in the two moulds, and compresses
the latter to the degree required (stamping the blocks at the same time with
any distinctive characters or marks which may have been formed aforesaid on
the under sides-of-the-plates). The two moulds which have passed through
the preceding stages are then carried round by the successive-moves_of_the
chain to the discharging press Before they reach the point at which they
pass from off the plate B, the materials in them have obtained coherence
enough to requie no longer the bottom support which the platform I and
plate B have previously afforded. and by the time the moulds come under

page_text: the discharging press M their contents have become solid blocks, which
admit of being pushed (with the plates V on the top of them) by the next
descending stroke of the ram from out of the moulds, and down through the
aperture in the platform I on to the top of the endless carrying-away belt O O,
without the least risk of fracture or damage. As the blocks descend upon the
carrying belt. a person stationed by the side of it removes the iron plates from
off the top of the blocks. The course thus described as pursued with one pair
of moulds is successively pursued with all the others, so that at every rise of the
hydraulic rams the chain of moulds is pushed one move forward, and at every
descent of the rams (after the first round, as aforesaid) there are two moulds
pressed and two emptied When from a long continuance of work the iron
moulds W, W, become too much heated, I cause a small jet of water to play
upon them as they pass from under the compressing machine L, as indicated
by the dotted parts Y, in Figure 1. I prefer using hydraulic machines as
before described for compressing and discharging the blocks of fuel, on account
of their superior convenience and economy; but I do not confine myself to the
use thereof, as similarly constructed machines otherwise actuated would serve
the same purpose without disturbance to the general system of operations in
other respects.
Into the details relating to the working of the supply
hopper N, and the mixing machinery connected therewith, I do not enter,
because my present improvements relate solely to the treatment of the
materials after they have left the supply hopper. The hopper may be filled
by a shovel or by any suitable apparatus with the materials which the fuel is
to be composed. It will also be obvious that instead of two moulds being
placed side by side, according to the arrangements shewn in the Diawing, a
belt of single moulds might be used, or a belt carrying three or more rows of
moulds, placed side by side (the width of the belt, and the length of the stroke
of the lever by which the belt is moved round, and the size of the punches,
being all varied accordingly), so that either one mould, or two, three, or more
moulds, might be compressed and discharged simultaneously by corresponding
alterations in the machinery, the chain being always advanced by a succession
of moves whereof each is equal in extent to the width of the moulds com-
pressed and discharged simultaneously
The second part of my Invention has relation to the application of the residual
products of the manufacture of artificial fuel. In the manufacture of artificial
fuel, pitch obtained from the distillation of coal tar is usually employed as one of
the ingredients Two of the residual products of the distillation are tar oil,
other wise called dead oil, and naphthaline, which have been hitherto chiefly
employed to the coating and impiegnating of wood to preserve it from decay.

page_text: Now the improvements which constitute this part of my Invention consists in
employing the said substances, that is to say, the tar oil, other wise dead oil, and
naphthaline, either together or separately, as agents in the conversion of non
wholly or partially into steel, and in hardening and case-hardening iron and steel.
For this purpose I use the tar oil, otherwise lead oil, and naphthaline, in a state
of vapour, mixed with common atmospheric air, vapourising the tar oil or dead
oil or naphthaline by any of the various well-known methods, and adding to
them (by means of an air pump or other wise) the atmospheric air just previously
to their coming over from or flowing out of the still or other vessel in which
the tar oil or dead oil or naphthaline has been vaporised. The metal to be
converted or hardened is placed in a close oven or retort made of the brick or
metal, and heated from the outside, so that neither fire no flame may come in
direct contact with the metal inside. The form of this oven or retoit will vary
with that of the metal which is to be converted or hardened.
The Drawing, Figure 10, represents a longitudinal elevation in section of an
apparatus of this desciption, adapted to the converting or hardening of bars of
iron A is a long cylindrical or square oven, F, a furnace; and f,f,f,f,
flues leading under and over and around the oven A, and terminating in the
chimney C. G is the ash pit. D, air-tight door, for the introduction of the
iron bars into the oven. E, a pipe, through which the intermixture of
vaporised tar oil or dead oil or naphthalmo and atmospheric air-flows into the
oven A from the still or other vessel employed to evaporate the oil or naphtha-
line, when such still or vessel is set to work. F is a pipe for the escape from
the oven of the admitted vapours or gases after they have performed their
office. Both the pipes E and F are provided with stopcocks (not shown in
the Diawing). The bais being placed in the oven, and the door D and
pipes E and F all closed, the retoit or oven is heated until the bars undor
conversion attain a dull red heat. The naphthaline or tar oil evaporating
apparatus is then set to work, and the pipe E opened for the flow into the
oven of the resulting gascous products, mixed with atmospheric air, as aforesaid
(the escape pipe F* being for the time kept closed). The time during which
the bars under conversion ought to be subjected to the action of the vapours
thus introduced into the oven will vary with the degree to which it is desired
that they should be converted or hardened. When the bars have been con-
verted or hardened to the extent desired, the induction pipe E is closed, the
eduction pipe F opened, the fine drawn from the furnace, and the oven
allowed to cool gradually down, after which the oven is opened and the bars
withdrawn.
And having now descubed the nature of my said unprovements, and in

page_text: what manner the same are to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim as the
improvements constituting my said Invention are as follows:-
First, I claim the employment in the manufacture of artificial fuel of a
continuous chain of moulds, open at top and bottom, and so connected and
actuated as to revolve by such a series of moves or stages, and at such a rate,
that a like number of moulds may be compressed and discharged simulta-
neously; and the materials may be discharged from the moulds in the form of
solid blocks, fit for use, as before described.
Secondly, I claim the system of leverage, (P, P,) before described, whereby
the hydraulic or other machine or machines employed to compress and clis-
charge the blocks of fuel are made to produce simultaneously the aforesaid
series of moves or stages of the continuous chain of moulds.
Thirdly, I claim the employment in the manufacture of artificial fuel of the
double-acting set of valves before described, whereby two hydraulic (or other
machines) are simultaneously acted on at one and the same time. And,
Fourthly, I claim the application of a mixture of the vapour of tar oil,
otherwise dead oil, or naphthaline, and atmospheric air, (however such tar oil
or dead oil, or naphthaline, may be vapourised, or however mixed with atmo-
spheric au (as to which I make no claim,) to the converting of steel into
on, and the hardening and case-haidening of iron and steel, as before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Bertram, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-51x.
CHA (L.s.) BERTRAM.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of November,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Charles Bertram came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.