IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, CHARLES EDWARD HALL, of Meersbrook Bank, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING COAL AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to machinery for the treatment of small coal or other
substances largely mixed with dirt and other impurities of different specific gravity,
and is designed to effect their separation by the washing of the coal or other
substances, and the after drying of the same by the simultaneous operation of my
improved mechanism.
My apparatus consists of an extended trough provided at one end with a hopper,
through which the supply of dirty material, small coal for instance, is fed. This
trough is provided with a series of dirt pockets or settling cones placed before
division boards on weirs in the stream of water, to check the flow of dirt and
to collect the same; the lighter coal flowing readily over the weirs or division
boards.
A bye-pass trough is provided at each dirt pocket or cone, with swinging doors,
through which the flow of water may be diverted instead of passing over the dirt
pockets, when it is desired to clean out the latter, or for other purposes.
The circulation of water is produced by a pump, reciprocating, centrifugal, or
rotary, of any suitable make, and conveniently placed, the suction being taken
from the top of a deep settling pocket or tank at the end of the apparatus farthest
from the hopper, the water and air at the same time being drawn through the
layer of small coal, which has passed the washing trough on to a perforated plate,
and is then delivered by a creeper provided with scrapers, over the said perforated
plate above the water settling pocket or tank before referred to.
The suction stroke or draw of the pump is thus utilized to draw off the surplus
water from the washed coal, and to partially dry it, shortening the time required
for the coking process, and preventing the destraction of the ovens or calciners,
which is usually caused by the introduction of a considerable amount of free water
with the small coal.
The delivery water of the pump is passed into a lower compartment or return
tube (provided with check valves to prevent return under the trough along which

page_text: the coal is being washed) and is delivered at the hopper end on to the coal as it
falls from the hopper, returning along the upper trough to the settling tank.
The water may thus be continually circulated, the same water being used over
and over again, preventing the pollution of streams by discharge of dirty effluent
water.
The bottom of the dirt pockets or other convenient part are provided with grids
and a valve, or with a valve alone, communicating with the lower water delivery
compartment or return tube. The water, being admitted by the opening of the
valve through the grids, stirs up the dirt, lifting any lighter coal to the surface.
The very fine coal, not carried away by the creeper, settles in the settling tank
at the end farthest from the hopper, which is provided with a wash out valve or
man-hole and cover by which the accumulated fine coal can be withdrawn when
required.
There is thus no waste of the finest coal, as none is carried away by the water.
The pump may be single or double acting or of any other construction, as for
instance a centrifugal or rotary pump.
The coal after being washed, strained, and partially dried, when on the perforated
plate, is carried by the creeper over a lip, and delivered by gravity into a truck or
similar appliance to carry it away.
I do not restrict my invention solely to the specific arrangement of washing
trough as described, but I may combine a pump, either rotary or reciprocating,
producing a constant circulation of wash water and at the same time straining off
by its suction, the free moisture in the coal, which is being delivered by a creeper
over a perforated plate or strainer-and with any washing tanks or troughs; of
ordinary or known construction.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1884.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: CE
J, CHARLES EDWARD HALL of Meersbrook Bank, Sheffield, in the County of
IMPROVE-
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING COAL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to Machinery for the treatment of small coal or other
substances, largely mixed with dirt and other impuritics of different specific gravity,
and is designed to effect their separation by the washing of the Coal and other
substances, and the after drying of the same by the simultaneous operation of my
improved mechanism.
Figure 1. is an elevation of my improved washing and drying mechanism,
receiving coal or other substance from a trough and showing a section through
my circulating pump.
Figure 2. is a transverse section of the same.
Figure 3. is a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is my washing and drying apparatus as modified for the treatment of
the finest Coal dust.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through my simultaneously washing and
drying tank with the direct feed from the hopper.
My apparatus consists of a simultaneously washing and drying mechanism fitted
with the supply hopper either direct to the washing tank or to a trough of any
known or the following particular construction, through which the supply of dirty
material, small coal for instance, is fed,
Should a trough be used, I prefer to provide it with a series of dirt pockets or
settling cones placed before division boards or weirs in the stream of water, to
check the flow of dirt and to collect the same, the lighter coal flowing readily over
the weirs or division boards.
A bye pass trough is provided at each dirt pocket or cone with swinging doors,
through which the flow of water may be diverted, instead of passing over the dirt
pockets, when it is desired to clean out the latter or for other purposes.
A trough however of any other known construction may be conveniently used,
the termination of which K is shown in figures 1, 2, and 3, or the small coal or
other substance may be fed to my simultaneously drying and washing tank, direct
from the hopper L, as in figure 5.
In all these modifications of my improved apparatus, the circulation of the water, .
by which the final washing is effected, is produced by a pump, of the reciprocating
type A, in figures 1, 2, and 3, as also F in Figure 5, and of the centrifugal or
rotary type M in Figure 4; but which may be of any other suitable make and
conveniently placed in any position relatively to the tank E.
In figures 1, 2. end 3, the reciprocating pump A, is driven through the connecting
rod and crank C by any available power producing rotary motion on the shaft Bx
The pump is placed by preference alongside the large tank E, and in such a position
as to be always charged with the overflowing water from the tank at one or both
ends of the pump, according as it is single or double acting, by the open pipes N,
Figure 2.
The pump is provided with the usual suction and delivery valves of the simplest
type marked 4. 4. 4. in figures 1 and 2, communicating respectively with the
suction and delivery openings of the pump. Upon the Crank shaft B are fitted.

page_text: sprocket wheels P, for communicating motion to the creeper D and to the dirt
screw Q. C is a conveniently perforated straining plate upon which all the clean
Coal and water are deposited as they fall by gravity from the spout or trough K.
The creeper D. composed of scrapers attached to a travelling band or chains and
passing round suitable drums or chain wheels, driven as aforesaid from the shaft B,
draws the wet washed Coals along the perforated plate C. (which closes the mouth
of the settling tank E) and finally delivers the said washed and dried coal over the
lip R into a suitable receptacle ready for use.
The suction of the pump A (Figure 2.) draws air through the perforated screen C
together with water and finest Coal or slimes,' so as to leave the Coal clean and
dry upon the perforated plate ready for use when delivered by the Creeper.
The finest dust and 'slimes,' as they accumulate in the tank E, may be flushed
out at the bottom, in the usual manner, or forced out at the side through an opening
provided with a dirt screen B driven by the Chain gear from the shaft B as before
described. In the case where only the finest Coal dust is to be washed, Fig. 4, I
dispense with the perforated plate and creeper, and deposit the same along with
the water into the tank E, Figure 4. An overflow trough within the said tank
whose sides are covered with fine gauze allows the water to flow away to tho
centrifugal pump M, which circulates it to the head of the washing trough as
described in the case of the reciprocating pump A, and thus raises it to the head
of the washing spout for use again.
A suitable elevator H is fixed to the side or within the said tank, by which the
Coal and Clean Coal dust is raised sufficiently high to deliver the samo upon a
perforated plate F, from under which a suction tube communicates with a
grinding mill, conveniently of the kind patented to me under .number 2463 dated
June 4th 1881.
The centrifugal action of this or of a similar mill draws away the surplus
moisture from the fine Coal on the Screen F, leaving it in a much drier state and
ready for use.
Where the trough is dispensed with and the small coal is fed through the
hopper L, Figure 5, direct into a mechanical washing machine, such for instance
as that patented to me under date October 21st 1882 and numbered 5108, I apply
the suction stroke of the reciprocating pump piston F, therein described, in the
same way as has been heretofore described with reference to the pumps A, A,
Figures 1, 2, and 3, that is so as to simultaneously wash the Coal by its delivery
stroke, and to draw away the excess water from the washed Coal, and Air therewith,
so as to effectually dry it.
In Figure 5, F is the aforesaid reciprocating piston plunger pump, which may
be arranged horizontally as shown, or vertically. This piston is operated by the
usual crank shaft and connecting rods. Foot Valves G. G. are arranged between
the outer and inner tanks to admit water from the former. As the water is thus
withdrawn by the suction strokes of the pump,. the lowering of the level of the
water in the tank C. causes a constant suction through the perforated plate E,
over which the Washed Coal is delivered by the creeper E¹, drawing therefrom all
superfluous water, and partially drying the Coal by the passage of air through it.
A series of flap or other Valves H are arranged to admit the water into the
inner tank A at each inward delivery stroke of the piston, the water so discharged
rising through the inclined perforated plate B upon which the Coal is being
washed; by this means the material deposited on the perforated plate is gently
raised upwards, the lightest material or coal remaining upon the top and floating
away with the discharged volume of water over the draining plate E, whilst the
dirt and other impurities descend nearest the plate, and are worked off by means
of a Valve and screw K at the bottom of the tank. The clean Coal, as it is
.deposited upon the straining plate E, and delivered over it by the creeper E',
is strained and dried by the water and air being rapidly drawn through the 5
-perforated plate E.

page_text: Various modifications in the form of the appliances may be made without
departing from my invention, as I do not claim, nor do I restrict my invention to
the specific arrangement of washing trough or washing and settling tank as
described, but I may combine a pump, either rotary, centrifugal, or reciprocating,
with any tank or receptacle, to produce a constant circulation of wash water
therein, whilst at the same time straining off by its suction the excess moisture
in the Washed Coal, which is being delivered for that purpose by a creeper over a
perforated or straining plate above the suction inlet to the pump.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The method of washing and drying small Coal or other substances in a
simultaneous operation by the use of a pump, either reciprocating, centrifugal, or
rotary, which by its suction, withdraws the excess moisture from the washed coal
or other substance, returning the water by its delivery for repeated use in washing,
substantially as described.
2nd The combination with any known Coal Washing trough or troughs of a
pump, whether reciprocating, centrifugal, or rotary, which shall keep the washing
water in constant circulation, and at the same time by its suction withdraw the
excess moisture from and induce the passage of air through the washed Coal, to
dry the same, substantially as described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
3rd The combination with any known mechanical Coal Washer of a pump,
whether reciprocating, centrifugal, or rotary, which shall keep the washing water
in constant circulation, and at the same time by its suction withdraw the excess
moisture from and induce the passage of air through the washed Coal, to dry the
same, substantially as described in reference to Figure 5.
4th In a Coal Washing and drying Apparatus, the combination of a circulating
Water Pump, either reciprocating, centrifugal, or rotary, with a straining,
perforated, or gauge plate, over the suction of the said pump, the washed Coal
being passed over the said plate by gravity, or by a creeper, to enable the
moisture to be withdrawn from the washed Coal before delivery, substantially
as described.
Dated this 2nd day of Ontahan 1901
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.