IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS OR BLOCKS OF FUEL FROM COAL DUST OR OTHER FUEL MATERIALS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS
OR BLOCKS OF FUEL FROM COAL DUST OR OTHER FUEL MATERIALS, AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by Léberecht Tralls, of Fürstenwalde, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and
Empire of Germany..
Sealed the 5th April 1878, and dated the 27th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October
1877.
58
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS OR BLOCKS OF FUEL FROM COAL DUST OR
OTHER FUEL MATERIALS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad by Léberecht Tralls, of Fürstenwalde, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
The Invention relates to the process of drying the wet rough materials, as coal,
peat, or other fuel dust, and to the forming of the so prepared mass into blocks or
bricks; and the object is to shorten the time used for preparing the rough materials
for the final operation of forming them into blocks or bricks, and to finish the
latter into a more compact and homogeneous state, making them very nearly as good
as the best fuel of similar kind in natural pieces or lumps.
To accomplish this object the coal or other fuel dust is filled in its natural state;
or if too dry, artificially moistened, alternately into one of two iron steam-heated
vessels, in which it is agitated by an archimedian screw, receiving the material at
one end, and delivering it at the other to a third central vessel of the same construc-
tion as the two before-mentioned ones.
The action of the steam heating these three vessels and their contents is: com-

page_text: pleted by acting upon them by means of a powerful air pump, driven by steam or
other available power. The pump removes the air, and with it all the aqueous
vapours created through the heat of the steam contained in the jackets of the
vessels. The speed however of the screws during the time which the mass is sub-
jected to the action of the steam and of the air pump is arranged in such way that
not only the aqueous gases are removed, but that the material under treatment
commences to distil to a certain degree, that is to say, that some tar is formed
which, impregnating the whole mass, makes it plastic and cohesive. When this
point is arrived at, the third vessel delivers the material to the press itself in
quantity sufficient for one block at a time.
The press is a steam beater press or ram, the force of which is increased by the
air and other gases being pumped out of the press room or eylinder by means of the
air pump.
Besides, this advantage all air bubbles are hereby removed from
the blocks, and the blocks are produced in a very compact and cohesive state, in
many cases superior even to the best form of the natural material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th April 1878.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. " IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS OR BLOCKS OF FUEL FROM COAL DUST OR
OTHER FUEL MATERIALS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad by Léberecht Tralls, of Fürstenwalde, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
The Invention relates to the process of drying the wet rough materials, as coal,
peat, or other fuel dust, and to the forming of the so prepared mass into blocks.or
bricks; and the object is to shorten the time used for preparing the rough materials
for the final operation of forming them into blocks or bricks, and to finish the
latter into a more compact and homogeneous state, making them very nearly as good
as the best fuel of similar kind in natural pieces or lumps.
:.
To accomplish this object the coal or other fuel dust is filled in its natural staté,
or if too dry, artificially moistened, alternately into one of two iron steam-heated
vessels, in which it is agitated by an archimedian screw, receiving the material.at
one end, and delivering it at the other to a third central vessel of the same construc-
tion as the two before-mentioned ones.
.
The action of the steam heating these three vessels and their contents is com-
pleted by acting upon them by means of a powerful air pump, driven by steam or
other available power. The pump removes the air, and with it all the aqueous
vapours created through the heat of the steam contained in the jackets of the
vessels: The speed however of the screws during the time which the mass is sub-
jected to the action of the steam and of the air pump is arranged in such way that
not. only the aqueous gases are removed, but that the material. under treatment
commences to distil to a certain degree, that is to say, that some tar is. formed
which, impregnating the whole mass, makes it plastic and cohesive. When this

page_text: point is arrived at, the third vessel delivers the material to the press itself in
quantity sufficient for one block at a time.
The press is a steam beater press or rain, the force of which is increased by the
air and other gases being puniped out of the press room or cylinder by means of
the air pump.
Besides this advantage all air bubbles are hereby removed from
the blocks, and the blocks are produced in a very compact and cohesive state, in
inany cases superior even to the best form of the natural material.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
Figure 1 is partly a vertical longitudinal section and partly a side view; Figure 2
is a plan partly in section; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section; and Figure 4 is a
sectional elevation of parts of Figure 2.
A, B, B, are steam jacketted cylinders fitted with agitating and propelling
screws C, C, C; D, D, are steam pipes; E, E, air pipes from the air pump; F, F,
the hoppers for the reception of the rough material, which hoppers may be closed by
means of the air-tight valves G, G; H, H, are air-tight valves worked alternately as
the cylinders B, B, are consuming the material.
From A the prepared mass is pushed into the channel K, from which it falls
through an opening in the pressing chamber M, where the steam beater press or
ram N compresses it to a block or brick by a sudden blow. Every newly made
block forces a previously made one out of the mouth O of the press chamber M,
whilst the blocks remaining in the press chamber produce sufficient friction to let
the last made block serve as an anvil whereon to compress the next one.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what.I claim is,-
Firstly. The process of drying by forming an air vacuum or rarefaction in
suitably constructed steam jacketted vessels the rough material for the manufacture
of coal bricks or blocks, substantially as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Secondly. The employment of an air vacuum in front of the plunger of a press for
making coal or other fuel bricks or blocks, substantially in manner and for the
purpose herein described.
Thirdly. The employment of steam jacketted drying vessels in combination with
an air pump applied to the manufacture of coal or fuel bricks or blocks, for the pur-
pose specified, and substantially as herein described. "
Fourthly. The combination with a press and the feeding drying vessels of an air
pump, substantially for the purposes shown, and in the manner herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
.
D
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.S.)

page_text: DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION as proposed to be
entered and filed by Léberecht Tralls, of Fürstenwalde, in the Kingdom of
Prussia and Empire of Germany, the assignee of the said Letters Patent
pursuant to the Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent under the
Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at
Westminster the Twenty-seventh day of October, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven, in the forty-first year of Her reign, did give and grant unto the said
Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, his executors, administrators, and assigns, the sole
privilege of making, using, exercising, and vending the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS OR BLOCKS OF FUEL FROM
COAL DUST OR OTHER FUEL MATERIALS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR," (being a communication to him from abroad by the above
named Léberecht Tralls) within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, for and during the term of fourteen years
thence next ensuing :.
And whereas in pursuance of a proviso in the said Letters Patent contained, the
said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills did, wi .hin six calendar months next after the
date of the said Letters Patent, cause a Sp on in writing under his hand and
seal, purporting to describe and ascertain ne nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, to be duly filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office :
And whereas the said Letters Patent were assigned by the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills to the said Léberecht Tralls by an instrument in writing, dated the
Fourteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, and
registered on the Seventeenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight in the Great Seal Patent Office:
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification, I, the said Léberecht
Tralls, assignee of the said Letters Patent, have been advised that the first and
third claims in the said Specification may be considered to include a process and
apparatus which, taken separately and apart from the general combination
constituting the said Invention, were not new at the date of the said Letters
Patent:
And whereas I am desirous of explicitly disclaiming the process and apparatus
herein before referred to when used separately, and I am also desirous of altering
the said Specification consistently with such disclaiming, and of correcting certain
clerical errors, all in manner following, and without extending the exclusive
right granted by the said Letters Patent:-
"
"
"
For these reasons I make the following alterations in the wording of the said
.Specification, referring to the several parts as they occur in the Queen's Printers'
copy of the Specification, that is to say:-First, I expunge the word " the
between the words "drying" and "wet," and insert the word "such "between
the words "materials" and as on the twenty-fifth line of page 2 of the said
Queen's Printers' copy; second, I expunge all the words of the twenty-eighth,
twenty-ninth, thirtieth, and thirty-first lines of page 3; third, I substitute the
word "Firstly" for the word "Secondly" on the thirty-second line of page 3;
fourth, I expunge all the words of the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh.
lines of page 3; and, fifth, I substitute the word "Secondly "for the word
Fourthly on the thirty-eighth line of page 3 of the said Queen's Printers'
"
copy.
And in order that the effect of this my Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration
may plainly appear I proceed to recite the Specification as hereby amended, but
omitting the preamble and the original testing clause, as follows, that is to
say:-
"
"The Invention relates to the process of drying wet rough materials, such as
"coal, peat, or other fuel dust, and to the forming of the so prepared mass into
"blocks or bricks, and the object is to shorten the time used for preparing the
rough materials for the final operation of forming them into blocks or bricks,
"and to finish the latter into a more compact and homogeneous state, making
" them very nearly as good as the best fuel of similar kind in natural pieces or
"lumps.
"To accomplish this object the coal or other fuel dust is filled in its natural
"state, or if too dry, artificially moistened, alternately into one of two steam-
"beated vessels, in which it is agitated by an archimedean screw, receiving the
" material at one end and delivering it at the other to a third central vessel of the
same construction as the two before mentioned ones.
"
"
"The action of the steam heating these three vessels and their contents is
" completed by acting upon them by means of a powerful air pump driven by
"steam or other available power. The pump removes the air and with it all the
aqueous vapors created through the heat of the steam contained in the jackets of
"the vessel. The speed however of the screws during the time which the mass is
subjected to the action of the steam and of the air pump is arranged in such way
"that not only the aqueous gases are removed, but that the material under treat-.
ment commences to distil to a certain degree, that is to say, that some tar is
"formed, which impregnating the whole mass makes it plastic and cohesive.
"When this point is arrived at the third vessel delivers the material to the press.
" itself in quantity sufficient for one block at a time.
«

page_text: "The press is a steam beater press or ram, the force of which is increased by the
"air and other gases being pumped out of the press room or cylinder by means of
"the air pump. Besides this advantage, all air bubbles are hereby removed from
"the blocks, and the blocks are produced in a very compact and cohesive state, in
many cases superior even to the best form of the natural material.
<<
"
ce
"And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
tr
"DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is partly a vertical longitudinal section and partly a side view;
"Figure 2 is a plan partly in section; Figure 3-is a vertical cross section; and
"Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of parts of Figure 2.
"E
" A, B, B, are steam jacketted cylinders fitted with agitating and propelling
screws C, C, C; D, D, are steam pipes; E, E, air pipes from the air pump;
"F, F, the hoppers for the reception of the rough material, which hoppers may be
"closed by means of the air-tight valves G, G; H, H, are air-tight valves worked
alternately as the cylinders B, B, are consuming the material.
"
"
<<
"From A the prepared mass is pushed into the channel K, from which it falls
through an opening in the pressing chamber M, where the steam beater press or
ram N compresses it to a block or brick by a sudden blow. Every newly made
"block forces a previously made one out of the mouth O of the press chamber M,
" whilst the blocks remaining in the press chamber produce sufficient friction to
"let the last made block serve as an anvil whereon to compress the next one.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in
"which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I
"claim is,
"
Firstly. The employment of an air vacuum in front of the plunger of a press
"for making coal or other fuel bricks or blocks, substantially in manner and for
"the purpose herein described.
"
"
Secondly. The combination with a press and the feeding drying vessels of
an air pump, substantially for the purposes shown and in the manner herein
"described."
In witness whereof, I, the said Léberecht Tralls, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the within named Léberecht Tralls
(the assignee of the herein before recited Letters Patent), to file in the Great
Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to which the same relates, the above
written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration.
Dated this 7th day of November 1881