IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL FOR HEATING AND WARMING, AND IN NON-CONDUCTING MATERIAL
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Barnett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
December 1869.
I, JAMES BARNETT, of No. 1, Lunar Street, Chelsea, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL FOR HEATING
AND WARMING, AND IN NON-CONDUCTING MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
The present Invention consists of a new fuel for heating and warming,
the same material and combination being also an improved non-
conductor.
To make the improved fuel and non-conductor I mix clay, loam,
mud, mould, sand, sawdust, charcoal, coal, coke, ashes, chalk, peat, or
earth, whether pulverized or not, with salt in such quantity as may
sufficiently permeate whichever of the above substances may be em-
ployed, saline matter being the principle of the composition, and no third
substance being in any degree necessary or conducive to the object
sought. The composition so formed is available as a fuel and as a non-
conducting material. The term salt is to be understood as meaning
both the substance in form known as common salt, and in the various

page_text: admixed forms in which it is naturally found, as well as in the several
conditions to which it may be artificially reduced, the saline element
being, as before stated, the necessary active principle.
In mixing any of the before-named ingredients, either for the pur-
pose of producing a fuel or a non-conducting material it is preferable
economically to use agricultural salt, next follows common table salt,
and after that other saline products.
The most convenient manner of permeating the earthy or other
matter with salt is by first mixing the saline substance with water to
the strength preferably of a saturation. If the carthy or other matter
be dry a simple moistening with the saline solution is necessary. If the
carthy or other matter be wet so much of the saturation must be added as
may allow for the water present therein, or an equivalent amount of salt
may be used. When saying I saturate water with salt I do not bind myself
to that precise strength, but adopt it as a desirable standard. When
the composition or combination is to be used as a fuel a small quantity
of coal or some other strong ignitable substance should be used when it
is lighted. When it is used for domestic purposes the stove or other
apparatus used should have a greater area of base than is usual. If the
fire be an exposed one the air should be continuously drawn into it
with the assistance of coal or other consumable matter. For domestic
purposes or where a moderate heat is required I find it better to use
this fuel after it has been in a furnace and has been in contact with coal,
whereby it has become melted or slagged. When this Patent fuel is
used in a locomotive or in large furnaces where the air is admitted
through spaces (not forced therein) a modicum of coke, coal, or charred
wood may be intermixed when first charging the furnace. These sub-
stances will be but slightly acted upon or consumed by the prevailing
heat, and the mass will be saved from combining into one molten bulk
to the exclusion of the air from beneath. Otherwise an apparatus or
other means should be used to break the mass & admit air. During
the period of working, if the working fire space is limited, the surface
of the fire should be occasionally sprinkled with coal dust or other con-
sumable matter, or this Patent fuel may be picked small and used for
the purpose. If fuel made under this Patent is used in a blast furnace
of suitable construction no feeding is necessary during the period of
working. Furthermore this fuel may be used for all purposes whatever
of heating or warming, if the apparatus in which it is burned is properly

page_text: lined with or is built of the material made under this Patent as a non-
conducting substance, and combustion is supported by means of a blast;
no further feeding will then be required. When this Patent mixture
is used as a non-conducting material it may be either employed as a
compost wet or made into blocks & applied like brickwork.