THE MANUFACTURING OF FUEL IN a COMPRESSED FORM BY A COMBINATION OF MINERALS AND MINERAL OILS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Blair, of the Wear Fuel Works, Sunderland, in
the County of Durham, Artizan, for the Invention of "THE MANUFACTURING
OF FUEL IN a COMPRESSED FORM BY A COMBINATION OF MINERALS AND
MINERAL OILS.”
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 17th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Blair at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th September 1879.
MATTHEW BLAIR, of the Wear Fuel Works, Sunderland, in the County of
Durham, Artizan. "THE MANUFACTURING OF FUEL IN A COMPRESSED FORM BY A
COMBINATION OF MINERALS AND MINERAL OILS."
I combine (in certain proportions) the following minerals, viz., coal and shales
with the following mineral oils, viz.:-Coal tar, pitch, coal oils, shale oils, parrafine
oils, and petroleum, and then subject this compound to a high steam temperature
to cause agglomeration.
After allowing it to cool down I press it into close and compact blocks by
hydraulic pressure of great power. By this means a compressed fuel of great density
is obtained in a form not hitherto known, which fuel can be adapted to steam raising
and the manufacture of gas, and to all purposes for which a strong heat is required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent_filed by
the said Matthew Blair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th February
1880.
MATTHEW BLAIR, of the Wear Fuel Works, Sunderland, in the County of
Durham, Artizan. "THE MANUFACTURING OF FUEL IN A COMPRESSED FORM BY A
COMBINATION OF MINERALS AND MINERAL OILS."
The object of this Invention is the manufacture of fuel in a compressed form by
the mixture and combination of the following minerals and mineral oils, vizt.,
coal and shales, pitch, coal tar, coal oils, shale oils, parrafin oils, and petroleum.
The shale is reduced to a powder in order that it may become intimately mixed
with the other materials, and the coal is also used in a more or less finely reduced
state, coal ordinarily known as dust coal being suitable for the purpose. The
mineral oil or oils are first added to the pitch and the other materials stirred in,
the compound being exposed to the action of steam at a high temperature in order
to reduce it to a liquid condition so that complete mixture and agglomeration of
the materials may be effected. The compound is then allowed to cool down and is
pressed into close and compact blocks by powerful hydraulic or other presses. By
this means a compressed fuel of great density is obtained in a form not hitherto
known, suitable for steam raising, gas manufacture, or all purposes for which a
strong heat is required. Various proportions of the materials may be used, but I
prefer from five to ten per cent. of shale, one to three per cent. of mineral oil, and
nine to fifteen per cent of pitch, and the remainder coal dust, either with or without
other ingredients. I claim, as an article of new manufacture, the compressed fuel
made substantially as herein described..
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Blair, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the said Matthew Blair,
in the presence of
ROBERT JOHN ABBOTT,
11, Queen Victoria Street,
London,
Solr..
MATTHEW BLAIR. (L.S.)