Improvements in the Manufacture of Coal Bricquets.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE AUGUSTUS PURBECK, of New York,
United States of America, Broker.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Coal Bricquets.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, 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 the manufacture of that class of fuel commonly known as
combustible bricquets. It is the purpose of my said invention to provide a novel
process for such manufacture whereby I am able to produce bricquets in which the
organic waste is cemented into the form of a block or brick, having a large degree
of tensile strength, capable of resisting disintegration by moisture, and burning,
when dry with great readiness and uniformity and yielding an intense heat,
especially when burned with a forced draught.
It is my purpose also, to provide a bricquet manufactured from organic waste
such as coal dust, saw dust, or other similar material, cemented in the form of a
block of suitable size and shape, having the characteristics already recited, the
product being manufactured at low cost, and affording a fuel having an increasing
economic value.
My invention consists to these ends in the process, and in the novel product of
that process, hereinafter fully set forth and then definitely pointed out in the claims
following this Specification.
To enable others skilled in the art to practice my invention I will describe the
same in detail.
In carrying the process of manufacture into effect, I make use of any suitable
quantity of coal-dust, or culm, for which I may substitute saw-dust, or other organic
material. To said material, I add and intimately mingle therewith a dense aqueous
solution containing about one per cent., by weight, of dry bi-silicate, or tri-silicate of
sodium or potassium or a mixture of both, ranging in specific gravity from 30° to 65°
Beaumè. In cases where from the nature of the organic material or other causes,
an aid to combustion is desirable or necessary, I may add to the silicate solution,
an aqueous solution of an alkaline nitrate. I may, however, substitute for the
nitrate solution one of the alkaline, earthy, or metallic permanganates, equivalent,
in the dry state, to from one per cent., up to two and one half per cent., by weight,
of the material to be cemented.
The silicate solution confers upon the organic material the necessary adhesive
quality and when an aqueous solution of an alkaline silicate of the density described
is mingled with coal-dust, or saw-dust, and the mixture submitted to energetic
pressure in moulds suitable for the purpose, the mass coheres with considerable
intensity, and retains the form of the mold in which the compression takes place.
But after the water has evaporated out of the silicate solution, the tensile strength
becomes greatly increased, and the silicate becomes insoluble upon exposure, thereby
preventing subsequent disintegration through contact with water.
It should be noted that I may use the mono-silicate of sodium or potassium, in
place of the di-silicate or tri-silicate, but while this will answer all purposes of
cementation, it is exceedingly liable to produce troublesome clinkers, during
combustion, and for this reason I prefer the di-silicate, or tri-silicate.
The nitrate or permanganate, facilitates and sustains the combustion of the
bricquet, but need be used only when the circumstances of the case require it.
When used they will enter into the compound, in substantially the proportions

page_text: named, which will be varied, within economic limits, according to the requirements
of each case.
.
1
After removal from the molds the compressed bricquets are dried in any suitable
manner, as for example, by the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere, or by
baking in a room subject to a regulated application of artificial heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :--
First The process herein set forth for the manufacture of artificial bricquets,
said process consisting in mingling with finely divided organic waste, an aqueous
solution of sodium or potassium di-silicate, or tri-silicate, submitting the mass to
energetic pressure, and drying the same substantially as described.
Second. The process herein described, the same consisting in mingling with finely
divided organic waste, an aqueous solution of sodium or potassium di-silicate or
tri-silicate having a specific gravity of from 30 degrees to 65 degrees Beaumè,
submitting the mass to energetic pressure in suitable moulds, and finally drying the
compressed mass substantially as described.
Third. The process described, the same consisting in mingling with finely divided
organic waste, an aqueous solution of sodium or potassium, di-silicate, or tri-silicate
of the specific gravity described together with an aqueous solution of an alkaline
nitrate, or an alkaline, earthy or metallic permanganate, subjecting the mass to
pressure, and drying the compressed block, substantially as described.
Fourth. As a new article of manufacture, a bricquet consisting of a compressed
mass of finely divided organic waste and a di-silicate or tri-silicate of sodium or
potassium, substantially as described.
Fifth. A bricquet consisting of a compressed mass of finely divided organic waste,
mingled with a di-silicate or tri-silicate of soda in aqueous solution of the specific
gravity set forth and an alkaline nitrate, or its described equivalent, substantially
as described.
Dated this 17th love of l
1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.