IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL." -A communication from abroad by Emile Francois Loiseau,
of Manch Chunk, County of Carbon, and State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 21st October 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL," to be as follows:-
-
The object of the present Invention is to provide suitable and con-
venient means for utilizing the "coal waste" of coal mines and coal yards

page_text: by converting it into a cheap and convenient fuel to be used for domestic
purposes and the arts, and the Invention consists,--
First. In an apparatus composed of the various parts for mixing,
moulding, baking, or drying and waterproofing, and also for evaporating
the moisture from the waterproofed fuel.
And, Secondly. It consists in the process pursued, the whole being
herein-after more particularly set forth and described.
In carrying out the Invention the coal waste, combined with a certain
per-centage of powdered clay and milk of lime is elevated and conducted
by a chute and conveyor to a mixer, which is composed of a tub or case
in which is a series of vertical shafts placed in a circle around a central
shaft. All of these shafts, which are confined at their lower ends by
step boxes on the bottom of the tub, are provided with lateral arms
having lateral fingers thereon. At the upper part the shafts are supported
by two spiders, one of which is stationary and attached to the top of the
tub, the other resting upon it, and being made removable. The central
vertical shaft passes through the centres of both spiders, and the movable
spider turns thereon. The shafts are confined by means of half boxes
in the arms of these spiders. The movable spider is attached to the
stationary spider by means of screws, which when removed allow the
spider to be turned on the central shaft away from the outside shaft, so
that any one of those shafts may be removed without removing the rest.
The outside shafts are connected by a train of gear wheels of uniform
diameter, so that they are revolved with uniform speed and regularity.
One of these shafts is elevated, and has three gear wheels upon it, one
already mentioned belonging to the " train," a wheel of the same
diameter which engages with another wheel of the same diameter on the
central shaft, and a bevel or mitre wheel, which conveys motion to the
whole by means of another bevel wheel on a horizontal driving shaft.
The arms of these shafts are so arranged that they do not interfere with
each other. The material is delivered by the elevator or by any other
suitable means into the top part of the mixer, and after passing down
through the machine is perfectly mixed and made into a homogeneous
plastic mass, and is delivered through orifices in the bottom of the mixer'
into the pug mill, by which it is forced into an adjustable hopper above
the moulding cylinders.
3.JAY
The moulding machine, which is placed under the mixer, consists of a
nue mill containing a vertical shaft provided with arms, and having a

page_text: propelling screw, by which the prepared material is forced down into the
hopper above the moulding cylinders. Slides operated by levers or in
other suitable manner are arranged so that the quantity of material
delivered to the moulding cylinders may be increased or diminished.
The moulding cylinders, which are of equal diameter, are driven by gear
wheels which revolve them with equal speed. In the surfaces of these
cylinders half cavities are made, which being caused to correspond as
the cylinders revolve form full cavities of egg or other shape, in which
the plastic material is moulded. These cylinders run in contact with
each other, and in opposite directions, and deliver the moulded lumps of
fuel on to a revolving endless belt. This belt is preferably made of wire
cloth, and is strengthened by one or more wire ropes, to which balls are
attached of iron made in sections or two hemispheres, so that the rope
may pass through their centre, and so that the belt may be contained
between the hemispheres. The belt revolves on drums, and the balls
act as cogs for propelling or preventing slipping by engaging with
cavities in said drums. The endless belt conveys the lumps of fuel to
the kiln or oven, where they are baked or dried ready for receiving a
coating of waterproofing liquid.
The kiln or oven consists of an inclosing wall of mason work, having
therein a series of revolving belts (five, more or less). These belts are
provided with
ropes and balls upon their edges, which balls are attached
in the manner already described, and which engage with cavities in their
respective drums. Where a single rope is employed through a string of
balls the bolt which fastens the hemispheres together should be U shaped
to prevent the hemispheres from turning. The lumps of fuel are delivered
through an orifice in the top of the kiln. on to the upper belt therein.
These belt shafts or drums are so connected by gear wheels that they are
revolved simultaneously by a pulley or gear wheel on an elongated shaft
of one of the drums. The belts being thus connected the adjacent belts
will be moved in opposite directions, and the lumps of fuel will be
carried back and forth in the kiln until they are delivered by the lower
belt to the machine for waterproofing them. Inclined stationary aprons
or chutes are provided for receiving and conducting the lumps or trans-
ferring them from one belt to another. The furnace is placed below the
belts, and the products of combustion fill the oven, the smoke being
discharged through the chimney in any suitable manner.
The lumns of

page_text: which consists of a revolving belt constructed as heretofore described,
with buckets standing at about right angles with the belt, said belt
revolving over drums in which are cavities, with which the balls of the
belt engage and act as cogs, as before described. The tank which
contains the waterproofing liquid is supported on stands and supplied
with liquid by means of an elevated reservoir or by any suitable means.
The lumps of fuel are taken from the lower belt of the kiln, and conveyed
to the belt of the waterproofing machine by means of an elevator and
chute.
In the opposite sides of the waterproofing tank are two curved grooved
flanges, which grooves receive the balls as the belt revolves, forcing its
centre beneath the liquid, thus submerging the lumps of fuel thereon in
the liquid, and entirely covering each lump. The lighter or more
volatile portions of this coating may be evaporated by exposure to the
atmosphere, but I prefer to deliver the lumps into an evaporating
chamber, where it is exposed to a current of dry air or to the action of
heated air supplied in any manner. From this last chamber the fuel is'
delivered ready for use.
The process therefore consists in combining the coal waste with a
certain per-centage of powdered clay or similar material, and discharged
under the elevator and conveyed to the mixing machine, but before.
entering which the material is moistened with a suitable quantity of
milk of lime or other suitable liquid. Instead of being elevated, as
described, the material may be delivered to the moulding machine by
other means.
The prepared coal waste is moulded into lumps of convenient size,
which are carried to the oven or kiln in which the lumps are baked or.
dried, and then carried to the waterproofing machine, where each lump
is coated with a resinous liquid, which renders it waterproof. This may
complete the process, as the lumps may be left to dry in the atmosphere, a
but I prefer to evaporate the moisture by conveying the lumps into a
drying chamber, and exposing them to heated air or a current of air, or
both, as may be desired.
This fuel may be used for grates, boiler furnaces, ranges, or stoves.
Tt in from from clata amita no unpleasant odour does not "olinkon "andl

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER'
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL," a communication to me from abroad by Emile Francois Loiseau,
of Manch Chunk, County of Carbon, and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the three
accompanying Sheets of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
The object in the present Invention is to provide suitable and con-
zaniant manna for utilining the
J
nel minor and anal vond h

page_text: converting it into a cheap and convenient fuel to be used for domestic
purposes and the arts, and the Invention consists,-
Firstly. In an apparatus composed of the various parts for mixing,
moulding, baking, or drying, and waterproofing, and also for evaporating
the moisture from the waterproofed fuel.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the complete apparatus, parts.
being shown in section to more distinctly show the construction.
•
In order to give a more distinct idea of the manner in which I carry
out the Invention I will proceed to describe the various parts of the
apparatus in detail, but confining myself to a description of the principal
machines combined in the apparatus.
1
The mixing machine, which is placed above the moulding machine, 1
is represented in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Figure 2 is a top view; Figure 3.
is a view of the mixing tub, showing the stationary spider thereon;
Figure 4 is a view of the removable spider; Figure 5 is a vertical section
of the machine; Figure 6 is a view of a portion of the apparatus, where
the materials or substances which are used with the coal waste are 2
combined with it, and from which the material is elevated to the
mixer.
Figures 7, 8, 9 represent the moulding machine; Figure 7 is a vertical
section; Figure 8 is a front elevation; Figure 9 is a detail of the pug
mill. Beneath is the endless belt, by which the moulded pieces of fuel 2
are received from the cylinders and conveyed to the oven.
The oven or kiln is represented in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13; Figure 10
is a vertical section of Figure 11 taken on the line x, x; Figure 11 is a
vertical section of Figure 10 taken on the line y, y; Figures 12 and 13
are details of the endless belt, a series of which are employed in the 3
oven; Figure 13 being a section of Figure 12 on the line z, z.
Figures 14, 15, 16 represent the machine for waterproofing the pieces
of fuel. Figure 14 is a top or plan view; Figure 15 is a vertical cross
section of Figure 14 taken on the line y-y; Figure 16 is a cross section
of the tank which contains the waterproofing liquid.
3

page_text: We will now go back and describe each of these machines with the
parts (elevators, etc.) more in detail. The material is elevated and
conducted to the mixer by a chute and conveyor, as seen in Figure 1.
A is the mixer, which is composed of a tub or case, in which is a
series of vertical shafts B, placed in a circle around a central shaft. All
of these shafts have lateral arms C, on which are vertical fingers D.
These shafts are confined at their lower ends by step boxes on the bottom
of the tub. At the upper part they are supported by two spiders E and F,
the former of which is stationary and attached to the top of the tub; the
latter rests upon it, and is removable. The central vertical shaft passes
through the centres of both spiders, and the. movable spider turns
thereon. The shafts are confined by means of half boxes in the arms of
these spiders. The movable spider is attached to the stationary spider
by means of screws, which when removed allow the spider to be turned
on the central shaft away from the outside shaft, so that any one of
those shafts may be removed without removing the rest. The outside
shafts are connected by a train of gear wheels G of uniform diameter, so
that they are revolved with uniform speed and regularity. One of these
shafts is elongated, and has three gear wheels upon it, one already
mentioned belonging to the "train," or wheel of the same diameter, which
engages with another wheel of the same diameter, on the central shaft,
and a bevel or mitre wheel which conveys motion to the whole by means
of another bevel wheel on a horizontal driving shaft. The arms of these
shafts are so arranged that they do not interfere with each other. The
material is delivered by the elevator or by any other suitable means into the
top part of the mixer, as seen in Figure 1, and after passing down through
the machine is perfectly mixed and made into a homogeneous plastic
and is delivered through orifices in the bottom of the mixer into
the pug mill, by which it is forced into an adjustable hopper above the
moulding cylinders.
mass,
The parts of the apparatus used previously to the mixing machine in
carrying out the Invention are represented in Figure 1, consisting of
hoppers I and J, into which the coal waste and powdered clay, with a
proper per-centage of “milk" of lime, are delivered and carried to the
mixer by the elevator K.
The moulding machine consists of the pug mill A¹, containing a

page_text: material is forced down into the hopper above the moulding cylinders.
E¹, E¹, are slides operated by means of levers F¹, F¹, or in any other
suitable manner, by which the quantity of material delivered to the
moulding cylinders may be increased or diminished. G¹, G, are the
moulding cylinders of equal diameter, and driven by gear wheels, which
revolve them with equal speed. H³ represents half cavities in the
surface of these cylinders, which are made to correspond as the cylinders
revolve, and form full cavities I¹ of egg or other shape, in which the
plastic material is moulded: These cylinders run in contact with each
other and in opposite directions, and deliver the moulded lumps of fuel 1
on to the revolving endless belt J. This belt is preferably made of
wire cloth, and is strengthened by one or more wire ropes, to which are
attached balls K¹ of iron made in sections or two hemispheres, so that
the rope may pass through their centre, and so that the belt may be
contained between the hemispheres. The belt revolves on drums L³, and 1
the balls act as cogs for propelling or preventing slipping by engaging
with the cavities M¹ in the drums, as seen in the Drawings. The belt J'
conveys the lumps of fuel to the kiln or oven, where they are baked or
dried ready for receiving à coating of waterproofing liquid.
The kiln or oven consists of an inclosing wall A³ of mason work; 2
having therein a series of revolving belts B² (five, more or less). These
belts are provided with ropes and balls upon their edges, which balls are
attached in the manner already described, and which engage with
cavities in their respective drums. Where a single rope is employed
through a string of balls, as seen in Figure 13, the bolt which fastens 2
the hemispheres together should be U shaped, as seen, to prevent the
hemispheres from burning:
The lumps of fuel are delivered through the orifice C³ in the top of
the kiln on to the upper belt B². These belt shafts or drums are con
nected by gear wheels D³, so that they are revolved simultaneously by a 3
pulley or gear wheel on the elongated shaft E³ of one of the drums.
The belts being thus connected the adjacent belts will be moved in
opposite directions, and the lumps of fuel will be carried back and forth
in the kiln until they are delivered by the lower belt to the machine for
waterproofing them. F are inclined stationary aprons or chutes for 3
receiving and conducting the lumps or transferring them from one belt
to another. G2 is the furnace beneath the belts: The products of

page_text: combustion fill the oven, and the smoke is discharged through the
chimney H or in any suitable manner.
I will now describe the machine for waterproofing the lumps of
fuel.
A³ is a revolving belt constructed as heretofore described with buckets
B' (more or less in number) standing at about right angles with the
belt, as seen in Figure 15. The belt revolves over drums 0³, C³, which
have cavities D³, with which the balls of the belt engage and act as
cogs, as before described. E³ is the tank which contains the water-
proofing liquid, supported by the stands F³, and supplied with liquid by,
means of an elevated reservoir as seen in Figure 1, or by any suitable.
means. The lumps of fuel are taken from the lower belt of the kiln and
conveyed to the belt A³ by means of an elevator and chute (also seen in
Figure 1). In the opposite sides of the waterproofing tank are two
curved grooved flanges G³, G³, (see Figure 16), which grooves receive
the balls as the belt revolves, and force their centres beneath the liquid,
thus submerging the lumps of fuel thereon in the liquid and entirely.
covering each lump. The lighter or more volatile portions of this
coating may be evaporated by exposure to the atmosphere, but I prefer
to deliver the lumps into an evaporating chamber, where they are
exposed to a current of dry air or to the action of heated air supplied in
any manner, such a chamber being seen in Figure 1. From this last
chamber the fuel is delivered ready for use.
The process therefore consists in combining the coal waste, with a
certain per-centage of powdered clay or similar material, and discharged
under the elevator and conveyed to the mixing machine, but before
entering which the material is moistened with a suitable quantity of
milk of lime or other suitable liquid. Instead of being elevated, as
described, the material may be delivered to the moulding machine by.
other means.
The prepared coal waste is moulded into lumps of convenient size,
which are carried to the oven or kiln in which the lumps are baked or
dried, and then carried to the waterproofing machine, where each lump
is coated with a resinous, liquid which renders it waterproof. This may
complete the process, as the lumps may be left to dry in the atmosphere,.
but I prefer to evaporate the moisture by conveying the lumps into a.

page_text: 8th. The process herein shown and described for manufacturing
artificial fuel from coal waste.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)