AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING THE CARBONACEOUS, RESINOUS, OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCES EM- PLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPRESSED FUEL, WHICH IMPROVED MACHINERY MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED IN MOULDING CLAY AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of the Elms, Sketty, Swansea,
in the County of Glamorganshire, South Wales, Gentleman, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING
THE CARBONACEOUS, RESINOUS, OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCES EM-
PLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPRESSED FUEL, WHICH IMPROVED
MACHINERY MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED IN MOULDING CLAY AND OTHER BUILDING
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 3rd August 1869, and dated the 5th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th April 1869.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of the Elms, Sketty, Swansea, in the County
5 of Glamorganshire, South Wales, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR
COMPRESSING THE CARBONACEOUS, RESINOUS, OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCES
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPRESSED FUEL, WHICH IMPROVED MACHINERY

page_text: MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED IN MOULDING CLAY AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS," to
be as follows:-
The machinery consists of a double-acting steam cylinder placed
horizontally on a firm bed. The piston rod, which projects on both
sides, carries at either end a plunger fitting and working accurately in a
long bottomless tube, the upper side of which is made moveable and is
so arranged that the outer or delivery aperture of the tube can be
reduced or increased in size by the self-adjusting action of a lever
weighted to any required pressure. Into this tube the material to be
compressed, having been previously heated and mixed in a pug mill, is
introduced through an aperture in the upper surface, each charge being
compressed by the combined action of the plunger as it travels onward,
and the frictional resistance of the compressed mass in the tube against
which it has to be forced.
Heretofore it has been found necessary in a press such as that described
above to employ a series of division plates for the purpose of separating
the charges, which without such plates would adhere to one another in
one solid mass; or the compressed mass issuing from the tube has been
cut into suitable sized blocks by knives.
I have discovered a very simple and inexpensive mode of separating
the compressed charges without the employment of either division
plates or knives. The plunger is constructed with a water or air-tight
compartment, into which a stream of cold water or cold air is introduced
when the press is at work, passing in by one aperture and out through
another. This not only keeps the face of the plunger cool and therefore
in a condition less liable to become clogged by the heated plastic
material with which it is continually in contact; but it has the effect
also of partially chilling the surface of the compressed mass in the tube
against which the plunger has acted, so that the next charge coming
against this partially chilled surface adheres to it with so slight a
tenacity that the compressed mass when cool generally separates into
blocks corresponding with the number of charges of which it is
composed.
To effect, however, an immediate and more complete separation of the
several charges a current of cold air is also introduced into the cavity in
the pressing tube formed by the receding plunger, which acting upon
the exposed surface of the compressed mass cools it effectually, creating

page_text: at the same time an atmospheric pressure in the cavity sufficient to
prevent the next charge from adhering. When from defective con-
struction of the tube it is difficult to obtain this atmospheric pressure
the air is charged with finely powdered coal or other dust, which diffuses
itself over the exposed surface of the compressed mass, and thus creates.
an effectual barrier between the charges.
The mechanical arrangement required for the purpose consists of
a short pipe or barrel fitted against the tube, and working in and out of
the cavity by the action of the plunger, and at right angles with it.
This pipe is closed at both ends, but is perforated with holes through
which the air, steam, or water is discharged against the surface of the
compressed material.
The features of novelty in this press are,--
1sly. The self-adjusting lever, by means of which the tube adapts its.
resisting power to. the compressing power of the cylinder.
2dly. A plunger, which can be kept cool and yet dry by the internal
application of cold water or cold air..
3dly. The principle of introducing into the cavity formed by the
receding plunger a current of air, air charged with coal or other dust,
or steam, or a jet of water, for the purpose of proventing the blocks.
from adhering to each other when compressed.
4thly. The mechanical arrangement for carrying out that principle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of the Elms, Sketty, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan,
South Wales, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Vietoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Johnson, Her special licence that I,
the said William Johnson, my. executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING THE CARBONACEOUS, RESINOUS, OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE
SUBSTANCES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPRESSED FUEL, WHICH
IMPROVED MACHINERY MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED IN MOULDING CLAY AND OTHER
BUILDING MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, 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 William Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The machinery consists of a double-acting steam cylinder placed
horizontally on a firm bed. The piston rod, which projects on both sides,
carries at either end a plunger fitting and working accurately in a long
bottomless tube, the upper part or cover of which is made moveable and
is so fitted that by means of a self-adjusting weighted lever the outer
or delivery aperture of the tube can be either reduced or enlarged, so as
to regulate the resisting power of the tube to the compressing power of
the plunger. Into this tube the material to be compressed having been
previously heated and mixed in a pug mill placed over the cylinder
is introduced through an aperture in the cover, each charge being
compressed by the combined action of the plunger as it travels
forward and the frictional resistance of the compressed mass in the
tube.

page_text: Heretofore it has been found necessary in a press composed of a
bottomless tube and plunger to employ a series of division plates or
pallets for the purpose of dividing the several compressed charges, which
without such plates would adhere to one another, or the compressed
as it issues from the tube is cut into suitable sized blocks by
the action of knives,
mass
I have discovered a very simple and inexpensive mode of effecting
the desired separation without pallets or knives. The plunger is con-
structed with a tight compartment, into which when the material is to
be compressed in a heated state a current of cold air or cold water
is introduced. This keeps the face of the plunger cool and in a
condition less liable to become clogged by the heated plastic material
with which it is continually coming into contact. It has the effect
also of partially chilling the face of the compressed mass in the tube
against which the plunger has acted, so that the next charge brought
forward against this partially chilled surface adheres to it with so
slight a tenacity that the blocks can be easily separated when the mass
has become cool.
To effect however a more complete separation I introduce into the
cavity which is formed in the tube as the plunger recedes after each
compression a current of air charged with fine coal or other dust. The
dust adhering to the surface of the compressed mass in the tube creates
an effectual division between it and the charge next in succession.
I would here remark that the current of air is not absolutely necessary,
though I prefer its employment. The object in view is to dust the exposed
surface of the compressed mass in the tube, and this may be accomplished
in various ways. I will also remark that the injection of a current of
air alone or of cold water against that surface will have the effect
of creating division, but not so effectually as the air charged with
dust.
R
The mechanical arrangement by which the injection is effected consists
of a short pipe or barrel attached to and working in and out of the
pressing tube at right angles with the plunger, to which it is also
connected by lever arrangements. This pipe or barrel is closed at the
injection end, but has its side perforated with holes through which the
dust is blown into the cavity. The injection may also be effected by

page_text: Fig. I is a plan of the press;
"
"
"
2, elevation of the same;
3, end view of the same;
4, the injection pipe or barrel.
A is the hopper for holding the material to be compressed; B, the
compressing tube, fitted with self-adjusting weighted lever C, by which.
the resisting power of the tube is regulated; D, the injection pipe.. In
the Drawing this is attached to one side of the compressing tube, but
it may be made to work from above or from below.. E,. the plunger;
E, E, small hopper for holding dust; F, the lever arrangement connecting.
the injection pipe with the plunger.
I would remark in conclusion that I do not intend to confine myself
to the precise details and arrangements herein-before described, as
variations may be made without departing from the principle of my
Invention; for instance, instead of a direct-acting piston the plunger
may be propelled by cam, crank, or eccentric, and as the press is
capable of being used for various purposes other dust than coal and other
liquid than water may be employed as a means of effecting the required
division of the compressed charges; but what I claim as features of
novelty in connection with a press composed of a bottomless tube with
a plunger working therein are,-
1stly. The self-adjusting weighted lever arrangement shown in the
Drawing, or any modification thereof, by means of which the resisting
power of the tube can be made to adapt itself readily to the compressing
power of the plunger.
2ndly. The employment of a plunger made with a tight compartment
into which a continual current of cold air or cold water is introduced
when the press is at work.
3rdly. The principle of coating with fine coal or other dust the surface
of the compressed mass in the tube which is left exposed as the plunger
recedes after compression for the purpose of creating a division between

page_text: the charges as they are compressed into blocks, whether for fuel or
building purposes.
4thly. The mechanical arrangement described for injecting the dust,
or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of October One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM JOHNSON. (L.8.)