AN IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL FUEL
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL FUEL."-A communication from
abroad by Emile François Loiseau, of Manch Chunk, County of
Carbon, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 9th May 1873, and dated the 16th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th December 1872.
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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL FUEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object to practically utilize coal dust as
fuel.
Many Inventions as to composition have already been made with a
view of binding the dust firmly together, but as yet they have all failed

page_text: to give entire satisfaction.
The rough handling to which lumps of
composition fuel are exposed during transportation, while being loaded
and unloaded, will generally cause them to break and crumble to pieces,
and make them consequently practically useless.
This Invention consists in dipping the lumps of artificial fuel, which
are composed of either coal dust or coke dust and clay, or peat, or saw-
dust, or other suitable ingredients, wholly or partly, in a liquid formed
by rosin, tar, pitch, gum, asphaltum, or any other waterproof and
adhesive material or composition dissolved in a cold state, in benzine,
gasoline, alcohol, turpentine, or any other dissolving liquid or com-
position.
After having been dipped in one or more of the above described
substances, the lumps of coal may be rolled in or covered with pulverized
coal or coal dust, or sawdust, or thin wood or paper, or any other material
or fabric which will adhere to the same. These lumps may be of pris-
matic, cylindrical, or other suitable form, and of suitable size, and may
be wholly or partially covered with the waterproof material, as above
set forth. The outer covering can, however, be dispensed with, the
inner coating serving to make the coal waterproof, and preventing their
crumbling to pieces when handled.
.
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 30th May 1873.
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 Sixteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth 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, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: 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 ARTIFICIAL FUEL," a communication to me from abroad by
Emile François Loiseau, of Manch Chunk, County of Carbon, 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 instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 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 Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
This Invention has for its object to practically utilize coal dust as
fuel.
Many Inventions as to composition have already been made with a
view of binding the dust firmly together, but as yet they have all failed
to give entire satisfaction. The rough handling to which lumps of
composition fuel are exposed during transportation, while being loaded
and unloaded, will generally cause them to break and tumble to pieces,
and make them consequently practically useless.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent perspective
views of blocks of artificial fuel prepared in accordance with this In-
vention. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
This Invention consists in dipping the lumps of artificial fuel, which
are composed of either coal dust or coke dust and clay, or peat, or saw-
dust, or other suitable ingredients, wholly or partly in a liquid formed
by rosin, tar, pitch, gum, asphaltum, or any other waterproof and
adhesive material or composition dissolved in a cold state in benzine,

page_text: gasoline, alcohol, turpentine, or any other dissolving liquid or com-
position.
After having been dipped in one or more of the above described
substances, the lumps of coal may be rolled in or covered with pulverized
coal or coal dust, or. sawdust, or thin wood or paper, or any other material
or fabric which will adhere to the same.
A in the Drawing are lumps of artificial fuel which are composed of
coal dust and clay, or other suitable materials. These lumps may be of
prismatic, cylindrical, or other suitable form, and of suitable size. Each
is wholly or partly covered with the waterproof material, as above set
forth. The outer covering a shown in the Drawing can, however, be
dispensed with. The inner coating serves to make the coal waterproof,
and prevents their crumbling to pieces when handled.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the 1
Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the lumps of artificial fuel inclosed wholly or partly in a
protecting covering, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)