IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Barker, of Northfleet, in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL,”
Sealed the 3rd June 1878, and dated the 10th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Barker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th April 1873.
I, DAVID BARKER, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the treatment and utilization of coal,
whether anthracite or non-bituminous, or bituminous, or lignite, peat,
or other similar carbonaceous substances, coke, charcoal, and other
carbonaceous substances, when in a state of powder or fine division, so
as to produce a solid and smokeless, or comparatively smokeless fuel,

page_text: especially adapted for smelting iron and other metals; and also for
other purposes, in which the fuel has to bear a great burden at a very
high temperature, and which fuel will bear such burden and temperature
without "falling" or being disintegrated.
The present Invention is partly based upon and arises out of experience
gained in the working of or in connection with certain Inventions for
which Letters Patent were duly granted to me, bearing date respectively
the 23rd day of July, 1864, No. 1842; the 6th day of June, 1865,
No. 1547; the 3rd day of October 1866, No. 2534; and the 12th day
of August 1869, No. 2413, for "Improvements in the Manufacture of
Artificial Fuel," and which several Patents are now in force and sub-
sisting, and unimpeached with reference to their legal validity.
The fuel manufactured in accordance with the processes embraced by
the said previous Patents has been found incapable of bearing the great
weight to which the fuel employed for blast furnace purposes is neces-
sarily exposed, as immediately it is subjected to a great degree of heat it
softens; and although it will afterwards harden in the fire, and burn to
a coke, yet the circumstance of its softening in the first instance is
highly prejudicial, and renders it inapplicable to smelting metals. The
present Invention however obviates these objections and difficulties by
the use of the mixture formed and combined with the fuel in the
manner herein-after described, and a fuel is produced which is pecu-
liarly adapted for the purpose above referred to.
I will first describe the method of manufacturing my improved fuel
when coke is in the first instance employed. The coke, which has been
prepared in the manner already well known and understood, having
been reduced to a state of powder or very fine division by any suitable
means or apparatus adapted for the purpose, is mixed in a suitable pug
or mixing mill in the proportion of one pound of the latter with two
ounces of the mucilage or liquid herein-after mentioned. The mixture
thus made is exposed to heat, and moulded into blocks by means of any
suitable apparatus adapted for the purpose. The blocks are then placed
in a retort, and exposed to the influence of heat, in order to evaporate
the liquid or moisture contained therein, or a sufficient part thereof,
when the blocks will become perfectly solid, and fit for the purposes
above referred to,

page_text: When anthracite or other coal or carbonaceous matter is treated for
the purposes of this Invention the same is prepared as before described
with reference to the treatment of coke dust, and then formed into
blocks and coked, or the same is coked without any admixture of the
before-mentioned mucilage or liquid. In either case the coke thus pro-
duced is ground or reduced to a state of dust or powder, and is then
mixed in the same proportions as before mentioned with the said
mucilage or liqnid. The mixture thus formed is made into blocks,
which are placed in retorts and exposed to heat, in order to evaporate
the moisture contained therein, or a sufficient part thereof, as before
mentioned, this method of treatment being, in fact, equivalent to a
re-coking of the materials under treatment.
In some cases, as, for instance, when the fuel is to be used for
ordinary purposes in which great cohesion or capability of bearing a
heavy burden is not required, the coal or other carbonaceous material is
combined with the mucilage or liquid, and then exposed to heat and
formed into blocks without being subjected to the operation of
ooking.
The said mucilage or liquid is manufactured as follows:-One part of
farina from which the gluten has been removed, and which consists
entirely or almost entirely of fecula or starch, is mixed with twenty
parts of water, and a solution of sulphate of alumina or of chloride of
alumina in hydrochloric acid is added thereto in the proportion of half
an ounce per gallon. Although, by preference, the farinaceous mucilage
before described is used, any mucilage prepared by the mixture of any
ordinary farinaceous substance with water may be employed; and if the
solution of sulphate of alumina or of chloride of alumina were used
alone with water it would cause the coked particles firmly to cohere,
but such use would not be so advantageous as the use of the mixture or
mucilage herein-before described. The mixture thus formed is conveyed
into a tank heated by steam, and in which it is boiled, and then run off
through a tap into a boiler, in which are placed pitch and carbolic acid
in the proportion of eight parts of the former to two of the latter. The
whole contents of the boiler are subjected to the operation of boiling
under moderate pressure, as well understood, by which treatment the
several substances contained in the boiler are caused to unite. Steam is
then turned on into the boiler, and the contents thereof forced through
pipes into a tank, whence the liquid is conveyed by means of elevators

page_text: to the pug or mixing mill or mills, in which it is mixed in sufficient
quantity, as will be well understood, with the coke or coal, which is
conveyed in a powdered, broken, or disintegrated state by a separate set
of elevators into the pug or mixing mill or mills.
The proportions of the several substances above mentioned are
approximative only, as they may, and in many instances must be
varied according to the nature of the coal or carbonaceous material
under treatment.
The heat employed for heating the liquid when in the tank is fire-
heat, and also that of steam. The elevators are cased with sheet iron 1
and wood, and steam is introduced between them to keep the liquid
from solidifying. A small furnace is placed under the pug mill, into
which furnace is introduced a hot air pipe with a steam coil around the
the same, and by which superheated steam is introduced into the pug
mill, a fan being also employed to draw hot air into the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said David Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
BARKER, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said David Barker, Her special licence
that I, the said David Barker, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said David Barker, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC-
TURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: said David Barker, 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 David Barker, 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, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object the treatment and utilization of
coal, whether anthracite or non-bituminous, or bituminous, or lignite,
peat, or other similar carbonaceous substances, coke, charcoal, and
other carbonaceous substances when in a state of powder or fine division
so as to produce a solid and smokeless or comparatively smokeless
fuel, especially adapted for smelting iron and other metals, and also
for other purposes in which the fuel has to bear a great burden at
a very high temperature, and which fuel will bear such burden and
temperature without "falling" or being disintegrated.
The present Invention is partly based upon and arises out of
experience gained in the working of or in connection with certain
Inventions for which Letters Patent were duly granted to me bearing
date respectively the 23rd day of July 1864, No. 1842; the 6th day of
June 1865, No. 1547; the 3rd day of October 1866, No. 2534; and
the 12th day of August 1869, No. 2413, for "Improvements in the
Manufacture of Artificial Fuel," and which several Patents are now in
force and subsisting and unimpeached with reference to their legal
validity.
The fuel manufactured in accordance with the processes embraced by
my said previous Patents has been found incapable of bearing the great
weight to which the fuel employed for blast furnace purposes is
necessarily exposed, as immediately it is subjected to a great degree of
heat it softens, and although it will afterwards harden in the fire and
burn to a coke, yet the circumstance of its softening in the first instance
is highly prejudicial, and renders it inapplicable to smelting metals.
The present Invention however obviates these objections and difficulties
by the use of the mixture formed and combined with the fuel in the

page_text: manner herein-after described, and a fuel is produced which is peculiarly
adapted for the purposes above referred to.
I will first describe the method of manufacturing my improved fuel
when coke is in the first instance employed. The coke which has been
prepared in the manner already well known and understood having been
reduced to a state of powder or very fine division by any suitable means
or apparatus adapted for the purpose, is mixed in a suitable pug or
mixing mill in the proportion of one pound of the latter with two
ounces of the mucilage or liquid herein-after mentioned. The mixture
thus made is exposed to heat and moulded into blocks by means of any
suitable apparatus adapted for the purpose. The blocks are then placed
in a retort and exposed to the influence of heat in order to evaporate
the liquid or moisture contained therein or a sufficient part thereof,
when the blocks will become perfectly solid and fit for the purposes
above referred to.
When anthracite or other coal or carbonaceous matter is treated for
the purposes of this Invention, the same is prepared as before described
with reference to the treatment of coke dust and then formed into
blocks and coked, or the same is coked without any admixture of the
before-mentioned mucilage or liquid. In either case the coke thus
produced is ground or reduced to a state of dust or powder and is then
mixed in the same proportions as before-mentioned with the said
mucilage or liquid employed by me. The mixture thus formed is made
into blocks which are placed in retorts and exposed to heat in order to
evaporate the moisture contained therein, or a sufficient part thereof,
as before-mentioned; this method of treatment being in fact equivalent
to a re-coking of the materials under treatment.
In some cases as for instance when the fuel is to be used for ordinary
purposes in which great cohesion or capability of bearing a heavy
burden is not required, the coal or other carbonaceous material is
combined with the mucilage or liquid employed by me as before-
mentioned, and then exposed to heat and formed into blocks without
being subjected to the operation of coking.
I will now proceed to describe the way in which the said mucilage or
liquid is manufactured. I mix one part of farina from which the gluten
has been removed and which consists entirely, or almost entirely, of
fecula or starch, with twenty parts of water, and then add thereto a

page_text: solution of sulphate of alumina in hydrochloric acid or chloride of
alumina, in the proportion of half an ounce per gallon.
Although I employ by preference the farinaceous mucilage before
described, any mucilage prepared by the mixture of any ordinary
farinaceous substance with water may be used, and if the solution of
sulphate of alumina or chloride of alumina were used alone with water
it would cause the coked particles firmly to cohere, but such use would
not be so advantageous as the use of the mixture or mucilage employed
by me. The mixture thus formed is conveyed into a tank heated by
steam and in which it is boiled and then run off through a tap into a
boiler in which are placed pitch and carbolic acid in the proportion of
eight parts of the former to two of the latter. The whole contents of
the boiler are subjected to the operation of boiling under moderate
pressure as well understood by which treatment the several substances
contained in the boiler are caused to unite. Steam is then turned on
into the boiler, and the contents thereof forced through pipes into a
tank whence the liquid is conveyed by means of elevators to the pug
or mixing mill or mills, in which it is mixed in sufficient quantity (as
will be well understood) with the coke or coal which is conveyed in
a powdered, broken, or disintegrated state, by a separate set of elevators
into the pug or mixing mill or mills. This is an operation which is
carried out in the ordinary way hitherto used.
It should here be mentioned that the proportions of the several
substances above enumerated are approximative only, as they may, and
in many instances must, be varied according to the nature of the coal or
carbonaceous material under treatment, as will be well understood, or
Boon ascertained from experience in the process by persons acquainted
with such operations, and with the respective qualities of the coal or
carbonaceous material employed. I should here observe that by the
term "carbolic acid "I mean the substance which is generally known
by that name, although it is sometimes called "phenic acid" and
sometimes "coal tar creosote," such several names being applicable to
the same substance, though in some cases the degree of purity of the
substance may vary. I should also observe that the proportion of
carbolic acid above mentioned refers to pure carbolic acid, and that
when impure sources or forms of that acid are employed, corresponding
quantities must be introduced into the boiler as will be well understood.

page_text: The heat employed for heating the liquid when in the tank is fire-
heat, and also that of steam. The elevators are cased with sheet iron
and wood, and steam is introduced between them to keep the liquid from
solidifying. A small furnace is placed under the pug mill, into which
furnace is introduced a hot-air pipe with a steam coil around the same,
and by which superheated steam is introduced into the pug mill, a fan
being also employed to draw hot air into the same.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not claim the use of the several
substances herein-before mentioned in the manufacture of artificial fuel
separately and apart from each other, neither do I claim any apparatus
employed in such manufacture, but what I consider novel and original
and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent are,―
First. The manufacture of my improved fuel by treating carbonaceous
substances and combining with them the materials required to give the
fuel cohesion, substantially as set forth and described.
And Secondly. The use of the said solution of sulphate of alumina
or of chloride of alumina in combination with carbonaceous matters
prepared in the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Barker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
E. P. H. VAUGHAN, F.C.S.,
54, Chancery Lane.
DAVID BARKER. (L.S.)
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