IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL, COMMONLY CALLED ARTIFICIAL OR PATENT FUEL
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Piddington; Patent Agent, of No. 77, Montagne
de la Cour, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL, COMMONLY CALLED ARTIFICIAL
OR PATENT FUEL."
Sealed the 14th August 1858, and dated the 18th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Piddington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
February 1858.
I, JOHN PIDDINGTON, Patent Agent, of No. 77, Montagne de la Cour,
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL, COMMONLY
CALLED ARTIFICIAL OR PATENT FUEL," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the use of certain ingredients for the purpose of
uniting or agglomerating small coal or slack.
For this purpose I use resin of commerce, or any raw resinous matter
having the same properties, combined with any fatty matters or oils, also with
carbonate of soda. I likewise employ flour of all kinds, that made from rye

page_text: in preference, and I prefer flour in a damaged state. I use these various
substances in different proportions, and at different temperatures, according to
the nature of the coal upon which I operate, and the use to which the agglo-
merated coal is to be put when made. I also use them either separately or
partially or wholly combined.
I do not claim as my Invention the use of any one of the above-named
substances in the agglomerating of coal, but simply the method of mixing and
combining them, so as to render them, when mixed with the coal in small
proportions, powerfully adhesive.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Piddington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOIN
PIDDINGTON, Patent Agent, of No. 77, Montagne de la Cour, Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, send greeting..
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date. the. Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first-year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her. heirs and, successors, give and grant unto-me, the
said John Piddington, Her special licence, that I, the said John Piddington,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Piddington, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF FUEL, COMMONLY CALLED ARTIFICIAL OR PATENT FUEL," upon the condition
(amongst otliers) that I, the said John Piddington, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 John Piddington, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in the novel application of certain ingredients for
the purpose of uniting or agglomerating small coal or slack for the purposes
herein-after described.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, in and by the following manner :-I first combine
(in a powdered state) any resinous matter, either in its raw state or the com-
mon resin of commerce, or the refuse of soap or varnish manufacturers with
any farinaceous substances, preferring the commonest description of or damaged
flour made from any kind of grain or farinaceous substance. Also, in some
instances, when the quality of the coal requires it, I add to the above mixture
substances rich in oxygen, such as manganese, &c. I mix the above sub-
stances with the small coal, reduced as fine as possible, in the following manner,
namely, to the coal, preferring it in a damp state, I add and mix well together
the resinous matter in powder in such proportion as the quality and nature of
the coal being operated on may require varying usually from 1 to 2 per cent.
of the weight of the coal. I next add from to 1 per cent. of the farinaceous
substance, previously converted by mixing it with water into common flour
paste of a suitable consistency. Lastly, when I use any substance rich in
oxygen, I sprinkle it over the mass and mix it well with the coal and other
ingredients. The above composition being well amalgamated, I mould and
press it by any of the ordinary and well-known methods. I next submit the
moulded product to a stove heat in the manner ordinarily practised, the effect
of which last operation is to develope an action of the resin on the farinaceous
substance employed which renders the uniting or agglomerating compound
powerfully adhesive. The result is a compact fuel burning without any
offensive odour and with less smoke than the same description of coal would
emit if burnt in its natural state.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Fuel, commonly called
Artificial or Patent Fuel," together with the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that
I do not claim as my Invention the separate use of any one of the above-
named substances in the uniting together or agglomeration of small coal;
but what I claim as my Invention intended to be secured by the above in part
recited Letters Patent is, the combining and mode of combining of the several

page_text: substances above-mentioned so as to render them, when mixed with coal in
small proportions, powerfully adhesive, for the purpose herein described and set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Piddington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord 5
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JOHN PIDDINGTON. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, jun".,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.