AN IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING AND COMBINING VARIOUS COMBUSTIBLE MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL.
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING AND COMBINING VARIOUS
COMBUSTIBLE MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL. A communication from the Widow Couillard and Company, of
Paris and Rouen.
-
Sealed the 28th May 1858, and dated the 20th March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th March 1858.
T, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING AND COMBINING
VARIOUS COMBUSTIBLE MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention of "An Improved Mode of Treating and Combining various
Combustible Matters or Substances for the Production of Artificial Fuel "relates
to a mode of treating coal dust or small coal, peat, turf, lignite, rosin, pitch,
tar, and other carbonaceous, resinous, or combustible matters or substances,
so as to cause them to agglomerate or combine together, in order to produce
a solid mass, which may be used as artificial fuel. The Invention consists in
mixing the pulverized carbonaceous or combustible materials together, and
causing a stream of hot air or vapor to pass through the mass, so as to soften
the particles, and cause them to agglomerate or stick together. It is prefer-
able that the stream of hot air or vapor should be passed through the mass

page_text: while the materials are being stirred. If desired, the hot air or steam may be
made to operate upon the small coal or coal dust alone in the first instance,
so as to soften it, after which the softened coal may be passed into another
apparatus, in order to be mixed with the resinous and other matters, of which
the artificial fuel is composed.
In some cases it may be preferable to cause steam either natural or super-
heated to pass through the mass. The passage of hot air or vapor should be
continued until the materials are well mixed and have apparently agglomerated,
when the mass may be removed from the mixing vessel and allowed to cool.
A modification of the process consists in forcing hot air or steam through a
mass of melted pitch, rosin, tar, or other analogous matters until the mass is
worked up into a froth, when the dry pulverized ingredients may be added
and well mixed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, 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
William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "AN IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING AND COMBINING VARIOUS COMBUSTIBLE
MATTERS OR SUBSTANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL," being a com-
munication from the Widow Couillard Fautrel and Company, of Paris and
Rouen, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: 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 Edward Newton, 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 (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to a mode of treating coal dust or small coal, peat,
turf, lignite, rosin, pitch, tar, and other resinous, carbonaceous, or combustible
matters or substances, so as to cause them to agglomerate or combine together,
in order to produce a solid mass which may be moulded into any convenient
form, and used as artificial fuel.
The Invention consists in stirring and mixing the pulverized carbonaceous
or combustible materials together, and while they are in motion causing a jet
or current of hot air, steam, or vapor to pass through the mass so as to soften
the particles and allow them to agglomerate or stick together when they are
moulded or discharged from the pug mill or mixing apparatus. The hot air,
steam or vapor must be passed continuously through the mass while the materials
are being stirred, otherwise the mass will become too stiff to be worked with
facility. If desired, the hot air or steam may be made to operate upon the small
coal or coal dust alone in the first instance, so as to heat or soften it, after
which the heated or softened coal may be passed into another apparatus, in
order to be mixed with the resinous and other matters of which the artificial
fuel is composed. Some coals will be found to be so highly bituminous as not
to require the addition of pitch or resinous matter to assist in agglomerating
the particles. In such cases it will be necessary to raise the temperature of
the steam, hot air, or vapours to such a degree as will effectually soften the
particles so as to admit of the mass being moulded into any required form.
Either natural or superheated steam may be used according to the nature of
the materials to be operated upon, and the steam, hot air or vapours must be
under pressure sufficient to cause it to force its passage through the mass of
materials while they are in motion.
The passage of the steam, hot air, or gases should be continued until the
materials are well mixed and have apparently agglomerated, when the mass
may be removed from the mixing vessel and moulded if required, after which
the lumps may be allowed to cool. I would observe that I have not thought
it necessary to state any precise proportions in which the ingredients are to be
mixed, as they must necessarily vary to a considerable extent according to the
nature of the materials employed. For instance, a dry smokeless coal or

page_text: anthracite coal will require a larger proportion of pitch or resinous or bitu-
minous matter than an equal quantity of highly bituminous coal. The
principal use of the pitch, tar, or resinous or bituminous matter being to assist
in agglomerating the other particles, the exact proportion thereof to be added
must be left to the discretion of the manufacturer.
A modification of the process consists in forcing hot air, steam, or gases
through a mass of melted pitch, rosin, tar, or other analogous matters until the
mass is worked up into a froth, when the dry pulverized ingredients may be
added and well mixed until the proper consistence is obtained, after which the
mass may be removed from the pug mill or mixing apparatus and moulded
into any required form, and after being allowed to cool will be ready for use.
Having now described the Invention of "An Improved Mode of Treating
and Combining various Combustible Matters or Substances for the Production
of Artificial Fuel," and having explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I would observe,
that I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,
producing artificial fuel by stirring, mixing, or incorporating coal dust or small
coal, peat, turf, lignite or other combustible substances with rosin, pitch, tar,
or other resinous, bituminous, or carbonaceous matters or substances, in any
suitable proportions according to the nature of the materials employed, and
causing steam, hot air, or gases to pass through the mass during the stirring
or mixing operation, or while the carbonaceous and bituminous particles are in
motion.
I also claim mixing pulverized carbonaceous matters with melted pitch, tar,
or other bituminous substances worked up into a frothy state, as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)