CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PREPARING THE VEGETABLE MATERIAL OF PEAT-MOSS OR BOG, SO AS TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE TO SEVERAL USEFUL PURPOSES, AND PARTICULARLY FOR FUEL
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WYE WILLIAMS, of Liverpool; in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the second year of Her reign,
and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Wye Williams, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Charles Wye Williams, my executors, administrators;
and assigns, and such others as I, the said Charles Wye Williams, my exe-
cutors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PREPARING THE VEGETABLE MATERIAL OF
PEAT-MOSS OR BOG, SO AS TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE TO SEVERAL USEFUL PURPOSES,
AND PARTICULARLY FOR FUEL;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said Charles Wye Williams, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and
to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said

page_text: in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear."
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Wye Williams, do hereby, declare that the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following description
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked, thercon, (that is, to say)
My Invention consists, firstly, in a. novel or peculiar mode, not hitherto
practised, of manufacturing coke from peat-moss or bog earth, which I will
hereafter call peat, either before or after pressure, and by which I am enabled
to produce peat cokes of different densities suited to a variety of useful pur-
poses; secondly, in incorporating such peat coke with bituminous matter of
various kinds, by which an artificial coal is produced of great hardness and
with great heating powers, and which is peculiarly applicable for steam navi-
gation, and other purposes; and thirdly, in a mode of rendering peat moss of
great value in the process of converting coal, into coke, and by which the value
of such coke is greatly enhanced. In order to afford the best information for
carrying my Invention into effect, I give the following description of the pro-
cess and means which I employ, namely:-I take the dry peat as now, usually
prepared for sale in brick-shaped pieces, and subject, it to a high degree of
pressure under an hydraulic screw or other press, by which it will be reduced
to half or one third of its previous bulk, thus rendering it more suitable as a
fuel for the furnaces of steam boilers, or for the purposes of the forge. This
process is effected by having the press inclosed, by iron or strong timber sides
and ends forming a box round the press so as to confine the peat under the
press. My mode or process of converting such peat, either, before or after
such pressure, into coke, is effected by means of a vertical stove or oven of the
following description: Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, shewing a
cross partition of brick, forming four distinct fireplaces. A is the body of
the stove made of plate iron, or bricks, or other suitable material. This stove
may be about ten feet high and four feet wide. B is the door by which the
stove is charged with peat.. C, the door by which, the, coke is withdrawn.
D, D, D, pipes about three feet high and four inches in diameter, by, which
the vapour and volatile matters are allowed to escape during the process.
E, E, are several holes of about an inch in diameter, about the centro of the
stove, and, by which the atmospheric air is to be admitted at the proper part
of the process. These holes are to be provided with an iron stopper. I have
found sixteen or eighteen, holes sufficient for this sized stove... F, F, F, F

page_text: four close-fitting iron doors about six inches square, placed at the centres of
the four triangular-fire compartments H, H, H, H, as seen at Fig. 2,.each
door having three or four inch holes in the same for the admission of air to
maintain the required temperature and combustion. when the four doors are
closed. I is an iron plate which lays close, on the cross brick partitions K,
which divides the space below it into four equal-sized fire chambers. This
plate is perforated with holes to allow the heat to pass upwards, yet preventing
the peat placed above from pressing down on the "fire to be lighted beneath in
the four chambers H, H, H, H. These chambers are formed by the cross
partitions K.of brick, six inches high, and so constructed that no communica-
tion may take place between them. The object of these divisions is to enable
the operator, by closing one or more of the four iron doors, to give any required
direction to the heat in the stove above, so that the whole body of the peat
shall be uniformly coked. The operation of this stove. is as follows:-The
body of the stove being filled with the peat to be coked, a fire of shavings or
other fuel is to be lighted in the four triangular chambers, the holes at E
and the doors B and C being all closed. On. the fires being well lighted the
four doors F, F,F, F, are to be closed, as the air which will then pass through
the holes in such doors will be sufficient for the required purpose. During
this part of the process care is to be taken' to have a uniform heat on all sides
of the stove, and which is to be effected by opening or shutting these holes.
After the lapse of about one or two hours, and when the heat of the lower
half of the stove is sufficiently strong (and which a little practice will soon
point out), the holes in these lower doors are to be closed and áll adinission of
air by them or the doors is to be completely prevented by raising a mound of
sand or earth round the bottom of the stove, sufficiently high to cover the four
doors. The hoppers of the holes at the middle bolt at E. are then to be
taken out. By these holes a sufficiency of, air will be introduced to carry on
the distillatory process of expelling the gases, the heat which the peat in the
lower half of the stove has acquired being sufficient to coke that. which is in
the upper half. When the vapour and gases are sufficiently expelled by the
funnels at D, these funnels and the centre holes at E are all to be closed air-
tight... The air. being thus effectually excluded in all directions the whole is to
be thus stifled and allowed to cool, which will take about twelve hours to
effect; when completely cold, and not sooner, the pcat coke
may be withdraw
through the door C. By this means a tolerably condensed coke is produced.
which is applicable to many useful purposes, where a more dense solid coke is
not required, as for the use of open forges, heating boiler plate furnaces, and
also for locomotive engines.

page_text: The following is a description of another kind of stove which I have found
useful in this coking process, and particularly for converting into coke the hard
cakes of peat as compressed by the process detailed in my former Patent for
preparing peat moss, and rendering it fit for the purposes of fuel, dated
Eleventh November, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, and by
which I am enabled to produce a dense, hard, shining coke, of a specific
gravity greater than of water, or coal coke, and which is double that of
charcoal. A is the body of the stove, which is set horizontally. B, the air
pipe. C, the fireplace. D, the ash pit.
the vapour and gasses. G, entrance
H, charging door. I, discharging door.
resembles the foregoing.
stove by the door H, which is then closed air-tight.
eight to ten feet long, and three to four feet wide.
over a fireplace, with flues passing round it in the
roofed steam boilers. The air pipe G, and the gas escape pipes F, F, being
open. A fire is applied under the stove, and continued at a moderate heat
until the desired quantity of volatile matter is expelled. And note, it is more
desirable to have the process carried on by a moderate heat, and slowly,
than by applying a brick heat to drive off the gases more expeditiously, the
coke in the latter case not being so valuable; and further, where the coke is
required for the cementation of iron or steel, the manufacture of gunpowder,
or other purposes where a purer carbon is required, the process must be
continued until the entire of the volatile matter is driven off.
are nearly expelled, the air pipe G is to be closed, but the escape pipes F, F,
may be kept open somewhat longer, the heat of the coke inside being sufficient
to complete the process. The pipes F, F, being then closed, and the air
effectually excluded from all parts, the whole. is to be allowed to cool, and the
coke withdrawn by the door I, as in the former case. But I do not mean to
confine myself, or my Invention, to those particular kinds of stoves which I
have described, but intend to avail myself of the use of other kinds of stoves,
by which the same objects are effected, namely, the combining the processes of
distillation and stifling, and by the admission of atmospheric air during one
part of the process, and its exclusion at another, by which means the volatile
parts are driven off to whatever extent it may be desirable, and without
causing any loss of the carbonacious part by a union with the oxygen of the
atmosphere.
E, the funnel. F, escape pipes for
aperture for the atmospheric air.
The process by this furnace nearly
The peat to be coked is placed in the body of the
This stove may be from
It is set in brickwork
ordinary way of waggon-
When the gases
Secondly, my Invention consists in the mode or process of roasting or
drying the peat or moss either before or after pressure by means of an artificial

page_text: current of heated air, and by which the drying or roasting is effected more
expeditiously than by mere exposure to the air. For this purpose the peat to
be dried is placed in a drying room or stove, and an artificial current of heated
air is made to pass through the body of peat. The current of hot air is
produced by means of a rotary fan in a cylinder, or any other of the well-
known processes for producing a current of air to be worked by the power
of men, horses, or mechanical means. The air, previously to being forced
through the peat, is made to pass. in contact with a heated cockle, or through
or between suitable plates, pipes, or flat chambers charged by fire or steam, so
as to give heat to this current of air. One mode of applying the current of
heated air is as follows, see Fig. 5-A, body of the chamber or stove. B, floor
made of plate iron, punched full of holes, or by a brick-arched floor, the
bricks being so placed that there shall be between each course sufficient space
for the hot air to pass up freely. C, the hot-air chamber. D, the funnel for
the escape of the hot air after it has become charged with the moisture from
the peat. E, the cockle, or it may be a steam box for heating the air. F, the
fan cylinder, or other blowing apparatus. The mode of drying is as follows:-
The peat is placed on the iron or brick-arched floor B, in the chamber A, to
any convenient depth, and according to the state of dampness in which it is.
The peat is introduced by a door at one end of the chamber or stove, and may
be taken out at a door at the other end, both doors being closed; and tlie
fan F being put in motion, a strong current of air is forced through pipe G,
the conical chamber H, surrounding the cockle E, or other heating apparatus,
by which its temperature is raised to any required degree. This stream of
hot air, passing through the pipe Tinto the long chamber C, has no means of
escape except upwards through the apertures in the floor, on or over which
the peat is placed, and through the peat, in its current, it carries off the
moisture and passes away by the funnel D. This drying chamber or stove
may be made from ten to fifty feet long in proportion to the quantity of peat
to be dried. The drying effect produced being in proportion to the rapidity
of the current of air forced through it, and the degree of temperature to which
it has been raised.
Secondly, my Invention of a process of incorporating peat coke with resin,
pitch, tar, or other bituminous matter is effected by reducing the coke to a
powder, and mixing it with such bituminous matter while in a melted fluid
state, and which is easily effected by keeping it by means of rakes in such a
state of agitation during the mixing that a thorough union takes place. The
quantity of resin or bituminous matter should be sufficient to: saturate the
cuke powder, which, will be found to be about equal quantities of each, and it

page_text: may when properly mixed be lifted out by ladles, and placed in casks, or brick-
shaped or other moulds, for use. And note, where a more durable material
or cinder is required, I add a small portion of powdered coal coke; about one-
fourth, to the mixture.
And thirdly, my Invention consists in a mode of rendering peat-moss useful
in the coking of pit coal. This improvement is effected by adding a due pro-
portion of dry peat as taken from the bog, or after pressure with the pit coal
in the act of coking, in about the proportion of one third peat and two thirds
coal, and which is effected in a stove already described, Fig. 1, or any other
stove suitable for coking pit coal. The effect of the union of peat and coal
is to deprive the coal of its sulphur or other injurious substances, and by
which it is rendered more suitable to the working of iron and other metals.
And whereas the process of converting peat into coke has been practised
'before by smiths and other persons, I make no claim of Invention to such,
but specially and exclusively claim as my Invention,
.
First, the process of compressing dry peat (after having been saved or pre-
pared as fuel in the ordinary way) until it has been reduced to about onc half
of its previous bulk, and which state of compression it will retain if thorough
dry.
Secondly, I claim the exclusive right of the process or mode of converting
the dry peat so compressed into coke, by which I am enabled to produce a
tolerably condensed coke, and which is applicable to various useful purposes.
Thirdly, I claim the exclusive use of the process or mode of coking by
means of stoves or ovens, which have a peculiar operation in the process of
coking, namely; by a combination of the distillatory and stifling processes, and
by which the lightest description of surface peat without pressure, and even the
broken fragments and dry dust of peat, and even without any process of drying
whatever, but as taken from the bog, is converted into a coke, and which is
applicable to the manufacture of an artificial coal or fuel by its admixture with
resin, pitch, tar, or other bituminous matter, and which light coke is also
applicable to the manufacture of gunpowder, or to such other uses as powdered
charcoal is usually applied.
Fourthly, I claim the exclusive use of a peculiar kind of stove, and the
process of coking the highly compressed cakes of peat, as prepared by my
former Patent of One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, by which
process and stove I make a solid, hard, durable, and shining coke applicable
to several purposes, and more especially to the working of inctals.
Fifthly, I claim the exclusive use of another kind of stove by which peat,
either before or after the process of compression, is completely dried or wasted,

page_text: and by which its heating power is much increased, and by which the com-
pressed peat cakes aro sooner prepared for the coking stove than if dried by
the atmospheric air alone.
Sixthly, I claim the process of incorporating the powdered peat, coke, and
coal coke, with resin, pitch, tar, or other bituminous matter when in a melted
and fluid state, in the fabrication of an artificial coal never before made, and
which is particularly valuable for steam navigation.
Seventhly, I claim the application of peat to the purpose of coking pit coal,
by which the quality of the coal coke is considerably improved.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wye Williams, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
CHA. W. WILLIAMS. (L.S.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-sixth day of January, in
the second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said Charles
Wye Williams came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stumped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine.