AN IMPROVED METHOD OF WASHING COAL A communication from abroad by AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR Evence Connée of Mons in the Kingdom
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Allison, of the firm of Allison Brothers,
Patent Agents, of 41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex for an invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF WASHING COAL
A communication from abroad by
AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Evence Connée of Mons in the Kingdom of Belgium
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Allison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1882.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF WASHING COAL AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR A communi-
cation from abroad by Evence Coppée, of Mons, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
The object of this Invention is to obtain the following results:-
1st A large production of washed coal, per washing apparatus.
"
2nd A better quality of washed coal, by the reduction to a minimum of the
quantity of dust from the coals, submitted to the washing, and by conserving
intact during and after the operation, the various dimensions of the lumps of coal.
3rd A continuous automatic process of washing.
4th The sorting and charging of the various sizes of coals which have been
submitted to the washing.
5th The reduction to a minimum of the amount of slimes coming from the
washing, and the transport of the greater part of the schists and slimes, by special
apparatus, before their entry into the basins.
6th By a simple and durable construction to diminish the cost of the first
outlay, as well as to reduce the cost of washing to a minimum by the processes
above mentioned.
The advantages of this system of washing over those in use up to the present are
caused by the division of the coals to be washed into several catagories, and by the
continuous automatic processes. The transport of the coals to the various sorting
and washing apparatus is done automatically by gravity or the flowing of water.

page_text: According to the indicated processes, the coals passing the various apparatus to
the washing apparatus, remain intact and are very little broken. The charging
into the waggons of the classified coals is done automatically and with care. The
coals are classified according to their dimensions and without breakage by the
processes which are employed, and consequently they have each their own value,
whilst the apparatus employed up to the present have not been able to obtain this
result.
By the construction and special arrangement of these apparatus, coals of all
dimensions are washed as perfectly as possible; for instance very small coals (of
0 to 5'8 _) containing from 10 to 40% of dust before washing retain only from
21 to 5
of dust.
The principal advantages of this system are as follows :—
The coals after being washed are stored in towers from whence they are
delivered directly into the waggons.
The large quantity of coals washed each washing operation and the automatic
continuity of the transport of the coals reduces considerably the cost of labour and
of washing.
The small amount of dust in the washed coal and the small loss of coal carried
away with the schists and the slimes.
The following is a description of the general working of the operations in the
washing building.
The coals arrive in waggons and fall into a reservoir from whence they are
taken by a chain of buckets. This chain of buckets raises the coals from the
reservoir to such a height that they may slide upon a natural incline into a
separating drum situated at the top floor of the building. The separating drum
will give two distinct classes: the lump coals of 10 to 70 /, treated on the
machines for washing the large pieces, and small coals of 0 to 10 / treated
on "feldspar" machines.
The lump coals of 10 to 70 m/m are divided by the same separating drum into
four classes of different sizes, and each dimension of lumps is treated on one
of four machines for large coal. These lumps are conducted into the machines by
hoppers.
The small coals of 0 to 10 / fall from the separating drum into a hopper and
pass on to the operations described below.
If the nature of the coals requires it small jets of water may be conducted
inside the separating drum, which will clean the obstructed holes.
The machines for washing the large coals produce:-
It passes
1st. The washed coal, which is sent out of the machines by water.
out to vibrating sieves and falls directly into the charging hoppers, and from
thence into the waggons through openings regulated by slides. For cach machine
there are two vibrating sieves and two charging hoppers for delivering the washed
lumps in two directions after a sufficient draining.
2nd The schists separated from the lumps by the washing operation in the
machine fall into the trough for the schists, from whence they are received by a
wheel with buckets which directs them by a funnel into the channel for the
schists, which conducts them in its turn by a natural incline and by the flowing of
water into the basin for the schists.
3rd The small coals which have not been separated in the separating drum on
account of their adherence to the large lumps, or which are forined by the schists,
traverse the vibrating sieve with the water coming from the lumps and unite with
the small coals of 0 to 10 m/m arriving from the separating drum in a channel, to
be treated with them.
4th The fine schists which go to the bottom of the case of the machine for the
large coals in traversing the sieve, are sent into the channel for the schists which
conducts them to the schists basin.
With regard to the small coals, they fall from the separating drum into a funnel
which conducts them by natural incline, in a dry state, into a channel. The water

page_text: holding in suspension the small coals coming from the machines for large coals
runs into this channel and encounters the small coals of 0 to 10 m/m arriving
from the separating drum and carries them into a classifier divided into six
compartments.
The classifier which has pointed cases will produce:-
1st The deposit of classed small coals which pass on to the feldspar washers, each
of which receives small coals of different dimensions.
2nd The slimy water escapes by an overflow into the basin for small coals.
By the treatment of the small masses, the feldspar machines produce:
-
1st The small schists which traverse the bed of feldspar and the sieve and pass
to the bottom of the case of the machine, where they are discharged by an opening
with a slide, into a channel which carries them to the schists basin.
2nd The washed small coals which remain in suspension in the water, arrive
with the current of water into a channel which brings them to the basin for small
coals. These small coals are deposited into the basin and then a chain of perfo-
rated buckets for the drainage receives them and raises them into a helix, which
conducts them alternately into one of the storing and drying towers or receptacles.
From the towers they are taken to serve for industrial purposes, that is to say, for
the production of coke or coal bricks. In the same way the schists deposited in
the schists basin are raised by a chain with perforated buckets to be charged into
the waggons which conduct them to the heap.
The slimy waters from the schists basin and from the basin for the small coals
overflow and are conducted by a channel to a clarifier. In the latter the slimos
are deposited and discharged by openings regulated by valves into a helix, which
transports them into the basin for slimes. A chain of buckets raises them into the
helix of the towers which mixes them with the small coals to conduct them to the
towers.
The clear waters from the clarifiers run by an overflow into the basin of a
pump.
A series of pipes serves to supply water to the washing machines and other
apparatus which require it.
The motive power engine is situated in a special building. It transmits its
motion to a shaft placed at the top of the building and from this the motion is
transmitted to the different counter shafts and to all the apparatus of the washing
establishment.
The following is a description of the machine for washing the lump coal :-.
From a series of trials and observations, the inventor has been able to give to
these machines the necessary dimensions to fulfil all the conditions required in the
best manner and which consequently give the most advantageous results.
According to the degree of impurity of the coals from 63 to 100 tons of coals may
be washed in 10 hours. But with very bad coals streaked with schists a slight
reduction takes place in the output.
The case of this washing machine is made of strong boards. At the top part
is a transverse partition which descends to a certain depth below the top edge and
separates the compartment of the piston from that of the washing. Inside, all the
partitions of the case are lined with thick planks. An inclined false bottom, of
which the lowest point is just below the transverse partition serves to give a
suitable direction to the current of water produced by the movement of the piston,
for the classing and discharge of the coal.
The entrance of the classed coal to the machine takes place through a funnel
shaped channel, which opens into the top of the machine, that is to say, at the
part nearest to the piston. The coal leaves the case by an opening which occupies
all the width of the front wall of the case. The pure schists in their turn fall on
the bottom of a sieve and form a bed and pass into the schists trough by an opening
which is regulated by a slide worked by a lever and link. Above the bed formed
by the pure schists is deposited a bed of coal streaked with schists (if the material
to be washed contains any) which is lighter than the schists and heavier than the

page_text: pure coal. This coal streaked with schists containing sometimes pure schists, will
be discharged by an opening which is higher than the opening for the pure schists
and regulated also by a sliding valve. This mixed product may be washed a
second time or employed for operations which do not requiro pure coals. After its
exit it is introduced into a kind of reservoir from whence it is discharged from
time to time by a slide actuated by a lever.
To prevent the exit of the coals by the openings for the pure schists and the
mixed product of coal streaked with schists and schists, before each one is applied
a plate in the form of a truncated pyramid, the position of which may be variable
in height. The pure schists are raised by a wheel provided with perforated buckets
into a funnel shaped channel which conducts them to the basin for the schists. If
there are any fine schists in the mass to be treated they traverse the meshes of the
sieve and unite at the bottom of the case, to be discharged from time to time into
a channel which conducts them to the schists basin. The discharge is effected by
a conical valve, the raising of which is produced by a system of levers.
The movement is given to the wheel with buckets by pulleys and straps. The
movement of the piston which should be rapid in its descent and relatively slow in
its ascent, is given by a slotted link.
To replace the water lost by the discharge of the coal, coal streaked with
schists and the schists, a tube constantly supplies water through an opening
regulated by a screw valve.
The following is a description of the feldspar machine for washing very small
coals:
-
At the top part of the machine a partition descending to a certain level divides
the case the whole of its length into two compartments, viz, that of the piston
and that of the sieve.
The machine is divided laterally by partitions into three compartments, of
which the third is smaller than the two others and serves specially for washing
the very small coals, containing coal streaked with schists and schists. The three
sieves are supplied with a bed of feldspar which is necessary for the operation of
washing the very fine coals. The washing surface is about 200 ™/ wider than that
of the piston.
m
The product to be washed enters through an opening and after having been
worked with care on the bed of feldspar, the pure schists (heavy) exit by openings
in the two first compartments after having traversed the bed of feldspar and the
sieve. The product then continues its course into the third compartment which is
provided with a partition and board if the coal contains coal streaked with schists
and schists and is discharged through an opening. This compartment is arranged in
such fashion that the board may be displaced at will, according to the quality of
the coal, so as to augment or diminish the washing surface. The mixed product
of coal streaked with schists and schists then traverses the bed of feldspar and the
sieve and escapes by openings, or according to the quality of the coal, by one of
them to enter into channels and depositing basins. The washed coal on the contrary
is discharged by the opening above mentioned. The movement is given to the
three pistons of the machine by eccentrics with variable throw.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Allison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th August 1882.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF WASHING COAL AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR a communi-
cation from abroad by Evence Coppée, of Mons, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
The object of this Invention is to obtain the following results :-
1st A largo production of washed coal, per washing apparatus.
"
2nd A better quality of washed coal, by the reduction to a minimum of the
quantity of dust from the coals submitted to the washing, and by conserving
intact during and after the operation, the various dimensions of the lumps of coal.
3rd A continuous automatic process of washing.
4th The sorting and charging of the various sizes of coals which have been
submitted to the washing.
5th The reduction to a minimum of the amount of slimes coming from the
washing, and the transport of the greater part of the schists and slimes, by special
apparatus, before their entry into the basins.
6th By a simple and durable construction to diminish the cost of the first outlay,
as well as to reduce the cost of washing to a minimum by the processes above
mentioned.
The advantages of this system of washing over those in use up to the present
are caused by the division of the coals to be washed into several catagories, and by
the continuous automatic processes. The transport of the coals to the varions
sorting and washing apparatus is done automatically by gravity or the flowing of
water. According to the indicated processes, the coals passing the various
apparatus to the washing apparatus, remain intact and are very little broken. The
charging into the waggons of the classified coals is done automatically and with
care. The coals are classified according to their dimensions and without breakage
by the processes which are employed, and consequently they have each their own
value, whilst the apparatus employed up to the present have not been able to
obtain this result.
By the construction and special arrangement of these apparatus, coals of all
dimensions aro washed as perfectly as possible; for instance very small coals
(of 0 to 5-8) containing from 10 to 40% of dust before washing retain only
from 2 to 5% of dust.
The principal advantages of this system are as follows:-
The coals after being washed are stored in towers from whence they are
delivered directly into the waggons.
The large quantity of coals washed each washing operation and the automatic
continuity of the transport of the coals reduces considerably the cost of labour and
of washing.
The small amount of dust in the washed coal and the small loss of coal carried
away with the schists and the slimes.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings Fig 1 is a plan of the building showing
the general arrangement for carrying out the processes; Fig 2 is a longitudinal
section; Fig 3 is a transverse section; Fig 4 is a side elevation; and Fig 5 is an
end elevation of the same.
Fig 6 is a side elevation of the machine for washing the lump coal; Fig 7 is a
longitudinal section; Fig 8 is a transverse section; and Fig 9 is a plan of the same.
Fig 10 is a longitudinal section of the machine for washing small coals; Fig 11
is a transverse section; and Fig 12 is a plan of the same.
The following is a description of the general working of the operations in the
washing building.
The coals arrive in waggons and fall into one of the reservoirs A from whence

page_text: they are taken by a chain of buckets B. This chain of buckets raises the coals
from the reservoir A to such a height that they may slide upon a natural incline
into a separating drum C situated at the top floor of the building. The separating
drum will give two distinct classes: the lump coals of 10 to 70 m/m treated on the
machines D for washing the large pieces, and small coals of 0 to 10 m/m treated on
'feldspar" machines E.
"
The lump coals of 10 to 70 m/ are divided by the same separating drum into
four classes of different sizes, and each dimension of lumps is treated on one of
four machines for large coal D. These lumps are conducted into the machines by
hoppers F.
The small coals of 0 to 10 m/m fall from the separating drum into a hopper G
and pass on to the operations described below.
If the nature of the coal requires it small jets of water may be conducted inside
the separating drum, which will clean the obstructed holes.
The machines for washing the large coals produce :-
1st. The washed coal, which is sent out of the machines by water. It passes out
to vibrating sieves H and falls directly into the charging hoppers I, and from
thence into the waggons through openings regulated by slides. For each machine
there are two vibrating sieves and two charging hoppers for delivering the washed
lumps in two directions after a sufficient draining.
2nd The schists separated from the lumps by the washing operation in the
machine fall into the trough for the schists, from whence they are received by a
wheel with buckets which directs them by a funnel into the channel for the
schists K, which conducts them in its turn by a natural incline and by the
flowing of water into the basin for the schists L.
3rd The small coals which have not been separated in the separating drum on
account of their adherence to the large lumps, or which are formed by the schists,
traverse the vibrating sieve H with the water coming from the lumps and unite
with the small coals of 0 to 10 m/m arriving from the separating drum in a
channel M, to be treated with them.
4th. The fine schists which go to the bottom of the case of the machine for the
large coals in traversing the sieve, are sent into the channel for the schists K
which conducts them to the schists basin L.
With regard to the small coals, they fall from the separating drum into a funnel
which conducts them by natural incline, in a dry state, into the channel M. The
water holding in suspension the small coals coming from the machines for large
coals runs into this channel M and encounters the small coals of 0 to 10%
arriving from the separating drum and carries them into a classifier N divided
into six compartments.
The classifier N which has pointed cases will produce :-
1st The deposit of classed small coals which pass on to the feldspar washers E,
each of which receives small coals of different dimensions.
=
2nd The slimy water escapes by an overflow into the basin for small coals P.
By the treatment of the sinall masses, the feldspar machines produce:-
1st The small schists which traverse the bed of feldspar and the sieve and pass to
the bottom of the case of the machine, where they are discharged by an opening
with a slide, into a channel which carries them to the schists basin L.
2nd. The washed small coals which remain in suspension in the water, arrive
with the current of water into a channel R which brings them to the basin for
small coals P. These small coals are deposited into the basin P and then a chain
of perforated buckets S for the drainage receives them and raises them into a
helix T, which conducts, them alternately into one of the storing and drying towers
or receptacles U. From the towers they are taken to serve for industrial purposes,
that is to say, for the production of coke or coal bricks. In the same
way the schists deposited in the schists basin L are raised by a chain with
perforated buckets V to be charged into the waggons which conduct them to the
heap.

page_text: The slimy waters from the schists basin L and from the basin for the small
coals P overflow and are conducted by a channel W to clarifiers X. In the latter
the slimes are deposited and discharged by openings regulated by valves into a
helix Y, which transports them into the basin for slimes Z. A chain of buckets S¹
raises them into the helix of the towers T which mixes them with the small coals
to conduct them to the towers U.
The clear waters from the clarifiers X run by an overflow T¹ into the basin of a
pump U
A series of pipes V₁ serves to supply water to the washing machines and other
apparatus which require it.
The motive power engine is situated in a special building. It transmits its
motion to shaft WI placed at the top of the building and from this the motion
is transmitted to the different counter shafts and to all the apparatus of the
washing establishment.
The following is a description of the machine for washing the lump coal :-
From a series of trials and observations, the inventor has been able to give to
these machines the necessary dimensions to fulfil all the conditions required in the
best manner and which consequently give the most advantageous results. According
to the degree of impurity of the coals from 63 to 100 tons of coals may be washed
in 10 hours. But with very bad coals streaked with schists, a slight reduction
takes place in the output.
The case of this washing machine is made of strong boards. At the top part is
a transverse partition which descends to a certain depth below the top edge and
separates the compartment of the piston from that of the washing. Inside, all the
partitions of the case are lined with thick planks. An inclined false bottom, of
which the lowest point is just below the transverse partition, serves to give a
suitable direction to the current of water produced by the movement of the piston,
for the classing and discharge of the coal.
The entrance of the classed coal to the machine takes place through a funnel
shaped channel, which opens into the top of the machine, that is to say, at the
part nearest to the piston. The coal leaves the case by an opening f which occupies
all the width of the front wall of the case. The pure schists in their turn fall on
the bottom of a sieve and form a bed and pass into the schists trough / by an
opening g which is regulated by a slide i worked by a lever and link. Above the
bed formed by the pure schists is deposited a bed of coal streaked with schists (if
the material to be washed contains any) which is lighter than the schists and heavier
than the pure coal. The coal streaked with schists containing sometimes pure
schists will be discharged by an opening which is higher than the opening for
the pure schists and regulated also by a sliding valve Z. This mixed product may
be washed a second tinie or employed for operations which do not require pure
coals. After its exit it is introduced into a kind of reservoir æ from whence it is
discharged from time to time by a slide y actuated by a lever.
To prevent the exit of the coals by the openings and k, before each one is
applied a plate n in the form of a truncated pyramid, the position of which may
be variable in height. The pure schists are raised by a wheel provided with
perforated buckets o into a funnel shaped channel q which conducts them to the
basin for the schists. If there are any fine schists in the mass to bo treated they
traverse the meshes of the sieve and unite at the bottom of the case, to be
discharged from time to time into a channel which conducts them to the schists
basin. The discharge is effected by a conical valve e, the raising of which is
produced by a system of levers.
The movement is given to the wheel with buckets by pulleys and straps. The
movement of the piston which should be rapid in its descent and relatively slow
in its ascent, is given by a slotted link r.
To replace the water lost by the discharge of the coal, coal streaked with schists,
and the schists, a tube constantly supplies water through an opening s regulated
by a screw valve.

page_text: The following is a description of the feldspar machine for washing very small
coals:-
At the top part of the machine a partition descending to a certain level divides
the case the whole of its length into two compartments, viz., that of the piston
and that of the sieve.
The machine is divided laterally by partitions into three compartments, of
which the third is smaller than the two others and serves specially for washing the
very small coals, containing coals streaked with schists and schists.
The three
sieves are supplied with a bed of feldspar v which is necessary for the operation
of washing the very fine coals. The washing surface is about 200 m/m wider than
that of the piston.
The product to be washed enters through an opening w, and after having been
worked with care on the bed of feldspar v, the pure schists (heavy) exit by
openings b in the two first compartments after having traversed the bed of feldspar
and the sieve. The product then continues its course into the third compartment d
which is provided with a partition and board m if the coal contains coals
streaked with schists and schists, and is discharged through an opening p. This
compartiment is arranged in such fashion that the board may be displaced at will,
according to the quality of the coal, so as to augment or diminish the washing
surface. The mixed product of coal streaked with schists and schists then
traverses the bed of feldspar and the sieve and escapes by openings t, or according
to the quality of the coal, by one of them, to enter into channels and depositing
basins. The washed coal on the contrary is discharged by the opening p. The
movement is given to the three pistons of the machine by eccentrics c with
variable throw.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is :-
First. The process of automatic continuation from the time the coal is submitted
to the sorting and washing, until the discharging of the same, according to the
description of the process of washing herein described.
Second. The general arrangement of the apparatus for sorting and washing as
herein described.
Third. The automatic transport of the coals, classed and washed at different
points, by means of a current of water as herein described.
Fourth. The employment of feldspar or any other suitable material to serve as
a bed to the cases for washing the very fine coals.
Fifth. The employment of chains of perforated buckets and of reservoirs for
separating the coal from the water which it contains as herein described.
Sixth. The employment of towers and hoppers for the drying and storing of
the washed coals as herein described.
Seventh. The employment of pointed cases for the classification of very small
coals and for the concentration of the slimes as herein described.
Eighth. The employment of vibrating frames or tables for draining the coals as
herein described.
Ninth. The production of a mixed product in the washing cases when it is
necessary to treat coals containing coals streaked with schists, or schists, as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Allison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our
Land One thousand night hundred and sightu two