MENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF PEAT AND CHARCOAL FOR FUEL, IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE THEREFROM, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYen POR PROACTING TR FAMI
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Kingsford, of Seaton, near Wingham,
in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF PEAT AND CHARCOAL FOR FUEL, IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF COKE THEREFROM, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS
EMPLOYen POR
PROACTING TR
FAMI
Sealed the 23rd December 1859, and dated the 15th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Kingsford at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
July 1859.
I, CHRISTOPHER KINGSFORD, of Scaton, near Wingham, in the County of
Kent, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF PEAT AND CHARCOAL FOR FUEL. IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE THEREFROM, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR EFFECTING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to the manner of preparing peat and
charcoal for fuel, or for the manufacture of coke. In order to prepare peat
for the purposes above mentioned the peat is dug or dredged, and while wet is
mixed with a certain proportion of common pitch, or a similar substance
previously ground very fine; this mixture is then pugged in a mill or by any
[Price 8d.]

page_text: The charcoal is
ordinary process until it is reduced to a paste; water is added during the
process, or the tarry products derived from the carbonizing operations when such
can be procured. The peat thus prepared is moulded and allowed to dry in
the air, or is artificially dried; it is then fit for fuel or for converting into
charcoal or coke. Light peat charcoal dust mixed with a certain proportion
of pitch, resin, or other similar substance, is prepared as follows, for the
purpose of making fuel or for the manufacture of coke.
reduced to a powder more or less fine, the dry pitch is similarly ground and is
thoroughly mixed with the charcoal dust. In order to facilitate the agglome-
ration of this dry mixture of charcoal dust and pitch, it is warmed by means of
a jet of steam which is introduced into it in any convenient manner, or it is
mixed with the tarry products which may be collected during the process of
carbonizing the peat while they are yet warm, or they may be warmed for the
purpose; it is then pressed or moulded into bricks of any convenient form,
which are dried for fuel or charred for producing coke, which I call "double
charcoal," fit for metallurgical purposes. It may be necessary to introduce a
certain proportion of raw peat wood or wood charcoal into this fuel, according
to circumstances, and for certain purposes.
The second part of my Patent consists in improvements in machinery and
apparatus for pugging and moulding peat. The pug mill that I employ is
composed of a combination of mixing and kneading motions mecanically
arranged so as to reduce the peat to a paste of the proper consistency required.
This pug mill can be employed separately or in conjunction with a moulding
apparatus; when thus constructed the pug mill is mounted on a carriage
having three or more wheels, or a pair of wheels and a roller for levelling the
ground; the mill is worked by a small steam engine fixed thereto, which at
the same time winds a chain or rope upon a drum fixed to the carriage, the
other end of the chain being fixed to a post or otherwise placed at a con-
venient distance; or the engine may act directly on the roller or the wheels of
the carriage, in order to make it advance at a convenient speed. An apparatus
for moulding the peat, consisting of a series of curved spouts, is fixed under the
mill; the carriage as it advances leaves several strings or rows of moulded
peat spread out evenly on the ground, which are cut afterwards into lengths
When the carriage arrives at the end of its course it is moved aside about the
distance of its width, and then proceeds in the opposite direction, laying down
another row or rows of moulded peat as before. When the pugmill is used
seperately from the moulding apparatus, the latter is simply fixed to the
carriage and made to advance as before described.

page_text: The third part of my Invention relates to improvements in retorts and
apparatus employed for making peat, charcoal, coke, and other products
derived from peat. The first description of retort that I employ is composed
of a vase of a certain form suspended on an axle, upon which it may be made
to turn half round for the purpose of discharging the contents into waggons or
proper receptacles placed underneath the retort. The retort is pierced by two
or more tubes, which conduct the peat of the furnace, after having passed
under and around the retort, through the centre of the peat to be charred, and
from thence to the chimney.
The second sort of retort, which I call "portable," consists of a cylinder or
case composed of a double enveloppe, and having the upper end open, the
bottom being pierced by several holes, to whch are adjusted tubes rising
vertically in the interior of the retort; the cover is capable of descending by
means of a weight, so as to follow the contraction of the peat during the
process of coking. Pipes may be adjusted to either of these retorts if it is
required to collect the volatile products derived from the distillation of peat.
The apparatus that I employ for grinding peat charcoal consists of a cast-
iron cone, the external surface of which may be described as being concave,
following the line of an elliptic curve; this cone revolves in a case of a similar
form, the interior of which as well as the exterior surface of the cone being
furnished with teeth placed spirally thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Christopher Kingsford in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I. CHRISTOPHER
KINGSFORD, of Seaton, near Wingham, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Christopher Kingsford, Her special licence that I, the said Christopher
Kingsford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the
said Christopher Kingsford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: 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 PREPARATION OF PEAT AND CHARCOAL FOR FUEL, IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF COKE THEREFROM. AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR EFFECTING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Christopher Kingsford, my executors or administrators, 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 Christopher Kingsford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Improvements in the preparation of peat and charcoal for fuel, in the
manufacture of coke therefrom, and in the machinery and apparatus employed
for effecting the same," &c. &c. (that is to say):--
Firstly, instead of cutting turf or peat from the bog and allowing the pieces
thus extracted to dry in the atmosphere or otherwise, which produces but a
light spongey article, unfit for industrial purposes, the fibrous nature of peat
hindering it from becoming compact when dry, my process is to dig or dredge
the peat, and whilst in a wet state to submit the same to a pugging or tritu-
rating action, at the same time mixing therewith a certain proportion of pitch,
or a similar substance, previously reduced to a powdered state; by this process
the fibres of the peat become broken up and felted together, and the substance
is thoroughly reduced to a homogeneous mass; it thus dries much quicker,
becoming at the same time more solid and compact in its structure, and
superior in quality as fuel, and from the fact of the pitch acting as a cement,
it produces when coked a very hard and blast-resisting charcoal. When the
peat bog is too much drained it becomes necessary to add a certain quantity
of water during the triturating process, and the tarry products derived from
the carbonizing operations may be advantageously introduced. I manufacture
in a somewhat similar way an artificial fuel from peat charcoal dust; the pro-
cess is as follows: Charcoal dust or ground charcoal is mixed with a
certain quantity of pitch, resin, or other tarry matters, and then heated to a
temperature not exceeding 300° Farenheit; in this state it is pressed into

page_text: moulds of any convenient form, and afterwards carbonized in close retorts or
otherwise; the pitch is ground to a fine powder and thoroughly mixed with
the charcoal dust; it thus acts to re-combine the particles of charcoal, pro-
ducing a very hard and superior coke suitable for industrial or metallurgical
purposes.
The following is a description of the machinery and apparatus forming the
second part of my Invention:-Fig. I. represents a plan, and Fig. II. a
vertical section of an improved mixing and kneading apparatus for triturating
peat or a preparation of peat with other matters, for the purpose of manufac-
turing a moulded fuel, and for preparing the peat by mixing intimately there-
with certain proportions of ground pitch, as herein-before described, for the
purpose of making coke or charcoal. A, A, represents the external case of
the apparatus, having a bottom B, and a false bottom at C, the latter being
shewn with a hole in the centre somewhat larger than the diameter of the
vertical shaft D, which is worked by the gearing E, or otherwise. Upon this
shaft two or more conical grooved rollers F, F, are fixed; these rollers are
free to turn on their axes, and at the same time to rise or fall, thus varying
the inclination of the said axes. This is accomplished by their being attached
to the sides of the shaft by joints G, G, having only a vertical movement; the
grooves on the rollers run either longitudinally or in a spiral direction, as
shewn. H, H, are scrapers, being flat bars attached to the shaft, and bent to
form an angle with the bottom of the apparatus. The upper compartment
of the pug mill is composed of radial bars I, I, fixed to the shaft and revolving
with it; on these bars are fixed blades K, K, which project both upwards and
downwards. These blades are placed at an angle of 45°, or thereabouts, on
the bars I, I, those underneath being arranged so as to draw any sub-
stance opposed to their action towards the centre hole, whilst those projecting
upwards are fixed in a contrary way. L, L, represent fixed bars, their ends
being attached to the case A, A; M, M, are curved blades fixed to the under-
side of these bars, and placed so as to be intermediate between the revolving
blades. The wet peat, together with a proper proportion of ground pitch, is
thrown into the apparatus by means of elevating cans or otherwise, and is
thoroughly mixed and triturated by the revolving blades K, K, the upper
blades acting to disperse it, and the under ones to draw it towards the
centre, where it falls through the hole which surrounds the shaft D, and is
then kneaded by the rollers F, F, which by a squeezing action drive it towards
their smaller diametre and compel it to issue by the sliding door N, or by
any other opening that may be provided for the purpose; it is then fit to be

page_text: moulded into bricks, either by hand or by a moulding machine, as the case
may be. This apparatus is shewn as if worked from one vertical shaft, but
in some cases the mixing or upper part of the apparatus may be detached and
worked seperately from the rollers or kneading machine. I can also fix a
mill for grinding the pitch over the apparatus, as shewn in Fig. IV.
The foregoing machine is supposed to be worked by steam or water power.
Figs. III. and IV. shew a plan and section of a similar apparatus constructed
to be worked by horse-power; the same letters indicate the same parts in this
machine as in that herein-before described. The horse or horses are attached
to the horse gear A, and the whole revolves round a fixed central post D; the
blades K, K, are wider, and of a somewhat different form, each being fur-
nished with two or more prongs, which serve to mix the peat while the rollers
knead it at the same time. B, B, are revolving rayed wheels which turn on the
same axes as the rollers, and also act as mixers. On the top of the post F is
fixed a cast-iron mill for grinding pitch, similar to that to be herein-after
described, Figs. X. and XI., with this difference, namely, that in this case
the outside part of the mill turns, whilst the inside cone is fixed to the centre
post, the contrary being the case when the centre shaft turns, as in Figs. 1.
and II.
Fig. V. is a longitudinal section of a machine combining the mixing, knead-
ing, and moulding processes in one, the whole being mounted on a carriage,
and worked by a portable steam engine. The hopper A is fitted with wet peat,
the machine is then put in motion either by direct action on the wheels or by
the winding up of a rope or chain, as described in my Provisional Specifi-
cation; but this is omitted in the Drawing in order to avoid complication. The
steam cylinder B and boiler C, being of the ordinary construction, need require
no further description. D represents the main driving shaft, having a crank E
and fly wheel F, made as is usual in steam engines; G, G. are blades fixed
upon the portion of the shaft D which lies within the hopper A. These blades
mix and tear the peat on its way to the lower compartment H¹, II", in which
is a second shaft I, bearing blades, and made to revolve by means of the
toothed wheels K, K; the end 1" of the lower shaft is fitted with blades, each
being of the thread of a screw, for the purpose of forcing the
peat into the kneading apparatus by the opening L.
in roller.
being made conical, and having grooves around it similar to those shewn in
Figs. I, II, II, and IV. The coller in this instance is placed nearly
vertically, and revolves in a conical case N. also grooved in the interior; the
conical roller M is supported on a universal ball-and-socket joint O, and its

page_text: motion is communicated to it by means of the crank P, moved by the mitre
gearing from off the main shaft. The crown of the roller is toothed and
geared into a circular rack R, fixed on the inside of the case N; the roller
has thus communicated to it a rotary as well as an eccentric movement,
combined with the screwing and squeezing effect of the spiral grooves; the
whole combined produces the required kneading process, and at the same
time forces the substance contained in the apparatus to pass out by the curved
spout or spouts S, leaving as the carriage advances a row or several rows, if
more than one spout be employed, of moulded and prepared peat; these rows
are cut afterwards into convenient lengths for drying. The whole apparatus
is shewn mounted on a pair of wheels T and a roller U, for levelling the
ground, but when the carriage runs on trams or rails, four wheels are required;
and in order that the rails may be permanent, I lay them in a circle or on an
endless railway, and I employ wooden or wicker trays, which I lay down
between the rails to receive the moulded peat, and which are afterwards
transferred to a drying house and replaced by others before the return of the
locomotive pugging and moulding machine.
The third part of my Invention may be described as follows:-Figs. VI.
and VII. are vertical sections of my improved retorts for making charcoal.
The sections are taken at right angles to one another. A is the vase or retort,
which may be made of sheet iron, the lower part being semicylindrical, running
into a pair-shaped form towards the top, which terminates in an opening B₁
fitted with an air-tight cover. C, C, C, are tubes, which pass through the
retort; these convey the heat to the interior of the bulk of peat contained in
the retort, in order that the whole should be equally and thoroughly charred.
The retort A is suspended on a shaft or axle D, which is made hollow if the
gasses or tarry products derived from the distillation are to be collected, in
which case they enter the hollow shaft by the apertures E, E, E, and pass off
by the end F into proper condensing receptacles. At the end G of the hollow
shaft is fixed a lever H, by the aid of which the retort is swung half round,
and its contents emptied into a smothering chamber or into a sheet-iron
truck I, which must be fitted with a lid looted with clay or water joints, as
shewn at K, K; these trucks are made to tilt, whereby the charcoal is less
iable to be broken during the unloading. The cover having been removed, a
ull charge of dried peat is put into the retort, which should be immediately.
e-covered, and the trap 1 placed over the oven M. The oven is heated by a
urnace N, the heat entering by the small distributing flues 0, 0, 0, and, after
aving passed under and around the retort, escapes by the tubes C, C, C, into

page_text: the flues P, P, which lead to the chimney. When the peat is sufficiently
charred the cover of the retort is removed, the slide Q withdrawn, and the
charcoal turned out into the trucks which are placed beneath, in which it
remains until cold, when it is fit for use.
Fig. VIII. is a plan, and Fig. IX. a vertical section, of a portable retort for
charring peat. A is a cylinder made of sheet iron. and put together in two
thicknesses; B is the bottom of the cylindre, to which are fixed the upright
pipes or tubes C, C, C, the centre one being larger, for the purpose of con-
veying fuel to the under part of the apparatus; D, D, D, are sheet-iron
segments of a cylindre placed around the bottom of the retort to enclose the
space left between it and the ground. The whole is mounted upon a carriage
E of any convenient form or construction, or as shewn in the Drawing. The
retort is hung on pivots F, F, for the convenience of discharging it by causing
it to swing round upon its centre. In order to explain the process of charring
and use of this retort, let it be filled with dry peat, the cover G, which is a
disc of metal or fire-clay cut to the form of the interior of the retort, is then
placed upon the peat, and is weighted in order to make it descend and follow
the contraction of the peat which takes place during the process of charring;
a fire is ignited in the space between the bottom of the retort and the ground,
and is kept up by occasionally filling the centre pipe with turf; when it
judged that the operation is nearly finished the lid H is put on, and a clay or
water joint formed; the gasses which still issue from the peat descend the
tubes, and, by igniting at the bottom, continue to burn until no more gasses
are left, thus ensuring the complete carbonization of the peat.
Fig. X. is a plan, and Fig. XI. a vertical section, of a cast-iron mill for
grinding charcoal, pitch, and other substances employed in the manufacture of
coke from peat. A is a conical cast-iron runner, the upper surface of which
is concave, and of an elliptical form, and is furnished with teeth, which radiate
in a spiral direction, diminishing in size and depth as they approach the
circumference; the small teeth K are made in sigments, and are screwed on
to the face of the runner; they may be either of chilled metal or steel; the
larger teeth may be cast with the picce; B is the case, which forms a covering
to the runner, its interior corresponding with the exterior surface of the latter,
and furnished with teeth in like manner, excepting that they are placed
radially instead of spirally; this case is supported on columns C, C, or may he
fixed on masonry, as the case may be. D is a vertical shaft worked by
gearing E, E. upon which the runner is keyed. the shaft continuing upwards,
where it is embraced by the guide-bearing F, which is fixed to the upper part

page_text: of the case B. The substance to be ground is introduced by the hopper G,
and after passing through the mill it is received in the circular channel H, and
is discharged by the spout I.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I
do not bind myself to the precise details in the construction of the several
machines herein described, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the main features of my Invention; for instance, the conical
grooved rollers which I have herein-before described may be used in the
positions as shewn in the Figs. I., II., III, and IV., or in Fig. V., either as
seperate machines or in conjunction with either or any of the pugging and
tearing apparatus herein-before described, or with any pugging apparatus, as
may hereafter be found advantageous to the process; nor do I bind myself to
the precise form or forms of retorts herein-before described, as several modifi-
cations can be made both in the manner in which the gasses are made to issue
from the retort, which may be modified as circumstances may require, and in
the manner of passing the heat through the interior of the retorts, which may
be done by tubes or pipes of different forms, and placed in different positions
to those shewn in the Drawings, Figs. VI., VII., VIII., and IX.; but what
I claim as novel and original is,
1stly, the manner of preparing peat for fuel or for the manufacture of coke
therefrom, namely, by the mixing of ground pitch or a similar substance with
peat before, the said peat has been dried, as herein-before described.
2ndly, an artificial fuel composed of ground peat charcoal, or peat charcoal
dust mixed with pitch, resin, or other similar substances compressed and
afterwards converted into coke by the process of re-charring.
3rdly, the application of conical grooved rollers for pugging and preparing
peat, the axes of the said rollers, being constructed so as to allow of a rotatory
and vertical movement, or of a rotatory and excentric movement to the rollers,
as shewn in Figs. I., II., III., IV., and V., and herein-before described.
4thly, the general arrangement and construction of the several machines, as
herein-before described, for mixing and pugging peat or peat mixed with other
matters.
5thly, the locomotive apparatus and manner of moulding peat, as herein-
before described, Fig. V.
6thly, retorts suspended upon axles, and constructed so as to turn over for
the purpose of discharging their contents, and the manner of introducing the
heat from a furnace or otherwise, through the interior of retorts, by means of
tubes or pipes, as herein-before described.

page_text: 7thly, the general arrangement and construction of apparatuses herein-
before described for charring or coking peat, or peat prepared and mixed with
other matters.
8thly, a conical mill, where the process of grinding is operated between
eliptical surfaces, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Kingsford, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the 13th day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness to the signature of the said
Christopher Kingsford,
STEPHEN J. GREEN.
CHRISTOPHER KINGSFORD. (L.S.)