IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND FOR OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Albert Michel Jouët-
Pastré, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Manager of the Société Nouvelle
des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Albert Michel Jouët-Pastré, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manager of the Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée.
This Invention relates to improvements in the machinery or apparatus in respect
of which Letters Patent were granted to me dated the 16 of March 1877,
No. 1065, and it has for its object economising the steam employed in the case of
the machines for manufacturing artificial fuel in which the supply of water under
pressure is provided by the machine itself, and economizing the water under pressure
employed in the case of the machines which receive their supply of water under
pressure from an accumulator.
The power required for compressing the blocks of artificial fuel is not uniform,
but is relatively small during a considerable part of the stroke of the hydraulic
press which effects the compression, increasing in proportion as the process of
compression approaches completion, and does not reach the maximum until the
termination of the compressing process. In carrying out the process however as
described in the Specification to the said former Letters Patent, the power or force
expended, which consists of the pressure of steam in the case of machines providing
their own supply of water under pressure, and of the pressure of water in the case
of machines working with an accumulator, is a uniform amount corresponding to
the maximum resistance to be overcome in compressing the blocks.
Now this Invention consists in a novel arrangement of the parts for effecting the
compression of the blocks of fuel enabling two or more varying degrees of pressure

page_text: to be applied to the blocks, increasing in intensity in the proportion corresponding
to the nature of the materials to be compressed.
In carrying out this Invention as applied to the machines for compressing blocks of
artificial fuel by hydraulic pressure working with one or two rotating mould tables,
and in which the supply of water under pressure is provided by the machine itself,
the following improvements are effected, viz:-1st. The two steam cylinders
heretofore employed, namely, the cylinder for effecting the compression and the
cylinder for drawing the parts back to their original position, are dispensed with,
and in lieu thereof a single cylinder is employed containing a piston provided with
a projection on its upper side working in a stuffing box in the upper end of the
cylinder for the purpose of reducing the area of that side of the piston, and having
a slide valve capable of forming a communication between the spaces above and
below the piston.
2nd. A pump working with a piston fast on the lower end of the rod of the
steam piston herein before referred to, and provided with a valve box containing
valves for regulating the flow of the water under pressure is also substituted for the
pump heretofore employed working with a solid plunger or ram.
The spring cushions in the steam cylinders heretofore employed are replaced by
a single open box of india-rubber springs ensy of access arranged upon the piston
rod between the steam cylinder and the pump, and coming in contact with collars
suitably arranged upon the said rod.
When steam is admitted by means of the slide valve into the upper part of the
steam cylinder it forces down the piston contained therein, and with it the piston of
the pump, exerting a relatively slight pressure at first on the water underneath the
pump piston, which is communicated to the block to be compressed, as described in
the Specification to the said former Letters Patent. During the first part of the
stroke of the pistous the space above the pump piston is maintained filled with
water by means of a suitable check valve, which places it in communication with
a tank of water at a higher level, but as soon as the resistance of the block which
is being compressed exceeds the pressure thus applied in the first instance a
regulating valve (previously maintained closed by a spring of suitable tension)
opens and places the two ends of the pump cylinder in communication, so that a
portion of the water underneath the pump piston flows back into the pump cylinder
above the said piston and closes the check valve herein before referred to. The
pressure exerted upon the water and communicated to the block of fuel under
these conditions corresponds to the pressure that would be exerted by a hydraulic
pump working with a solid plunger of the same diameter as the rod of the pump
piston, and forms the second or maximum pressure. When the pressure applied to
the block has reached its maximum a safety valve opens, the plunger of the press
ceases to ascend, and the pressure is maintained until the slide valve closes the port
for the admission of steam to the upper side of the piston in the steam cylinder,
and places the upper part of the cylinder in communication with the lower part,
whereby the steam piston is caused to ascend by reason of the difference in the
areas of the two sides of the piston, which are thus exposed to the action of the
same pressure of steam. The pump piston partakes of the same motion as the
steam piston, causing the water to flow from the upper part of the pump cylinder
to the lower part through a suitable valve, and a portion of the water in the
hydraulic press flows back to the pump cylinder, whilst the remainder is discharged
into the water tank hereinbefore referred to through the safety valve, which opens
the communication by means of a suitable bell crank lever or otherwise.
When the improvements are applied to the machines for compressing blocks of
artificial fuel by hydraulic pressure working with one or two rotating mould-tables,
and in which the supply of water under pressure is obtained from an accumulator,
the single hydraulic press usually employed is replaced by a double hydraulic press,
consisting of a small ram for applying the relatively slight pressure required during
the first part of the process of compression, and of another larger ram working in
combination with the former for applying the maximum pressure at the completion

page_text: of the process of compression. The rams are arranged one above the other on the
same axis and form one piece, the smaller ram being placed underneath the larger
ram, which consequently presents an annular surface to the action of the water
under pressure.
The chambers in which the rams work communicate with each
other by means of suitable passages and regulating valves.
The water under pressure is admitted in the first instance to the chamber con-
taining the lower and smaller ram, and causes it to rise until the resistance of the
block which is being compressed causes a suitably loaded regulating valve to be
forced open, and admits water to the annular space below the upper and larger
ram, so as to allow the water to act simultaneously upon both rains and produce
the maximum pressure required for completing the compression.
A suction valve arranged at the side of the regulating valve, and in communi-
cation with the passage for the discharge of water, supplies water to the annular
space under the large ram during the first part of the compression.
The improvements herein before described are also applicable to other machines or
apparatus in which a similar effect is required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th July 1879.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Albert Michel Jouëtt-Pastré, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manager of the Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de le Mediterranée.
The said Invention relates to improvements in the machinery or apparatus in
respect of which Letters Patent were granted to me dated the Sixteenth of March,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven, No. 1065, and it has for its object
economizing the steam employed in the case of the machines for manufacturing
artificial fuel in which the supply of water under pressure is provided by the
machine itself, and economizing the water under pressure employed in the case
of the machines which receive their supply of water under pressure from an
accumulator.
The power required for compressing the blocks of artificial fuel is not uniform,
but is relatively small during a considerable part of the stroke of the hydraulic
press which effects the compression, increasing in proportion as the process of com-
pression approaches completion and does not reach the maximum until the termina-
tion of the compressing process. In carrying out the process however as described
in the Specification to the said former Letters Patent, the power or force expended,
which consists of the pressure of steam in the case of machines providing their own
supply of water under pressure, and of the pressure of water in the case of machines
working with an accumulator, is a uniform amount corresponding to the maximum
resistance to be overcome in compressing the blocks.
Now the present Invention consists in a novel arrangement of the parts for
effecting the compression of the blocks of fuel whereby two or more varying incre-
ments of pressure may be applied to the blocks, the said pressure increasing in
intensity in the proportion corresponding to the nature of the materials to be
compressed.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a sectional elevation of a
portion of a machine for compressing blocks of fuel, having applied thereto the im-
provements forming the subject of this Invention; Figure 2 is another elevation
partly in section, the view being taken at right angles to Figuro 1; Figures 3
and 4 are sectional elevations, the views being taken respectively at right angles,
the one to the other of a complete machine, and Figure 5 is a sectional plan
corresponding to Figure 3.
In carrying out the present Invention as applied to the machines for compressing
blocks of artificial fuel by hydraulic pressure working with one or two rotating
mould tables, and in which the supply of water under pressure is provided by the
machine itself, the following improvements are effected, videlicet:-
First. The two steain cylinders heretofore used, namely, the cylinder for effecting
the compression and the cylinder for drawing the parts back to their original
position are dispensed with, and in licu thereof a single cylinder A, Figure 1, is
employed containing a piston B; this piston is provided on its upper side with
a projection a for the purpose of reducing the area of that side of the piston,
the said projection working in a stuffing box b in the upper end of the cylinder, and
a slido valve C is also fitted to the cylinder by means of which a communication is
established between the spaces above and below the piston.

page_text: Second. In substitution for the pump heretofore used working with a solid
plunger or ram there is employed a pump D having a piston G fast on the lower
end of the rod c of the steam piston hereinbefore referred to, and provided with
a valve box E containing valves for regulating the flow of the water under
pressure.
Thirdly. The spring cushions in the steam cylinders heretofore employed are
replaced by a single open box F of india-rubber springs which are arranged (so as
to be readily accessible upon the piston rod c and to come in contact with collars a, a,
suitably arranged upon the said rod.
When steam is admitted by means of the slide valve into the upper part of the
steam cylinder A it forces down the piston B contained therein, and with it the
piston G of the pump D, exerting at first a relatively slight pressure on the water
underneath the pump piston, which pressure is communicated to the block to bo
compressed, as described in the Specification to the said former Letters Patent.
During the first part of the stroke of the pistons the space above the pump piston
is maintained filled with water by means of a suitable check valve a' (Figure 2,
Sheet 1), which places it in communication with a tank of water at a higher level,
but as soon as the resistance of the block which is being compressed exceeds the
pressure thus applied in the first instance a regulating valve b¹ (previously main-
tained closed by a spring H of suitable tension) opens and places the two ends of
the pump cylinder in communication, so that a portion of the water underneath the
pump piston flows back into the pump cylinder above the said piston and closes the
check valve a¹. The pressure exerted upon the water and communicated to the
block of fuel under these conditions corresponds to the pressure that would be
exerted by a hydraulic pump working with a solid plunger of the same diameter as
the rod of the pump piston and forms the second or maximum pressure. When the
pressure applied to the block has reached its maximum a safety valve d' (Figure 2,
Sheet 1,) opens, the plunger of the press ceases to ascend, and the pressure is
maintained until the slide valve closes the port for the admission of steam to the
upper side of the piston in the steam cylinder and places the upper part of the
cylinder in communication with the lower part, whereby the steam piston is caused
to ascend by reason of the difference in the areas of the two eides of the piston
which are thus exposed to the action of the same pressure of steam.
The pump
piston partakes of the same motion as the steam piston, causing the water to flow
from the upper part of the pump cylinder to the lower part through a suitable
valve c', and a portion of the water in the hydraulic press flows back to the pump
cylinder, whilst the remainder is discharged into the water tank hereinbeforo
referred to through the safety valve d, which opens the communication by means
of a suitable hellcrank lever e or otherwise.
When the improvements are applied to the machines for compressing blocks of
artificial fuel by hydraulic pressure working with one or two rotating mould tables,
and in which the supply of water under pressure is obtained from an accumulator,
the single hydraulic press usually employed is replaced by a double hydraulic press
consisting of a small ram or plunger I (Figures 3, 4, and 5), for applying the
relatively slight pressure required during the first part of the process of com-
pression, and of another larger ram or plunger K working in combination with the
former for applying the maximum pressure at the completion of the process of
compression. The rams I, K, are arranged one above the other on the same axis
and form one piece, the smaller ram I being placed underneath the larger ram K,
which consequently presents an annular surface to the action of the water under
pressure; the chambers in which the rams work communicate with each other by
means of suitable passages and regulating valves.
The water under pressure is admitted in the first instance to the chamber con-
taining the lower smaller ram I, whereby the latter is raised until the resistance of
the block which is being compressed causes a suitably loaded regulating valve ƒ to
be forced open, and admits water to the annular space below the upper and larger

page_text: ram K, so as to allow the water to act simultaneously upon both rams and produce
the maximum pressure required for completing the compression.
A suction valve arranged at the side of the regulating valve f, and in communi-
cation with the passage for the discharge of water, supplies water to the annular
space under the large ram during the first part of the compression.
The various valves may be otherwise arranged in the valve boxes, but the
arrangement shewn in the Drawing is preferred.
The improvements hercinbefore described are also applicable to other machines
or apparatus employed for a like purpose.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part rocited
Letters Patent is,―
The application of the action of two or more increments of pressure increasing
successively in intensity, as herein set forth, to the apparatus described in the
Specification to the said former Letters Patent and to other apparatus for a like
purpose, substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.