US624495A - Commodore - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENTWOFFICE COMMODORE O. P. I-IOlVELL, 'OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA."

COMPOSITE FUEL AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,495, dated May 9, 1899. Application filed March 21, 1899. Serial No. 799,961. (No specimens.l

T0 (bZZ whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, COMMODORE O. P. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residin g at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Composite Fuel and Processes of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a composite or artificial fuel in which pulverized coal forms the base or principal ingredient. In this class of fuel the pulverized coal is mixed with materials or ingredients usually of a much more inflammable character, which while aiding combustion of the coal also acts as a binding medium for retaining the mass in the'form of blocks or briquets into which it is compressed for use.

In all prior compositions of this character to which my knowledge extends the materials or ingredients forming the binder have been of such a character as to cause or allow the mass to disintegrate from the heat of the fire long before the larger portion of the coal has been heated to a degree sufficient to cause combustion or to coke the mass, which would result in retaining it in its original shape until entirely consumed.

The object sought by me is a composite fuel, of which pulverized coal is the base or principal ingredient, which will be highly inflammable, and yet retain the form into which it is compressed a sufficient length of time While burning to insure complete combustion of all its parts, and which may be manufactured at small cost and be highly satisfactory in use.

The ingredients of which my fuel is composed are pulverized coal, fat-pine excelsior or excelsior and rosin, and fiber of the Mexican cactus, treated and mixed in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Fat-pine excelsior is selected by me because ofits large percentage of rosin. Excelsior of white pine or other wood may be employed with fairly good results if first saturated with rosin; but the best results will accrue from the use of fat-pine exoelsior as treated by me.

Rosin has been employed as a binding medium in a large number of prior compositions;

but in. almost every instance the rosin alone is relied upon to bind the mass together. By

the use of fat-pine excelsior or excelsior and rosin, thoroughly massed throughout the block or briquet into which the composition is'compressed, a binding effect is attained which is not possible with rosin alone or with rosin and sawdust or wood in other form, and

the mass is rendered much more inflammable.

Excelsior and rosin combined with pulverized coal and compressed into suitable blocks forms in itself a highly satisfactory fuel; but I have found that by the addition thereto of fiber of the Mexican cactus the mass is retained in-shape for a much longer time while burning and the coal consequently morethoroughly consumed. This I attribute to the slow burnin g character of the cactus fiber due to its low percentage of carbon, and in order that this fiber may be freed as far as possible from the rosin of the compound I use fatpine excelsior, which contains rosin in sufficient. amount, or I treat excelsior with rosin separately from the other ingredients of the compound, as will be hereinafter described. The Mexican cactus fiber is used in lengths varying from one and one half to three inches and is incorporated with the coal in about equal quantity with the excelsior and performs the same function in holding the mass together; but I have found that by itsuse the mass remains in shape for a longer time while burning than where the excelsior alone is used and that complete combustion of the particles of coal is practically attained.

In the manufacture of the composition I prefer to first treat the fat-pine excelsior to a process of evaporation to free it of a low grade of rosin, and thus free the compound as far as possible from smoke and objectionable odor.

This evaporation of the excelsior may be accomplished by exposing it to dry air for a sufficient length of time or by any well-known apparatus usually employed for such purposes. A high grade of melted rosin is then poured or sprinkled over the mass of excelsior, using about one ounce of rosin to one pound of the excelsior. Where white-pine excelsior is used, no evaporating process will be required; but rosin is incorporated therewith in the manner above described before it is mixed with the other ingredients of the compound and a larger, percentage of rosin should be used to saturate "the excelsior,

which should also be heated to facilitate the absorption of rosin. To ninety-four pounds of pulverized coal I add three pounds of the prepared excelsior and three pounds of the Mexican cactus fiber. These are put into a highly-heated receptacle and stirred until the mass is thoroughly mixed after which it is pressed while hot in suitable molds and allowed to cool.

In practice I employ a heating and mixing receptacle in the form of a horizontal cylinder. conveyed through pipes surrounding the cylinder beneath a metallic jacket covered with asbestos. Within the cylinder is arranged a Worm-screw, which is revolved to mix the heated compound and also to force itthrough an opening in one end of the cylinder, where it is received by molding apparatus and compressed into proper shape.

The object in first incorporating the rosin with the excelsior is to prevent as far as possible the absorption of rosin by the cactus fiber during the heating and mixing process. The rosin contained in the fat-pine excelsior or that added in its treatment I have found sufficient to thoroughly unite the mass when compressed hot under moderate pressure, and whileI do not limit myself to exact proportions of any of the ingredients employed those stated have been found by me to give the most satisfactory results.

Having thus described my invention, what This cylinder is heated by live steam- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A composite fuel composed of pulverized coal, excelsior, rosin, and fiber of the Mexican cactus.

' 2. A composite fuel composed of'pulverized coal, fat-pine excelsior, and fiber of the Mexican cactus compressed into blocks orbriquets, substantially as described.

3. The process of making composite fuel which consists in incorporating rosin with excelsior, then mixing the excelsior thus prepared with pulverized coal and fiber of the Mexican cactus, subjecting the mixture to heat, and while the same is still hot, molding it into suitable blocks.

4. The process of making composite fuel which consists in evaporating fat-pine excelsior to free it of a low grade of resin, thenincorporatin g therewith rosin of a higher grade,

then mixing the excelsior thus prepared with pulverized coal and fiber of the Mexican cactus, subjecting the mixture to heat, and while the same is still hot, molding it into suitable blocks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set COMMODORE O. P. HO\VELL.

Witnesses:

HOWELL BARTLE, O. A. NEALE.