US1716490A - Process of and apparatus for producing cellulosic briquettes - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1929. 1 GLAZE ET AL PROCESS'OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CBLLULOSIC BRIQUETTES Filed Jan. 2'7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Julie 11, 1929.

PROCES S OF AND 45 d i I 41/ an ua-n roxd 67 Jump/w H. L. GLAZE ET AL 1,716,490

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CELLULOSIC BRIQUETTES F iled Jan. 2'7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT L. GLAZE AND GEORGE C. HUMPHREY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO UNITED PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., OF LOS 'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CELLULOSIC BRIQUETTES.

i i plicatio n filed January 1926- Serial This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for producing cellulc sic briquettes, and is more particularly directed to a proccss and apparatus for producing cellulosic briquettes wherein heat and pressure are ap plied to finely divided cellulosic materlal to free from the material the organic constituents thereof to form a bonding material to bond or cement the finely divided particles 1 together to form a composite bonded briquette without the use of bonding materials foreign to the cellulosic material.

This invention is an improvement on the process of producing briquettes from cellulosic material as disclosed in copending ap-- plication of George'C. Humphreys filed Feb. 16, 1924, Serial No. 693,388, and an improve ment over copending application of George C. Humphreys for apparatus for producing cellulosic briquettes, Serial No. 720,384, filed June 16, 1924.

In the production of briquettes for fuel from finely divided cellulosic material, it is important that a certain range of tempera tures be aintained and that a certain pressure e applied to the finely divided cellulosic material when in this heated condition.

It is therefore an object of this invention to determine the temperature ranges between which this process will operate satisfactorily and the approximate pressure required to compress the cellulosic material suificiently to expel therefrom the organic constituents which form the bond to bond the cellulosic material together.

It is another object of this invention to pro vide a process for producing cellulosic briquettes from finely divided material in which process a' portion of the finely divided cellulosic material subjected to heat and pressure is burned to heat the remaining portion of the cellulosic material to provide the requisite v heat thereto.

1 nother ob ect of this invention is to proatively high pressure required for the pro duction of cellulosic briquettes, and which machine is so' constructed and organized as to require a minimum of power.

vide an improved form of feed mechanism for feeding the finely divided cellulosic material to the machine and for compressing the celluvide a machine applicable to impart the rel-,

Another object of this invention is to prolosic material prior to the heating thereof or the subjecting of the cellulosic material to the relatively great pressure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 7 v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a briquetteforming machine embodying this invention, illustratingthe feed mechanism and the dies in central sectional side elevation, and illustrating the pre-compressing mechanism cutaway from the machine.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of a fuel compressing machine embodying this invention, illustrat-in g the feed pipe and delivery mechanism to the feed pipe as broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig.5 is a plan view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of'Fig. 2, illustrating the precompressing mechanism and showing a valve embodied therein in one position to admit air to one side of the cylinder.

Fig. 6 is a fraginental plan View of the valve and piston illustrated in Fig. 5, illustrating the valve in theopposite position for admitting pressure to the opposite face of the piston.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation taken substan-' tially on theline 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In the production of briquettes from cellulosic material we have discovered that when. employing a machine as illustrated in the drawings, the cellulosic material within the dies should be heated to between 48f)" Fahrenheit to 550 Fahrenheit while there is being imparted to the cellulosic material i .111 the die of the machine a pressure of ap integrate, but will burn as a briquette, without disintegrating in the hearth of the furnace or stove in which it is burned to produce a mass through which it is impossible or impractical to produce a draft.

We have also discovered that when eniploying a die such as is fully disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 84,046, filed January 27, 1926 which has become Patent No. 1,653,269 with the heat required tocarry out this process may be obtained from the -cellulosic material asv the same is forced through the die without the aid of exterior heat, which production of heat from the eellulosic material enables us to carry out our process without the employ ment of gas or oil, and consequently reduces materially the cost of producing the briquettes.

- In the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 illustrates a standard upon which the framework 2 of the machine is supported.

Supported by the framework 2 in bearin s 3 is a drive shaft 4, to which drive shaft a elt pulley 5 is rigidly secured. which belt pulley 5 is driven from an eccentric motor 6 or other suitablemeans through a belt 7. 'A pinion 8 is keyed to the shaft 4 and meshes with a gear 9, which. gear 9 is rigidly secured to a counter-shaft 10 supported in the framework 2., 'Rigidly secured to the countcrshaft 10 is a link 11, which link connects the countershaft 10 to an eccentric pin 12, which eccentric pin 12 is rotatably supported in a traveling block 13 which is guided in a yoke 14. Secured to the traveling block 13 are rods 15, which rods are guided in bearings 16, and to the outer endof which rods 15 plungers or pistons 17 are secured, which plungers 17- pass through the feed mechanism 18 and into dies 19, which dies 19 are secured to thrust arms 20 of the frame 2 in any suitable manner, such as illustrated at 21.

Secured to the frame 2 so as to coverthe dies 19 are stoves 22, which stoves 22 have false bottoms 23 supported by catches 24. The

plungers 17 are, of the same diameters as the interior diameter of the bores of the dies 19. Mounted within the stoves 22 are burners 25, which burners 25 are connected by means of a valve conduit 26 to any suitable source of fluid fuel,- such as gas or oil, means being provided at 27 for mixing the proper amount of air with the fuel.

Secured to the end of the die 19 is a briquette catcher 28, which briqu'ette catcher'is formed of a plurality of inwardly diverging fingers 29 which are secured to the end of the die, as illustrated at 30.

Finely divided cellulosic material such as sawdust, shavings, rice hulls or the like, is fed into feeding spouts 31 from a conveyor (not shown) so. that the finely divided material falls freely by gravity into and through the lower curved end face 34 of the continuation of the spout 31, and which jaw 32 has an upper cutting plate secured thereto to arrest the fall of the cellulosic material into the space between the complementary surfaces 33 and 34, and which plate 35 serves the further function of preventing the finely divided cellulosic material from being pushed upward into the extension of the feed spout 31 when the reciprocating jaw 32 travels to ward the'surface 34.

The reciprocating jaw 32 is guided within the guideway 36 formed in the frame 2 and is secured to the outer end of the piston rod 37, which piston rod 37.is secured at its inner end to the piston 38 and which piston rod passes through a stufling box 39. The reciprocating jaw 32 is guided within the guideway 36 formed in the frame 2 and is secured to the outer end of the piston rod 37, which piston rod 37 issecured at its inner end to the piston 38, and which piston rod 37 passes through a stufling box 39.

The piston 38 is caused to reciprocate by means of hydraulic pressure applied to the opposite. surfaces thereof, and which admission of hydraulic pressure to the opposite faces, ofthe piston is controlled by reciproeating valve 40, which valve 40 is secured to the cylinder 41 within which the piston 38 which communicate with the ports 45 and 46 formed in the walls of the cylinder 41, and through which ports 45 and 46 the hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the opposite faces of the piston 38. A reciprocating plunger 47 is mounted to reciprocate within the valve housing of the valve 40 and is secured at its outer ends to the actuating rod 48, which actuating rod is secured to slides 49-at its opposite ends, which slides 49 are guided within bearings 50 and to the inner ends of which slides 49 rollers 51 are mounted. Secured. to the countershaft 10 in the rear of the traveling yoke 14 is a cam 52, which cam 52 actuates the rods 48 to reciprocate the plungers 47. The valve 40 is connected to a source of hydraulic pressure such as a compressed air tanlc of the piston 38.

duit 53 connects with the casing of the valve in communication with the inlet port 60 and the conduit 58 connects with the casing of the valve 40 with the exhaust port 61. The ports 43'and 44 communicate with annular ring ports 62 and 63 formed in the casing of the valve 40. A third ring port 64 is formed in the casing of the valve 40 intermediate the ring ports 62 and 63. The inner end of the plunger 47 is bored to provide a channel 65. A plurality of radially opposed ports 66 are formed in the plunger 47 at the outer end thereof in communication with the channel 65. The plunger 47 is of reduced diameter to provide a passage 67 for establishing communication between the ports 43 and 64 in one position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and for establishing communication between ports 64 and 44 in the opposite position, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

The operation of this valve is as follows:

Referring to Fig. 5, the hydraulic pressure is admitted through the port 60 through the channel 65, ports 66. 44. 46, to the outer face The opposite side of the mner face of the piston 38 is exhausted through ports 45, 43, 62, through the passage 67 and through the ring port 64 to the exhaust port 61 and is exhausted hrough the conduits 5 8 and 59. The piston being in the extreme position illustrated in Fig. 5, the cam 52 rotates to drive the piston rod 48. of the left hand valve 40 illustrated in. Fig. 2 inward to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, at which time the hydraulic pressure admitted through the port (30 passes through the ring port. 62, ports 43 and to the inner surface of the piston 38 and drives the same outward to reciprocate the reciprocating jaw 32 from the compresstit) ing position illustrated in Fig. 4. The air on the outer surface of the piston 38 is exhausted through ports 46. 44, through the ring port 63, through the passage 67 and through the ring port (34, hcnceout the exhaust port 61.

The cylinder 41 is secured to the framework 2 by means of bolts 68.

The operation of the apparatus is:

The finely divided cellulosic material is dropped into the feed spouts 31. The machine being in the position as illustrated Fig. 1, on continued rotation of the yoke 14, the reciprocating jaw 32 for the left side of the mechanism travels forward to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, and partially compresses the ccllulosic material into the space between the com plementary surfaces 33 and 34. \Vhen the reciprocating jaw is in the extreme position illustrated in Fig. 4, and prior to the backward reciprocation of this jaw 32, the plunger 17 passes between the complementary surfaces 33 and 34 and pushes the pressure to compress the cellulosic material as a block into the bore of the die 19, which die, at the start of the operation, is heated by means of the burners 25 in the stove 22. The plung-' er 17, having completed its stroke, retract-s from the bore of the die 19 and from between the complementary surfaces 33 and 34, and the reciprocatingjaw 32 is drawn outward from the extension of the feed'spout 31 and finely divided cellulosic material again falls into the space between the complementary surfaces 33 and 34, when the prior cycle of operations is again repeated.

As the finely divided cellulosic material is forced into the bore of the die 19, and as the i with compressed and hcatedcellulosic' material. A number of bores 70 are formed in the die 19, establishing communication between the bore of the die 19 and the exterior thereof. On continued compression of the cellulosic material in the die 19, portions of the ccllu-. losic material gas and steam are forced through the ports 70 and travel in a stream therefrom into the stove 22. The flame from the burner 25 lights this portion of the cel lulosio. material and when the same is going freely from the port 70, the fuel supply to the burner 25 may be cut off and this portion of ccllulosic material forced through the ports 70 will supply the requisite feed for raising the cellulosic material in the die to the proper heat, that is, between the temperatures of 480 F. and 550 F.

\Vith the bores provided as illustrated in Fig. 1 and with a die of approximately thirtysix inches in length, suflicicnt cellulosio material will be forced through the ports 70 to maintain a temperature of approximately 490 F. c

As the length of the dies 1.9 is increased, the density of the cellulosic briquettes discharged from the ends of the dies 19 is increased, as a greater resistance is offered to 7 their travel. I have discovered, however, that with a temperature of 490 and while imparting a pressure of approximately fifty tons to the cellulosic material, that the die 19 should be approximately thirty-six inches long, and that with such length cellulosic briquettes are formed which are of comparatively great density and which have approximatelv a heating value of 900 B. t. 11. per pound.

The die 19 should, at all events, be greater than twice-the length of the travel of the piston 17 so that sufiicient friction will be imparted to the passage of the cellulosic material through the bore of said die 19 to permit the free travel thereof.

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details herein set forth, which may obviously be varied without departing from the spirit of our invention as set. forth in the appended claims.

lVe claim:

1. A'continuous process of forming briquettes from wood chips, shavings or the like, comprising forcing the material into a die, heated to between 350 and 700 F. and subjecting the heated materialto a pressure of substantially fifty tons in the said die and expelling the compressed and. bonded material from the end of the die and a portion of the material fed into the die from the sides of the said die, and burning the material forced from 'the'side of the die to heat the said die. v

.2. A continuous process of forming briquettes from finely divided cellulosic material, comprising forcing the material into a die, heated to approximately 450 F., forcing the major portion of the material from the end of the said die and a portion of the material from bores formed in the said die,

and burning t-heimaterial forced from the said bores into the die to heatthe die.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a counter-shaft mounted in bearings on the frame, an eccentric pin, a link connecting the shaft and the pin, a traveling block, rods connected to the said block, thrust-arms secured to the frame,

dies supported b the-said thrust-arms, pistons secured to t re said rods and adapted to be reciprocated by the said blocks, a feed spout, a reciprocating jaw mounted in the feed spout for precompressing the material fed therethrough, a fluid actuated motor op- 'the combination of a frame, a shaft mounted erating the said jaw, a conduit supplying fluid under pressure'to-the said motor, a fluid valvemounted in the said conduit, and means connected with said counter-shaft for actuating the said valve.

r 4. In anapparatus of the class described, the combination of a shaft, means for driving the shaft, a traveling block secured to and actuated. by the said shaft, connecting rods secured to the said traveling block, pistons secured to the said rods, feed spouts, precompressing reciprocating jaws mount-ed in the said feed spouts for precompressing the material fed through the said spouts in the path of the said pistons, dies mounted in position to receive the precompressed ma.- terial from the said dies, fluid actuated motors for reciprocating the said jaws, conduits supplying fluid under pressure to the said motors, valves mounted in the said conand bonded material from the end of the dieand a portion of-the material fed into the die from the side of the die, and burning the material forced from the side of the die to heat the die.

6. A continuous process of forming briquettes from wood chips, shavings or the like including forcing the'material into a die heated to approximately 450 F., forcing the major portion of the material from the end of the die and the other portion of the material through bores formed in the die, burning the material forced through the bores to heat the die, and yieldably holding the briquettes from free expulsion from a the die.

.blockfrom the counter-shaft, dies supported by the frame, a' pair of pistons, means secured to'thepistons and to the traveling block or reciprocating the pistons in the.

dies, a feed spout, a reciprocating jaw mounted in the feed spout for precompresstuated means for operating the precompressing jaw, and means connected with the counter shaft for actuating the fluid pressure means. 1

8. In an apparatus of the class described,

on the frame, means for driving the shaft, a traveling block securedto and actuated by the shaft, dies supported by the frame, a piston for each of the said dies, means connecting each of. the dies with the traveling block, a feed spout for each of the dies, recompressing reciprocating jaws mounted in the feed'spouts for recompressing material ing the material fed therethrough, fluid ac:

fed through the spouts in the path of the pistons, fluid actuating means for actuating the jaws, and means 'operably connecting the shaft with the fluid actuating means for controlling the. actuation of the same in timed relation with the actuation of the pistons.

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif, this 19th day of January, 1926.

HERBERT L. GLAZE.

GEORGE o. HUMPHREY-.'

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