Production of useful articles from coal

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING USEFUL SHAPED ARTICLE WHICH COMPRISES PREPARING AN INTIMATE MIXTURE OF FINELY-COMMINUTED COAL WHICH CONTAINS VOLATIES IN THE PROPORTION OF ABOUT 13 TO 30 PER CENT ON A DAY ASH-FREE BASIS WITH SULPHUR, MOULDING FROM THE RESULTANT MIXTURE AN ARTICLE OF THE DESIRED SHAPE UNDER A PRESSURE OF THE ORDER OF AT LEAST TWO TONS PER SQUARE INCH, AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THE SHAPED ARTICLE TO BE TRANSFERRED UNDAMAGED FROM THE MOUNLDING MACHINE TO A FURNACE, RELAXING THR PRESSURE, PRODUCING TEST PIECES FROM SAID MIXTURE, FIRING THE TEST PIECES IN A NON-OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE TO A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 550*C. AND CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FIRING IN SUCH MANNER AS TO PRODUCE A FIRED TEST PIECE FREE FROM CRACKS AND FREE FROM A CELLULAR STRUCTURE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE, THEREAFTER FIRING THE MOULDED ARTICLE UNDER THE CONDITIONS AND AT THE RATE AT WHICH THE LAST NAMED TEST PIECE WAS FIRED TO PRODUCE AN ARTICLE HAVING THE PROPERTIES OF THE FIRED TEST PIECE AND COOLING THE ARTICLE IN A NON-OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE.