Carbonization of agglomerative coals

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF CARBONIZING AN AGGLOMERATIVE COAL WHICH COMPRISES FEEDING SAID COAL IN FINELY DIVIVED CONDITION AND FINELY DIVIDED CARBONACEOUS RESIDUE FROM PREVIOUSLY CARBONIZED COAL TO A CARBONIZATION ZONE, SAID RESIDUAL BEING AT A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENTLY HIGH AND IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO MAINTAIN SAID ZONE BETWEEN ABOUT 800* AND 1200* F., AGITATING SAID COAL AND SAID RESIDUE IN DIRECT HEAT TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP IN SAID ZONE UNTIL THE COAL IS CARBONIZED TO VOLATILE HYDROCARBONACEOUS PRODUCTS AND CARBONACEOUS SOLID RESIDUE, REMOVING SOLID RESIDUE FROM SAID ZONE, CONDUCTING A PORTION THEREOF TO A COMBUSTION ZONE WHICH IS MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE CARBONIZATION ZONE CONVEYING THE RESULTING HEATED PORTION TO THE CARBONIZATION ZONE, AND MIXING ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID RESIDUE FROM THE CARBONIZATION ZONE WHILE STILL AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE WITH THE COAL, BEFORE THE LATTER IS FED TO THE CARBONIZATION ZONE, IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE COAL TO BETWEEN ABOUT 500* AND 650* F. BUT BELOW THE CARBONIZING TEMPERATURE OF THE COAL.