Patent GB-511470-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for cutting, lifting and conveying peat sods
IPC: E21C49/00
Filed: 1938-11-17
Abstract: 511,470. Turf-cutting machines. DYCKERHOFF, E, Nov. 17, 1938, No. 33480. [Class 6 (ii)] [Also in Group XXI] The vertical cutter of a machine for cutting and removing peat sods is guided in an arc as shown at 29 in Fig. 1, the centre of curvature of the arc lying below the machine. The cutter in its ascent rises over a conveyer 30 into which the sods are ejected. The cutter beams 7 are pivotally connected by links 3, 6, 18 to rods 2, 16, 17, rod 2 being hinged to a crank 1 on a shaft 13 driven by an engine. The bearings of the shaft 13 are supported on the rod 17 which is journalled in bearings 12 on the carriage 15 which also supports bearings 11 for the end of the rod 16. When one layer of peat has been cut the entire lever system is swung downwardly through a distance equal to the thickness of one sod by means of toothed segments 19 fixed to the rods 16 and operated by pinions 20. When the lowest layer of peat has been cut out the crank shaft with the cutter system is uncoupled and the whole lever system raised, the machine being then moved back by the width of one sod. The lever system may be raised by chains 21 engaging sprockets on a shaft connected to the rod 16. The cutter comprises a vertical blade 34 and cross blades 35 forming a number of chambers in each of which is an ejecting device 33 as shown in Fig. 5. The ejectors are carried by rods 31 and are held in the raised position by springs 36. When the cutter beam is raised the rods 31 come into contact with projections 24 and are thrust downwards to eject the sods. The projections 24 are carried on arms 23 connected by a lever system 27, 26, 25 to the rods 16 so that the position of the projections is adjusted to the working depth of the cutters. As the cutter beam is raised the projections 24 also press against a curved surface 8a on the horizontal cutter 8 and cause a lug on the latter to engage a pawl 28 pivoted on the cutter beam. The pawl is released on the descent of the cutter beam by a cable 32. Figs. 6 and 9 show a modification of the machine in which the cutter 124 is guided in an arcuate path by links 108, 104 the latter of which support arcuate members 110 to which belts 112 are attached at 111 and hang between rotating rollers 113, 114. The roller 114 has a recess a so that for a period during each revolution of the rollers the belt is not gripped. When the belt 112 has moved down to bring the member 110 into the position shown by dotted lines the rollers 113, 114 cease to grip the belt and the member 110 is returned by a spring 120 and the cutter is lowered. The horizontal cutter 132 which falls and cuts the peat by its own weight is raised as the cutter beam 106 rises by a lever 135 which engages a recess 133 in the cutter. A hook on the latter engages a pawl 137 on the cutter beam and is released therefrom when the beam descends by a cable 141. The ejectors 123 are held in the raised position when the cutter is lowered by a detent 131 and recess 126a, the detent being released by a hook 142 when the beam is raised. The ejectors are then forced downward by springs 130 to press the sods on to a conveyer 143. Fig. 12 shows a further modification of the machine in which the ejectors 126 are held in the raised position by springs during the cutting operation. When the cutters are raised the horizontal cutter is lifted by a bar 135 which engages a corner of a box-like member 60 carried by the cutter while at the same time the ejector is lowered by a link 61 which engages in a slot in the member 60, the peat sod falling on a conveyer band 230. A cutting roller 231 cuts the top waste ground after the machine has been moved backward and flings it into the pit left by the previous cutting operation. The moving parts of the machine are operated by a motor 200 which continuously drives a shaft 211 from which a rotary movement can be imparted in opposite directions to shafts 203, 205. Shaft 211 also actuates the cutting roller 231 and conveyer 230. During the cutting operation shaft 203 is rotated from shaft 205 and pinions on its ends engage toothed segments 204 which are thus raised and carry with them the bearings of the cranks 1. The segments with the cranks 1 are lowered by rotating the shaft 203 in the opposite direction by driving it from shaft 211. A brake controls the descent of the cutter system, and lever means are provided for raising and lowering the cutting roller 231.