IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, PREPARING, AND MOULDING PEAT FOR FUEL, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MOULDING OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, PREPARING, AND MOULDING PEAT FOR
FUEL, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MOULDING OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS."—A
communication from abroad by Jean François Bocquet and Victor
Alexis Bénard, both of Paris, France.
Sealed the 24th October 1873, and dated the 24th May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 24th May 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, PREPARING, AND
MOULDING PEAT FOR FUEL, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MOULDING OTHER PLASTIC
MATERIALS," to be as follows :-
T

page_text: The principal advantages derived from the use of the improvements
are as follows:-
1st. All handling of the peat by the workmen during the different
stages of the manufacture is avoided, and they are thus protected from
the numerous evils inseparable in the working of peat by hand.
2nd. The manufacture is greatly accelerated and facilitated, and
therefore rendered more independent of skilled labor, which is often
difficult to obtain.
3rd. A good cheap fuel is obtained, the combustion of which is not
injurious to the apparatus employed, so that agricultural manufactures
may be carried on in places where coal can only be obtained at very
great cost.
4th. The bogs are rendered more healthy by the formation of
channels or drains, the cost of which is repaid by the conversion of the
peat obtained into fuel.
5th. The actual value of peat deposits is considerably enhanced, and
a healthy occupation is provided for the neighbouring population.
Another advantage is the facility with which the apparatus may be
removed, either wholly or partially, according to the requirements of the
locality, while it will work equally well on land or water.
The improved apparatus comprises, 1st, an excavator, having a dif-
ferential motion; 2ndly, a grinder and mixer; 3rdly, a self-acting
moulder; 4thly, a tilting carrier for the moulder.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings show dif-
ferent views of the excavating apparatus, having a differential motion,
and working in both directions, which apparatus may be driven by hand
or steam power. The same letters of reference serve for all the Figures.
The cutter carrier consists of an iron framing, provided with two racks,
by which it is operated. The lower part a forming the spade or cutter
proper, and to which are fixed all the vertical parts of the excavator
frame, is provided with two hinged side cutters, as seen in detail in
Figures 4, 5, 6, the two latter Figures being sections taken on lines
A, B, C, D, of Figure 4 respectively. This frame is set in motion by
two guide pinions mounted on the shaft b, b¹, while six guide wheels,
two of which are placed on a level with the driving pinions, serve to
hold the frame in place, and prevent any deviation from the direction in

page_text: which it should work. The upward and downward motion of the
excavator is imparted by a winch handle c if the machine is to be
driven by manual power or by a pulley keyed on the same shaft when
steam is employed. The shaft is rotated in the same direction for moving
the frame both up and down, this being attained by the use of a double set
of gearing, one set being directly operated from pinion d for raising and the
other for lowering through pinion e and wheels f, g, the latter keyed on
the rack pinion shaft. The pinions d, e, are thrown in gear alternately,
according as the carrier is to move upwards or downwards, and different
speeds for raising the excavator slowly and lowering it quickly are obtained
by varying the relative sizes of pinions d, e, with wheels f, g. The shaft h,
which carries pinions d, e, and also the driving pulley or winch handle is
not reduced in diameter at the journals, but is free to slide in its bearings,
and is held in the one position by a part i taking in a groove in said
shaft, and in the other position by pressing said part i against a collar
around said groove.
One of the rack pinions carries a ratchet j, by which the apparatus
may be held in any position on releasing the winch handle. To allow of
the descent of the excavating apparatus ratchet j is released, and the
brake k may be employed to control the descent. Suppose the excavating
tool to be in its highest position the action is as follows:-The part i is
first raised and shaft h slid in its bearings, so as to throw pinion d out of
gear, and pinion g is then put in gear, after which the brake is applied,
the pawl released, and the excavator descends, its weight being sufficient
to sink it into the peat. Should the resistance of the latter be too great
the brake may be relieved altogether, and the sinking of the excavator
assisted by means of the winch handle. The gearing is all mounted on
two frames supported on iron columns bolted to a carrier frame on
carriage wheels. The brake shaft, which also carries the intermediate
gearing for lowering the excavator, is mounted between two of the
columns, and the brake lever itself is also pivoted to one column.
One great advantage of the above arrangement is that the apparatus
will work when travelling both backwards and forwards, so that it is
unnecessary for it to return out of work to the starting point each time
a breadth of peat has been cut.
The carrier frame on which the apparatus is moved is formed of longi-
tudinal and transverse bars of iron firmly bolted and held together by
diagonal tie rods, but it may be otherwise constructed. The driving

page_text: wheel is keyed on the wheel axle m, the axle n being fixed with the two
other carrying wheels loose thereon.
When the machine is to be worked by steam a vertical boiler and
engine is placed on an extension of the two frames o, o¹, the winch
handle in this case being replaced by a driving pulley and clutch and
lever.
The engine serves to balance the apparatus and the weight of material
removed. Morcover the size of the excavating tool may be increased so
as to utilize the whole power of the engine.
The improved grinding and mixing apparatus is illustrated in Figures 7,
8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Drawings, in which the same letters represent the
same parts. It consists of a hopper bolted to a suitable frame carrying
all the working parts. Within the hopper are mounted four spiked
cylinders arranged in pairs, through which the peat is drawn, whereby
it is subdivided and disintegrated. At the bottom part of the hopper is
fixed a bar a, having teeth, between which those of one of the lower
cylinders work, and by which the subdivided vegetable material is dis-
charged on to a circular revolving pan b, receiving motion from a toothed
wheel c on the driving shaft d, which is provided with a hand wheel e,
or with a rigger when steam is used as a motor. Motion is transmitted
from wheel c by an intermediate gear wheelf to a pinion g and bevel
gears h, i, the latter of which is keyed on the vertical shaft j of pan b.
This pan sets in motion four edge runners carried on a horizontal shaft k,
the latter being capable of vertical adjustment in slotted bearings on the
framework, according to the quantity of material in the pan. The
material being thus treated is removed by the scraper 7, and discharged
into a receptacle for conveyance to the moulding machine herein-after
described. The driving shaft d carries a bevel wheel on its inner ond
next the hopper for driving a shaft at right angles, having a spur
pinion m imparting motion by means of the wheels and pinion n, o, to
the spiked cylinders before referred to. By prolonging the pinion shaft m
another winch handle may be applied when additional power is required
to work the apparatus. The machine may also be driven by steam or
horse power.
improved moul
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10 10

page_text: The action of this machine is continuous. It consists of a receptacle,
in which the material is discharged from the grinding machine. The
two uprights a, a¹, of the framing support the bearings b, b', of the
winch handle shaft, from which motion is transmitted by bevel gearing
to vertical shaft d and cross shaft e to the longitudinal shaft f. The
shaft e also carries a spur pinion g, gearing with a cog wheel h, fixed on
one of the wheels on which the machine travels, and gearing with a rack
fixed on wooden sleepers by which the apparatus is traversed thereon.
The mould drum receives motion from two bevel wheels, one mounted
on shaft, and the other on a short shaft i, which carries at its other
end a pinion gearing with a wheel mounted on the shaft of the mould
drum or on its framing. The mould drum, which has a backing of
perforated metal or stout wire cloth, is provided with a suitable number
of mould boxes around its circumference, that shown having 24 in two
rows. The pressing cylinder receives motion from the main shaft f by
bevel pinion j gearing with a wheel k on the roller shaft.
The gearing imparting motion to the mould drum and pressing cylinder
is so proportioned that the latter shall have exactly the same surface
speed. A casing 7, enclosing one portion of the circumference of the
mould drum, retains the blocks of moulded peat in their boxes until they
arrive near the ground, when they are dropped out without injury, and
delivered in a line along the ground by the forward motion of the
machine. The pressing cylinder may be provided with projecting blocks
fitting into the mould boxes, in order to compress the peat still more,
and increase the density of the blocks. Two pressing cylinders may also
be employed, placed at opposite sides of the mould drum to enable the
machine to work when travelling in either direction, so that it does not
require to be turned round on reaching the end of its traverse.
means of
A modified arrangement of the self-acting moulder is illustrated in
Figures 15, 16, and 17, composed of a frame on four wheels, and carrying
a hopper, into which the material is discharged from the grinding
machine. A, A', two extension frames, at the upper end of which is
mounted the driving shaft B, provided with winch handles, and geared
with a shaft C placed beneath it; this latter shaft carries a pinion D and
endless chain E for driving a pinion F keyed on shaft G. The shaft G
carries a pinion H gearing with a sheet I fixed on a shaft J for working
an endless chain of mould boxes, passing round suitable tumblers M, M',
mounted on shafts J, J, respectively. The moulds are formed of a series

page_text: of plates K, K, K, united in pairs by a cross bar, and jointed or hinged
together at their lower corners. The plates K form the ends of the
moulds, and the transverse bars or partitions L, L, L, the sides of the
same. In the Drawing two rows of moulds are shown, the horizontal
plate O fixed to the framing forming a bottom for the said moulds. In
passing over the driving tumblers M, M', the jointed mould boxes open
out so as to receive a large quantity of the prepared material, whereby
to ensure the mould being completely filled.
As the mould boxes reach the lower horizontal line they again close
up, and so compress the material they contain, in addition to which it is
compressed between the bottom P and bottom Q of case R at same time
that the scraper S smooths the upper side of the moulded blocks as they
pass. When the blocks arrive at point T, Figure 15, they will fall out
on to the ground, owing to the sides of the moulds being slightly inclined,
as shown. If however the material should adhere to the sides of the
moulds a slight blow may be given for the purpose of loosening the
block by a hammer U, pivoted at N, and operated by a cam on shaft G
in such manner that the hammer will strike each mould box as it passes.
The machine is traversed by means of a pinion W keyed on shaft G,
and geared with a wheel X fast on one of the carrying wheels, and
gearing in a rack Y fixed on wood sleepers.
The endless chain of moulds works in the opposite direction to that in
which the machine travels, and at the same speed, so that the moulded
blocks remain stationary when deposited on the ground, one behind the
other as they leave the moulds. A registering apparatus, placed on the
framing at Z, indicates the number of blocks produced per diem in the
machine.
The moulded blocks, made according to this latter arrangement of
machine, possess a superior density, and have very considerable heating
power.
The machine may also be made to work when moving backwards,
without turning round, by providing it with duplicate parts at cither
end.
This improved machine may also be used for moulding small coal,
sand, clay, earthy, or other matters.
Figures 18, 19, and 20 show different views of a carrier for supplying
the moulding machine with the prepared material. It consists of a

page_text: frame mounted on wheels and provided at front with two uprights a, a¹,
each supporting a toothed sector 6, 6', fixed one on either side of the
hopper or receptacle c. Brackets d, d³, are fixed on either side of the
hopper c, carrying friction rollers and the journals of the driving pinion
shaft, which extends across said hopper. e, e¹, stops, and f,f', guides
for securing the hopper in a horizontal position. g, winch handle
or pinion shaft for raising hopper c, during which movement the
guides ff, bear against uprights a, a¹, and cause the hopper to tilt, as
shown by the dotted lines in Figure 18, and discharge its contents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent*
Office on the 22nd November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter,
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, PREPARING, AND MOULDING PEAT FOR FUEL,
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MOULDING OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS," a communication
to me from abroad by Jean François Bocquet and Victor Alexis Bénard,
both of Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
This Invention relates to a complete system of machinery or combina-
tion of apparatus for converting peat into a vegetable coal for general
purposes. The characteristic feature of this Invention is that the
treatment is essentially mechanical throughout, from the operation of
cutting the peat until it is converted into briquettes or blocks of fuel.
The principal advantages to be derived from this Invention are as
follows:-
1st. All handling of the peat by the workmen during the different
stages of the manufacture is avoided, and they are thus protected from
the numerous discases inseparable from the working of peat by hand.
2ndly. The manufacture is greatly accelerated and facilitated, and
therefore rendered more independent of skilled labor, which is is often
difficult to obtain, and is daily becoming dearer.
3rdly. A good cheap fuel is obtained, the combustion of which is not
injurious to the apparatus employed, so that agricultural manufactures
may be carried on in places where coal can only be obtained at very
great cost.
4thly. The bog districts are rendered more healthy by the formation
of channels or drains, the cost of which is repaid by the conversion of
the peat obtained into fuel.
5thly. The actual value of peat deposits is considerably enhanced, and
a healthy occupation is provided for the neighbouring population.
Another advantage consists in the facility with which the whole or
part of the apparatus may be transported from place to place according
to the requirements of the locality, while it will work equally well on
land or water.

page_text: The improved apparatus comprises, 1st, a machine for excavating,
having a differential motion; 2ndly, a masticator and pulper; 3rdly, a
self-acting moulder; 4th, a tipping conveyor for the moulder.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings show
different views of the excavating machine, having a differential motion,
and working whilst travelling in both directions, and which may be
driven by hand or steam power. The same letters of reference serve for
all the Figures.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus, Figure 2 a front
view, and Figure 3 a plan of the same.
Figure 4 shows an elevation of the cutter carrier; Figure 5, a vertical
section of same on line A, B, Figure 4; and Figure 6 a transverse
section on line C, D, of the same Figure.
The cutter carrier consists of an iron framing, provided with two racks,
by which it is operated. The lower part a, forming the slane or cutter
proper, and to which are fixed all the vertical parts of the machine
frame, is provided with two hinged side cutters, as seen in detail in
Figures 4, 5, 6. This frame is set in motion by two guide pinions
mounted on the shaft b, b¹, while six guide rollers, two of which are
placed on a level with the driving pinions, serve to hold the frame in
position, and prevent any deviation from the direction in which it should
work. The upward and downward motion of the tool is imparted by a
winch handle c on shaft h, if the machine is to be driven by manual
power, or by a pulley keyed on the same shaft when steam is employed.
The shaft is driven in the same direction to move the frame both up and
down, this alternate motion being obtained by the use of two sets of
gearing, operating the one directly from pinion d for raising, and the
other from pinion e for lowering through wheels f, g, of which the latter
is keyed on the rack pinion shaft, the said pinions d, e, being thrown into
gear alternately. The two sets of gearing are differently proportioned,
in order to work the cutting tool at different speeds, so that it shall be
raised slowly and lowered quickly. The driving shaft is not reduced
in diameter at the journals, but is free to slide in its bearings, and is
held in the one position by a clutch i taking between two collars on
said shaft, and in the other position by placing said clutch i outside the
collars.'

page_text: One of the rack pinions carries a ratchet, by which the cutting tool
may be held arrested in any position when the winch handle is released,
the break k being employed to control the descent. Suppose the tool to
be in its highest position the action is as follows:-The clutch i is first
disengaged from the shaft h, and the latter slid in its bearings to throw
pinion d out of and pinion g into gear, after which the ratchet j is
released, and the tool allowed to descend under the control of the brake.
The weight of the tool is sometimes sufficient to sink it into the peat, but
should the resistance of the latter be too great the brake may be releived
altogether, and the descent of the tool assisted by means of the winch
handle. The gearing is all mounted on two frames, supported on iron
columns bolted to a carriage on wheels. The brake shaft, which also
carries the intermittent gearing for lowering the tool, is mounted between
two of the columns, and the brake lever itself is also pivoted to one of
the columns.
One great advantage of the above arrangement is that the apparatus
will work when travelling both forwards and backwards, so that it is
unnecessary for it to return out of work to the starting point at the end
of each course.
It may be asserted without exaggeration that with this machine a
gain of six hours work in ten may be effected as compared with other
apparatus heretofore employed for the purpose, which result is due
partly to the differential motion previously described, and partly to the
facility with which the machine works when travelling forwards or
backwards.
The carriage frame on which the apparatus is mounted is formed of
longitudinal and transverse bars and diagonal tie rods of iron firmly
bolted together, but it may be cast in one, or otherwise constructed.
The driving wheel is keyed on the axle m, on which the carrying
wheels are also keyed, the axle n being fixed with the two other carrying
wheels loose thereon.
When the machine is to be worked by steam a vertical boiler and
engine is placed on an extension of the two frames o, o¹, the winch handle
in this case being replaced by a driving pulley and clutch.
The engine serves to balance the apparatus and the weight of material
raised. Morcover, the size of the cutting tool may be increased, so as to

page_text: utilize the whole power of the engine. Thus, a cutting tool of about
16 inches, operating over a course of about 16 feet, will extract over one
yard of material at each traverse, or if worked by steam with a cutter of
about 20 inches, two yards can be extracted at each traverse. The chief
features of improvement in this machine are, 1st, the application of a
differential motion, whereby the cutter is lowered quickly and raised at
a slower speed without reversing the motion of the driving shaft; 2nd,
the construction of the cutting tool, and the mode of attaching the rack
bars, the guide wheels, and the general arrangement of parts by which
the cutter is guided, and whereby it is enabled to work when travelling
in either direction; 3rd, the application of a double-acting ratchet lever
to shaft n.
The improved masticating and pulping machine is illustrated in
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Drawings, in which the same letters
represent the same parts.
Figure 7 shows a vertical clovation of the machine on the side of the
driving gear; Figure 8, a section on line A, B, C, D, Figure 7; Figure 9,
a plan, and Figure 10 a front view of same; while Figure 11 shows a
section of the hopper on a larger scale, taken on line E, F, Figure 8. It
consists of a hopper bolted to a suitable frame, carrying all the working
parts. Within the hopper are mounted four spiked cylinders, arranged
in pairs, through which the peat passes, whereby it is subdivided and
masticated. At the bottom part of the hopper is fixed a bar a, having
teeth, between which those of one of the lower cylinders work, and by
which the masticated vegetable matter is discharged on to a circular
revolving pan b, receiving motion from a toothed wheel c on the driving
shaft d, which is provided with a hand wheel e, or with a rigger when
the machine is driven by steam. Motion is transmitted from wheel c by
an intermediate gear wheelf to a pinion g and bevel gears h, i, the latter
of which is keyed on the vertical shaft ; of pan b. This pan sets in
motion four edge runners carried on a horizontal shaft k, the latter being
capable of vertical movement in slotted bearings on the framework,
according to the quantity of material in the pan. The material being
thus treated is removed by the scraper 7, and discharged into a receptacle,
5 from which it is conveyed to the moulding machine herein-after described.
In this machine all the material extracted by the first apparatus of
the series herein-before shown and described may disintegrated and
worked up. The driving shaft d carries a bevel wheel on its inner end

page_text: next the hopper for driving a shaft at right angles, having a spur
pinion m imparting motion by means of the wheels and pinion n, e, to
the spiked cylinders before referred to. By prolonging the pinion shaft m
another winch handle may be applied when additional power is required
to work the machine, or it may be driven by steam or horse power.
the spiked cylinders before referred to. By prolonging the pinion shaft m
another winch handle may be applied when additional power is required
to work the machine, or it may be driven by steam or horse power.
The improved moulding machinery is illustrated in Figures 12, 13,
and 14 of the Drawings, the same reference letters being used in the three
Figures.
Figure 12 shows a longitudinal vertical elevation of the moulding
machine on the side of the driving gear, Figure 13 an end view, and
Figure 14 a plan of the same. The action of this machine is continuous;
it consists of a receptacle, to which the material is fed by the conveyor,
which receives it as it is discharged from the masticating machine. The
two uprights a, a, of the framing support the bearings b, b', of the winch
handle shaft, from which motion is transmitted by bevel gearing through
vertical shaft d and cross shaft e to the longitudinal shaft f. The shaft e
also carries a pinion g gearing with a cog wheel h, fixed on one of the
wheels on which the machine travels, and gearing with a rack fixed on
wood trams, by which the apparatus is traversed thereon. The mould
drum receives motion from two bevel wheels, one mounted on shaft f, and
the other on a short shaft i, which carries at its other end a pinion gearing
with a wheel mounted on the shaft of the mould drum, or on its framing.
The mould drum, which has a backing of perforated metal or stout wire
cloth, is provided with a suitable number of mould boxes around its
circumference, that shown having 24 in two rows. The pressing cylinder
receives motion from the main shaft by means of a bevel pinion j
gearing with a wheel k on the cylinder shaft. The gearing imparting
motion to the mould drum and to the pressing cylinder is so proportioned
that they shall both have exactly the same surface speed. A casing 7,
enclosing a portion of the circumference of the mould drum, retains the
briquettes or blocks of moulded peat in their boxes until they arrive
near the ground, when they are dropped out without injury, and deposited
in a line along the ground by the forward motion of the machine. The
pressing cylinder may be provided with projecting presser blocks fitting
into the mould boxes, in order to compress the peat still more, and
increase the density of the briquettes. Two pressing cylinders may also
be employed, placed one on either side of the mould drum, to enable the

page_text: machine to work when travelling in either direction, so that it would not
require to be turned round on reaching the end of its course.
A modified arrangement of the self-acting moulder is illustrated in
Figures 15, 16, and 17. Figure 15 shows a longitudinal vertical eleva-
tion; Figure 16, a plan; and Figure 17, a detail of the moulder detached.
It is composed of a frame on four wheels, and carrying a hopper in
which the material is received from the conveyor. A, A¹, two extension
frames, at the upper end of which is mounted the driving shaft B,
provided with winch handles, and geared with a shaft c placed beneath
it. This latter shaft carries a pinion D and endless chain E for driving
a pinion F keyed on shaft G. The shaft G carries a pinion H gearing
with a wheel I, fixed on a shaft J for working an endless chain of mould
boxes, passing round suitable tumblers M, M', mounted on shafts J, N,
respectively. The moulds are formed of side plates K, K, K, united in
pairs by a transverse division plate, each pair of side plates with the
division plate forming two half mould boxes, of which there are a series
jointed together at their lower corners to form an endless chain. The
plates K form the ends of the mould boxes, and the transverse parti-
tions L, L, L, the sides of the same. In the Drawing the machine is
made wide enough to accommodate two rows of mould boxes, the hori-
zontal plate O fixed to the framing forming a bottom for the said moulds.
The tumblers M, M, M, mounted on shaft J are polygonal in form, as
are those M³, M', M', on shaft N. In this machine three series of jointed
plates K are used to form the two rows of moulds before mentioned, and
three hexagonal tumblers are therefore provided on each of the shafts J, N.
By this arrangement the material as it is fed in to the hopper fills those
mould boxes which are uppermost. In passing over the tumblers the
jointed mould boxes open out and receive a large quantity of the material
so as to ensure their being completely filled.
As the mould boxes reach the lower horizontal lino they again close
up, and compress the material they contain, besides which it is com-
pressed between the bottom P and plate Q of case R at same time that
the scraper S smooths the upper side of the briquettes as they pass
beneath it. When the briquettes or moulded blocks arrive at an opening
at T, Figure 15, they readily fall out on to the ground, owing to the
sides of the moulds being slightly inclined, as shown. If however the
material should adhere to the sides of the moulds a slight blow may be

page_text: given, for the purpose of loosening the block, by a hammer U, pivoted
at V, and operated by a cam on shaft G in such manner that it will
strike each moulded block or briquette as it passes. The machine is
made to travel along by means of a pinion W keyed on shaft G, and
geared with a wheel X made fast on one of the carrying wheels, and
gearing in a rack Y fixed on wood trams.
The endless chain of mould boxes works in the opposite direction to
that in which the machine travels, and at the same speed, so that the
briquettes remain stationary when deposited on the ground in a line one
after the other as they leave the moulds. A counter placed on the
framing at Z indicates the number of briquettes produced per diem by
the machine.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this machine differs from the
one previously described, the mould drum and pressing cylinder being
replaced by an endless chain of mould boxes.
By making the moulds to expand when receiving the material, and
close for compressing the same, at same time that it is confined on all
other sides, blocks of great density may be produced, possessing very
considerable heating power.
Other features peculiar to this machine consist in driving the same by
means of an endless chain instead of by shafts and wheel gearing.
Also in the addition of a pusher or device for loosening the blocks in
the mould boxes.
Also in the addition of a counter for registering the performance of
the machine.
The general arrangement of this machine is also entirely distinct from
that of the one previously described.
The machine may also be made to work when moving in the reverse
direction, without turning round, by similarly constructing it at both
ends.
This improved machinery may also be used for moulding small coal,
sand, clay, earthy, or other materials.
Figure 18 shows a longitudinal vertical section of the truck, Figure 19
a front view, and Figure 20 a plan of same, for conveying the material

page_text: from the masticator to the moulder. It consists of a frame mounted on
wheels, and provided at front with two uprights a, a¹, each supporting a
toothed sector b, 6', fixed one on either side of the receptacle c. Brackets
d, d¹, are fixed on either side of he receptacle c, carrying friction rollers
and the journals of the driving pinion shaft, which extends across said
receptacle. e, e¹, stops, and f,f, guides for securing the receptacle in a
horizontal position. g, winch handle on pinion shaft, for raising recep-
tacle c, during which movement the guides f,f, bear against uprights a, a¹,
and cause the receptacle to tilt, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 18,
and discharge its contents.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as
the Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part receited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The combination of an extractor or excavator having a differential
motion, a masticator and pulper, a self-acting moulder and truck, the
whole constituting a complete set of apparatus or mechanical means for
converting peat into vegetable coal, as herein-before described and illus-
trated in the Drawings annexed.
2nd. The general arrangement and construction of the excavator,
having a differential motion, whereby the cutter is caused to descend
rapidly and to rise slowly without reversing the motion of the driving
shaft, and in which the racks are attached to the cutter, and the latter is
guided by rollers, as herein shown and described, the machine being
rendered capable of working when travelling in either direction, as
specified. I also claim the application to shaft n of a double-acting
ratchet lever, as hercin-before described and represented in the
Drawings.
3rd. The application for the treatment of peat of the masticating and
pulping apparatus, described and illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and
11 of the Drawings.
4th. The self-acting moulder, with continuous delivery, hercin
described, in which a cylinder with projecting pressing blocks fitting
into the mould boxes is employed, or two such cylinders placed at
opposite sides of the mould drum, the lower half of the latter being
enclosed by a casing 1, having an opening at bottom, at which the block

page_text: is delivered, whereby the machine is rendered capable of working when
travelling in either direction, all as described and represented in Figures
12, 13, and 14 of the Drawings.
5th. The general arrangement and construction of self-acting moulder
with continuous delivery, described and illustrated with reference to
Figures 15, 16, and 17 of the Drawings.
6th. The truck with tilting receptacle for supplying the moulder, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in Figures 18, 19, and 20.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of Novem-:
ber, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.