Year: 1899

page_text: I, ADOLF ROM, of Hanketo, Lian, near Christiania, Norway, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention. and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
By this invention turf fibres are extracted from turf by carrying the latter,
after it has been minced or pulverised, between two card-like bands or belts fitted
with spikes or knives and running in the same direction but with unequal
velocity. The knives on the band that has the greater velocity drag the fibres,
which are afterwards released by means of a rotating brush, fan, comb or other
suitable releasing device.
One way of carrying out this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing.
A is a stand provided with bearings P, P, carrying the two pairs of drums B, B,
C, C. and G are bands running thereon, fitted with knives D and spikes E
respectively. In the case illustrated, each band consists of strips, strings, or
chains placed at some distance from each other, and between which are placed
transversal fillets I, in which the knives and the spikes are fastened. The lower
band is supported by a suitable guide K. As shown in the drawing, the bands F
and G are lying so close to each other that the knives on the former gear into
the spikes in the latter, whereby the knives on the band F which moves at a
greater speed than the band G, will comb the fibres out of the turf retained by
the spikes E. It is preferable to give the spikes on the band G an elliptic
section, whereas the knives on the other band may be formed with comparatively
sharp edges at their front or forward angles. The section of the knives may be
lenticular in order to facilitate the release of the combed fibres from the knives.
The section-form of the spikes, and knives is shown in Figure 2, which is a hori-
zontal section on the line 2-2 in Figure 1.
The release of the fibres from the knives D. at the other end of the machine may
be effected by means of a rotating brush or fan L, which rotates in the direction
of the arrow and has greater peripheral speed than the band with the knives D.
It may, obtain its motion in any well-known manner for instance as shown by
means of a belt from a wheel on the shaft of one of the drums B as indicated by

page_text: dotted lines in Figure 1. The fan L has blades 1, which as shown in Figure 3
are made like combs so that the teeth of the comb will pass between the knives D).
Although in the drawing a fan is shown, it is just as convenient to employ a
regular brush for the purpose.
The turf, having been minced or pulverised by a suitable apparatus, is carried
into the machine at M.
As a machine of the kind specified works automatically, it may be conveniently
employed for the production of peat-litter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is―
1. In a machine for the extraction of fibre from turf, the combination of two
bands running with unequal velocities in the same direction, spikes or knives
fitted to the said bands and a fan, comb, or other releasing device, substantially
as set forth.
2. In a machine of the kind specified the employment of knives of lenticular
section for the purpose set forth.