Improvements in the Method of and connected with Apparatus for Drying Peat for Fuel, Litter, or similar use or purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and connected with Apparatus for
Drying Peat for Fuel, Litter, or similar use or purposes.
I, FRANCIS MCNAMEE Portobello Hotel South Richmond Street Dublin
Hotel Proprietor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is to provide means whereby peat may be dried cheaply and
prepared for the manufacture of fuel and litter. The peat is obtained from the
bog or moor in a raw condition by means of suitable appliances, and after being
freed from stones and pieces of wood, is pressed between solid rollers, or, for
heating purposes, hollow rollers, or, I may, if it seems desirable, use hydraulic
presses to squeeze out the heavy water. The peat is then disintegrated and
passed into a hydro-extractor, from which it is conveyed on to the floor of a kiln
or oven, by means of suitable revolving arms, the floor of which kiln or oven is
made of perforated tiles, or of perforated iron or metal plates, which may be
easily made hot.
To assist the peat to dry quickly, I propose to keep it constantly agitated or
moving, in order to allow the steam and gas to escape therefrom, by means of
revolving arms or beaters, arranged over the entire length and breadth of the
kiln or oven, the said arms or beaters being so constructed and arranged as to,
revolve, and pass the peat from one end of the kiln or oven to the other, backwards
or forward, until the peat is sufficiently dry. The peat when dry eneough is
collected and carried away by suitable appliances. I propose to collect the steam
and gas for further use or treatment.
I propose to build a furnace or furnaces, as may be required underneath the
kiln or oven, the flue, chimney or chamber of the furnace will pass under the
entire length and breadth of the kiln or oven. To cause a draught I propose
inserting a fan inside the said flue, chimney or chamber, that will force the hot
air from the furnace up through the perforated floor of the kiln or oven and as
the peat is constantly agitated or passed along the floor, by the revolving arms or
beaters, the hot air will pass up through the peat and force out and carry away the
steam and gas arising therefrom.
Dated this 18th day of January 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and connected with Apparatus for
Drying Peat for Fuel, Litter, or similar use or purposes.
I FRANCIS MCNAMEE late of 33 Lower Ormond Quay Dublin Hotel Keeper,
present address, 2 Edward Terrace Ballybough Road Dublin, 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 :-
This invention is to provide means whereby peat may be dried cheaply &

page_text: prepared for the manufacture of fuel & litter. The peat is obtained from the bog
or moor in a raw condition by means of suitable appliances & after being freed
from stones & pieces of wood is pressed between solid rollers or for heating
purposes hollow rollers or I may if it seems desirable use hydraulic presses to
squeeze out the heavy water. The peat is then disintegrated & passed into a
hydro-extractor from which it is conveyed on to the floor of a kiln or oven by
means of suitable revolving arms or beaters the floor of which kiln or oven is
made of perforated tiles or of perforated iron or metal plates which may be easily
made hot.
To assist the peat to dry quickly I propose to keep it continually agitated or
moving in order to allow the steam & gas to escape therefrom by means of
revolving arms or beaters arranged over the entire length & breadth of the kilo
or oven the said arms or beaters being so constructed & arranged as to revolve &
pass the peat from one end of the kiln or oven to the other backwards or forward
until the peat is sufficiently dry. The peat when dry enough is collected & carried
away by suitable appliances. I propose to collect the steam or gas for further
use or treatment. propose to build a furnace or furnaces as may be required
underneath the kiln or oven. The flue chimney or chamber of the furnace will
pass under the entire length & breadth of the kiln or oven. To cause a draught [
propose inserting a fan inside the said flue chimney or chamber that will force
the hot air and furnace gases from the furnace up through the perforated floor of
the kiln or oven and as the peat is constantly agitated or passed along the floor
by the revolving arms or beaters the hot air and furnace gases will pass up
through the peat and & force out & carry away the steam and gas arising
therefrom. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the form & style of
this apparatus & of its mode of working.
Fig. 1 is a ground plan of my kiln said kiln can be made any length or any
breadth to dry the quantity of peat which may be required. A is a space for
three furnaces. I may use one, two, three or more furnaces according to extent
of the kiln. bis au iron fan or blower placed inside of the flue between the
furnaces and the nostrils of two flues, one flue carrying the hot air and furnace
This fan or blower is shown on
gases to the right & left as indicated by arrows.
Fig. 3 letter C. indicates the flues.
indicates two chimneys also shown on Fig. 3. letter J. for the purpose of
letting out the fresh or heavy smoke when not considered desireable to force it
through on the peat kiln floor. There is one chimney to each set of flues.
E. indicates the outside walls of kiln as well as the walls which divide the
flues. F. shows a hollow iron shaft which drives the iron fan or blower by means
of fast & loose pulley shown on end of said shaft. The walls of the kiln flnes
may be made any thickness or any height as may be thought desireable sides &
bottoms of flues made smooth with cement, preferably with blue clay.
FIG. 2.
Fig. 2. is a horizontal or flat plan of kiln, on top or above the kiln bed, or iron
floor of kiln, which is not shown in this drawing, the different appliances which I
use in drying peat or other suitable materials. A is a box or receiver for the raw
or wet peat intended to be dried on kiln.
bindicates two pair of fluted iron rollers hollow or solid as may be desired, one
pair next to the peat receiving box as before mentioned for the purpose of
drawing in the peat on the kiln floor, the other pair also marked b at the opposite
end of kiln for the purpose of drawing or forcing out the peat when dry, through
the aperture covered by door marked F. this door is made of sheet iron or other
suitable material made air-tight by means of suitable springs not showing in
drawing, which causes the door to close automatically and keep the cold air from
entering the kiln when the peat is not being pressed out by the fluted rollers as
aforesaid.

page_text: E. indicates the outer walls of kiln, both sides, & ends.
d indicates eight light hollow shafts with bevelled cog-wheels on end of shafts,
any number of these shafts may be used according to the length of the kiln or
may be made of any strength according to the length of shaft which may be
required by the breadth of the kiln these shafts I may rest on an upright support
placed in the centre of shaft (not shown in drawing) resting on the top of kiln
plates for the purpose of giving strength and keeping these shafts from bending
when working. Cindicates seven double armed beaters secured to each shaft by
suitable screws these beaters may be made of four arms instead of two if so
desired these arms may he made of light iron or any other suitable material
riveted together and made sufficiently strong to move the peat from end to end
of kiln fast or slow, by the hollow shaft which they are fastened to. These
before mentioned arms or beaters I may make in any form or shape which may be
found most effective in disturbing & moving the peat to allow the steam & gases
to freely escape from the peat. I may make these arms or beaters of hollow
tubes perforated for the purpose of permitting hot air to pass through them &
through the peat for the purpose of drying it, if so desired the hot air would be
conveyed to these arms or beaters through the hollow shafts which they aro
fastened to. I would prefer forcing the hot air & gas up through the bottom of
11-
Fig. 3. shows furnace end elevation of kiln E indicates the brick walls of front,
sides, ends of chimney walls & head or crown of kiln. The crown of kiln may
be constructed of iron or any other suitable material preferably of brick.
K ascension pipe to let off useless vapour or useless steam. M pipe to convey
the gases down to the furnace for the purpose of being burned if so desired.
L. pipe to convey the volatile products to condensers, these pipes K. L. M may
be three or more seperate pipes rising from the centre & highest part of the head
of kiln. A indicates a valve or stopper for opening or closing any of the outlet
pipes as may be desired or found necessary J shows the two outlet chimneys
marked d in Fig. 1. & described therein. S indicates one of the light hollow
shafts, one of the eight shafts more particularly described and marked d in Fig. 2.
i is seven double arms or beaters described & marked C in Fig. 2. C indicates
the ends of chimney flues more particularly shown & described in Fig. 1 & also
marked C. P. indicates the peat receiving box shown by dotted lines from right
to left but more particularly described & marked A in Fig. 2. N indicates two
fluted rollers showing two cog-wheels in end of their spindle or shaft, these
rollers are shown by dotted lines from right to left of end of kiln, but more
particularly shown & described & marked 6 on Fig. 2. O. shaft of upper fluted
roller with bevelled driving wheel b. indicates iron fan or blower, shown &
described & marked 6 in Fig. 1. X¹ shaft of iron fan or blower showing fast &
loose pulley described & marked F in Fig. 1. H. indicates hot air chamber over
the head or crown of the three furnaces marked d. & under the iron bed or floor
of kiln this chamber receives the hot air & gases which is generated in the
furnace directly below it the gases & hot air passes up through an opening, not
shown in drawing, at the back or side of the furnace heads marked d the fan or
blower then takes hold of the hot air & gas and forces it into the flues marked C
in Fig. 1, & up through the spaces in kiln fluor hereafter described & through the
peat on the top of the kiln floor. ✗" indicates four openings there may be more
if found necessary with hinged or sliding doors for the purpose of admitting cold
air which passes through small inlets or chambers into the upper chamber
marked H. for the purpose of regulating the temperature of the hot air & gas in
that chamber before it passes into the flues & up through the peat, so that the
kiln above may be kept at uniform heat as may be desired. dis arched furnace
heads made of fire brick F is suitable iron doors of furnace Gash-pits under

page_text: furnace Z indicates the edges or ends of nine cast iron plates with turned up
edges or flange running from end to end of kiln with a space of about one inch
between each row of plates this opening continues from one end of kiln to the
other end of kiln, over the centre of flues mark C in Fig. 1. This opening is for
the purpose of permitting the hot air & gas to be forced up and through the peat
above on the floor of kiln the turned up edges or flange of about one inch is for
the purpose of preventing the peat from falling into the chimney flues below the
plates or kiln floor, this space or opening is further protected by the convex half
tubes the ends of these tubes are indicated by the letter Y which shows the end
of eight of the half tubes covering the opening left between the edges of plates,
these half tubes are kept up about one half inch from the top of kiln floor to
allow the hot air & gas to pass into & up through the peat as the peat is moved
by the arms or beaters before described these plates marked Z. which forms the
bottom or floor of the kiln are resting on and supported by the top of the chimney
flues walls or I may rest the edges of the plates on the centre of the walls
marked E & have no open space as described above, but perforate the plates with
rows of small holes running from end to end of chimney flues said holes to be
covered & protected by convex half tubes placed over them to allow the hot air &
gas to pass up & through the peat on kiln floor. I shall place an air tight door
opening in either side or end of kiln in a convenient position to allow access for
cleaning repairing or any other purpose, door not shown in drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the fan or blower b with the shaft F. Fig. 1.
2. The combination of the receiving box A. Fig. 2 with the fluted rollers b
Fig. 2.
3. The beaters C Fig. 2 and the combination of them with the shafts & Fig. 2.
4. The hinged outlet F Fig. 2 for preventing the entrance of cold air into the
kilo.
5. The apparatus for drying peat for the manufacture of peat fuel and litter.
Dated this 18th day of October 1894.