Improvements in Presses for Moulding Peat and the like into Blocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Presses for Moulding Peat and the like into Blocks.
I, ARCHIBALD ANDERSON DICKSON, of Spadina Road, in the City of Toronto, in
the County of York, and Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, Manu-
facturer, 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 relates to machines for compressing and consolidating such
materials as cold dry peat and substances possessing similar characteristics as to
resistance and varying density, into blocks, and consists in certain improvements
upon or further developments of the press described in my British l'atent No. 27,416
dated November 23, 1897, having for their principal object a material increase in
the speed of operation and output of the machine.
The improvement may be said to consist, chiefly, in the location of the power
device between the crank or driving shaft and the forming dies; in the direct
application of the power of a steam cylinder, piston and piston rod to the former
or male die; in the construction and means of adjustment of the die-block, the
construction of the piston and the former, and in other details and combinations
of the parts as will be fully set forth in the following description and pointed out
in the claims.
For full comprehension of the invention reference must be had to the accom-
panying drawings forming part of this specification in which similar letters of
reference indicate like parts.
In said drawings:
Figure 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a vertical press embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same partly in section and with parts of the
framing broken away, on the line, 2, 2, Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line 3, 3, Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of the piston-rod guide.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the die-block and its connections.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the die-block and its supporting frame.
Figure is a plan of the same, partly broken away.
Figure 8 is a side view of the die-block, showing one means of connecting the
tie-rods thereto.
Figure 9 is a similar view, but partly in section, illustrating means whereby
vertical adjustment of the die-block upon the tie-rods may be effected.
Figure 10 is an enlarged detail, showing one form of male die and its tip, and
Fig. 11 a sectional detail of a modified form thereof, whereby the male-die tip
may be adjusted to vary the length of the stroke between the male and female die-.
members.

page_text: Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of a preferred form of piston and piston rod
connection.
The main features of a vertical press constructed according to my present im-
provement are formers or male dies in rigid connection with the projecting lower
ends of the piston rods of vertically-arranged steam-cylinders, cross-heads and
connecting rods in connection with projecting upper ends of the same piston rods,
a crank shaft (acting as a balance and driving shaft), bearings therefor inde-
pendent of the main frame, and tie-rods extending downwards from such bearings
and connected to an independent die-block provided with forming tubes or female
dies registering with the formers or male dies, such tie-rods, also intermediately
supporting the steam cylinders, cross-heads and piston-rod-guides, and being
stayed in the main frame.
The formers or male dies serve to impart a vertical compression to charges of
material successively-gravitating into the upper ends of the forming tubes or
female dies, by successive strokes, each stroke forming a block upon the yielding
base offered by the blocks previously formed and remaining within the female
die-member, a single resistance block being inserted at the commencement of the
operation in order to prevent the first charge of loose material from falling out
at the lower end, and so as to afford a base for the formation of the first condensed
block.
The alternate action of a pair of formers results in the formation of a new block
within the upper end and the simultaneous forward progression or ejection of a
previously-formed block at the lower end of this tube, (the whole contents thereof
having a forward progression) and the gravitation at the same time of a fresh
charge of material between the other pair of die-members ready for compression
as the first named former recedes.
A, A, are two legs consisting of uprights and cross pieces (preferably of channel
iron) forming the main frame, to sustain the dead weight and operative parts,
the cross-pieces of these legs having bolted thereto, or otherwise formed thereon,
any suitable number of clamps indicated at a, a, in Fig. 2, for steadying the tie-
rods hereinbefore mentioned.
B, is a crank shaft located at the head of the machine, carrying two fly-wheels b, b,
one on each extremity, and formed with two cranks 61 and 62 the pins of which
carry the upper ends of the connecting-rods c, c¹ which are pivoted at their lower
ends to the cross-heads c³, and c³, working in proper ways in a guide bar D sup-
ported by clamps d, d, engaging the three rear-tie-rods to be presently described,
as seen in Figs. 2 and 3.
Bearings E E and F are provided for the crank shaft the two former being
situated outside the cranks and close to the fly-wheels, and the latter being located
midway between the cranks. These three bearings are preferably yoked by a
crown piece E³ indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and are entirely independent
of the main frame or legs, being supported at their undersides by means of collars
or enlargements f, f¹, fa, one on each of the three pairs of vertically-arranged
tie-rods F, F1, F2, passing through both lower and upper parts of said bearings
and having threads and nuts upon their upper ends to hold the journal sections
firmly and closely together.
These tie-rods extend downwards from the main-shaft-bearings to within a short
distance from the floor base of the machine, being clamped as first mentioned at
any required number of points a, a, to the legs A, A, to steady and support the
parts these rods pass through eyes g, g¹, g³, in the die-block G, (in which are
located the forming tubes or female dies as hereinafter specified) being provided
with collars, threads and nuts similar to those on their upper ends, as shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 8, for effecting the firm support of the die-block; or, when it is
desired that the die-block may be capable of vertical adjustment, the threads may
be extended or increased and nuts g³, g³, be placed thereon to bear both upon the
upper and lower faces of the die-block G, as seen in the modification Fig. 9.
H. H¹, are two steam cylinders arranged intermediately of the cross-head-guide-

page_text: bar 1) and the die-block G, being held in position by the three pairs of tie-rods
which pass through brackets, h³, cast upon said cylinders, and afford support
and steadiment therefor through the medium of collars X and nuts X¹ on said
rods, all as shown in Figs. 1, and 3.
In every case where I have shown integral collars upon the tie-rods it will be
understood that I may substitute threads and nuts with corresponding effect.
The cylinders have pistons I, connected on piston rods and ; and the piston
may be of any suitable type, such as the ordinary single-piece piston having
retaining nuts, but as the minimum length of cylinder and weight of metal and
the greatest possible rigidity and security of fastening are so desirable in a machine
of this class, I prefer to adopt the construction shown in Fig. 12. Here the piston
rod is provided with an integral collar, and the piston is made in two longi-
tudinal pieces, h¹, with close fitting faces each having a proper peripheral pack-
ing ring J, and a ground recess (or enlargement of the bore) in the centre to
receive the collar, as well as a third packing ring, at the joint, the two portions
of this piston being held closely together and tight upon the rod and its collar
by means of any suitable number of bolts or studs ha, having countersunk heads
and nuts. This arrangement allows the stroke to bring the piston very close to
the cylinder heads, and thus effect the economy and advantages named.
The piston rods j and j¹ project through both cylinder heads, their upper ends
forming connection with the cross-heads c² and c³, and terminating below in
formers or male dies K and K', respectively.
These latter are provided with hardened tips k, the shanks of which are preferably
recessed in the former-ends and firmly secured therein by one or more screws kl.
To vary the length of the stroke between the die-members, instead of adjusting
the die-block, as before premised, and illustrated in Fig. 9, I may have inter-
changeable tips of different lengths as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. 10, or I
may recess that former-end somewhat more than is necessary for the normal length
of tip-shank, and increase the distance from the former-end proper at which the
tip & projects, by inserting extra plates 2 and 3 between the members, all as shown
in Fig. 11.
By preference I provide the piston rods with guides 7, 1, formed in a single
bracket or plate L, having clamps 12, 12, engaging say four of the tie-rods F, F,
as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, and thus ensure proper alignment at all times of the
male and female dies.
The steam-chests, valves, and cylinders and their respective parts and connec-
tions, may be constructed and arranged according to judgment, although in Fig. 1.
I indicate valve eccentrics m, m, on the bosses of the fly-wheels b, b, and the valve
rods n, n, connected thereto, as a convenient arrangement for the operating of
the valves V.
As stated before, the die-block G is supported entirely by the tie-rods F. F
and F, independently of the main frame, the tensile strain being through their
centres from the point from which the force is delivered, i.e. the crank shaft, to
the point of resistance, which will be the formed mass of blocks within the forming
tubes or female dies of the die-block. This die-block may be made in one solid
piece bored at both corners and sides to receive the tie-rods, and have the forming
tubes or female dies bored directly there-through, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as
such construction would embody every essential principle of my invention, but
I prefer to adopt the construction shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, as this
will facilitate the ready adjustment and centering of the female dies within the
male dies.
In this arrangement, G will indicate the die-block proper, preferably cast in
one piece, and having two forming tubes or female dies O and 0¹, therein, (adapted
to register with the formers or male dies K and K¹ before described) these female
dies being provided with hardened steel bushings of which the internal diarjeter
will be the same from top to bottom, so that the material to be consolidated will

page_text: not receive any lateral compression after it has been set into a block by the initial
vertical stroke of the former or male die. And furthermore, as the entire work is
to be done by a cold operation, and to keep down frictional heat, I prefer to form
one or more water channels w in the interior of the die-block, so that a continuous
flow of water may be kept up around the moulds W and We being the inlet and
outlet pipes respectively:
This die-block rests upon an internal flange m', of a supporting frame M which
in turn is firmly supported by the three sets of tie-rods, F, F, and 12 and the nuts
and collars arranged above and below the said frame as shown in the last named
figures of the drawings. The frame is slotted at one side as in Fig. 5, to permit
the water pipes to pass into the die-block proper, and said frame is also tapped
on all four sides to receive any suitable number of adjusting screws p, p, whereby
the die-block G (which does not entirely fill the frame M) may be conveniently
moved horizontally to ensure the proper registration of the female dies 0, 0,
with the male dies k, k¹ above.
I prefer to adjustably-secure a covering plate Q, having openings to register with
the dies to the upper side of the frame M by means of studs q, 9, (as seen clearly
in Figs. 6 and 7), to keep the intermediate space clear.
Other means of centering and adjustment may be employed according to judg-
ment, also the other various details of construction and arrangement of parts of the
machine may be modified without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention.
I have not illustrated any means of feeding the material to the dies, but may
state that I prefer to employ separate hoppers or chutes for the two dies, of sheet
metal arranged immediately above the die-block and so arrange the feed that
the material may gravitate between the die-members in successive charges in the
manner previously stated.
The theory of operation of the above-described press will be readily understood
by reference to the drawings, but I will now briefly explain its practical working,
meanwhile premising that it will be the same whether the machine stands vertically
or horizontally, as the only difference necessary in the arrangement of the parts
would be in the mounting of the driving and pressing mechanism so as to sustain
the dead weight, and the substitution of a cross-feed for the vertical feed of
material described, the pressing operation and distribution and direction of work-
ing strain being identical in both cases.
Steam being admitted in one cylinder, the movement of its piston, cross-head
and connecting-rod causes the crank shaft and fly-wheels to revolve and the valves
to move and bring the other cylinder into operation as well; then. the pistons
proceed to work in opposite directions, imparting such movement to the formers
or male dies that one will be exercising the formative pressure upon one charge
of material in one tube while the other is receding and another charge of material
is falling to the mouth of the other tube. When the tubes are fully charged,
which becomes the case after a few strokes of both formers, one new block is
formed at the upper end of each tube against the yielding resistance offered by
the previously formed blocks still remaining therein, and one finished block (or
more, according to the thickness of the blocks which varies according to the
difference in density of the raw material) is ejected at the lower end of each tube
at each stroke of its former.
In the machine most suitable for operating upon cold dry peat the total approxi-
mate length of forming tube may be placed at twelve inches and the actual
entrance stroke of the former limited to five inches, and as the stroke of the piston
will be fourteen inches and the travel of the crank twenty-eight, it will be seen
that in the double press I have described the whole power of both cylinders is
transmitted through the crank-shaft and imparted to each block formed, twenty-
three inches of travel being free from resistance in each engine, one of which

page_text: comes into play midway of the other's travel, and thus does not impair the speed
of operation of the double machine.
Another feature of importance in this press, and giving a material advantage
in pressing peat and other materials which have like variations in density, is
the absolute certainty of the stroke being always of the same length. The result
of this is that though the blocks formed may sometimes differ in length (which
is not objectionable in peat fuel) they will always receive the same compression
against the yielding resistance, and will consequently be evenly-solid, a quality
highly desirable in this product.
The set of the cranks and their cylinder connections also ensures the easy
avoidance of any loss of speed or power due to the dead centre, as the rectangular
arrangement ensures the co-operation of one cylinder with the other during the
operation.
Again, the construction described affords ready means of adapting the machine
for the use with different classes of peat, a material which is shown to vary largely
in texture, the products of some bogs being more fibrous and loose than others
where the decomposition is more thorough or the origin of formation different
so as to effect the homogeneity of the mass. The adjustment of the die-block
or of the former tips provides for such variations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a press, the combination with a main frame for carrying the dead weight
and staying the parts, of a main shaft having a crank and fly-wheel, journals and
bearings therefor independent of the main frame, a connecting rod and cross-head
in operative connection with the crank, a steam cylinder having its piston rod
projecting therefrom at both ends, one end of said piston rod being connected to
the cross-head, and the other end of said piston rod left free to act as a former
or male die, a die-block having a forming tube or female die therein, and tie-rods
connecting the crank-shaft-bearings and the die-block in such manner that each
may afford support to the other in the line of working strain, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
2. In a press, the combination with a main frame for carrying the dead weight
and staying the parts, of a crank shaft provided with two cranks, journals and
bearings therefor independent of the main frame, connecting rods and cross-heads
in operative connection with said cranks, guides for said cross-heads. steam
cylinders having their piston rods projecting therefrom at both ends, said piston
rods forming connection with the cross-heads at one end and terminating in formers
or male dies, at the other end, a die-block having forming tubes or female dies
therein, and tie-rods connecting the crank-shaft-bearings and the die-block so
that each may afford support to the other in the line of working strain, said tie-
rods also intermediately supporting the steam-cylinders and cross-head guides,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a press adapted for forming a succession of blocks against a yielding
resistance, the combination with a suitably-journalled main shaft and means for
imparting motion and power thereto, of formers or male dies in operative con-
nection with said main shaft, a die-block having forming tubes or female dies
therein registering with said formers or male dies, the tie-rods between the main-
shaft-journals and the die-block arranged so that each shall support the other
in the line of working strain, and means whereby the length of stroke between
the male and female die-members may be regulated substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. The combination with a piston rod having the collar j of the piston composed
of the two pieces h, h¹ recessed at the centre to receive the said collar, and the
retaining bolts 2, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 5. In combination with the forming tubes or female dies in the die-block,-
the formers or male dies in connection with the free ends of the piston rods of the
steam cylinders, for the purpose set forth.
6. The formers or male dies at the free ends of the piston-rods having inter-
changeable hardened tips, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of January 1899.
ARCHIBALD ANDERSON DICKSON.