An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Treatment of Peat and the Conversion of Peat into Charcoal.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Treatment of Peat
and the Conversion of Peat into Charcoal.
TRAVERS ZOHRAB Civil Engineer % Charles W. Bean 1 Pilgrims Lane
Hampstead London N. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows :-
:-
The object of my invention is so to treat ordinary peat as to bring the same into
such a condition that it may be used with advantage for various purposes. For
example the product obtained by my invention may be used as fuel for the purposes
of blast furnaces or puddling of iron, also for heating water in steam boilers and
for domestic stoves. It may also when converted into charcoal be used with great
advantage in the manufacture of iron steel and copper tinplates and gunpowder also
for welding and forging iron and tempering steel.
My invention overcomes the great difficulty of drying peat which has hitherto
been the objection to the use of peat for many purposes as the cost has been too
great to make it commercially successful.
My method of treatment consists in first grinding or pulping the peat in a suitable
machine which also moulds it into any desired shape. It is then or may be deposited
upon a travelling band working within a long tube or chamber into which either
hot or cold air is inducted along the sides or bottom.
The peat when it comes from the drying machine then being in a condition for
charring.
In carrying my said invention into practice I take the peat from the bog and
place it within an iron or other suitable mill, which is of a circular form and open
at its upper end. A vertical shaft is arranged in the centre of the mill, being
supported in suitable bearings at the top and bottom. The shaft has at its upper
end four or more plates or blades of steel or other metal, also corresponding blades
are attached to the internal surface of the cylinder and so arranged that the blades
attached to the shaft can work between them.
The blades on the shaft are only fixed half way down. At the top end of the
shaft is a gear wheel through the agency of which the shaft is driven by any suitable
motor. At a suitable distance from where the blades on the shaft end, is fixed an
Archimedean screw which is made to fit the cylinder, leaving only enough clearance
for it to revolve easily. The length of the screw is to be such as to come within a
short distance of the bottom of the cylinder. At one side of the cylinder is a door,
At the bottom of
which can be opened for the purpose of cleaning out the mill.
the mill are suitable apertures to which moulds of the required size are fixed for the
peat to pass through.
The drying machine consists of a wood iron or other suitable material, tube or
chamber of a suitable length through which endless bands in lengths of 10 or 15 feet
are travelling, the said bands being passed round rollers and having imparted to
them a continuous motion. The blocks of peat travel upon the bands, but at each
10 or 15 feet where the band ends, the next band is running at a slightly lower level
than the preceeding one. Across the end of each band but attached to the sides of
the tube or chamber, a thin bar of wood or iron is placed, which when the travelling
blocks of peat strike it, causes the blocks to turn over on to the next band, and
thus offer a fresh surface to the current of air which is impelled against the advancing
peat.
The speed of the machine is so regulated that the passage of the peat through
the tube or chamber will take about 10 or 12 hours.
Pipes from the blowing engine or fan open into the drying chamber along the

page_text: sides or bottom at intervals, and the pipes have stop-cocks so arranged that the hot
and cold air can be so mingled that the exact temperature can be regulated as the
air is supplied. Ventilators are arranged so that the drying current cannot become
sur-charged with moisture. At the end of the tube or chamber where the blowing
engine or fans are situated is a chamber in which charcoal is placed, and the air
before it is passed into the drying machine is forced through the charcoal which
absorbs the atmospheric moisture.
The peat blocks are delivered at the end of the tube or chamber in a perfect
condition ready for fuel or to be converted into charcoal.
The charring ovens consist of brick chambers having doors at one end, under
each chamber is the furnace. Within the chamber rails upon brick settings are
placed, and on the outside of each rail are fixed three iron inclined planes. The
tank containing the peat is oblong and large enough to contain say about one ton of
dried peat. These tanks are made of sheet iron or mild steel plates and have four
flanged wheels. Situated on the sides of the tanks are six small wheels which when
the tanks are placed in the ovens rest upon the inclined planes, and take the weight
off the flanged wheels, which prevents the tanks from buckling with the heat. On
the top of the tank is fixed a pipe which is long enough to go through the back of
There is a screw cock attached to this which is screwed onto a large
pipe running at the back of the ovens and kept filled with running water. The gas,
grease, ammoniacal liquor &c. given off in the conversion of peat into charcoal is
thus collected, the gas being passed on into the ordinary gas holder. The furnaces
below the ovens are also fitted with pipes so that the gas can be used for heating
the tanks and thus economise the use of fuel.
the oven.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of February 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Treatment of Peat
and the Conversion of Peat into Charcoal.
I, TRAVERS ZOHRAB, Civil Engineer of The Junior Conservative Club
43 & 44 Albemarle Street, Piccadilly London 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:-
The object of my invention is so to treat ordinary peat as to bring the same into
such a condition that it may be used with advantage for various purposes. For
example the product obtained by my invention may be used as fuel for the purposes
of blast furnaces, puddling of iron, heating water in steam boilers and for domestic
stoves. It may also when converted into charcoal be used with great advantage in
the manufacture of iron, steel, copper, tinplates and gunpowder, also for welding
and forging iron and tempering steel.
My invention overcomes the great difficulty of drying peat which has hitherto
been the objection to the use of peat for many purposes as the cost has been too
great to make it commercially successful.
My method of treatment consists in first grinding or pulping the peat in a suitable
machine which also moulds it into any desired shapes.
It is or may be then deposited upon a travelling band working within a long tube
or chamber into which either hot or cold air is inducted along the sides or bottom.
The peat when it comes from the drying machine then being in a condition for
charring.
In carrying my said invention into practice I take the peat from the bog and
place it in the mill A. A which is of a circular form and open at the top. A vertical
shaft B. is arranged in the centre of the mill being supported in suitable bearings C. C.
The shaft B has at its upper end plates or blades of steel D. D. corresponding

page_text: blades D D are also attached to the inside of the mill and so arranged that the
blades D. can work between them.
At the top end of the shaft B is a gear wheel E through which the shaft is.
driven by any suitable motor.
At a suitable distance below the blades D. an Archimedean screw F is keyed
upon the shaft said screw being made to fit the cylinder A leaving only enough
clearance for it to revolve easily. At one side of the cylinder A is a manhole door
for the purpose of cleaning out the mill, at the bottom of the mill are suitable
apertures G to which moulds of the required size and shape are fixed for the peat.
to pass through.
The peat on passing out of the aperture G. is cut into blocks H. H. which are
carried on a suitable belt J. (which is carried on pulleys K K.) to the drying
chamber L.
The drying chamber Figs. 2 & 3 consists of a tube or chamber L. L. of wood,.
iron or other suitable material of such a length as may be found necessary through
which endless belts J. J in suitable lengths are travelling the belts J being passed
round pulleys or rollers K. K. having imparted to them a continuous motion.
The blocks of peat H. H. travel upon the belts J but at the end of each length
of belting the next belt is running at a slightly lower level than the preceeding
one. At the end of each belt and fixed to the sides of the chamber L is placed a
thin bar of wood or iron N. N. which causes the blocks H. H. to turn over when.
they strike against it. Pipes P. P. from the blowing engine or fan open into the
drying chamber at intervals and the pipes have stop cocks R. R so arranged that
the hot & cold air can be so mingled that the temperature may be regulated as
required. At the end of the chamber where the blowing engine or fan is situated
there is a small chamber in which charcoal is placed and the air is thoroughly
dried by being passed through it.
The charring ovens Figs. 4 & 5 consist of brick chambers A' A' having doors B₁
at one end. Under each chamber is the furnace M¹ within the chamber rails C' C
upon brick settings are placed and on the outside of each rail are fixed inclined
planes D' I. The tank E' containing the peat is oblong and of a suitable size.
These tanks run on four flanged wheels F' F. On the side of each tank are six
small wheels G¹ G' which when the tanks E¹ are run into the ovens A' rest upon
the inclined planes D' D' and thereby take the weight off the flanged wheels F' F.
On the top of the tank E' is fixed a pipe J' which passes through an aperture in
the back of the chamber A'. There is a screw cock K' on this pipe which is coupled
up to a large pipe L' running at the back of the chamber A and kept full of
running water. The bye products which pass off during the charring are thus
collected. The furnace M may be fitted to burn gas if required. A nozzle P¹ is
fitted to the tank E¹ through which a steam jet can be forced to harden the
charcoal. The heat from the furnace M¹ is carried through a flue N' to a suitable
chimney.
It is obvious that more than one crushing or grinding and moulding machine may
be used and a corresponding number of travelling bands or belts be used in the
drying chamber and that, I can, if desired use other apparatus for the treatment of
peat by my improved method or process which, as will be seen from the foregoing
description is continuous.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what inanner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that
I claim
First. The improved method or process of treating peat consisting in crushing or
grinding the same, moulding it into suitable shapes and then drying it, substantially
as before mentioned.
Second. The combination with an apparatus for crushing or grinding and moulding
same, of a drying chamber and one or more endless bands or belts for carrying the
moulded peat through the said chamber for the purpose above specified.

page_text: Third. A drying chamber provided with means for directing jets of air into the
same at suitable intervals and having one or more travelling bands or belts extending
through it substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The improved method of converting peat into charcoal by means of the
charring ovens before mentioned with the appliances connected therewith for the
purpose of collecting the bye products which are contained in the peat.
Fifth. The combination of apparatus comprising the crushing or grinding and
moulding peat, the drying machine and the travelling bands or belts; and the
improved method of turning peat into charcoal with the collection of bye products,
substantially as described for the purposes specified.
Dated this Twenty-second day of December 1892.
TRAVERS ZOHRAB.