Improved Process and Apparatus for Forming Cold Peat into Blocks for Fuel.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Apparatus for Forming Cold Peat into Blocks
for Fuel.
I, ARCHIBALD ANDERSON DICKSON, of Spadina Road, in the City of Toronto,
County of York and Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of peat into blocks of a dense and
hard character to be used as fuel, and before proceeding to describe said invention
I must premise that it deals only with peat which has been dried sufficiently to
deprive it of all but approximately the atmospheric degree of moisture, and that
it shall be cold previous to and at the time of compression.
The objects of the invention are mainly as follows:-that the maximum amount
of volatile and combustible matter shall be retained in the peat blocks:-that the
natural fibre shall be broken as little as possible, so as to avoid dust and make it
cleanly to handle; that it shall have the highest possible density and specific
gravity consonant with smallness of bulk and proper dryness so that it shall be of
slow and regular combustion;-that it shall be practically weather-proof in its
manufactured condition, and that the cost and labor involved in manufacturing
this raw material into this most desirable form for fuel shall be reduced to the
minimum.
As in some of the old methods, I prefer that the first step shall be the tapping or
draining from the bog of surplus water so as to allow the peat to settle down into a
comparatively dense or solid mass upon its bed. This may be effected and the peat
may also be excavated by any known or approved method, but I prefer to cut it
into blocks of convenient size and allow them to drain and dry upon some
conveniently-erected staging, exposed to the action of the sun and atmosphere until
such time as the constituent moisture has been reduced to about the atmospheric
degree. In some cases, or where haste is necessary I may aid the drying by
artificial means.
The dry blocks are fed to any suitable mechanism which will break up the mass
and reduce the material to small fragments, but without unduly disintegrating
the fibre.
It is essential to my invention that the raw material shall now be cold, and that
it shall be compressed without the application of any artificial heat whatever;
and it is also essential that the compression or consolidation of the material into
blocks shall be done by a vertically-applied pressure exerted against a yielding
resistance, as I have found by actual practice that the friction produced in molding
this material is greatly reduced, and the generation of gases prevented by the
absence of heat, and that the resistance offered to any forming die or plunger is
so great that breakage of mechanism invariably occurs when the peat is compressed
against any rigid or fixed surface.
The essential features of my compressing machine are vertically-arranged

page_text: forming tubes or cylinders of the diameter to be given to the fuel blocks, and
equal in such diameter throughout their length, and open at both ends; and
formers, plungers or male dies operating therein reciprocally to pack and compress
the peat by successive strokes; (one stroke for each block formed) as it is fed
into the upper ends of the forming tubes. I prefer to insert a closely fitting but
yielding resistance-block to each forming tube, (which may be a previously-formed
fuel block) to prevent the first charge of loose peat from falling out at the lower
end, and so as to afford a base upon which the first block can be formed, but this
operation having been clearly described in my British Patent No. 10,612-A.D.
1893 I do not need to further explain it here, and will therefore proceed to
describe my newly-invented pressing machine.
For full comprehension of this machine reference must be had to the accom-
panying drawings forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of
reference indicate like parts.
gears
In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the machine complete in all its
essentials. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, but with the
and shafts
removed, and part of the base broken away for greater clearness of illustration.
Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a sectional detail plan, and a front view of the die-
block. A is the base portion of the framing, preferably of the form and construction
shown, and made rigid and heavy enough to effectually support the driving and
forming mechanism and sustain the strain consequent upon the operation of the
machine. This frame affords journals for a driving shaft B, and an intermediate
shaft C, and provides guide-ways for the cross-heads and d' of the male dies or
formers D and D¹. These cross-heads are pivotted to connecting-rods d² and d³,
which in turn are in connection with eccentrics E and E¹ mounted upon an
eccentric shaft F journalled in the upper portion or head A' of the framing. This
head A¹ is held rigid by means of two pairs of tie-rods G and G¹ which extend
downwards therefrom and pass through and are steadied by projections or lugs a, a
and a¹, a¹, on the base of the frame A, the lower ends of said tie-rods passing
through perforations h, h, arranged preferably at the four corners of a solid die-
block H, and are firmly and rigidly secured thereto and therein by any suitable
arrangement of nuts and screw threads, or other approved means. This die-block
is situated centrally of the machine, preferably as shown in the drawings, and in
order that the forming tubes or female dies I and I¹ therein arranged may be
properly and conveniently centred with the formers or male dies D and D', I may
support the die-block in an extra framing and arrange a series of set screws in
connection therewith upon all four sides of same, so that any inaccuracy may be
quickly and easily compensated for and the centres thereby accurately disposed.
This adjustment may be otherwise effected according to mechanical judgment.
The driving shaft B is provided with a suitable pulley b, and pinions b1, b2, one
on each end, which in turn intermesh with the gears c, c¹ carried by the intermediate
shaft C. The fly-wheel C is also mounted on one end of this shaft and it also
carries pinions, which in turn engage large gears f, f¹ mounted upon the
eccentric shaft F, the above mentioned gears forming two separate trains upon
opposite sides of the machine so as to effectually distribute the strain and steady the
operation.
Previous experiments have proved to me that where single trains or sets of gears
have been used, the shafts have invariably been strained and the operation rendered
uneven in consequence of the great resistance offered by the material in its
compression and passage through the forming tubes.
I prefer to employ eccentrics, as E and E¹, as a means of communicating motion
to the formers or male dies, as I am thereby enabled to bring the same very close
together without interfering with their effectual operation and in consequence am
enabled to reduce the width of the machine and thus confine the strain over the
minimum area and length of driving shafts, although I do not confine myself to
the use of the eccentrics shown, as it may be possible to use an arrangement of

page_text: cranks or cams which would be the mechanical equivalent of such eccentrics and
involve the same theory of operation. My experience, however, in the use of
cranks has resulted in the springing of the crank-shaft, owing to the extra length
of shaft required and necessary extra width between journals and standards, and
the stroke between the formers or male dies and the forming tubes or female dies
has been disarranged to such an extent as to interfere with their proper centering.
The die-block H is preferably provided with only two vertically-arranged
forming-tubes or moulds, and for practical working purposes there will consequently
only be two formers or male dies, as I have found that so much of the value in the
operation of a machine of this class depends upon the regular reciprocal action of
the forming devices, it is inadvisable to employ more than a pair in one machine
to be driven from the same shaft.
As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, steel bushings of different diameters between top and
bottom are preferably provided for the forming tubes I and I', and some slight
bevel is preferably given to these bushings at their upper edges in order to facilitate
the downward passage of the raw peat. It will also be understood that a suitable
hopper of some light material, such as sheet iron or steel, will be arranged somewhat
as shown in dotted lines at L in Fig. 4 around the upper part of the die block to
receive the raw peat and to ensure the feeding of the same in successive charges
by gravitation into the upper ends of the forming tubes and to bring such
successive charges directly under the action of the formers or male dies.
The operation of the above described pressing mechanism will be so clearly
understood from the foregoing and from the drawings as to need no explanation
further than to say that the feeding of raw material to the hopper L will be
continuous, and the formation of the blocks will be successive, and without
interruption, by the reciprocation of the male dies one with the other, one of such
dies exercising the formative pressure upon one charge of raw material in one tube
while the other has receded and another charge of peat is falling towards the other
forming tube.
I wish it to be understood that while I have described and illustrated what I
consider at this time to be the most effective, practical and convenient arrangement
of mechanism and the most effective sequence of operations in the process I do
not confine myself to the precise details thereof, as the same may be varied or
modified according to circumstances, or mechanical judgment, without departing
from the principles or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1897
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improved Process and Apparatus for Forming Cold Peat into Blocks
for Fuel.
I, ARCHIBALD ANDERSON DICKSON, of Spadina Road, in the City of Toronto,
County of York, and Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, 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:
-
This invention relates to the manufacture of peat into blocks of a dense and
hard character to be used as fuel, and before proceeding to describe said invention
I must premise that it deals only with peat which has been dried sufficiently to

page_text: deprive it of all but approximately the atmospheric degree of moisture, and that
it shall be cold previous to and at the time of compression.
The objects of the invention are mainly as follows:-that the maximum amount
of volatile and combustible matter shall be retained in the peat;-that the
natural fibre shall be broken as little as possible, so as to avoid dust and make it
cleanly to handle; that it shall have the highest possible density and specific
gravity consonant with smallness of bulk and proper dryness, so that it shall be of
slow and regular combustion;-that it shall be practically water-proof in its
manufactured condition, and that the cost and labor involved in manufacturing
this raw material into this most desirable form for fuel shall be reduced to the
minimum.
My experiments formerly, in common with those of others working towards the
same end, were largely directed towards the excavation and manipulation of the
crude peat from the bog in a semi-fluid or pulpy condition, expressing the bulk of
the water, and then drying and compressing the material while it was under the
influence of artificial heat.
It is well recognised that one essential quality of peat in its relation to its value
as a fuel, is its density, and consequently, numerous efforts have been made, and
various methods attempted, by which to give it a degree of solidity approximating
to hard coal, and sufficient to stand all the conditions required in its utilization for
heating, and steam service, and other analogous purposes.
This has been attempted by means of pressure (variously applied) upon the raw
material as taken from the bog when it has been in its natural hygrometric
condition, or when it has been only partially dried by draining and exposure to the
atmosphere.
Another method practised to some extent in Bavaria by Exter and others, by
Hodgson in Ireland, and by Gwynne, Elsberg, and other peat manufacturers, has
been to pulverize the air-dried material, then to drive off the remaining surplus
water by artificial heat continued until the pressure for converting the peat into
cakes or blocks has been applied-it being considered by all of these persons that
the material must be raised to a high temperature before and during compression.
In all methods of pressing hot peat, not only do there exist the serious problems
arising from the liberation of gases, (well understood in the art) but in addition
to the excessive friction and the unevenness of density in the charges, there remains
the heretofore unsurmounted objection that, in cooling off, the vapors from the
interior of the hot blocks find their way out, causing fissures in the external
frictional glaze, and necessarily an early breaking down of the mass, and a
deterioration of the fuel blocks during storage and transport, by the admission of
moisture, and by their too-speedy combustion in the stove, grate, or furnace.
I am aware that attempts have been made to press hot peat in a horizontal forming
tube contracted or tapered towards the discharge end; but it being my experience
that it is the initial compression or stroke which forms the block, all subsequent
lateral compression—such as would take place in the tapered mold-would only
break down and destroy the work of compression, therefore, such a process, would
not be desirable.
I especially disclaim all methods involving the use of horizontally-arranged
molds, and formers, in the pressing of peat; also all operations directed to the
manipulation of peat while wet; and also all methods which involve any breaking
up, division or separation of the mass of peat after it has once received the initial
compression, (whether horizontally or vertically applied) and also all processes
which require the peat blocks to be dried or cooled after formation, (all such
proceedings resulting in their speedy disintegration, a serious fault which the
blocks produced by my process do not possess,) and also all other proceedings which
do not contemplate the formation of separate blocks, successively against a yielding
resistance, and by a formative pressure which does not vary with the density of
the raw material.
In no instance can I find any authority to anticipate the formation of a succession

page_text: of blocks one upon another, from disintegrated peat which is both thoroughly dry
and cool; nor yet has any process come to my knowledge whereby separate blocks
might be successively made by a formative process which would ensure an even and
permanent solidity throughout all parts of each of successively-formed blocks, and
an equal corresponding density irrespective of the differences existing in the
charges of raw material.
The failure to provide for these indispensable requirements in the manufacture
of pressed peat fuel, has been mainly caused by the erroneous practices viz., the
use of horizontally-arranged pressing cylinders or molds, and the exercise of the
pressure upon the peat while the latter has been in a heated, or in a hygrometric
condition.
In the use of horizontal molding tubes, the material cannot be fed in front of the
reciprocating ram or former, in evenly-disposed charges, and the consequence is
that it is denser and more compact at the lower side of the tube than at the top
where the feeding takes place, resulting in the curving and cracking of the block
as it is forced out, and its speedy disintegration while being handled.
Again, while the frictional resistance in these horizontal tubes is not sufficient
to ensure the proper condensation of the first formed blocks for durability, this
friction becomes so intense as the column of peat moves on by the continued action
of the plunger, that it quickly results in the blocking of the mold, and breaking
of the parts. This is intensified in operating upon wet or hot peat, and constitutes
a fatal objection.
As in some of the old methods, I prefer that the first step shall be the tapping or
draining from the bog of surplus water so as to allow the peat to settle down into a
comparatively dense or solid mass upon its bed. This may be effected and the peat
may also be excavated by any known or approved method, but I prefer to cut it
into blocks of convenient size and allow them to drain or dry upon some
conveniently-erected staging, exposed to the action of the sun and atmosphere until
such time as the constituent moisture has been reduced to about the atmospheric
degree. In some cases, or where haste is necessary, I may aid the drying by
artificial means.
The dry blocks are fed to any suitable mechanism which will break up the mass
and reduce the material to small fragments, but without unduly disintegrating
the fibre.
It is essential to the effectual operation of my process that the dry raw material
shall be cold, and that it shall be compressed without the application of any
artificial heat whatever; and it is also essential that the compression or consolida-
tion of the material into blocks shall be done by a vertically-applied pressure
exerted against a yielding resistance, as I have found by actual practice that the
friction produced in molding this material is greatly reduced, and the generation
of gases prevented by the absence of heat, and that the resistance offered to any
forming-die or plunger is so great that breakage of mechanism invariably occurs
when the peat is compressed against any rigid or fixed surface.
The essential features of my compressing machine are vertically-arranged
forming tubes or cylinders of the diameter to be given to the fuel blocks, and
equal in such diameter throughout their length, and open at both ends; and
formers, plungers or male dies operating therein reciprocally to pack and compress
the peat by successive strokes, (one stroke for each block formed) as it gravitates
towards or is fed into the upper ends of the forming tubes. I prefer to insert a
closely fitting but yielding resistance-block to each forming tube, (which may be a
previously-formed fuel block) to prevent the first charge of loose peat from falling
out at the lower end, and so as to afford a base upon which the first block can be
formed, but this operation having been clearly described in my British Patent
No. 10,612-A.D. 1893-I do not need to further explain it here, and will therefore
proceed to describe my newly-invented pressing machine.
For full comprehension of this machine reference must be had to the accom-

page_text: 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 of the machine complete in all its
essentials. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, but with the gears and shafts
removed, and part of the base broken away for greater clearness of illustration.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively, a sectional detail plan, and a front view of the die-
block, partly in section.
A is the base portion of the framing, preferably of the form and construction
shown, and made rigid and heavy enough to effectually support the driving and
forming mechanism and sustain the strain consequent upon the operation of the
machine. This frame affords journals for a driving shaft B, and an intermediate
shaft C, and provides guide-ways for the cross-heads d and d' of the male dies or
formers D and D¹. These cross-heads are pivoted to connecting-rods and d³,
which in turn are in connection with eccentrics E and E¹ mounted upon an
eccentric shaft F journalled in the upper portion or head A' of the framing. This
head A is held rigid by means of two pairs of tie-rods G and G¹ which extend
downwards therefrom and pass through and are steadied by projections or lugs a, a
and a, a, on the base of the frame A, the lower ends of said tie-rods passing
through perforations h, h, arranged preferably at the four corners of a solid die-
block H, and firmly and rigidly secured thereto and therein by any suitable
arrangement of nuts and screw threads, or other approved means for properly
supporting it. This die-block is situated centrally of the machine, preferably as
shown in the drawings, and in order that the forming tubes or female dies I and I¹
therein arranged may be properly and conveniently centred with the formers or
male dies D, and D¹, I support the die-block proper, H, in a framing H¹, which
surrounds it on all sides and also supports it at the bottom, and which has at its
four corners lugs h, h, bored to receive the lower ends of the tie-rods. The die-
block H does not entirely fill the interior of the frame H', as it is intended to
adjust the former in its relation to the latter for the purpose of centreing the dies
as above mentioned. The two female dies I and I¹ formed in the die-block consist
of perforations or passage-ways extending vertically therethrough so as to be open
at both top and bottom; as shown in Fig. 4, these perforations are preferably
provided with steel bushings i. Above and resting on the die-block H and
frame H¹, is a separate perforated retaining-plate H2 having arms h¹, h¹ and h², h²,
each of which is slotted to receive a stud h³, tapped into the sides of the frame Hi
as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. A series of set-screws J, J, project through the
frame and impinge upon all four sides of the die-block. By this arrangement the
female dies I, I, may be conveniently and accurately centred with the male
dies D, D¹, and the retaining-plate H2 may be correspondingly moved so that its
perforations may register with the dies. Of course this adjustment may be effected
by other means according to mechanical judgment, or the principle of the press
would not be departed from if the die-block H were in direct connection with the
tie-rods G, G¹.
In order to keep down the frictional heat necessarily generated in the die-block
by a continuous operation of the machine, I prefer to form one or more channels H³
therein, around the female dies, and conduct cold water thereto by means of a
pipe H passing through the frame H¹. This pipe (in order to allow the block to
be adjusted), will either be flexible or provided with a universal joint as deemed
most expedient.
The driving shaft B is provided with a suitable pulley b, and pinions 61, 62, one
on each end, which in turn intermesh with the gears c, c¹ carried by the intermediate
shaft C. The fly-wheel C₁ is also mounted on one end of this shaft and it also
carries pinions c², which in turn engage large gears f, f' mounted upon the
eccentric shaft F, the above mentioned gears forming two separate trains upon
opposite sides of the machine so as to effectually distribute the strain and steady the
operation.

page_text: Previous experiments have proved to me that where single trains or sets of gears
have been used, the shafts have invariably been strained and the operation rendered
uneven in consequence of the great resistance offered by the material in its
compression and passage through the forming tubes.
prefer to employ eccentrics, as E and E¹, as a means of communicating motion
to the formers or male dies, as am thereby enabled to bring the same very close
together without interfering with their effectual operation, and in consequence am
enabled to reduce the width of the machine and thus confine the strain over the
minimum area and length of driving shafts, although I do not confine myself to
the use of the eccentrics shown, as it may be possible to use an arrangement of
cranks or cams which would be the mechanical equivalent of such eccentrics, and
involve the same theory of operation. My experience, however, in the use of
cranks has resulted in springing of the crank-shaft, owing to the extra length
of shaft required and necessary extra width between journals and standards, and
the stroke between the formers or male dies and the forming tubes or female dies
has been disarranged to such an extent as to interfere with their proper centreing.
The die-block H is preferably provided with only two vertically-arranged
forming tubes or molds, and for practical working purposes there will consequently
only be two formers or male dies; as I have found that so much of the value in the
operation of a machine of this class depends upon the regular reciprocal action of
the forming devices, it is inadvisable to employ more than a pair in one machine
to be driven from the same shaft.
As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, steel bushings of different diameters between top and
bottom are preferably provided for the forming tubes I and I¹, and some slight
bevel is preferably given to these bushings at their upper edges in order to facilitate
the downward passage of the raw peat. It will also be understood that a suitable
hopper of some light material, such as sheet iron or steel, will be arranged somewhat
as shown in dotted lines, at L, in Fig. 4 around the upper part of the die-block to
receive the raw peat and to ensure the feeding of the same in successive charges
by gravitation into the upper ends of the forming tubes, and to bring such
successive charges directly under the action of the formers or male dies.
The operation of the above described pressing mechanism will be so clearly
understood from the foregoing and from the drawings as to need no explanation
further than to say that the feeding of raw material to the hopper L will be
continuous, and the formation of the blocks will be successive, and without
interruption, by the reciprocation of the male dies one with the other, one of such
dies exercising the formative pressure upon one charge of raw material in one tube
while the other has receded and another charge of peat is falling towards the other
forming tube.
It makes the difference between success and failure that the material should be
finely divided and be both dry and cold previous to and during compression, and
that all of the blocks-from start to finish-should be evenly and permanently
compressed at the first or initial operation or stroke of the plunger or former.
By my process of pressing the dried peat while cold, I generate or volatilize no
gas of consequence; therefore, there will be no expansion of the material either
within the tube, or after the block leaves it, consequently there is no excess of
friction (heretofore found fatal in dealing with hot peat) and no tendency in the
block to crack and break when the pressing operation is finished.
Although my blocks may be of uneven length, (which is not undesirable in fuel)
according to the differences in density of the charges of raw peat, the full stroke of
the plunger is given to each charge, and the molds being arranged vertically and
being of the same diameter from end to end, and consequently almost anti-friction
in character, and the yielding resistance being always the same, a uniform pressure
is given to all of the blocks, and the serious dangers and objections which I have
noted above are thus entirely obviated. By adopting a vertical compression, the
gravity of the peat aids in furnishing charges of raw material each of even density

page_text: from top to bottom and side to side, and this arrangement also overcomes all undue
friction, and assists in the rapid and successive formation and easy delivery of the
finished blocks.
I wish it to be understood that while I have described and illustrated what I
consider at this time to be the most effective, practical and convenient arrangement
of mechanism, and the most effective sequence of operations in the process, I do
not confine myself to the precise details thereof, as the same may be varied or
modified according to circumstances, or mechanical judgment, without departing
from the principles or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.
Having now particularly described the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The art, method, or process of manufacturing cold peat into blocks, which
consists essentially, in the following sequence of operations, viz.;
First: drying the raw peat sufficiently to deprive it of all but approximately
the atmosphere degree of moisture; second-breaking or separating it into
fragments which retain the natural fibre practically unbroken; third-disposing
such cold and dry material in even successively-gravitating charges, and subjecting
each of such charges to vertically-applied pressure--one compression to each charge
-against a yielding resistance, whereby the initial pressure upon each charge
forms same into a block, and whereby such formative pressure upon a succession
of such blocks shall always be the same irrespective of varying density in the
charges, and whereby the formation-one upon the other of evenly-hard separate
blocks may be continuously carried on contemporaneously with the feed of raw
material, substantially as set forth.
2. The art or method of manufacturing cold peat into blocks for fuel, which
consists, essentially, in first:-drying the peat sufficiently to deprive it of all but
the atmospheric degree of moisture; second-breaking or separating it into
fragments; third:-feeding such cold and dry material into forming tubes or
female dies in evenly-disposed successive charges and subjecting each of such
charges to vertically-applied pressure of reciprocating formers or male dies against
a yielding resistance within such forming tubes or female dies, whereby the
formative pressure upon all of the successively formed blocks shall be the same
irrespective of the varying density of such charges of raw material, and whereby
one block may be in course of formation in one forming tube while the charge is
being supplied for a succeeding block in another forming tube, substantially as
set forth.
3. In a machine for manufacturing cold dry peat into blocks, the combination
with a die-block and open-ended vertical passage-ways therein adapted to act as
forming tubes or female dies, of formers or male dies (one for each forming tube.
or female die,) working therein reciprocally, so as to form the raw material fed
between such male and female dies against a yielding resistance into blocks of
even hardness irrespective of the density of such material, and to automatically
discharge such blocks, by a continuous operation, substantially as set forth.
4. In a machine for pressing cold dry peat into blocks, the combination with a
suitable framing, of a die-block having vertically-arranged open-ended forming
tubes or female dies therein, cross-heads sliding in the frame, connecting rods,
and eccentrics (one for each former) mounted upon a common shaft, and driving
gears rotating such eccentric shaft, all arranged so as to impart a reciprocal action
to the formers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with the frame, the head, and the die-block, of the tie-rods
between said head and said die-block, the eccentric shaft journalled in the head,
eccentrics mounted thereupon, such eccentrics being in connection with the formers
and adapted to operate the same reciprocally, and gearing for, rotating the eccentric
shaft in train with the source of power, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.

page_text: 6. The combination with the frame A, head A¹, the tie-rods G, G¹, and die-
block H having the female dies I, I', of the driving shaft B, intermediate shaft C,
and eccentric shaft F, (said shafts being geared at both ends) eccentrics E, E¹,
connecting-rods and cross heads, male dies D, D', and suitable driving means, all
arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with the male dies, and the die-block having the female
dies and supported from the head of the machine, of means whereby said die-block
may be adjusted so as to centre said dies, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with the male dies and the die-block H, having the female
dies formed therein, of the frame H¹ supported by the tie-rods and adjusting
screws J, J, whereby the dies may be centred, and the retaining plate H2, substan-
tially as set forth.
9. The combination with the formers or male dies, of the die-block H, having
the forming tubes or female dies I, I, of the water channel H³, and inlet and outlet
connections therefor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of Anril 1898
ARCHIBALD A. DICKSON.