CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR PURIFYING AND CONDENSING PEAT. AND ALSO FOR CONVEYING IT
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean François Felix Challeton, of Brughat, in the
Empire of France, and also of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London,
for the Invention of "CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR PURIFYING AND CONDENSING
PEAT. AND ALSO FOR CONVEYING IT."
Séaled the 6th October 1854, and dated the 18th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean François Felix
Challeton at the Office of the Commissioners of l'atents, with his
Petition, on the 18th April 1854.
I, JEAN FRANÇOIS FELIX CHALLETON, of Brughat, in the Empire of France,
and also of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for CERTAIN MACHINERY POR PURIFYING AND
CONDENSING PEAT, AND ALSO. FOR CONVEYING IT," to be as follows:-
6
The condensing and purifying apparatus is represented in Sheet I., Figures,
10, 11, 12, and 13. Figures 10 and 10 bis shew a vessel with a double casing
A, which is entirely immersed in water. The different conducting pipes
t;t, t, t, open into this vessel, and convey into it. the gases from the three
compartments of the retort. A first condensation takes place inthisrefrigerator
the products of which are collected at the bottom of the vessel, and let out by
a cock and pipe fixed at the lower part. The gaseous products, which are not
condensed in the refrigerator, pass successivel into the worms or coils S,S';S".
"These coils are entirely immersed in water, and have at their lower ends
Price d

page_text: receiving vessels U, U₁, U", for the condensed products, which are let off by
means of cocks suitably fixed in the vessels. After having passed through
these coils, the gases proceed into rectangular receivers or tanks B, B₁, con-
taining acidulated water, for the purpose of fixing the ammoniacal products
mixed with the gas. At convenient distances from the bottom of the tanks are
placed plates perforated with fine holes for dividing the gas bubbles, and thus
separating more readily the ammoniacal gases contained in them. For acidu-
lating the water inthe tanks 1 nse indifferently sulphuric, chlorhydric, nitric, or
any other acids; metallic solution, such as chloride of manganese, or sulphate
of iron, may be equally well applied. The solution in the tanks B, B1, Fig. 10, is
filled up by means of pipes and cocks suitably placed for that purpose. After
these different purifying processes the gas passes into a chamber or box C,
Fig. 10, which contains in its upper portion a certain depth of lime water.
The space between the lime water and the top cover contains a number of
grates (Fig. 11,) on which I put a bed of moss or hay, and upon this bed a
layer of unslacked lime, which absorbs the acids that may have been left in the
gases after the operations above described. In case the gas is not used for
lighting, but only for heating, as in the furnace above described, the operation
last described becomes useless, and is omitted.
At each side of the extinguishing chamber E, Fig. 1 and 13, is a boiler q, Fig.
13, one for the tar and resinous substances, the other for the ammoniacal water
producedduringthecondensationandpurification of the gases of carbonization.
The boiler for the distillation of the tar has a lid, and communicates by means
of a pipe with a worm or coil R, calculated to condense the products of this
second distillation, which is carried on with the waste heat given out by the
cooling fuel. The arrangement of this boiler and the coil for this second
distillation is shown in Fig. 12, Sheet I. Fig. 13 represents the whole of the
apparatus above described. As above stated, I can therefore produce by these
apparatus from the substances above mentioned, either lighting gas, and also
gases which may be used for burning, for instance, in any furnace, thus reducing
the expense of fuel to a very low-figure:
Sheet 2 represents the apparatus relating to the third part of my improve-
ments. Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the purifying apparatus for peat; Fig. 2,
a plan of the same, with the moulding apparatus attached; Fig. 3, a side
elevation of the moulding apparatus; Fig. 4 is a section of the washing tub G,
hereafter described, showing the door R in section. Fig. 5 shews a pair of
buckets on a carrying apparatus, supposed to be seen in end view.
The peat having been put into the trough A (Sheet 2) passes under the
rasping cylinder B, which reduces it into an homogeneous paste or pulpy mass

page_text: by a set of blades fixed in the cylinder and the seat or female part. After
passing under this cylinder the paste falls on a sieve F for screening the peat;
a rake or scraper D is set in motion on this screen for the purpose of forcing
the mass through the screen, and removing any vegetable substances not cut
up, or any stones that may have been left in the mass. The peat divided by
this cylinder falls into the cleansing or washing vat or tub G; the water used.
in this process is turnished by means of a pipe Y. In the washing tub is an
agitator H, which, being hollow, serves to introduce into the tub a stream of
water, which, by means of the head of water and the elbows at x, produces
upon the axis of the agitator the same effect as a Barker's reaction wheel. The
earthy matters are thus separated, and the peat, being lighter, is carried away
by the water running from the tub on the endless grate or trellis K. The water
runs off through thespaces of this trellis, and thus a paste or mass is left, which
becomes compact by passing over the boxes L, L, L", Fig. 3,in which a partial
vacuum has been made. This paste, having now the necessary stiffness or con-
sistency for being manipulated, is passed under the dividing cylinder M, which
divides it into small cakes or bricks. These cakes are left on little boards
P, P, P, which are moved by an endless chain; when they have got to g they
are carried to the drying apparatus by means of a system of moveable cables,
as herein-after described. After a certain quantity of earthy matter has settled
at the bottom of the tub G, the valves R & R, Fig. 1 & 4 are opened, and
the earthy matter is let out without interrupting the working of the apparatus.
The system of inoveable cables just mentioned is shewn in plan and elevation
and in different positions on Sheets, Fig. 1; it consists of two posts A, C, and
F, G, firmly fixed in the ground at the distance required. On F, G, at the
extremity G is fixed a pirought iron stud, on which, as a pivot, turns the beam
D, E, having several yards in length. The contre line of the stud coincides
with the line A, B, drawn at any suitable height A, H, above ground. At one
of the points A, two cables D, A, E, A, are supported at A & A', at a common
and fixed height A, H, and at the other they pass through the two ends D, E,
of the moveable beam.
9
Past the post F, G, the two cables converge to a point B on another post
B, H, and from thence they run down together to a substantial fastening Kon
the ground. The cables run down separately from the points A. A', to similar
ground fastenings K', K". The two cables are symmetrically arranged with
respect to the horizontal line A, B; they are shewn in the horizontal position
in plan; but by bringing the beain D, E, into the vertical position, they can be
inclined to the line A, B, in opposite directions, the ratio of the incline being
DE The cables being supposed to be fixed to or passing through the ex-

page_text: tremities of the beam D, E, if the beam is made to perforin half a turn, the cable
D, A, takes in side elevation the position previously occupied by the cable E, A,
and reciprocally the cable E, A, takes the position of D, A, the cables thus
interchanging the directions of their inclination. By turning the beams again
through half a revolution, the cables are brought home to their first position,
and thus each cable may be made ascending and its fellow descending, and
vice versa, as often as is required. These cables are stretched with the tension
required by means of the fastening K, K', K", besides they will be stretchied
whenever they leave the horizontal position. I establish on them a circulation
of waggons, trucks, baskets, bucket, or skips, which are suspended from the
cable by means of two gorge pulleys, shewn in side and end view Fig. 2, which
the weight of the waggou, &c. keeps vertical, and inequilibrium on the cable.
It is easily seen that if a waggon, &c. be let go from the elevated end of each
cable, it will start and run down the incline with great speed, and the waggon
starting from D will arrive at A whilst the waggon from A will reach the
extremity E. A proper buffing apparatus is established at each end, and so as
to deaden the shock of the travelling waggons, &c., &c. The beams being
turned through 180° again, the motion of the waggon is reversed, and they are
sent back again to their starting points respectively. The half way position of
the buckets is shewn in elevation, Fig. 1, Sheet 3, and in end view, Fig. 5,
Sheet 2. The to and fro motion thus obtained may be repeated as often as is
required. Hence this system affords the means of establishing a communica-
tion between two points with two cables, on each of which a waggon, &c. is
made to travel to and fro, the waggon, &c., being set in motion by its weight
only. This mode of locomotion can be applied to the carriage of all kinds of
material and produce, such as peat, soil, gravel, coal, wood, &c. over marshes,
valleys, and rivers, and is generally a ready means for connecting points, which
are separated from each other by obstacles, preventing the establishment of an
ordinary road. The skips or baskets are suspended by cords from two pulleys,
which turn in a triangular frame of iron, hooked at its lower end, (Fig. 2,
Sheet 3) The gorge or groove of the pulleys is formed-of-wood, gutta-percha,
leather, or paper. The edges of the gorge are formed by two circular wrought
iron plates, which are connected with each other by bolts. The pulley box or
block contains above the pullies, and fixed at a convenient distance, a straight
piece of wood A, which is grooved, so as to prevent the pulleys from running
off the cables.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean François Felix Challeton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM. THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
FRANÇOIS FELIX CHALLETON, of Brughat, in the Empire of France, and also of
16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Merself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut unto me,
the said Jean François Felix Challeton, Her special licence that 1, the said
Jean François Felix Challeton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Jean François Felix Challeton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention of CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR PURIFYING AND CONDENSING PEAT, AND
ALSO FOR CONVEYING.IT," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said
Jean Francois Felix Challeton, by an instrument in writing under my hand
aud seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean François Felix Challeton, do hereby
declare the nature of thesaid Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to certain apparatus for purifying and condensing
peat for the purpose of improving its combustible and heating qualities, and
also to a certain economical mode or contrivance for conveying the same.
Sheet 1 represents the apparatus relating to the purifying and condensing of
peat. Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the purifying or washing apparatus for
peat; Fig. 2,a plan of the same, with the moulding apparatus attached; Fig.3,
a side elevation of the moulding apparatus by which the condensation is
effected; Fig. 4 is a section of a washing tub G, slightly varying in form from
that described at Fig. 1. The peat, having been put into the trough A, passes
under the rasping cylinder B, which-reduces it into a homogeneous paste or

page_text: pulpy mass, by a set of blades fixed in the cylinder, and the seat or female
part; after passing under this cylinder the paste falls on a sieve E, for screen-
ing the peat; a rake or scraper D) is set in motion on this screen, for the
purpose of forcing the mass through the screen, and removing any vegetable
substances not cut up, or any stones that may have been left in the mass.
Under this screen is the dividing cylinder F set with points. The peat divided
by this cylinder falls into the cleaning or washing vat or tub G; the water
used in this process is furnished by means of a pipe y. In the washing tub is
an agitator H, which, being hollow, serves to introduce into the tub a stream
of water, which by means of the head of water and the elbows at a,produces
upon the axis of the agitator the same effect as a Barker's reaction wheel; the
earthy matters are thus separated, and the peat, being lighter, is carried away
by the water running from the tub on the endless grate or trellis K. The
water runs off through the spaces of this trellis, and thus a paste or mass is
left, which becomes compact by passing over the boxes L, L, L", Fig. 3, in
which a partial vacuum has been made. This pasto, having now the necessary
stiffness or consistency for being worked, is next passed under the dividing
cylinder M, which divides it into small cakes or bricks. These cakes are left
on little boards P, P, P", which are moved by an endless chain; when they
have got to they are carried to drying apparatus by means of a system of
moveable cables, as herein after described. After a certain quantity of earthy
matter has settled at the bottom of the tub G, the valves R & R', Fig. 1 & 4,
are opened,and the earthy matter is let out without interrupting the working of
the apparatus. When preferred, the bottom of the tub mayalso be formed in the
shape of a funnel,as at Fig.4. The paste or pulp as produced by the apparatus
above described may be mixed by any suitable means in the dry or wet state
with anthracite, lignite,coke, commen coal,char and peat coal.or with powders
of said fuels, for utilizing such combustible matters as would by themselves be
difficult to burn, as well as resinous substances, &c. The system of moveable
cables just mentioned is shewn in plan and elevation and in different positions
on Sheet 2, Fig. 1; Fig-2-is-a-side-and-end-view-of-the-rolling sheaves;
Fig. 3 is a view of the buckets as they appear end ways. This system consists of
two posts A, C, and F, G, firmly fixed in the ground at the distance required.
On F,G,at the extremity G, is fixed a wrought iron stud, on which, as a pivot,
turns the beam D, E, having several yards in length. The centre line of the
stud coincides with the horizontal line A,B,drawn at any suitable height A,H,
above ground. At one of the points A., two cables D, A¹, E, A, are supported
at A & A', at a common' and fixed height A, C, B, H, and at the other they
pass through the two ends 1), E, of the moveable beam. Past the post F, G,

page_text: the two cables converge to a point B, on another post B, H, and from thence
they run down together to a substantial fasteningk on the ground. The cables
run down separately from the points A,A', to similar ground fastenings ',".
The two cables are thus symmetricallyarranged with respect to the horizontal
line A,B; they are shewn in the horizontal position in plan, but by bringing
the beam D,E, into the vertical position, they can be inclined to the line A, B,
in opposite directions, the ratio of the incline being The cables being
supposed to be fixed to or passing through the extremities of the beam D, E,
if the beam is made to perform half a turn, the cable D, A, takes in side
elevation the position previously occupied by the cable, E, A, takes the
position of D, A, the cables thus interchanging the directions of their
inclination. By turning the beams again through half a revolution, the cables
are brought home to their first position, and thus each cable may be made
ascending and its fellow descending, and vice versa, as often as is required.
These cables are stretched with the tension required by means of the fastenings
K,K,K"; besides they will be stretched whenever they leave the horizontal
position. I establish on them a circulation of waggons, trucks, baskets, bucket,
or skips, which are suspended from the cable by means of two gorge pulleys,
shewn in side and end view, Fig. 2, which the weight of the waggon,&c. keeps
vertical,and in equilibrium on the cable. It is easilyseen, that if a waggon,&c.
be let go from the elevated end of each cable, it will start and run down the
incline with great speed, and the waggon starting from D will arrive at A
whilst the waggon from A will reach the extremity E. A proper buffing
apparatus is established at eachend, so as to deaden the shock of the travelling
waggons, &c.&c. The beams being turned through 180° again, the motion of
the waggons is reversed, and they are sent back again to their starting points
respectively. The half way position of the buckets is shewn in elevation,
Fig. 1, Sheet 2, and in end view, Fig. 5, Sheet 2. The to and fro motion thus
obtained may be repeated as often as is required. Hence, this system affords
the means of establishing a communication between two pointswith twocables,
on each of which a waggon, &c. is made to travel to & fro, the waggon, &c.
being set in motion by its weight only. This mode of locomotion can be
applied to the carriage of all kinds of material and produce, such as peat,soil,
gravel,coal, wood,&c., over marshes, valleys, & rivers, and is generally a ready
meaus for connecting pointswhich are separated from each other byobstacles
preventing the establishment of an ordinary road. The skips or baskets are
suspended by cords from two pulleys, which turn in a triangular frame of iron,
hooked at its lower-end, (Fig.-2, Sheet-2.)--The gorge or groove of the
pulleys is formed of wood, gutta percha, leather, or paper. The edges of the

page_text: gorge are formed by two circular wrought iron plates, which are connected
with each other by bolts. The pulley box or block contains, above the pulleys,
and fixed at a convenient distance, a straight piece of wood A, which is
grooved, so as to prevent the pulleys from running off the cables..
I claim,first, the apparatus and machinerydescribed above, and represented
on Sheet 1, for purifying and condensing peat; also the mixture of peat so
purified with any of the above-mentioned combustible substances.
Second, the arrangement of moveable cables and travelling pulleys for
the purpose of conveying, substantially as described and figured on Sheet 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Francois Felix Challeton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord 1854.
CHALLETON. (L.S.)