IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR TREATING PEAT AND MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND EXTRACTING OTHER THEREFROM." PRODUCTS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1876

page_text: THE
LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Nickerson Rowe, of Rockland, in the State of
Maine, United States of America, but at present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR TREATING PEAT AND
MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND EXTRACTING OTHER
THEREFROM."
PRODUCTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Nickerson Rowe at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1876.
JOSHUA NICKERSON ROWE, of Rockland, in the State of Maine, United States of
America, but at present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR
TREATING PEAT AND MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND EXTRACTING OTHER
PRODUCTS THEREFROM."
The apparatus and appliances for treating peat according to my improved method
consist of a "kettle," being a cylindrical or other suitable shaped vessel with a
core in its centre. The "kettle " is provided round its outside circumference and
round its core with a series of steam or hot air pipes. Revolving in the "kettle"
are a series of arms, being scrapers, stirrers, and thereby masticators. These arms
may revolve in the kettle in the same direction or in contrary directions. From
the bottom of the "kettle" there is led a pipe communicating with a coil, or
series of pipes of suitable length, which are placed over a furnace or furnaces, and
from thence lead to a tank or chamber, which constitutes the moulding machine,
or is in connection with a moulding machine. A boiler or series of boilers or steam
generators are placed over the furnace or furnaces before mentioned, or otherwise
fitted. Steam is led from the boiler or boilers to the steam piping or jacketting of
the "kettle," and by a suitable pipe to the interior of the kettle," and imme-
diately in front and at the mouth of the pipe leading from the " kettle" to the
urnace, and thence to the moulding machine. The method of operation is-the
aw peat is fed into the kettle, which is heated by its steam piping or jacketting to
uch an extent that the peat is brought almost to boiling point, the peat being
nasticated by the revolving arms or stirrers, and where greater lieat is required treated
y a jet or jets of raw steam. Steam is then led into the pipe which communicates
[Price 6d.]

page_text: with the furnace or drying pipe, and the peat is driven through this pipe over the
furnace and discharged into the moulding machine by the pressure of the steam.
During its progress through the drying pipe the peat becomes thoroughly pre-
pared, and after passing through the moulding machine, which may be of any
known description, is ready for use. The waste steam and gases given off are led
back, the steam passing into the "kettle," and the gases being condensed or utilized
for heating the furnaces, or boiler or boilers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joshua Nickerson Rowe in the Great Seal Patent-Office on the
10th October 1876.
JOSHUA NICKERSON ROWE, of Rockland, in the State of Maine, United States of
America, but at present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES FOR TREATING
PEAT AND MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND EXTRACTING OTHER PRODUCTS
THEREFROM."
"
The apparatus and appliances for treating peat according to my improved method
consist of a "kettle," being a cylindrical or other suitable shaped vessel with a core
in the centre, constructed and used in the manner herein-after described. The
"kettle" is provided round its outside circumference and round its core with a series
of steam or hot air pipes. Revolving in the "kettle are a series of arms, being
scrapers, stirrers, and thereby masticators. These arms may revolve in the "kettle'
in the same direction or in contrary directions. From the bottom of the "kettle "
there is led a pipe communicating with a coil or series of pipes of suitable length,
which are placed over a furnace or furnaces, and from thence lead to a tank or
chamber which constitutes the moulding machine, or is in connection with a
moulding machine. A boiler, or series of boilers, or steam generators are placed
over the furnace or furnaces before mentioned, or otherwise fitted. Steam is led
from the boiler or boilers to the steam piping or jacketting of the "kettle," and
thence by a suitable pipe to the interior of the "kettle," and immediately in front
and at the mouth of the pipe leading from the "kettle" to the furnace, and thence
to the moulding machine. The steam in order to produce the most effective result
should be high dried, and in cases where it can be conveniently done without
incurring too great an expense should be superheated. It is obvious that in some
cases heated air may be used instead of steam, and where it is probable that the
peat will ignite carbonic acid gas might be introduced to obviate such result.
The method of operation is as follows:-The raw peat is fed into the "kettle,"
which is heated by its steam piping or jacketting to such an extent that the peat
is brought almost to boiling point, the peat being masticated by the revolving
arms or stirrers, and where greater heat is required, treated by a jet or jets of
steam. Steam is then led into the pipe which communicates with the furnace, or
drying or charring pipe, and the peat is driven through this pipe over the furnace
and discharged into the moulding machine by the pressure of the steam or other blast,
such as hot air, or hot air with carbonic acid gas when hot air is substituted for
steam. During its progress through the drying pipe the peat. becomes thoroughly
prepared, and after passing through the moulding machine, which may be of any
known description, is ready for use. The waste steam and gases given off are led
back, the steam passing into the kettle," and the gases being condensed or
utilized for heating the furnaces or boiler.
<<
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood and readily carried
into operation, I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings, which sufficiently
illustrate my Invention to enable any engineer to carry the same into practical
effect. The Drawings are marked with letters and figures of reference corresponding
with those in the following explanation, and throughout the various views like
letters and figures denote similar parts.

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of an arrangement of apparatus for
treating peat according to my Invention.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, is a section through A, B, Figure 1.
Figure 3, Sheet 1, is a section through C, D, Figure 2:
Figure 4, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of a "kettle" constructed according
to my Invention.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 6, Sheet 2, is a plan of moulding or stamping machine constructed
according to my Invention,
Figure 7, Sheet 2, is a side elevation shown partly in section of the moulding
or stamping machine shown at Figure 6.
Figure 8, Sheet 2, is a sectional end elevation of arrangement of boilers and
furnaces constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 9, Sheet 2, is a plan of engine for driving the apparatus.
Upon reference it will be seen that A is the kettle or peat receptacle. This
may be constructed as shown at Figure 1, Sheet 1, in the shape of a cone, or of
other suitable shape. The "kettle" or receptacle A may be constructed plain,
as shown at Figure 1, Sheet 1, or it may be constructed as shown at Figure 4,
Sheet 1, with a core a in its centre of steam or hot air pipes, and also with a
series of steam or hot air pipes round its circumference. Revolving in the "kettle"
is a shaft B driven by suitable gear b. The shaft-B carries the worm or screw C,
and in the case of the "kettle," shown at Figure 4, Sheet 1, the stirrers or mas-
ticators 6. From the bottom of the "kettle" A there leads a pipe D, which com-
municates with a coil or series of pipes E, which are led through the flue F of the
furnace H, and from thence the pipe E is led to a tank or chamber J (see Figures 6
and 7, Sheet 2), which chamber is in connection with the moulding machine herein-
after described. K is a steam pipe which discharges steam into the pipe D through
the nozzle d. As before observed the steam may be used with very great advantage
in a superheated or high dried state, or hot air or hot air and carbonic acid gas
may be in some cases substituted for steam. The steam may be supplied from an
adjacent boiler and superheated, as shown by the pipe K, passing through the
flue F, or steam may be supplied from an arrangement of boilers, such as shown
at Figure 8, Sheet 2. L, L', fire places of the furnace H; M, flues; N, chimney;
P, dampers. The arrangement will be understood upon examination of the
Drawings.
The method of operation is:-The peat is fed into the "kettle" or receptacle A
and heated by the steam piping or jacketting as much as possible. The peat
being masticated by the revolving arms and screw is delivered into the pipe D,
and travels with and by means of the steam or other blast (through the nozzle d)
through the pipe D and the coil E, and is delivered into the receptacle or chamber J.
During its progress through the coil E the peat becomes thoroughly prepared and
is charred without losing its bitumenous products.
The moulding machine in connection with the chamber J consists of a hopper e
through which works a vertical ram f. At the bottom of the hopper e is fitted a
casting into which works the vertical ram f and the horizontal ram i. There is
provided a stop or cut-off' l, which works horizontally by means of suitable gear.
The vertical ram fis driven by the lever p and the horizontal ram i is driven by
the disc s. Motion being given to the whole apparatus by the geared wheels and
pulley W which receives motion from an engine, such as shown at Figure 9,
Sheet 2. X is a pipe for carrying away waste gases from the chamber J to a
suitable condenser.
The action of the moulding or stamping apparatus is:-The charred and bitu-
menous peat is delivered from the pipe E to the chamber J, and from thence to
the hopper E. It is then compresed by the vertical ram f and afterwards expelled
by the horizontal ram i, in blocks as shown at z..
Having now described and ascertained the nature, object, and purposes of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same may be carried out into practical effect,

page_text: I would have it understood that. I do not confine myself to the identical arrange-
ment of apparatus as shown, nor to any of the exact details or dimensions, as
it will be evident the same can be considerably varied without departing from my
Invention, but what I claim as my Invention and secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid is-
Firstly. The method of treating peat by the application of steam or its equi-
valent, and passing such peat through a coil or coils of pipes, which are heated
by being placed over or in connection with a furnace, so as to cause the peat to be
charred without losing its bitumenous qualities, substantially as herein-before
described and set forth.
"
Secondly. The use of a "kettle or hopper, such as A, in combination with a
worm, such as C, a coil, such as E, steam or hot air pipe, such as K, and a furnace,
such as H, the parts being arranged and working in connection with each other,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.
Thirdly. The enclosed chamber or receptacle J in combination with a vertical
ram, such as f, and a horizontal ram, such as i, for pressing the charred peat into
blocks in the manner as shown at Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2, of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joshua Nickerson Rowe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JOSHUA NICKERSON (L.S.) ROWE.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
15, Water Street,
Liverpool.