IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE OF PEAT MATERIAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAID TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard, of Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE
OF PEAT MATERIAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAID
TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 26th February 1878, and dated the 20th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Howard at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1877.
JOHN HOWARD, of Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Civil Engineer.
IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE OF PEAT MATERIAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAID TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE."
The object of the first part of this Invention is to crush raw peat material, so as
to eject a large portion of the water and air contained therein by means of an
improved arrangement of machinery for that purpose.
Secondly. To separate by an improved mechanical arrangement a portion of the
water and air which peat is generally found to be associated with in its native
condition.
Thirdly. To consolidate or compress the peat material, and to force it into a
convenient shape by means of machinery for that purpose.
Fourthly. To evaporate the remainder of the air and moisture contained in the
peat, and by disintegration or treatment to convert it either into a fuel or otherwise
treat it by means of an improved apparatus for this purpose.
In order to crush raw peat material in accordance with my improvements a mill
consisting of a pair of revolving rollers is employed, over which is placed a shute;
the peat is thrown into the shute, and passed between the rollers, which may be
round or octagonal in form, fixed on a level or on an inclination, and by a suitable
arrangement they are caused to revolve so as to effect a squeezing action on the
peat, such action being guided by the distance the rollers are set apart from each
other, which distance may be regulated by a screw or equivalent means.
The peat,

page_text: after passing through the rollers, is forced down by the revolving action into a
receptacle fixed below the rollers on an incline, there being various outlets or
apertures in the front of and on a level with the bottom of the receptacle, which
bottom is formed on an incline from the centre to both sides (like a saddle), ending
throughout on each side in a groove or gutter from end to end, with an outlet
to allow the water, which falls from the, peat, by reason of its inclination, to pass
away.
In the receptacle there is a moveable partition, to which is attached a recipro-
cating rod or a slide passing through an aperture at the back; this rod or slide
works forwards and backwards alternately by a suitable arrangement from a
revolving crank outside. Each time the crank revolves it presses forward the rod
or slide and moveable portion in the form of a ram, and this action compresses the
peat, and forces it out of the apertures in front of the receptacle..
The peat is next placed on the shelves of an improved apparatus for effecting
the evaporation of the remainder of the moisture. This apparatus consists of an
upright shaft to which is attached horizontally, at equal distances apart, shelves
constructed of iron and wire or other suitable material; the upright shaft is fitted
by pivots working into sockets fixed into a frame of suitable dimensions. The
shaft revolves in the frame, and causes the shelves to rapidly pass through the
air by means of suitable mechanical arrangements fixed to the same for that
purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Howard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th March
1878.
JOHN HOWARD, of Salisbury Street, Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR MANUFACTURE OF PEAT
MATERIAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAID TREATMENT OR
MANUFACTURE."
The objects of this Invention are,-
First. To crush raw peat material, so as to eject a large portion of the water and
air contained therein by means of an improved arrangement of machinery for that
purpose.
Secondly. To separate by an improved mechanical arrangement a portion of
the water and air which peat is generally found to be associated with in its native
condition.
Thirdly. To consolidate or compress the peat material, and force it into a con-
venient shape by means of machinery for that purpose.
Fourthly. To evaporate the remainder of the air and moisture contained in the
peat, and by disintegration or treatment to convert it either into a fuel, or otherwise
treat it by means of an improved apparatus for this purpose.
In order to crush raw peat material in accordance with my improvements a mill
consisting of a pair of revolving rollers is employed, over which is placed a shute;
the peat is thrown into the shute, and passed between the rollers, which may be
round or octagonal in form, fixed on a level or on an inclination, and by a suitable
arrangement they are caused to revolve so as to effect a squeezing action on the
peat, such action being guided by the distance the rollers are set apart from each
other, which distance may be regulated by a screw or equivalent means.
The peat,
after passing through the rollers, is forced down by the revolving action into a
receptacle fixed below the rollers on an incline, there being various outlets or
apertures in the front of and on a level with the bottom of the receptacle, which
bottom is formed on an incline from the centre to both sides, like a saddle, ending
throughout on each side in a groove or gutter from end to end with an outlet
to allow the water, which falls from the peat, by reason of its inclination, to pass
away.
In the receptacle there is a movable partition, to which is attached a rod or
reciprocating slide passing through an aperture at the back. This rod or slide
works forwards and backwards alternately by a suitable arrangement from a
revolving crank outside. Each time the crank revolves it presses forward the rod
or slide and movable portion in the form of a ram, and this action compresses the
peat, and forces it out of the apertures in front of the receptacle.
The peat is next placed on the shelves of an improved apparatus for effecting the
evaporation of the remainder of the moisture. This apparatus consists of an
upright shaft to which is attached, at equal distances apart, shelves constructed of
iron, wire, or other suitable material; the upright shaft is fitted by pivots working
into sockets fixed into a frame of suitable dimensions. The shaft revolves in the
frame, causing the shelves to rapidly pass through the air by means of suitable
mechanical arrangement fixed to the same for that purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Howard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
JOHN HOWARD. (LS.)