STABLES AND ELSEWH
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Symons of Totnes in the County of Devon,
Manure Merchant, for an Invention of
STABLES AND ELSEWHERE."
'AN IMPROVED LITTER FOR USE IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Symons at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th December 1882.
HENRY SYMONS of Totnes in the County of Devon, Manure Merchant
IMPROVED LITTER FOR USE IN STABLES AND ELSEWHERE."
"AN
The object of this invention is to provide a bedding or litter for use in stables
and other places which shall be sweeter and drier in use than other artificially
prepared litters.
In preparing my improved litter I prefereably employ dry peat moss, derived
from the surface cuttings of large bogs, and which principally consists of a
ligneous fibre possessing great advantages over straw as a horse and cattle litter.
This fibrous litter dry by exposure, or by currents of hot or cold air, and
disintegrate it or break it up in a suitable mill.
While in the mill, or as it issues from the mill, I add to it a suitable quantity of
raw or calcined sulphate or sulphates or other salt or salts of lime, magnesia potash
or soda, or any admixture thereof, in the proportion of say from 56 lbs to 5 cwt of
the sulphate or sulphates, to one ton of the crushed or pulverized peat moss, after
which the compound is pressed into cakes or bales, or placed in bags for distribution
to the public.
I may also effect the manufacture of my improved litter in a baling press, giving
to the peat moss or other suitable bedding material as it is fed in, a preliminary
crushing or breaking, by passing it between a pair of rollers or disintegrators, and
combining the sulphate or sulphates above mentioned in a powdered state by
ensuring a regular supply thereof from a hopper and sifting it over the crushed
peat moss or other bedding material as it comes from the crushing rollers, turning
or shaking the mass to effect a thorough admixture of the compound, after which
it is forcibly compressed and issues from the press in bales, ready for use.

page_text: I preferably employ the calcined sulphate of magnesia owing to its antiseptic
and drying properties, and its comparative freedom from dust, but sulphates of
magnesia and lime possess, in an almost equal degree, the property of fixing the
ammonia which may form in the litter and they absorb a great portion of the
urine and other moisture produced, and consequently enable the litter to be used
for a longer period.
This improved litter keeps the stables and other places where it is used sweeter
than any other litter in the market, and a valuable manure results from the stable
sweepings without the necessity for adding chemicals thereto, owing to the
magnesia, lime, ammonia, and other fertilizing matters already present therein.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Symons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th June
1883.
HENRY SYMONS of Totnes in the County of Devon Manure Merchant.
IMPROVED LITTER FOR USE IN STABLES AND ELSEWHERE
"J
" AN
The object of this Invention is to provide a bedding or litter for use in stables
and other places which shall be sweeter, and drier in use, than other artificially
prepared litters.
In preparing my improved litter I preferably employ peat-moss derived from
the surface cuttings of large bogs, and which principally consists of a ligneous fibre
possessing great advantages over straw as a horse and cattle litter.
This fibrous peat-moss or other suitable bedding material, such as cotton or sedge
Grass, I disintegrate or break up and crush in a suitable mill when in a slightly
moist condition, and I then dry it by simple exposure to the air, or artificially by
currents of hot or cold air.
While in the mill, or as it issues from the mill, I add to the peat or its equivalent
and intimately mix with it, a suitable quantity of raw or calcined sulphate or
sulphates or other salt or salts of lime, magnesia, potash, or soda or any admixture
thereof, in the proportion of say from fifty-six pounds to five hundredweight of the
sulphate or sulphates, to one ton of the crushed or pulverized peat-moss, after
which the compound is forcibly compressed into cakes or bales for distribution to
the public.
I preferably effect the manufacture of my improved litter in a baling press,
giving to the peat moss or other suitable bedding material, as it is fed in, a
preliminary crushing or breaking, when necessary, by passing it between a pair of
rollers or disintegrators and combining the sulphate or sulphates above mentioned
in a powdered state by maintaining a regular supply thereof from a hopper and
sifting it over the crushed peat moss or other bedding material as it comes from
the crushing rollers or mill, turning or shaking the mass to effect a thorough
admixture of the compound, after which it is forcibly compressed, and issues from
the press in bales ready for use.
In the manufacture of this machine-pressed litter, I preferably employ the
calcined sulphate of magnesia, owing to its antiseptic and drying properties, and
its comparative freedom from dust; but sulphates of magnesia and lime possess in
an almost equal degree the property of fixing the ammonia which may form in the
litter and they absorb a great portion of the urine and other moisture produced
and consequently enable the litter to be used for a longer period. I propose to
name this material "Sanit-Economic "Litter.
This improved machine-pressed antiseptic litter keeps the stables and other
places where it is used sweeter than any other litter in the market, and a valuable
manure results from the stable sweepings without the necessity for adding
chemicals thereto, owing to the magnesia, lime, ammonia and other fertilizing
matters already present therein.
For effecting the thorough admixture of the sulphates of magnesia and lime
with the peat, and for compressing the litter thus prepared into bales or sacking,
various machines may be used, but I prefer to employ for this purpose a vertical
baling press of the kind sold by Messieurs John H. Ladd & Co. of Queen Victoria
Street London and designated "The Vertical Perpetual," fitting thereto sundry
devices suitable to the end in view, and to the new purpose to which it is to be
applied.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown, as an example, such a press
specially fitted with hoppers and mixing devices for the manufacture of my
improved litter.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the press and fittings in side and end elevation respectively

page_text: and Figures 3. 4 and 5 shew the nature of these fittings on an enlarged scale in
plan, side, and end views respectively. The same letters of reference indicate like
or corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A is a double hopper of which the larger part or hopper A' is intended to contain
the dried and disintegrated peat moss or other absorbent bedding material, and
the other part or hopper A2 is intended to contain the sulphates of magnesia, lime,
potash or soda, or any suitable admixture thereof.
Each hopper is provided with doors B B¹, or other means for exactly regulating
the discharge of its contents. Situate beneath the discharge opening of the peat
hopper A is a rotating axle fitted with fixed blades or beaters, which scatter the
peat as it falls, and evenly distribute it upon an endless apron C to which a
suitable speed of travel is imparted. This apron conducts the peat to the mouth
of a shute D leading directly to the baling press proper. Below the hopper A³ is
a sieve E to which a suitable shogging motion is imparted by a system of cams,
rods and levers from the shaft F or any other convenient point of the machine.
The sulphate or sulphates fall from the hopper A² onto the sieve E and are sifted
and evenly distributed by it over the peat or its equivalent on the travelling
apron C, and also over the peat as it falls into the shute D.
The sieve E is caused to strike the hopper A' at each forward or return
movement by which means the sulphates are prevented from clogging the discharge
opening therein, and caused to flow uniformly into the sieve.
The peat and sulphates being thus evenly and intimately mixed, enter the
baling press at the point G and are immediately forced down and compressed by
the plunger H in regular layers of uniform thickness into a bale or cake or into
canvas sacking in the manner well understood by those conversant with baling
presses
The construction and action of the baling press being well known no description
of the drawing of it will be necessary. It may however be stated that means are
provided for automatically regulating the supply of the mixed litter to the com-
pressing piston, and for instantly stopping the machine by hand whenever required.
I would also remark that the distribution of my chemically prepared peat litter,
machine-pressed in the manner above described, is greatly facilitated by the layers
of uniform thickness composing each bale of litter.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "An improved litter for
use in Stables and elsewhere" and explained in what manner the same may be
carried into practical effect I wish it to be understood that under the above in part
recited Letters Patent I claim :-
:
First The improved litter for use in Stables and elsewhere consisting of peat
moss or equivalent absorbent bedding material properly dried and disintegrated,
intimately mixed with one or more of the sulphates of magnesia, lime, potash or
soda in the proportions stated, and compressed into bales or canvas sacking ready
for use, substantially as set forth.
Secondly: The improved litter consisting of peat moss intimately mixed with
calcined sulphate of magnesia or lime (one or both) in about the proportions stated
and compressed into bales or packages ready for use, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Symons have hereunto set my hand and
seal the Nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and night thuan