IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT CHARCOAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT
CHARCOAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
A communication from abroad by Augustus Figge, Civil Engineer, of
Hanover.
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Sealed the 11th October 1867, and dated the 24th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th April 1867.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT
CHARCOAL, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
munication to me from abroad by Augustus Figge, Civil Engineer, of Hanover,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an economical mode of treating peat and of
manufacturing peat charcoal to be used as fuel for metallurgical and other
purposes, and consists essentially in the employment for that purpose of a

page_text: peculiarly arranged portable apparatus for disintegrating and moulding the
peat as fast as it is dug from the bog, and at the same time submitting it to a
considerably elevated temperature, whereby the subsequent operation of
drying the moulded peat can be accomplished quickly and effectually without
the cracking of the moulded blocks which has hitherto occurred.
According to this Invention the peat as it is dug from the bog is cast into
a bopper on the upper end of an inclined metal cylindrical chamber which is
partly contained in and supported by a portable stove or oven mounted on
wheels for convenience of transport to the locality where the peat is procured.
This chamber is kept at an elevated temperature by the external fire in the
stove or oven, and in the interior thereof there is provided a central longi-
tudinal shaft carrying a number of separate inclined knives or blades which
during the rotation of the shaft cut up and turn over the peat as fast as it is
thrown in, thereby not only disintegrating or masticating the roots, but
bringing them in contact with the bighly heated sides of the chamber along
which the peat is traversed by the screw-like action of the inclined revolving
knives or blades. One or more mouth pieces are secured to the lower end of
the chamber, and a wooden or other core is fixed in the centre of each in
order that the issuing mass of peat shall be hollow or have an opening along
the centre. The form which it is prefered to impart to the moulded peat is
that of a hollow cylinder, as this form is found to dry and char the most
readily without cracking; a man-hole and cover are provided at the lower
end of the chamber just above the mouth pieces in order to remove any
obstruction which may take place at that part. The charring of the peat
prepared in the manner above described is effected, like wood, in large heaps
on the spot in place of using retorts or ovens for that purpose.