Improvements relating to the Production of Peat-charcoal and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Production of Peat-charcoal and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, EDWARD TRAVERS ZOHRAB, of Scotscallder, Thurso, Scotland, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the treatment of peat for the production of pent-
charcoal and for the recovery of the by-products, and to apparatus therefor; and
uy said invention is chiefly designed to provide for the production of "weathered"
peat-charcoal for use in blast and other furnaces in the production of iron or steel
or other metals, or for other purposes for which "weathered" charcoal is useful.
In Treating peat according to my said invention, I first form the peat into a
pulp by treating it in a mill in which it is forced through perforations in a
hollow cone by an archimedean screw, and is then thoroughly mixed and kneaded
by means of rotary and stationary knives or blades, and then forced by other
screws through perforated plates into or through suitable moulds so as to form it
into bricks or blocks of any convenient size. The said bricks or blocks of peat are
then dried in a drying chamber such as is hereinafter described, and the dried
peat is converted into charcoal by subjecting it to heat in an improved oven
hereinafter described, the volatilized by-products being conducted into o hydraulic
main.
My improved mill comprises a perforated inverted hollow cone through which
extends a rotary shaft having mounted upon it, within the said hollow cone, au
archimedean screw for more or less compressing the peat which is fed into the said
cone, and forcing it through the perforations thereof, into a casing surrounding
the said cone and extending downward some distance below the same. In the
lower part of this casing are fixed suitable knives or blades, and on the said
rotary shaft below the said cone are also fixed suitable knives or blades. These
knives or blades are so arranged that they will thoroughly mix and knead the
peat forced through the perforations of the cone, and will at the same time press
it downward. In the lower end of the said casing one or more rotary radial
archimedean screws are arranged in combination with outlet-openings in which
are fixed perforated plates, so that the peat-pulp formed as above mentioned will
be forced through tho perforations in such plates by the said screws. Outside
the said outlet-openings are provided suitable moulds through which the peat-pulp
will be forced, and suitable means are provided for cutting the peat, as it issues
from the said moulds, into bricks or blocks of suitable length.
The said bricks or blocks are fed, preferably by means of an endless belt or band,
into a drying chamber which is constructed with any desired number of endless

page_text: belts or bands arranged one above another in separate compartments or flues and
travelling alternately in opposite directions, these belts or bands being so arranged
in combination with each other that the bricks or blocks placed on the top belt
at one end of the drying chamber will be carried by the said belt to or nearly
to the other end thereof, and will then fall from the said belt through one or more
suitable apertures, in an inverted position on to the next succeeding belt, whereby
they will be carried in the reverse direction until they fall from this belt in an
inverted position onto the next one, and so on according to the number of belts
used, the last belt delivering them to a carrier or conveyor or discharging them
from the drying chamber so that they can be placed in the charring oven. By
this arrangement I am enabled to keep them in constant motion in the drying
chamber for a period sufficiently long to ensure their being properly dried, without
employing a drying chamber of great length. I provide a suitable blowing or
exhausting apparatus for drawing or forcing cold or hot air through the said
drying chamber, and I so construct the said drying chamber that the air will
pass successively through the several compartments thereof, and preferably so
that the air will enter the said chamber at the top and leave it at the bottom and
will always travol in the reverse direction to the said bricks or blocks. I find it
advantageous to also provide suitable guides for keeping the said bricks or blocks
straight as they fall from one belt or band to another.
To dry the air before its admission to the said drying chamber, I prefer to pass
it through peat-charcoal prepared as hereinafter mentioned. I use the air either
at the ordinary atmospheric temperature or at any suitable elevated temperature
for drying the said bricks or blocks. By passing the air through the peat-charcoal,
the latter is "weathered" so that it is rendered very advantageous for use in the
mauufacture of iron or steel or for other purposes in which "weathered" charcoal
is useful.
For couverting the peat into charcoal, I employ a charring oven built somewhat
after the manner of a muffle-furnace and comprising a chamber of suitable
dimensions adapted to receive one or more boxes or tanks filled with the bricks
or blocks of dried peat, which boxes are preferably mounted on wheels or rollers
whereby they can be easily run into and out of the said chamber, and with shoes
or bearings which will rest upon suitable beds or supports in the said chamber
when the boxes are in place therein. Beneath the said chamber is a furnace or
fire-space connected with suitable bottom and side flues extending parallel to the
said chamber, and also, if desired, with a flue or flues at one or both ends thereof.
Into the said flues or some of them I introduce through suitable pipes or
passages a supply of the gas produced as a by-product in my process, or other
suitable gas for the purpose of increasing the heat applied to the said chamber.
The said chamber and the box or boxes to be inserted therein are preferably made
of such relative dimensions that, when the said box or boxes are in the chamber,
they will be out of contact with the walls thereof and an air-space will be left
between the said box or boxes and the walls of the said chamber, to prevent
overheating of the boxes or tanks.
Suitable doors and dampers are provided where necessary.
I sometimes arrange two or more ovens in such a manner that the heat can be
shut off from one of the same and applied to another at will, so that, while the
charge is being withdrawn from one oven and a fresh charge introduced into the
same, another oven can be put in operation.
I connect the top of each box or tank, while it is in the oven, with a hydraulic
main by means of a suitable pipe extending through the top or through one of
the sides of the oven.
100
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Production of Peat-charcoal and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, EDWARD TRAVERS ZOHRAB, of Scotscallder, Thurso, Scotland, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My invention relates to the treatment of peat for the production of peat-
charcoal and for the recovery of the by-products, and to apparatus therefor; and
my said invention is chiefly designed to provide for the production of "weathered"
peat-charcoal for use in blast and other furnaces in the production of iron or steel
or other metals, or for other purposes for which "weathered" charcoal is useful.
In treating peat according to my said invention, I first form the peat into a
pulp by treating it in a mill in which it is forced through perforations in a
hollow cone by an archimedean screw and is then thoroughly mixed or kneaded
by means of rotary and stationary knives or blades, and thon forced by other
screws through perforated plates into or through suitable moulds so as to form it
into bricks or blocks of any convenient size. The said bricks or blocks of peat are
then dried in a drying chamber such as is hereinaftor described, and the dried
peat is converted into charcoal by subjecting it to a suitable degree of heat in an
improved oven hereinafter described, the volatilized by-products being conducted
into a hydraulic main.
The peat charcoal is "weathered" by placing it in the current of air which is
supplied to the before mentioned drying chamber, which air is by this process
deprived of some of its moisture. In the accompanying drawings I have shown
how my said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into
practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the pulping mill, and
Figure 2 a plan in horizontal section on the line, ., Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the drying chamber on the line y, y, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional olevation of the charring oven, and
Figure 6 a plan of the same partly in section on the line z, z, Figure 5.
My improved mill comprises a cylindrical vessel A provided with a hopper B
at its upper end. A rotary shaft C extends down through the hopper to a
bearing D on the bed-plate. This shaft is supported at the upper end in a suitable
bearing D and is provided with bevel-wheel and belt driving-gear through which
it receives its motion from a suitable motor.
In the cylindrical vessel A is fixed a perforated inverted hollow come E, its
lower end terminating some distance above the lower end of the cylindrical
vessel A and being rigidly connected to the said vessel by the cross-bar F.
Within this hollow cone is a taper archimedean screw C', shaped to the taper
of the said cone, and having only enough clearance for it to revolve easily therein;
this screw is fixed upon the rotary shaft C. By means of the said screw C₁, the
peat is forced through the perforations of the hollow cone E and falls into the
chamber G in the lower part of the casing A. In this chamber are fixed suitable
knives or blades G and on the rotary shaft C below the cone E are also fixed
suitable knives or blades C, these latter being so arranged that they will, in
conjunction with the fixed blades G, thoroughly mix and knead the peat forced
through the perforations of the cone and will at the same time press it downwards
past the revolving blades C³ and through the openings A³ in the plate A¹.

page_text: Below the chamber G, are situated one or more rotary shafts c, driven by gearing
such as the bevel wheels Cc, bearing archimedean screws working in
channels e extending radially from the rotary shaft C.
The channels c' are provided near their inner extremities with openings
communicating with the chamber G, through the openings or passages A, and at
their outer extremities are fixed perforated plates H, so that the peat-pulp, formed
as above mentioned, will be forced past the knives g on the inner side of the plates
Hand through the perforations in such plates by the screws . Outside the
plates H are provided suitable moulds K through which the peat-pulp will be
forced suitable means being provided for 'cutting the peat, as it issues from the
moulds K, into bricks or blocks of suitable length.
The bricks or blocks thus formed are fed, preferably by means of an endless
belt or band L, into a drying chamber, Figures 3 and 4, which is constructed
with any desired number of endless bands L', travelling upon idlers L³, actuated
by drums L arranged one above the other in separate compartments or flues M,
each belt travelling in a contrary direction to that or those adjacent thereto.
The bricks or blocks fed in by the feed-belt L are passed along the drying
chamber on the uppermost belt L to the guide N at the far end, by which they
are inverted and conducted to the belt next below. In this manner they are
conveyed successively through every compartment or flue of the drying-chamber,
and finally discharged at L, so that they can be placed in the charring oven.
By this arrangement, I am enabled to keep the bricks or blocks in constant
motion in the drying-chamber for a period sufficiently long to ensure their being
properly dried, without employing a drying-chamber of great length.
I eniploy a suitable blowing or exhausting apparatus for drawing or forcing
cold or hot air through the drying-chamber Hues Al, and the drying-chamber is
constructed in such a manner that the air will pass from the air-duct m successively
through the several compartments thereof, and preferably so that the air will
cuter the said chamber at the top and leave at the bottom, and will always travel
in the reverse direction to the bricks or blocks as indicated by the arrows.
To dry the air before its admission to the said drying chamber, I prefer to pass
it through peat-charcoal prepared as hereinafter described. I use the air either
at the ordinary atmospheric temperature or at any suitable elevated temperature
for drying the said bricks or blocks. By passing the air through the peat-charcoal
the latter is "weathered" so that it is rendered very advantageous for use in the
manufacture of iron or steel or for other purposes in which "weathered" charcoal
is useful.
For converting the peat into charcoal, I employ a charring oven, Figures 5
and 6, built somewhat after the manner of a muffle-furnace, which charring oven
comprises a chamber P of suitable dimensions adapted to receive one or more
boxes or tanks R filled with the bricks or blocks of dried peat, which boxes are
preferably mounted on wheels or rollers whereby they can be easily run into and
out of the said chamber, and with shces or bearings which will rest upon suitable
beds or supports in the chamber P when the boxes are placed therein.
Beneath the chamber P is a furnace or fire-space S connected with suitable
bottom-flues S and side-flues S extending parallel to the chamber 1', and also,
if desired, with other flues arranged in any convenient manner. Dampers T
are provided where necessary and also soot-doors as at T.
A suitable pipe V is connected to the top of each tank R while it is in the
chamber P', which pipe extends either through the top or through one of the sides
of the chamber. By means of this pipe V, the gaseous or volatile products are
conveyed to a hydraulic main V.
Into the flues S, S or some of them, a supply of the gas produced as a
by-product in my process, or other suitable gas, is introduced through the pipes V
for the purpose of increasing the heat applied to the said chamber.
The chamber P and the box or boxes It to be inserted therein are preferably made
of such relative dimensions that, when the box or boxes are in the chamber, they

page_text: will be out of contact with the walls thereof and an air-space will be left between
the box or boxes and the walls of the chambers, to prevent overheating of the
boxes or tanks.
I sometimes arrauge two or more ovens in such a manner that the heat can be
shut off from one of the same and applied to another at will, so that, while tho
charge is being withdrawn from one oven and a fresh charge introduced into the
same, another oven can be put in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. The production of "weathered" peat-charcoal by the improved method
hereinbefore described.
Second. The production of peat-charcoal by means of the herein described
improved apparatus in which the peat is first pulped, kneaded and mixed, then
pressed through perforated plates into moulds to form it into bricks or blocks,
and then dried and charred or carbonized, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The improved mill for the treatment of peat comprising the perforated
inverted hollow cone, the taper archimedean screw working therein, the kneading
or mixing blades, and the means for forcing the pulped peat through perforated
plates into moulds for forming it into bricks or blocks, substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved drying-chamber provided with the endless travelling
bands moving alternately in opposite directions and with means for causing a
current of air to travel through the said chamber in the reverse direction to the
peat bricks or blocks, substantially as described.
Fifth. The improved charring or carbonizing oven provided with the means
whereby the by-products from the box or boxes containing the peat may be
collected, and constructed substantially as described.
Dated the 19th do'n of August 1807
EDWARD TRAVERS ZOHRAB,
D. Young & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.