IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT FUEL AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT FUEL
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."-A communication from abroad by
Robert Arthur Griffin, of Montreal, Canada, Gentleman.
Scaled the 6th November 1874, and dated the 16th July 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th July 1874.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PEAT FUEL AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," a communication, to be as
follows:-

page_text: in less time, and with less labor, and of better quality than by the
processes at present in use.
According to the first part of the said Invention I proceed as
follows: Having selected a suitable situation, where the depth of the
log is sufficient for the purpose of making the first cut, and at the same
time nearly approaching the solid earth, piles are driven at the required
distances apart, more or less, as found desirable. To the top of the said
piles are attached the ends of timbers extending over the top of the log
and to the solid earth. These timbers are laid with a slight inclination,
being lowest at the land end. On the top of these timbers I place a
second course of timber laid crosswise, and if required secured to the
lower timbers with treenails or otherwise. This timber is covered with
square scantlings laid in the same direction as the lower timbers, a space
being left between the scantlings. This platform forms the bottom of
curing vessels, constructed by attaching scantlings to a beam of suitable
dimensions in such a manner as to give them an inclination. These
scantlings also have spaces between them, a plank or other suitable
support being placed between the two. Each separator thus constructed
forms the side of two contiguous curing vessels; they are secured on
the platform in any desired manner. The front and back ends of the
curers are formed of a single vertical row of scantling with spaces
similar to the separator, and are secured to them. On the top of the
aforesaid beam and scantling a wall piece is placed, extending the whole
length of each separator, and at the back of the same. To the top of
this wall piece two strips of iron are attached, forming
wheels of a dump waggon. This dump waggon is made to turn
completely over on pivots. A hole is cut in the earth, when the same
is filled with water by drainage from the bog; an excavator will float in
it alongside of the piles.
+
rails for the s
The said excavator is constructed somewhat like the dredging
machines commonly employed, but instead of having one row of narrow
buckets it is made with any desired number of rows of buckets. An
upper roller is driven by steam power on board the excavator vessel.
A lower roller is carried at the required distance to keep the chains taut
by hangers provided with means for lengthening them to armnancets

page_text: pinion to lower or raise the said lower roller by swinging it from the
centre of the upper roller, causing it to cut at a greater or less depth as
required, or raising it from the bed when desired.
The said buckets discharge their contents into a spout provided
with a screw extending its entire length, and rotated to assist the dis-
charge of the semi-fluid peat therefrom.
Between the power and the aforesaid machinery a friction device is
interposed, so that if the buckets should come in contact with any
obstacle any injury to the machinery will be prevented.
The peat is further prepared in mills of a similar character to those
used in forming building bricks, and in these the peat is compressed and
formed into rectangular shapes of any desired dimensions, after which it
is stored in any convenient receptacle for further drying, and may then
be taken to the market.
The said Invention relates, secondly, to the curing or drying of peat
after it has been excavated from the bog and subjected to a pulping or
manufacturing apparatus.
The excavation of the peat, the removal of foreign substances, and
the pulping may be performed by any of the ordinary processes. This
part of my Invention is designed to cure and dry it in a much shorter
time and at very much less expence than by any method heretofore
known or used.
The manner of operation is as follows:-A curing or drying vessel
having inclined sides with openings or slits in the bottom ends and sides
is provided in the sides and ends of the said vessel; these slits or
openings must be vertical. The pulped peat is then placed in the said
vessel and allowed to stand for about a week, when it will, by virtue of
the action of the said openings or slits, be found to have parted with the
great bulk of the water contained in it, and will thus have attained a
sufficient consistency to be cut, handled, and piled into heaps for further
exposure to the air.
At the end of about three weeks it will be ready
for the market.
To aid the discharge of the water it may be found advisable to employ
artificial pressure on the upper surface of the peat contained in the
curing vessel. This object may be accomplished by means of a loose

page_text: fitting cover placed in the curing vessel, and loaded with weights, or by
other suitable means. The said curing vessel is preferably made of fine
wire or wickerwork, or any porous or openworked substances. It may
be varied in shape or size, or otherwise altered or wrought to suit
particular cases. Movable partitions are also inserted in the said vessel
at suitable intervals to divide the mass of peat into pieces of convenient
size.
In actual operation the vessel would be slightly clevated above the
ground, or fixed on a barge or scow. In both cases it must be
sufficiently raised to permit the free egress of water and access of air;
and it must be placed close to the machine for excavating and manu-
facturing the peat, from which the pulped article will be discharged into
it as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent 1
Office on the 16th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 2
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four; in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and 1
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT FUEL AND IN APPARATUS
'THEREFOR," a communication to me from abroad by Robert Arthur
Griffin, of Montreal, Canada, Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of
peat fuel and in apparatus used therefor, whereby peat fuel is produced.
in less time, and with less labour, and of better quality than by the
processes at present in use.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the elevator and other parts; Figure 8 is a
plan of the same.
In these Figures the like letters indicate the same parts.
a is the solid earth; bis the peat bog. The supposed line of juncture
is indicated by the crooked chain line in the Drawings.
Having selected a suitable situation, where the depth of the bog is
sufficient for the purpose of making the first cut, and at the same time
nearly approaching the solid earth, piles c are driven at the required
distances apart, more or less, as found desirable. To the top of the said

page_text: piles are attached (by dovetails or otherwise) the ends of timbers c¹
extending over the top of the bog and on to the solid carth. These
timbers are laid with a slight incline, being lowest at the land end, and
are of considerable length. On the top of these timbers c¹ I place a
second course of timbers c² laid crosswise with them, the timbers c2
being a suitable and equal distance apart, and if required secured to the
lower timbers with treenails or otherwise. This timber is covered with
square scantling & of suitable size laid in the same direction as the
lower timbers, a suitable space d¹ being left between the scantlings.
The extent of the platform thus formed will be commensurate with the
scale of operations to be carried on. This platform forms the bottom
of the curing vessels, shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, and constructed
by attaching scantling e to a beam e¹ of suitable dimensions in such a
manner as to give them an incline, as indicated. These scantlings also
have spaces e³ between them, a plank for other suitable support being
placed between the two. Each separator f¹ thus constructed forms the
side of two contiguous curing vessels f, shown in Figures 1 and 2; they
are secured on the platform & in any desired manner. The front and
.
back ends of the curers f² are formed of a single vertical row of
scantling g with spaces similar to the separator, and are secured to them
in any proper manner. On the top of the beam e¹ and scantling e a
wale piece is placed, extending the entire length of each separator f¹
and at the back of the same, and extended as herein-after described. On
the top of this wale piece and flush with its edges two strips of iron are
attached, forming rails g² for the wheels of a dump waggon g³ to run
upon. This dump waggon is of the form shown in the Drawings, and
is made to turn completely over on the pivots g*. A hole is cut of such
depth and size that when the same is filled with water by drainage from
the bog the excavator will float in it longitudinally alongside of the
piles c. It begins the first cut and extends it along in front of the piles
as close as practicable.
The excavator h is constructed somewhat like the dredging machines
commonly employed, but instead of having one row of narrow buckets
it is made with any desired numbers of rows of buckets ³, having
together a greater width than that of the vessel h², on which they are
placed for the purpose of giving it free floating room. The upper roller ³
is driven by steam power provided on board the excavator vessel /².
The lower roller h* is carried and maintained at the required distance to

page_text: keep the chains h³ taut by hangers he provided with any desired means
for lengthening them to compensate for the lengthening of the chains
by wear. These hangers are placed at the openings or spaces i between
the rows of buckets, and passing through them on the aft side. A
segment is arranged to gear with a pinion or any suitably arranged
power to lower or raise the said lower roller by swinging it from the
centre of the upper roller ³, as indicated by the line x, causing it to cut
at a greater or less depth as required, and also providing means for
altogether raising it from the bed when desired.
The said buckets discharge their contents into a spout situated
as indicated in the Drawings, and provided with a screw ³ extending its
entire length, and rotated by the machinery to assist the discharge of
the semi-fluid peat therefrom.
Between the power and the machinery a friction device is interposed,
so that in case of the buckets h' coming in contact with any obstacle the
danger of damage to the machinery may be prevented.
The peat is further prepared in mills of a similar character to those
used in forming building bricks, and in these the peat is compressed and
formed into pieces of rectangular shape of any desired dimensions, see
Figure 1); it is then stored in any convenient receptacle for further
drying and may then be taken to the market.
In commencing to operate after the platform and separators have been
constructed and arranged as above described, and the first cut com-
menced, the peat cut from the bog and discharged by the screw 2 falls
directly into the curers 2 as the excavator h¹ passes in front of each.
After the first cut has been made of the desired length the excavator is
brought back to the commencement, and introduced on a second cut,
made parallel to and adjoining the first one. In this case, and when the
excavator is not too far distant, the semi-fluid peat may be conveyed by
any suitably extended spout into the curers f. After the work has
advanced the peat from the spout 22 will be discharged in a vessel m
elevated a suitable height upon a scow m¹, and having an inclined
bottom. This is brought end on to a vessel n lying in the cut alongside
the curer to be filled. The incline of the bottom of the vessel m is such
that by opening the end its contents will slide out into the vessel n, on
which an elevator n is placed, raising it and delivering it into an
inclined spout o, down which it slides into the curers,

page_text: The curers formed as herein-before described allow of the free
separation of the water from the peat by the openings d¹ and e³ in their
bottoms and sides.
The escape of the water is further assisted by making the sides e of
considerable height, and filling the curers to the top. The upper portion
has a hydraulic action pressing the water from it. The curers are then
filled with the excavated peat in succession, and when those filled
have been sufficiently drained of the water contained in them it will be
found that the level of the peat will have fallen so much as to admit the
dump waggongs travelling on the rails g².
The beams e¹, wale pieces g¹, and rails g² may if desired be extended
at the land end on trestle work, so that when the peat is dug out of the
curers and placed in the waggon it may be run close up to the lines of
the mills and dump its contents close beside them, or at any intervening
point. The peat is now placed in the mills & and further pressed in
the form above described.
The said Invention relates, secondly, to the curing or drying of peat
after it has been excavated from the bog and subjected to a pulping or
manufacturing apparatus.
The excavation of the peat, the removal of foreign substances, and the
pulping may be performed by any of the ordinary processes.
In the Drawings illustrating this part of my Invention Figure 9 is a
perspective view of a curing vessel ready to receive the charge of peat;
Figure 10 is a similar view shewing the sides of the said vessel let down
to assist in the removal of the dried peat; Figure 11 is a perspective
view of a vessel in which I use a cover with weights on the top of the
same.
A is the curing or drying vessel; a, a, are openings or slits in the
sides, ends, and bottom of the same; B is a block or mass of peat;
C, C, are movable partitions; D is the said cover; and E, E, are the
weights. This part of my Invention is designed to cure and dry peat in
a much shorter time and at a very much less expense than by any method
heretofore known or used.
The manner of operation is as follows:-The curing or drying vessel A
having inclined sides with openings or slits a, a, in the bottom, ends,
and sides is provided. In the sides and ends these slits or openings

page_text: must be vertically arranged. The pulped peat is then placed in the
vessel A. and allowed to stand for about a week, when it will, by virtue
of the action of the openings or slits a, a, be found to have parted with
the great bulk of the water contained in it, and will thus have obtained
a sufficient consistency to be cut, handled, and piled into heaps for
further exposure to the air. At the end of about three weeks it will bo
ready for market.
Owing to the sloping shape of the curing vessel A the superimposed
mass of peat at the top will exert a pressure on the lower portion, and
thus assist the discharge of water from it.
Another cause of the peat parting so rapidly with the water contained
in it is the existence of so many openings surrounding the mass of peat
on all sides; and another is the vertical arrangement of these openings
which form so many channels for the water, and thus not only actually
discharge the water but also induce it to drain from the central part of
the mass of peat to the surface, whence it is carried off as described.
To aid the discharge of the water it may be found advisable to employ
artificial pressure on the upper surface of the peat when contained in the
curing vessel. This may be accomplished, as shown in Figure 11, by
means of a loose fitting cover placed in the curing vessel A. and loaded
with weights, or by other suitable means. The curing vessel A may be
made of fine wire or wickerwork, or any porous or openwork substance.
It may be varied in shape or size, or otherwise altered or wrought to
suit particular cases. Movable partitions are also inserted inside of it
at suitable intervals to divide the mass of peat into pieces of convenient
size.
In operation the vessel A would be elevated slightly above the ground,
or fixed on a barge or scow. In either case it must be sufficiently raised
to permit the free egress of water and access of air, and it must be
placed close to the machine for excavating and manufacturing the
peat, from which the pulped article will be discharged into it as
required.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The novel combination of the curers f, excavator h, scow m³,
vessel m, vessel n, elevator n³, and spout o, waggon g³, and mills k,

page_text: combined and operating together in the manner above set forth and for
the purpose described.
Second. The novel arrangement of the excavator in the vessel h²,
the rollers 3 and 4, chains 5, hangers he, buckets h¹, segment i, spout i³,
screw, all combined and operating in the manner above set forth and t
for the purpose described.
Third. An improved process of curing or drying peat by means of a
vessel or receiver A having openings or slits a, a, and movable
partitions C, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here- 1
unto set my hand and scal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
HY. JAS. NoOONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)