An Improved Process for Working Peat and Manufacturing the same into Briquettes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Working Peat and Manufacturing the same
into Briquettes.
We, LADISLAUS GALECKI, JOHN LOPATIN and PAUL LOPATIN, all of No. 14,
Rymarska, Warsaw, Proprietors, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object a process for the extraction of peat and the
manufacture of peat briquettes. This process consists in continuously raising
the peat mass and treating it in the bog in such a manner as to produce a
thoroughly homogeneous mass, the latter being subsequently freed by mechanical
means from foreign bodies such as sand, clay, and the like which impair its
heating power. The peat mass subjected thus to a preliminary treatment is
eminently fit to form peat briquettes of extraordinary heating power without the
use of heavy machinery such as briquette presses.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the manner of carrying the process into practice,
that is to say it illustrates the plant necessary for this purpose.
Figs. 2 to 11 are details of such plant.
The chief object of this process is to close the bog or peat pit on one side by
means of a weir or other suitable means, and to cut up the peat enclosed in such canal
into comparatively thin vertical layers, which are operated upon by suitable mixing
which is
mechanism, so as to produce a uniformly triturated peaty paste or mass,
raised by an elevator and is thrown on to a filter. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing
such a canal provided with the different machines. By means of a removable
weir a Figs. 1 and 2, the arrangement of which may be obviously suited to the
circumstances of the case, this peat gallery is enclosed. On both sides of the
latter are placed rails along which the various machines arranged above such
gallery or canal can travel. The cutting machine b cuts up the peat in vertical
sections or layers which are turned over or otherwise broken up. This cutting
machine, which may be of any suitable construction, may be constructed as
illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The same consists of a travelling platform b¹
and a frame upon which is mounted a cutting appliance 62, of the same width
as the peat canal, and capable of rising and falling; this cutter 62 is made of any
suitable material, but preferably of non-oxidizable metal, and actuated by chains or
ropes. Its lower end is sharpened to facilitate the cutting or slicing operation
which it effects by gravity, or (if insufficient) pressure is added. Fig. 6 shows the
form of this cutting appliance 2. The peat layers disengaged by the cutting
machine are subsequently operated upon by a mixing machine, which reduces
them into homogeneous pulp or paste. This mixing machine may likewise be
0 of any suitable construction. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate such a machine which is
particularly adaptable for the purpose. This mixing machine consists of a plat-
form c mounted on wheels and fitted with a suitable frame c¹ for effecting the
7

page_text: up and down motion of the mixing rollers ². These rollers consist of a number of
shafts fitted with teeth as shown the teeth of one roller being arranged so as to
pass between the teeth of the adjoining roller. These rollers are actuated from
the platform by means of chains and chain wheels in any suitable manner.
Between each pair of movable rollers there is arranged one fixed shaft which
cannot turn. As the mixing rollers are set in operation, the peat taken from the
cutting machine is seized and worked into an uniform mass which is propelled
by the rollers of the mixing machine on to the rear end of the peat canal. The
cutting machine and the mixing machine are each provided with suitable
driving gear in order to travel along the rails.
Behind the mixing machine, there gradually accumulates in the peat canal
a peat pulp of thoroughly uniform consistence. This peat pulp is raised out
of the said canal by an elevator d of any suitable construction, and dropped into
casks or barrels placed upon a truck e moving upon rails arranged alongside the
peat canal, in order to convey this peat mass to the works or elsewhere. In these
casks or barrels shaft provided with knives may be arranged and actuated by
suitable driving gear driven by the axles of such trucks, so that the peat pulp
may be further worked and divided during its transport in the casks or barrels.
In the end of each cask or barrel, an opening is formed a little above the bottom,
and is closed by reticulated material, the meshes of which are sufficiently large
to allow the peat pulp to enter, but are small enough to arrest large fibrous pieces
of peat, or roots. This opening, normally closed by a stopper, is opened when
the casks or barrels have reached the filtering apparatus. It is advisable to
allow the pulp to stand still for a while before the filtering operation is com-
menced, so that heavy foreign substances may be first allowed to settle down.
The pulp is subsequently allowed to run into filter-boxes closed at the bottom by
reticulated material and provided with an underlayer of straw. In these filter
boxes the peat condenses in a comparatively short time, this condensation being
accelerated by means of a heavy roller. When the peat is sufficiently condensed
the various briquettes are cut out, preferably by the apparatus shown in Fig. 9
consisting of a mould provided with a tubular neck, and in which is located a
stamp provided with a handle moving in such neck, whereby a pressure is
applied upon the briquette. The briquettes thus cut out are dried on the
surface, and, as soon as they are sufficiently firm, they are laid in separate layers
one upon the other, while a beam is placed on the top of each of these layers
and is suitably guided, such as by a rod sliding in a tube, so that it may sink
down while gradually compressing the briquettes. The adjoining beams are
connected together by horizontal rods, as shown in Fig. 10. "Over these beams
is erected a projecting roof which serves first to protect the briquettes from rain,
and, secondly to increase the pressure thereon. In this manner the peat is
continuously raised out of the peat bog in the form of a homogeneous mass, and
is converted into briquettes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: :-
1. The improved process for working peat from the bog and manufacturing the
same into briquettes, substantially as described.
2. In the treatment of peat, the improved method of cutting, mixing, filtering,
and drying, characterised by enclosing portions of a bog with a weir, and moulding
the peat into briquettes, substantially as described.
Dated 20th May 1899.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicants.