IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND DRYING PEAT AND CAR. BONIZING THE SAME.
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Judge Hays, of King's Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND DRYING PEAT AND CAR.
BONIZING THE SAME.'
Sealed the 2nd July 1869, and dated the 5th January 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Judge Hays
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th January 1869.
I, JOSEPH JUDGE HAYS, of King's Cross, in the County of
Middlesos, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OF APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND DRYING PEAT,
AND CARBONIKING THE SAKE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery, or apparatus
for treating peat in order to dry and carbonize it, in ordor to render it
fit for fuel or other useful purposes.

page_text: The peat is first obtained from the bog by means of a machine
consisting of a drum or drums fixed to a suitable framing, and caused
to rotate by means of a portable or other engine, either attached to the
machine or separate. The drums are formed with inclined cutting
segments, which pare down the peat in thin strips or layers, which fall
into the interior of the drums, and are there triturated and thrown out
on to endless bands, or otherwise by means of rapidly revolving arms
rotating round the axis of the drum, but at a greater speed. The peat
is then conveyed by boats or trains to the apparatus herein-after
described, where it undergoes a further trituration, and artificial drying.
The peat is first placed in a hopper, whence it falls into a chamber
containing a series of revolving axles, each carrying any number of
arms or blades, and revolving at increasing speeds, that is to say, the
revolving blades on the first of the series divide the peat and throw
it into the arms of the next, which revolve at a greater speed, breaking
it finer and throwing it into the next series, and so on, until the arms
of the last series throw it into the hopper of an elevator, consisting of
cans, scoops, or buckets on an endless band or chain, and having
moveable bottom plates working on hinges, so that when the scoops
are turned over after travelling on the band or chain over the topmost
pulley wheel, the bottom falls forward and forces the peat to drop out.
The triturated peat is delivered by the elevator into a hopper placed
over a centrifugal drying machine, which is constructed and caused to
rotate in a similar manner to those machines already well known as
centrifugal machines, but my improvement in this part of the apparatus
consists in the method of confining the peat in chambers or cells, and
in the mode of feeding and delivering the peat, while the machine is in
motion, in order to effect which, I construct a machine revolving on a
vertical axis, having an opening at the top, placed directly beneath a
feeder attached to the hopper hereia-before described. The feeder is a
chamber or box having sliding doors or flaps at top and bottom, and
constructed so that when the upper door is closed the lower one opens
and delivers a certain quantity of peat into the centre of the centrifugal
machine while in motion, when the peat is immediately forced to the
circumference, where there are a number of cells into which it is
compressed, and its water driven off through perforations in the doors.
I form these doors (by preference) of double thicknesses of perforated

page_text: metal or wire netting, and between these I place a diaphragm of any
woven material, such as sacking for instance, which can be removed or
replaced with another when required. The doors are hinged to the
frame of the centrifugal machine, and held closed by means of catches
and springs, which can be put in connection with tappets placed at
certain distances apart, and moved by hand lever to effect the delivery
of the peat while the machine is in motion. The tappets are raised by
the levers, and the catches which hold the doors are released, when the
centrifugal force imparted to the part within the machine forces the
doors open, and the peat falls into the netting placed to receive it, and
from theuce on to endless bands or otherwise, and is thereby carried to
the store or kilns, as the case may be; on slackening the speed of the
machine the doors again close, and a fresh supply of wet peat enters
the machine as before.
I also arrange the machine to mould the peat within the cells or moulds
herein-before described, in which case I prefer to stop the machine to
take out said moulds containing the dried peat, and replace them by
empty ones. In many cases I drive hot or dry air through the peat while
in the centrifugal machine, which can be heated by means of passages or
flues formed in the masoury of a chimney stack or otherwise, as may be
found expedient.
The next part of my Invention relates to a new mothod of carbonizing
peat, in order to effect which I construct a vertical chamber or kiln,
having a closed hopper at the top, and a similar hopper at the bottom,
the one for charging the kiln with peat, without allowing the gases to
escape while obarging, and the other for discharging the charcoal. The
kiln is formed of an inner and outer shell, leaving between the two a
coufined space, within which I cause the gases from the peat, after
having been deprived of the tar and moisture by condensation, to be
burnt with a certain supply of air necessary for their combustion, the
kiln being always kept full of peat, which is heated by the gas surround-
ing it, and at the same time a regulated quantity of air is admitted
through apertures situated round the lower part of the kiln, which
rises through the superincumbent mass of heated peat, and goes off with
an admixture of peat gas, forming a highly carbonizing gas, increasing
the inflammability and heating powers of the gases employed for heating

page_text: and carbonizing the peat as herein-before described to be burnt in the
spaces between the shells of the kiln.
Another improved kiln I construct as follows:-I form a vaulted
chamber of any desired length placed horizontally, having at one end a
luted door, and along the sides near the bottom I form a number of air
holes which can be opened or closed at pleasure; down the centre of the
kiln is a channel leading to a chimney or to a condenser, as the case may be,
The effect the operation of charring peat in said kiln, the kiln is filled
with peat and the door luted, the side holes are all closed except two or
more nearest to the end of the kiln through which the peat is ignited, and
two or more adjoining holes opened as the process of carbonizing proceeds
the same operation being repeated until the peat is all charred in the
kiln, and all the holes close; the kiln is then allowed to cool.
These several processes need not necessarily be all carried out in the
order detailed, but each process may be performed separately if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Joseph Judge Hays in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th July 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
JUDGE HAYS, of King's Cross, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Judge Hays, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Judge Hays, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Judge
Hays, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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

page_text: for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND DRYING
PEAT, AND CARBONIZING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Judge Hays, 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 name 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 Joseph Judgo Hays, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 improved machinery or apparatus for getting
peat from the bog, to improved machinory for working and drying peat
for fuel, and to improved modes of carbonizing pent. The machine I
employ for digging or getting peat from the bog consists of a drum fixed
to a proper framing and caused to rotate by means of a portable engine
either attached to the machine, though it may be separate therefrom.
The drums are formed with inclined cutting segments that pare down
tho peat in thin strips or layers, which fall into the interior of the
drum, and are there triturated and thrown out on to endless bands or
otherwise by rapidly revolving arms rotating round the axis of the drum
but at a greater speed. The peat is then conveyed by boats or trains
where it undergoes a further process of trituration and artificial drying
as follows:-The peat first enters a hopper, falling from thence into
a chamber containing a series of revolving axles each carrying any
number of arms or blades and revolving at increasing speeds, that
is to say, the revolving blades on the first of the series divides the
peat and throws it into the arms of the next which revolves at a
greater speed breaking it finer and throwing it into the next, and so
on, until the arms of the last of the series throw it into the hopper of an
clevator.
My improved elevator consists of cans or buckets on an endless band
or chain, such buckets being constructed with moveable bottoms working
on a hinge so that when the bucket is turned over the bottom falls
forward and forces the peat to drop out. The triturated peat is delivered

page_text: by the elevator above described into a hopper placed over my improved
centrifugal drying machine which machine is constructed in and caused
to ro'ate in a similar manner to those machines already well known as
centrifugal machines, but my improvements comprehend the peculiar
manner of confining the peat in chambers or cells, and in the mode of
feeding and delivering the peat while the machine is in motion; in order
to effect which I construct a machine revolving on a vertical axis having
an opening at the top placed directly beneath a feeder, attached to the
hopper herein-before described; the feeder is a chamber or box having
sliding doors or flaps at top and bottom constructed so that when the
upper door is closed the lower opens and delivers a certain quantity of
peat into the centre of the centrifugal machine while in motion, when
the peat is immediately forced to the circumference where there are a
number of cells into which it is compressed and its water driven off
through perforations in the doors. I form these said doors by preference
of double thickness of perforated metal or wire netting, and between
these I place a diaphragm of any wove material, such as sacking for
instance which can be removed and replaced by other materials when
required. The doors are hinged to the frame of the centrifugal machine
and held closed by means of catches and springs, which can be put in
connection with toppets placed at certain distances apart and moved by
hand levers. To effect the delivery of the peat while the machine is in
motion the tappets which hold the doors are released, when the centri_
fugal force imparted to the peat within the machines forces the doors
open and falls into netting placed to receive it, and from thence on to
endless bands or otherwise; and thereby carried to the stove or kiln, as
the case may be; on slackening the speed of the machine the door again
closes and a fresh supply of wet peat enters the machine as before. I
also construct these centrifugal machines to mould the peat within the
cells or moulds herein-above described, in which case I prefer to stop
the machine to take out the moulds containing the dried peat and
replace them by empty ones. In some cases I drive hot or dry air
through the peat while in the centrifugal machine which can be heated
by means of passages or flues formed in the masonry of a chimney stack
or otherwise as may be found expedient.

page_text: having a closed hopper at the top and a similar hopper at the bottom,
the one for charging the kiln with peat without allowing escape while
doing so, and the other for discharging the charcoal. I form the kiln of
an inner and outer shell leaving between the two a confined space, within
which I causo the gases from the peat after having been deprived of
their tar and moisture by condensation to be burned with a certain
supply of air necessary for their combustion, the kiln being always kept
full of peat which is heated by the gas surrounding it, at the same time
a regulated quantity of air is admitted through apertures situated round
the lower part of the kiln whic's rises through the superincumbent mass
of heated poat and goes off with an admixture of pert gas, forming a
highly carbonized gas, increasing the inflammability and heating
powers of the gases employed for heating and carbonizing the peat
as herein-before described to be burned in the spaces between the shells
of the kiln.
Another improved kiln I also construct as follows:-I form a vaulted
chamber of any desired length placed horizontally, having at one end
a luted door, and along the sides near the bottom I form a number of
air holes which can bo opened or closed at pleasure; down the centre of
the kiln is a channel leading to a chimney or to a condenser as the oise
may be. To effect the operation of charring peat in said kila it is filled
with peat and the door luted, the side holes are all closed except two
or more nearest to end of the kiln through which the peat is ignited,
these holes are closed and two or more adjoining opened as the process
of carbonizing procceds the same operation being repeated until the peat
is all charred in the kiln, and all the holes closed the kiln is then
allowed to cool.
I wish it to be understood that although I have described my several
processes of treating peat in the order in which the work would in
most cases be performed, I do not confine myself to the use of all and
overy process as herein-before described, but that each or either of tne
machines or operations effected by the uso thereof may be performed
separately or conjointly.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, I now proceed to particularly describe and ascertain in
what manner the same is to be performed, by exemplifying the practical
details of my improved machinery and apparatus aforesaid, as I prefer

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Plate 1, Fig. 1, view of apparatus constructed in accordance with my
Invention for digging or getting peat from the bog. Fig. 2, plan of
same. The following letters refer to Figs. 1 & 2, Plate 1. a, a, drum ;
b, b, framing; c, portable engine; d, d, inclined cutting segments; e, e,
revolving arms or blades.
Plate 1, Fig. 3, view of apparatus constructed in accordance with my
Invention through which the peat passes previous to its delivery to 1
the centrifugal machinery (Fig. 4, Plate 1). The following letters refer to
Fig. 3, Plate 1. a, hopper; b, chamber; c, c, c, revolving arms or blades;
d, d, elevator; e, o, cans or buckets; f,f, moveable bottoms of buckets.
Plate 1, Fig. 4, view of centrifugal drying machinery, constructed in
accordance with my Invention. The following letters refer to Fig. 4 |
Plate 1. a, centrifugal machine; b, vertical axis; c, feeder; d, d, cells;
e, e, doors of cells.
Plate 2, Fig. 1, carbonizing kilp constructed in accordance with my
Invention. The following letters refer to Fig. 1, Plate 2. a, vertical
chamber or kiln; b, closed hopper at top for charging with peat without
allowing gases to escape; c, closed hopper at bottom for discharging
charcoal without allowing gases to escape; d, d, confined space or
chamber surrounding kiln; e, e, apertures for the admission of air.
Plate 2, Fig. 2, transverse section of kiln constructed in accordance
with my Invention. Fig. 3, longitudinal section of same. The following
letters refer to Figs. 2 & 3, Plate 2. a, yaulted chamber; 6, luted door
at one end; c, c, c, air holes to be opened or closed at pleasure; d,
channel leading to a chimney or to a
condenser.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to he performed or
put in operation, I hereby declare that I claim the "Improvements in
Machinery or Apparatus for Obtaining and Drying Peat, and Carbonizing
the same," as the same are set forth and described in this my Specifi
cation thereof. It being understood that I do not claim nor do I limit
'

page_text: myself to the use of the precise details shown by the Drawings which
are described, simply as constituent parts of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Judge Hays, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
ALEX. P. WRIGHT,
Secretary to the
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross,
Patentee's Agents,
J. J. HAYS. (L.S.)