A Machine for the Destruction of Weeds and the like on Paths in Parks and on other Roads.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for the Destruction of Weeds and the like on Paths in
Parks and on other Roads.
I, CARL PANTEN, of Thammenhain, Post Falkenhain, District of Leipsic, in
the German Empire, Head Gardener, 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:-
Paths in parks and other roads are usually kept free from weeds by loosening
the gravel and soil and removing the weeds, which is a very inconvenient method,
because the soil has to be pressed down again and the layer of gravel has to be
renewed or added to afterwards.
This invention is designed to destroy the weeds in a more rational manner
by a machine which heats the soil to a certain depth so that the weeds or plants
and the roots and germs thereof contained in the soil dry up completely and thus
lose their vitality; further the soil is rendered unfit for a long time by such heat
to support germination. The machine requires only one attendant and is very
economical.
In order that this invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts in the
various figures.
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section and
Figure 2 shows a horizontal section through Figure 1.
The machine consists of a casing b open at the bottom and running on wheels a.
A number of ovens or frames & for the reception of coke or other fuel are
arranged within the casing b in a suitable manner. Above the ovens e is
arranged a fan in the casing b, the vans f of such fan feeding air to the
ovens e in order to induce a draught to keep the coke or other fuel burning, and
to press the hot air in the ovens downwards against the soil. The vans f of the
fan are situated on a common axle g the further end of which carries a small cog
wheel which engages with a larger cog wheel i, which acts as a fly wheel and is
operated by hand through the attendant in order to rotate the fan.
In order that the air introduced by the vanes f is distributed evenly to all
the ovens c, distributing partitions are provided within the casing and are
arrange relative to one another in any manner to obtain the desired object.
When a machine constructed and heated as described is propelled on a path
or road on which the weed is to be destroyed, the radiating heat from the ovens c
and the hot air pressed down from the machine act scorchingly on the weeds
so that the parts grown above the soil or gravel wither and burn and the upper
crust or part of the path or road becomes very hot so that roots and germs are
destroyed; if there be strong roots in the soil, the operation may be repeated
if desired.
In order to secure a thorough effect, it is advisable to allow the machine to rest
on a part of the path or road for a time according to the nature of the soil and
weeds, say a minute or more or less, and then to move it along a distance corres-

page_text: ponding to the length of the heating surface, and then to let it rest again,
and so on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. A machine for the destruction of weeds and the like on paths in parks
and on other roads, having ovens c carried at a suitable distance above the soil
and adapted to scorch the weeds and plants and to heat the upper part of the
soil to destroy the roots, gerins and the like therein, substantially as described.
2nd. A form of construction of a machine as claimed in Claim 1, in which the
ovens c are carried by a casing 6 mounted on wheels and adapted to be propelled
on a path or road, and having a fan d which feeds air to the ovens e past dis-
tributing partitions k to maintain combustion therein, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of November 1899.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.