GB1574361A

GB1574361A - Apparatus for handling peat

Info

Publication number: GB1574361A
Application number: GB3044/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bord na Mona PLC
Current assignee: Bord na Mona PLC
Priority date: 1976-02-04
Filing date: 1977-01-25
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: IE44368B1; IE44367B1; SE7701106L; DE2704557A1; GB1574362A; IE44367L

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PEAT (71) We, BORD NA MONA, a Statutory Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the Republic of Ireland, of Clanwilliam House, Mount Street Bridge, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling sods of peat and, in particular, relates to apparatus for mechanically inverting, for drying purposes, a wall of moss peat sods.

In one method of harvesting moss peat, the peat is cut into rectangular shaped slabs, which are termed "sods", by means of peat winning (or cutting) machines. The winning machine builds the sods into regular stacks or walls and the walls are normally positioned adjacent and parallel to the trenches from which they are cut. Moss peat, when won by a mechanical method, is usually cut, dried and collected in less than one year to allow one cut per trench per year. The critical factor in moss peat harvesting is its air drying in wall form on the bog surface as it is necessary to achieve sufficient drying rates to permit collection at the required moisture content within the annual harvesting cycle. In order to promote air drying of moss peat it is necessary to rearrange the sods in the wall at intervals of time so as to expose the maximum surface area of the peat wall.However, with a view to reducing re-wetting of the peat during wet weather the wall form should be retained so as to maintain the smallest plan area for the maximum volume compatible with wall stability. Furthermore, in order to minimise re-wetting from unfavourable bog conditions the dryest sods with the least capillary effect should be placed on the bog as the bottom layer of a rearranged wall to act as an insulating layer, and the wetter sods which have been in contact with the bog surface should be rearranged as the top layer.

Thus, complete inversion of a moss peat wall at a certain stage of drying and the retention of the wall form is therefore an effective operation in the effort to achieve the greatest possible rate of air drying of the moss peat. The operation of rearranging or turning the moss peat sods built in wall form was formerly effected exclusively by hand, usually twice for each wall, to achieve the required moisture content reduction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for mechanically inverting moss peat walls, and so dispense entirely with manual wall-turning operations. It is also an object of the invention to obviate the difficulties encountered with known wall rebuilding machines.

Accordingly, the invention provides apparatus for mechanically inverting peat walls comprising a front lifting member pivotable about a front axis and a rear lifting member pivotable about a rear axis which is parallel to, but spaced from, said front axis such that the front and rear lifting members may be swung towards each other into overlapping arrangement, said front member including peat sod engaging means whereby the front member may engage a substantially upright stack of peat sods forming a portion of the peak wall and swing the wall portion from a substantially upright position, about said front axis, to a position in which the wall portion is disposed substantially between the front and rear axes and overlies the rear lifting member, whereupon the rear lifting member may then engage the wall portion and lift it, about the rear axis, back into a substantially upright, but inverted, position. Preferably, the front and rear lifting members are each comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart fingers and the fingers of one member are arranged in staggered relationship to the fingers of the other member, such that when the front member overlies the rear member the fingers of the rear member may pass upwardly through the interstices between the fingers of the front member to engage the peat wall portion carried by the front member and lift the wall portion out of engagement with the front member. The peat sod engaging means may comprise spikes or tines arranged on the fingers of the front lifting member. The front lifting member may be provided with a flap or flaps which are disposed adjacent to the front axis, and which are pivotable about said front axis or an axis arranged parallel thereto.When the front lifting member engages the upright stack of peat sods, the flaps may be swung into a position in which they extend laterally from, and normal to, the front lifting member so as to support the lowermost sods when the wall portion is being swung, for example, from a position in which it is inclined away from the front axis at an angle of say 10 to the vertical, through an angle of about 100 , to a substantially horizontal position where it overlies the second lifting member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes a ramp member mounted forwardly of the front lifting member, the ramp member being adapted to penetrate beneath the lowermost sod of the peak wall portion to detach the portion from the bog surface, and the ramp member comprises or includes moveable elements which agitate the peat sods and encourage movement of the wall portion upwardly on the ramp. Suitably, the ramp member may comprise a plurality of fixed fingers and a plurality of moveable fingers interposed between the fixed fingers.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a peat wall and trench; Figure la is an end elevation of the wall and trench shown in Figure 1; Figure 2 is a second form of wall and trench; Figure 2a is an end elevation of the wall and trench shown in Figure 2; Figure 3 is a side elevation of one embodi ment of a machine for inverting peat walls according to the invention Figure 4 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a linkage used in the machine of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mode of operation of a part of the machine of Figure 3; Figures 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are side elevations showing the positions of components of the machine at various stages in their operation;; Figure 8 is a plan view of the components shown in Figure 7; Figures 13 and 14 are side elevations showing the positions of components of the machine at stages in their operation; and Figure 15 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a machine for inverting peat walls according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and la illustrate a wall a of moss peat sods produced by a moss peat cutting machine of the kind sold under the trade name "Klasmann". Figures 2 and 2a illustrate a wall formed by a moss peat cutting machine of the kind sold under the trade name "STE BA 50". Yet a further form (not illustrated in the drawings) of a peat wall commonly used is that formed by the machine sold under the trade name "STEBA 69". It will be noted that the walls are built adjacent and parallel to the trenches b from which they are cut. Essentially the walls are comprised of two longitudinally extending stacks c and d of peat sods. In the wall shown in Figure la the stacks c and d are inclined so that they meet only at the top of the stack to leave an air gap running longitudinally through the centre of the wall.The term "wall portion" as used throughout the specification is intended to mean an upright stack of peat sods forming a portion of the peat wall as indicated by the chain dotted lines X - Y in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention is not limited in its use to the particular form of peat walls described.

One embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4 and comprises essentially a front lifting member 1 pivotable about a front axis 2, a rear lifting member 3 pivotable about a rear axis 4 which is parallel to but spaced from the front axis and a ramp member 5 mounted forwardly of the front lifting member 1. The apparatus has ground contacting members in the form of two tracks 6 and 7.

The tracks are connected by a bridge frame 8, and a cross tube 14 welded between them at low level, leaving an open tunnel 9 between the tracks. The tracks are continuously driven by a diesel engine (not shown) through a differential gear with brake steering. The use of a differential gear is important as it allows steering without changing the average forward speed, thus ensuring a constant space for the rebuilt wall no matter what steering is done. A differential lock is fitted, released only when steering, to ensure equal movement of each track when not being steered, thus preventing machine wander and reducing the amount of steering correction necessary. It will be noted that the track 6 is narrower than the track 7.In operation the narrow track 6 sits on the bog surface between the peat wall and the trench from which it has been cut, and the wide track sits on the bog on the opposite side of the wall, while the frame 8 bridges the wall. The preferred direction of travel of the machine is such that when viewed from the front the track 6 is on the right hand side. Generally the direction of travel of the machine is opposite to that of the cutting machine. The front and rear lifting members 1 and 3 are mounted on a frame which is carried in the tunnel 9 between the tracks. The ramp 5 is carried on a frame which is mounted on a horizontal pivot 10 at the rear of the ramp section close to the bog surface, thus allowing the front of the apparatus to be lifted or lowered relative to the tracks.

The tracks are preferably about 9 ft. long while the narrow track 6 is about 12 inches wide and the wide track 7 is about 18 inches wide. The track dimensions may be varied in order that bearing pressures and traction may be improved, and provision may be made for track-height adjustment to allow for compensation for bog slope. The open tunnel 9 between the tracks may measure, for example about 50 inches wide by 52 inches high.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 8, the ramp member 5 comprises eight fixed fingers 11 which extend forwardly of the machine and are inclined downwardly, towards the bog surface, at an angle of about 20 to the horizontal. Interposed between the fixed fingers 11 are eight moving fingers 12.

The linkage for driving the moving fingers 12 is illustrated in Figure 5 and comprises a frame 21 on which the fingers are mounted.

The frame 21 is suspended on two links 22 which are attached to two bell cranks 20 and 23 mounted on the top frame of the machine. The bell cranks 20 and 23 are ied by a link 24 and are driven through a link 25 by an eccentric 26. This arrangement gives a component of motion perpendicular to the fixed fingers 11. A second component of motion parallel to the fixed fingers 11 is obtained by means of a link 27 attached to a pivot 28 on the front suspension link 22, and to a pivot of a bell crank 29 which is driven through a vertical link 30 by a bell crank 31 on the top frame. The bell crank 31 is driven through a link 32 by an eccentric 33. The two eccentrics 26 and 33 are connected by a timing chain (not shown) to give the desired locus of a point on the moving fingers.

Adjustment of the various bell crank lever lengths and the timing between the two eccentrics allows control of the motion desired.

Figure 6 shows the relative positions of the fixed fingers 11 and the moving fingers 12, and shows the loci of the extreme points of the moving fingers 12. It will be noted that the locus of any point on the moving finger 12 is approximately an ellipse in the vertical plane which has its centre on the line of the fixed fingers 11. At the extremes of forward and backward travel the moving fingers 12 are in the same plane as the fixed fingers 11. During the forward travel of the moving fingers 12 they are below and during the backward travel they are above the fixed fingers 11. Suitably the fixed fingers are 32 inches long while the moving fingers are 25 inches long.

The linkage described above for driving the moving fingers 12 is duplicated, one on each side of the moving finger frame 21. As shown in Figure 4 the bell cranks 31, 20 and 23 on the top frame are connected across the top frame by shafts 40. 41 and 42. Although only one set of moving fingers is necessary by duplicating the link arrangement two sets of moving fingers may be driven and the timing between the motions of the two sets be adjusted to give maximum agitation of the peat wall. The ramp portion 5, which is the subject of patent application No. 25525/ 79 (Serial No. 1574362 divided from the present application, has advantages over prior known peat agitators in that the width of the apparatus is considerably reduced which allows for a smaller and more manoeverable machine having a track between the peat wall and the trench.Furthermore, the operator can adjust the movement of the two sets of moving fingers to govern the severity of the agitation of the wall depending upon the condition of the wall.

Inversion of the peat wall is carried out by means of the front and rear lifting members 1 and 3. Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the front lifting member 1 comprises six spacedapart fingers 35 carried on the shaft 2. The fingers 35 are positioned in line with the moving fingers 12 of the ramp member. The shaft 2 is pivoted to allow the fingers 35 to swing from approximately 10 below the horizontal (as shown in Figure 7) upwardly through 1300 to approximately 30 forward of the vertical (as shown in Figure 9). The shaft 2 is driven through a chain and sprocket by a hydraulic ram and lever (not shown), the chain drive increasing the angular movement of the shaft 2 by 3. Attached to the front face of each of the fingers 35 are a series of curved spikes or tines 36.The tines are of 4 inch diameter and their ends are ground to a point. The tines are preferably positioned at 6 inch centres along each of the fingers 35 from 9 inches to 33 inches from the centre of shaft 2. The centres of the curves of all of the tines are on the shaft centre and the length of the tines increases from 3 inches to 5 inches, the tines closest to the shaft 2 being the shortest, those furthest from the shaft 2 being the longest. The fingers 35 are suitably 35 inches in length.

A second shaft 37 (see Figure 3) runs across the face of the fingers 35, parallel to and spaced about 42 inches from the main shaft 2. Attached to the shaft 37, in line with the fingers 35, are six flaps 38, which are approximately 6 inches long, and which can swing from a position in which the top of the flaps are in the same plane as the top of the fixed fingers 11 of the ramp when the fingers 35 are in the fully forward position, to a position in which the top of the flaps are parallel to the face of the fingers 35 of the first lifting member 1. The flat shaft 37 is driven by a rotary hydraulic actuator (not shown) on the end of the shaft. Curved pieces 13 are fitted between the flaps and fixed rigidly to the fingers 35. They form arcs of circles the centres of which are coincident with the centre of shaft 2.These curved pieces provide a continuous surface over which the sods travel and so prevent the sods falling into the gap between the ramp 5 and the front lifting member 1.

The rear lifting member 3 is also comprised of six fingers 39 which are carried on the rear shaft 4. The shaft 4 is parallel to and in the same horizontal plane as the front shaft 2, and is spaced 39 inches behind the front shaft 2. The rear shaft 4 is pivoted, allowing the fingers 39 to swing from the horizontal (as shown in Figure 7) upwards through 100" to 10 behind the vertical (as shown in Figure 9). The fingers 39 are 34 inches long and are positioned in line with the fixed fingers 11 of the ramp member. Thus the fingers 39 of the rear lifting member are staggered in relation to the fingers 35 of the front lifting member such that the fingers 39 can pass between the fingers 35 when the front end of the rear lifting members are in overlapping arrangement. The rear shaft 4 is also driven by a hydraulic ram and lever (not shown).The two hydraulic rams are controlled by solenoid operated hydraulic valves and electrical micro-switches. The solenoids are such that one electrical starting signal initiates the operating sequence of the shafts 2 and 4 and the flap shaft 37.

Curved pieces 15 are fitted between the fingers 39 and fixed rigidly to the cross-tube 14. They form arcs of circles, the centres of which are coincident with the centre of shaft 4.

The apparatus is enclosed between two side sheets which run along each side of the machine from the front to the back of the tracks 6 7. The side sheets are 44 inches deep and are 35 inches apart along the plane of the fixed fingers 11 of the ramp, from the front of the machine to a point 6 inches in front of the start of the curved extension 13 of the fingers 35, spreading to 39 inches at the top of the sheeting. The two side sheets are parallel, vertical and 39 inches apart from the point mentioned above to the centre of the shaft 4. Rearwards of shaft 4 the side sheets taper to 35 inches apart at their tops and remain at 39 inches apart at their bottoms. A peat wall dividing member 44 (see Figure 15) is suspended from the top frame of the ramp member and is arranged on the longitudinal centre line of the machine.The dividing member comprises two separate plates 45 which are positioned in the vertical plane and are pivoted together on the front vertical edge. The distance between the back vertical edges of the two plates is controlled by a linkage and can be varied from between 2 inches to 5 inches. Each of the plates is 12 inches deep and 12 inches long. The front vertical edge of the two plates is disposed vertically above the front of the central moving finger 12.

The distance between the moving finger 12 and the bottom of the front edge of the plates is 18 inches. The linkage for separating the plates is driven by a link on the moving finger drive so that as the moving fingers 12 travel rearwards the two plates are pulled together and as they travel forwards the plates are pushed apart. Provision is made for lateral movement of the dividing members relative to the frame, which movement is controlled by the operator, such that the walls need not enter the machine tunnel 9 exactly on centre.

In operation the machine is driven into the moss peat wall as shown in Figure 7. The height of the frame carrying the ramp 5 is adjusted so that a wall portion is eased up the ramp without damage to the bottom sods of the wall portion. When the machine has reached the position shown in Figure 7 the front lifting member 1 is swung upwardly so that the spikes are forced into the face of the sods as shown in Figure 9. The flaps 38 are then pivoted upwardly (see Figure 10) to provide support for the lowermost sod of the peat wall portion. The front lifting member is then swung rearwardly to carry the wall portion towards the horizontal position. As the front lifting member moves through the horizontal, the fingers 39 of the rear member 3 enter the interstices between the fingers 35 so as to support the sods and as the front lifting member continues to move downwardly the spikes are withdrawn from the sods (see Figure 11) by the fingers 39. The rear lifting member 3 is then pivoted upwardly to carry sods upwardly towards the vertical and to deposit them as an inverted wall portion rearwardly of the machine (see Figure 12). As the rear lifting member deposits the sods behind the machine, the front lifting member 1 swings up again to spike the next wall portion and the rear lifting member returns to the horizontal position to allow for the transfer of the next wall portion.The forward travel speed of the machine is set to give a movement of one sod width during the time required to complete the transfer of one wall portion.

As the machine progresses through the wall, the wall dividing member opens up the top two pairs of sods to the full width of the side sheets, and as the rear lifting member 3 carries the sods rearwards the sheeting pushes in the top pairs of sods of the inverted wall portion so that the two halves of the rebuilt wall lean in towards one another to increase the size of the longitudinal gap between them which gives improved air circulation and provides a wide base which gives stability to the walls.

A fixed plough is mounted under the lifting members 1 and 3 and is angled so as to push loose material under the half of the rebuilt wall nearest the trench. This helps to improve the wall stability as the bog surface generally tends to slope downwardly towards the trench.

As shown in Figures 13 and 14, a series of wedge shape pieces may be fitted to the fingers 39 of the rear lifting member 3 so as to displace the sods relative to one another as they are placed on the finger members.

This would assist the creation of air spaces in the rebuilt wall as shown in Figure 17.

It will be appreciated that a number of modifications may be made to the apparatus as described. For example, the fingers 39 of the rear lifting member 3 may be carried by a beam which extends transversely of the machine. The beam may be pivoted at the centre of the machine to allow the lifting or lowering of either half of set of fingers 39.

This would give the operator some degree of control of the two halves of the rebuilt inverted wall.

Automatic steering and height adjustment could be fitted.

The side sheeting adjacent to the ramp 5 could be oscillated with the moving fingers 12 thus aiding the movement of the wall into the apparatus without the disturbance which may result from the rubbing of the wall on the original fixed side sheeting.

In yet another embodiment rollers 43 with vertical axes are mounted ahead of the tracks as shown in Figure 15 in order to increase the machines tolerance for walls which lean or are out of line. The rollers help to feed any material which lies between the roller centres on to the ramp section.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for mechanically inverting walls of peat sods comprising a front lifting member pivotable about a front axis and a rear lifting member pivotable about a rear axis which is parallel to, but spaced from, said front axis such that the front and rear lifting members may be swung towards each other into overlapping arrangement, said front member including peat sod engaging means whereby the front member may engage a substantially upright stack of peat sods forming a portion of the peat wall and swing the wall portion from a substantially upright position, about said front axis, to a position in which the wall portion is disposed substantially between the front and rear axes and overlies the rear lifting member, whereupon the rear lifting member may then engage the wall portion and lift it, about the rear axis, back into a substantially upright, but inverted, position rearwardly of the machine.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front and rear lifting members are each comprised of a plurality of spacedapart fingers and the fingers of one member are arranged in staggered relationship to the fingers of the other member, such that when the front lifting member overlies the rear lifting member the fingers of the rear lifting member may pass upwardly through the interstices between the fingers of the front lifting member to engage the peat wall portion carried by the front lifting member and lift the wall portion out of engagement with the front member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the peat sod engaging means comprises spikes or tines arranged on the fingers of the front lifting member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims including a ramp member mounted forwardly of the front lifting member, the ramp member being adapted to penetrate beneath the lowermost sod of the peat wall portion to detach the portion from the bog surface.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ramp member comprises or includes moveable elements which agitate the peat sods and encourage movement of the wall portion upwardly on the ramp.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ramp member comprises a plurality of fixed fingers and a plurality of moveable fingers interposed between the fixed fingers.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moving fingers of the ramp member are positioned in line with fingers comprising the front lifting member.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the front lifting member is provided, adjacent the front axis with a plurality of flaps which are about an axis coincident with or parallel to said front axis, such that when the front lifting member engages the upright stack of peat sods, the flaps may be swung into a position in which they extend laterally from, and normal to, the front lifting member so as to support the lowermost sods of the wall

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the next wall portion. The forward travel speed of the machine is set to give a movement of one sod width during the time required to complete the transfer of one wall portion. As the machine progresses through the wall, the wall dividing member opens up the top two pairs of sods to the full width of the side sheets, and as the rear lifting member 3 carries the sods rearwards the sheeting pushes in the top pairs of sods of the inverted wall portion so that the two halves of the rebuilt wall lean in towards one another to increase the size of the longitudinal gap between them which gives improved air circulation and provides a wide base which gives stability to the walls. A fixed plough is mounted under the lifting members 1 and 3 and is angled so as to push loose material under the half of the rebuilt wall nearest the trench. This helps to improve the wall stability as the bog surface generally tends to slope downwardly towards the trench. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, a series of wedge shape pieces may be fitted to the fingers 39 of the rear lifting member 3 so as to displace the sods relative to one another as they are placed on the finger members. This would assist the creation of air spaces in the rebuilt wall as shown in Figure 17. It will be appreciated that a number of modifications may be made to the apparatus as described. For example, the fingers 39 of the rear lifting member 3 may be carried by a beam which extends transversely of the machine. The beam may be pivoted at the centre of the machine to allow the lifting or lowering of either half of set of fingers 39. This would give the operator some degree of control of the two halves of the rebuilt inverted wall. Automatic steering and height adjustment could be fitted. The side sheeting adjacent to the ramp 5 could be oscillated with the moving fingers 12 thus aiding the movement of the wall into the apparatus without the disturbance which may result from the rubbing of the wall on the original fixed side sheeting. In yet another embodiment rollers 43 with vertical axes are mounted ahead of the tracks as shown in Figure 15 in order to increase the machines tolerance for walls which lean or are out of line. The rollers help to feed any material which lies between the roller centres on to the ramp section. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for mechanically inverting walls of peat sods comprising a front lifting member pivotable about a front axis and a rear lifting member pivotable about a rear axis which is parallel to, but spaced from, said front axis such that the front and rear lifting members may be swung towards each other into overlapping arrangement, said front member including peat sod engaging means whereby the front member may engage a substantially upright stack of peat sods forming a portion of the peat wall and swing the wall portion from a substantially upright position, about said front axis, to a position in which the wall portion is disposed substantially between the front and rear axes and overlies the rear lifting member, whereupon the rear lifting member may then engage the wall portion and lift it, about the rear axis, back into a substantially upright, but inverted, position rearwardly of the machine.

portion as it is being swung from a substantially upright position, about said front axis, to a position in which it is disposed substantially horizontally between the front and rear axes.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, wherein a wall dividing member is suspended above the ramp and comprises two plates pivoted together at the front vertical edge of the member, means being provided to alter the distance between the rear vertical edges of the plates so as to periodically alter the angle of inclination of the plates relative to each other.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for moving the plates relative to each other is linked to the drive of the moving fingers of the ramp, such that as the moving fingers travel rearward the two plates are pulled together and as the fingers travel forwards the plates are pushed apart.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 10, wherein a plurality of wedge shaped pieces are fitted to the fingers of the rear lifting member so as to displace the sods relative to each other as they are engaged by the fingers.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is mounted on tracks driven by an engine through a differential gear and provided with brake steering.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein rollers are mounted on vertical axes forwardly of the tracks and act to guide the wall portion to the ramp.

14. Apparatus for mechanically inverting walls of peat sods substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus for mechanically inverting walls of peat sods substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.