GB696091A - A process and apparatus for arranging peat sods for air drying - Google Patents

Abstract

696,091. Preparing peat. HESEPER TORFWERK GES. March 7, 1951 [March 20, 1950], No. 5528/51. Class 50 [Also in Group XXX] In a process for airdrying peat previously cut sods are arranged in pairs against one another in the form of an inverted V. The process may be carried out automatically by an apparatus adapted to travel over rows of cut peat sods and having a revolving drum b provided with spikes d<SP>1</SP> or a like pick-up device which picks up pairs of the sods and feeds them to a pair of endless belt conveyers f arranged to twist from a horizontal position near the drum b to a vertical position where the pairs of sods are removed from the conveyers and pass between devices i which press the upper parts of the sods together and deposit them on the ground. The drum b is driven by a motor which also drives the belt conveyers and preferably provides also the means for propelling the apparatus over the rows of peat sods. The rear of the apparatus is provided with slides l. The spikes d<SP>1</SP> are arranged on battens d secured to a flexible belt c and are extended from the circumference of the drum b by a cam disc when they reach their lowermost position to pick up the sods and eventually to transfer them to the conveyers f when the spikes are retracted. The conveyers f may have spikes g to grip the sods and also to indent their surfaces to enable the sods, when dry, to be easily broken up into smaller pieces. The devices i may consist of rakes and further pressure may be applied to the upper portions of the sods by pairs of belts or rollers n. The conveyers f may be driven at the same or at different speeds, the sods of each pair of sods in the latter case being arranged in an off-set position.