Abstract: A peat moss harvesting apparatus includes a supporting structure attachable to a carrier vehicle, and a conveyor mechanism mounted to the supporting structure. The conveyor mechanism includes first and second pulleys and a belt assembly. The belt assembly includes at least one flexible drive element, a plurality of transverse supports mounted to the drive element, and a plurality of cover members mounted to the transverse supports. The cover members define a support surface for conveying material. The transverse supports may be longitudinally spaced apart from one another along the drive element. Each of the cover members may be fixed to a respective one of the transverse supports.

Abstract: A peat moss harvesting apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is guided through a peat moss bed to cut a section of peat moss. The section of peat moss is progressively loaded onto the conveyor mechanism as the section of peat moss is being cut.

Abstract: A peat moss harvesting apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is guided through a peat moss bed to cut a section of peat moss. The section of peat moss is progressively loaded onto the conveyor mechanism as the section of peat moss is being cut.

Abstract: An attachment mounted to an articulated boom of a carrier vehicle for harvesting and dewatering peat moss material. The attachment comprises an apertured bucket for digging peat moss material and a ram movable with relation to the bucket between an extended position and a retracted position. The ram and the bucket define a variable volume press chamber which is contractible in response to movement of the ram member toward the extended position for expressing water from the load of peat moss material gathered in the bucket. The invention also extends to a novel method for harvesting and dewatering peat moss material.

Abstract: A continuous, low severity process for dewatering peat. The process comprises the steps of flowing a slurry of peat through a reactor directly heated by the addition of live steam to heat the slurry to a temperature of between 160.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., subjecting the heated slurry to intense mechanical shear and mixing, and then, after a period of between 1 to 3 minutes, quenching the product.

Abstract: A peat harvesting machine having a peat collecting tank, and at least one collecting head with a peat inlet connected to the tank. Means are provided for setting the peat inlet at an optimum height above peaty ground to collect the peat. Means are provided on the machine for drawing peat up into the head and into the tank as the machine is moved over the ground. Means are also provided for automatically adjusting the height of each inlet as the machine moves to maintain each inlet generally at the optimum height irregardless of the changes in the contour of the ground.The invention is also directed toward a method of harvesting peat using the above machine.

Abstract: A method of collecting peat from peat field by loosening peat from a peat field in layers, characterized in that the peat to be picked up is loosened from its bed by fastening it to a filter surface by means of negative pressure and the peat is removed from the filter surface after the displacement of uplifting of said surface. A method wherein peat is removed from the filter surface by means of positive pressure. A method wherein the peat layer that is fastened to the filter surface and in which the top and bottom layers are not mixed with each other is sheared into a top and a bottom layer and the bottom layer is allowed to drop back on the field. An apparatus for collecting peat from a peat field wherein the apparatus comprises a body supported by wheels and/or rollers, and loosening means for loosening a peat layer from a peat field, wherein the loosening means comprises a drum coated with a filter material which is provided with perforations and has a negative pressure chamber therein.

Abstract: The invention provides an outlet for a peat extrusion press, the outlet comprising a pair of jaws which in the closed position thereof co-operate to define a number of side-by-side extrusion pipes and in the open position define, in place of the pipes, an unrestricted outlet. If the extrusion pipes become clogged during operation, the jaws are opened to release whatever is causing the clogging, and are then closed.

Abstract: A cake of biomass, preferably a peat cake, is dewatered by being pressed at a temperature above 90.degree. C., whereby the water in the cake is displaced by warmer water under successively increased pressure. An apparatus designed as a closed wash press is then used, in which the cake is subjected to dewatering, washing or displacement by warmer water and consequently heating as well as roller pressing.

Abstract: On a known peat harvesting apparatus for mounting on an agricultural tractor comprising (a) a digging chain for insertion into and movement across a bog so as to form a groove, and (b) a peat extrusion press, a roller (107) is mounted above the digging chain (104) to direct harvested peat into the press and prevent the apparatus from clogging. A single drive transmission connects both digging chain (104) and extrusion press (105) to the tractor power take-off shaft. A macerating mechanism is provided in the extrusion press (105) which allows extrusions of relatively small cross section to be produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peat machine for connection to a tractor or a corresponding power source. The piece peat machine is provided with a digging means for digging peat and a pressure screw for digged peat. In order to improve the production capacity and to reduce the power demand, the pressure screw is conically shaped so that its diameter diminishes towards the outlet nozzles. In addition, the thread of the pressure screw is, at the end facing the digging means, substantially at right angles to the shaft of the screw or inclined forwards towards the outlet nozzles. At the outlet nozzles, the thread is inclined backwards towards the digging means.

Abstract: A lump peat machine mills peat by means of a rotating cutter which delivers the peat to a tube containing a screw conveyor for expression through a nozzle onto the ground. The cutter is raised and lowered through means of a hollow arm supporting the cutter at one end and mounted on the tube by means of an encircling bearing at the other end. The power train for the cutter is positioned within the hollow arm.

Abstract: The invention refers to a paddle wheel type pick-up device for loading stored piled bulk materials or the recovery of mined minerals. The pick-up arrangement is supported on the frame of a carriage parallel with the breakdown front of the stored pile, or mined surface and coordinated with a travelling beam, also hinged at the carriage frame, covering the breakdown front. The beam accommodates a cutting device.