Straw fuel briquette press

摘要

A straw briquette press in form of a towable machine can in the field pick up straw or receive it from another traversing machine and press said straw to briquettes having a stable shape and density of about 1 g/cm.sup.3. The machine employs a high-speed finger press receiving the straw from a conventional feed device. The finger press consists of two rotatable blocks (1) which perform synchronized, oppositely directed rotary oscillations at great speeds. The two blocks (1) are provided with fingers (1) which grip straw during the first phase of a working stroke and then engage each other and perform a massive piston-like movement during the last phase of the working stroke when the straw is subjected to high-compression. During the return stroke the fingers are withdrawn in the same opposite paths. The two synchronized and oppositely directed movements provide a vibration-free operation. A toggle (6) is interposed between the driving connecting rod (5) and the oscillating blocks (1), resulting in a favorable spreading of the force necessary for the high- compression. The finger press forces the high-compressed straw out into the kiln pipe ( 3) in a cylindrical kiln (7) where the counter-pressure required for the compression occurs in the form of friction. The compressed straw is heated in the kiln pipe (3) and gives off developed vapors through evaporation apertures, to thereby plasticize the straw. This means that the straw can be pressed to great permanent density. The heating moreover gives the briquette a firm and water-repellent crust without separate addition of binders.