Improvements in Lumber Driers..
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
Improvements in Lumber Driers..
I, HORACE JUDSON MORTON of Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.,
Manufacturer of Lumber Driers, 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 :-
This invention relates to a lumber dryer or lumber drying kiln, to a steam heating
apparatus therefor and to a trolley or truck to be used in moving lumber into and out
of the drying chamber.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a lumber drier
embodying the invention the section being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 a
longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 a horizontal section on line 33 of
Fig. 2. Fig. 4 a perspective view of one end of the air supply conduit of the lumber
drier. Fig. 5 an enlarged view of the return joint of the steam heating apparatus
with short sections of the steam pipes fitting therein. Fig. 6 an enlarged end view of
of the steam headers of the heating apparatus and connections. Fig. 7 shews a
modified construction of the side of the lumber drier. Fig. 8 a perspective view of a
section of the side shewn in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 a side elevation of the trolley and Fig. 10
a plan thereof. Fig. 11 a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 a
vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 9 viewed in the direction indicated by the
arrows.
X are foundation piers of the lumber drier, A the floor and a false floor thereof.
The false floor a extends from the side walls ' toward the centre of the lumber drier
and to underneath the steam heating coils or pipes F.
A' are the outer walls of the lumber drier and al are the inner walls thereof.
B are the studding pieces of the side walls and b are pieces of studding laid on the
floor A on which the false flooring a is laid.
C are openings through inner walls a' through which openings heated and
moistened air can pass from the lumber drier into the space between walls a¹ and A¹
and from thence through the conduits obtained by studding pieces B and 6 to the
bottom of the lumber drier and delivered through openings C₁ back into the lumber
drier. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the apertures C in the walls a¹ are
below the top of the pile of lumber indicated by the dotted lines Y in the lumber
drier.
C2 are openings in walls A' through which air may escape from the conduits between
the walls 1, A¹, when the covers (3 are opened respectively.
C is a deflecting board designed to protect openings C from the direct action of the
wind when required.
D is a fresh air conduit extending longitudinally the entire length of the lumber
drier. Conduit D is divided into several compartments by partitions extending
transversely across it as at d Fig. 2, and dotted line Fig. 3. Air is admitted to the
end compartments of the conduit D by withdrawing slides D, D2, respectively by
means of handles 2 and air is admitted to the central compartments by withdrawing
slides D3 by means of handled from over holes D' respectively. The manner in
which fresh air contained in all or any of the compartments of conduit D is delivered

page_text: into the lumber drier, is shewn in Fig. 4 where d' are the side walls of conduit D,
d³ cross planks and d the matched and planed boards or planks forming the top of the
conduit.
D' are the apertures formed by laying planks or boards d on cross pieces d³
(Fig. 4) and through such apertures the air is delivered from conduit D in thin sheets
to the lumber drier underneath the steam heating pipes, or coils F and against the
air delivered from apertures C³ so as to mix therewith.
E are standards supporting the longitudinally extending track stringers e on which
are placed the rails e¹ for the trolleys. E¹ are cross pieces from standards E. Steam
coils or steam pipes F rest on cross pieces E', they consist of pipes f, f, extending
outward froin headers G, G1, respectively, and into the return bends f', pipe g
connecting header G with the steam supply; pipes g', 92, connecting the headers G, G¹;
valve G2 in pipe g² and blow off cock g³; steam trap G³; pipe G₁ from header G1 to
steam trap G³; and blow off cock g' to pipe G*.
g³ is the discharge pipe from steam trap G³.
Headers G, G', are connected when valve G2 is opened, as at such time steam
entering header G from the steam supply (through pipe g) can pass from header.G
through pipes g', g², into header G', as well as from header G into pipes f, and from
header into pipes . Water of condensation flowing into header G from pipes f
may flow from such header G through pipes g, 2, into header G¹, and water of
condensation in header G¹ (flowing therein from pipes f¹ and g³,92) may flow therefrom
through pipe G' into the steam trap G³..
H, H', may be metal plates acting as condensation plates.
In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the openings C, C² are made
alternately between every other two studding pieces B, and openings B2 are made
through every other one of such studding pieces. Hence, heated and moistened air
extending from the lumber drier through aperture C will extend downward between
the walls A', a¹, and a portion thereof passing through openings B2 will pass into the
next adjacent space and some thereof will then extend up and out of apertures C².
The air passing through aperture C in this construction (as well as in the first
described construction) will pass down between walls A¹, a', thence along between the
floor A and false floor a and out of aperture C' into the drier.
'
When lumber, green or air dried, has been properly piled on the trolleys run into the
lumber drier and the doors closed and steam is admitted to header G from the steain
supply, blow off cock g is opened, and steam in header G will extend therefrom
through pipes f, and into header G¹, the air in such pipes and headers escaping
through the blow off cock g or y', or through both. After the headers G, G', and
pipes f,, have been filled with steam the blow off cocks g³ and g are closed and
valve G2 is opened. Steam from header G will then extend through pipes g1, g², into
header G¹, and from headers G, G', into pipes f, f, respectively. Water of
condensation forming in pipes f will flow therefrom into header G, and from such
header through pipes 9, 92, into header G¹. Water of condensation in
pipes f¹ will flow therefrom into header G¹. Water of condensation in header G1 will
flow therefrom through pipes G' into steam trap G³. Thus when the steam heating
apparatus is first started, steam and air are blown from header G through pipes fand fi
to header G and from thence through pipe G' and blow off cock g*, and after the air
is blown from the apparatus, steam is admitted to the respective pipes f and f¹ from
the headers G, G¹, respectively. Connecting pipe g2 thus has two very important
functions, first, to connect headers G, G¹, so that both such headers will be filled with
live steam, which will extend therefrom into pipes F, connected thereto, and thus
practically reduce the length of such pipes one half relative to the travel of steam
from the headers, and, secondly, to connect such headers so that water of condensation
flowing into header G from the pipes F, extending out therefrom, may flow from
such header G into header G₁, and from thence, together with the water of
condensation in header G¹ from the pipes F, extending out therefrom, may flow to
trap G³ through pipe G. By having valve G² in the pipe connecting the headers,
steam may, when desired, be made to extend from one header G through the entire

page_text: length of pipes F into the other header G' and this is done when the heating coils
are started to drive the air in the header G and pipes F into header G1 from which it
can escape through pipe G into steam trap G and out of pipe g' or through valve g'
in pipe Gas preferred. After the air has been driven from the header G¹ the valve g'
should be closed and valve G2 opened. Without valve g² the air in the headers would
be forced into the header G and into the upper ends of the pipes F, (the ends of
such pipes farthest from the headers) and would have to be removed therefrom by
air ventcocks in the usual way.
I prefer to provide means for forcing the air ahead of the steam into one header G¹
and out therefrom (through valve g' or steam trap G³ as described) rather than to
leave headers G, G, at all times connected, as in the case when valve G2 is omitted,
but the use of an ordinary air vent cock in the headers G, G1, or either of them, or in
pipes F, or any of them, whether valve G² be used or not, is permissible.
When the steam heating apparatus is properly adjusted, fresh air is admitted
through conduit D either through one or all of the compartments thereof, and
heated and moistened air is permitted to escape through some or all of the apertures
or openings C².
In the operation of the lumber drier heated and moistened air will pass down
between walls A¹, a', thence along between the floor A and false floor a, and
through apertures C¹ into the lumber drier underneath heating coils F. Such air
delivered into the drier through the apertures C¹ is brought against and mixed with
the fresh air delivered through apertures D' and such air is then heated by coils F
and circulation thereof thus maintained. Where a wind is blowing toward the headers
and the fresh air inlets (that is, the compartment) at the header end of the drier are
opened, with the remaining fresh air inlets closed and at the same time the air
outlets C² at the other end of the drier are opened, there will be a movement or
circulation of air from the header end of the drier, termed the dry end, toward the
other end, termed the green end.
The trolley consists of channelled iron side plates I, connected together by
spreaders or separators J and supported or mounted on wheels K.
The several spreadors or separators J are duplicates, and each one thereof is
constructed and secured in place between the channels I, I', as follows:-
62 is the rim of the spreader or separator preferably circular in cross section; 63 the
web thereof and 6 the hub. The hub b is of slightly greater length than the width
of rim 62 that is, the hub b' extends a short distance beyond the edge of the rim 62
(Fig. 11), so that such extensions of the hubs shall enter the holes a², a",
respectively, in the web of channels I, b' are the extensions of hub 6' but not of
sufficient length beyond the edge of rim to extend through the web of the
channels I, that is, the thickness of the webs of the channels respectively, is greater
than theextensions b' beyond the edges of rim 62,66 is a longitudinal hole through hub b
through which hole, as well as through openings a², «, in channels I', extends the bolt b
having a head b" at one end, nut 6 on the other end and washers 610 adjacent to the
web of channels I. When the several parts constituting the spreaders or separators J
are assembled in place, (Fig. 11) the nut 60 is screwed up against the washer b¹º
adjacent thereto, so that such washer, as well as the washer 6" adjacent
to the head b" shall be brought against the web of the channel adjacent
thereto, sufficiently to spring the webs of the channel inward, to bow them inwardly
(the amount of such spring being determined by the character of the steel forming
the channels) and thereby such webs exert a tensile strain on the bolts b³.
loosening of the nut 69 is thereby prevented, the washers 61° being forced against the
head b" and nut 6º respectively.
The
Wheel K is constructed and mounted in place between the channels I, in the
following manner :-
L is a stationary axle to bring which down as low as possible in the channels I, as
well as to ensure the rigidity and non rotability of such axles, a portion thereof is
removed at each end, forming shoulders e² arranged respectively, to come in contact

page_text: with the inner faces of the channels I, adjacent thereto, opposite the lower flange of
such channels, and the horizontal faces 3 coming in contact with a corresponding
face in the hole through the web of the channels respectively. M are rollers in the
hole in hub d extending around the axle L (Fig. 12). Wheel K has the flanged
rim d³, web do, and hub d'. N are washers, preferably mounted to rotate on the
axle L at the ends of the hub d' of wheel K. Washers N are designed to keep the
rollers M in place in the hub d' and also prevent friction in the rotation of wheel K
and rollers, by presenting to the ends of the rollers a rotating face or disc against
which such ends shall abut, instead of the web of the channels. A further object of
the washers is, to present a surface or disc which shall extend below the lower flange
of the channel irons, and adjacent to the ends of the rollers to enable the axle L to
be set down, as herein before stated, in the channels I, and so obtain a trolley whereof
the wheels are of the largest possible diameter as compared with the depth of the
channels used; it being considered essential that the flange of the wheel K shall not
come above the upper edge or top of the channel forming the top of the trolley. As
many rollers M as may be desired can be used around the axle L.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. In a lumber drier, the combination of headers, steam pipes extending outward
from. the headers and joined at their ends farthest from the headers, a steam
connection between the headers with a valve interposed in such connection, a
connection between one of the headers and a steam supply, and a blow off cock to
the other header, for the purpose specified, substantially as described and shewn.
2. In a lumber drier, the combination of headers, steam pipes extending outward
from the headers and joined at their ends farthest from the headers, a steam
connection between the headers with a valve interposed in such connection, a steam
trap, a connection between one of the headers and a steam supply, and a connection
between the other header and the steam trap with a blow off cock in the last named
connection, for the purpose specified, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In a lumber drier, the combination of steam headers, means for supplying steam
thereto, steam pipes extending outward from the headers respectively, such steam
heating pipes joined at the ends thereof farthest from the headers, a steam connection
between the headers independently of the steam heating pipes, and means for
releasing air from the headers and steam heating pipes, for the purpose specified,
substantially as described and shewn.
4. In a lumber drier, the combination of headers, steam pipes extending outward
from the headers and joined at their ends farthest from the headers, a steam
connection between the headers with a valve interposed in such connection, a steam
trap, a connection between one of the headers and a steam supply, and a connection
between the other header and the steam trap with a blow off cock in the last named
connection, and means for admitting cool air to the drying room, for the purpose
specified, substantially as described and shewn.
5. In a lumber drier, the combination of a fresh air conduit consisting of a
longitudinally extending chamber underneath the heating apparatus of the drier,
and openings on the sides of the longitudinally extending chamber whereby thin
sheets of air are delivered therefrom into the drier, for the purpose specified,
substantially as described and shewn,
6. In a lumber drier, the combination of a fresh air conduit consisting of a
longitudinally extending chamber underneath the heating apparatus of the drier,
such chamber divided into compartments, with means for controlling the admission
of air to such compartments severally, and openings on the sides of the longitudinally
extending chamber whereby thin sheets of air are delivered therefrom into the drier,
and means for returning beated and moistened air from near the top of the drier to,
and mixing it with, such sheets of fresh air, for the purpose specified, substantially
as described and shewn.
7. In a lumber drier, the combination of an air supply conduit consisting of a

page_text: longitudinally extending chamber underneath the heating apparatus of the drier,
such chamber divided into compartiments, with means for controlling the supply of
air to the several compartments, and with openings on the sides of the longitudinally
extending chamber through which sheets of air are delivered into the drier, and
means for discharging moist air from the drier at points therein below the tops of the
piles of drying. lumber, for the purpose specified, substantially as described and
shewn.
8. The general arrangenient and combination of parts constituting the lumber
drier, substantially as described and shewn.
9. The general construction arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the lumber trolley, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 26th day of April 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.