Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1887
Complete Left, 6th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
I HENRY THOMPSON of Trinity Street, Gainsborough in the county of Lincoln,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a furnace heated by fire the furnace communicates with a
horizontal heating chamber in which are a series of air tubes at suitable distances
apart, this chamber is provided at one end with a funnel or chimney which is encased
with a larger tube a portion of its height the space between the two tubes has a spiral
metallic or other coil forming a midfeather, cold air is allowed to pass down the spiral
passage formed by the coil, and it is thereby heated by the flue and also as it passes
along the corrugated top of the heated chamber, air is also admitted into the tubes
and as it passes towards the furnace it is heated previously to being admitted to the
drying chamber. Over the furnace is the tea drying chamber in which the tea is
placed to be operated upon, in this chamber are a series of shafts with wings forming
receptacles into which the tea drops, the series of shafts are geared and connected so
as to all revolve, preferably, in the same direction being operated by hand or power so
keeping the tea constantly on the move dropping from one receptacle to another until
it reaches a revolving apron which carries it out of the chamber in a dry or finished
state, and delivers it into suitable loose boxes, at the top of the chamber is an exhaust
fan upon a suitable shaft, the top of the hot air chamber is preferably corrugated so as
to present a greater heating surface.
1008
JOHN E. WALSH,
30, East Parade, Leeds,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I HENRY THOMPSON, of Trinity Street, Gainsborough, in the county of Lincoln,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention has reference to certain improvements in or relating to what are
known as "Tea Dryers."
I employ a furnace heated by fire, the furnace communicates with a horizontal
heating chamber in which are a series of air tubes at suitable distances apart, this
chamber is provided at one end with a funnel or chimney which is encased with a
larger tube a portion of its height, the space between the said funnel or chimney and
larger tube encasing it a portion of its height has a spiral metallic or other coil
forming a midfeather.
Cold air is admitted at the top of the said larger tube (encasing the funnel or
chimney a portion of its height) and passes down the spiral passage formed by the
coil, it is thereby heated by the flue, and also as it passes along the corrugated top of
the horizontal chamber on its way or passage to the drying chamber.
Cold air is also admitted into the air tubes aforesaid preferably at an opening near
the base of the funnel or chimney, and as the said cold air passes along such tubes it
becomes heated, after which it is admitted to the drying chamber.
Over the furnace is the tea drying chamber, in this tea drying chamber are a series
of shafts, spindles, or gudgeons, preferably in rows, carrying wings or trays forming
receptacles for the tea. The tea is placed on the top tier of trays, which are revolved
by hand or mechanically, the tea then drops to the next tier of trays and then on to
the succeeding trays until it reaches a revolving apron or incline which carries the tea
out of the drying chamber into boxes provided.
The series of shafts, spindles or gudgeons (carrying the trays) are geared and
connected (by any suitable gearing) so as to all revolve; and the said series of shafts,

page_text: Fig. 1, is a front elevation in section of apparatus or dryer snewing tea drying
chamber (with revolving trays and incline) and furnace.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation partially in section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a front elevation shewing gearing or means for revolving the trays
mechanically.
Fig. 4, is a front elevation shewing gearing or means for revolving the trays
by hand.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 shew detailed modifications of revolving trays.
Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged views of revolving trays shewn in Fig. 1.
A is the door of the furnace, B are the fire bars, C is the horizontal heating
chamber, D is the chimney or funnel, E is the larger tube or outer casing, encasing
the funnel or chimney D a portion of its height, F is the coiled lining or midfeather,
G are the air tubes (in the horizontal heating chamber C above the furnace) for
heating the air whilst on its passage to the tea drying chamber H, where it is
admitted at J or other suitable openings and passes up amongst the rotating or
revolving winged receptacles or trays K which move the tea. The revolving or
rotating winged receptacles or trays K are mounted upon shafts, spindles or gudgeons,
such shafts, spindles, or gudgeons being preferably cranked; an horizontal rod L
connecting each shaft, spindle or gudgeon in each row when operated by hand.
When operated mechanically or by power the horizontal links or rods L connect every
other spindle, shaft or gudgeon on one side of the machine, and similar links L
connect every other spindle, shaft or gudgeon on the other side, vertical rods M and
cross rods M connecting the rows, the whole being operated by eccentric W at one
side of the machine and eccentric W₁ on the other side, connected by gear wheels X
and X', worm wheel Y and worm Y¹, from the driving shaft Z; or other suitable
gearing may be employed.
The revolving receptacles or trays K forming the top tier are or may be revolved
by hand, mechanically or by power, the tea then drops upon the next tier of trays or
receptacles and then to the succeeding tiers alternately until it reaches the incline N
(see Fig. 1.) or revolving apron P (see Fig. 4.) either of which may be employed for
delivering the leaf outside to suitably provided boxes.
The fan R is employed for exhausting the air from the underside or below the top
tier of trays.
Cold air is admitted at the top S, S, of the larger tube E (encasing the funnel or
chimney D a portion of its height) and passes down the spiral passage formed by the
coil or midfeather F, it is thereby heated by the flue, and also as it passes along the
corrugated top T of the horizontal heating chamber C above the furnace on its way or
passage to the drying chamber H. Cold air is also admitted into the air tubes G (in
the horizontal heating chamber above the furnace) preferably at an opening U near
the base of the funnel or chimney D, and as the said cold air passes along such tubes
it becomes heated after which it is admitted by and through suitable openings such
as J to the drying chamber H.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it understood that I do
not confine or limit myself to the exact form or shape of the revolving or rotating
wings or trays shewn, nor to the exact positions or arrangement of the openings
shewn for admitting the cold air in the manner set forth, but I declare that what I
do claim is :-
1. In the drying chamber the use and employment of revolving or rotating trays or
wings of any form for the purposes shewn and described.
2. The use and employment of the tube (encasing the chimney or funnel) and the
metallic coil or midfeather for heating the air before it is admitted to the drying
chamber substantially as shewn and described.
3. Exhausting the air out of the drying chamber from the underside or below the
top tier of trays for the purposes shewn and described.