Improvements in Apparatus for Drying, Germinating, and Malting Grain, Applicable also for Drying other Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug.. 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct.,
1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying, Germinating, and Malting
Grain, Applicable also for Drying other Substances.
I, JOSEPH FRANKLIN GENT, of the city of Columbus, in the County of Bartholomew
and State of Indiana, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to drying apparatus adapted especially for drying finely divided
substances of granular or other form and consists in certain peculiar features of con-
struction and combination which will be hereinafter more fully described.
In the drawings 1 have illustrated one form in which I have contemplated embody-
ing my invention and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification
and claims.
In the drawings which form a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a drying apparatus or kiln con-
structed according to my invention shewing the wall or casing in Section.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a section of one floor of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the said floors with a portion of the flooring
broken away.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the stirring devices employed
by me.
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of parts of the mechanism.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are views of constructions employed when the apparatus is used
as a germinator.
The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is enclosed in a suitable building or tower,
preferably of circular form in cross section, which may contain as many floors arranged
one above the other as is found convenient or desirable. In constructing this circular
building I may form the walls and roof of metal or of masonry, or both, as preferred,
and the building is preferably provided with suitable means for affording access to
each and any of the floors of the drier.
In the centre of this circular building, rigidly supported in any convenient manner,
is a shaft A which is preferably hollow and may be formed of sections of pipe of the
desired diameter suitably connected.
Each of the circular floors B of the kiln is provided with a central aperture some-
what larger than the shaft A to admit of the passage of the same and the said floors
are supported upon a series of radial arms a suitably secured to the central shaft and
to the wall of the kiln.
The floors B are provided at their peripheries with a depending track b, and a
similar track surrounds the central openings of the floors on the under side of the
same. These circular tracks engage rollers mounted upon the radial arms a and
support the floors in position to rotate about the shaft A as an axis. I may, however,
support the rollers upon brackets suitably attached to the shaft A and to the wall of
the kiln, if desired. In the apertures surrounding the central shaft are rigidly
mounted internal gears 62 and motion is imparted to the same and to the circular
floors by means of gears c on the driving shaft C which extends vertically through
the central apertures of the floors.
Each of the floors consist of a framing of radial joists B' in which are pivotally
mounted the flooring sections B². The exterior periphery of the floor is provided with
a rim B³ which extends a short distance above the flooring and a similar rim or
flange B surrounds the central apertures of the floors.
Beneath the sections B³ and supported by braces from the joists B' are guides d in

page_text: which are mounted the sliding rods D. The sections B2 are connected to the sliding
rods D² by any preferred means so that a longitudinal movement of the rods will cause
each section of the flooring above the same to tilt on its pivotal axis as best seen in
Figure 3. The connection between the rods D and the sections B2 may consist of a
projection attached to each of the sections and connected to the rod by means of a
link, a simple link or any other preferred means. The object of these rods and con-
nections is to enable all the sections embraced between the centre and circumference
of the floor and pivotted between two joists to be simultaneously tilted by the longitu-
dinal movement of one rod D thereby discharging or dumping all material upon such
series of sections. A spring, weight or other preferred means is interposed between
the rod D and one of the guides d and holds the said rod normally in such a position
that the sections B2 of the flooring lie horizontally in their places and the said spring
or other device will return the rod I) and sections B2 to their normal positions after
the sections have been tilted to dump the material as before described. I prefer to
provide a construction for dumping these series of sections automatically and succes-
sively and to this end I mount upon some convenient part of the stationary frame as
upon one of the radial arms a, a cam E, figure 6, adapted to be engaged by a roller d
mounted upon an arm projecting downwardly from each of the rods D. This cain is
so constructed as to provide an inclined surface to engage the roller d² and force the
rod D to move longitudinally of itself, thereby dumping the series of sections B²
with which it is connected. As the floor B rotates on its axis the rollers d² of the
rods D will successively engage the cam E and dump the series of sections connected
thereto, hence it will be seen that the entire floor will be cleared by one rotation of
the same.
I prefer to place the cams E in such relation that each floor below the top
will dump at a point in advance of the one above it thereby providing a cleared space
for each floor to dump upon. I also prefer to pivot the cam E in such a manner that
it may be retracted and drawn out of the path of the rollers &² by means of a connection
extending to any convenient point so that the rollers d may pass the can without
engaging it, if desired.
Upon each floor of the apparatus I provide one or more stirrers F and levellers G.
I prefer to employ one each of these devices for every floor and to locate them on each
floor a little in advance of their positions on the preceding one, I may, however,
employ one or more of either form of device, if found desirable.
These devices are mounted upon shafts which rotate in bearings attached to the wall
of the kiln and to the central shaft A and are provided near their inner ends with
gears and respectively. Upon the central shaft A at a suitable distance above
each of the floors B are attached brackets H which support an internal gear K. This
gear K is composed of three parts, one of which is a base portion & having gear teeth
upon its lower face in addition to its internal gear teeth, and provided on the inner
edge of its upper face with a projecting flange or ring. Upon this base portion and
surrounding the projecting flange is a smooth ring k¹ which is equal in thickness to
the said flange and upon these is placed the top ring which is bolted or otherwise
secured to the lower or base portion, preferably by means of bolts passing through the
flange of the said base portion thus leaving the central ring free to turn upon the
flange. The central ring ¹ is rigidly attached to the brackets H before mentioned
and this construction supports the internal gear in such a manner as to permit it to
rotate upon the central ring k¹. The brackets H are placed at such a height above
the floor that the bevel gear teeth on the lower edge of the internal gear engage the
gears and g upon the shafts which support the stirring and levelling devices. I
may, however, construct the said internal gear with gear teeth upon its upper face and
support it below the gears f¹ and g and engaging the same. These devices, of what-
ever form they may be, I term the gear ring supports. The teeth of the internal gear
are engaged by a gear on the power shaft and the rotation of the said shaft will
cause the internal gear to revolve thereby rotating the stirrer F and leveller G.
The stirrer F is constructed preferably as shown in Figure 5 and consists of two
series of scoops, each series being composed of scoops extending in opposite directions
from the shaft.

page_text: These are provided with side portions to better hold the material and when viewed
from the end of the shaft the scoops on opposite sides of the shaft face in opposite
directions. The scoops of one series are also interposed between the scoops of the
other series and extend at right angles thereto so that the action of the stirrer may
be more nearly continuous.
The main body of the scoop is attached to the side of the shaft and extends out-
wardly therefrom. The scoop at its outer end is provided with a lip placed at an angle
to the main body. The scoop has no rear wall so that as the shaft is rotated the outer
ends of the scoops will descend into the material and raise a portion of it, which,
upon a further rotation of the stirrer will be caught by the main body of the scoop
and as this is raised above the level or horizontal plane of the shaft will be discharged
upon the opposite side thereof. The scoop having no rear wall permits the free
discharge of the material therefrom as soon as the main body is given an upward
inclination sufficient for this purpose.
The shell or casing of my improved leveller extends preferably the entire distance
between the rims B3 and B4 and consists of two faces extending longitudinally of the
device and meeting at right angles, the lower face being substantially parallel with
the floor, and a short distance above the same. I may if preferred construct the
casing in the form of half of a cylinder and mount it as before described. This shell
or casing is provided with end pieces through which the shaft of a right and left
spiral conveyor passes and the shell is suitably attached to some fixed portion of
the frame so that it does not rotate with the conveyor. The right and left conveyors
are joined at or near the centre of the shaft and will feed the material in the shell
from the centre of the same towards the ends. As the floor and its contents passos
beneath the levelling device the material will be levelled, all the excess entering
the shell and being conveyed to another portion of the shell before being forced
out by fresh material. By means of these devices F and G the grain will be
thoroughly stirred and exposed to the air and will not be allowed to collect in heaps
but will be spread evenly over the floor. If found desirable I may employ a spiral
conveyor feeding in one direction only. For instance, if it is found that the sections B³
tend to dump the material towards the centre of the drier, the spirial conveyors on
each floor below the top may be made to feed outwardly to correct this tendance and
secure an even spreading of the grain.
At some convenient point near or at the top of the drier or kiln is a hopper
through which the material may be introduced into the machine and below the lowest
floor provide a hopper having its largest diameter equal to or exceeding the
diameter of the floor above to receive the grain whence it may be delivered to any
convenient point.
As before stated the shaft A is preferably hollow and serves as a means for supplying
heated air to the different floors. For this purpose apertures are formed in the shaft
at different points preferably one or more for each floor and I may provide means
for governing the said apertures from some convenient point as indicated in Figure 3.
I also provide an opening at or near the top of the kiln for the exit of the heated
air which will have absorbed a certain amount of moisture from the material, and
this aperture I may connect with an exhaust mechanism if found desirable. The
air may be heated and introduced into the shaft A in any preferred manner and
will dry the material rapidly and effectually.
The operation of the kiln in drying granular or finely divided material is as follows:
Power is applied to the shaft C in any suitable manner and the floors and the stirring
and levelling devices are put in motion. The material is introduced into the apparatus
through the hopper and allowed to fall upon the upper floor preferably a short distance
in front of the leveller G. The material will then be taken up by the leveller and
As the floor
distributed evenly over the floor by the right and left spiral conveyor.
rotates further it will be stirred and turned over by the stirrer F and upon still further
rotation the cam E is allowed to engage one of the rollers d² and dump the first series
of sections a short distance from the point where the material is introduced. Each
series of sections is then dumped in succession until the floor is cleared when it is

page_text: refilled as before described. This operation is continued until all the floors are filled
when the contents of the lowest floor is dumped into the hopper beneath the same
and if sufficiently dry is conducted away, or if not it may be elevated and introduced
into the kiln as before by any desired means. The heated air supplied to all the floors
will dry the material rapidly so that ordinarily when it has descended from the highest
floor to the lowest it will be thoroughly driel. If found desirable the cams E of all
the floors or any of them may be retracted out of the path of the rollers d² and the
material allowed to remain upon the floors a longer time before being dumped. In
order to insure a more rapid drying of the material I may provide the sections B² of
the flooring with fine perforations as shown in one portion of figure 4 which will
allow the heated air to pass up through the material and assist in drying the same.
In order that the material dumped by the sections B2 may be distributed as evenly
as possible over the floor beneath I may provide chutes B beneath the said sections
adjacent to the dumping point inclined in a direction opposite to that of the sections
when tilted. These chutes B³ may be secured to any stationary part of the frame of
the apparatus as the arms a or they may be secured to the joists of the floors or
wherever found most convenient and effective.
It will be seen that the central apertures of the floors surrounding the shaft A
form means whereby the heated air may rise from one floor to another and permit
the moist heated air from all the floors to rise and escape through the aperture
provided in the upper part of the kiln. I may prefer to provide a hood or apron A'
to serve as a covering for the central aperture of each floor as shown in figure 2. This
apron will protect the mechanism surrounding the said apertures, will provide aninclined
surface to guide all material falling thereon to the floor, and will direct the current of
heated air downward upon the contents of the floors.
I do not desire to be limited to my exact constructions described and shown as
it is obvious that similar forms of construction might be employed without departing
from the spirit of my invention.
While the apparatus before described is adapted to dry finely divided material in
the manner set forth, 1 have found that it may be used very advantageously in
the continuous malting or germinating of grain by supplying to the material during
its passage through the machine, a proper supply of moisture and heated air suitably
moistened and tempered.
In figures 8, 9 and 10 I have shown an arrangement for supplying the necessary
moisture to the material upon the different floors and also devices for tempering and
moistening the air furnished to the machine.
I provide each floor of the apparatus with one or more water pipes E' which may
extend radially and be supported in any suitable manner from the arms a or other
stationary portion of the frame work as seen in figure 8. These pipes have a suitable
number of sprayers or sprinklers attached to the same at suitable intervals as best
seen in figure 8, the object of such pipes and sprinklers being to furnish moisture to
the grain in an even and uniform manner. These pipes E' are supplied with water
from a pipe E2 which may extend up through the central apertures of the floors or
may pass through the central shaft A² as desired.
I provide the device shown in figures and 10 for moistening and tempering
the air before it is admitted to the fan or other device for supplying air to the
machine. This device consists of a hollow cylinder O which is provided with
trunnions and supported in bearings in such a manner that it may be rotated. The
interior of the cylinder is provided with projecting ribs or flanges o² extending
longitudinally of the cylinder and the said flanges may be either curved or straight
in cross section.
The trunnions are hollow and communicate with the interior of the cylinder, and
one of the said trunnions is connected with the inlet pipe o of the fan or other air
forcing device. The other trunnion is connected with a water pipe of which extends
through the same and discharges within the cylinder. The head of the cylinder
adjacent to the water pipe is provided with apertures for the admission of air and the
walls of the cylinder at or near its other extremity with suitable outlet apertures for

page_text: the exit of the water admitted through the said water pipes o¹. In operation this
cylinder O is filled with charcoal or other porous material and the device rotated.
Water of the desired temperature is admitted through the water pipe o¹ and percolates
through the charcoal to the other end of the cylinder where it passes out through the
apertures provided for the purpose. When the fan or other air forcing device is in
operation the suction will draw the air through the apertures in the head of the
cylinder into the interior of the same where it comes in contact with the moistened
charcoal, is tempered, moistened and purified and passes through the pipe o to the
fan which forces it into the shaft A which distributes it to the floors of the machine.
During the passage of the grain through the machine it is subjected to the action
of the air tempered and moistened as before described by any of the well known
devices employed for this purpose. In this instance the cylinder O is shown and
described as being employed by me. The air may be admitted to the apparatus
beneath each floor and will then pass upward through the perforated fooring
sections B² and through the grain or it may be admitted above each floor through
the openings in the shaft A or it may be admitted above and below the said floors as
found most convenient and effective.
The grain upon each floor is furnished with moisture by means of the pipes El
and means are provided whereby the supply of moisture may be cut off from any or
all of the floors if desired or I may dispense with these pipes in some instances if
found unnecessary.
I prefer to provide suitable mechanism such as a cone pulley as indicated in
figure 1 in dotted lines or other speed gearing for regulating the speed of the shaft (
and the floors when used either as a drier or as a germinator and by means of
these devices the floors can be made to move at such a speed that when the grain is
discharged it will be in the condition desired.
The devices for imparting motion will also be such that the floors may be stopped
at any point and permitted to remain stationary as long as desired to complete the
malting or germinating when it is found necessary or desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a drying apparatus, the combination with revolving floors having central
apertures, of a central tubular air shaft and a driving shaft for said floors extending
through the said central apertures, substantially as described.
2. In a drying apparatus, the combination with the revolving floors having central
apertures surrounding a central air shaft, the said apertures being provided with
internal gears, supported from the said shaft above the said floors and provided with
gear teeth on one of their horizontal faces, of a stirrer and a leveller for each floor
baving their shafts provided with gears engaging the teeth on the horizontal faces of
the said internal gears, a driving shaft extending through the said central apertures
and provided with pinions engaging the said internal gears substantially as described.
3. In a drying apparatus, the combination with the revolving floors surrounding a
stationary central air shaft of an internal gear provided with gear teeth on one of
its horizontal faces, and with a peripheral groove, a ring in the said groove, con-
nected to the said central shaft, a driving shaft engaging the said internal gear and
a stirrer and leveller for each floor having gears engaging the gear teeth on the
horizontal face of the said internal gear, substantially as described.
4. In a drying apparatus, the combination with a stationary central air shaft, of
a revolving floor surrounding the same, a gear ring surrounding the said shaft, the
gear ring support, a driving shaft engaging the said gear ring, a stirrer having a
gear engaging the gear ring, substantially as described.
5. In a drying apparatus, the combination with revolving floors, one above the
other, having central apertures surrounding a central air shaft the said apertures being
provided with gear rings, gear rings supported from said central shaft above said
floors, a stirrer for each floor, having their shafts provided with gears engaging the

page_text: gear rings above the floors, a driving shaft extending through the central apertures.
of the floors provided with pinions engaging all of the said gear rings, substantially
as described.
6. In a drying apparatus, the combination with a series of revolving drying floors
located one above the other, and provided with central apertures and a stirrer and a
leveller for each floor, of a central air shaft extending upward through the apertures
of the said floors and a driving shaft for the sai! stirring and the said levelling device
extending through the apertures of the floors between the air shaft and the inner
edges of the said floors, substantially as described.
7. A drying apparatus consisting of a number of revolving floors located one above
the other, each floor being composed of radial series of dumping section, pivotted at
right angles to the radius of the floor, each series of sections of one floor, being
adapted to dump at a point in advance of the dumping point of the floor below,
substantially as described.
8. In a drying apparatus, the combination with a number of rotating floors
arranged one above the other and composed of radial series of dumping sections
pivoted at right angles to the radius, of the Hoor, of a leveller for each floor, sub-
tantially as described.
9. In a drying apparatus the combination with a number of rotating floors arranged
one above the other and composed of several series of dumping sections dumping
towards the centres of the said floors of a leveller for each floor, the dumping point
of each floor being between the dumping point and the leveller of the floor below,
substantially as described.
10. A leveller consisting of a shaft provided with a spiral conveyor and a partial
casing for the said conveyor one edge of the said casing being located substantially in
line with the centre of the said shaft and conveyor and beneath the same, substantially
as described.
11. A leveller consisting of a shaft provided with a right and left spiral conveyor
joined near the centre of the shaft, and a partial casing for the said conveyor, sub-
stantially as described.
12. A stirrer consisting of a shaft provided with scoops each scoop having an
approximately straight main body extending outwardly from the shaft at a tangent
thereto and having an angular lip at its outer end, the shaft and said lip being on
opposite sides of the main body whereby a free rearward discharge is given each scoop
on the opposite side of the shaft, substantially as described.
13. A stirrer consisting of a shaft provided with scoops arranged in pairs extending
tangentially from the shaft in opposite directions in a plane transversely of the shaft
and attached on opposite sides of the same, each scoop having an approximately
straight main body provided at its outer end with an angular lip, the shaft and said
lip being on opposite sides of the main body whereby a free rearward discharge is
given each scoop on the opposite side of the shaft, substantially as described.
14. A stirrer consisting of a shaft provided with scoops each of the said scoops
having a main body attached to the said shaft tangentially extending outwardly and
provided at its outer end with an angular lip, and having a free discharge on the
opposite sides of the shaft, the said scoops being arranged in series each series con-
sisting of two sets of scoops extending tangentially from the shaft in opposite
directions, the sets of one series being located between the sets of the other series
and at right angles thereto, substantially as described.
15. A drying apparatus consisting of rotating floors, located one above the other,
each floor being composed of radial joists and sections of flooring pivoted between
the said radial joists of radial rods having a longitudinal movement located beneath
the said pivoted sections and connected with the said sections for dumping the
same, substantially as described.
16. In a drying apparatus, the combination with rotating floors located one above
the other each floor being composed of radial joists and sections of flooring pivoted
between the said radial joists, of radial rods having a longitudinal movement located
beneath the said pivoted sections and connected with the same, arms depending from

page_text: the said rods, and a cam mounted on a stationary part of the frame beneath each
floor in the path of the said depending arms, substantially as described.
17. An apparatus for malting or germinating grain consisting of perforated auto-
matically dumping floors one above the other, a casing surrounding and enclosing
the same, an air outlet at the top, an air forcing device, an air tempering device, and
a sprinkler above each floor, substantially as described.
18. An apparatus for malting or germinating grain consisting of an outer casing
a series of perforated floors one above the other provided with automatically
dumping sections, the said floors having each a central aperture, an air supplying
pipe extending through the said apertures and provided with apertures to discharge
air beneath each of the said floors, a shaft for rotating the said floors also extending
through the said openings, a water pipe extending within the said openings and
provided with a discharge above each floor, substantially as described.
19. An apparatus for malting or germinating grain consisting of perforated
floors one above the other having central apertures in each, a shaft for revolving
the said floors extending vertically through the said apertures and a water supply
pipe extending also vertically through the said apertures and having a spraying
discharge above each floor, the said floors having pivoted automatically dumping
sections, the dumping point of each floor, being a short distance in advance of the
dumping point of the floor above, substantially as described.
20. An apparatus for malting or germinating grain, consisting of an enclosing
casing, revolving perforated floors one above the other, an air pipe extending
centrally through the said floors, and having a discharge opening beneath each floor,
an air forcing and air moistening device communicating with said pipe, a water
supply pipe extending within the said air pipe, and provided with a spraying discharge
above each floor, and stirring and levelling devices above each floor, the said floors
being provided with pivoted, automatically dumping sections, the dumping point of
each floor being slightly in advance of the floor above, substantially as described.
Dated the 27th day of August 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.