METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING HEATING OR COOLING GRAIN OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1884

page_text: We GEORGE MARSDEN PARKINSON of the Crown Mills Doncaster, Miller and
JAMES GREENHALGH WALKER of 4 priory place Doncaster, Civil and Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR DRYING HEATING OR COOLING GRAIN OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
to be as follows:-
23
This invention relates to method of Drying heating or cooling grain in order to
"Condition" it for ultimate processes or use and the apparatus consists essentially
of a series of inclined plates arranged over one another in zig zag form and at such
angles that the grain is enabled by the mere forco of gravity to travel downwards
over the upper face of the said plates.
The plates can be heated by either steam, hot water, gas or from any other
convenient source of heat, but steam is preferred if available, and for this purpose
the plates are constructed hollow and the steam admitted either to each plate
independently or to two or more in series.
Suitable hoppers are arranged at top and bottom for feed and delivery, the latter
having spouts attached for conveying the grain into sacks or elevators & as
desired.
The apparatus has a frame or cradle preferably formed of four strong wooden
uprights with horizontal cross trees and diagonal bracings; the latter are on two
sides only arranged so that their under edges are coincident with the slope of the
plates.
The framing is filled in for a few inches above the plates with guard boards to
prevent the grain from escaping from its channel,
Louvre boards are placed at intervals above the plates, by raising or lowering
which the thickness of the stream of grain can be controlled.
The plates are formed preferably of Cast iron sunk backs with their wrought iron
plates bolted thercon with Countersunk headed bolts so as to leave a uniformily
smooth and uninterrupted surface over which the grain can travel.
These hot plates should be jacketted on their backs to prevent the useless
radiation of heat. Provision is made for drawing off the condensation water-For
cooling purposes a current of cold air or a cooling liquid may be substituted for the
steam &c.
Dated this 30th day of July 1884.

page_text: We GEORGE MARSDEN PARKINSON of Crown Mills, Doncaster Miller and
JAMES GREENHALGH WALKER of 4 priory place Doncaster, Civil and Mechanical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR DRYING HEATING OR COOLING GRAIN OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
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 apparatus and method for drying, heating.or cooling
grain or other substances in order to "condition" them for ultimate processes or
use and consists essentially of a series of inclined plates arranged over one another
in zig zag form and at such angles that the grain or other substances is enabled by
the mere force of gravity to travel downwards over the upper face of the said
plates.
These plates are held in position by and suspended from vertical uprights or
columns which may be formed either of timber framing with diagonal ribs fitted
close to and coincident with the angle of the sides of the plates and horizontal
cross pieces abutting on the top outer edge of the plates for the purpose of
preventing the material escaping from its channel or these uprights may be formed
of hollow columns as hereinafter described, arranged so as to serve the double
purpose of supporting the plates and conducting the steam or hot gases to the plates
for heating the same.
When used as a dryer or heater the plates can be heated by either steam, hot
water, hot air, gas or from any other convenient source of heat, but steam is
preferred if available and for this purpose the plates are constructed hollow and
the steam admitted either to each plate independently or to two or more in series.
When used as a cooler a circulating stream of cold water can be used instead of
steam.
The plates are formed preferably of cast iron sunk backs with thin wrought iron
or copper plates bolted on upper face of same with countersunk hended bolts and
stays so as to leave an uniformly smooth and uninterrupted surface over which the
grain can travel.
Adjustable louvres or strickling bars are placed across the upper face of the
plates to regulate the thickness of the stream of grain. The hot plates should be
jacketted on their backs with non-conducting material to prevent the useless
radiation of heat. Provision also should be made when steam is used for drawing
off the condensation water.
Hoppers are arranged at top and bottom for feed and delivery respectively the
latter having suitable spouts with valves attached for regulating the speed or
travel of the substance in treatment through the machine and placed in
convenient positions for conveying the grain into sacks elevators separating
machines or otherwise as desired.
The accompanying drawings shew one form of machine arranged with the plates
suspended between hollow cast iron columns as before mentioned. Figure 1 is an
elevation partly in section of a portion of the apparatus.
Figure is an elevation on a smaller scale and Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 2.
A are the inclined plates hung on trunnions B attached to the main framing or
upright columns C of the apparatus.
These hollow upright columns have branches cast thereon to which are attached
the short elbow pipes C which form a communication between the upright steam
pipes or columns and the hollow plates being attached on both sides to the lower

page_text: edge of the latter. These branch elbow pipes also act as stays to secure the plates
at their proper relative angles.
The thin plates A¹ are bolted down to the upper face of the plates A and aro
turned up at their sides and outside edges as shown at A' and A³ for the purpose of
retaining the grain in its
proper channel.
Between the turned up sides and extending across the upper face of the plates
are the metal louvres or strickling bars L placed at such distances apart as may
suffice to keep the stream of grain at uniform.thickness,-which thickness may be
varied by raising or lowering the louvres.
The hollow space at the back of the plates marked A' in the section is intended
for the reception of the non-conducting material to prevent the useless radiation of
heat.
Having thus explained the general construction of the apparatus shewn in the
accompanying drawings we will now describe the action of the same when working
as a grain dryer.
The grain is shot into the top hopper which may be conveniently situated upon
an upper floor of the mill warehouse or tower in which the apparatus is placed.
The grain finds its way through suitable orifices on to the first pair of plates
(which are supposed to be filled with live steam) down each of which it slides in a
stream of comparatively uniform thickness being controlled in this respect by the
adjustment of the louvres. Upon arriving at the bottom of the first pair of plates
the streams meet and impinge upon the apex of the second pair and again becoming
divided continue to travel downward until they reach the bottom outer edge of
these plates and over which they fall on to the third pair whose turned up edges
at this point prevent the grain from escaping by deflecting it back into its proper
channel.
The streams of grain thus continue to travel downwards over the plates until
they finally meet at the bottom of the apparatus where the valve is placed which
regulates the speed of travel of the grain.
It should be observed that at each passage from one pair of plates to the next
below the stream or sheet of grain is turned over-that is to say the bottom layer
or stratum of grain on, we will say N° 1. plate becomes the top layer on N° 2 plate
and this process of turning over continues during its passage down the apparatus
and ensures the sheet of grain being uniformly heated through.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is —
1. In an apparatus for drying cooling or conditioning grain or other substances
the combination with a framework composed of vertical columns or posts C, of a
series of inclined hollow plates A heated as described and so arranged that the
material falls from the upper plate or pair of plates into similar lower ones the
whole constructed and operating substantially as specified.
2. In an apparatus for drying or conditioning grain and other substances the
combination with hollow vertical columns C which serve as conductors for the
heating medium of hollow plates A connected with the interior of the columns by
hollow branches C¹ substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of January 1885.