IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GRANARIES
Year: 1863

page_text: Mont Inabor, Paris,
in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF GRANARIES."-A communication from Louis Jean Gustave
de Coninck, Merchant, residing at 24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris,
in the Empire of France.

page_text: cation from Louis Jean Gustave de Coninck, Merchant, a person now
residing at 24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Henri Adrien Bonnevil:e, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
seal fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention consists in constructing granaries or magasines for
stirring, airing, cooling, drying, and preserving grain, flour, etc., by pro-
ducing a variable, gradual, and progressive current from the summit
to the base of the granary or magasine.
The different Figures of the annexed Drawing represent this system
of construction complete and in detail. Fig. 1 represents a vertical sec-
tion of the apparatus; Fig. 2 represents a side of the apparatus in which
the ventilators are shown; Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, represent respectively
the plan of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth floors. Fig. 8 repre-
sents a section of the first floor following the line C, D; Fig. 9 repre-
sents the sections of the other floors following the line A, B; Fig. 10
represents the vertical section of the apparatus as a drying stove; Fig.
11 represents a section of the floor arranged to serve as a warehouse for
goods.
This system of construction consists in building the different floors of a
granary A, A, A, A, A, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11, in a square or
rectangular form with joists B, B, B, B, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11 on which the planks C, C, C, C, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11,
are placed crosswise in such a position as to form hollows between each,
thus presenting alternate crests D, D, D, D, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and
9, and hollows E, E, E, E, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. These planks not
being joined leave between them on the crests and in the hollows, spaces
or grooves F, F, F, F, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, partly closed by
small pieces of wood G, G, G, G, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, which are cut
slantingly in order to facilitate the running of the grain from one floor
to that beneath by the openings H, H, H, H, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The number of openings varies for each floor, and is as much larger,
and the running of the grain consequently as much more rapid as the
floors are nearer to the base of the granary or magasine. Under each
floor, and consequently at the upper part of each stage, are openings I,
Figs. 1, 2, and 10, covered with mettallic cloth, which give access to
the air. If a quantity of grain is taken from the lowest floor equal in
volume to that in one stage, an empty space is formed into which the
cereals run from the floor above, but, as there are more openings in that
floor than in the one above it the flowing takes place more rapidly, and
:

page_text: thus leaves an empty space into which the air enters by means of the
openings I, I, Figs. 1, 2, and 10. This effect is produced in each stage
successively; and is quite self-acting; thus the grains contained in each
compartment pass from one floor to the next, falling through the atmo-
spheric air existing between each floor and that above it.
The only
labour to be performed in connection with the above operation is to
raise by means of an endless cup chain or otherwise, the grain abstracted
to the uppermost stage of the granary, the quantity of which may be
,, or, as the granary is composed of 4, 5, or 6 floors.
The number of the openings in the floors are in the geometric pro-
gression of 7/4. Thus the number of openings in the highest floor may
be represented by the Figure 1, the corresponding number of those of
the second floor would be 7/4', of the third floor 7/42, of the fourth
floor 7/43, and of the fifth floor 7/4'. These relations are plainly like
the numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and experience has shown that this rule
must not be departed from. The openings through which the wheat has
to flow should be about 5 fines in breadth, and for a granary, of which
the section measures about 9 feet by 9 ft., the crests should be of the
number of two, and the hollows between three. Thus in an apparatus
of the above proportions the first or uppermost floor contains 3 open-
ings between the different series of planks of about 5 lines broad by
3 inches long, being altogether 15 similar openings; the second floor
6. openings of about 5 lines broad by 3½ inches long, altogether 30
similar openings, the third floor 8 openings of about 5 lines broad by
3 inches long, altogether 40 similar openings; the fourth floor 8 open-
ings of about 5 lines broad by 6 inches long, altogether 40 similar open-
ings; and, finally, the openings between the planks of the fifth or lowest
floor are about 8 lines broad and quite open except where the joists.
intervene. Under this floor is placed an inclined plane J, Figs. 1 and
10, formed of perforated metal or metallic cloth which serves as a
sieve, and at the base of the apparatus are placed sliding doors K, K,
Figs. 1, 2, and 10, which are opened for the purpose of removing the
grain to be carried to the uppermost floor, or for sacking.
In the operations above described the grains, etc., in their descent
occupying successively all the different stages between the summit and
the base of the granary, are therefore by means of the friction, without
pressure of the grains against each other cleansed from all foreign
matters, dust, and impurities which otherwise adhere to their surface,
but in this case escape by the perforated openings in the upper part of
each stage. The general movement thus given to the whole mass of
grain is also a great protection against the insects. As a completion
of the above system one or more wire lattices may be placed above the

page_text: uppermost stage of the granary, forming sieves on which the grain may
be in the first place thrown, and which would retain all such extraneous
matters, as pieces of straw, etc. which might be intermixed. And for
aerating the grain when at rest, if required, by causing it to be traversed
by currents of air, some planks of about 8 inches in width may be placed
across the granary and the walls under their extremities may be pierced,
thus giving admission to the air; the grain in meeting with these planks
falls on each side, leaving an empty space beneath, of which the section
would be that of a triangle, the horizontal side being formed by the
plank and the others by those of the heaps formed by the grain. For
augmenting the ventilation a tube may be made the whole height of
the granary, to be fed by means of a powerful ventilator at the base`
and connected at each stage with a smaller tube pierced with small
holes and placed on the floor." This system of construction may be
employed for a stove for drying grain by means of hot air. In this case
the apparatus should be constructed in iron, the floors should be closer
one to the other, and supposing a section to measure 9 ft. by 9 ft. the
distance between the floors should be about 3 feet, and the walls should
be plain. L, Fig. 10 is a tube in sheet iron or brass of about 4 inches
in diameter or more, covered by a larger tube leaving a space between
the two intended to receive a current of vapour which is placed ver
tically, the height of the compartments of the granary, with which it
communicates by means of branch tubes M, M, M, M, Fig. 10 the ends
of which are partially open to the air. The air being driven through by
a ventilator in the tube L becomes heated in passing and penetrates to
the upper part of each stage, leaving by the small tubes at each stage.
This air, the temperature of which may be more or less elevated, and
which thus circulates during the working of the apparatus, dries the
grain completely. The approaching of the floors in the modified system
just described allows of two similar apparatus being placed one above
the other separated by a floor N, Fig. 10, the openings of which may be
shut by means of rods placed for the purpose, so that when the two appa-
ratus are full the openings of the floor N are shut: The lower appa-
ratus may thus work alone, and when its upper compartment is empty,
communication may be re-established between the two by turning the
rods. Granaries constructed as described above may be transformed into
magasines for warehousing ordinary merchandise by making the floors
as represented in Fig. 11 of the annexed Drawing, that is to say, with
the tops of the joists B projecting so that a temporary floor may be laid
on the tops of them. If the granary is separated into distinct compart-
ments at the side of each other the partitions may be so arranged that

page_text: they may be removed if required and the whole formed into one ware-
house.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the man-
ner of carrying it into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
intend to confine myself to the precise details above given of the appa-
ratus, which may be varied in form and dimensions without departing
from the principle of this Invention; but what I claim is the variable
and gradual current of grain or other substances obtained by this system
after a geometric progression from the summit to the base of the
granary, in order to stir air, cool, dry, and preserve them, such as is
above described and represented in the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January,.
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
three.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)