Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 4th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Aug., 1887.
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to a method of drying grain and such like material by exposing
it to heat over extended surface while it is kept in agitation, and to apparatus for
operating in this manner.
For this purpose, I fix a number of receptacles, each having the form of the sector
of a cylinder, between two end discs which are provided with trunnions so that the
whole forms a cylindrical body that is caused to revolve on the axis of the cylinder
within a rectangular frame which is itself provided with lateral trunnions, so that
the frame with the cylinder can be tilted from a horizontal to a vertical or any
intermediate position. Each of the sectors which go to make up the cylinder is
made as a wirework grating with a close external cover, the meshes of the grating
being sufficiently small to prevent passage of the grain or other material contained
in the sector. The sectors do not extend inwards to the centre of the cylinder, so that
there a space is left for a coil of pipes heated by steam or other hot fluid supplied
by pipes passing through the trunnions. One of the end discs to which the receptacles
are attached has through it a number of holes, one opening into the end of each
receptacle, and over these holes there is fitted to turn a ring having through it
corresponding holes.
For charging the receptacles, the frame is turned on its lateral trunnions so as
to bring the cylinder to a position with its axis vertical or nearly so, the perforated
disc being uppermost, and then the ring being turned so as to bring its holes into
coincidence with those of the disc, the grain or material to be treated is poured in
through these holes so as to fill or nearly fill the receptacles. The ring is then
turned partly round so as to close all the holes like a circular slide valve, and the
frame being moved back to a horizontal position the cylinder, by means of gearing
acting on one of its end discs, is caused to revolve while the central space is kept
D
01

page_text: heated. The material is thus caused to tumble continually within the separate
receptacles, exposing a constantly changing surface to the heat which radiates in all
directions on to the receptacles and through the narrow spaces between them. When
the material is sufficiently dried, the frame and cylinder are again tilted so as to
present the perforated disc downwards, and the ring then being moved so as to open
the holes, the material pours out of the receptacles.
Dated this 5th day of October 1886
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, AUGUSTE KREPS, of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium 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 :-
The present invention has for its object the construction of a mechanical kiln drying
apparatus which kiln dries grain with great rapidity and perfect regularity, so as to
give products of quality superior to any obtained by the use of any system of kiln-
drying hitherto employed.
The invention consists in the special arrangement of receptacles for grain to receive
heat by radiation from a centre common to them all, in such a manner that the heat
can always penetrate uniformly and thoroughly the receptacles containing the grain.
I will proceed to describe the construction of the improved apparatus for this
purpose with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a cross
section of the grain receptacles, Fig. 2 is a plan of the system as a whole. Fig. 3 is a
front view of the drum, Fig. 4 is a section shewing diagrammatically the arrangements
of the grain receptacles, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of those receptacles
with its lid shewn open.
The drum, properly so called, consists of two end discs P between which are
arranged symmetrically radiating grain receptacles d extending longitudinally. These
are preferably in the form of narrow sectors, and consist of a suitable iron framing
which is covered with wire network having long meshes, a fabric which is considered
practically most advantageous for the purpose in view.
The frame consists of a bar a of half round iron at the apex of the sector and two
round rods t t at its base.

page_text: The rods t t are connected to a by V ribs g having the angle of the sector.
The wire net which covers this framing may be attached in any suitable manner,
provided that it presents sides that are straight and tightly stretched.
The sector is closed at its base by a cover e rivetted to the rods t t. The sectors thus
constructed are fixed in radial arrangement between the discs P, their summits directed
towards the axis of the drum and supported at each end on an angle iron ring or other
suitable bearing fixed at the required distance from the centre of each disc. The ends
of the rods att are screw threaded and passed through holes in the discs and
secured by nuts so as to constitute a firmly connected whole; the ends of the wire
nets are rivetted to angle irons which are bolted to the discs, so that each receptacle
or chamber containing the material to be treated is bounded by the wire nets d the
cover e and those parts of the discs P which form the ends of the sector. One of the
discs P is perforated near its circumference with circular holes K each opening into
the middle of a sector. These openings serve for introducing into the chambers the
grain to be dried, and are of such size that sacks of grain can be easily poured in by a
suitable spout. In a circular guide fixed on the disc P there is fitted to slide a ring
having through it openings K₁ which can be made, (by turning the ring) to coincide
with the openings through P, the sector chambers being thus opened, but when by
means of handles P¹ fixed to the ring it is turned so far that the intervals between its holes
cover the holes of the disc, the drying chambers are closed. The ring is thus a circular
sliding cover which has only to be moved the width of a hole the one way or the other
to open or close simultaneously all the sector chambers. On the circumference of one
of the discs P is fixed a toothed rim H with which gears a pinion F for giving rotation
to the drum. At the centre of each disc P is fixed an external hollow trunnion Z which
revolves in a bearing ✗ bolted on a rectangular frame A B C D within which the
drum is thus mounted. This frame is itself furnished with trunnions E at the middle
of its longitudinal sides, and these work in suitable stationary bearings, so that the
drum can be placed with its axis horizontal, vertical, or inclined by simply canting the
frame and fixing it where desired.
An inlet pipe U passing through the hollow trunnion Z admits steam or any other
hot fluid into, as in the present instance, a multitubular passage S, suitably arranged
in the centre of the drum, and extending from the one end disc to the other, so as to
radiate heat along the whole extent of the drum, the discharge of the fluid taking place
by the opposite pipe T. It is obvious that any other source of heat suitable for the
intended purpose might be employed with equal advantage instead of the arrangement
described.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The frame A B C D and consequently the drum being placed in a vertical position,
the holes K are opened by sliding the circular ring, the malt or other material to be
dried is introduced through the holes K' into the sector drying chambers which are
then closed by moving back the ring. The drum is then brought to a horizontal
attitude so that the grain is uniformly distributed along the sectors; steam
is then admitted to heat the coil S, which radiates its heat that penetrates in all
directions into and between the sectors d charged with malt; then the material
contracts by the heat so that after a certain time there is void space in each sector such
that the grains can be turned over and over and shifted in all directions when the
drum is put in rotation by the pinion F and the toothed rim H; in this way all the
malt in the drum becomes exposed in its turn uniformly to the same heat, and is
thus kiln-dried in the most perfect manner. Farther, the material is at the same time
thoroughly cleaned as it undergoes in the sectors a continued rubbing which clears
it of foreign matter such as dust &c.
In order to discharge the grain, the drum is inclined a little downwards, and the
holes K being opened, the grain runs out on turning the drum.
Obviously the sectors could be made wider than shewn in the drawing, and fewer
in number; the receptacles might even be semi-circular, but it is evident that in
this case the layers of grain would be much thicker and the heat could not penetrate
to their interior, in other words, the heating surface would be lessened, and much

page_text: less uniformly distributed for the quantity of malt to be treated, and this is precisely
the reason why the flat sector shaped receptacle, containing a layer of only moderate
thickness has been adopted in this system. Evidently, instead of a sector, a simple
chamber of rectangular shape and moderate depth might be used, but on account of
the circular form, the sector is preferable, so much the more because the grains which
are at the apex roll more easily towards the base as the drum rotates, and conversely,
thus constantly changing the position of the material while it is exposed to the heat.
I may observe that according to the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere
where the apparatus is worked, it may or may not be enclosed in a covering of plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method substantially as herein described of kiln-drying grain and other
materials wherein thin layers of the grain are exposed over extended surfaces to the
action of heat, such surfaces being arranged cylindrically around a common source
of heat.
2. The construction of apparatus for kiln drying grain and other substances,
wherein the grain is contained in receptacles formed as thin sectors made of wire
netting or similar material and fixed with small spaces intervening between them in a
revolving drum in which are arranged centrally a number of heating pipes, substantially
as herein described.
3. Constructing the drying receptacles referred to in the preceding claim of a
frame formed of V shaped ribs 9 g, a half round bar a and rods t t covered by wire
netting having long meshes, and closed by a cover e substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. Constructing the drum containing the sector-shaped receptacles referred to in the
preceding claims, of two discs P P having feed holes, one to each sector, and an
annular slide having corresponding holes, so that by shifting the slide in one direction
the feed holes are all opened so as to allow of the receptacles being charged, and by
shifting it in the contrary direction the feed holes are all closed, substantially as herein
described.
5. Mounting the drum with grain receptacles referred to in the preceding claims
in a frame mounted on lateral trunnions so that the drum can be placed in a vertical
position or inclined for charging it with grain or discharging the grain therefrom.
Daid this 5th dow of Tulu 1007
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.