IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR .APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DRYING COFFEE, Cocoa, CHICORY, MALT, MUSTARD SEEDS, AND OTHER SEEDS, GRAINS, OR SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Neal, of Eagle Wharf Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
.APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DRYING COFFEE, Cocoa, CHICORY, MALT,
MUSTARD SEEDS, AND OTHER SEEDS, GRAINS, OR SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 17th December 1878, and dated the 8th August 1878,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Neal at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1878.
THOMAS NEAL, of Eagle Wharf Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DRYING COFFEE,
COCOA, CHICORY, MALT, MUSTARD SEEDS, AND OTHER SEEDS, GRAINS, OR SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in machinery or
apparatus for roasting or drying coffee, cocoa, chicory, malt, mustard seeds, and
various other seeds or grains, or similar substances usually subjected to such treat-
ment, are, to prevent the substance being treated being burnt or damaged during
any necessary stoppage of the machinery, to afford facility of feeding and dis-
charging the substance, and to dispense with the necessity for opening the fire, as
in the usual apparatus, when feeding or discharging, and thus to prevent the issue
of the sulphury and other deleterious fumes from the coke, charcoal, or other fire or
heating medium, which are so detrimental to the health and comfort of the operatives,
and of the smoke and accompanying grit which settle in and damage the usual
bearings, to confine the fire to a smaller space, and thus economise the fuel and
reduce the cost of working, without however minimizing the effect obtained from a
given supply of fuel, and to effect a reduction in the labor required to feed, discharge,.
and otherwise attend to the working of the apparatus.
In order to attain these most desirable objects I construct my improved apparatus
as follows I form it with a wrought or cast iron casing, within the lower part of

page_text: -
which I construct the kiln or fire chamber, which I prefer to make at only the
forward end thereof, though it may extend more towards the rear end ; and within
the upper part of the casing I fit the roasting or drying chamber, which I construct
of two concentric cylinders with an annular space between them, the cylinders
being retained in their respective positions by end or cover plates secured together
by bolts and nuts. These end plates are grooved externally, and their grooves rest
upon correspondingly shaped bearing rollers carried by the casing, and which
rollers thus support the roasting chamber, in lieu of the usual shaft and centre
bearings.
To one of these end plates is secured a toothed wheel, which is driven from a
shaft carried by bearings secured to the casing by another toothed wheel thereon,
the shaft being fitted with a handle, and driven by manual power, or with fast and
loose pullies and driven by steam power so as to revolve the roasting chamber sup-
ported by the rollers.
A hopper or funnel is adapted to a central aperture in this plate is such a position
as to feed the substance to be treated directly into the roasting chamber at one end,
the feeding being controlled by a damper athwart the throat of the hopper, and
worked by a rod within easy reach of the attendant. The other end plate is fitted
with a coned discharging funnel made with openings which can be closed or opened
at will by a rotating slide in the manner of domestic oven or stove ventilators, so
as to allow of the substances being treated being discharged when required without
otherwise opening the roasting chamber, and without necessitating its removal and
the opening of the fire, as in the ordinary apparatus. Through this end plate is an
aperture, through which a sample spoon can at any time be withdrawn to ascertain
whether the substance is sufficiently treated.
The rotation of the roasting chamber keeps the substance in continual motion,
and so effectually treated, and a worm or screw (as usual in such apparatus) keeps
the same in progressive motion from the feeding to the discharging end of the
inner cylinder; or the same effect may be obtained by slightly inclining the
cylinders.
The casing within which the roasting chamber revolves is provided at the rear
end with one or more smoke tubes, through which the products of combustion find
eventual escape after having been completely utilized.
It will thus be seen that the products of combustion completely encircle the outer
cylinder, and are prevented from vitiating the atmosphere of the room in which the
roasting apparatus is placed, or burning or otherwise spoiling the substance being
treated during any stoppage of the rotation by means of the space between the
cylinders.
The drying or roasting of the substance within the inner cylinder can also be
effected by admitting steam to the space between the two cylinders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Neal in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1879.
THOMAS NEAL, of Eagle Wharf Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DRYING Coffee,.
COCOA, CHICORY, MALT, MUSTARD SEEDS, AND OTHER SEEDS, GRAINS, OR SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in machinery or
apparatus for roasting or drying coffee, cocoa, chicory, malt, mustard seeds, and
various other seeds or grains, or similar substances usually subjected to such treat-
ment, are, to prevent the substance being treated from being burnt or damaged
during any necessary stoppage of the machinery, to afford facility of feeding and
discharging the substance, to dispense with the necessity for opening the fire, as in
the usual apparatus when feeding or discharging the roasting chamber, and thus to
prevent the issue of the sulphury and other deleterious fumes from the coke,
charcoal, or other fire or heating medium, which are very detrimental to the health
and comfort of the operatives, and of the smoke and accompanying grit which settle.
in and damage the usual-bearings, to confine the fire to a smaller space, and thus
economize the fuel and reduce the cost of working, without however minimizing the
effect obtained from a given supply of fuel, and to effect a reduction in the labor
required to feed, discharge, and otherwise attend to the working of the apparatus.
In order to obtain these most desirable objects I construct my improved apparatus
as herein-after described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
1 represents a wrought or cast iron casing, within the lower part of which I
construct or arrange the kiln or fire chamber 2, which I prefer to make at only the
forward end thereof (as shown in Figure 1), though it may extend more towards
the rear end, and within the upper part of the casing I arrange the roasting or
drying chamber 3, which I construct of two cylinders 3, 3×, one surrounding the
other, with an annular space 4 between them, the cylinders being retained in their
respective positions by end or cover plates 5, 6, secured together by bolts 7 and
nuts 8. The end plates are formed with external guides or grooves 9, into which
correspondingly shaped bearing rollers 10 enter, the rollers being carried by the
casing 1, and supporting and guiding the roasting chamber in its revolutions in
lieu of the usual shaft and centre bearings. The rollers 10 may also be fitted to the
chamber in such a manner as to be adjustable (by the use of set screws or other
usual means) towards the grooves 9 as they or the latter wear.
To the end plate 5 is secured a toothed wheel 11, which is driven from a driving
shaft 12 (carried by bearings 13 secured to the casing) by another toothed wheel 14
thereon, the shaft being fitted with a handle, and driven by manual power, or with
fast and loose pulleys 15, 16, as shown in Figures 2 and 3; or with chain wheels 17
and chains 18, as shown in Figure 4 (the links of the chain being formed, as shown
in Figure 5, so as to be easily detachable from each other) and driven by steam
power, so as to revolve the roasting chamber as supported by the rollers 10.
To a central aperture in the end plate 5 is adapted a hopper or funnel 19, in such
a position as to feed the substance to be treated directly into the roasting chamber
at one end, the feeding being controlled by a damper 20 athwart the throat of the
hopper, and worked by a rod 21 within easy reach of the attendant. The other
end plate 6 is fitted with a coned discharging funnel 22, made with openings 23,
which can be closed or opened at will by a rotating slide 24 in the manner of
domestic oven or stove ventilators, so as to allow of the substances being treated
being discharged when required without otherwise opening the roasting chamber,
and without necessitating the removal of the latter and the opening of the fire, as
in the ordinary apparatus. Through this end plate also there is a central aperture

page_text: or tube 25, which is usually occupied by a sample spoon, which can at any time
be withdrawn with a sample to ascertain whether the substance is sufficiently
treated.
The rotation of the roasting chamber keeps the substance in continual motion,
and so effectually treated, and a worm or screw (as usual in such apparatus, and
which is therefore not shown on the accompanying Drawings) keeps the substance
in progressive motion from the feeding end to the discharging end of the roasting
chamber, or the same effect may be obtained by slightly inclining the chamber.
The casing 1 is provided at the rear and front ends with one or more smoko
tubes 26, through which the products of combustion eventually find escape.
It will thus be seen that the products of combustion completely encircle the outer
cylinder, and are prevented vitiating the atmosphere of the room in which the
roasting apparatus is placed, or burning or otherwise spoiling the substance being
treated during any stoppage of the rotation of the roasting chamber by means of
the annular space between the cylinders 3, 3*.
The drying or roasting of the substance within the chamber can also be effected
by admitting steam to the space between the two cylinders.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the
construction and use of machinery or apparatus for roasting or drying coffee and
other seeds or grains or similar substances usually needing such treatment, sub-
stantially as above described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Neal, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.