IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WHEAT, BARLEY, RICE, AND OTHER GRAIN, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE DRYING OF SEEDS, COFFEE, AND OTHER MATTERS."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Algernon Sydney Ayre and Horatio Harriman Ayre,
both of 24, High Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WHEAT, BARLEY,
RICE, AND OTHER GRAIN, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE
DRYING OF SEEDS, COFFEE, AND OTHER MATTERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Algernon Sydney Ayre
and Horatio Harriman Ayre at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 22nd December 1866.
We, ALGERNON SYDNEY AYRE and HORATIO HARRIMAN AYRE, both of 24,
High Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING WHEAT,
BARLEY, RICE, AND OTHER GRAIN, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE DRYING OF SEEDS, COFFEE, AND OTHER MATTERS," to be as follows:-
;
The object of the improvements is to effect the drying of the matters under
operation without the necessity of exposing them to the fumes of sulphur.
For this purpose we employ a double-cased cylinder heated by steam, and
close at both ends, save for the ingress and egress of the article to be dried
this cylinder is attached to a hollow axle, so as to revolve with it by means
of hollow spokes or arms around the axle, and fitting the interior of the
cylinder is fixed a worm or spiral band perforated or otherwise with a pitcb
of, say, six inches, more or less, as required; this worm is further fitted with

page_text: steps formed at a considerable angle, in order that the article to be dried may
be carried a certain distance (say, one-fourth) up the side of the cylinder, and
then be allowed to fall off, and in so doing to meet a blast of air in its greatest
strength. The apparatus thus arranged to revolve rests upon carriages at
either end, and is slightly higher at one end than at the other in order to
facilitate the removal of the condensed moisture from time to time by means
of self-acting spring valves. The grain or other article to be dried is conveyed
by means of an endless strap or band to the higher end of the cylinder, and
there introduced by means of a hopper fitted with a shutter for regulating
the feed. As the cylinder revolves the grain or other matter passes along
the spiral band, and being carried by the steps before mentioned up the sides
of the cylinder and falling off is in this manner thoroughly turned, the damp
air being carried off by means of a powerful fan or exhaust placed at the
lower end of the cylinder. If hot air be required it may be supplied from
iron pipes fixed for economy's sake in the ordinary flues of the boiler furnace
with their ends protru ling through the brickwork at either end. On passing
out of the cylinder at the lower end the grain or other matter is subjected to
a cold blast for the purpose of cooling, and is then carried by means of
elevators to any part of the building required. The speed of the machine
is regulated by means of cone drums or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Algernon Sydney Ayre and Horatio Harriman Ayro in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALGERNON
SYDNEY AYRE and HORATIO HARRIMAN AYRE, both of 24, High Street,
Kingston-upon-Hull, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victorin, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of ITer
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Algernon Sydney Ayre and Horatio Harriman Ayre, Her special licence
that we, the said Algernon Sydney Ayre and Horatio Harriman Ayre, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Algernon Sydney Ayre and Horatio Harriman Ayre, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all tin:es thereafter during the term therein expressed,

page_text: should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING
WHEAT, BARLEY, RICE, AND OTHER GRAIN, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE DRYING OF SEEDS, COFFEE, AND OTHER MATTERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Algernon Sydney Ayre and
Horatio Harriman Ayre, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of
one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Algernon Sydney Ayre, on behalf of
myself and the said Horatio Harriman Ayre, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say :-
The object of the improvements is to effect the drying of the matters under
operation without the necessity of exposing them to the fumes of sulphur
arising from fire, heat, or otherwise. For this purpose we employ a double.
cased cylinder beated by steam and closed at both ends, save for the ingress
and egress of the article to be dried and the blast of air bereafter referred to;
this cylinder is attached to a hollow axle, so as to revolve with it by means of
hollow spokes or arms around the axle for the admission and exit of the steam
for heating the outer case or cylinder. Fitting the interior of the cylinder is
fixed a worm or spiral band, perforated or otherwise, with a pitch of, say,
six inches, more or less, as required; this worm is further fitted with steps
formed at a considerable angle, in order that the article to be dried may be
carried a certain distance (say, one-fourth) up the side of the cylinder and
then be allowed to fall off, and in so doing to meet a blast of air in its greatest
strength, thereby facilitating the driving off of the moisture from the matters
under operation. The apparatus thus arranged to revolve rests upon carriages
at either end, and is slightly higher at one end than at the other in order to
facilitate the removal of the condensed water from time to time formed in the
uter case, which water is allowed to escape by means of self-acting spring
valves. The grain or other article to be dried is conveyed by means of an
endless strap or Land to the higher end of the cylinder, and there introduced
by means of a hopper fitted with a shutter for regulating the feed. As the

page_text: c) linder revolves the grain or other matter passes along the spiral band, and
being carried by the steps before mentioned up the sides or inner surface of
the cylinder and falling off is in this manner thoroughly turned, the damp air
being carried off by means of a powerful fan or exhaust. If hot air be
required it miny be supplied from iron pipes fixed for economy's sake in the
ordinary flues of the boiler furnace with their ends protruding through the
brick work at either end and connected to the blast. On passing out of the
cylinder at the lower end the grain or other matter may be subjected to a cold
blast for the purpose of cooling, and is then carried by means of elevators to
any part of the building required. The speed of the machine is regulated by
means of cone drums, or otherwise.
But that the Invention may be fully understood we will, by the aid of the
accompanying Drawing, proceed to describe means pursued by us in carrying
the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a longit
section; Figure 2 an external side view,
Figures 3 and 4 two opposite end views of apparatus arranged according to
our Invention.
In each of these views the same letters are employed to
indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a, a, is an enclosing cylinder which is formed double, with a space 6 between
the two parts thereof to receive steam for the purpose of keeping the cylinder
heated. The end a' of the cylinder a is affixed to and revolves with the
cylinder a, the end a³ is stationary, and both ends are closed, except that the
end a' is formed with an opening to receive the lower end of the stationary
hopper c, by which the matters to be dried are conducted to the interior of
the cylinder a, which opening is also sufficiently open as to admit of the escape
of the damp air arising from the drying of the matters in the cylinder a. The
end a³ has an opening at a by which the matters in the cylinder a may be
a'lowed to pass away, whilst it has also another opening a' in connection with
the passage a³ from a fan d or other apparatus, by which the damp air may
be driven from the interior of the cylinder a by a hot or cold blast. The
cylinder a is affixed to and revolves with the hollow axle aº, which is supported
with capability of revolving in bearings e, e, and has affixed to it the toothed
wheel a' by which it receives motion from a steam engine or other suitable
power. The cylinder a is connected to the axle a" by means of arms a³ and a
for the passage of the steam to and from the outer casing. Around the axle is
upplied the worm or spiral band f; 9, 9, are steps to assist the turning over
of the matters in the cylinder a during the drying operation upon them;"

page_text: thereby facilitating the expulsion of the moisture from such matters. The
hopper c may be fed by an endless strap or band, and the amount of feed may
be regulated by a shutter; h, h, are spring valves to admit of the escape of
the condensed water from the space b between the parts of the outer case <;
jis a safety valve to provide against the accidental use of steam of too high a
pressure. Steam is admitted to the space b of the outer case or cylinder a
by the pipe i through the arms a", and thence from the space 6 by the arms a³
to the pipe i'.
Having thus described our Invention, and means which we adopt in
carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details and arrangement shown and described,
as these may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the
Invention; but what we claim is, the adaptation or combination of means or
apparatus for drying wheat, barley, rice, and other grain; applicable also
to the drying of seeds, coffee, and other matters, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Algernon Sidney Ayre, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.