Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Curing, Seasoning, and Drying Casks and similar Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left; 9th Nov., 1896-Accepted; 12th. Dec., 1896
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Curing, Seasoning, and
Drying Casks and similar Vessels.
I, JAMES GILLIES, of the Firm of James Gillies and Company, Brewers'
Engineers, Glenpark Street, in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the provision. of improved. apparatus for use in
curing, seasoning and drying casks, barrels and similar vessels by. means of..hot
dry air.
Under the invention the seasoning or drying operation is. effected by injecting
heated air through suitable nozzles into the interior of the cask in such a manner
as to vapourise the moisture contained in the pores of the wood.and.displace it. and
the colder air by the heated air the temperature of which is .regulated by imparting
to it the heat of steam under any desired degree of pressure. The air is heated
by forcing it by means of pumps, blowers or like means, through tubes carried
through a steam cylinder or vessel. through which steam is led or in which it is
generated or maintained' under pressure. In these tubes are. fitted a series of
annular or conical rings having serrated inner peripheries and cross-bars by means
of which they may be conveniently strung upon rods passing centrally through the
tubes, the rings or cones being in contact with the tubes so as to absorb the heat
therefrom. Ŏr in.lieu of such riugs and cones other devices such as helically.
wound wires or twisted bars in contact with the tubes may be used, the object. being
to absorb the heat from the tubes and to break up the air currents and direct them
into contact with the heated surfaces in their passage through the tubes so that
the air becomes heated approximately to the temperature due to the steam under,
pressure. The air led 'through the tubes is collected.and directed through jacketted
or cased pipes.and through nozzles which are carried up through the.bung. holes
of the casks towards the centre or higher part. of the interior of the casks so that
the hot air is delivered well up into the interior. An. annular space is left around
the nozzles and 'as the hot air is blown in the colder air is displaced from the cask
and is driven out as is also the. vapour generated. by heating of the moisture
absorbed in the staves of the cask. By this means the cask is thorougbly seasoned,
cured and dried and will keep sweet for an indefinite length of time.
1000
WALLACE. FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent. Agent;.
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent ifor the Applicant..

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Curing, Seasoning, and
Drying Casks and similar Vessels.
1, JAMES GILLIES, of the Firm of James Gillies and Company, Brewers'
Engineers, Glenpark Street, in the City of Glasgow, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the provision of improved apparatus for use
in curing, seasoning and drying casks, barrels and similar vessels by means of hot
dry air.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a transverse section on the
line a-a, Figure 1 of the apparatus.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of parts of the apparatus and
Figure 7 is a general view showing its application.
Under the invention the seasoning or drying operation is effected by injecting
heated air through suitable nozzles into the interior of the cask A in such a manner
as to vapourise the moisture contained in the pores of the wood and displace it and
the colder air by the heated air the temperature of which is regulated by
imparting to it the heat of steam under any desired degree of pressure. The air
is heated by forcing it by means of pumps, blowers or like means through tubes C
carried through
a steam cylinder B or vessel through which steam enters at c and
flows out at c or in which it is generated or maintained under pressure. In these
tubes are fitted a series of annular or conical rings D having serrated inner
peripheries d as shown particularly at Figures 3 and 4 and cross bars d¹ by means
of which they may be conveniently strung upon rods E passing centrally through
the tubes C and carried upon bridges d resting upon the tubes C; or as is
preferred these conical rings are strung upon tubes F, the open ends of these
tubes F being turned over the ends of the tubes C and terminated in the steam
space. The rings D or cones D', the latter having the serration formed on the
outer periphery as shown at Figures 5 and 6, are in contact with the tubes C so
as to direct the air against the sides of these tubes or against the rods E or
tubes F and absorb the heat therefrom. Or in lieu of such rings and cones other
devices may be used such as helically wound wires, twisted bars or spiral tubes in
contact with the tubes C, the object being to provide a large surface for absorbing
the heat from the tubes C and to break up the air currents and direct them into
contact with the heated surfaces in their passage through the tubes C so that the
air becomes heated approximately to the temperature due to the steam under
pressure. The air led through the tubes is collected and directed through
jacketted or cased pipes F1 and through nozzles G which are carried up through
the bung holes of the casks A towards the centre or higher part of the interior
of the casks so that the hot air is delivered well up into the interior. An annular
space H is left around the nozzles and as the hot air is blown in the colder air is
displaced from the cask and is driven out as is also the vapour generated by
heating of the moisture absorbed in the staves of the cask A. By this means the
cask A is thoroughly seasoned, cured and dried and will keep sweet for an
indefinite length of time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Steam-heated air-drying apparatus constructed and arranged substantially
as described for use in curing, seasoning and drying casks and similar vessels.

page_text: 2. In apparatus for heating air by means of steam for the purpose set forth the
combination with the air tubes of annular and conical rings or equivalent devices
for directing the flowing air into contact with the heating surfaces substantially as
described.
3. The combination of a steam casing having a series of air tubes fitted
therein with annular and conical rings strung within the air tubes substantially as
described.
Dated this 7th dox of November 1896
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather, Chartered Patent Agents,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.