An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Drying Grain aftor Washing.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Drying Grain aftor
Washing.
I JAMES COMERFORD of the firm of James Comerford & Sons, Rathdrum in
the County of Wicklow, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for, drying wheat
and other grain after washing the same to eliminate earth and other foreign matters
with which the grain may be contaminated.
The object of my invention is to rapidly remove the moisture without abrading
the husk of the grain.
The improved method of my invention by which it is sought only to remove
moisture superficially adhering to the grain and beard, consists essentially in
detaching the moisture by concussion produced by projecting the grain against
smooth surfaces from which the moisture is carried off as fast as it is deposited
thereon.
The preferred mode of carrying this method into effect is by causing the grain
to be projected by centrifugal action against a circumferential surface from which
the deposited moisture is continuously carried off by centrifugal action or otherwise;
and the preferred form of apparatus consists of a cylinder composed of alternately
stationary and revolving zones or rings of polished metal fitting so closely together
as to prevent the passage between them of the grain whilst permitting the escape
of the moisture. Within the stationary series of zones or rings are a corresponding
series of revolving blades or discs provided or not with blades by which the grain
is thrown against the stationary rings, the grain being thus acted on by the several
discs or sets of blades in succession for which purpose it is returned to the centre
by hoppers and revolving scrapers after being thrown against the circumference as
above described.
The moisture deposited on the stationary surfaces runs, or is carried by
revolving scrapers, down to the adjacent revolving rings or zones and escapes to
the outside of the cylinder through the joint between the stationary and revolving
rings from which it is thrown off by centrifugal action and is caught by a surrounding
hood or gutter.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Drying Grain after
Washing.
I, JAMES COMERFORD of the firm of James Comerford and Sons, Rathdrum in
the County of Wicklow, Ireland, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for, drying washed
wheat and other grain; the object being to rapidly remove the moisture super-
ficially adhering to the grain and beard without abrading the husk or otherwise
injuring the grain.

page_text: My invention consists essentially in an apparatus whereby the moisture is
detached by the impact of the grain against smooth surfaces from which the
moisture is carried off as fast as it is deposited thereon; and the preferred mode of
carrying it into effect is by causing the grain to be projected by centrifugal action
against a circumferential surface from which the deposited moisture drains at once
on to other surfaces from which it is continuously carried off by centrifugal action.
The apparatus consists of a cylinder composed of alternately stationary zones
and revolving rings and sets of discs with or without revolving blades or beaters
by which the grain is projected against the several zones or impact surfaces in
succession. The moisture deposited on the impact surfaces runs or is carried by
scrapers down to the adjacent revolving rings and escapes to the outside of the
cylinder through the joint between the stationary and revolving rings from which
it is thrown off by centrifugal action and is caught by a surrounding hood. The
impact surfaces may be perforated, in which case part of the moisture would be
carried through the perforations by the air current caused by the beaters and would
run down the outside of the zones onto the revolving rings. The use of a scraper.
in connection with the impact surface is more particularly applicable to that part
of the machine in which the final stage of the operation is performed, or where
the amount of moisture deposited is not sufficiently abundant to run off, and for
convenience of construction it is preferred that the impact surface should slowly
revolve so as to bring it under the action of a stationary scraper.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a grain drying
machine embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a horizontal section of same on
line 1-1 Figure 1. Figure 3 is a part vertical section showing the mode of
supporting the stationary zones of the cylinder. Figures 4, 5 and 6 show sectional
and inside face views of part of the scraper drawn to a larger scale. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A, A, A, A, are the zones or sections which constitute the impact surfaces of
the machine. They are turned and polished internally and the zones AA', A², A³,
are supported by two standards B B resting upon the intermediate plate C
connected to the uprights D. E are the centrifugal rings for intercepting and
carrying off the moisture draining onto them from the impact surfaces A with
which they alternate as shewn, the space between the edges of the zones and the
rings being only just sufficient to allow moisture to pass without permitting the
grain to escape. F is a slightly concaved disc situated within the uppermost zone A
and G, Gare sets of beaters attached to discs !! and respectively situated within
the zones A', A2, all of such discs being mounted on a shaft H passing centrally
through the drum and driven at about 225 to 240 revolutions per minute, more or
less. The intercepting centrifugal rings E are of thin sheet copper and are carried
by arms affixed to the undersides of the discs F and g, the position of the said
arms being preferably such as to avoid throwing the grain off centrifugally should
they strike it in falling past the edges of the discs, in passing from one zone to the
next beneath. These rings E are so situated with regard to the zones or
segments A, A', A, as to catch the moisture draining therefrom and they are set
at the proper proximity thereto by a screw adjustment beneath the footstep of the
shaft H. The said rings E being edgewise to the cylinder, their surfaces are
perpendicular to the axis of rotation which favors the immediate throwing off of
the moisture collected thereon. The sets of beaters G G¹ may either be parallel
to the axis or they may be set with a slight backward inclination, as shewn, so as
to cause the grain to be somewhat detained under the action of the beaters and so
prevent it falling too quickly from one zone to another. I is an apron surrounding
the rings E at a distance, by which the moisture thrown off is caught and drained
into a gutter. The section A in which the final drying is performed is mounted
to slowly revolve, for which purpose it is preferably supported by a flange K
having a guide rim k resting on a set of grooved rollers L mounted on the inter-
mediate plate C of the frame, the flange being toothed and gearing with a pinion m

page_text: on a shaft M by which slow motion is imparted to the section A* within which is
a set of beater blades G' mounted on shaft H and set so as to cause the grain to be
detained under their action for a sufficient time. N is the cover plate of a scraper
fixed to the stationary segments A³ A' for the purpose of continually wiping dry
the surface of the segment A' and carrying off the moisture which is not sufficiently
abundant to run off. This scraper is formed by a strip o of caoutchouc let into a
groove o in the inner face of the plate N. This scraper is held against the
surface of the section A by bolts and springs P and the portion n of the plate N
which is in advance of the scraper is hollowed out to form a covered channel for
the moisture collected by this scraper to drain off through, the leading edge of the
plate being just held off the surface of the section A by feet 9 (or by set screws
in the zones A A' bearing by their points against the plate N) so as to allow the
moistened surface of A' to pass under it whilst preventing any grain from passing
under or coming in contact with the accumulated moisture. More than one scraper
may be applied to wipe dry the same impact surface, and the latter might be
stationary, the scraper or scrapers being made to revolve.
The wet grain is fed in onto the disc F by which it is projected against the
surrounding segment A, thence it falls past the disc F and is similarly acted on by
the sets of beaters G G G in succession and is finally delivered by a scraper R at
an aperture in the bottom of the drum.
In the example illustrated the zones are represented as being imperforate, but
the zones A A A may be made of perforated sheets, care being taken that the
edges of the perforations (which are not large enough to allow the grain to pass
through) be not burred as it is essential that the inner surfaces of the zones be
smooth so as not to abrade the bran or husk of the grain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. An apparatus for drying wet grain wherein the moisture is detached
from the grain by centrifugal impact against smooth surfaces from which the
accumulated moisture is carried off continuously by centrifugal action
described.
a.s
2nd. The herein. described apparatus consisting of sets of centrifugal projectors
and corresponding surrounding impact surfaces formed by segments or zones in
combination with revolving rings adapted to catch the moisture draining from the
said surfaces and throw it off centrifugally without permitting the escape of the
grain, substantially as specified.
3rd. In an apparatus for removing moisture from grain by impact and consisting
of centrifugal projectors and surrounding impact surfaces, the combination with
said impact surfaces of a relatively moving scraper for collecting and removing the
moisture deposited on said surface, as specified.
4th. In the herein described apparatus as specified in claiming clause 3, the
combination with the scraper of a shield to protect the grain from and carry off
the accumulated moisture, as described.
5th. The improved grain drying machine constructed and operating, substantially
as herein specified.
Doted this 5th day of January 1891