Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Drying or Conditioning Grain or other like Produce.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SF MUIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Drying or
Conditioning Grain or other like Produce.
We, WILLIAM NATHANIEL WHITMORE, GEORGE BINYON, WALTER JOHN
PERRETT and WILLIAM JOHN WHITMORE all of Wickham Market in the
County of Suffolk, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object a method and apparatus for drying and
conditioning grain or other like produce.
Our improved method consists in alternately exposing the grain to heat for the
purpose of drying the same, and to a current of cool air which has the effect of
removing the steam or moisture and cooling the grain. The produce preferably
descends through an upright or sloping casing or column, in the interior of which
is placed one or more steam or hot water pipes. This casing forms a channel for
the grain, and is provided with a shutter at the bottom for shutting off or regulating
the discharge. The grain follows a circuitous path through this column, descending
alternately in contact with the heated pipe, and then turning at an angle and
following a straight course in the same direction but at a little distance from the
hot pipe; during its descent in contact with the said pipe, the grain is heated and
dried, while, after it has been turned at an angle to follow another path, it meets,
when away from the heated pipe, a current of cold air which removes steam and
moisture.
At intervals in the height of the said column, we place a series of roofs or
screens with spaces between each through which the grain is permitted to fall in
thin streams. These roofs support the grain at intervals in the column, and
prevent it getting blocked. Air holes are provided in the sides of the casing
under the said roofs for admitting air. Above these roofs, covered by means of
a suitable shield, other holes are arranged which communicate with vapour shafts
or pipes. The casing is also equipped with shields located between the roofs and
the hot pipe, which form air jackets all round the pipe, and prevent the grain
coming into contact with the hot pipe at that particular point. The vapour pipes
are placed in communication with exhaust fans, or their equivalent, whereby cold
air is drawn in through the air holes aforesaid and through the descending stream
of grain, whereby moisture or vapour from the grain is drawn off. Any suitable
number of these roofs and shields are employed so that the grain is alternately
heated by contact with the hot pipe and cooled by the ascending stream of air.
The steam for heating the pipe may be led away to a steam trap by an outlet
pipe. The bottom of the apparatus may be constructed to form a cooler for the
grain, for which purpose the heating pipe does not extend to the bottom of the
column but terminates at some distance therefrom. The descending streams of
produce at the bottom of the column are thus only subjected to the ascending
currents of fresh air, without being heated by the hot air.
The mode of action of the apparatus is as follows-
The grain from the drainer or washer is continuously fed into the casing and
descends by gravity in a layer or stream in contact with the steam or hot water
pipe. When it has descended a short distance, its flow is directed away from the
hot water pipe, and into another path, whereby the descending stream of produce
comes into contact with an ascending current of air drawn in by the fans and
which removes the steam and vapour. The direction of this motion being thus
changed, the grain is turned, and that which is on the underside on its passage

page_text: through the first length of the casing, is on the top during its passage through the
second length, and the produce is then turned at each bend of the channel. The
heat radiated from the pipe and the repeated currents of air, which are drawn through
the descending stream of produce, have the effect of thoroughly drying it; while
the cooler at the bottom thoroughly cools the produce, and delivers it in a dry 5
state in a condition for grinding.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
PERRETT and WILLIAM JOHN WHITMORE all of Wickham Market, in the
County of Suffolk, Engineers, 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 a method of and apparatus for drying and
conditioning grain or other produce.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of our apparatus;
Figure 2 enlarged view of the upper part of the double column.
Figure 3 sectional view of lower part of the double column.
Figure 4 view showing arrangements of pent roofs in the lower part of the
double column.
Figure 5 half sectional plan.
Our improved method consists in alternately exposing the grain to heat for the
purpose of drying the same and to a current of cool air which has the effect of
removing the steam or moisture and cooling the grain.
Referring to the drawings-
A is a vertical column (about 25 feet high in our experimental apparatus);
through this the grain descends. This column can be either vertical or sloping;
we prefer it vertical. B is a cylinder of copper or other material supplied with
steam through pipe C and from which the water of condensation drains away
through pipe D. Instead of this cylinder one or more steam or even hot water
pipes or coils can be used. Between these pipes or coils or this cylinder and the
outside cylinder A is a channel through which the grain descends; it is provided
with a shutter a for removing the discharge. The grain follows a circuitous path
through this column, descending alternately in contact with the heated pipe or
cylinder B, and then being turned at an angle and following a course in the same
downward direction but at a little distance from the heated pipe. During its
descent in contact with the said pipe, the grain is heated and dried, while, after
it has been turned at an angle to follow another path, it meets with away from the
heated pipe, a current of cold air which removes the steam and moisture.
11
The way this is effected and the apparatus for doing it are as follows:-
Referring specially to Figures 2 and 3, in these, E is the passage between the
two cylinders A and B down which the grain falls: F F are deflectors placed at
intervals and forcing the grain to traverse close to the heated cylinder B. G G-are
further deflectors taking away the grain from the heated chamber. H H are pent
roofs shown best in Figure 4, placed in the upper part of the apparatus between
the deflectors G and the walls of chamber A, and in the lower part between the
chambers A and L; the outer casing is perforated with a hole I at each pent

page_text: roof. The air therefore enters into the pent roofs H and through the grain, and
escapes into the hiatus between the deflector F and the walls of chamber A,
passing out through channels J J into the two or more vertical columns, KK.
Below the column B is the space L which is filled with cool air supplied in any
convenient way. The deflectors F and G are extended all round the pipe B, the
latter serving simply to deflect the grain away from the heating cylinder B. The
pent roofs Hare also extended all round the cylinder and tolerably close together,
as set forth in Figure 4. By this means, the grain, after having been dried
opposite the cylinder B, is thoroughly cooled before escaping at the bottom. The
vapour pipes K K are connected with exhaust fans or other equivalent not shown
in the drawing, whereby cold air is drawn in through the holes I, and forced to
traverse the falling grain and escape to supply the exhaust K by passages J; this
cold air carries off the moisture or vapour with it. Although, in the drawings, the
vapour escapes J are only shown on two sides of the central pipe, they can be
arranged all round and in any desired number. From the foregoing, it will be
seen that the grain is alternately heated through coming in contact with the hot
air pipe, and then cooled and the vapour carried off from it by the ascending
streams of air entering at the numerous holes I. The apparatus is used largely
for drying grain which has been washed in a washer or drainer; this grain is
continually fed into the casing at the top and descends by gravity in the manner
already described. The direction of its motion being continually changed, the
grain is repeatedly turned over, and thus each particle is brought in succession
against the heated cylinder until it arrives at the lower part, where again every
particle is exposed repeatedly to cooling currents of air and thus thoroughly cooled
before escaping.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of an external cylinder, an internal heating device, guiding
devices alternately bringing the grain in contact with the heating surface and
withdrawing it therefrom, and a device for admitting air and causing the air to
travel through the grain at those points where the grain is not exposed to the
heating surface, whereby the grain is alternately heated and treated with air
currents.
2. The process of drying grain, which consists in alternately exposing it during
its descent to a heating surface and to currents of air, and at the same time turning
it over in its passage.
3. The apparatus for drying and cooling grain substantially as described and
illustrated.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and London,
Patent Agents.