improvements in centrifugal Drying Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
WILLIAM HORSFIELD No. 4 Hayles Street St. Georges Road Southwark, Clock
Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For improvements in centrifugal Drying Machines.
A. a wire basket secured to upright shaft, revolving on pivots in frame, for holding
articles to be dried. a disc secured to shaft under basket. Ca second disc, the disc
under basket resting on it, (as in plate, ond view) the disc secured to horizontal shaft
running on malo centres, pulley on other end for strap and wheel. D a lover acting
on stud, secured to bar across frame, one end of lever pressing against end of upright
shaft A. counter weights other end of lever to balance articles in basket. The counter
weights are shewn in plate end view.

page_text: I, WILLIAM HORSFIELD, of 4 Hayles Street, Saint Georges Road, Southwark,
London S.E. Clock Maker, 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 :-
The device according to my invention and as illustrated in the drawing accom-
panying my Provisional Specification, consists of a framework upon which is mounted
a vertical spindle or shaft working in a footstep and upon which shaft is secured a.
wire basket A for containing the articles to be dried. Said footstep (which may be
formed in the shape of a hollow box or cup) is provided with a screw in its centre, the
head of which is hardened for the purpose of offering a hard boaring surface to the
point of the shaft or spindle which is fixed to one end of a pivoted lever; the other
extremity being furnished with counterweights for the purpose of compensating for the
weight of the articles placed in the basket A. There is also fixed to the shaft below
the basket a small friction disc B, which rests upon and receives motion from a second
friction disc C of larger diameter than the disc B and which is mounted upon a
horizontal shaft working on male centres. On the outer end of the said horizontal
shaft is fixed a small pulley, to which motion is given by means of belting and the
larger speed wheel D, which works upon a pivot secured to the exterior of the frame
work.
In order to reduce the size of the apparatus-which in the form shewn in the
drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification, might under some circumstances
occupy too much space-I may adopt as an alternative arrangement to the device
shewn in the accompanying drawing consisting of a frame the two standards E of
which are braced together by cross bars a, b, the latter being shewn in dotted lines.
Within said frame is placed the wire basket A supported by the shaft I resting in the
footstep F shewn in dotted lines. At any suitable distance below the cross bar a
aforesaid, but above and quite clear of the wire basket A, I arrange a horizontal shaft
or spindle working upon two male centres, and which shaft has at one end mounted
upon it a friction wheel Cupon which bears a friction disc B of considerably reduced
diameter relatively to that of C and fixed to the vertical shaft I aforesaid. Upon the
other end of the horizontal shaft last referred to and outside the frame E is fixed a small
pulley H which is connected by means of suitable belting to a large speed wheel D
provided with a handle d, rotating upon a stud fixed to the exterior of the framing.
The outer extremity of the footstep lever K is counterweighted as shewn at L so as to
compensate for the weight of the articles to be dried in the basket A and thereby to
reduce the power required to turn the handle d by relieving the pressure of the friction
disc B upon the friction wheel, D; the upper end of the vertical shaft I passes through
the cross bar a, and terminates in a fly wheel or similar suitable governor or
accumulator G.

page_text: As a modification of the foregoing in cases where a very high speed is not necessary,
I may dispense altogether with the belting as described above for transmitting
motion to the friction dises and drying basket, and in lieu thereof I may make the friction
wheel C of larger diameter than would be necessary in the case of the arrangement
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and instead of the pulley H I may attach the
handle to the end of the horizontal shaft e, the speed thus obtained being simply
proportional to the difference in size of the two friction discs B and C. It is obvious
also, in reference to the arrangement shewn in the accompanying drawing I may if
found desirable, dispense with the belting h, by making the pulley H and the wheel D
of larger diameters and use them as friction wheels, all the other parts remaining
substantially the same; also as an alternative position for the counter balancing lever K,
1 may arrange same at the upper part of the frame attaching at its shorter extremity
a small roller, bearing upon the under face of the friction disc B; thus, in this substi-
tuted position of the lever K, by means of the counter weight L, I am enabled to
regulate the pressure of the shaft I upon the foot step F, (which in this case is rigid)
and also the pressure of the friction disc B upon the friction wheel C.
It will be seen from the foregoing that in the arrangement in accordance with my
Invention as above described, that there being no geared wheels, I not only render the
device almost noiseless, but reduce the friction to the lowest possible degree consistent
with efficiency.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The improved centrifugal drying apparatus substantially as herein set forth.