AN IMPROVED KILN FOR DRYING GRAIN
Year: 1858

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Kennedy and
James Armstrong, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 22nd October 1858.
We, ROBERT KENNEDY and JAMES ARMSTRONG, both of Lisburn, in the
Kingdom of Ireland. do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED KILN FOR DRYING GRAIN," io be as follows:-
This Invention of an improved kiln for drying grain. relates to a novel
mode of arranging the tiles or other surfaces of the kiln on which the grain to
be dried rests. These surfaces form inclined planes, which are placed in a
slanting position across an upright heating or drying chamber. Any con-
venient number of these inclined planes or surfaces may be used according to
the ordinary dimensions of the kiln. The grain to be dried is allowed to pass
from a chamber or hopper above through an aperture on to the upper side of
the highest inclined plane from thence, the grain passes down that plane to
the opposite side of the chamber. where, in passing to the next inclined surface.
which is inclined in an opposite direction towards the other side of the
Price 1

page_text: chamber, the grain is turned over by means of a roller. This process of
turning the grain from one plane to the other has the effect of reversing the
surface of the grain that has been in contact with the heated tiles, and is
continued as often as required until the grain be properly dried. Drop plates
are put in at intervals. to prevent the accumulation of the grain on the
inclined planes, and the depth from getting greater than what is suitable or
convenient. The flow of the grain downwards is regulated by a cylinder
or wheel placed at the lower side of the undermost inclined surface. This
cylinder or wheel is provided with boards or floats, on to which the grain falls
from the lowermost inclined surfaces, and the velocity of this cylinder or wheel
is regulated by clockwork provided with a pendulum, or in some other con-
venient manner. These inclined surfaces are supplied underneath with heated
air, and proper passages are provided for the escape of the steam, so that it
will not be allowed to pass through the grain on the higher surfaces.
In order to adjust the temperature of the drying chamber, a metal rod or
wire may be applied to the heated chamber. to act as a heat regulator, by
expanding when the kiln gets overheated. and admitting cold air by the
opening of a valve. By applying an exhaust draught where driving power can
be obtained, an extra draught in the drying chamber may be created, if thought
desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent. filed
by the said Robert Kennedy and James Armstrong in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we. ROBERT
KENNEDY and JAMES ARMSTRONG, both of Lisburn, in the Kingdom of Ireland,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of October. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the iwenty-second year
of Her reign, did. for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant.
unto us, the said Robert Kennedy and James Armstrong. Iler special license
that we, the said Robert Kennedy and James Armstrong. our executors.
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Robert Kennedy
and James Armstrong, our executors. administrators, and assigns. should at
and time agree with. and no others. from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might

page_text: make, use, exercise. and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED KILN FOR DRYING GRAIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Robert Kennedy and James Armstrong, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us,
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 he
filed in the Great Seal Pateni Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Kennedy and James Armstrong,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention. and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "An Improved Kiln for Drying Grain." relates to a
novel mode of arranging the tiles or other surfaces of the kiln intended to
receive the grain to be dried. These surfaces are placed one above the other
in a slanting position across an upright heating or drying chamber. Any
convenient number of these inclined planes or surfaces may be used according
to the dimensions of the kiln. The grain to be dried is allowed to pass from
a chamber or hopper above through an aperture on to the upper side of the
highest inclined plane: from thence the grain passes down that plane to the
opposite side of the chamber, where. in passing to the next inclined surface.
which is inclined in an opposite direction towards the other side of the
chamber. the grain is turned over by means of a curve. This process of
turning the grain from one plane to the other has the effect of reversing the
surface of the grain that has been in contact with the heated tiles. and the
reversing of the grain is continued as often as required until the grain be
properly dried. Drop plates are put in at intervals to prevent the accumula-
tion of the grain on the inclined planes. and also 10 prevent the depth from
getting greater than what is deemed suitable and convenient. The flow of the
grain downwards is regulated by a cylinder or wheel placed at the lower side
of the undermost inclined surface. This cylinder or wheel is provided with
boards or floats, on to which the grain falls from the lowermost inclined surface.
and the velocity of this cylinder or wheel is regulated by clockwork provided
with a pendulum. or in some other convenient manner. The inclined
surfaces are supplied underneath with heated air. and proper passages are
provided for the escape of the steam from each inclined surface, so that it will
not be allowed to pass through the grain on the higher surfaces.

page_text: expanding
In order to adjust the temperature of the drying chambers. à metal rod or
wire is applied to the heated chamber. to act as a heat regulator. by
when the kiln gets overheated, and admitting cold air by the opening of
a valve. By applying an exhaust draft where driving power can be obtained.
an extra draught in the drying chamber may be created, if thought desirable.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of
one of our improved kilns for drying grain: Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation
taken at right angles to Fig. 1: Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the kiln.
taken in the line 1. 2. of Fig. 1: Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, taken in the
line 3. 4. of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the regulating wheel.
which receives the grain as it descends from the inclined surfaces. A. A'.
represent a fire-place and fire chamber connected to an upright chamber B. B.
provided with inclined surfaces b. b. and heated air flues C. C: K is the room
or chamber at the top of the kiln for supplying the grain in the drying
apparatus. The grain passes from this room through an opening a to the first
inclined surface, from which it passes through the curve i to the next inclined
surface, and so on from one inclined plane to another until it leaves the
kiln. b. b. are the inclined perforated surfaces. over which the grain to be
dried passes: i. i. are the curves, placed at the lowermost end of each inclined
plane, by which the upper and lower surfaces of the stream of grain are
reversed in passing from one inclined surface to the next: c. c. are drop plates,
placed across the inclined planes for regulating the depth of grain and
preventing it from gathering too much together. These drop plates are
connected together by means of stay rods, and are provided at intervals with
ieeth, as in a rake, for the purpose of mixing the grain and keeping it con-
stantly in motion while passing down: d. d. are covers placed over the inclined
surfaces for preventing the steam or moisture from the grain getting mixed
with the heated air supplied from the flues C. C: f. f. are stoppers or valves
placed at the lower end of the fourth and seventh inclined planes. for the
purpose of detaining the grain a certain time when commencing the operation.
so as to have it properly dry by the time it reaches the discharging wheel n.
and thus rendering it unnecessary to pass the grain again through the kiln:
is an indicator for shewing the quantity of grain passed through the wheel :
q is a brush for preventing the grain from passing over the discharging
wheel n this wheel is provided with buckets. into which the grain when
passing from the kiln enters, and by its gravity causes the wheel to revolve.
The speed of rotation of this wheel determines the rate of discharge of the
grain. and consequently regulates the time which the grain is exposed to the
heat of the kiln, for by revolving quickly it passes the grain rapidly from

page_text: the kiln, consequently exposing it a short period to the influence of heated air,
and by detaining it a longer time causes it to be more highly dried. o (Fig. 5)
is a pendulum for the purpose of regulating the speed of the wheel n, the
ball on the pendulum when lowered causing it to go slower, and when raised
allowing it to go quicker, being provided with a clock escapement, which
escapement is connected with the wheel by wheels and pulleys, as may be
required. p, p, are levers for working the stoppers or valves I, 1; D, D, are
openings for conveying the heated air from the chamber A' into the side
flues C, C, (Figures 2 and 3,) which side flues convey the heated air from the
chamber A under the surfaces b, b, through openings h, h; these openings
may be of any required number, and are arranged so as to allow a greater or
less quantity of air to be admitted, as may be desired; B°, B*, are spaces
underneath the inclined planes, into which the heated air passes from the
lues C, C, and in passing through the grain causes the steam or moisture
which is generated to ascend between the drop plates c, c, into the space e, and
through ports into the exhaust flue E, E, which conveys it out of the kiln by
means of a revolving cowl placed on the top of the flue.
In Fig. the construction of the inclined surfaces is best shewn. The
perforated metal tiles are supported by suitable frames, and above these
inclined surfaces are placed the drop plates for regulating the depth of the
grain exposed to the currents of heated air, the whole being covered, in order
to form an inclined heating chamber, by earthen tiles or slabs; and are
copper wire rods, suspended from a beam at the top of the kiln (Figures I
and 2) and descending through the heated air flues C, are secured to a lever v,
(Fig. 1) To the other end of this lever is attached the valve S in the air
chamber A'. The rods and prevent the heat in the kiln from getting
beyond a certain required temperature by expanding and allowing the end *
of the lever to descend, and thus raise the valve s past an opening in the
air chamber A, which will thus admit cold air, when the contraction of this
rod will again close the valve. A chain y is attached to the lever e, which passes
over a sheave on the rod z, at the other extremity of which rod is attached
an index, which indicates on the dial the degree of heat in the kiln. F
(Fig. 3) is a perforated sole plate, through which a current of air is passed
over the fire into the air chamber A'. S is a metal door into the chamber B,
Fig. 3. B', B', are metal doors, placed in the brickwork opposite each of
the inclined surfaces, so as to have access to them when required.
Having now described our Invention of An Improved Kiln for Drying
Grain, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we claim

page_text: as the Invention secured to us by Letters Patent, as aforesaid, the general
construction and arrangements of parts herein set forth.
We claim particularly the mode of arranging the inclined surfaces and
curves over which the grain passes; and also the construction of the chambers
of the kiln through which the heated air is passed, and the means and manner
of distributing the same.
In witness whereof, we. the said Robert Kennedy and James Armstrong.
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Eighteenth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness present.
JOHN FITZPATRICK.
JAMES ARMSTRONG. (L.S.)