IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING APPARATUS SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR THE DESICCATION OF MALT, HOPS, FRUITS, AND OTHER MATERIALS OR PRODUCE." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Jackson Reynolds, of Chicago, in the State of
Illinois, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRYING APPARATUS SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR THE DESICCATION OF MALT,
HOPS, FRUITS, AND OTHER MATERIALS OR PRODUCE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Jackson Reynolds
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
ANDREW JACKSON REYNOLDS, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, in the United
States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING APPARATUS SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR
THE DESICCATION OF MALT, HOPS, FRUITS, AND OTHER MATERIALS OR PRODUCE."
The present Invention has reference to improvements in apparatus specially
intended for the desiccation of malt, hops, and other materials, such as fruit, which
cannot resist a continuous elevated temperature, and therefore require an inter-
mittent cooling.
The improved drying apparatus, which may be heated by any suitable heater or
heaters, consists preferably of a square chamber made of metal plates, and provided
in its front and rear walls with a series of ports so arranged as to permit of a
corresponding number of trays to be passed through them.
Inside the hot air chamber, and above each tray, are placed one or more small
stirring drums of a particular construction turning with their axes in holes or other
bearings in the side walls of said chamber, and intended to stir automatically the
materials to be dried. These stirring drums consist of an axis upon which are
mounted a number of straight or curved bars, to the free ends of which are secured
longitudinal laths furnished with a row of teeth of any suitable shape, which, while
rotating, raise the materials to a certain height and allow them to drop between
the bars, thus performing the stirring operation. The teeth may be placed more
or less obliquely so as to produce the most convenient effect. Instead of using the
bars before mentioned the axes may be provided with a number of long curved
teeth, to the free ends of which are fixed a series of parallel and longitudinal wires

page_text: or wirework, filling up the intervals between the teeth to a certain distance from
their ends so that the materials can drop through the open spaces when raised to
a given height. Upon one or each side of the axis is mounted a small pinion which
gears with a rack constituting one of the side portions of the trays, so that
the stirring drums will be turned by the forward and backward motion of the
latter.
Instead of imparting motion to the drums, as above described, this motion may
be obtained by other means, for instance, by placing the trays upon one or more
rollers the axes of which project to the outside of the hot air chamber, and are
provided with a pulley communicating by means of a belt with another pulley
mounted upon the axis of the stirring drums in a similar manner. It will be easily
understood that on pushing the trays to and fro they will turn the rollers by which
they are supported, and thus impart at the same time a rotary motion to the
stirring drums through the intermediate pulleys, or otherwise. A fan driven by
the draught of the rising heat is employed to distribute the heat evenly throughout
the whole chamber.
The trays constitute a prominent feature of the Invention, and offer considerable
advantages over those now in use. They are of double, triple, or in general
multiple length of the diameter of the hot air chamber, thus permitting the
materials under treatment, and particularly malt and hops, to be exposed alternately
to the intense heat of the drying apparatus, and to the more moderate temperature
of the circumambient air, by pushing the trays from time to time to one or the
other side of the dryer, which may be done at intervals, according to the nature of
the materials. By this arrangement the operations are rendered not only con-
tinuous, but also more economical by the rational utilization both of the elevated
heat of the dryer and of the milder temperature of the surrounding air, without
requiring the trays to be removed or raised. The trays may be constructed upon
the principle of sieves, or with a bottom plate perforated as desired with a number
of holes or apertures, or of wirework. Their sides, as well as the intermediate
cross partitions, serve to close the ports through which the sieves are passed,
whichever tray may be in position in the heater, thus preventing any loss
of heat.
In many cases it will be very advantageous to remove the hot air chamber
from the heater, or to raise and lower it at any desirable moment. I therefore
reserve to myself the right to construct the chamber of several sections placed one
above the other, and connected with each other by hooks or catches, and corre-
sponding projections or ribs, or by any other mechanical device working auto-
matically.
Each of the sections may have two or more double ports for the reception of so
many trays, and a chain or rope attached by its four branches to the frame of the
upper section passes over pullies to a windlass or other winding apparatus.
Or two chains may be fixed by hooks and rings, or otherwise, to the four corners
of a lower moveable frame, so as to leave the front and rear of the chamber clear
for the projecting trays.
Upon this lower frame are adjusted two sliding cross pieces pushed against the
ribs by springs or otherwise, thus supporting the sections.
}
By these contrivances it is easy to raise the sections already penetrated by the
heat, and to secure to the lower one, or to place upon the heater right under said
section, another one filled with fresh materials, which will be acted upon by the
greatest temperature of the furnace or heater.
The ribs are fixed to the lower part of the sections, and embrace the upper end
of the following one, so that the whole construction is safely maintained in an
upright position.
Counter-weights, with chain or rope running over pulleys, may be secured to
the chamber for the purpose of balancing the same.
3
According to another arrangement the trays may be provided with hinged or
other connections at each section to enable said sections to be readily connected

page_text: together, and disconnected or folded, and two or more heaters may also be emoloyed
with a space between them equal to the length of each section of tray. By these
means the trays may be passed continuously through the heating chambers in one
direction, or to and fro, as desired, and the contents can be subjected alternately to
high and low temperatures, whilst when the contents of any of the sectional trays
are completely dried such sections can be removed or disconnected from those still
in the heating chambers, and two of such sections can be folded together with their
contents between them, thereby enabling the same to be readily carried about as
desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Jackson Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd April 1880.
ANDREW JACKSON REYNOLDS, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, in the United
States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING APPARATUS SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR
THE DESICCATION OF MALT, HOPS, FRUITS, AND OTHER MATERIALS OR PRODUCE."
The present Invention has reference to improvements in apparatus specially
intended for the desiccation of malt, hops, and other materials or produce, such as
fruits, which cannot resist a continuous elevated temperature, and therefore require
an intermittent cooling.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 represents an elevation of an improved drying apparatus partly in
section.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 are sections of parts on the line 1, 1, of Figure 1 showing
different forms of stirring apparatus.
Figure 6 is a side view of the stirring drum represented at Figure 2; Figure 7
is a vertical section of parts of the drying apparatus, showing a face view of the
stirring apparatus represented at Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of parts of a modified drying apparatus, con-
sisting of several detachable sections; and Figures 8* are detail views of parts
thereof.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of another modification of a drying apparatus
formed with several detachable sections.
Figure 10 is a side elevation, and Figure 11 is an end elevation of another
modified form of drying apparatus showing the application thereto of two furnaces
and of jointed trays:
Figures 12 and 13 are two sectional views of parts showing another mode of
stirring the produce on the trays; and

page_text: Figure 14 is a side elevation, Figure 15 is an end elevation, and Figure 16 is
a vertical section of a frame for receiving, raising and lowering, and emptying the
jointed trays.
In all the Figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
The improved drying apparatus, which may be heated by any suitable heater or
heaters, consists preferably of a square hot air chamber A, made of metal plates and
provided in its front and rear walls with a series of ports B, B', so arranged as to
permit of a corresponding number of trays C to be passed through them.
Inside the hot air chamber A and above each tray C are placed one or more
small stirring drums D turning with their axes in holes or other bearings in the
side walls of said chamber, and intended to stir up automatically the materials to
be dried.
These stirring drums, as represented at Figures 2, 3, 5, and 7, consist of an axis a
upon which are mounted a number of straight or curved bars b, to the outer or free
ends of which are secured longitudinal laths c furnished with a row of teeth d of
any suitable shape, which, while rotating, raise the materials to a certain height
and allow them to drop between the bars b, thus performing the stirring operation.
The teeth & may be placed more or less obliquely so as to produce the most conve-
nient effect.
Instead of using the before mentioned bars b the axis a may be provided with a
number of long curved teeth b, to the outer or free ends of which are fixed a series
of parallel and longitudinal wires d' or wirework, filling up the intervals between
the teeth to a certain distance from their ends, so that the materials can drop
through the open spaces when raised to a given height.
Upon one or each end of the axes a, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, is mounted a small
pinion e which gears with a rack f, constituting one of the side portions of the
trays, so that the stirring drums will be turned by the forward and backward
motion of the latter.
Instead of imparting motion to the drums, as above described, this motion may
be obtained by other means, for instance, as represented at Figures and 7, by
placing the trays C upon one or more rollers p, p, the axes of which project to the
outside of the hot air chamber A, and are provided each with a pulley p¹ commu-
nicating by means of a belt q with another pulley a¹ mounted on the axis a of the
stirring drums in a similar manner.
i
It will be readily understood that on pushing the trays C to and fro they will
turn the rollers p'by which they are supported, and thus impart at the same time
a rotary motion to the stirring drums through the pulleys and strap, or
otherwise.
F is a fan which is driven by the draught of the rising heat, and is employed to
distribute the heat evenly throughout the whole chamber.
The trays C constitute a prominent feature of the Invention, and offer con-
siderable advantages over those now in use; they are of double, triple, or in general
multiple length of the diameter of the hot air chamber A, thus permitting the
materials under treatment, and particularly malt and hops, to be exposed alter-
nately to the intense heat of the drying apparatus, and to the more moderate
temperature of the circumambient air, by pushing the trays from time to time to
one or the other side of the dryer, which may be done at intervals, according to
the nature of the materials. By this arrangement the operations are rendered not
only continuous but also more economical by the utilization both of the elevated
heat of the dryer and of the milder temperature of the surrounding air, without
requiring the trays to be removed or raised.
The trays C may be constructed upon the principle of sieves, or with a bottom
plate perforated, as desired, with a number of holes or apertures, or of wire work;
but I prefer to construct them of corrugated perforated metal, as represented at
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Their sides g, g, as well as the intermediate cross partitions and ends h, h, serve
to close the ports B, B¹, through which the sieves are passed, whichever section of

page_text: the tray may be placed in position in the heater, thus preventing any loss
of heat.
In many cases it will be advantageous to remove the hot air chamber A from
the heater E, or to raise and lower it at any desirable moment. I therefore reserve
to myself the right to construct the chamber A of several sections placed one above
the other, and connected with each other by hooks or catches i, and corresponding
projections or ribs k, as shown at Figure 8, and in detail at Figures 8*, or by any
other mechanical device working automatically.
Each of the sections may have two or more double ports for the reception of so
many trays, and a chain or rope G attached by its four branches G₁ to the frame
of the upper section passes over pulleys H, H', down to a windlass or other winding
apparatus not shown in the Drawings.
Or two chains G2 may be fixed by hooks and rings, or otherwise, to the four
corners of a lower moveable frame n, Figures 9, 10, and 11, so as to leave the
front and rear of the chamber clear for the projecting trays. Upon this lower frame
are adjusted two sliding cross pieces or automatic catches m which are pushed against
the ribs k, l, by springs, or otherwise, thus supporting the sections.
By these
contrivances it is easy to raise the sections already penetrated by the heat, and to
secure to the lower one, or to place upon the heater right under the said section,
another one filled with fresh materials, which will be acted upon by the greatest
temperature of the furnace or heater.
The ribs k and are fixed to the lower part of the sections, and embrace the
upper end of the following one, so that the whole construction is safely maintained
in an upright position.
Counter-weights, with chain or rope running over pulleys, 'may be secured to
the chamber for the purpose of balancing the same.
According to the arrangement represented at Figures 10 to 16 the trays are
made in two sections hinged by loose joint hinges t, or otherwise connected
together, to enable said sections to be readily connected together, and disconnected
or folded, and two or more heaters E may also be employed with a space between
them equal to the length of each section of tray situated over each heater. By
these means the trays may be passed continuously through the heating chambers
in one direction, or to and fro, as desired, and the contents can be subjected alter-
nately to high and low temperatures, whilst when the contents of any of the
sectional trays are completely dried such sections can be removed or disconnected
from those still in the heating chambers, and if desired two of such hinged sections
can be folded together with their contents between them, thereby enabling the same
to be readily carried about as desired. The mode, however, in which I prefer to
manipulate the trays and their contents is that represented at Figures 14, 15, 16,
which represent a fixed framing I and a moveable framing J capable of sliding
truly up and down thereon, and of being raised and lowered, as required, by means
of chains or cords o passing over pulleys 8, and connected to a roller s', which
latter is operated by a crank handle r; a catch and ratchet or toothed wheel 7₁²
are employed to retain the frame J in any position to which it may be raised until
it is desired to alter the position of the same. Thus the frame J may he raised or
lowered until the top thereof is in a line with the tray it is desired to remove
from the heater and place thereon; then when the tray is duly in position on the
top of such framing J the latter is lowered to the position required when the tray
can be forced into the position shown in Figure 16 so as to empty the contents of
such tray, then when the tray is again filled with material to be dried the frame J
is adjusted to the position required to enable the tray to be again placed in the
heater.
The stirrer represented applied to the heater, shown at Figures 10 and 11, consists
of rotary brushes d operated in a similar manner to the stirrer shown at Figures 5
and 7, whilst at Figures 12 and 13 I have represented stirrers formed of fixed
blades D¹ attached to the ends of the sections of the hot air chambers, and which

page_text: act, as the trays are slidden in or out, to plough the malt or other material, and
thereby effectually stir it and change its position.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in
which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim
is,-
First. The employment of trays two or more times the length of the distance
between the opposite walls of the heating chamber, provided or not along one side
thereof with a rack, and with cross partitions so arranged as to be moved backward
and forward through a heated chamber when desired, thus exposing part of the
trays and their contents to the hot air of the said chamber, and part to the more
moderate temperature of the room in which the said heating chamber is placed,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Second. A drying chamber containing rotary stirrers arranged to be worked by
the trays as the latter are moved backwards and forwards through the heater,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Third. The combination with a drying apparatus provided with rotary stirrers of
a number of trays two or more times the length of the distance between the opposite
walls of the heater, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose
stated.
Fourth. A drying chamber provided with any convenient number of double ports
for the passage therethrough of trays carrying the material to be dried, which ports
are closed by the side frames and cross partitions or ends of the trays, according
to their respective position in the heating chamber, substantially as herein shown
and described.
Fifth. A drying chamber consisting of several detachable sections, supported by
and connected with each other by hooks or catches, and capable of being raised
and lowered, substantially as herein shown and described.
Sixth. The employment of hinged trays, substantially as herein shown and
described, and for the purpose stated.
Seventh. The general arrangement and combination of a drying apparatus,
consisting of a chamber in one piece, or consisting of several detachable sections
having double ports for the reception of trays, and provided with stirring apparatus
and a fan for distributing the hot air, substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Jackson Reynolds, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ANDREW JACKSON REYNOLDS. (L.S.)