IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING DAMP GRAIN, RETURNS, AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, RUDOLF FRIEDRICH LUDWIG PLÖNNIS of Büdelsdorf near Rendsburg, German
Empire Docter in Philosophy do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING DAMP GRAIN, RETURNS, AND OTHER
LIKE SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for drying damp grain,
returns and other like substances and consists substantially of one or more series of
rotating drums arranged inside of a heating box in such a manner, that a current
of air passes such heated drums in order to remove the vapour arising from the
substances to be dried.
The drums are arranged above each other in series either in a position inclined
towards the horizontal or they are of conical shape with axis laying horizontally;
In both cases they are placed in such a manner, that the upper drum will discharge
into the next lower one. The upper drums are charged by an elevator or any other
suitable device with the substances to be dried; brushes advantageously made of
wire serve the keep clean the inner surface of such drums. For introducing the
brushes into the drum the latter either may be connected with its shaft only in
the middle of its length and both ends supported with outside rollers; or the shaft
may be omitted entirely and the drum only supported by outside antifriction
rollers. The drums rotate driven either by pulleys or geared wheels, which are
fastened to their shafts or the driving straps, wire rope, chain, or similar means are
applied to the drums directly or to geared rings provided thereon.
The drums are placed inside of a box heated all round by hot air their ends
pass round the front and back walls of the box and as the front of the box is
heated also, while the part behind the box is kept cool, a strong current of air is
passing the drums and sweeps away the vapour arising from the wet substances when
touching the heated walls of the drums. A ventilator may also be applied for such
purpose.
The passage of the hot air flowing around the box, may be lengthened by pro-
viding around the box zigzag channels, wherethrough the heated air is to pass.
Any suitable source of heat may be used for heating the apparatus.
Dated this 21st day of March 18QA
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Patent Agents,
22, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, RUDOLF FRIEDRICH LUDWIG PLÖNNIS, of Budelsdorf, near Rendsburg, German
Empire, Doctor in Philosophy, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING DAMP GRAIN, RETURNS AND OTHER
LIKE SUBSTANCES," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for drying damp grain,
returns and other like substances, and consists substantially of one or more series
of rotating drums arranged inside of a heating box in such a manner that a current
of air passes such heated drums in order to remove the vapour arising from the
substances to be dried.
An apparatus constructed according to my invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation, and Figure 2, a sectional front view;
Figure 3 is a cross 'section of a drying drum.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The drums b made preferably of corrugated sheet metal, are arranged above each
other in a position inclin'd towards the horizontal in such a manner that centre
lines of each pair of adjacent drums describe an acute angle with each other. In
some cases such drums may be made conically instead of cylindrically, whereby the
centre lines of such conical drums become parallel. The upper drum b is charged
by a rotating feeding worm a, transporting the material to be dried from an inlet
funnel d, or by any other suitable feeding divice. The drums bare rotated by
means of a vertical shaft f, provided with bevel gears_c, which engage into other
bevel gears e fixed to the shafts g of the drying drums b.
The material to be dried, which is introduced by the feeding worm a into the
upmost drum b, is transported through the latter in a spiral line by the combined
action of the rotation and of the inclination of the drum; thereby being turned
over permanently by means of the ribs of the corrugated walls. It then enters the
next lower drum after passing a funnel k, and so on until it quits the lowest drum b
to be discharged into the outlet channel k.
All drums are placed inside of a box in such a manner as to pass their ends
through the front and back walls of the box, and to terminate in the chambers m
and p of the apparatus. As the chamber m in front of the box is heated by means
of heating pipes or flues n, and as the chamber p behind the box communicates by
means of the channels with the atmosphere, a strong current of air is produced
through the interior of the drums b, which sweeps away the vapour or steam
arising from the wet material when touching the heated walls of the drums.
The drums are heated in the following manner. Below the box is a fire place q
which communicates with the box by means of channels o.
The heated air entering
the box passes through it in a zigzag line, as divisions i, fastened alternately to
the front or back wall of the box, are provided inside of the latter, leaving small
passages between the walls of the box, thus forceing the beated air, which escapes
through the chimney r, to pass along the outer surfaces of the drums. The pipes or
flues n, heating the chamber m, may be also supplied from the fire place q.

page_text: Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by
letters patent, is:
In apparatus for drying wet substances as grain, returns etc., inclined or conical
rotating drums arranged above each other inside a heated box l, in combination
with the chambers p and m, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11
1
1001
R. F. L. PLÖNNIS.