Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Semi-fluid and other Substances.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Semi-fluid and other
Substances.
I, MATHIAS REULAND, of Dortmund, Germany, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING SEMI-
FLUID AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus in which substances containing moisture, as
for example, residuary matter, distillers wash, and other substances, are dried by
means of steam or heated air in such a manner that the heat applied to a jacketted
vessel operates both on the inner and on the outer heating surface of the latter.
The drying apparatus is represented in the annexed drawings. Fig. 1 shows a
longitudinal section of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 a side
view. Figs. 4 and 5 show in detail the arrangement for conducting the air through
the inside of the jacketted vessel that contains the substance which is to be dried.
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate on an enlarged scale the feeding appliance for the material to
be operated upon.
The apparatus consists of a number of retorts or vessels A with double casings or
sides. The heat enters the space between these two casings at D, and after flowing
through a system of such retorts, which communicate with each other by means of
connections D', and escapes again at D2. The air contained in the shell B of the entire
apparatus is heated by radiation from the outer casing of retorts A and is conducted
at d d into the separate retorts and escapes again in a vaporous condition at Q1 Q3 Q³
taking with it the moisture absorbed on its way through the substance that is to be
dried.
In the place of the scoops or worms usually found in these retorts for the purpose
of stirring up the dried material and moving it forward, I place in the present
apparatus a system of tubes, which is moved by any suitable means.
This system
consists of a number of tubes R, the outlets of which open into the side chambers S.
The latter are connected with the hollow axles L, L', L, to which the driving gear is
attached. The element from which the heat is derived, is introduced laterally at L
into the axle of the drum. The connection between this drum-axle L and the front
side of the retort A or the shell B is represented in Figs. 4 and 5. The inflowing air
passes through the holes P arranged on axle L into the roll shaped casing M so that in
spite of the motion of the hollow axle L, there is always a uniform current of used

page_text: steam or heated air in the chamber S, and in the inside of tubes R. The same arrange-
ment as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is to be found on the outlet side of axle L, and
on the inlet and outlet sides of axle L. The heating element introduced at L will
therefore flow through the air system of tubes R and will pass at L' through holes P,
and the roll shaped casing M into the connecting tube Q, flow through the similar
arrangement at axle L, and then through the second system of tubes R, finally leaving
the apparatus at L'.
Whilst the drying is going on by means of the systems of tubes R, the material is at
the same time stirred up and moved away, and also scraped off from the sides to
prevent its sticking to them. This operation is performed by means of plate shaped
scrapers F, F, placed between the tubes and consisting of separate parts that stand at
an angle of 90° from each other. These scrapers F are suspended loose between the
tubes R and make therefore, owing to their weight, a vertical motion downwards
every time, till at last they hit the drum and are then forced to perform the same
rotatory motion as the whole system of tubes does. As the motion of these scrapers is
in different directions it is impossible for the material to adhere to the sides of the
drying apparatus, and as they turn the material over so often, the drying process is
accelerated.
The substance to be dried is introduced at F¹, passes through the connecting
parts F2 into other retorts and finally leaves the apparatus at F in a dried state.
The feeding apparatus is represented on a small scale in Fig. 3, and on a large scale
in Figs. 6 and 7. It consists of a cylinder C in which a piston K works in the manner
now to be described. The cylinder is connected to a hopper which is shut off by a
slide S which latter moves in a way corresponding with the motion of the piston K.
The slide o serves to regulate the efflux of the inducted material. The motion of
slide S¹ and of piston K is caused by the double armed lever H to which both are
attached. The second arm of this lever is connected with the bar of a rack and pinion
jack Z into which a partially cogged wheel G works. From the axle of the latter the
starting is effected by means of the strap disc or pulley A'. The bar Z is guided laterally
by a roller R and is besides jointed by means of bar T to a fixed point of the framing
of the machine. A forked bar T¹ is attached by means of a crank U to the axle of the
partially cogged wheel G and the strap disc A', and catches a stud Ę on the second
arm of the double armed lever H. When the strap disc or pulley A¹ moves in the
direction indicated by the arrow, the partially cogged wheel G works into the bar Z
and lifts the latter, thereby causing the slide S¹ to shut off the feeding funnel and the
piston exerts a pressure on the material with which the cylinder is filled; forces it
under the slide o and into the first retort of the drying apparatus. The cogs on the
wheel G extend over the third of its periphery. After the cogged part of the wheel
has passed the bar owing to the motion of the pulley A, the wheel still grazes the bar Z
with its uncogged part but does not move it, so that during this part of the motion,
(about one third of the periphery), the bar Z and lever H are motionless and conse
quently piston K and slide S¹ are the same. During the last one third of the motion
the forked bar T comes into play and catches with the inner rounding of its fork the
stud E on the lever H and moves the latter together with bar Z back into their former
positions. This has the effect of forcing piston K and slide S¹ into their old places
again so as to be ready for a fresh filling of the cylinder and for a forward stroke on
the part of the piston. The fluid pressed out of the substance by the action of the
piston escapes through a sieve S applied to the cylinder.
The partially cogged wheel G can be replaced by a friction plate G which presses
against bar Zone portion of its periphery only. Bar Z is in this case not a rack, but
merely a lifting bar.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, MATHIAS REULAND, Civil Engineer, of Dortmund, Germany, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING SEMI-
FLUID AND OTHER SUBSTANCES and in what manner the same is to be perfornied, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to apparatus in which substances containing moisture, as for
example, brewers grains and distiller's wash, are dried by means of steam or heated
air in such a manner that the heat applied to a jacketted vessel operates both on the
inner and on the outer heating surface of the latter.
The drying apparatus is represented in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings filed with the
provisional specification. Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section of the apparatus, Fig. 2
a plan of the saure, and Fig. 3 a side view. Figs. 4 and 5 show in detail the
arrangement for conducting the air through the inside of the jacketted vessel that
contains the substance which is to be dried.
The apparatus consists of one or more retorts or vessels A with double casings or
sides. The heat enters the space between these two casings at D and after flowing
through a system of such retorts, which communicate with each other by means of
connections D', it escapes again at D². The air contained in the shell B of the entire
apparatus is heated by radiation from the outer casing of retorts A and is conducted
at d d into the separate retorts and escapes again in a vaporous condition at Q1 Q2 Q³,
taking with it the moisture absorbed on its way through the substance that is to be
dried.
In the place of the scoops or worms usually found in these retorts for the purpose
of stirring up the dried material and moving it forward, I place in the present
apparatus a system of tubes, which is moved by any suitable means.
This system
consists of a number of tubes R, the outlets of which open into the side chambers S.
The latter are connected with the hollow axles L, L, L, to which the driving gear is
attached. The heating medium is introduced laterally at L into the axle of the drum.
The connection between this drum axle L and the frontside of the retort A, or the
shell B, is represented in Figs. 4 and 5. The inflowing air passes through the holes P
arranged on axle L into the roll-shaped casing M so that in spite of the motion of the
hollow axle L there is always a uniform current of steam or heated air in the
chamber S, and in the inside of tubes R. The same arrangement as that shown in..
Figs. 4 and 5 is to be found on the outlet side of axle L' and on the inlet and outlet
sides of axle L. The heating element introduced at L will therefore flow through
the system of air tubes R and will pass at L' through holes P, and the roll shaped
casing M into the connecting tube Q, flowing through the similar arrangement at
axle L, and then through the second system of tubes R; finally leaving the apparatus
at T

page_text: Whilst the drying is going on by means of the systems of tubes R, the material is
at the same time stirred up and moved away, and also scraped off from the sides to
prevent its sticking to them. This operation is performed by means of plate shaped
scrapers F, F, placed between the tubes and consisting of separate parts placed at an
angle of 90° to each other. These scrapers F are suspended loose between the
tubes R and make, therefore, owing to their weight, a vertical motion downwards
every time, until at last they hit the drum and are then forced to perform the same
rotary motion as the whole system of tubes does. As the motion of these scrapers is
in different directions, it is impossible for the material to adhere to the sides of the
drying apparatus, and as they turn the material over so often, the drying process is
accelerated.
The substance to be dried is introduced at F, passes through the connecting parts F
into other retorts, and finally leaves the apparatus at F3 in a dried state.
A feeding apparatus is represented on a small scale in Fig. 3, and on a large scale
in Figs. 6 and 7, but not claimed as part of my present invention.
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 :
1. A drying apparatus comprising in its construction one or more retorts A, each
being provided with a system of pipes R, end chambers S, hollow shaft L having
apertures P, and enlarged casings M surrounding the said shaft, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. In a drying apparatus, a system of circularly arranged tubes R, in combination
with a series of scrapers F consisting of separate pieces placed loosely at an angle of
about ninety degrees to each other, between the tubes R, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.