Improvements in Chambers for Drying Timber and other Materials or Substances and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1887
Complete Left, 7th Feb., 1888.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar.,
1888
Improvements in Chambers for Drying Timber and other Materials
or Substances and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, GEORGE SHEPHERD, of Bryn Hyfryd, Oakfield Street, Cardiff, in the County
of Glamorgan, engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to this invention the walls of the chamber in which the timber or other
material or substance to be dried is contained are perforated and the chamber is
fitted with agitators for diffusing and keeping in motion air supplied through suitable
pipes and shafts.
The air which is supplied from a fan, driven by steam or other means, is conducted
in air pipes laid below the floor and is delivered therefrom into the chamber through
vertical shafts having apertures arranged therein at intervals.
The agitators by which, as aforesaid, the air is kept in motion consist of wings of
wood or other suitable material bolted or otherwise attached to arms or spokes
centred upon spindles extending vertically in the chamber. Towards the bottom of
the spindle of each agitator and contained in a suitable casing placed below the floor
is a fan centred upon the spindle of the agitators. The vanes or arms of the fans
extend through suitable openings into the pipes through which the air is supplied and
the fans are rotated by the pressure of the air acting against that part of each vane
in turn which is presented in the pipe. The spindles of the agitators are supported at
each end in suitable bearings which are kept properly lubricated.
For convenience in arranging the spindles in the same line with the shafts through
which the air is delivered into the chamber the pipes are curved at those points where
the spindles are situated.
Extending outwards from each shaft are wings or partitions which prevent one
gitator from neutralizing the influence of that or those next it.
The air passes out of the chamber through the apertures in the walls.
By means of dampers or doors inserted through the apertures of the air shafts
he height at which the air is delivered into the chamber may be conveniently
egulated.

page_text: A convenient form of damper for the air shafts consists of a flat plate through the
centre of which is passed a spindle which, at one end, is furnished with a bolt and at
the other with a spring. After the damper has been inserted in place in the shaft the
spring is compressed and the bolt is then turned so as to bear against the side of the
shaft. The strain on the spring is then relaxed and the damper thus becomes firmly
fixed in position.
This invention is adapted to facilitate drying of timber and other materials or
substances.

page_text: or Substances and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
1 GEORGE SHEPHERD of Bryn Hyfryd Oakfield Street Cardiff in the County of
Glamorgan Engineer, 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 object of this invention is to economise the motive power used and to simplyfy
the means and apparatus adopted for quickly drying timber, cloth, yarn, leather,
paper and other materials; also animal flesh, fish and vegetables, in the process of
curing and preserving, and such other provisions substances and matters from which
it is necessary or desirable to abstract wholly or in part the moisture contained or
held in suspension by them.
To this end I provide an enclosed space or chamber in which the matter to be dried
is arranged in a convenient manner. This chamber is supplied with a current of air
conveyed through suitable pipes and shafts, and is fitted with agitators for diffusing
and keeping the air in continuous motion and contact with the surfaces of the matter
undergoing the process of drying. The chamber is also provided with perforations
and openings in its walls for the ogress of the air.
A convenient arrangement of drying chamber and apparatus is shown on the
drawing illustrating this invention, the letters of reference used in this Specification
applying to parts similarly lettered on the drawing.
Fig. 1. is a plan of the arrangement with one of the exhaust mains in section.
Fig. 2. is a transverse sectional elevation of the arrangement.
The air is supplied by a fan or blower driven by steam or other suitable means, and
is introduced by air pipes A laid preferably below the floor, and is delivered therefrom
into the chamber through vertical shafts B, placed between the agitators C, and
having apertures D at intervals for the passage of the air into the chamber-
Extending outwards from each of these vertical shafts are wings or partitions E
which are used to prevent one agitator neutralizing the influence of that or those
agitators next adjacent to it.
The apertures in the delivery shafts are provided with dampers or sliding doors by
means of which the height at which the air enters the chamber may be conveniently
regulated.
The agitators C by which the air is kept in continuous motion, consist of wings
or beaters of wood or other suitable material bolted or otherwise attached to arms or
spokes centred upon spindles extending vertically in the chamber. These spindles are
supported in suitable and properly lubricated bearings.
A fan F, contained in a suitable casing, is centred on the spindle of each agitator
near its lower end the vanes or arms of which project into the main air supply pipe
and are rotated by the pressure of the current of air impinging on that part of each
vane or arm which is in turn presented in the pipe.

page_text: The vanes and fans may be of any suitable form, and the agitator spindles may be
driven by radial or spiral vanes or other suitable arrangement of gearing for imparting
motion to the agitators by the pressure of an air current.
To the walls of the chamber are attached exhaust shafts G leading into exhaust
mains H which communicate with the exterior atmosphere-The exhaust shafts are
provided with slots or apertures I at intervals, closed by dampers or sliding doors, by
means of which the height, direction, and passage of the outgoing air and moisture
may be regulated.
The chamber is provided with suitable air proof doors at convenient situations for
entering, charging and discharging the contents of the same.
The chamber may be of any convenient form with one or more main air supply
pipes, diffusing air shafts, agitators, exhaust shafts and mains, which may be arranged
in any suitable and convenient manner.
A convenient form of damper for the air shafts consists of a flat plate through the
centre of which is passed a spindle which at one end is furnished with.a bolt and at
the other with a spring. Aftor the damper is inserted in place in the shaft the spring
is compressed and the bolt is then turned so as to bear against the side of the shaft.
The strain on the spring is then relaxed and the damper becomes firmly fixed in
position.
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. In drying chambers and apparatus, the combination of a drying chamber and
air supply pipes with air diffusing and distributing shafts having apertures at intervals
and regulating dampers as set forth.
2. In drying chambers and apparatus the combination of a drying chamber with
agitators and fans set in motion by a current and pressure of air.
3. In drying chambers and apparatus the combination of a drying chamber with
exhaust mains and shafts leading thereto having slots or apertures at intervals
provided with dampers substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of February 1888.