IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING GRAIN AND SIMILAR MATERIAL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
"
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING GRAIN AND SIMILAR MATERIAL
communicated to him from abroad by Frederick William Wiesebrock of
the City and State of New York United States of America Mining and
Mechanical Engineer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1882.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING
GRAIN AND SIMILAR MATERIAL [a communication to him from abroad by
Frederick William Wiesebrock of the City and State of New York United States
of America Mining and Mechanical Engineer]
This invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus for drying
grain and other like material in which the material to be treated is subjected
to the action of heat while being passed through a series of communicating rotary
drying cylinders.
My invention comprises the combination of a housing or casing, a series of
inclined rotary drying cylinders having their ends extended outside the housing
or casing, each cylinder having a spout cap provided with a dampered ventilating
flue or pipe, blast pipes, and mechanism for rotating the cylinders located outside
the housing or casing.
Other features of the said invention will be hereinafter described.
The
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a rotary drying cylinder,
the ends of which project beyond the casing or housing. This casing may be
constructed of brick or other suitable material in any approved manner.
drying cylinders are arranged one above the other and alternately incline slightly
in opposite directions. These cylinders are preferably formed of metal, and any
convenient number may be employed.
Each drying cylinder is provided with a spout-cap by means of which it com-
municates with the adjoining cylinder. These spout-caps are so arranged in
connection with the inclined portions of the cylinders that the grain or other
material, as it passes through the cylinders alternately in opposite directions, is
constantly carried downward from a feed-hopper to the discharge spout at the
lower end of the bottom cylinder. This feed-hopper communicates by a horizontal
[Price 6d1

page_text: pipe having a screw-conveyor, with the upper end of the top cylinder. Within the
cylinders are curved flanges or wings which are so arranged upon the inner walls
of said cylinders as to lift portions of the grain contained therein and carry it
partly upward with the rotation of the cylinders so as to agitate the mass of grain
and expose it more thoroughly to the action of the heated currents of air passing
through, and around, said cylinders.
In each rotary drying cylinder is a horizontal perforated blast-pipe which com-
municates with a vertical hot air pipe that is arranged in a heating chamber or
chimney above the furnace. This heating chamber or chimney is provided with a
vertical partition which extends nearly to the closed top, a passage being afforded
at the top of the partition for exit of smoke and other products of combustion
which ascend on one side of the partition and descend on the other so as to finally
escape through an opening at the back of the furnace and near the ground. The
curved or bent pipe which is arranged in the heating chamber on each side of the
partition passes through the lower part of said partition and communicates above
with a fan by means of which heated air may he forced into the drying cylinders
at pleasure. By this manner of arranging the pipe a large surface is afforded for
heating the air passed through said pipe. Heated air may also be conducted
through the opening into the space surrounding the drying cylinders. The casing
in which the cylinders are enclosed is provided with horizontal fixed partitions
and horizontal sliding partitions which latter are adjusted by means of the rods or
handles so as to regulate and control the passage of heated currents in contact with
the exterior surfaces of said drying cylinders. Each of the spout caps at the ends
of the cylinders is provided with a ventilating pipe, all of said pipes connecting
with a chimney or stack for the purpose of permitting the escape of heated ai:-
currents laden with moisture absorbed from the grain. These pipes are provided
with dampers that may be manipulated so as to confine the air within the
respective cylinders for such lengths of time as will be sufficient to enable it to
_absorb moisture to its fullest capacity before being permitted to escape, thus
effecting a large economy in the quantity of fuel ordinarily required. By this
arrangement of a dampered ventilating pipe or flue for each cylinder which
provides for the escape of the moisture absorbed from the grain, I obviate all
liability of its coming in contact with the exterior of the cylinders, and also prevent
the formation of acid gases, that might be generated by its contact with the gaseous
products of combustion, and thus have an injurious effect upon the grain or other
material being dried. This construction also results in an economy of fuel as the
condensation of moisture which would be liable to counteract the effect of the fire
gases is thereby effectually prevented. In order to prevent the return of the
condensed moisture to the drying apparatus, the chimney is made to project at the
back and is provided with a trap.
The spout-caps are provided with openings for the passage of the blast-pipe, and
they also have doors for permitting access to the spouts and cylinders, and openings
through which the contents of the cylinders may be inspected, without opening said
doors. The drying cylinders are caused to revolve by means of the pinions or spur
gear wheels which are attached to horizontal shafts, on each side, the inner ends of
said shafts being supported in bearings located upon cross bars that are arranged
between pillars. These pinions engage with ring gears the adjacent ends of which
are supported and rotate upon suitable rollers. The shafts to which the pinions
are attached are provided at their opposite ends with bevel gear-wheels that mesh
with similar gear-wheels secured to a vertical shaft that is journalled in projecting
bearings or arms attached to the casing. The vertical shaft is provided near its
lower end with a bevel gear-wheel that meshes with a similar gear-wheel on a
horizontal shaft that may be provided with a differential pulley for regulating and
varying the speed of the cylinders at pleasure. The gear wheel on the upper hori-
zontal shaft meshes with a gear-wheel on the shaft of the conveyor-screw thereby
operating the latter at the same rate of speed that is imparted to the rotary drying
cylinders.

page_text: In order to protect the gearing from the effects of the heat, as well as to prevent
the escape of the same from the space surrounding the drying cylinders, metal
plates are attached to the inner sides of the iron cross bars and arranged to fit
around the cylinders without impeding their rotation. The framing of the spout
caps is attached to the outer sides of the cross bars in such a manner as to prevent
the escape of heat or the access of cold air. By means of the doors in these spout-
caps access may be had for the purpose of lubricating the gearing and rollers when
required.
By extending the ends of the rotary drying cylinders so as to project beyond
the walls of the casing I am enabled to arrange the operating mechanism in such a
manner as to be unaffected by the heated currents of air circulating within the
casing or chamber.
It is obvious that the openings may be connected by means of a suitable pipe or
flue so as to cause the heat that might otherwise escape to be passed into the space
within the housing and be thus further utilized.
It is also apparent that the employment of a fire within the furnace may be
dispensed with, and blasts of cold air, instead of hot air, be introduced to the
casing.
In drying malt, for instance, it is advisable to introduce cold air into the upper
cylinder at first, and afterwards apply heat moderately, otherwise the result would.
be the production of gloss malt.
According to a modification of the said invention I provide an apparatus
embodying the principles of that herein before described but having certain
additional features, that is to say-The two parallel brick walls of the housing are
connected at their ends by metal closing plates. These plates are made in sections
and the cylinders extend through the same. Said plates have suitable projections.
for the attachment of brackets which support the rollers 'outside of the casing.
For heating the air I employ a number of horizontal return pipes connected with
a blower. The heated air is discharged at the lower end of this series of pipes into.
two hot air drums, one, or both, of which will be supplied with a regulator commu-*
nicating with a cold air blast by a perforated pipe in the centre of the drum,
whereby the temperature of the air, before entering the drying cylinders, can be.
regulated. The pipes leading to the central hot air pipes in the cylinders will be
for the greater part imbedded in the casing. The heater pipes project outside the
furnace walls, so that their joints will be easy of access. The furnace for heating
the air-pipes will be divided into two or more distinct compartments so that
during the process of firing, the introduction of cold air by way of the doors will
only be partial. The hot-air drums are also provided with pyrometers facing the
furnace.
In the wall dividing the furnace from the casing are located a series of flues
which admit of the gases being conducted around the outside of the cylinders, if
desirable, by closing the chimneys over the furnaces and opening the dampers in
the stacks over the top of the casing.
After the grain is dry, and leaves the lower cylinder, it falls into a vessel, in the
centre of which is a pipe leading to an exhaust. This pipe is surrounded by an
outer pipe or sleeve which hangs by means of cord and pulleys on a cylinder closed
on top and open at the bottom; this cylinder is adjusted to counterbalance the
sleeve and fits loosely in a cylinder communicating by a pipe with the exhaust
blower pipe.
The air drawn in by this exhaust blower will carry with it the dried grain up
through the pipe, and should the mouth of said pipe in the grain vessel by any
means be imbedded too deep in the grain, the exhauster will take the air out. of
the pipe or sleeve and thereby draw down the counterweight so as to raise the
mouth of the pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th May 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING
GRAIN AND SIMILAR MATERIAL" A communication to me from abroad by
Frederick William Wiesebrock, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, Mining and Mechanical Engineer.
This invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus for drying
grain and other like material in which the material to be treated is subjected to
the action of heat while being passed through a series of communicating rotary
drying cylinders.
The said invention comprises the combination of a housing or casing, a series of
inclined rotary drying cylinders having their ends extended outside the housing or
casing, each cylinder having a spout cap provided with a dampered ventilating flue
or pipe, blast pipes and mechanism for rotating the cylinders located outside the
housing or casing; also other features hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of drying apparatus constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is-an-end view of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the furnace showing the blast flues and
fan; and
Figure 4 is a central vertical section.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are an end view, a side view and a plan respectively
illustrating a modification of the said invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
A indicates the rotary drying cylinders, the ends of which project beyond the
casing or housing B. This casing may be constructed of brick or other suitable
material in any approved manner. The drying cylinders are arranged one above
the other and alternately incline slightly in opposite directions as shown in
Figure 1. These cylinders are preferably formed of metal and any convenient
number may be employed.
Each drying cylinder A is provided with a spout cap C by means of which it
communicates with the adjoining cylinder. These spout caps are so arranged in
connection with the inclined portions of the cylinders that the grain or other
material as it passes through the cylinders alternately in opposite directions is
constantly carried downward from the hopper D to the discharge spout E at the
lower end of the bottom cylinder. The feed hopper D communicates by a
horizontal pipe a having a screw conveyor b with the upper end of the top
cylinder. Within the cylinders are curved flanges or wings c, c, which are so
arranged upon the inner walls of the said cylinder as to lift portions of the grain
contained therein and carry it partly upward with the rotation of the cylinders, 80
as to agitate the mass of grain and expose it more thoroughly to the action of the
heated currents of air passing through and around the said cylinders.
In each rotary drying cylinder is a horizontal perforated blast pipe d which
communicates with a vertical hot air pipe e arranged in a heating chamber or
chimney fabove the furnace F. This heating chamber or chimney fis provided
with a vertical partition f' which extends nearly to the closed top, a passage being
afforded at the top of the partition for exit of smoke and other products of

page_text: combustion which ascend on ne side of the partition and descend on the other so
as to finally escape through an opening f' at the back of the furnace and near the
ground. The curved or bent pipe e which is arranged in the heating chamber on
each side of the partition f¹ passes through the lower part of the said partition
and communicates above with a fan G, by means of which heated air may be
forced into the drying cylinders at pleasure. By thus arranging the pipe e a large
surface is afforded for heating the air passed through the said pipe. Heated air
may also be conducted through the opening ginto the space surrounding the drying
cylinders The casing B, in which the cylinders are enclosed, is provided with
horizontal fixed partitions h and horizontal sliding partitions h' which latter are
adjusted by means of the rods or handles i so as to regulate and control the passage
of heated currents in contact with the exterior surfaces of the said drying cylinders,
as shown in Figure 4.
Each of the spout caps C at the ends of the cylinders is provided with a
ventilating pipe k shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, all of the said pipes connecting
with a chimney or stack H for the purpose of permitting the escape of heated air
currents laden with moisture absorbed from the grain. These pipes k, k, are
provided with dampers m which may be manipulated so as to confine the air
within the respective cylinders for such lengths of time as will be sufficient to
enable it to absorb moisture to its fullest capacity before being permitted to escape,
thus effecting a large economy in the quantity of fuel ordinarily required. By
this arrangement of a dampered ventilating pipe or flue for each cylinder which .
provide for the escape of the moisture absorbed from the grain I obviate all
liability of its coming in contact with the exterior of the cylinders, and also
prevent the formation of acid gases that might be generated by its contact with
the gaseous products of combustion and thus have an injurious effect upon the
grain or other material being dried. This construction also results in an economy
of fuel, as the condensation of moisture, which would be liable to counteract the
effect of the fire gases, is thereby effectually prevented. In order to prevent the
return of the condensed moisture to the drying apparatus, the chimney H. is
made to project at the back and is provided with a trap n as shown in
Figure 4.
The spout caps C are provided with openings for the passage of the blast pipes d
and they also have doors c¹ for permitting access to the spouts and cylinders, and
openings through which the contents of the cylinders may be inspected, without
opening the said doors. The drying cylinders A are caused to revolve by means of
the pinions or spur gear wheels K which are attached to the horizontal shafts L,
on each side, the inner ends of the said shafts being supported in bearings located
upon cross bars M, arranged between the pillars N, N, as shown in Figure 2.
These pinions K engage with ring gear wheels on the adjacent ends of the cylinders
which are supported and rotate upon suitable rollers, which, however are not
shown. The shafts L to which the pinions K are attached are provided at their
opposite ends with bevel gear wheels O which engage with similar gear wheels P
secured to a vertical shaft Q journailed in the projecting bearings or arms R attached
to the casing. The vertical shaft Q is provided near its lower end with a bevel
gear wheel P¹ engaging with a similar gear wheel P* on a horizontal shaft which
may be provided with a differential pulley for regulating and varying the speed of
the cylinders at pleasure. The gear wheel O on the upper horizontal shaft L
engages with a gear wheel S on the shaft of the conveyor screw b thereby operating
the latter at the same rate of speed which is imparted to the rotary drying
cylinders.
In order to protect the gearing from the effects of the heat, as well as to prevent
the escape of the same from the space surrounding the drying cylinders, metal
plates p are attached to the inner sides of the iron cross bars M, and arranged to
fit around the cylinders without impeding their rotation. The framing of the
spout caps is attached to the outer sides of the cross bars M in such a manner as
to prevent the escape of heat or the access of cold air. By means of the doors in

page_text: these spout caps, access may be had for the purpose of lubricating the gearing and
rollers when required.
By extending the ends of the rotary drying cylinders so as to project beyond the
walls of the casing I am enabled to arrange the operating mechanism in such a
manner as to be unaffected by the heated currents of air circulating within the said
casing or chamber.
The advantage of this construction is obvious In operation
the grain or material to be dried is conveyed into the hopper D by any suitable
means and passes directly to the horizontal conveyor pipe a whence it is fed by
the screw b into the upper rotary drying cylinder A, being therein subjected to the
great degree of heat which is naturally accumulated in the upper portion of the
apparatus. By the rotation of this inclined cylinder the grain is gradually passed
to the upper spout cap C and through the same to the lower cylinders and spouts
successively, being finally discharged through the spout E at the lower end of the
bottom cylinder. In passing successively through these cylinders the grain is
raised and agitated by the wings c, c, so as to expose it thoroughly to the heated
air, which absorbs the moisture from the grain and in its ascent through the
pipes k, k, to the chimney H removes the said moisture from the apparatus. This
inoisture is finally intercepted and prevented from returning to the apparatus by
means of the trap n as before described. When drying such material as cannot
be exposed safely to a high temperature immediately upon its entrance to the
apparatus, I may regulate the degree of heat to be passed by the blast pipes or
may introduce to the lower cylinder cold blast so as to temper the heat according
to circumstances.
It is obvious that the openings g and f' may be connected by means of a suitable
pipe or flue so as to cause the heat that might otherwise escape to be passed into
the space within the casing and be thus further utilized.
It is also apparent that the employment of a fire within the furnace may be
dispensed with-and-blasts of cold air instead of hot air be introduced to the casing.
In drying malt for instance it is advisable to introduce cold air into the upper
cylinder at first, and afterwards apply heat moderately, otherwise the result would
be the production of gloss malt.
In the modification of this invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the two
parallel brick walls 1 of the casing are connected at their ends by metal closing
plates 2. These plates are made in sections and the cylinders extend through the
same. The said plates have suitable projections for the attachment of brackets 2
which support the rollers outside of the casing.
For heating the air I employ a number of horizontal return pipes 3 connected
with a blower 4 The heated air is discharged at the lower end of this series of
pipes into two hot air drums 5 one or both of which will be supplied with a
regulator 6 communicating with a cold air blast 7 by a perforated pipe in the
centre of the drum, whereby the temperature of the air before entering the drying
cylinders can be regulated. The pipes leading to the central hot air pipes in the
cylinders are for the greater part imbedded in the casing. The heater pipes
project outside the furnace walls, so that their joints are easy of access.
furnace 8 for heating the air pipe is divided into two or more distinct com-
partments, so that during the process of firing the introduction of cold air by way
of the doors will only be partial. The hot air drums are also provided with
pyrometers facing the furnace.
The
In the wall dividing the furnace from the casing are located a series of flues 9
which admit of the gases being conducted around the outside of the cylinders, if
desirable, by closing the chimneys over the furnaces and opening the dampers in
the stacks over the top of the casing.
After the grain is dry, and leaves the lower cylinder, it falls into a vessel 11
in the centre of which is a pipe 12 leading to an exhaust. This pipe is surrounded
by an outer pipe or sleeve 13 which hangs by means of cord and pulleys on a
cylinder closed on the top and open at the bottom. This cylinder 14 is adjusted

page_text: to counterbalance the sleeve and fits loosely in a cylinder 15 communicating by a
pipe with the exhaust blower pipe.
The air drawn in by the exhaust blower will carry with it the dried grain up
through the pipe 12 and should the mouth of the said pipe in the grain vessel 11
by any means be imbedded too deep in the grain the exhauster will take the air
out of the cylinder 13 and thereby draw down the counterweight 14 so as to raise
the mouth of the pipe.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim.
First The combination in a grain drier, of the casing B with the series of inclined
rotary drying cylinders A having their ends extended outside of the said casing in
which the body or main portion of each one of the cylinders is located, the spout
caps C located outside of the casing and connecting the ends of the cylinders and
each provided with a ventilating pipe or flue having a damper, the blast pipes d,
and mechanism for rotating the cylinders also located outside of the casing, all
constructed and arranged substantially as described.
Second In a grain drier, the combination, with a casing enclosing a series of
drying cylinders, of the horizontal adjustable heat-regulating partitions h¹ arranged
between the said cylinders, substantially as described.
Third In a grain drier, the combination of a housing or casing having a suitable
chimney, a series of rotary drying cylinders arranged in the said casing and inclined
alternately in opposite directions with their ends projecting beyond the walls of
the casing, a series of cap spouts connecting the ends of the said cylinders and
provided with suitable doors and openings for giving access to the cylinders,
adjustable partitions arranged between the said cylinders for regulating the passage
of heat on the outer sides thereof, pipes connecting the spout caps and chimney
and provided with dampers for controlling the escape of air and moisture, a furnace
having a heating chamber and a vertical blast pipe provided with horizontal
branch pipes communicating with the interior of the drying cylinders, and
mechanism for rotating the drying cylinders located on the exterior of the housing,
all substantially as shown and described.
Fourth. The combination, with the casing enclosing a series of cummunicating
drying cylinders, of the fixed partitions h and the horizontal sliding partitions ¹
operated by the rods i the said partitions being located between the drying
cylinders, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth The combination, with the drying cylinders, of the hot air drum 5, the
regulators and the cold air pipes, substantially as described.
Sixth-The combination, with the receptacle 11 for the grain, of the pipe
connected with the exhaust and entering the suid vessel so as to carry off the dried
grain, and the suspended sleeve 13 counterbalanced by the cylinder 14 com-
municating with the exhaust, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
IDH DAT
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