IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MALTING AND DRYING OR DESICCATING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, of the Firm of J.
Brandt and G. W. von Nawrocki, Patent Agents, of No. 124, Leipzigerstrasse,
Berlin, in the German Empire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MALTING AND DRYING OR DESICCATING GRAIN AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES." A communication by Carl Scheidig, of Altenburg, in the German
Empire
Sealed the 12th August 1879, and dated the 22nd February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von
Nawrocki at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February
1879.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brandt and G. W.
von Nawrocki, Patent Agents, of No. 124, Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, in the, German
Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MALTING AND DRYING OR DESSI-
CATING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." [A communication by Carl Scheidig, of
Altenburg, in the German Empire.]
According to the present Inventiou a number of superposed trays charged with
the grain or other substance to be acted upon are arranged inside a casing, through
which dry or moist air, either cold or heated, is made to circulate, the trays being
so arranged that at intervals they deliver the grain upon them on to the next tray
below, so that the grain being charged on to the uppermost tray gradually passes
downwards from tray to tray while it is being acted upon by the currents of air,
and eventually escapes through a shoot at bottom.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement, the trays consist of a series of
hinged flaps, pivotted to two horizontal endless travelling chains stretched over two
revolving rollers. Beneath the flaps are fixed rails that extend from the one roller
to a distance from the other one equal to the width of the tray, so that these rails
keep up the flaps as they travel along over them, while at the point where they are
unsupported by the rail the flap falls down and delivers the grain upon it on to the
flap below. Above the trays are revolving shafts, with stirring blades for stirring up
the grain as it passes on the trays, and beyond the stirrers is an adjustible blade
for levelling the grain to a layer of uniform thickness as it passes beneath. A

page_text: revolving brush is also provided, acting against the flaps as they pass round one of
the rollers, so as to clear them from adhering grain.
The rollers with their endless bands of trays are cach mounted in a frame with
wheels running on rails, so that each frame can readily be drawn out through a side
opening in the casing for the purpose of cleansing or repairs. The casing, which
may have double walls with air spaces, has at each end a vertical flue or passage
communicating with the space above each tray by means of openings provided with
regulating flaps. The passage on the one side is extended downwards, and commu-
nicates with a supply of cold, hot, or moistened air. For producing the latter a
chamber is provided, containing a number of superposed trays charged with coke,
down upon which a spray of water is caused to flow from above, and over which a
current of air is caused to flow in a zig-zag direction from below, so that on issuing
at top it is charged with moisture, and passes through the apertures of the before-
mentioned end passage over the surface of the grain on the travelling trays, escaping
through the opposite apertures into the other end passage or flue leading upwards
into the open air. In the above described arrangement the trays with their flaps
might be stationary, and the travelling chains have plates sliding along underneath
the flaps, so as to support them, there being a gap in the plates at one point, which
allows the flaps to drop down in succession.
According to another arrangement the trays are made of circular form within a
cylindrical casing, and provided with radial Haps hinged at one of their radial sides,
so that the other side can drop down. Beneath each tray is a ring shaped plate
carried by a vertical rotating shaft, the ring being made to support the flaps of the
tray, but having a gap at one point, so that as it rotates it allows cach of the flaps
to drop in succession. The gap in the ring is capable of being closed by a sliding
piece. Bosses on the vertical shaft carry two spindles, extending radially over cach
tray, one of which has radial stirring blades or fingers, and is rotated by means of
a bevil pinion fixed on it in gear with a fixed toothed ring surrounding the vertical
shaft, the other radial spindle having an adjustible blade, which in passing over the
layer of grain on the tray levels it to a uniform thickness. Instead of hinging the
flaps at one side, they may be carried by a central radial spindle, having at its inner
end a pinion, which at one point of its rotation comes in gear with an adjustible
toothed segment, whereby the spindle, and with it the flap, is rotated, so that the
grain on the flap is delivered onto the tray below. The trays are provided alter-
nately with openings at the periphery and at the centre, so that the air in entering
at the periphery of the one tray passes over the grain thereon, and issues through
the central opening of the tray above, and after passing over the surface of the
latter issues through the circumferential openings of the next tray, and so on.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st August 1879.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brandt and G. W: von
Nawrocki, Patent Agents, of No. 124, Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, in the German
Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MALTING AND DRYING OR DESSI-
CATING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." A communication by Carl Scheidig, of
Altenburg, in the German Empire.
According to the present Invention a number of superposed trays charged with
the grain or other substance to be acted upon are arranged inside a casing through
which dry or moist air, either cold or heated, is made to circulate, the trays being so
arranged that at intervals they deliver the grain upon them on to the next tray
below, so that the grain being charged ou to the uppermost tray gradually passes
downwards from tray to tray while it is being acted upon by the currents of air,
and eventually escapes through a shoot at bottom.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement, the trays consist of a series of
hinged flaps, pivotted to two horizontal endless travelling chains stretched over two
revolving rollers. Beneath the flaps are fixed rails that extend from the one roller
to a distance froin the other one, equal to the width of the tray, so that these rails
keep up the flaps as they travel along over them, while at the point where they are
unsupported by the rail the flap falls down and delivers the grain upon it on to the
flap below. Above the trays are revolving shafts, with stirring blades for stirring
up the grain as it passes on the trays, and beyond the stirrers is an adjustable blade
for levelling the grain to a layer of uniform thickness as it passes beneath. A
revolving brush is also provided, acting against the flaps as they pass round one of
the rollers, so as to clear them from adhering grain.
The rollers with their endless bands of trays are each mounted in a frame, with
wheels running on rails, so that each frame can readily be drawn out through a side
opening in the casing, for the purpose of cleansing or repairs. The casing, which
may have double walls with air spaces, has at each end a vertical flue or passage,
communicating with the space above each tray by means of openings provided with
regulating flaps. The passage on the one side is extended downwards, and commu-
nicates with a supply of cold, hot, or moistened air. For producing the latter a
chamber is provided, containing a number of superposed trays charged with coke,
down upon which a spray of water is caused to flow from above, and over which a
current of air is caused to flow in a zig-zag direction from below, so that on issuing
at top it is charged with moisture, and pasees through the apertures of the before
mentioned end passage over the surface of the grain on the travelling trays, escaping
through the opposite apertures into the other end passage or flue leading upwards
into the open nir. In the above described arrangement the trays with their flaps
might be stationary, and the travelling chains have plates sliding along underneath
the flaps, so as to support them, there being a gap in the plates at one point, which
allows the flaps to drop down in succession.
. According to another arrangement the trays are made of circular form within a
cylindrical casing, and provided with radial flaps hinged at one of their radial sides,
so that the other side can drop down. Beneath each tray is a ring shaped plate
carried by a vertical rotating shaft, the ring being made to support the flaps of the
tray, but having a gap at one point, so that as it rotates it allows each of the flaps
to drop in succession. The gap in the ring is capable of being closed by a sliding
piece. Bosses on the vertical shaft carry two spindles, extending radially over each
tray, one of which has radial stirring blades or fingers, and is rotated by means of
bevil pinion fixed on it in gear with a fixed toothed ring surrounding the vertical.

page_text: shaft, the other radial spindle having an adjustable blade, which in passing over the
layer of grain on the tray levels it to a-uniform thickness. Instead of hinging the
flaps at one side they may be carried by a central radial spindle, having at its inner
end a pinion, which at one point of its rotation comes in gear with an adjustable
toothed segment, whereby the spindle, and with it the flap, is rotated so that the
grain on the flap is delivered on to the tray bolow. The trays are provided alter-
nately with openings at the periphery and at the centre, so that the air in entering
at the periphery of the one tray passes over the grain thereon, and issues through
the central opening of the tray above, and after passing over the surface of the
latter issues through the circumferential openings of the next tray, and so on.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of
apparatus according to the arrangement first described above, in which there are a
number of successive tiers of trays or hinged flaps pivotted to endless travelling
bands. For each tier there are two shafts a', a³, having on them at each end
polygonal chain wheels, giving continuous motion to the two travelling chains, one
at each side of the casing. The shafts a¹ have worm wheels h driven at a slow
speed from worms g on a vertical spindle. At each joint of the chain links is
pivotted a flap of thin plate, or it may be of fabric stretched on a frame which has
freedom to move between the chains. These flaps throughout the greater part of
their travel from 6 to e are supported in a horizontal position on rails f³, f, but
when they reach the ends of the rails at the points e, where they are no longer
supported, they successively drop and deliver the material which they carry on to
the flaps of the next lower tier. Thus from tier to tier the material supplied to the
uppermost tier from the hopper i descends in successive portions until finally it is
delivered by the shoot k into a truck. While the material is travelling along each
tior on the supported flaps thereof it is stirred and agitated by revolving blades m,
and it is spread to a definite depth on the flaps by adjustable scrapers n; also the
flaps as they successively pass round the chain wheels are cleaned by revolving
brushes o, o. The shafts a', a², and rails f¹, fs, are supported on rectangular frames
p, p, which have rollers running on rails q, q, at each end, so that each frame with
travelling chains and flaps can be run out sideways from the casing A, B, C, D, for
purpose of cleansing or repair. The casing which is supported on columns is made
with a space at each end forming air tight chambers r and s, and it has at its sides
doors or shutters which can be opened for access to the several tiers of travelling
chains. E is a chamber containing a number of trays 1, 2, 3, &c., charged with
coke, on which water is sprinkled in a shower from a pipe t. Air entering at the
bottom of this chamber and becoming moistened by passing over the trays in a
zig-zag direction rises by the channel 7 and passes by openings adjustable by valves v
over the several tiers of trays, thence issuing by apertures adjustable by valves w
into the channel 8, whence it passes away. The amount of moisture can be regu-
lated by adjusting the discharge from the pipe t and the quantity of air passing
over the material under treatment in the several tiers can be regulated by opening
more or less the valves v and w.
The flaps instead of being pivotted to travelling chains might be pivotted to a
stationary framing and supported by chains travelling under them, these chains
having at one place an opening, which as it comes under the successive flaps allows
them to drop and deliver their charge to the flaps below.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section and Fig. 5 a plan of a modified form of the apparatus.
In this case the flaps a arranged radially round a centre are pivotted to a stationary
cylindrical outer casing A and to a set of stationary inner frames B. They are
supported by a circular rail b which slowly revolves, being carried by arms pro-
jecting from bosses fon a central shaft g. The rail 6 has at one part of its periphery.

page_text: an opening e, which can when required be closed by a slide d. When it is open
each of the flaps a as the opening e passes under it drops and delivers its charge on
to the flap of the tier below it. From the bosses f extend radially the spindles of
horizontal revolving agitators h, shewn in end view at Fig. 8. The outer ends of
these spindles work in a ring o which runs on rollers n mounted on the outer
casing A. On the spindles are bevil pinions i gearing with stationary teeth on the
central framing B, so that as the spindles of the agitators are carried round along
with the bosses f they are also caused to rotate, as shewn in Fig. 8, stirring the
material on the trays below them. There are also other spindles projecting radially
from the bosses and extending to the ring o. These carry scraper blades which
can be set at various angles, as shewn in Fig. 9, so as to spread and lay the material
on the flaps below them to a uniform depth. The flaps a do not extend quite up to.
the casing A but leave an annular space for passage of air at m, which may be more
or less closed by a plate, and in like manner the air passage through the central
fram B may be closed by plates p.
According to the modification shewn in section at Fig. 6, and in plan at Fig. 7,
each of the flaps a is pivotted on a central spindlo a, having at its inner end a bevil
pinion which once in each revolution of the central shaft g becomes engaged with
a few teeth on a segment z carried round by the shaft. This causes cach of the
flaps in succession to make half a revolution at the time that the space e of the sup-
porting ring b is under it. The segment Z is on the horizontal arm of a bell crank,
the vertical arm of which can be moved by a hand wheel t so as when desired to
depress the segment out of gear from the bevil pinions of the flap spindles. The
casing A may be double so as to give passages for air, which by means of suitable
valves can be directed as desired over the materials carried on the several tiers of
flaps.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my correspondents, I claim
in respect of apparatus for malting and drying or dessicating grain and other
substances,―
First. The use of hinged or pivotted trays or flaps carrying the substance to be
operated on, these trays being arranged in tiers and at intervals, and in succession
allowed to drop or made to turn partly round so as to deliver their contents on to
the trays below them, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. Pivotting the trays or flaps referred to in the preceding claim upon
endless travelling chains by which they are caused to move along supporting rails,
having suitable breaks or openings which permit the trays or flaps to drop as they
move successively over them, substantially as herein described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. Arranging the travelling chains referred to in the preceding claim with
their trays or flaps and the supporting rails in such manner that both the upper and
under lines of trays on each chain are utilisod for exposure of the material operated
on, as herein described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 4 and 5, of the trays or flaps extending in tiers radially within a
cylindrical casing, those of each tier being supported on a revolving ring with an
opening at one part of its periphery permitting each flap to drop in succession.
Fifth. The modified construction and arrangement, substantially as herein
described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7, wherein each of the trays or flaps is
pivotted on a central axis, and is caused to turn half round once in every revolu-
tion of the central shaft by the engagement of a bevil pinion on the axis of the flap
with a toothed segment, moving round with the central shaft.
Sixth. The combination of the revolving agitators m, Fig. 1, and h, Figs. 4 and 6,
and of the adjustable scrapers n, Fig. 1, and 1, Figs. 4 and 6, with the dropping or
turning trays or flaps referred to in the preceding claims.

page_text: Seventh. The combination of the air moistening and cooling apparatus E, Fig. 1,
and of air channels governed by valves with the casing containing the trays or
flaps referred to in the preceding claims, as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.