IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING GRAIN, GUEPOWDER, AND OTHER GRANULAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 100, Fleet Street, in the City of London, American
Barrister-at-Law, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
DRYING GRAIN, GUEPOWDER, AND OTHER GRANULAR SUBSTANCES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Daniel Curtis Rand and Mortimer Wadsham,
both of Perington, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 13th January 1863, and dated the 1st August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents; with his Petition, on the
1st August 1862.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 100, Flect
Street, in the City of London, American Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING
GRAIN, GUNPOWDER, AND OTHER GRANULAR SUBSTANCES," a communication to me
from abroad by Daniel Curtis Rand and Mortimer Wadsham, both of Per-
ington, New York, United States of America, to be as follows:-
These improvements consist chiefly in providing a hollow cylinder or cask
with one or more self-acting valves for admitting air into the vessel used, and
for permitting the escape therefrom of the gases or vapors generated by the
process of drying. The cylinders or vessels are rotated on horizontal shafts
which pass centrally through the heads or ends thereof, and the bearings of
which rest on suitable frames or supports. These cylinders may be constructed.
of any suitable size, may be rotated by any convenient power, and several.
may be arranged on the same shaft. The apertures (or aperture) for admitting
the entrance of air and the escape of vapors, are made in the periphery

page_text: "
of the cylinder or vessel, and are supplied with valves similar to those known
as "flap valves." These are hinged to the inside of the cylinders, so that
their hinged side is foremost in relation to the direction of the rotation.
These valves open when raised by the rotation to the upper side of the
cylinder or vessel, and leave the aperture partially unclosed to admit air.
They close however before the rotation brings them to the under side of the
cylinder, which prevents the escape of the grain or powder. The ventilating
effect may be increased by increasing the number of apertures in the periphery
of the cylinders, or by making the shafts hollow to admit air, which passes
into the cylinders through suitable openings. The material being placed
within the cylinder through the valve which is uppermost at the time, in
quantity sufficient to cover the whole lower part of the vessel, yet not sufficient
to prevents its free motion while revolving. The apparatus is put in motion,
and continued at a rate of speed best adapted to render the process.complete
and expeditious, which varies somewhat with the weight and kind of material
subject to the operation, and is easily determined by experiment. The effect
is to rapidly deprive the material of its moisture, acting both by the heat
generated by the friction arising from the motion and attrition of the particles,
and by the free admission of fresh air, and its constant admixture with the
mass, which is agitated and dispersed by the rotation of the cylinder. The
material acted upon has a tendency to follow up the interior of the cylinder in
the direction of its rotation, and in falling back from gravitation assists in
closing the valve which is lowest at the time, and keeps it shut, thus preventing
.any waste or loss through the openings. The tendency of the material to
cling to the sides of the cylinder, and its action in falling back by gravity,
give a rolling motion to the mass, thus causing a high degree of friction, and
in the case of the drying of gunpowder effectually glazes the grains, thus
saving the extra manipulation for that purpose by the ordinary process. In
this respect much time and labor are saved, and fire is dispensed with as a
drying agent. The rotation should not be too rapid, or it will cause the
material to be carried around with the revolutions, and the mass thus
remain motionless relatively to the cylinder, and the effect of friction will
be lost, and the admixture of air occur but to a very limited extent. In its
application to the drying of gunpowder, sufficient speed cannot be obtained
to increase the temperature to such a degree as to ignite the mass, and cause
explosion, as before that point is reached the centrifugal force will be so great
as to cause the material to be carried around motionless with regard to the
cylinder, thus no danger need be apprehended from accidental increase of
speed. Great economy results from.the use of this apparatus from its small

page_text: cost originally, and the little expense as well as the limited space it occupies
as compared with the use of artificial heat as employed in the kilns, furnaces,
and by the application of steam, while it possesses the important advantage of
entirely obviating the risk of fire and explosions. In this sense its adaptation
to the drying of gunpowder, and its use in grain mills is important.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 100, Fleet Street, in
the City of London, American Barrister-at-Law, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the First day of August. in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Haseltine, Her special licence that I, the said George Haseltine, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DRYING GRAIN, GUNPOWDER, AND OTHER GRANULAR SUBSTANCES,"
a communication from abroad by Daniel Curtis Rand and Mortimer Wadsham,
both of Perington, New York, United States of America, upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine; do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained. in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming
a part of this Specification, in which Figure I. represents a side elevation of

page_text: the apparatus; Figure II. represents a vertical section of the same. Like
letters indicate corresponding parts in both Figures.
The apparatus consists of a hollow cylinder or its equivalent, provided with
self-opening and closing valves, or their equivalent, for the transmission of air,
hung upon a horizontal shaft, and rotated by the application of any convenient
power for the purpose.
A cask or barrel A (as represented in the Drawings), hung on a central
.shaft B, having journals which run in bearings or standards C, C, and pro-
vided with a pulley D for connecting with the driving power by a band, is a
very convenient form for the construction of the apparatus. Any number of
casks may be placed upon the same shaft, with bearings between them, or
their length and size may be increased to obtain the required capacity, as
'may be found to best accommodate the convenience of space, or the purposes
required. There are usually provided one or more openings e, e, in the
'periphery of the cylinder, having valves f, f, similar to those known as flap
valves attached on their inside, and so that their hinged side is foremost in
.relation to the direction in which the cylinder rotates. These valves work
easily, and by their own weight fall open when brought to the upper side by
the revolution; leaving the aperture e partially unclosed to admit air; they
close again, however, before the rotation places them below, so as to effectually
shut the aperture, and prevent the grain or other material from escaping.
The material being placed within the cylinder, through the valve which is
uppermost at the time, in quantity sufficient to cover the whole lower part of
the vessel, yet not sufficient to prevent its free motion while revolving. The
apparatus is put in motion, and continued at a rate of speed best adapted to
render the process complete and expeditious, which varies, somewhat with
the weight and kind of material subjected to the operation; and is easily
determined by experiment. The effect is to rapidly deprive the material of
its moisture, acting both by the heat generated by the friction arising from
the motion and attrition of the particles, and by the free admission of fresh
air, and its constant admixture with the mass, which is agitated and dispersed
by the rotation of the cylinder. The material acted upon has a tendency to
follow up the interior of the cylinder in the direction of its rotation; and in
falling back from the gravitation assists in closing the valve which is lowest at
the time, and keeps it shut, thus preventing any waste or loss through the
openings. The tendency of the material to cling to the sides of the cylinder
and its action in falling back by gravity, give a rolling motion to the mass
thus causing a high degree of friction; and in the case of the drying of gun
powder, effectually glazes the grains, thus saving the extra manipulation fo

page_text: that purpose by the ordinary process. In this respect, much time and labor
are saved, and fire is dispensed with as a drying agent. The external air not
only enters through the valve openings, but that of the interior when rarified
by the heat engendered, escapes outwardly, carrying off the vapor arising from
the moist substance acted on. The rotation should not be too rapid, or it will
cause the material to be carried around with the revolutions, and the mass
thus remains motionless relatively to the cylinder, and the effect of friction
will be lost, and the admixture of air occur but to a very limited extent.
In its application to the drying of gunpowder, sufficient speed cannot be
obtained to increase the temperature to such a degree as to ignite the mass,
and cause explosion, as before that point is reached the centrifugal force
will be so great as to cause the material to be carried around motionless with
regard to the cylinder, thus no danger need be apprehended from accidental
increase of speed. Great economy results from the use of this apparatus
from its small cost originally, and the little expense, as well as the limited
space it occupies as compared with the use of artificial heat as employed in
the kilns, furnaces, and by the application of steam; while it possesses the
important advantage of entirely obviating the risk of fire and explosions. In
this sense, its adaptation to the drying of gunpowder, and its use in grain
mills is important. The ventilating effect may be increased by employing a
greater number of openings in the periphery, and by making the shaft B
hollow to admit air through it, which is discharged through suitable openings
in the cylinder.
What I claim is the rotating cylinder A, or its equivalent receptacle, for con-
taining and keeping in motion the material acted on, when the same is provided
with a valve or valves, or an equivalent arrangement for the transmission of
air, for ventilating, and for the passage of the vapor evolved, substantially as
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Thirtieth day of January, in the year Eighteen hundred and sixty-
three.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.s.)