Cowl Ball Bearings for Hop Kilns, Malt Kilns, and other Revolving Cowls
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec.,
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Cowl Ball Bearings for Hop Kilns, Malt Kilns, and other Revolving
Cowls."
FREDERICK NEAME Macknade Faversham Hopgrower. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For the application of Ball bearings to Cowls for the use of Hopkins, Malt kilns
& other revolving cowls for the purpose of securing a more perfect & sensitive
movement of such cowls & thereby to prevent the serious damage which frequently
occurs from the slow & uncertain movement under the previously existing
methods.
.
"Cowl Ball Bearings for Hop Kilns, Malt Kilns, and other Revolving
Cowls."
I, FREDERICK NEAME of Macknade, Faversham in the County of Kent, Hop
Grower 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: -
My invention relates to cowls or ventilators for Hop and Malt kilus or Oasts
and consists of improvements in the application and use of ball bearings upon
which to mount the said cowl or ventilator, the object of my said invention being
to secure a more perfect and sensitive movement of the said cowl or ventilator
in obedience to the various and sudden changes of wind currents, than that
attained by the method and means hitherto employed thus preventing a recurrence
of the serious damage to malt and hops under treatment arising from the slow
and uncertain movements of such cowls or ventilators mounted under the previously
existing methods.
In order that the manner in which I prefer to carry my invention into effect
may be clearly understood reference is hereinafter made to the accompanying
drawings of which.
Fig is a vertical central section of the top portion of a hop or malt kiln or
oast with a cowl or ventilator mounted thereon according to my invention.
Fig 2 is an enlarged central vertical section of so much of the vertical shaft
or spindle of the said cowl or ventilator as will serve to illustrate more graphically

page_text: the manner in which I prefer to arrange the ball bearings of same according to
my invention.
Fig 3 is a plan or top end view of Fig 2, while Fig 4 is a top view (partly
broken away) of the lower bearing end of Fig 2 as this would appear before fixa-
tion upon the said shaft or spindle.
In carrying my invention into effect--I provide in a suitable position in the
roof A of the kiln or oast a cross beam or beams B, of wood or other suitable
material in a central position upon the upper surface of which I bolt, screw or
otherwise fix a metallic casting C, the upper surface of which is cupped or other-
wise rendered concave at a to form a race for any number of steel balls such as b
tho said casting having also a central vertical opening or bore c which receive
the foot d of a second cast or wrought metallic plate, D, in the under surface of
which is formed an annular groove e which rests upon the said balls b and provides
that the said plate D may freely rotate thereon and within the socket c of the
casting C.
The cowl or hood E of ordinary construction is mounted and fixed by any suit-
able means upon the upper end of a vertical wood or metallic spindle or shaft. F',
the lower end of which said spindle rests upon the plate D and may be fixed
thereto by bolts, screws or other suitable means, and by preference I form integrally
with the said plate a spike or pin f perpendicular with the foot d which is driven
into the lower end of F, and in order that the latter may not be split or fractured
thereby I may shrink or otherwise fix upon the lower end of this a metallic
collar g.
The upper end of the roof A is adapted to carry four or more cross stays h, the
inner and converging ends of which carry a metallic or metal faced ring G, and
coinciding with the said ring, I shrink, bolt, screw or otherwise fix upon the
spindle a metallic or metal faced collar H, in which is formed an annular groove
or recess j, forming, in combination with the ring G a race for any number of
steel balls b and to protect these from the influence of the weather and prevent
their possible displacement, I may find it convenient to fix upon the upper surface
of the collar G (after the said balls have been placed in position) a covering plate J,
as suggested by dotted outline in Fig 2. or I may attain the same end by other
suitable means.
From the foregoing it will be understood that by reason of the two sets of ball
bearings band b₁ placed and arranged as described and shewn, the perpendicularity
of the spindle or shaft I would be thereby maintained under the most trying
conditions of wind currents, and that by the slightest air force, acting upon the
wind vane K in the usual way the cowl or hood E would freely respond thereto
and that sticking or jamming of the spindle F and the consequent admission of
down current into the kiln A would be next to impossible so long as the said ball
bearings were kept in a fair state of lubrication, thus avoiding the serious damage
to the malt or hops under treatment so frequently experienced with cowls or hoods,
mounted under the previously existing methods.
In order to guard against the possibility of strong wind currents operating to
lift the cowl or hood E and its spindle F and so raise the foot d of the latter out
of the socket c and displace the balls I may provide upon the plate D an
annular ridge or web k, and bolt screw or otherwise fix upon the casting c two or
more (preferably three) lugs such as m so formed that their upper ends curl over
and embrace (without touching under normal conditions) the said ridge or web k.
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
1st. In cowls or ventilators for Hop kilns, Malt kilns .oasts and the like, the
employment of two sets of ball bearings in which the spindle of the said cowl or
ventilator may revolve substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
i

page_text: 2nd. In the ventilation of Hop and Malt kilns, oasts, and the like the com-
bination of a cowl or hood such as E mounted upon a spindle F, supported at two
points of its length by two sets of ball bearings, arranged in suitable races, formed
in fittings supported by cross beams or stays in the kiln top, substantially as
herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of November 1897.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Bldgs. London E.C. Agent for the Applicant.