IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRYING FLUID, SEMI-FLUID, AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE FLINT ORANGE of Trevarrick in the Parish of Saint Austell in
the County of Cornwall Mineral Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRYING FLUID, SEMI-FLUID, AND ORGANIC
SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to improved apparatus for evaporating crystallising
fluids, drying semi-fluid substances including China Clay, Ochre, Umber or other
mineral, and for desiccating organic matter.
To effect this object I construct a Drying House or Kiln in which I place tables
or trays composed of metal plain galvanised or enamelled or of other active heat-
transmitting material, built or constructed double and hollow, of any required
dimensions, in form wide horizontally and shallow between the upper and lower
surfaces, and open at the ends only. These tables or trays are supported at short
distances to retain them firmly in position and when long may be made telescopic
at the joints to fit into each other so as to afford free passage for a current of hot
air to be driven through them.
Where very extended drying or evaporating surface is required and the drying
house is restricted in length I place these tables or trays in tiers one over another
at distances convenient for filling and emptying, but if spaco permits the tables
may be more conveniently arranged on the same level-The ends of each tier of
tables are closed except where connected to the elbows, the end of the last table or
series of tables being left partly open that the blast may be conducted into a
chimney or pipe or other outlet.
The fluid or semi-fluid substance to be dried is placed upon the upper surfaces of
the tables or trays which are provided with close-fitting sides of a depth suitable to
the requirements of the substance to be dried or evaporated.
For greater efficiency and expedition in the drying process I use a number
of open frames holding plates or cutters of unoxydising metal placed vertically.
These frames may be of any convenient size and form the plates they contain
being immersed or embedded in the substance. The lower edges of these plates are
in direct contact throughout with the upper surfaces of the tables and by trans-
mission of heat they become of the same temperature as the tables upon which they
rest, and radiate heat from each of their vertical surfaces to the substance by which

page_text: they are surrounded, or in which they are immersed. At the same time they afford
openings for the admission of air and for the escape of the vapour generated by the
heat of the drying surfaces.
To obtain the heat required for the drying or evaporating of the various
substances I use a blast of hot air driven in by a Fan or other air-injector by any
convenient motive power, the supply of such heated air being obtained from the
flue or fire-place of a furnace erected in contiguity to the drying house or kiln
through the medium of pipes of suitable size and shape connecting the fan with the
near end of the tables or trays and passing in their course through such fire placo
or flue.
The continuous current or blast of hot air so supplied being driven through the
whole extent of the spaces contained between the upper and lower horizontal
surfaces of the hollow tables or trays, such spaces become filled with the hot blast.
This blast communicating its heat by radiation to the surfaces of the tables or
trays and, through them, also to the numerous metallic conducting plates in contact
with them rapidly dries or evaporates the substances placed within or upon them.
Dated this tenth dex of June 1884

page_text: I GEORGE FLINT ORANGE of Trevarrick in the parish of Saint Austell in the
County of Cornwall Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRYING FLUID, SEMI-FLUID, AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has reference to improved apparatus for evaporating fluid and for
drying semi-fluid substances, including China Clay, Ochre, Umber or other mineral
for desiccating organic matter, and for forcing the growth of vegetable products.
To effect this object I construct a drying house or Kiln with due provision for
the escapo of vapour by openings in the sides or roof in which I place tables or
trays of any required dimensions composed of metal plain galvanised or enamelled
or of other active heat transmitting material built or constructed double and
hollow, in form wide borizontally and shallow between the upper and lower
surfaces and open at the ends only These tables or trays are supported underneath
at short distances apart to retain them firmly in position and when long are made
telescopic at the joints to fit into each other so as to afford free passage for a
current of hot air to be driven through them. Where very extended drying
or evaporating surface is required and the drying house is restricted in length
I place these tables or trays in tiers one over another at distances convenient for
filling and emptying. The lower tier of tables or trays is connected with the upper
tier or tiers, and that or those with each other by bends or elbows one end of each
elbow being made to enter the opening in the end of tho tray or table below and
the other in that of the one next above. The ends of each tier of tables are closed
except where connected by the elbow to the tier above or below, the end of the last
table or series of tables being left partly open that the blast may be conducted into
a chimney or pipe or other outlet.
If space permits however the tables may be more conveniently arranged on the
same level throughout.
The fluid or semi-fluid or other substance to be dried is placed upon the upper
surface of the tables or trays which are provided with close fitting or moveable
sides of a depth suitable to the requirements of the substance to be dried or
evaporated.
For greater efficiency and expedition in the drying process I use a number
of open frames holding plates or cutters of unoxydising metal placed vertically.
These frames correspond in extent with the surface of the tables and of the
substance to be dried, the plates they contain being immersed or embedded in the
substance or fluid. They are made somewhat deeper than the layer of mineral or
the fluid so that they may be conveniently inserted and withdrawn.
The lower edges of these plates being in direct contact with the upper external
surface of the tables, by conduction of heat they become of the same temperature as
the tables upon which they rest and radiate heat from each of their vertical surfaces

page_text: to the substance or fluid by which they are surrounded or in which they are
immersed. At the same time they divide the substance to be dried into numerous
small portions and thereby make openings for the admission of air and for the
escape of the vapour generated by the heat of the drying surfaces.
The superficial measurement of these metallic plates as drying surfaces being
largely in excess of that of the surfaces of the tables or trays upon which they rest,
the drying or evaporating power of the apparatus becomes thereby greatly increased
and the drying process correspondingly hastened.
To obtain the required heat for the drying or evaporating of the various sub-
stances I use a blast of hot air driven into the tables by a fan or other air-injector
worked by any convenient motive power, the supply of such heated air being
procured from the flue or chamber of a furnace erected in proximity to the drying
house or kiln through the medium of pipes of suitable size and shape which connect
the fun with the near end of the tables or trays, the pipes passing in their courso
through and obtaining their heat from such flue or chamber. The continuous
-current or blast of hot air so supplied being driven through the whole extent of
the spaces contained between the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the hollow
tables or trays, such spaces become filled with the hot blast.
This blast transmits its heat by direct internal contact with the upper or drying
surfaces of the tables or trays and through them also with the numerous metallic
conducting plates resting upon them.
As fast as the hot air within the tables is reduced in temperature by such
contact with their upper surfaces and through them with the substance placed upon
them to be dried, it is driven out into the stack and replaced with the hot blast
from the furnace.
The actual temperature of the blast driven into the tables may be varied and
regulated by a greater or less velocity of the current of air admitted, and the size
of furnace.
For more effectually utilising the blast of hot air so driven through the hollow
tables, I place within the same numerous blocks or slabs that absorb a large body
of heat from the blast in its passago through the tables. This accumulated heat
they retain for a lengthened period and give out gradually by radiation to the
upper or drying surfaces, and by this means an equability of temperature within
the tables is uniformly maintained highly favorable to the drying or evaporating
process.
In order to avoid loss of heat by radiation, the under surfaces, the sides, and the
ends of the tables are all cased with a non-conducting and heat-proof substance
that allows no heat to radiate, in any of those directions. The heat of the blast is
therefore entirely concentrated upon and transmitted through the upper or drying
surfaces of the tables, and as a consequence the whole of the heat generated by the
furnace and conveyed to the tables is economised and rendered effective for drying,
evaporating, or other purposes.
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 the combination of apparatus herein described and the application of the
same to the purposes named that is to say
1. The use of hollow tables composed of metal or other active heat-transmitting
material constructed wide and shallow, and of any required length through which
a blast or current of hot air may be driven in the manner herein set forth.
2. The use of fire-slabs placed within such tables for conservating and making
more effective the current of hot air employed, and for rendering the temperature
of such hot air more constant and uniforin.
3. Also the employment of heat-proof material for casing the lower external
surfaces, sides and ends of the said tables by means of which radiation is prevented
in those directions, and the retained heat concentrated upon the upper or drying,
heating or evaporating surfaces of the tables.

page_text: 4. And lastly the use either in combination with this apparatus, or in connection
with any other drying or heating appliances, of open metallic frames containing
cutters or dividers placed vertically or inclined, which frames are embedded or
immersed in the substance to bo dried or evaporated, the lower edges of the frames
and cutters resting upon the surface of the tables or other, drying surfaces and
receiving by transmission or conduction heat of the same temperature as that
contained in the tables or other drying surfaces and conveying the same to the
substances to be dried or evaporated.