A New Process and Apparatus for Drying Powdered or Granular Materials.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1900-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1900
A New Process and Apparatus for Drying Powdered or Granular
Materials.
I, EMMANUEL WILLIAMSON, Bricklayer, 211, Curzon Road, Hurst Brook,
Ashton-under-Lyne, near Manchester, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
To dry quickly & effectually, damp or moist powdered and granular materials
automatically, by means of a heated tube through which the material is con-
veyed by means of a mechanical conveyor, either by an archimedian screw brush
of special construction or by trays upon endless chains. The special construction
of the brush is in the form of a strap or belt which is coiled spirally around a
shaft in the form of a worm conveyor.
Dated this 18th day of Santambor 1800.
EMMANUEL WILLIAMSON,
Bricklayer,
211, Curzon Road, Hurst Brook,
Ashton-under-Lyne, near Manchester.
A New Process and Apparatus for Drying Powdered or Granular
Materials.
I, EMMANUEL WILLIAMSON, of 211, Curzon Road, Hurst Brook, Ashton-under-
Lyne, near Manchester, Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to, and consists of a new process or method of, and
apparatus for quickly and effectually drying damp or moist powdered or granular
materials.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 illustrates a sectional elevation, Fig. 2
a sectional plan on line a-b, and Fig. 3 a transverse section on line c-d of
the said apparatus.
(A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) are a series of tubes or chambers, arranged one
above the other and forming one long tube of zig-zag formation. Such tubes are
sustained in position by end frames (F) and (G) and centre frame (H) and in
the case of the tube (E) by the suspended arm (I) and brackets (J) which latter
also support the end frames (F) and (G).
In each tube is a shaft (K) sustained in position by hanger bearings (L) and
Price I

page_text: each shaft is fitted with a worm conveyor, either in the form of bristles for
fine materials, or in the form of sheet metal for coarse materials. The worms
extend the full length of the tubes, and whilst the worms of tubes (A), (C)
and (E) are left-handed the worms of tubes (B) and (D) are right-handed,
although if their rotation be in opposite directions alternately they may all be
right-handed, or all left-handed. Each tube opens into the next tube below it
through a cross tube or passage (M), and such cross passages are arranged
alternately at the opposite ends of the tubes as illustrated. The tube (A) is
fitted with a feed hopper (N).
Upon each shaft is a small pulley or chain wheel (0) and upon certain of
the shafts (K) are further pulleys or wheels (P). Upon one of the shafts are
the fast and loose driving pulleys (Q) and (R). Around pulleys (0) and (P)
are chains or belts (S).
Between each set of tubes is a steam hot water or like pipe (T) connected
to each of the other pipes at each end of the tubes, receiving the supply of steam
or hot water at (U) and discharging, or returning it at (V).
Immediately above the tubes is an exhaust pipe (W) leading to, or from an
exhaust fan (not shewn), and from such pipe a series of pipes (X) depends with
branches (Y) opening into the upper portions of the tubes, as shewn more clearly
in Fig. 3.
The action is as follows:-The material to be dried is fed into the hopper (N)
by an elevator or otherwise. Falling into the tube (A), with the driving belt
on pulley (Q) and the worm in motion, such material is drawn or traversed
along by the worm to the opposite end of the tube, where it falls through the
cross passage (M) into tube (B). It is then operated upon by the worm in
tube (B), which travels it along to the opposite end of the tube (B), where in
turn it falls through passage (M) into tube (C) wherein it is again taken to the
other end of the machine to be again travelled to and fro by the worms in
tubes (D) and (E) until it finally falls through the delivery outlet (Z).
Due to the extended traverse of the material, and the heat given off by the
pipes (T) also the constant agitation of the material, and the drawing off of the
moisture through passages (Y) by the exhaust fan, the material when delivered is
perfectly dry. To allow for cooling down before delivery the tube (E) is not
heated, and is not operated upon by the exhaust fan.
The pipes (X) extend to points lower than tube (D), and the branches (Y) are
at an angle so that the moisture in the pipes may not run back into the tubes
when the exhaust ceases, and so that the material when dried will not be drawn
out of the tubes.
Whilst I only shew five tubes and worms, it will be obvious that I may
employ more, or less, and that they may vary in size. They may also be made
in segments to facilitate erection and cleaning. The manner in which the
apparatus is heated may also vary.
To retain the heat the apparatus is enclosed wholly or partially in a metal
or wood casing with, or without a lining of silica cotton, or other heat non-
conductor. As a further modification I may employ a combination brush and
worm conveyor and I may make the shafts (K) hollow with perforations along
their length, and extract the moisture through such shafts.
When a brush conveyor is employed I apply the bristles to a narrow strap
and wrap such strap spirally around the shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to performed, I declare that what
I clain is:
---
1: In a process or method of drying powdered or granular materials, tra-
versing the materials in a tube or chamber of zig-zag formation, and subjecting
the materials to heat whilst so traversed, substantially as set forth.
2: In apparatus for drying powdered or granular materials, a series of

page_text: superimposed tubes or chambers communicating with each other alternately at
their opposite ends and forming a continuous tube or chamber of zig-zag
formation, a worm conveyor in each tube and means for rotating such conveyor,
substantially as set forth.
3: In apparatus for drying powdered or granular materials, a series of
superimposed tubes or chambers communicating with each other alternately at
their opposite end's and forming a continuous tube or chamber of zig-zag formation
and each tube fitted with a worm conveyor, in combination with heating pipes
adjacent to the said tubes or chambers, and an arrangement of exhaust pipes and
fan for drawing the moisture from the tubes, substantially as set forth.
4: In apparatus for drying powdered or granular materials, the combination
and arrangement of parts mounted and operating substantially as herein set
forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of September 1900.
EMMANUEL WILLIAMSON,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.