IMPROVE. MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF GRANARIES, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING. RENOVATING, ELEVATING, AND DISTRIBUTING GRAIN
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Johnson, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Contractor and Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF GRANARIES, AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING. RENOVATING, ELEVATING, AND
DISTRIBUTING GRAIN."-A communication from abroad by George
Hardesty Johnson, of Buffalo, in the State of New York, United
States of America.
Sealed the 24th May 1870, and dated the 15th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Johnson at the
Office of the Comunissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th December 1869.
I, EDWARD JOHNSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Contractor and Builder. do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF
GRANARIES, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING. RENOVATING. ELEVATING,
AND DISTRIBUTING GRAIN," being a communication to me from abroad by
[Price 8.1

page_text: George Hardesty Johnson, of Buffalo, in the State of New York, United
States of America, to be as follows:--
The improvements in the arrangements of granaries consist in placing
any convenient number of cylindrical or other shaped grain bins in sets,
so that the spaces between the bins are also available for storing grain,
also in making the bins near the centre of the granary higher than the
others to economise space, and to reduce the cost of the roof.
The improvements in the construction of granaries consist in making
the walls of hollow bricks or blocks of porous material or perforated,
and with projecting ribs to fit each other. These bricks or blocks are of a
rhomboidal form. Also in bracing or staying the walls of cylindrical or
polygonal grain bins, with horizontal and vertical stays of angle or other
shaped iron. Also in making the grain bins with a series of vertical
partitions so as to divide the grain into small portions.
My improvements in drying and renovating grain consist in causing
currents of heated air or dry air to pass through the hollow walls of
which the grain bins are constructed, or through a series of flues made
of porous or perforated materials. The currents of air carry off the
moisture and renovate the grain without the necessity of removing it.
from the granary.
My improvements in elevating and distributing grain consist in
constructing the case of the endless belt of buckets of sheet metal with
exterior angle irons. Also in making the case in sections that can be
easily bolted together in the granary. Also in an arrangement of sponts
mounted on a travelling hopper to deliver the grain from the bottom of
the grain bins to the creeper or conveyer. Also in opening and closing
the valve at the bottom of the hopper by means of a lever actuated by
two cords. Also in an arrangement of spouts for distributing the grain
into any of the various grain bins of a large granary, the main hopper
delivering the grain to a series of radiating spouts, each of which has a
swivel spout at its end. Also in constructing the spouts of a cast metal
lower portion and a sheet metal top.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
JOHNSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Contractor and
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the
of our
year
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edward Johnson, Her special licence, that I,
the said Edward Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Edward Johnson, 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 THE ARRANGEMENT AND CON.
AND IN MACHINERY 03 APPARATUS FOR DRYING,
RENOVATING. ELEVATING, AND DISTRIBUTING GRAIN," communication to me
from abroad by George Hardesty Johnson, of Buffalo, in the State of
New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Johnson, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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.
STRUCTION
GRANARIES,
OF
NOW KNOW YE. that 1, the said Edward Johnson, 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
following statement (that is to say):-
The improvements in the arrangement of granaries consist in placing
any convenient number of cylindrical or other shaped grain bins in sets,
so that the spaces between the bins are also available for storing grain.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a plan of my improved granary, consisting exteriorly of rows
of large cylinders of uniform diameter built in close contact, and of
transverse intersecting rows of similar cylinders, so as to leave inter-
mediate compartments which include all the space not occupied by the
cylinders, and which have arched sides formed by their walls, thereby
obtaining a maximum strength to resist the pressure of grain upon the
walls of the structure with the largest possible amount of space for the
storage of the grain. By making the walls of the structure hollow
throughout and converting the hollow spaces within the walls into
ventilating cold or hot air flues the grain in all the compartments may
be thoroughly ventilated; the inwardly projecting arched sides of the
intermediate compartments presenting in proportion nearly as much
absorbing ventilating wall surface to the grain therein as in the smaller
circular grain spaces within the cylinders. The outer walls of the
granary are formed of a series of cylinders A of equal diameter built in
contact side by side, including always however an odd number of
cylinders between the cylinders at and constituting the corners of the
structure. In combination with the said outer cylinders, parallel thereto
and within the space enclosed thereby I erect in contact a row of
cylinders A' of the same diameter extending from every alternate cylinder
in the outer tier across the inner space so as to intersect therein. Thus
within the said interior space of the structure the spaces B included
between any four of the cylindrical bins in contact are left vacant, and
these spaces are fitted for the storage of grain in common with the
cylinders themselves. It is evident that when full the spaces B will
strengthen and support the adjacent cylinders A and A'. The bins near
the centre of the granary are made higher that the others to economise
space, and to reduce the cost of the roof, as shewn in Fig. 15. The
improvements in the construction of granaries consist in making the
walls of hollow bricks or blocks of porous material or perforated, and
with projecting ribs or lugs to fit into each other.
Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of three of my improved bricks laid up
together; Fig. 3 a plan of the same, and Fig. 4 an end view thereof.
The projecting ribs and lips or flanges upon the upper lateral edges of
the brick or block embrace closely the bottom of a similar block when
placed thereon, or the projecting lugs fit into a recess of the brick above.
These improved bricks or blocks may be moulded of clay or other plastic
materials by hand or machinery. The bricks thus formed may be made

page_text: solid or hollow, but by preference they are hollow so as to form hollow
ventilating walls for grain bins and similar structures. In order to
impart additional solidity and strength to walls formed of these improved
flanged hollow bricks they are made of a rhomboidal form, as illustrated
in the Drawings, so that when laid up, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, they
cannot slip or slide apart because of lateral thrust or pressure upon any
one point. These improved bricks or blocks may be modified by
dispensing with the external flanges, and making projections or lugs
fitting into the recesses of the adjacent hollow blocks, as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of a double kiln constructed and arranged for
drying, renovating, and conditioning grain, one bin being in section to
illustrate the interior construction thereof; Fig. 6, a central vertical
section; Fig. 7, a plan, with a transverse section through one of the
bins; and Fig. 8, a detached sectional view illustrating the joints of the
porous ventilating tubes with the iron framework sustaining them.
The arrows in Figs. 5 and 6 indicate the course of the hot air currents
through the kiln.
The nature of this part of the Invention consists in passing through
a mass of moist grain in bulk a number of air-conducting tubes or pipes
made of some porous material, for the purpose of absorbing and carrying
off the moisture therefrom by means of currents of hot dry air passing
through the said tubes or pipes, and for the purpose also of cooling and
ventilating the grain by means of cold air currents forced through the
said tubes.
Upon a suitable foundation A of masonry enclosing a furnace chamber
and furnace B are built the cylindrical structures or bins C, each with
an outer wall of brick or stone, and an inner thinner wall of brick, or by
preference of the improved hollow blocks, shewn in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
A narrow air space is left between the outer and inner walls to ventilate
the interior grain space and maintain an even temperature therein. Each
cylinder or bin is fitted with a close false or double bottom D of metal,
made in the form of an inverted conc, having its apex at the centre,
and its side radiating therefrom at an angle of about forty-five degrees
to the inner wall of the bin, wherewith it forms a tight joint. This
conical bottom D terminates centrally in a spout E arranged to discharge
and carry off the grain from the bin, and it is pierced with series of
elongated apertures in concentric circles, each aperture being encircled

page_text: by upwardly projecting flanges. The hot air flues W from the furnace
terminate in the annular space enclosed beneath the conical bottom
plate D. Upon the flanged apertures of the plate D are fitted porous
earthen or clay tubes or pipes F suitably tempered and hardened, each
having an elongated section, as shewn in Fig. 7, to correspond with the
apertures upon which they are fitted. They may, however, be made of a
circular or angular section. These porous tubes F are made in sections
or short lengths. The first tier of sections fitted upon the conical
bottom D is so graduated in length and arranged thereon as that its
upper ends shall all terminate in the same horizontal plane, and be
secured by flanged metallic rims united and connected by horizontal
bars G in lines radiating from the centre, so as to constitute an open
frame. The supporting frames G are so extended as to be built into the
outer walls, thus imparting great solidity and strength to the entire
structure. In the centre of each bin is placed a tube H closed at its
lower end, which rests upon a small frame G' a short distance above the
opening of the discharging spout E. Short connecting tubes, h, are
inserted at points above the bottom of the central tube into the same to
connect it with the next adjacent sectional tubes F which communicate
with the hot air flues beneath. The central tube H may be built up
in sections supported by the metallic frames, as are the smaller tubes
arranged concentrically about it. The vertical tubes or flues H and F
in the bins C all terminate and open out at the top or upper end of the
said bins. The bins Care covered with domes or roofs K, made by
preference of sheet metal. These domes or roofs terminate each in a
ventilating pipe or flue communicating with the outer chimney L to
carry off the vapor escaping through the vertical flues of the bins.
A suitable feeding or supply pipe M to supply grain to the bin extends
through the roof thereof to a central point in the top of the bin, where
it opens out with an enlarged mouth over the upper end of the central
tube H, which, however, is so covered and protected by a cap as that no
grain may drop down therein. A conical sieve N encircling the central
tube H slopes radially at an angle of about forty-five degrees from a point
just below the upper end outwardly to the sides of the bin, so that all
grain pouring in through the supply pipe M shall be evenly distributed
from centre to circumference in the bin. The supply of hot air to the space
under the bottom plate D of the bin, and thence to the porous flues F
passing up through the grain is regulated by means of suitable dampers
in the flues W. The admission of cold air to the flues and ventilating

page_text: spaces between the outer and inner walls of the walls of the bin is also
controlled by suitable valves closing air ducts communicating with the
said flues and spaces. When the bins have been filled with moist grain
hot air is admitted through the flues W from the furnace B into the
space beneath the bottom plate D. This hot air is here distributed to the
porous flues F and to the open space surrounding the bin, and passing
through the same to the dome K finally escapes through the pipe / to
the chimney L. The currents of hot air thus flowing through the space
around the bin and also through the porous tubes F in the mass of the
moist grain therein, will not only rapidly and thoroughly heat the bin
and its contents, but by creating a strong upward draught in each of the
porous flues will cause an inward draught or suction through each and
every pore of the tubes to draw and carry off the moisture from the
heated grain; so soon as the grain is dried it may be rapidly cooled by
forcing cold air through the tubes. The entire contents of the bins may
be withdrawn therefrom at pleasure by means of the discharging spout E,
which is closed by a suitable valve or gate at S. By the use of the
porous tubes F all the disadvantages attendant upon the contact of moist
and heated grain with a metallic surface or directly with the hot air and
gases from the furnaces, as in the ordinary forms of grain driers, are
avoided, all danger of parching the grain prevented, and the grain is
left perfectly sweet and pure after being dried.
The improvements in bracing or staying the walls of cylindrical or
polygonal grain bins with horizontal and vertical stays of angle or other
shaped iron, are shewn on Sheet 2.
Fig. 9 is an elevation, partly in section, of a cylindrical bin shewing
the vertical and horizontal stays; Fig. 10, a similar view of a cylindrical
bin strengthened by tension bars or bands alone; Fig. 11 illustrates the
stay rods or bars. The horizontal stays are inserted at regular intervals
within the interior space of the hollow wall of a cylindrical grain bin A;
these stays are wrought-iron bars or rods B, which are bent to the curve
of the wall, and are laid at equal distances apart upon the courses
of brick as they are laid up; their ends are screwed right and left
respectively, so that when they meet they may be caught and drawn
together by a right and left-threaded nut D. The circular band B may
be formed by two or more rods or sections united by nuts or otherwise to
form an unbroken band, as described. In order to strengthen the
masonry vertically as well as latérally or radially, I combine with the

page_text: horizontal annular tension rods B vertical rods or plates E extending
within the hollow space C from the top to the bottom of the wall, and
which are combined with the series of horizontal annular tension rods B,
either by means of eyes formed at proper intervals along their length,
through which the horizontal bars shall be inserted, as illustrated in the
Drawings, or by being secured thereto in any other suitable manner;
these vertical stay rods E may be made of plain bars or of angle bars,
or T bars; they are firmly secured at the bottom to the foundation of
the structure, and are made to clamp it down firmly and securely by
means of nuts bearing upon plates on the upper surface of the walls,
so as to tic and firmly clamp the whole structure together upon its
foundation, and in combination with the annular bands they constitute
a supporting frame for the masonry, which will impart thereto immense
strength in proportion to the thickness of the walls. The walls thus
strengthened are also left perfectly clear, smooth, and uniform in surface
and finish both within and without.
Fig. 12 is a plan of another of my improvements in the construction
of granaries, and it consists in making the grain bins with a series of
vertical partitions, so as to divide the grain into small portions to dry
and renovate it. This object is accomplished by erecting within each of
the grain bins A a series of concentric hollow walls B, B. dividing the
same into a series of annular compartments C, C, wherein the grain to
be stored is placed. The number of the compartments C thus formed
in cach bin may be greater or less according to the diameter of the bin
and the requirements of the trade. The hollow walls B, B, may be built
of a single course of hollow bricks of unburnt clay, or they may be built
of porous bricks or blocks of other description, laid up so as to make a
narrow wall having an inner hollow space extending up through the
The hollow spaces within these concentric partition walls B, B,
are or may be all connected at the bottom with flues communicating
with a suitable furnace, so that hot air may be admitted therein to heat
the walls and create an upward draught through the same.
same.
My improvements in clevating and distributing grain consist in con-
structing the case of the endless belt of buckets of sheet metal with
exterior angle irons, also in making the case in sections that can be
easily bolted together in the granary.
Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the upper part of an elevator leg of my

page_text: improved construction; Fig. 14 is a cross section of one of the bucket
tubes.
A is the front and A' the rear bucket tube of an elevator leg; B is
the head box, serving to connect the upper ends of the tubes A and A'
together, and to receive the head pulley over which the belt carrying
the buckets runs. An extension thereof shewn at B' forms the spout
through which the buckets discharge the grain. The bucket tubes are
formed of thin sheet metal plates d, d, and are rectangular in cross
section, as shewn in Fig. 14, the said plates being secured together by
being rivetted to angle-iron bars e, e, applied longitudinally to the
external corners of the tubes, the rivets having countersunk heads both
inside and out. This construction leaves the interior surface of the
tubes smooth and free for the unobstructed passage of the buckets.
The angle bars also protect the thin plates of which the tubes are
formed. The bucket tubes are each constructed in sections, as shewn
in Fig. 13, finished complete at the shop or manufactory, which sections
can be readily connected in forming the leg by simply bolting them
together, thereby dispensing with the labour and necessity of rivetting
the parts together at the place where the elevator is required. The
tube sections A, A', are each formed of sheet metal plates, as shewn in
Fig. 14, and they may be connected by the diagonal braces before they
are transported to the elevator. The sections are readily connected
together in forming the elevator leg by bolts passing through the
contiguous flanges of the abutting sections.
Figs. 15 and 16 are vertical sections, and Fig. 17 a plan of a granary
shewing, first, the arrangement of a hopper and short swinging spout
centrally with reference to the grain bins, and a system of radiating and
distributing spouts by which the grain from the hopper can be dis-
tributed through any one of the radiating spouts as may be required;
secondly, in combining with a system of radiating spouts a series of
swinging spouts for distributing the grain in the intermediate bins;
thirdly, constructing and arranging the storage bins so that the heights
of the different ones will increase towards the centre and conform to the
inclination of the distributing spouts, whereby an increased amount of
storage room is obtained, the grain distributed with a less expense in
the length of spouts, while the increased elevation of the interior bins
enables the roof of the building to be supported with less framework
than is otherwise required; fourthly, the arrangement with a belt con-

page_text: veyer beneath the grain bins of a truck or carriage provided with a
hopper, whereby the truck which travels astride of the conveyor may be
arranged under either of the bins overhead and receive and properly
conduct the grain therefrom on to the conveyor; and, fifthly, combining
with the said truck and hopper one or more hinged spouts, which may
be made to connect with the discharge spouts of the adjacent rows of
bins and conduct the grain therefrom to the hopper.
A, A, represent the grain bins, which may be square, round, or of
other form; B, the elevator leg, and C the discharge spout at its head;
D is a hopper, which receives the grain from the spout C. This hopper
is arranged centrally over the bins, and is provided with a swinging
spout E attached to its discharge. The spout E is so hinged to the
hopper that it can be swung around and be made to connect with any
one of the distributing pipes F, whereby it serves as a conduit from the
hopper to each of them; G, G, is a series of secondary distributing
spouts attached at intervals to the under side of the main spouts F, in
such a manner as to permit them to swing to either side. At the
junction of these spouts the main spouts are provided with a flap valve,
which operate to close either the main passage or the mouth of the
auxiliary spout. By this arrangement the grain from the radiating
spout can be discharged at any point into one of these swinging
branches, through which it may be distributed into the different bins
at each side within reach of the swinging end of the spout. The
bins A, A, are arranged in grades of different heights, which increase
toward the centre of the building, the heights of the bins conforming
more or less to the inclination of the distributing spouts. The grain
from the bins is discharged on to the endless belt or canvas con-
veyers H beneath, which are constructed in the ordinary manner. On
each side of these conveyers is a rail on which run the wheels of a truck
or carriage I, the body of which is sufficiently elevated to clear the
belt H. This carriage is constructed with a hopper, the discharge
passage from which is directly over the belt conveyer; K represents a
stationary spout attached to the hopper, and is designed to connect to
the discharge spouts of the row of bins over the conveyer; K', K', are
two corresponding spouts hinged at their lower ends to the hopper, and
designed to connect with the sponts of the adjacent row or rows of bins
on each side of the conveyer, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 15. When
these latter spouts are not in use they may be inclined against the

page_text: stationary spout, as shewn, which enables the truck to pass the posts in
travelling from one bin to another. The truck is arranged along the
conveyer under or opposite the bin from which the grain is required to
be withdrawn when the spout K or one of the spouts K' is connected
with the discharge spout of the bin by which the grain is conducted to
the hopper, and by it properly discharged on to the conveyer H.
Fig. 18 represents a vertical section of the lower part of a grain bin
provided with my improved apparatus for operating the discharge valve.
a represents the lower and hopper-shaped portion of the grain bin;
b, the discharge aperture therefrom; c, the discharge pipe, and d, the
valve therein. This valve is of the common construction of slide valves
for the purpose, and has an arm or rod e extending horizontally there-
from, which connects with the pendant lever at or near its centre,
which is pivoted at its upper end to a beam or other support overhead
that forms its fulcrum. To the lower end of the lever are attached two
cords or ropes g, g, which extend horizontally in opposite directions in a
line parallel to the direction in which the valve slides. The rope g
passes around a pulley n attached to the discharge spout, and thence
opposite around another pulley pulley i. The rope y' passes around
another pulley in close proximity to the pulley i, whence both ropes
descend to the floor in reach of the attendant. The operation of my
improvement is obvious, as the pulling on either of the ropes g, g', will
cause the lever f to slide the valve d, thereby closing or unclosing the
passage according as the one or the other of them is pulled.
The last part of my Invention has for its object the construction of
metallic grain spouts, which possess the greatest durability with the
least weight of material, and consequently least cost of construction,
and it consists in the combination of a metallic trough of suitable
thickness for the bottom and sides of the spout, with a light sheet
metal covering to prevent the escape of grain and dust from the trough.
Fig. 19 shews in perspective a section of my improved grain spout.
The trough, which is preferably made of cast iron, is shewn at a, and
the sheet metal covering at b. The trough as represented is rectangular
in cross section, but it may be made oval or semicircular. The sheet
metal covering may also be either rectangular, oval, or semicircular in
cross section, though represented in the Drawing as oval. The covering
in either case laps inside of the trough, as shewn at c, and is secured

page_text: thereto by rivets. The spout may be made in sections of any desired
length, and connected together as shewn at e, after the manner of a
stove pipe joint, except that the trough sections are rebated at one end
to receive the end of the contiguous section, so that the bottom of the
spout composed of several sections may be flush and smooth.
Having thus described the Invention communicated to me by the
within-named George Hardesty Johnson, I declare that I claim,--
First. A granary enclosed by a row of outer cylindrical or other shaped
bins, and divided interiorly by transverse intersecting rows of contiguous
bins, so as to form intermediate polygonal compartments, as described
and shewn in Fig. 1.
Secondly. The brick or block having ribs with upwardly projecting
flanges or lugs formed upon the side edges of one face thereof, or on the
inside thereof, as shewn in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
Thirdly. The apparatus for drying and renovating grain, constructed
of a chamber or bin permeated by a system of porous flues communicat-
ing with a furnace below and a chimney or escape vent above, as shewn
and described in reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 7.
Fourthly. A series of annular tension bars or rods placed horizontally
within the walls of cylindrical or polygonal grain bins, also in com-
bination therewith vertical bars or plates framed and united or secured
to the said tension bars, as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 9,
10 and 11.
Fifthly. The combination of a series of concentric hollow partition
walls of any suitable porous materials with the interior of a cylindrical
or polygonal grain bin, as shewn in Fig. 12.
Sixthly. The iron elevator leg, constructed in sections, as described
and shewn in Fig. 13.
Seventhly. The arrangement of the angle bars longitudinally upon
the external corners of the bucket tubes of an elevator leg, to unite and
protect the plates thereof, as described and shewn in Fig. 14.
Eighthly. The hopper swinging spout, arranged and operating
with a system of radiating and distributing spouts, as shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 15, 16, and 17.
Ninthly. The arrangement of a series of swinging branch distributing
spouts with a system of radiating spouts, as described.

page_text: Tenthly. The construction and arrangement of the storage bins, so
that the heights of the different ones will increase toward the centre of
the building, as described.
Eleventhly. The construction and arrangement of the truck and
hopper with an endless conveyer for receiving the grain from the bins
and discharging it on the latter, as described.
Twelfthly. The hinged side spout or spouts combined and arranged
with the hopper and carriage for connecting with the bins adjacent to
the conveyer, as described.
Thirteenthly. The apparatus for opening and closing the discharge
valve, as shewn and described in reference to Fig. 18.
And, lastly. The improved metallic grain spout, as shewn and
described in reference to Fig. 19.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Johnson, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of June One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
EDWARD JOHNSON. (L.S.)