Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Moist Substances or Materials.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Moist Substances or
Materials.
I, GEORGE JOHNSTON, of Mosesfield, Springburn, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of apparatus for drying moist substances or materials.
The structure for carrying out my invention is according to one modification a
brick building of oblong form, in plan, with semicircular ends; and the interior
is divided by a middle wall into lateral spaces which communicate with each other
at the ends. The interior is further divided into four or other suitable number of
floors by horizontal slabs of concrete, firebrick, slate, stone, or other suitable
material, supported at the semicircular ends on iron girders and at other parts on
projections from the walls. The substances to be dried are fed in at the top of
the structure and are moved completely round each floor space in succession being
finally discharged from the bottom one; whilst the drying is effected by heated
air or suitable gases which travel through the floor spaces in whatever manner
inay be found best in practice in each case.
The substances are moved along the floor spaces by scrapers drawn along
preferably by wire ropes which pass round and are driven by horizontal pulleys
fixed on vertical shafts at the ends the shafts being concentric with the semi-
circular ends and the pulleys being of such diameter as to hold the ropes in the
middles of the floor spaces. Each scraper consists preferably, of a transverse
angie-iron bar having fixed to it scraping blades which are inclined in plan to the
rope. The inclined blades of every alternate scraper are disposed so as to move
the substances from the middle of the floor whilst moving them along, and the
blades of every intermediate scraper are reversely disposed so as to move the
substances towards the middle again. In connection with each scraper the wire rope
has on it two buckles one of which is connected to the lower parts of the scraper
by chains or links whilst the other is made with a foot which engaging in a notched
projection at the middle of the scraper bar keeps the scraper central at the same
time that the rope receives support therefroin. The ends of each wire rope are
connected together by being turned outwards through a buckle and fixed in a
clamp which can be adjusted by screws for tightening the rope.
The substances to be dried are transferred down from each floor to the next
through openings fitted with adjustable slides and placed at each floor a little
behind the place at which the floor receives the substances so that the substances
have to make the complete circuit of each floor before descending to the next
When the heated air or gas enters the lower floor it passes to the upper floors
through ports situated at the ends of the middle wall of the structure these ports
being severally opened or covered according to the route it is considered desirable
for the air or gas to take.
Dated this Second day of December 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Moist Substances or
Materials.
1, GEORGE JOHNSTON, of Mosesfield, Springburn, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of
apparatus for drying moist substances or materials.
In apparatus made according to my invention the materials are introduced at
the top of a structure divided internally by horizontal floors and otherwise :
and after being moved completely over each floor, the materials are transferred
to the next lower floor being finally discharged in a more or less dried state from
the bottom floor. The drying is effected by means of heated air or gases made
to flow through the spaces between the floors. The improved constructive details
which constitute my invention are hereinafter particularly described with the aid of
explanatory drawings of which two sheets are hereunto, appended.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a sectional side elevation of the structure for
carrying out my invention.
Figure, 2, is a horizontal section as taken through a space between two of
the floors.
Figure, 3, is a transverse vertical section as taken across a part near one end
of the structure.
Figures, 4, to 9, are enlarged views of details. In these drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.
The structure in which the drying operation is to be effected, is a brick building
of oblong form in plan with straight side walls, A, and semicircular ends, B; and
the interior is divided by a middle wall, C, into lateral spaces which communicate
with each other at the ends. The interior is further divided into four (or other
suitable number of) floors or floor spaces, D1, D2, D3, D4, by horizontal slabs, D.
of concrete, firebrick, slate, stone, or other suitable material, supported at the
semicircular ends on iron girders or frames, E, and at other parts on projections, E 1,
from the walls, A, C.
The materials to be dried are fed in through a hopper, F, at the top of the
building and are moved completely round each floor space, D1, D2, D3, D4, in
succession, being finally discharged from the bottom one, D 4. The materials are
moved along the floor spaces by scrapers, G, drawn along preferably by wire
ropes, H, which pass round and are driven by horizontal grooved pulleys, J, fixed
on vertical shafts, J 1, J 2, at the ends, the shafts being concentric with the
semicircular ends. B, of the structure, and the pulleys, J, being of such diameter
as to hold the ropes, H, in the middles of the floor spaces. The shafts, J 1, J 2,
are carried by adjustable lower or footstep bearings, J3, fixed to the bottom end
girders or frames, E, and in upper or collar bearings, J 4, which are in each case
fitted in a plate, E 2, covering each semicircular cud, B, of the structure. One, J 1,
of the vertical shafts, is driven by means of bevil wheels, J 5, from a horizontal
shaft, J 6, which is carried in bearings on the covering plate, E 2, and has on it
fast and loose pulleys, J 7, for a driving belt.
One of the scrapers is shown in plan in Figure, 4, and in back elevation in
Figure, 5, whilst Figure, 6, is a side elevation of one of the scraping blades.
The scraper consists of a transverse angle-iron bar, G, having fixed to it scraping

page_text: blades, G 1, which are inclined in plan to the rope, H. Each blade, G 1, is cut
out of
a flat plate, a part, G 2, of it being bended to a suitable angle for
attachment by riveting to the vertical member of the angle-iron bar, G. The
scraper shown in Figures, 4, and, 5, is moved in the direction of the arrow in
Figure, 2, and moves the materials partly from the middle of the space whilst
moving them along; and every such scraper is followed by one having the scraper
blades, G 3, reversed as regards their inclination, as shown in plan in Figure, 7, so
as to move the materials partly towards the middle again. In Figure, 2, only
two scrapers, G, are shown as operating in the circuit of one floor: there may
however if found desirable, be for each floor, two or more scrapers of each kind,
the two kinds being disposed alternately.
In connection with each scraper, G, the wire rope, H, has on it two buckles, K1, K2,
one of which, K1, is connected to the scraper by chains, K 3, or it might be
links, the other, K2, being made with a foot, K4, having fixed in it a stud
engaging in a notched or recessed projection, K 5, at the middle of the scraper
bar, G, keeps the scraper central, at the same time that the rope, H, receives
support therefrom. Each buckle, K1, K2, (Figures 4, 5, 7,) consists of a metal
piece of the form shown, and made with an aperture through it, into which aperture
a bight, H 1, formed on the rope by suitably bending it, is thrust, the bight being
secured in the buckle by a screw bolt, K 6. The parts of the buckles connected
to the scrapers, C, are shaped so as when passing round any of the pulleys, J, to
extend round and clear of the lower rim of the pulley, into positions in the same
vertical plane as the line of the rope, H.
The ends of each rope, H, are connected together by a buckle-like device which
is shown in plan and elevation in Figures 8, and, 9. The rope ends are turned
outwards round the inner sides of horns, L, on a short inner bar, L 1, through
holes in which they are passed and the parts of them outside of the inner bar, L1,
are clamped between an outer bar, L2, and a clamping piece, L3, adjusted and
fixed by screw bolts, L4. Screw pins, L 5, are tapped through the outer bar, L 2,
with their inner ends bearing on the inner bar, L 1 and by screwing these pins, 15,
the outer bar, L2, can be forced outwards so as to draw out the ends of the rope, H,
and thereby tighten that rope when required.
The substances or materials to be dried are transferred down from each floor
to the next lower one through openings, M, in plates fixed in each floor in a position
a little behind the place at which the floor receives the materials from above, so
that the materials have to make the complete circuit of each floor before descending
to the next. The openings, M, can be more or less closed by slides movable
by means of external handles, M 1, whereby the rate of transference of the
materials from floor to floor can be conveniently regulated. At each set of
openings, M, a door, N, is provided in the outer wall, A, to give access for clearing
the openings, M, or for other purposes. From the bottom floor, D 4, the materials
pass through similar openings (M) into the space below that floor from which they
may be removed through a door, N, by means of a helical conveyer or other
convenient apparatus which is not shown.
The heated air or gas for effecting the drying operation, is supplied to the
structure through a main pipe, P, having branch pipes, P1, P2, P3, communicating
with the three lower floor spaces, each of the latter being fitted with a regulating
valve, R. For the passage of the gases and vapors upwards from floor to floor,
openings, E3, are formed in the iron frames, E, at the ends of the middle wall, C; and
for these openings covers are provided which can be arranged in whatever way may be
found best in practice. some of the openings being closed and others uncovered so
as to direct tlie flow of the gases and vapors as desired. The gases and vapors
finally pass off through a funnel, S, at the top of the structure. I find it of
advantage to fix deflecting plates, T, close under the floors in various positions,
for the purpose of giving downward directions to the heated gases in order to
render their action more effective upon the materials on the floors below.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, constituting as a
whole, my improved apparatus for drying moist substances or materials substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. For drying moist substances or materials, an oblong building with semi-
circular ends and divided internally by a middle wall and horizontal floors,
combined with scrapers drawn by horizontal ropes carried and worked by horizontal
pulleys substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of parts comprising the scraper with its means of attachment
to the rope substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The device for fixing together the ends of each rope and for tightening the
trope substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Thirtieth day of June 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.