AN APPARATUS FOR DRYING AIR
Year: 1887

page_text: I GEORGE SHEPHERD of Bryn Hyfryd, Oakfield Street, Cardiff in the County of
Glamorgan Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN APPARATUS
FOR DRYING AIR to be as follows:-
I cause a current of air to be deprived of any moisture it may contain, by passing
it through a series of chambers heated from the outside by means of a furnace
constructed in such a manner that the heat generated therein is made to circulate.
under, around, and over the exterior walls of the chambers, which are made of a heat
conducting material preferably iron, and the heat is conveyed to the current of air.
passing through the chambers by radiation from their interior surfaces-These
chambers with their partitions, are arranged so as to cause the current of air to
impinge upon them, and so break the stream of air in its course, that all parts of the
current may come in contact with the heated walls of the chambers.
On leaving the series of heated chambers, I cause the current of heated air to
traverse a vessel, or chamber, containing a number of metallic tubes, through which
a stream of cold water is made to pass-These tubes are arranged in such order as to
intercept the main current of air passing from the heating chambers, sufficient space
being left between the tubes, to allow the passage of the current of air in a divided -
state, and the heated air passing between and around the cold tubes, the moisture™
held in suspension in the air is condensed on the surfaces of the tubes, and falls to
the bottom of the vessel, or chamber, where a guage glass and blow off tap are
provided for observing and removing the condensed moisture.
To remove any moisture which the air may retain after passing through the
condensing vessel, or chamber, I cause the current of air to traverse a vessel or:
chamber, in which trays, or other suitable contrivances are placed, containing
metallic salts having an affinity for water-these salts may either be placed in their
normal condition in the trays, or other suitable contrivances, or they may be contained
in the pores and interstices of pumice stone, coke, cloth or other suitable material-
The metallic salts, by the law of afinity will absorb any moisture remaining in the:
air after passing the condensing vessel or chamber, and the current of air will pass
from the salt chamber, or vessel in a dry state.
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page_text: I GEORGE SHEPHERD of Bryn Hyfryd, Oakfield Street, Cardiff in the County of
Glamorgan 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 :-
I cause a current of air to be deprived of any moisture it may contain by the
following means-
1st. I pass it through a series of chambers, A. A. A. A. A. on the drawing
illustrating this specification, the figure being an elevation in section of the
Apparatus; these chambers are heated from the outside by a furnace B, constructed
in such manner, as shown, that the heat generated therein passes under, around and
over the exterior walls of the chambers, which are made of a heat conducting
material, preferably iron, through the flues C. C. C. C., to the chimney D, the
combustion of fuel in the furnace B being regulated by the damper E. The current
of air enters the chambers A. A. A. A. A. through the duct F, and passes through
them in the direction shown by the arrows, the heat being communicated to
the current of air by radiation from the interior surfaces of the walls and
partitions G. G. G. G. of the chambers A. A. A. A. A. the partitions being arranged
as shown in order to intercept the current of air in its passage and cause it to impinge
on them, and so break up the stream of air in its course that all parts of the current
may be brought into contact with the heated surfaces of the walls and partitions of
the chambers.
2nd. On leaving the series of heated chambers A. A. A. A. A. the current of
heated air is made to traverse a condensing vessel or chamber H. furnished with a
supply pipe I. and a number of metallic tubes J. J. A stream of cold water passes
through the pipe I. and is distributed in the small chamber K from whence it ascends
through the tubes J. J. to the upper chamber L and passes out through the flow
pipe M. The tubes J. J., through which the cold water circulates, are arranged with
sufficient interspace to allow the passage of the current of air in a divided state
between them, and are placed in such order as to intercept and break up the main
current, passing from the heating chambers A. A. A. A. A., into a number of small
currents which play about and in contact with the cold tubes J. J. The moisture
held in suspension in the air condensers on the surfaces of the cold tubes J. J., and
running down them is collected at the bottom of the vessel or chamber H whence it
is drawn off by a tap provided for that purpose, a guage glass being fitted to the
vessel H for observing the accumulation of condensed moisture.
3rd. To remove any moisture which the air may retain after passing through the
condensing vessel or chamber H, I cause the current of air to traverse a vessel or
chamber which is provided with trays, shelves or other contrivances containing
metallic salts having an affinity for water, these salts may either be placed in their
normal condition in, or on, the trays shelves or other contrivances, or may be contained

page_text: in the pores and interstices of pumice stone, coke, cloth or other textile fabric or
suitable material. The metallic salt will, by the law of affinity, absorb any moisture
remaining in the air after passing the condensing vessel or chamber H, and the
current of air will pass from the salt chamber in a dry state.
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
1st. In an apparatus for drying air the combination of a furnace with heating
chambers as set forth.
2nd. In an apparatus for drying air, the combination of a condensing vessel or
chamber with a furnace and air heating chambers as specified.
3rd. In an apparatus for drying air, the combination of a vessel or chamber having
contrivances containing metallic salts with a condensing vessel or chamber and
furnace and air heating chambers substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of March 1888.