Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Drying Tea, Coffee, and other Substances or Materials.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Drying Tea,
Coffee, and other Substances or Materials.
I, HENRY HEMANS, of 35 Queen Victoria Street, in the City and County of
London, 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 :-
This invention refers to apparatus for drying tea, coffee, cocoa, chinchona bark,
bananas, cocoa-nuts, hops, barley and other substances and materials, and has
particular reference to that type of drying apparatus, which externally, is of
inverted truncated, pyramidal form, and in which the trays for carrying the
substances or materials to be dried are contained in separated horizontal divisions
in a drying chamber through which divisions heated air is passed while the
direction of the passage of the air may be reversed as desired. My improve-
ments mainly consist in mechanism for more readily and conveniently operating
and controlling the devices by which the air current is divided and changed in
the direction of its travel, in means for admittance of air below the trays, and
also in means whereby the said trays may be drawn out wholly or partially, to
allow the contents to be examined, with the expenditure of less time than
heretofore and with little or no liability of the attendants being injured by burning
as has been common with such apparatus as usually constructed.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings whereon similar letters of reference
indicate like parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a front elevation, the right hand and lower portions thereof
being in section, shewing my improved drying apparatus constructed according to
the said invention;
Fig. 2 Sheet 2, is a front sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus taken
on the line X Y of Fig. 3, showing several of the horizontal divisions, and trays
contained therein, the illustrations being drawn to a larger scale than the previous
figure;
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line X¹ Y' of Fig. 2, one of the
trays being in elevation, and
Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the trays detached, to further illustrate the
improved means by which the same are to be drawn out.
Referring to Fig. 1 Sheet 1, A is the ouside casing of the apparatus, of
rectangular form, tapering to the base, below which the heating apparatus B is
conveniently arranged. Within the interior of the outer casing A, is fitted a
central vertical division C, and the space on each side of this division C being
similarly fitted, it will only be necessary to state the particulars of the fittings of
one side thereof.
The separated horizontal divisions D, are each composed of a plate or floor D',
of corrugated metal, see Figs. 2 and 3, extending from back to front of the
apparatus, while the flutes of the floor D' extend from side to side, the floor D'
being supported by L section frames D', extending from back to front, and the
casing in front of these divisions D' is fitted with doors E E', see Fig. 1. In order

page_text: to permit of a free passage of heated air beneath the trays I form apertures D2* in
the vertical sides of the angle section frames D2, Figs. 2 & 3.
F are division plates each hinged at F, at graduating distances apart as shewn
in accordance with the lengths of the plates F, whereby an equal temperature is
secured to contents of the trays, and extending from back to front of the apparatus,
the height of the plates F being so arranged that the upper edges of the plates
when in one position, adjoin the lateral edges of the floors D', resting against the
sides of the section frames D2, and thus dividing the space they occupy into as
many passages, (as at Fx), as there are divisions D.
Each set of division plates F are connected together by links F2 and at the upper
part the exterior plate F of each set is pivotted to a link G, the latter being at its
other end pivotted to an arm G¹ fixed to a shaft G2, extending through a bearing
in the upper part of the casing A and provided externally with an operating
handle G3 by which the plates F can be rocked and placed in either their operative
position as shewn on its right hand side of the divisions at Fig. 1, or an inoperative
position as on the left hand, this position of the operating devices being ad van-
tageous, as the plates can be removed with but slight labour.
There are two valves H and J having exterior controlling handles H J near
the base of the apparatus by which air from the heating apparatus may be admitted
either by the passages K or L, as required. When the valves and plates F are in
the position shewn, the air passes through the divisions D as indicated by the
arrows, but when the valve H is open, and J closed, and the sets of plates F
reversed in relative positions, the air current is reversed.
I arrange two side funnels M N above each side of the machine, which are bent
over and extend into a central funnel P.
In each horizontal division D is fitted a tray such as is illustrated at
Figs. 2, 3 and 4, composed of a perforate or wirework bottom R, perforated
sides R¹, and having front and back plates R2 R³. These trays are carried on
rollers R on the frames D2, and I attach laterally on each side of the back plate
of each tray, a lug or bracket R, to which is attached one end of a wire rope,
chain or equivalent, R, each tray thus being provided with such a rope R upon
each side of same. These ropes R' extend through the front of the casing A and
are there provided with convenient handles or rings S.
By this construction, upon the doors E E¹ being opened, the operator seizes the
handles S, and pulling same, the tray in connection therewith is drawn out with
ease and dispatch. In some cases the doors E El may be entirely dispensed with,
the front plates R³ of the trays forming the front closure.
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. In apparatus for drying tea, coffee, and other substances, or materials, a
centrally divided casing, each half containing centrally, a set of separated trays or
divisions, the lateral supports of which trays are perforated, in combination with a
set of air directing division plates F, hinged at their lower edges at graduated
distances apart, and located on each side of the trays or divisions, and operating
means for each set of plates F, composed of an outer handle G³, an inner arm G',
a shaft G2, and a link G connecting the arm G1, and the upper part of the outer
set of plates, all arranged and acting substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for drying tea, coffee, and other substances, or materials, the
means for sliding outwards the trays, consisting of the flexible or other con-
nections R, attached to the rear of the sliding trays and extending through and
provided with, handles or rings at the exterior of the casing substantially as described
and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The general construction and combination of parts composing my improved

page_text: drying apparatus for tea, coffee, and other substances or materials, all arranged
and acting substantially as and for the purposes described, and illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th dor of Donamber 1906
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.