Improvements in Apparatus for Withering Tea Leaf.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1895
Complete Speciucation Left, 28th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Withering Tea Leaf.
I, ROBERT THOMSON, of Kinning Park Engine Works, Kinning Park, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer and Tea Planter, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention relates to the racks, trays, or shelves upon which tea leaf is
spread for the purpose of being withered or dried by atmospheric action, and its
object is to improve the construction of the apparatus.
In apparatus made with my improvements the racks or shelves consist of broad
bands of wire gauze stretched in long lengths between end standard frames. The
standard frames are made of angle iron; and are either fixed with plates in a
concrete floor or are bolted to a wooden floor by feet formed on their lower ends;
whilst diagonal stays are provided to enable them to resist the stretching strain.
The gauze bands are longitudinally horizontal but inclined up from their outer to
their inner edges; and are arranged in tiers one over the other with just sufficient
spaces between to allow of the green tea leaf being spread upon thein. One end
standard frame has fixed to it inclined bars upon which the ends of the wire gauze
bands are fixed by being clamped between the fixed bars and bars bolted thereto.
The other ends of the wire gauze bands are clamped between pairs of bars which
are connected to the end standard frame by rods which are hooked to take hold of
the clamping bars and are screwed to receive nuts on the outside of the frame for
the purpose of stretching the bands. The wire gauze bands the selvedges of which
are strengthened by extra wires are kept to their proper width by means of hooks
with screw shanks and nuts secured to intermediate standard frames placed at
suitable intervals along the extent of the bands. A single tier of the bands may
be placed with their higher ends against a wall, and other tiers may be arranged in
pairs with their higher ends together.
With the described arrangement of racks or shelves the tea leaf when withered
is delivered into suitable receptacles, on simply shaking the shelves or applying
a few smart taps to them.
Dated this Seventh day of March 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for Withering Tea Leal.
I, ROBERT THOMSON, of Kinning Park Engine Works, Kinning Park, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer and Tea Planter, 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 relates to the racks, trays, or shelves upon which tea leaf is
spread for the purpose of being withered or dried by atmospheric action, and its
obiect is to improve the construction of the apparatus.

page_text: In apparatus made with my improvements the racks or shelves consist of broad
bands of close-meshed wire netting stretched in long lengths between end standard
frames. The netting bands are longitudinally horizontal but inclined up from their
outer to their inner edges, and are arranged in tiers one.over the other with just
sufficient spaces between to allow of the green tea leaf being spread upon them.
One end standard frame has fixed to it inclined bars upon which the ends of the
wire-netting bands are fixed by being clamped between the fixed bars and bars
bolted thereto. The other ends of the wire-netting bands are clamped between
pairs of bars which are connected to the end standard frame by rods which are
hooked to take hold of the clamping bars and are screwed to receive nuts on the
outside of the frame for the purpose of stretching the bands. The bands are
kept to their proper width by being adjustably secured to intermediate standard
frames.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to be
hereinafter referred to, and showing apparatus for withering tea leaf as made with
my improvements.
Figures, 1, and 2, of the drawings are respectively a front and an end elevation
part of the front elevation being broken away for convenience.
Figure, 3, shows part of a wire-netting band with part of a stretching device
hereinafter described.
Figure, 4, is a side view, partly in section, of the stretching device as applied to
the wire-netting band.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
The racks or shelves consist of broad bands, B, of close-meshed wire netting
stretched in long lengths between end standard frames, C, and D.
In Figure, 1,
the bands, B, are shown in outline only for convenience. The standard frames, C,
and, D, are made of angle iron or steel; and are either fixed with plates, F, in a
concrete floor or are bolted to a wooden floor by feet, G, formed on their lower
ends; whilst diagonal stays, H, similarly fixed to the floor are provided to enable
them to resist the stretching strain; or for the same purpose parts of the standards
may be extended, as shown by the dotted lines, J, and fixed to the roof of the
building or shed in which case the diagonal stays are not required. The wire-
netting bands, B, are longitudinally horizontal but inclined up from their outer
to their inner edges; and are arranged in tiers one over the other with just sufficient
spaces between to allow of the green tea leaf being spread upon thein. One end
standard frame, D, has fixed to it inclined bars, K, upon which the ends of the
wire-netting bands, B, are fixed by being clamped between the fixed bars, K, and
bars, L, bolted thereto. The other ends of the wire-netting bands, B, are clamped
between pairs of bars, K, and L, which are connected to the end standard frame, C,
by rods, M, which are hooked to take hold of the clamping bars, K, and L, aud
are screwed to receive thumb or other nuts, N, on the outside of the frame for the
purpose of stretching the bands. The wire-netting bands, B, the selvedges of
which are strengthened by extra wires, P, are stretched and kept to their proper
width by means of hooks, Q, with screw shanks and nuts secured to intermediate
standard frames, R, placed at suitable intervals along the extent of the bands.
For keeping the bands, B, at their proper widths between the standards, R,
stretching devices are provided. The stretching device consists of a tube S, which
bas at one end a diametrical notch, T, in it, and near the other end a longitudinal
slot, V, cut in it at one side to allow of a screw hook, Q, inserted in the end
part, W, of the tube having a short movement in the tube. The tube, S, is passed
(as shown in Figure, 4) through a middle mesh of the band, B, (or it might be
entirely under or over the band) and the selvedge at one side is inserted in the
notch, T, and at the other side in the hook, Q, the stretching action being effected
by a screw nut, N, on the shank of the book." A single tier of the bands, B, may
be placed with their higher ends against a wall, and other tiers may be arranged

page_text: in pairs with their higher ends together. The wire netting may vary in different
cases from a mesh of about 3 inch to about inch.
With the described arrangement of racks or shelves the tea leaf when withered
is delivered into suitable receptacles, on simply shaking the shelves or applying a
few smart taps to them.
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 the
improved apparatus for withering tea leaf substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Apparatus for withering tea leaf comprising bands of wire netting, arranged
in tiers, the ends of which are secured to standards in a manner to allow of the
bands being stretched longitudinally, the bands being stretched transversely by
means of screw hooks upon intermediate standards and upon transverse tubes or
bars substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of November 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.