IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GRAIN DRIERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM GRAIN DRIERS." A communication from abroad by Henry Cutler,
of North Wilbraham, in the County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GRAIN DRIERS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Henry Cutler, of North Wilbraham, in the County of
Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to construct steam grain driers in such a manner
that their capacity can be increased to any desired extent without materially
increasing the cost of construction, and which will allow convenient access to be
had to any part of the driers for stopping leakage and doing other repairs.
The Invention relates to rotary drum grain driers, in which the drum is mounted
on a shaft placed in a slightly inclined position and revolving in bearings in suitable
supports.
According to this Invention I attach to this shaft, at a little distance from its lower
bearings, a head, which is made hollow to receive steam aud distribute the steam
to circulating pipes. This head is cast in one piece, and with one or more separate
steam chambers as desired. The forward ends of the pipes are screwed into the
inner side of the head, near its rim, and the pipes at their other ends pass through
holes in the rim of a spider, the hub of which is attached to the shaft. The outer
or rear ends of the pipes are connected in pairs by return bends to induce a
circulation of steam through the said pipes, and allow the pipes to expand and
contract freely. The arms of the spider are curved outward, and upon the rim of the
said spider, at or near its inner edge, is formed, or to it is attached, a conical flange,
which together with a concavity of the outer side of the spider form a recess or space
to receive the grain introduced through a spout from some convenient receptacle.

page_text: The steam head, the pipes, and the spider form a drying cylinder, which can be
made of any desired length, as the amount of drying to be done may require.
One, two, or more spiders to support the pipes can be placed upon the shaft
between the steam head and the end spider as the length of the cylinder may
require. The circulating pipes can cross the rims of these intermediate spiders,
and be secured to the said rims in pairs by straps passing over the pairs of pipes,
and having their ends secured to the said rims by screws or other suitable fastenings,
or the pipes can be passed through holes in the rims of the said spiders. An
increase of heating surface can be obtained from another set of pipes which are
placed around and at a little distance from the shaft, and the forward ends of
which are screwed into the inner side of the steam head. These pipes pass through
holes in the middle parts or arms of the intermediate spiders, and are connected in
pairs at the outer side of the last spider by return bends. The pipe cylinder is
enclosed by a casing of boards which rest upon hoops placed around the pipes.
The ends of the casing boards are placed beneath flanges or lips formed upon the
inner edges of the steam head and the end spider. The casing boards are further
secured in place by hoops placed around them. Any desired number of these inner
hoops and outer hoops can be used as the length of the drier may require. In the
casing near the lower end of the drier are formed a number of slots or apertures,
through which the moisture expelled from the grain can escape. The grain is kept
from escaping through these apertures when the revolution of the drier brings the
apertures downward by a semi-cylindrical jacket which surrounds the lower part
of the casing, and is held against the same by bands passed over the casing and
attached to the edges of the jacket. The jacket is held stationary by being attached
at its lower edge to the edge of a discharge trough, which is supported by suitable
means beneath the lower part of the drier. The upper edges of the trough are
concaved to fit upon the lower side of the cylindrical casing. In the bottom side
or end of the trough is formed an aperture, through which the dried grain escapes
to a suitable receiver. To the casing boards, over the discharge openings in the
said casing, are attached buckets opening to the rearward, which become filled with
grain when the said discharge openings are downward and discharge their contents
into the trough as the said discharge apertures risc. With this construction, as the
drier revolves the grain passes over and around the drying pipes, gradually passes
down in a spiral direction towards the lower end of the drier, and is discharged
into the trough.
In the forward end of the shaft is formed a longitudinal perforation, from which
cross perforations open into the interior of the steam head, so that steam can be
introduced into the said head without interfering with the rotation of the drier.
To the inner surface of the outer side of the head and within its steam chambers
are attached or upon it is formed plates or buckets to raise the water of conden-
sation from the lower part of the interior of the head and cause it to flow out
through the pipes, the outer ends of which are secured in apertures in the outer
side of the head, at a little distance from its rim. The inuer ends of the pipes are
connected with the inner ends of passages which pass longitudinally through the
outer part of the shaft, and open at their outer ends into a ring groove in the inner
surface of a sleeve through which the shaft passes, and which is made to fit the
said shaft water-tight by packing or stuffing boxes. To this sleeve is attached the
end of a pipe which opens into the ring groove of the sleeve, and through which
the water of condensation passes off to a suitable receiver. The pipe holds the
sleeve stationary while the shaft revolves within the sleeve.
The drier can be revolved by steam or other power applied to the shaft by belt
and pulley, or other suitable means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GRAIN DRIERS." A com-
munication from abroad by Henry Cutler, of North Wilbraham, in the County of
Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to construct steam grain driers in such a manner
that their capacity can be increased to any desired extent without materially
increasing the cost of construction, and which will allow convenient access to be
had to any part of the driers for stopping leakage and doing other repairs.
The Invention consists in constructing the steam head of a grain drier with a
flange along the inner side of the rim to receive and confine the ends of the casing
boards; also in constructing the end spider with curved arms and a conical flange
to receive the grain, and holes to receive the steam pipes; also in the combination
with the drier shaft, the outer steam pipes, and the inner steam pipes of one or
more spiders to support the steam pipes securely and allow them to be made of
any desired length; also in the combination with the casing boards enclosing the
steam pipes of inner and outer hoops, whereby the said casing will be firmly
supported and held, however long it may be; also in the combination with the
casing and the discharge trough of the jacket and its suspending bands, whereby
the grain will be prevented from escaping through the ventilating apertures when
the said apertures are turned to the lower part of the drier; also in the combination.
with the casing and the jacket of the trough having discharge openings for receiving
the grain from the drier; also in the combination with the casing having discharge
openings and the trough of the reversed buckets, whereby the grain discharged
from the drier is deposited in the said trough; also in constructing the journal of the
drier shaft with a central passage to admit steam side and passages to discharge the
water of condensation; and also in the combination with the drier shaft having side
passages through its journal of the stationary sleeve having interior groove, and
the pipe to receive and carry off the discharged water; also in the narrow bars or
flanges formed upon the inner surface of the outer wall of the steam head within
the steam chambers to receive the water of condensation and conduct it to the
discharge pipes; also in the steam head having narrow bars or flanges formed
upon the inner surface of its outer wall, in combination with the bent discharge
pipes, whereby the water of condensation is discharged from the steam head;
also in the combination with the circulation pipes of the return bends, whereby
the said circulation pipes are allowed to expand and contract freely; and also in
the steam head cast in one piece and having one or more steam chambers, ench
provided with bars or flanges for discharging the water of condensation, whereby
all annoyance from leaking joints is avoided; all as will be hereinafter fully
described.
In the accompanying_Drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the
improved grain drier; Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same taken
through the line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end. elevation of the same, part
being broken away; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same, part being broken
away. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is a shaft placed in a slightly inclined position, and revolving in bearings in
suitable supports. To this shaft A at a little distance from its lower bearings is

page_text: attached a head B, which is made hollow to receive steam and distribute the steam
to the pipes C. The head B is cast in one piece; and with one or more separate
steam chambers as desired. The forward ends of the pipes C are screwed into the
inner side of the head B near its rim, and the pipes Cat their other ends pass
through holes in the rim of a spidre D, the hub of which is attached to the
shaft A. The outer or rear ends of the pipe C are connected in pairs by return
bends E, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, to induce a circulation of steam through tho
said pipes.
The arms of the spider D are curved outward, as shown in Figure 1,
and upon the rim of the said spider at or near its inner edge is formed, or to it is
attached, a conical flange F, which together with the concavity of the outer side of
the spider D form a recess or space to receive the grain which is introduced
through a spout G from some convenient receptacle. The steam head B, the
pipes C, and the spider D form a drying cylinder, which can be made of any
desired length, as the amount of drying to be done may require. One, two, or
more spiders H to support the pipes C can be placed upon the shaft A between the
head B and the spider D, as the length of the cylinder may require. The pipes C
can cross the rims of the spiders H, and be secured to the said rims in pairs by
straps passing over the pairs of pipes, and having their ends secured to the said
rims by screws or other suitable fastenings, or the pipes C can be passed through
holes in the rims of the said spiders H. An increase of heating surface can be
obtained from another set of pipes I placed around and at a little distance from the
shaft A, and the forward ends of which are screwed into the inner side of the steam
head B. The pipes I pass through holes in the middle parts or arms of the
spiders H, and are connected in pairs at the outer side of the last spider H by
return bends I', as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The pipe cylinder is enclosed by a
casing of boards J which rest upon hoops K placed around the pipes C. The ends
of the casing boards J are placed beneath flanges or lips L formed upon the inner
edges of the steam head B and the end spider D. The casing boards J are further
secured in place by hoops M placed around them, as shown in Figure 1. Any
desired number of inner hoops K and outer hoops M can be used as the length of
the drier may require. In the casing J near the lower end of the drier are formed
a number of slots or apertures N through which the moisture expelled from the
grain can escape. The grain is kept from escaping through these apertures N when
the revolution of the drier brings the said apertures downward by a semi-cylindrical
jacket which surrounds the lower part of the casing J, and is held against the
Baid casing by bands P passed over the casing, and attached to the edges of the
jacket O. The jacket O is held stationary by being attached at its lower edge to
the edge of a discharge trough Q which is supported by some suitable means
beneath the lower part of the drier. The upper edges of the trough Q are concaved
to fit upon the lower side of the cylindrical casing J. In the bottom side or end of
the trough Q is formed an aperture R through which the dried grain escapes to a
suitable receiver. To the casing boards J over the discharge openings in the said
casing are attached buckets S opening to the rearward, which become filled with
grain when the said discharge openings are downward, and discharge their contents
into the trough Q as the said discharge apertures rise.
With this construction, as the drier revolves the grain passes over and around
the drying pipes, gradually passes down in a spiral direction towards the lower end
of the drier, and is discharged into the trough Q. In the forward end of the
shaft A is formed a longitudinal perforation T, from which cross perforations U
open into the interior of the head B, so that steam can be introduced into the said
head without interfering with the rotation of the drier. To the inner surface of
the outer side of the head B, and within its steam chambers, are attached or upon
it is formed plates or buckets V to raise the water of condensation from the lower
part of the interior of the head, and cause it to flow out through the pipes W, the
outer ends of which are secured in apertures in the outer side of the head at a
little distance from its rim. The inner ends of the pipes Ware connected with the

page_text: inner ends of passages ✗ which pass longitudinally through the outer part of the
shaft A, and open at their outer ends into a ring groove in the inner surface of a
sleeve Y through which the shaft A passes, and which is made to fit the said shaft A
watertight by packing or stuffing boxes. To this sleeve Y is attached the end of a
pipe Z which opens into the ring groove of the sleeve, and through which the
water of condensation passes off to a suitable receiver. The pipe Z holds the
sleeve Y stationary while the shaft A revolves within the sleeve.
The drier can be revolved by steam or other power applied to the shaft A by a
belt and pulley or other suitable means.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. In a steam grain drier, the steam head B constructed substantially as herein
shown and described, with a flange L along the inner side of the rim to receive and
confine the ends of the casing boards, as set forth.
2nd. In a steam grain drier, the end spider D constructed substantially as herein
shown and described, with curved arms and a conical flange to receive the grain,
and holes to receive the steam pipes, as set forth.
3rd. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the shaft A, the outer steam
pipes C, and the inner steam pipes I, of one or more spiders H, substantially as
herein shown and described, whereby the said steam pipes will be securely
supported, and can be made of any desired length, as set forth.
4th. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the casing boards J enclosing
the steam pipes of the inner hoops K and the outer hoops M, substantially as herein
shown aud described, whereby the casing will be firmly supported and held,
however long it may be, as set forth.
5th. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the casing J and the discharge
trough of the jacket O and the suspending bands P, substantially as herein
shown and described, whereby the ventilating apertures in the lower part of tho
casing J are covered, and the escape of grain through the said apertures is pre-
vented, as set forth.
6th. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the casing J and the jacket O
of the trough Q having discharge opening, substantially as herein shown and
described, to receive the grain from the drier, as set forth.
7th. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the casing J having discharge
openings, and the troughs Q, of the reversed buckets S, substantially as herein
shown and described, whereby the grain discharged from the drier is deposited in
the said trough, as set forth.
Sth. In a steam grain drier, the journal of the shaft A made with a central
passage T to admit steam, and side passages X to discharge the water of con-
densation, substantially as herein shown and described.
9th. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the shaft A having side
passages X through its journal, of the stationary sleeve Y having interior groove,
and the pipe Z, substantially as herein shown and described, to receive and carry
off the discharged water, as set forth.
10th. In a steam grain drier, the narrow bars or flanges V formed upon the
inner surface of the outer wall of the steam bead B within the steam chambers,
substantially as herein shown and described, to receive the water of condensation
and conduct it to the discharge pipes, as set forth.
11th. In a steam grain drier, the steam head B having narrow bars or flanges V
formed upon the inner surface of its outer wall, in combination with the bent
pipes W, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the water of con-
densation is discharged from the said steam head, as set forth.
12th. In a steam grain drier, the combination with the circulation pipes C, of
the return bends E, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said
circulation pipes are allowed to expand aud contract freely, as set forth.

page_text: 13th. In a steam grain drier, the steam head B cast in one piece, and having one
or more steam chambers, each provided with bars or flanges V, substantially as
herein. shown and described, whereby all annoyance from leaking joints is
avoided, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Molville Clark, have hereunto set 5
my hand and seal, this Third day of December, A.D. 1881.
A аг AT ADTZ