IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS FOR HEATING AND DRYING GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE PRODUCTS, FABRICS, PAPER. YARNS. FIBROUS MATERIALS. AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Weems and William Weems, of Johnstone,
in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS FOR
HEATING AND DRYING GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE PRODUCTS, FABRICS,
PAPER. YARNS. FIBROUS MATERIALS. AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Weems and
William Weems at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their l'etition, on the 3rd February 1868.
We, JOHN WEEMS and WILLIAM WEEMS, of Johnstone, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY. APPARATUS,
OR MEANS FOR HEATING AND DRYING GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE PRODUCTS,
FABRICS, PAPER, YARNG, FIBROUS MATERIALE, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be
as follows:-

page_text: gain, spent hops and grains, starch, whiting, and other granular sub-
stances, fabrics, paper, yarns, threads, wool, rags, fibrous materials, and
other substances, in a more rapid, economical, and superior manner than
has been hitherto accomplished, and is partially based upon an lnvention
of Improvements in Machinery, Apparatus, or Means for Drying,
Cleaning and Cooling Cham, and other Vegetable Products," for which
Letters Patent were granted to John Weems, on or about the 22nd day
of October 1863, and numbered 2602.
One modification of our Invention consists in having a double cased
eylinder, curved or other shaped steam pipe to form a circle or part of
a circle, so as to make a hot bed for a screw motion to work in, and is
provided with a steam inlet and water outlet. The screw is formed of
a hollow tube or other shaped steam pipe closed at the ends and having
screw blades or lifters on its periphery, and is aanged to revolve on
antifunction rollers or otherwise. The grain or other substance to be
dried is introduced through a regulating hopper or other feed at one
end into the double cased cylinder containing the revolving screw,
which conveys it along the heated surfaces and delivers it at the
opposite end dried or partly dried By this means the grain is being
constantly turned and brought into contact with the heated surfaces of
the cylinder and screw, and being exposed on both sides to the action
of the heat is equally dried in a rapid and continuous manner.
blades of the screw may be solid on hollow, and the steam, superheated
steam, hot water, or other heating media may be used in the cylinder
and screw.
The moisture may be carried off and hot or cold air supplied
by a forcing or exhausting fan, natural current or other contrivance.
Substances requiring little heat may be passed through the steam heated
cylinder without heat being applied to the revolving screw, or a current
of hot air alone may be employed, or the screw only heated When
necessary the grain or other substance may be passed through a series of
cylinders and screws successively and cold air may be forced or drawn
through the grain after it is dried for the purpose of cooling and cleaning.
The water of condensation is removed from the revolving screw at each
revolution by lifters, and delivered through the outlet pipe, or other
means may be used.
The
Another modification relates to the use of steam-heated plates or
boxes, double cased, for the admission of steam or other hot fluid,

page_text: or the plates may be produced by having a wrought-iron steam pipe bent
into a zig-zag form, laid in a mould, and metal cast thereon. These
plates may be placed in an enclosed chamber and arranged one above
the other, leaving a space between each plate and projecting beyond
each other alternately at the ends; on each side of the plates are endless
chains, wires, or ropes, fitted with rakes, blades, or other suitable con-
trivances for travelling through the spaces left between the plates and
driven by chain wheels or other suitable gearing. The grain or other
material to be dried is fed through a hopper into the space between the
first and second plates and carried by the blades, rakes, or brushes to the
end of the machine, where falling through an opening into the space
between the second and third plates is carried in an opposite direction,
and this operation may be continued untill the grain is delivered in a
dry or partly dried state. Hot or cold air may be forced or drawn
through the machine to assist the drying if required. By this means
the material to be dried is exposed on both sides to the action of the
heated surfaces and turned, dried, and delivered.
Another modification of this Invention consists in having a revolving
cylinder divided into compartments, with fixed or portable partitions
formed of metal plates, cloth, wine gauze, or other suitable material, or
they may be formed of steam-heated plates and worked or revolved in a
hot air chamber with or without the fan blast or other current. The grain
or other material to be dried is supplied to the compartments, and as the
cylinder revolves the openings of the compartments are closed by an end-
less apron or web of cloth, wire gauze, or other suitable material travelling
with it, untill the cylinder has performed a revolution, or part of a revolu-
tion, when the apron leaves it and the grain or other material is delivered
dry or partly dry. In drying millboards, cardboards, paper, &c. under
this modification, tapes, belts, or bands may be employed for moving or
retaining the material in the compartments, also for the endless apron,
and the partitions themselves may be formed of tapes, bands, or other
material, or they may be double cased with perforations, and hot or cold
air may be forced or drawn through, which will have the effect of holding
the boards untill they are dried. In drying wool and other materials
the external surface or circumference of the cylinder may be formed of
wire gauze, cloth, or other suitable material, and the wool held on by
means of an endless apron untill dried & delivered, and hot or cold

page_text: In drying one tier
air may be forced or drawn through the wool. In drying woven fabrics
the fabric is fed on to the periphery of the cylinder on ends being held
on and stretched by stenter pins, clips, cords, bands, wires, or otherwise
while a current of hot air or cold air is forced or drawn through the
fabric which is delivered m a dry or partially dry state
In drying
woven fabrics wule stretched on stentering frames or on chain stentering
machines (with or without what is termed the "elastic or breaking
finish") whether constructed to work horizontally, vertically, or obliquely,
we close the spaces between the tiers of cloth or fabric to be dried,
so as to form an air-tight or partially air-tight channell or enclosed
space, of which the fabric to be dried forms the top and bottom or sides
of the enclosure, and a current of hot air is forced or drawn through the
fabric, rapidly drying and giving a superior finish. The hot air may be
distributed by means of a pipe with regulating openings formed to
direct the current of hot air through the fabric.
of cloth only we form the enclosure, by preference, of blanketing or
impermeable cloth and convey the hot air through a main conduit
or pipe, on which are fixed branches with regulating openings formed
to direct the current of hot air through the fabric For drying, turning,
stretching, and scutching hanks of yarns, threads, or other fibrous
materials we use two discs of large diameter placed vertically or
horizontally in a hot air chamber, but by preference constructed to
revolve vertically. The upper disc is fixed on a vertical shaft resting
on a step or bush and supported above by framework, on which is fitted
a face, crown, bevil, or spur wheel, and all round this upper disc, by
preference, are a number of shafts or spindles with square, fluted, or
other shaped ends projecting beyond the periphery of the disc, each shaft
being provided with a small bevil or spur wheel for giving a rotary
motion to the banks; these shafts and dises may be driven by friction
or otherwise To the lower dise is attached a corresponding number
of flat, curved, spiral, or other shaped springs, the projecting ends of
which have round or other shaped spindles on which may be placed
revolving tubes, rollers, or pulleys, square paned. Aluted, or otherwise
shaped These springs keep the hanks stretched, and by coming in
contact with cams or other contrivance placed at suitable distances their
tension on the hanks is temporarily relieved and the elastic force of the
spring returning to its original position gives a sudden jerk to the hanks
(known in the trade by the term of "scutching").
This jerking

page_text: and scutching and stretching may be produced by moveable bars, rods,
or levers with weights or springs, attached to the lower or upper disc,
or both
The lower dise is furnished with adjusting screws for raising
or lowering to suit various lengths of hanks. Motion is given to the
machine by suitable gearing and the hanks are dried by hot flues, coils
of steam pipes, or hot or cold air may be supplied from a suitable
heating apparatus, and a forcing or exhausting fan.
In turning the
hanks all parts of them are uniformly acted on by the heat, and the
stretching and scutching gives a superior finish. Part of this modi-
fication for stretching and scutching are applicable to other machines
for drying yarns and threads
Another modification of this Invention for drying grain, wool, rags,
fibrous and other substances, consists in having one or more carriages fitted
fitted with partitions formed of wire gauze, cloth, metal plates, or other
suitable material on which is placed the substance to be dried
These
carriages are provided with wheels and run upon rails through a hot air
chamber supplied with hot or cold air from a suitable heating apparatus
and a blowing or exhausting fan. The carriage containing the material
to be dried may be fed at one end of the chamber and delivered at the
other end, the dry material removed, refilled with wet material and
returned through the top part of the chamber, or through an adjoining
hot air chamber. In drying millboards, cardboards, and paper under
this modification the partitions of the carriages are by preference formed
of tapes, bands, cloth, or metal plates.
Another modification of this Invention relating to the drying of
millboards, cardboards, paper, peat, and other materials consists in
placing the substance to be dried in a closed receptacle and admitting
superheated steam, steam, or combined steam which permeates the
material, raising the temperature, evolving the moisture, and rapidly
drying or dessicating. In this manner the material may be charred,
partially dried, or heated, and the drying completed on hot plates, or
under a current of hot or cold air.
Another modification of this Invention relating to the production of
hot air for drying consists in having a cylindrical iron case filled with
small tubes running through it longitudinally and fixed in metal ends
Superheated steam, combined steam, steam direct from a boiler, or the

page_text: exhaust steam of a high-pressure engine passed through pipes situated
in the flues of a steam boiler or furnace, and such steam being super-
heated by the waste heat is introduced into the cylindrical iron case.
The external surface of the tubes being thus surrounded by heat, cold
air may be forced or drawn by a fan or otherwise, through the interior of
the tubes which on its passage becomes heated, & this hot air may be
conveyed by pipes or otherwise to the material to be dried.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said John
Weems and William Weems in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
WEEMS and WILLIAM WEEMS, both of Johnstone, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Het reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Weems and William Weems, Her
special licence that we, the said John Weems and William Weems
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said John Weems and William Weems, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time, and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, APPA-
BATUS, OR MEANS FOR HEATING AND DRYING GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE
PRODUCTS, FABRICS, PAPER, YARNS, FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND OTHER SUB-
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John
Weems and William Weems, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing, under our, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Weems and William
Weems, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings, and to the figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
These improvements have for their objects the heating and drying of
wheat, barley, rice, peas, beans, berries, seeds, corn, malt, and other
grain, spent hops and grains, starch, whiting, and other granular
substances, fabrics, paper, yains, threads, wool, rags, fibrous materials,
and other substances, in a more rapid, economical, and superior manner.
than has been hitherto accomplished, and is partially based upon an
Invention of Improvements in Machinery, Apparatus, or Means for
Diving, Cleaning, and Cooling Grain and other Vegetable Products,"
for which Letters Patent were granted to John Weems, on or about the
22nd day of October 1863, and numbered 2602.
"
One modification of our Invention consists in having a double-cased
cylinder, curved or other shaped steam pipe to form a circle or part of a
circle, so as to make a hot bed for a screw motion to work in, and is
provided with a steam inlet and water outlet The screw is formed of a
hollow tube or other shaped steam pipe closed at the ends, and having
screw blades on its periphery, and is arranged to revolve on antifriction
rollers or otherwise. The grain or other substance to be dried is
introduced through a regulating hopper or other feed at one end into
the double-cased cylinder containing the revolving screw, which conveys
it along the heated surfaces and delivers it at the opposite end dried
or partly dued. By this means the grain is being constantly turned and
brought into contact with the heated surfaces of the cylinder and
screw, and being exposed on both sides to the action of the heat is
equally dried in a continuous manner The blades of the screw may
be solid or hollow, and steam, superheated steam, hot water, or other
Aeating media may be used in the cylinder and screw. The moisture
may be carried off, and hot or cold air supplied from a suitable

page_text: contrivance.
heating apparatus by a forcing on exhausting fan, natural current, or other
Substances requiring Intle heat may be passed through
the steam-heated cylinder without heat being applied to the revolving
screw, or a curient of hot air alone may be employed. When necessary
the grain may be cared through a series of cylinders and screws
successively, and cold air may be forced or drawn through the grain
after it is dried for the purpose of cooling and cleaning. The water of
condensation is removed from the revolving screw at each revolution
by lifters and delivered through the outlet pipe.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal
elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 an end elevation of a drying
machine made in accordance with one modification of this part of our
Invention.
1, 2, 3, are the double-cased cylinders; 4, 5, the steam space, 6, 7,
revolving steam cylinders or pipes with screw blades; 8, steam space;
9, steam inlets; 10, condense water outlets; 11, condense water lifters;
12, feed hopper; 13, dry grain exit; 14, driving wheels; 15, anti-
fiction rollers; 16, escape pipe for the moisture
The revolving screws may be constructed in the form known as
"paddle screws," as shewn at 6, or they may be continuous-bladed
screws, or partly continuous and partly paddle screws, as shewn at 7. The
machine by preference consists of three screws, but one or more may be
used according to the material to be dried, and they may be placed in
a vertical, horizontal, or inclined position. The wet grain or material
conveyed by the revolving
to be dried is fed at the hopper 12, and
screw to the opposite end, where it falls through an opening into the
selew 7, which passes it into the cylinder and screw 3, at the end of
which it is delivered dry, or partially day through the exit pipe 13.
The process is continuous, and the grain is being constantly turned and
exposed to the action of the steam-heated surface on both sides. The
removal of the moisture at the escape pipe 16 may be facilitated by a
draught from a chimney, a force or exhaust fan, or otherwise, and hot
or cold an may be supplied to assist the diving.
In preserving gain for shipment, warehousing, or newly thrashed
gain this system is well adapted The machine may be placed
honzontally, as shewn at Fig 3, a plan partly in section, and Fig. 4 an
end elevation The grain to be dried passes in at the hopper 17, and

page_text: carried by the screws to the exit pipe 15, where, if only found partially
dry, the regulating slides 19 and 20 on the exit pipe and feed hopper are
closed, and the slide valve 21 opened By this means the grain is
caused to pass continuously from one screw to another until it is
thoroughly dried; the moisture being carried off through the escape
pipe 22.
The machine by preference consists of ten screws, but more
or less may be used
Another modification of this Invention consists in having a revolving
cylinder divided into compartments, with fixed or portable partitions
formed of metal plates, cloth, wire gauze, or other suitable material, or
they may be formed of steam-heated plates, and worked or revolved in
a hot-air chamber, with or without the fan blast or other current The
grain or other material to be dried is supplied to the compartments, and
as the cylinder revolves the openings of the compartments are closed
by an endless apron or web of cloth. wire gauze, or other suitable
material travelling with it until the cylinder has performed a revolution
or part of a revolution, when the apron leaves it, and the grain is
delivered dry or partially dry. Fig. 5 shews a transverse section of this
modification. The grain to be dried is introduced at the hopper 23, and
passes into the compartments 24, formed by steam-heated plates 25, and
as the machine revolves the openings of the compartments are closed by
an endless apion 26. which leaves them at 27, where the dried grain is
delivered. The machine revolves on antifriction rollers or otherwise,
and is enclosed in a hot-air chamber 28, and hot or cold air may be
forced or drawn through the grain by means of the central tube or
hollow shaft 29 of open work In drying cardboards, mullboards,
paper, &c, under this modification, tapes, belts, or bands may be
employed for moving or retaining the material in the compartments,
also for the endless apron, and the partitions themselves may be formed
of tapes, or bands, or other material, or they may be double cased with
perforations, and hot or cold an may be forced or drawn through, which
will have the effect of holding the boards until they are dried.
Fig. 6 represents a plan, partly in section, and Fig. 7 a transverse
section of a machine for drying cardboards and paper according to one
of the modifications 29 is a central tube or hollow shaft, to which
are fixed the ends or dises 30, to which are attached a series of rods 31
and 32; the compartments 33 are formed by shelves or partitions 34, on

page_text: which are placed the sheets of paper 35 to be dued. As the machine
revolves the endless apion 36 closes the openings of the compartments
and prevents the sheets from falling out while in a vertical position. The
sheets may be held down on the shelves by means of the bands 37, one
end of which are attached to the rods 31, and the other end to a moveable
rod 38, and kept in position by the endless apron while the machine
revolves. The rods 38, to which the holding-down bands are attached,
may also be held in their position by spring clips or catches on the
ends 30, or on the partition rods 32, or otherwise, and in this case the
endless apron may be retamed or done away with. The machine
revolves by preference on antifriction rollers, and derives its motion
from a worm wheel and worm 39 driven by a handle, or it may be
daven by steam power, and have an intermittent or regular motion.
It
is enclosed in a heated chamber 10, through which cold or hot air may
be forced on drawn. The central tube 29 may have open spaces or be
perforated, or made of openwork, through which hot or cold air may be
forced or drawn by means of a fan and suitable heating apparatus or
other contrivance. The sheets to be dried are passed into the machine at
the opening 41, and the dried sheets removed at the same aperture. The
shelves or partitions 34 and the holding down bands 37 are by preference
formed of tapes, but they may be formed of bands, belts, cords, inetal
plates, webwork, cloth, or other openwork material. The shelves or
partitions may be made portable, so that they can be withdrawn to
receive the sheets to be dried and replaced The holding-down bands
may also be portable. The machine may also be arranged to work
vertically, horizontally, or obliquely. In drying wool and other
materials the external surface or circumference of the cylinder may be
formed of wire gauze, cloth, or other suitable material, and the wool
held on by means of an endless apion until dried and delivered, and hot
or cold air may be forced or drawn through the wool.
According to this modification a transverse section of the machine
is shewn at Fig. 8 The wool or fibious material to be dried is placed
on the travelling feed table 42, and passes between the rollers 43 on
to the openwork cylinder 44. heing held on by the endless apron 45
travelling with it until it arrives at the roller 46, where it is delivered
dry through the opening 47 in the heated chamber 48. Hot or cold
air may be forced or drawn through the wool by a fan or otherwise

page_text: to assist the drying The wool may be held on the cylinder by means
of a suction in the interior of the cylinder produced by a fan or other
means. The machine revolves by preference on antifriction rollers.
In drying woven fabrics the fabric is fed on to the periphery of
the cylinder or ends, being held on and stretched by stenter pins,
clips, cords, wires, or otherwise, while a current of hot air is forced
or drawn through the fabric which is delivered in a dry or partially
dry state.
A modification of this machine is shewn at Fig 9, a transverse
section. The woven fabric to be dried passes over the roller 48 on to
the revolving discs or ends 49, and is delivered dry at the roller 50.
It may he enclosed in a heated chamber 51, and hot air or cold air
may be forced or drawn through the fabric to facilitate the drying.
In drying woven fabrics while stretched on stentering frames or on
chain stentering machines (with or without what is termed the elastic
or breaking motion), whether constructed to work horizontally, vertically,
o obliquely, we close the spaces between the tiers of cloth or fabric
to be dried, so as to form an air-tight or partially an-tight channel
or enclosed space, of which the fabric to be dried forms the top and
bottom or sides of the enclosure, and a current of hot air is forced or
drawn through the fabric, rapidly drying it and giving a superior finish.
The hot air may be distributed by means of a pipe with regulating
openings formed to direct the current of hot air through the fabric.
In drying one tier of fabric only we form the enclosure by preference
of blanketing or impermeable cloth, and convey the hot air through
a main conduit or pipe, on which are fixed branches with regulating
openings formed to direct the hot air through the fabric.
Fig. 10 represents one modification of our system as applied to
progressive or non-progressive stentering machines for drying two tiers
of woven fabric, of which the fabric itself forms the top and bottom
of the enclosure; hot or cold air, as indicated by the arrow 52, is
admitted into the enclosure 53 and forced or drawn through the fabric
as indicated by the arrows 54, drying it in a rapid and superior manner.
The hot air may be supphed by a fan and suitable heating apparatus or
otherwise. The hot or cold air may be conducted along the enclosure
by means of a conduit or pipe, and allowed to escape through openings
or regulating valves. This part of our Invention is applicable to two

page_text: or more tiers of fabric placed whether in a vertical, horizontal, or
oblique direction.
Fig. 11 is an example of another mode of applying our system for
drying two or more tiers of fabric; 55, hot an main pipe; 56, stand
pipes; 57, branch pipes passing between the tiers of fabric, and having
openings for the distribution of hot or cold au in the enclosure, or
formed to direct the current of air through the fabric.
The number
of distributing pipes depends on the material to be dried, and this
modification as applicable to machines working in a vertical, horizontal,
or oblique direction.
וון
any
or
Another modification for drying one tier of fabric is shewn at Fig 12,
a longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 13 a transverse section; 58, hot or
cold air main pipe; 59 and 60, stand pipes with regulating valves 'for
directing the cold or hot an through the fabric, the enclosure is
formed of blanketing or impermeable cloth 61, and the arrows indicate
the direction of the air The stand pipes may be curved on the top,
as shewn at 59, or formed as shewn at 60, or they may be tubular or
otherwise shaped; and the regulating valves may be fixed
convenient position, or the openings may be regulated by a valve on
the main pipe, and any number of stand pipes or branch pipes may
be used according to the material to be died. For the drying, turning,
stretching, and scutching hanks of yarns, threads, or other fibrous
material, we use two discs of large diameter placed vertically
horizontally in a hot air chamber, but by preference constructed to
revolve vertically. The upper disc is fixed on a vertical shaft resting
in a step or bush, and supported above by framework, on which is
fitted a face, crown, bevil, or spur wheel, and all round this upper disc,
by preference, are a number of shafts or spindles with square, fluted,
or other shaped ends projecting beyond the periphery of the disc, each
shaft being provided with a small hevil or spur wheel for giving a
rotary motion to the hanks, these shafts and dise may be driven by
friction or otherwise. To the lower disc is attached a corresponding
number of flat, curved, spiral, or other shaped springs, the projecting
ends of which have round or other shaped spindles, on which may be
placed revolving tubes, rollers, or pulleys, square paned, fluted, or
otherwise shaped. These springs keep the hanks stretched, and by
coming in contact with cams or other contrivance placed at suitable

page_text: "
distances, their tension on the hanks is temporarily relieved, and the
elastic force of the spring returning to its original position gives a
sudden jerk to the hanks known in the trade by the term of "scutching
This jerking or scutching and stretching may be produced by moveable
bars, rods, or levers with weights or springs attached to the lower or
upper disc, or both. The lower dise is furnished with adjusting screws
for raising and lowering it to suit the various lengths of the hanks.
Mouon is given to the machine by suitable gearing, and the hanks
are dried by hot flues, coils of steam pipes, or hot or cold air may be
supplied from a suitable heating apparatus, and a forcing or exhausting
fan. In turning the hanks all parts of them are uniformly acted on
by the heat, and the stretching and scutching gives a superior finish.
Part of this modification for stretching and scutching are applicable
to other drying machines for yarns and threads.
Fig. 14 is a plan partly in section, and Fig. 15 a sectional elevation
of one modification of a machine for drying, turning, stretching, and
scutching hanks and yarns 62 is a vertical shaft on which is fixed
a revolving disc 63, with a series of radial horizontal revolving arms
or spindles 64; the lower disc 65 has a similar number of spring
arms 66, on the ends of which are rollers 67. Motion is imparted to
the discs by the bevil wheel 68, and the arms 64 are caused to revolve
by the bevil wheels 69 gearing into the crown wheel 70 fixed on the
framework. By this means the hanks are turned and evenly dried.
The spring arms 66 keep the hanks stretched, and by coming in contact
with cams 71 their tension on the hanks is for the time suspended
until they pass the cam, when rapidly returning to their original position
they give a sudden jerking action to the hanks termed scutching.
The machine may be enclosed in a heated chamber and cold or hot
air forced or drawn through the hanks or yarns to assist the
drying. The machine can be adjusted to suit any length of hanks
by the screw 72. The machine may be driven by a handle and
gearing 78, as shewn, or by steam power, and it may have a regular
or intermittent motion Motion may be given to the discs and revolving
arms by frictional contact or other suitable means.
The scutching
action may be produced on all the hanks at one time by a cam or
other contrivance acting on the lower dise, and the machine may be
arranged to work vertically, horizontally, or obliquely.

page_text: Another modification of this Invention for drying millboards, card-
boards, and paper, consists in having one or more carriages or frames
fitted with shelves or partitions formed by preference of tapes, but
they may be formed of bands, belts, wire gauze, metal plates, cloth,
or openwork material on which the sheets to be dried are placed and
enclosed in a heated chamber, through which hot or cold air may he
forced on drawn by a fan and suitable heating apparatus or otherwise
to facilitate the drying.
Another modification of this Invention relating to the drying of
millboards, cardboards, and paper consists in placing the sheets in a
closed receptacle, and admitting superheated steam, steam, or combined
steam which permeates the material, raising the temperature, evolving
the moisture, and rapidly drying. In this manner the material may
be partially dried or treated, and the diving completed on hot plates or
under a curent of hot or cold air.
Another modification of this Invention relating to the production of
currents of hot air for drying, &c., consists in having a cylindrical iron
case with small tubes running through it longitudinally and fixed in metal
ends. Superheated steam, combined steam, steam direct from a boiler,
or the exhaust steam of a high-pressure engine passed through through
pipes situated in the flues of a steam boiler or furnace, and superheated
by the waste heat, is introduced into the cylindrical iron case. The
external surface of the tubes being thus surrounded by heat cold air may
be forced or drawn by a fan or otherwise through the interior of the
tubes which on its passage becomes heated, and this hot air may he
conveyed by pipes or otherwise to the material to be dried or receptacle
or apartment to be heated.
The apparatus for the production of currents of hot air is constructed
by preference as shewn at Fig 16, a longitudinal elevation partly in
section. 74 is a cylindical iron or metal case having a number of
tubes 75 passing through it and fixed in metal ends. Steam is introduced
at the inlet pipe 76, and the external surface of the tubes being thus
surrounded with heat cold air is forced by the steam fan 77 through
the interior of the tubes, which on its passage becomes heated. The
outlet pipe 78 provides for the escape of water of condensation. The
waste steam of the steam fan is used for giving up its heat to the air,
being a very economical arrangement, The fan may be driven by

page_text: any other power, and steam from a steam boiler or the exhaust steam
of a steam engine passed through a superheater may be used for heating
the air.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Weems and William Weems,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
ALEXANDER WYLIE,
Clerk,
1, High Street,
Johnstone.
JOHN WEEMS.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM WEEMS
(L.S)