IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING HOPS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, CORN, SEEDS. AND OTHER PRODUCE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Jackson Reynolds, of Chicago, in the State of
Illinois, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING HOPS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, CORN,
SEEDS. AND OTHER PRODUCE."
Sealed the 3rd June 1879, and dated the 28th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Jackson Reynolds
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1879.
ANDREW JACKSON REYNOLDS, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, in the
United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING HOPS, FRUIT,
VEGETABLES, CORN, SEEDS, AND OTHER PRODUCE."
The Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for drying hops, fruit,
vegetables, corn, seeds, and other produce, and relates to that class of apparatus in
which a hot air stove is surmounted by a series of perforated trays or sieves placed
one over another. The upper and lower edges of the rims of these trays or sieves
are according to my present Invention made to fit the one into the other, or they
are provided, the one with a groove and the other with a tongue or projection fitting
therein so as to form a continuous chamber of such trays or sieves sufficiently air
tight at the joints to prevent the escape of the heat thereat.
These trays or sieves are mounted immediately over the said heating chamber, so
that the heated air is caused to pass through the entire series of trays or sieves to
effect the drying of the produce.
The trays or sieves are capable of being raised by a set of automatic catches or
locks carried by a moveable fraine which is so guided as to ensure its being moved
in a vertical plane.
These trays or sieves are introduced one by one at the bottom of the series, and
are removed at the top when the produce is completely dried, and for this purpose
I form or fix on a fixed part of the apparatus under such series guides or ways
fitting the trays or sieves or parts carried thereby so as to enable each tray or sieve
in its turn readily to be run into correct position under the others. Each tray or
sieve for the purpose hereinafter described is provided with projections which are
inclined on their upper sides and square on their lower sides.
a

page_text: The trays or sieves are raised by these projections on the automatic catches or
locks carried by the moveable frame when it is desired to insert a tray or sieve
under the bottom of the series; the moveable frame is raised by suitable tackle or
gearing, thereby raising the series of trays or seives; a tray or sieve is then placed
in position on the guides or ways, as above, the moveable frame is lowered until
the series of trays or sieves rest on the one last introduced, the downward motion of
such frame is further continued, whereby the automatic catches or locks are pressed
outwards by the inclined sides of the projections on the last placed tray or sieve,
then when the moveable frame has descended low enough the catches or locks fall
inward and pass under the projections on the last mentioned tray or sieve, when the
latter, and consequently the entire series, can be raised by such catches to enable
another tray or sieve to be introduced thereunder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Andrew Jackson Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th August 1879.
ANDREW JACKSON REYNOLDS, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, in the
United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING HOPS, FRUIT,
VEGETABLES, CORN, SEEDS, AND OTHER PRODUCE."
The Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for drying hops, fruit,
'vegetables, corn, seeds, and other produce, and relates to that classof apparatus in
which a hot air stove is surmounted by a series of perforated trays or sieves placed
.one over another.
.
The upper and lower edges of the rims of these trays or sieves are according
to my present Invention made to fit the one into the other, or they are pro-
.vided the one with a groove and the other with a tongue or projection fitting
therein so as to form a continuous chamber of such trays or sieves sufficiently
air tight at the joints to prevent the escape of the heat thereat.
"These trays or sieves are mounted immediately over the said heating chamber
so that the heated air is caused to pass through the entire series of trays or
sieves to effect the drying of the produce. The trays or sieves are capable of
being raised by a set of automatic catches or locks carried by a moveable frame
which is so guided as to ensure its being moved in a vertical plane.
These trays or sieves are introduced one by one at the bottom of the series,
and are removed at the top when the produce is completely dried, and for this
purpose I form or fix on a fixed part of the apparatus under such series guides
or ways fitting the trays, sieves, or parts carried thereby so as to enable each
tray or sieve in its turn readily to be run into correct position under the others.
Each tray or sieve for the purpose hereinafter described is provided with pro-
jections "which are inclined on their upper sides and square on their lower sides.

page_text: .
Figure 1 is a vertical section; Figures 2 and 3 are side views; and Figure 4 is a
front view of drying apparatus constructed according to my Invention.
In Figures 1 and 2 I have represented a furnace in position underneath the
drying apparatus, but in Figures 3 and 4 such furnace is omitted. a, a, are a series
of perforated or reticulate trays or sieves placed one over another. The upper and
lower edges of the rims of these trays or sieves a are according to my present
Invention made to fit the one into the other, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, or the
one may be formed with a groove b, and the other with a tongue or projection c
fitting therein, as shown at Figure 5, so as to form a continuous chamber of such
trays or sieves a sufficiently air tight at the joints to prevent the escape of the heat
thereat.
These trays or sieves a are mounted immediately over the heating apparatus, so
that the heated air is caused to pass through the entire series of trays or sieves a to
effect the drying of the produce. The heating apparatus shown in the Drawings
consists of a cylindrical chamber d of cast iron provided around its circumference
with a number of radial webs or fins d¹ which are enclosed in an exterior jacket e
provided at its lower part with apertures e¹ for the inlet of air; fis a grate upon which
the fire is made, and g is a solid circular block or diaphragm of fire clay or other
suitable material which acts to cause the products of combustion to impinge against
the sides of the chamber d, after which they pass through the hole k' in the
diaphragm ; they thence pass to the space between the side of the chamber d and
the diaphragm i, whence they pass away by the flue j.
The air passes into the space between the chamber d and jacket e, and in rising
up the same is heated by the webs or fins d³, and exterior of the chamber & and at
the upper part of the heating apparatus the heated air passes out into the chamber
formed by the sieves or trays α, and by passing upwards through such sieves or
trays dries the produce contained therein.
The trays or sieves are supported on the upper edge of a framework of similar
form and fitting the rim of the lower tray in a similar manner to that in which the
trays fit one on another.
The trays or sieves a are capable of being raised by a set of automatic catches or
locks carried by a moveable frame m which is so guided on the framework k as to
ensure its being moved in a vertical plane.
These trays or sieves are introduced one by one at the bottom of the series, and
are removed at the top when the produce is completely dried, and for this purpose
I run them into position on the upper edge of the framework k, which is formed as
before described, to fit the underside of the lowest tray or sieve so as to enable
each tray or sieve in its turn readily to be run into correct position under the
others.

page_text: Each tray or sieve a, for the purpose hereinafter described, is provided with
projections a¹ which are inclined on their upper sides and square on their lower
sides.
The trays or sieves a are raised by these projections a¹ on the automatic catches
or locks / carried by the moveable frame m. When it is desired to insert a tray or
sieve under the bottom of the series the moveable frame m is raised by suitable
tackle or gearing, thereby raising the series of trays or sieves; a tray or sieve is
then placed in position on the upper edge of the framework k, ás above described,
the moveable frame m is then lowered until the series of trays or sieves rest on the
one last introduced; the downward motion of such frame is further continued
whereby the automatic catches or locks are pressed outwards by the inclined sides
of the projections a' on the last placed tray or sieve, then when the moveable
frame m has descended low enough the catches or locks fall inward and pass under
the projections a¹ on the last mentioned tray or sieve, when the latter and conse-
quently the entire series can be raised by such catches / to enable another tray or
sieve to be introduced thereunder.
The tackle for raising the trays or sieves, as shown in the Drawings, is that which
I prefer. It is constructed and operated in the following manner :-
To each side of the moveable frame m are fixed two chains n which are connected
to one end of a chain o which passes around a guide pulley p, and at its other end
is connected to one end of a lever q. The other end of this lever is connected to
one end of a chain r, the other end of which is fixed to a pulley 8, the axis of which
is provided with a toothed wheel t which is taken into by and receives motion from
a pinion u, on the axis of which is fixed a handle u¹ by which it is operated.
The moveable frame m, in Figures 3 and 4, is represented in its raised position
and a tray or sieve is shown in the act of being introduced under the series. A
fan vis employed to cause an equal diffusion of the heated air in its passage from
the heating chamber to the trays or sieves, such fan being rotated by the action of
the heated air in passing the same. The automatic catches or locks are each
formed of a bar extending across the side of the trays or sieves and carried by arms
or levers mounted on axes of motion at 1, such levers l' with the locks or catches
fall automatically by simple gravity into the position shown in the Drawing to raise
the trays or sieves, and are pressed outwards as herein before described by the inclined
projections a¹ on the trays or sieves, stops m' being employed to prevent such locks
or catches falling too far in an outward direction.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
Firstly. Forming the upper and lower edges of the rims of trays or sieves in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as herein showu and described.
Secondly. Forming the upper edge of the framework to fit the lower edge of the
rims of the sieves or trays in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
Thirdly. I claim providing trays or sieves with projections inclined on their
upper surface and acting in combination with the automatic locks or catches carried
by a moveable frame, all of such parts operating in manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Jackson Reynolds, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.