Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Conditioning or Drying Grain, Berries, Sugar, Seeds! Crystals and Granular or Pulverulent Material Generally.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Conditioning or Drying
Grain, Berries, Sugar, Seeds! Crystals and Granular or Pulverulent
Material Generally.
I, CHARLES MALLINSON, of 34, Great Mersey Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Mill Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus for conditioning grain, berries, sugar,
seeds, crystals, and granular or pulverulent material generally in which the pro-
duce or other material after being washed, drained or otherwise treated is placed,
and is subjected to a current of hot dry air (or first to a current of hot air and then
to a current of cold air subsequently) which dries or conditions it in the manner
required. It is even applicable for drying brewers' grains for cattle feeding
purposes.
In carrying the invention into effect my apparatus which is arranged upright
comprises a rotary chamber or cylinder perforated with holes. A constant pressure
of both hot and cold air is fed to, and kept up in the interior of this rotary chamber,
the diameter and height of which are regulated by the amount of work required
to be done. Surrounding the rotary chamber is an annular casing with a space
between to allow of a worm hereafter described, being fixed to and round the
exterior of the chamber, this casing being also perforated with holes or ventilators
so that air can pass through perforations of the cylinder, then through the grain or
other material which is being elevated by the worm, and finally escape when its
drying action is completed, through the perforations in the casing and so out
through an orifice at the top thereof or elsewhere.
The worm aforesaid which is placed or laid round the rotary cylinder is a con-
tinuous worm, blade or spiral, and ascends gradually from the bottom of the
rotary cylinder to the top, and is so arranged as to gradually elevate or lift the
wet grain or other material unwards, from the supply at the bottom and deliver
it through an orifice at the top in a dried condition. The rotary chamber further-
more may if desired be sub-divided by a diaphragm or diaphragms,
which are provided with valves, and the chamber have a central
channel formed by covering round the central shaft of the chamber, this channel
which does not revolve with the cylinder, conveying cold air to the upper sub-
division or divisions, hot air in such case being fed into the other subdivisions
by a separate channel or channels.
The mode of working is as follows:-
The rotary chamber is set in motion, so that its worm, blades or spirals which
pass round it many times from bottom to top will scoop up the material and feed
it slowly and continuously from the bottom to the top of the apparatus. A fan
or its equivalent forces or draws current of hot air from a heating device into the
lower sections of the vertical rotary chamber, and so through the perforations
and directly into and through the stream of produce or material, and out through

page_text: the ventilators or perforations in the casing, being finally discharged outside the
building. The lower edge of each perforation or slot may be provided with a
sloping projecting lip or shelf inclined upwards, and outwards (in such manner
as not to interfere with the blades) each lip or shelf being at its extremity of
greater depth than the depth of the perforation in the casing, whereby the grain
is prevented escaping through the perforations whilst forming no obstacles to the
free current of air. At the same time a current of cold air is being fed into the
upper divisions in the rotary cylinder for the purpose of having a supply of cold
air as well as of hot, this cold air passing through perforations into the upper
part of the apparatus and so through the ascending stream of grain or other
material and out through the ventilators in the casing. Furthermore I can
regulate the temperature of the air at every portion of the travel of the grain or
other substance, either by regulating the valves in the diaphragms, or by regulating
the supply of hot and cold air respectively. By this means therefore I can admit
cold air through the ascending stream of material at the top of the apparatus for
the purpose of cooling the grain after being dried before it passes out. The grain
or other material will be elevated vertically upwards by the rotary chamber and
worm, that is to say it will probably not have a rotary movement the same as
the chamber and worm have, but its travel will be confined to a vertical movement
directly upwards. This being the case it may be desirable to provide the rotary
chamber midway between the blades of the worm and at intervals apart, with a
series of projecting paddles, ploughs or their equivalent, so arranged as to disturb
the stream of material as it ascends from the bottom to the top, in order that they
may mix or turn the material and better expose it to the drying action of the air.
The feed may consist of a circular pan or tapered casing which is kept con-
stantly full by a feeding spout or spouts or otherwise, and be so arranged that
the point or end of the worm shall bite or take up the material continuously as
it revolves.
The worm or spiral round the cylinder may be perforated to allow the hot dry
air entering from the cylinder to pass upwards through the material lying on the
travelling spiral, and then be driven out at right angles by the cross current from
the cylinder, also to allow the cold air as it enters the material from the cylinder
to likewise pass up through the material and be driven out in like manner by the
cross current. The perforations in the cylinder casing and worm may be arranged
so as to give every facility to the passage of air, and they do not lie lengthwise
with the travel of the material but are arranged to lie at right angles thereto.
In thus describing my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact arrangements described, also that the arrangement for admit-
ting cold air can be dispensed with if desired, the hot dry air supply being used
only in such case, and the produce cooled by a subsequent process.
The diaphragms which subdivide the rotary cylinder may each be formed of two
plates placed face to face with holes in each. One of these plates is made rotatable
and the other stationary, and the holes are so placed that by rotating one of the
rotary plates in each diaphragm, the holes may be brought into register with the
holes in the stationary plate and so form connection between the divisions. By
rotating the plates back. however, the holes in the stationary plates are closed
again, or their degree of opening regulated as required.
Dated this 11th day of Wa 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Conditioning or Drying
Grain, Berries, Sugar, Seeds, Crystals and Granular or Pulverulent
Material Generally.
I, CHARLES MALLINSON, of 34, Great Mersey Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Mill Manager, 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 relates to an apparatus for conditioning grain, berries, sugar,
seeds, crystals and granular or pulverulent material generally in which the produce
or other material after being washed, drained or otherwise treated is placed, and is
subjected to a current of hot dry air (or first to a current of hot air and then to
a current of cold air subsequently) which dries or conditions it in the manner
required. It is even applicable for drying brewers' grains for cattle feeding pur-
poses.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section partly in elevation of an apparatus constructed
according to my invention;
Figure 2 a plan of the top;
Figure 3 a cross section through ry, and
Figure 4 a detail view of a device for turning the grain or other material over;
Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, my apparatus which is arranged upright com-
prises a rotary chamber or cylinder A perforated with holes a, shown best in the
sectional portion of Figure 1. A constant pressure of both hot and cold air is
fed to, and kept up in the interior of this rotary chamber, the diameter and height
of which are regulated by the amount of work required to be done. Surrounding
the rotary chamber A is an annular casing B with a space between to allow of a
worm Chereafter described, being fixed to and round the exterior of the chamber A,
this casing B being also perforated with holes or ventilators D so that air can pass
through the perforations a of the cylinder A, then through the grain
or other
material which is being elevated by the worm, and finally escape when its drying
action is completed, through the perforations D in the casing B along exhaust
trunk D and so out through an orifice at the top thereof or elsewhere.
The worm C aforesaid which is placed or laid round the rotary cylinder is a
continuous worm, blade or spiral and ascends gradually from the bottom of the
rotary cylinder to the top, and is so arranged as to gradually elevate or lift the
wet grain or other material upwards, from the supply E at the bottom and deliver
it through an orifice F at the top in a dried and cooled condition. The rotary
chamber furthermore may if desired be subdivided by a diaphragm or diaphragms G
which are provided with valves H. These valves I have apertures h correspond-
ing with apertures g in the fixed diaphragms G and are operated by means of racks
and pinions I, J, from the outside by hand-wheels K.
The chamber A has a central channel L conveying cold air through perfora-
tions to the upper subdivision or divisions of the rotary cylinder A, hot air in
such case being fed into the other subdivisions by a separate channel or channels M.
N is the inlet for cold air. It must be understood that cold air only or hot air
only or any mixture of these can be admitted to the cylinder.
O is a circular pan or bottom on to which the material to be dried is fed by the
feed spout E. This pan has openings for the hot and cold air and is caused to
rotate in a direction opposite to that of the cylinder A by gearing PP", one

page_text: wheel P of which is fixed to the hollow spindle Q of the pan, such spindle, surround-
ing the central shaft A', and R is a worm or spiral which is free to turn on its
axis and is placed at intervals between the worin to mix up or turn the material
to better expose it to the drying action of the air. The rotary cylinder is mounted
on this shaft A' and is driven by the gearing S.
The mode of working is as follows;-
The rotary chamber A is set in motion by the bevel gear or its equivalent so that
its worm, blades or spirals C which pass round it many times from bottom to top
will scoop up the material out of the pan 0 and feed it slowly and continuously
from the bottom to the top of the apparatus. A fan or its equivalent draws or
forces a current of hot air through the channels M arranged underneath the
vertical rotary chamber, and 80 through the perforations (1, and
directly into and through the stream of produce or material, and
out through the ventilators or perforations 1) in the casing B, being
finally discharged outside the building. The lower edge of each perforation
or slot D
provided with a sloping projecting lip or shelf & inclined upwards,
and outwards, (in such manner as not to interfere with the blades) each lip or shelf
being at its extremity of greater depth than the depth of the perforation in the
casing, whereby the grain or other material is prevented escaping through the
perforations whilst forming no obstacles to the free current of air, At the same
time a current of cold air is being fed through N and L into the upper divisions
in the rotary cylinder for the purpose of having a supply of cool or cold air as
well as of hot, this cold or cool air passing through perforations into the upper
part of the apparatus and so through the ascending stream of grain or other
material and out through the ventilators in the casing. Furthermore I can regu-
late the temperature of the air at every portion of the travel of the grain or other
substance either by regulating the valves H in the diaphragms G or by regulating
the supply of hot and cold air respectively. By this means therefore I can admit
cold air through the ascending stream of material at the top of the apparatus for
the purpose of cooling the grain after being dried before it passes out. The
grain or other material will be elevated vertically upwards by the rotary chamber
and worm, that is to say it will probably not have a rotary movement the same
as the chamber and worin have, but its travel will be confined to a vertical move-
ment directly upwards. This being the case it will be desirable as before described
to provide the rotary chamber midway between the blades of the worm and at
intervals apart, with a series of projecting paddles, ploughs, or worms R or their
equivalent, so arranged as to disturb the stream of material as it ascends from
the bottom to the top, in order that they may mix or turn the material and better
expose it to the drying action of the air.
The feed which consists as before described of a circular pan or tapered casing
is kept constantly full by the feeding spout or spouts E or otherwise, and is so
arranged that the point or end of the worm shall continuously bite or take up
the material as it revolves in a direction opposite to that of the rotary cylinder A.
The worm or spiral round the cylinder may be perforated to allow the hot dry
air entering from the cylinder to pass upwards through the material lying on
the travelling spiral, and then be driven out at right angles by the cross current
from the cylinder, also to allow the cold air as it enters the material from the
cylinder to likewise pass up through the material and be driven out in like manner
by a cross current. The perforations in the cylinder casing and worm may be
arranged and formed so as to give every facility to the passage of air, and they
do not lie lengthwise with the travel of the material but are arranged to lie at
right angles thereto.
In thus describing my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact arrangements described, also that the arrangement for admit-
ting cold or cool air can be dispensed with if desired, the hot dry air supply being
used only in such case, and the produce cooled by a subsequent process.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improvement in apparatus for conditioning grain and other granular
or pulverulent material, which consists in forming it of a rotary upright cylinder
perforated with air holes, a fixed casing (provided with ventilators) surrounding
the same concentrically, so as to leave a space between, and a continuous worm or
spiral blade for slowly elevating the grain fixed to and around the exterior of
said cylinder in the space between it and the surrounding casing, in combination
with a fan or other means for causing a current of air to pass through the ascend-
ing stream of produce, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus of the kind set forth in which a rotary perforated cylinder
carrying a worm or spiral blade rotates within a concentric casing, dividing the
interior of said cylinder into compartments to admit of hot or cold air separately
cr a mixture of these being passed through the ascending stream of produce,
whereby the temperature of the air at every portion of the travel of the grain or
other substance can be regulated, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus of the kind set forth, in which a rotary perforated cylinder
carrying a worm or spiral blade rotates within a concentric ventilated casing,
dividing the interior of said chamber by horizontal partitions into compartments
and providing it with a central channel conveying cold air through perforations
to the upper subdivision or divisions of the said chamber, hot air being fed into the
other sub-divisions by a separate channel or channels, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. In apparatus of the kind set forth in which a rotary perforated cylinder
carrying a worm or spiral blade rotates within a concentric casing, forming said
casing with ventilators (D) communicating with an exhaust trunk, said ventilators
being so arranged as to prevent the escape of the material being treated, substan-
tially as described.
5. In apparatus of the kind set forth, the combination with a rotary cylinder
having a spiral blade of a series of worms or paddles free to rotate on spindles fixed
on the outer surface of the cylinder and in the path of the ascending grain or
other material, whereby such material is turned over or separated during its ascent,
substantially as set forth.
6. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved apparatus for drying or conditioning grain or other materials substantially
as described.
Dated t1119 10th day of February
1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.