Improvements in Means for Roasting, Drying, Torrefying, or Popping Grain or Seed.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
: Improvements in Means for Roasting, Drying, Torrefying, or
Popping Grain or Seed.
:
1, ALEXANDER PERRY of 71 Fairfield Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements upon an invention for which Letters
Patent were granted jointly to myself and James Vickers Walmsley dated the
26th day of January 1885 No. 1124 and the object of the present invention is to
improve the quality of the finished grain or the like without increasing the cost of
production thereof.
According to the Specification of the Letters Patent herein before referred to,
the material to be treated was submitted to the action of a body of heated sand or
a sand-bath with which the material under treatment was combined or commingled
and this process has for some years past been more or less successfully carried out
I on a commercial scale.
Now I have discovered by experiment that sand is too dense and heavy a materiál
to allow the full expansion of the grain in the process of bursting or popping
whereas by substituting for the sand a lighter and more friable and porous material,
the resulting product is larger and of a better quality and therefore better adapted
for brewing and purposes of food.
For this purpose coke reduced to a sufficiently fine state of division by passing
the same between rollers or by other suitable means, is employed and in some cases
a small proportion of common salt is combined therewith in a dry state or the
coke may be previously washed in water in which a small proportion of salt has
been dissolved or when the salt is combined with the coke in a dry state or is
dispensed with, the coke should be previously washed in plain water, the object of
the preliminary washing being to remove any dust which may be combined
therewith and which would be useless for the purpose of this invention.
A form of apparatus which heretofore has been largely used for carrying out the
sand process consists, in part, of a sheet iron roasting cylinder having a slow rotary
motion imparted thereto, but inasmuch as that part of the cylinder farthest from
the fire necessarily became to some extent cool and required to be again heated to
the maximum temperature there was obviously a considerable waste of heat added
to which the quality of the material under treatment was not improved by subjection
to varying degrees of temperature.-
The apparatus employed in carrying the present invention into effect consists of
a furnace within which is mounted a horizontal chamber formed of sheet iron and
of gradually decreasing diameter from one end to the other and this roasting
chamber is at its ends flanged to take a bearing upon suitably disposed supporting
rollers the ends of the chamber being enclosed except as hereinafter described by
means of covers which may be perforated if desired.
Upon one end of the chamber is fixed a band wheel or pulley which passes
around another pulley receiving a reciprocating rotary motion by any suitable
means from a steam engine or other source of power the parts being so arranged
that a rocking motion is imparted to the roasting chamber to the extent of about a
third of a revolution.
By these means the grain under treatment is maintained at a more uniform
temperature and with a less expenditure of fuel than heretofore inasmuch as the

page_text: upper and necessarily cooler part of the chamber is not brought into contact with
the grain.
Passing axially through the roasting chamber is a shaft which receives a slow
rotary motion by any suitable means and upon this shaft at the large or feed end of
the roasting chamber and extending about one third of the length. thereof are
arranged around the shaft three curved blades or lifters in transverse section of the
form of half-cylinders.
These blades are arranged in such manner that one edge thereof runs in contact
or nearly so with the roasting chamber whilst the other edge occupies a position
some distance therefrom each of such blades or half-cylinders extending from
about the centre of the inside face of another of such half-cylinders that is to say
, the curve of each half cylinder is struck from a different part of a circle-drawn
around the theoretical axis of the roasting chamber.
The blades half-cylinders or lifters are united by means of a band with a wire
gauze chamber which forms a continuation thereof the whole being of conical
shape similar to the roasting chamber and forming an inner chamber to contain the
grain.
The grain or material to be treated is fed into a hopper communicating with a
feed chamber containing a feed screw fixed upon the shaft and the feed chamber
communicates with the interior of that part of the inner chamber formed by the
half-cylinders or blades into which the material is fed, the roasting chamber being
then or previously charged with a proper quantity of granulated coke.
The blades, half-cylinders, or lifters in their revolution pick up the granulated
coke which by the conical or inclined form of the roasting chamber is constantly
working back to the feed end thereof whence it is again conducted to the grain
under treatment the peculiar arrangement of the lifters enabling the granulated
coke to be conducted to the grain but effectually preventing the grain from working
out into the roasting chamber.
The grain combined with the granulated coke is advanced along the inner chamber
by means of a feed screw arranged around the shaft and is thus carried to the
gauze portion where in the revolution thereof the granulated coke falls through the
wire gauze to the roasting chamber whence it returns by gravity to the feed end
thereof in readiness to be used over again whilst the finished grain passes away by
a delivery spout to any desired destination.
In lieu of forming the inner chamber partly of the peculiarly formed half-
cylinders blades or lifters the entire of the inner chamber may be formed of wire
gauze and the granulated coke may be introduced by means of blades or lifters
. carried by the exterior thereof.
The roasting chamber is at its upper part provided with openings to allow of the
escape of vapour driven off from the material under treatment.
Dated this 28th day of July 1894.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
*.***
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Roasting, Drying, Torrefying, or
Popping Grain or Seed.
I, ALEXANDER PERRY of 71 Fairfield Road, Bow, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, 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 :-
The invention relates to improvements upon an invention for which Letters
Patent were granted jointly to myself and James Vickers Walmsley, dated the
26th day of January 1885 No. 1124 and the object of the present invention is to

page_text: improve the quality of the finished grain or the like without increasing the cost-
of production thereof.
According to the Specification of the Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to,
the material to be treated was submitted to the action of a body of heated sand
or a sand bath with which the material under treatment was combined or com-
mingled and this process has for some years past been more or less successfully
carried out on a commercial scale.
Now I have discovered by experiment that sand is too dense and heavy a
material to allow the full and sudden expansion of the grain in the process of
bursting or popping whereas by substituting for the sand a lighter and more friable
and porous material the resulting product is larger and of a better quality and
therefore better adapted for brewing and purposes of food.
For this purpose coke reduced to a sufficiently fine state of division by passing
the same between rollers or by other suitable means or other suitable finely divided
light carbonaceous matter is employed and if necessary the coke is previously
washed in plain water, the object of the preliminary washing being to remove any
dust which may be combined therewith and which would be useless for the purpose
of this invention.
A form of apparatus which heretofore has been largely used for carrying out
the sand process consists in part of a sheet iron roasting cylinder having a slow
rotary motion imparted thereto but inasmuch as that part of the cylinder farthest
from the fire necessarily became to some extent cool and required to be again
heated to the maximum temperature there was obviously a considerable waste of
heat added to which the quality of the material under treatment was not improved
by subjection to varying degrees of temperature.
The apparatus employed in carrying the present invention into effect consists of
a furnace within which is mounted a horizontal chamber formed of sheet iron and
of gradually decreasing diameter from one end to the other and this roasting
chamber is at its ends flanged to take a bearing upon suitably disposed supporting
rollers the ends of the chamber being enclosed except as hereinafter described by
means of covers which may be perforated if desired.
The chamber at one end is provided with means by the aid of which it receives
a reciprocating rotary motion from a steam engine or other source of power the
parts being so arranged that a rocking motion is imparted to the roasting chamber
to the extent of say for example about a third of a revolution.
By these means the grain under treatment is maintained at a more uniform
temperature with a less expenditure of fuel than heretofore inasmuch as the upper
and necessarily cooler part of the chamber is not brought into contact with the
granular material.
Passing axially through the roasting chamber is a shaft which receives a slow
rotary motion by any suitable means and upon this shaft at the large or feed end
of the roasting chamber and extending about one third of the length thereof are
arranged around the shaft three curved blades or lifters in transverse section of
the form of half cylinders.
These blades are arranged in such manner that one edge thereof runs in contact
or nearly so with the roasting chamber whilst the other edge occupies a position
some distance therefrom each of such blades or half cylinders extending from
about the centre of the inside face of another of such half cylinders that is to say
the curve of each half cylinder is struck from a different part of a circle drawn
around the theoretical axis of the roasting chamber.
The blades half cylinders or lifters are united by means of a band with a wire
gauze chamber which forms a continuation thereof the whole being of conical shape
similar to the roasting chamber and forming an inner chamber to contain the
grain.
The grain or material to be treated is fed into a hopper communicating with
a feed chamber containing a feed screw fixed upon the shaft and the feed chamber
cominunicates with the interior of that part of the inner chamber formed by the

page_text: half cylinders or blades into which the material is fed, the roasting chamber being
then or previously charged with a proper quantity of the granulated coke.
The blades half cylinders or lifters in their revolution pick up the granulated
coke which by the conical or inclined form of the roasting chamber is constantly.
working back to the feed end thereof whence it is again conducted through openings
between the lifters to the grain under treatment the peculiar arrangement of the
lifters enabling the granulated coke to be conducted to the grain but effectually
preventing the grain from working out into the roasting chamber.
The lifters are furnished at intervals between their overlapping parts with
divisions to prevent the grain drifting or settling back to the lowest part of the
lifters and thus being unequally distributed.
The lifters pick up the granulated coke at the hottest part of the roasting
chamber and conduct it to the grain before it has time to part with its extreme
heat.
The grain combined with the granulated coke is advanced along the inner
chamber by means of a feed screw arranged around the shaft and is thus carried
to the gauze portion where in the revolution thereof the granulated coke falls
through the wire gauze to the roasting chamber whence it returns by gravity to
the feed end thereof in readiness to be used over again whilst the finished grain
passes away by a delivery spout to any desired destination.
In lieu of forming the inner chamber partly of the peculiarly formed half
cylinders, blades or lifters the entire of the inner chamber may be formed of wire
gauze and the granulated coke may be introduced by means of blades or lifters
carried by the exterior thereof and if desired the feed screw may be formed partly
or wholly of sheet iron.
The roasting chamber may at its upper part be provided with openings to allow
of the escape of vapour driven off from the material under treatment and in
such case the perforations in the ends of the roasting chamber may be dispensed
with.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus constructed according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the inner chamber to contain the grain.
Figure 6 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 represents a portion of Figure 3 with part of the lifters broken away
in order to show the division pieces.
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic end view thereof.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of inner chamber.
Figure 10 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is an elevation of a further slight modification in the inner chamber.
Figure 12 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 11
and
Figure 13 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 11.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8 a represents the furnace, a' represent the walls of
the furnace which are formed of brick work and a² represents a frame of angle
iron enclosing the brick work.
Within the furnace a is mounted a horizontal roasting chamber 6 formed of
sheet iron and of gradually decreasing diameter from one end to the other, that is

page_text: to say from the feed end to the delivery end thereof, and this roasting chamber b
is at each end flanged and has bolted thereto a ring or cover 61 which takes a
bearing upon flanged supporting rollers 61* mounted upon axes of motion carried
by a girder a fixed with the frame a' so that the chamber b is adapted to receive
the required reciprocating rotary motion and the ends of the chamber are thus
enclosed except as hereinafter described.
Upon the cover b¹ at one end of the roasting chamber 6 are fixed a number of
horizontal pins or teeth 6 which are engaged by corresponding teeth c² of a
horizontal rack bar c mounted with capability of longitudinal movement between
flange supporting and guide rollers_c* carried by the frame a² and the rack bar c
has piojointed thereto at one end of a connecting rod c the other end of which
is pivotally connected with the pin of a crank c¹ fixed upon a horizontal shaft c³
mounted with capability of revolution in suitable bearings.
The shaft through a pulley c and band of receives a rotary motion from a
steam engine or other suitable source of power and by the rotation of the crank
a reciprocating motion is given to the rack bar c which in turn imparts a rocking
motion to the roasting chamber 6 to the extent of about a one third part of a
revolution more or less.
By these means the grain under treatment is maintained at a more uniform
temperature with a less expenditure of fuel than heretofore inasmuch as the upper
and necessarily cooler part of the chamber b is not brought into contact with the
granular material.
Passing axially through the roasting chamber b is a shaft d which at its ends
is mounted in bearings d" one of such bearings being carried by a bracket a* from
the frame a² and the other by the tubular feed chamber d' which in turn is supported
by a girder a carried by brackets a' from the frame a² and the shaft d receives a
slow rotary motion from the shaft through a chain wheel 8 upon the latter,
chain and chain wheel & fixed upon the former that is to say upon the
shaft d.
At the large or feed end of the roasting chamber 6 and extending about one
third of the length thereof more or less are arranged around the shaft & three
curved blades or lifters d in transverse section somewhat of the form of half
cylinders as shown more particularly at Figure 6.
These blades or lifters d are arranged in such manner that one edge thereof that
is to say the edge farthest from the axis d runs in contact or nearly so with the wall
of the roasting chamber 6 whilst the other edge occupies a position some distance
from such wall that is to say each of the half cylinders d forms an arc struck from
a centre eccentric to the shaft or axis d and extends from about the centre of the
inside face of another of such half cylinders the curve of each half cylinder
being struck from a different part of a circle drawn around the theoretical axis of
the roasting chamber b.
The blades, half cylinders or lifters d' are fixed with the shaft d by means of a
feed screw d³ and division pieces d* hereinafter more fully referred to, and they
are united by means of a band or collar d' with a wire gauze chamber d³ similarly
fixed with the shaft d the entire combination being of conical shape similar to that
of the roasting chamber b and forming an inner chamber to contain the grain.
The grain or material to be treated is fed into a hopper de communicating with a
tubular feed chamber d containing a feed screw d³ fixed upon the shaft d and
the feed chamber at its inner end communicates with the interior of that part
of the inner chamber formed by the half cylinders or blades d' into which the
material is fed the roasting chamber b being then or previously charged with a
proper quantity of the granulated coke.
4
The blades, half cylinders, or lifters d in their revolution with the shaft d pick
up the granulated coke from the bottom of the roasting chamber b which by the
conical or inclined form of such chamber b is constantly working back to the feed
end thereof, whence it is again conducted by the blades or lifters d and
openings do between the same to the grain under treatment the peculiar arrangement

page_text: of the blades or lifters & enabling the granulated coke to be conducted to the
grain, but effectually preventing the grain from working out into the roasting
chamber b.
The lifters & are furnished at intervals between their overlapping parts_with
division pieces 2** which are fixed with the feed screw d³ and the lifters P and
Eerve to prevent the grain bodily drifting or settling back to the lower part of
the lifters d or part adjacent to the feed end of the device and thus being
unequally distributed or introduced into the inner chamber.
The lifters d pick up the granulate coke at the hottest part of the roasting
chamber and immediately conduct it to the grain through the openings dan
before it has time to part with its extreme heat; that is to say by reason of the
openings do the granulated coke is enabled to be passed into the inner chamber at
or near the lower part thereof whereas in the machines heretofore employed in
which the inner chamber was formed of wire gauze without openings such as dio
the granular material did not pass through the gauze until it reached the upper
part of the circle described by the rotating inner chamber and was consequently
more or less cooled.
The grain combined with the granulated coke is advanced along the inner
chamber b by means of the feed screw d³ arranged along the shaft d and which is
represented as being formed of wire gauze although it might be wholly or partly of
sheet iron and the material is thus carried to the gauze portion d' of the inner
chamber, where in the revolution thereof the granulated coke falls through the wire
gauze to the roasting chamber whence it returns by gravity to the feed end
thereof in readiness to be used over again as herein before described whilst the
finished grain passes away by a delivery spout d to any desired destination the
coke being if necessary afterwards separated from the grain by sifting or otherwise.
The upper part of the roasting chamber b is provided with openings 6* to allow of
the escape of vapour from the material under treatment the vapour passing away by
the shaft or flue a* or if desired the ends or covers b¹
be at the upper
may
part perforated with a similar object but in this case the openings b* herein before
referred to may be dispensed with.
In the example given at Figures 9 and 10 the inner chamber in lieu of being
formed partly of the curved blades or lifters d² is formed entirely of wire
gauze d'or the like, and the curved blades or lifters a² are arranged around the
exterior of the gauze do for about half the length of the inuer chamber and in
the revolution of the chamber pick up the coke or granulated material and introduce
it into the interior thereof through the wire gauze.
In this case, inasmuch as the grain is held within the inner chamber by the
wire gauze d³ which extends from end to end thereof, the peculiar overlap of the
blades herein before described with respect to the previous figures is unnecessary
and instead of three blades or lifters as previously described four of such blades
are employed each so shaped that it terminates at the commencement of the next
succeeding blade.
In the example given at Figures 11 12, and 13, the inner chamber is formed
partly of wire gauze d' and partly of several peculiarly arranged lifters or blades f
as described with respect to Figures 1 to 6, but in this case the blades are four in
number and are somewhat differently shaped that is to say instead of being continued
in one curve struck from a given centre eccentric to that of the axis d, the first part
of each blade or lifter & is eccentrically formed as above described, whilst the latter
or tail part is formed concentric with the axis d, the two parts being united by a
step or shoulder d**.
This device although similar in action to that represented at Figures 1 to 6
perhaps more effectually acts to trap the grain contained within the inner chamber
at any rate it presents facilities for constructing the lifters.
In case the granulated material falling through the wire gauze d³ into the
roasting chamber b might not in some cases be carried by gravity with sufficient
rapidity towards the feed end of the apparatus, and in order to accelerate the travel

page_text: of the granulated material in that direction, in the present example, and referring
more particularly to Figures 11 and 13, the gauze part of the chamber is
furnished with a number of inclined blades or projections *, the action of which is
in the revolution of the inner chamber to carry such granulated material to the
rear or feed end of the roasting chamber whence it is picked up by the blades or
lifters das hereinbefore described.
It will be evident that other forms of carbonaceous material thau granulated or
powdered coke of a light character and such as powdered charcoal, may be employed
with good results and it will also be evident that the machine hereinbefore described
may if desired be similarly employed in connection with sand or other granular
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that
what claim is :-
1. In roasting, drying, torrefying or popping grain or seed the employment of
finely divided coke or other suitable light form of carbonaceous matter substantially
as herein shown and described.
2. In means for roasting, drying, torrefying or popping grain or seed a machine
comprising a furnace, a roasting chamber, mounted in or above the furnace an
inner chamber to contain the grain mounted with capability of rotation several
blades or lifters fixed with the inner chamber and adapted to sweep the roasting
chamber several openings in the inner chamber adjacent to the blades and means
for rotating the inner chamber substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In means for roasting, drying, torrefying or popping grain or seed a machine
comprising a furnace a roasting chamber mounted with capability of oscillating or
partially rotating, au inner chamber to contain the grain mounted with capability
of rotation wholly or partly formed of wire gauze or perforated metal and partly
formed of or provided with a number of curved blades or lifters adapted to pick
up the coke or other granular material from the bottom of the roasting chamber
and convey it into the inner chamber openings in the inner chamber at the inuer
ends of the lifters to receive the granular material means for rotating the inner
chamber and means for oscillating the roasting chamber substantially as herein
shown and described.
4. In means for roasting, drying, torrefying or popping grain or seed, a machine
comprising a furnace a roasting chamber, mounted with capability of oscillating or
partially rotating and of conical shape or arranged in an inclined position, an inuer
chamber formed partly or wholly of wire gauze or perforated metal to contain the
grain mounted with capability of rotation and partly formed of or provided with a
number of curved blades or lifters adapted to pick up the coke or other granular
material from the bottom of the roasting chamber and convey it into the inner
chamber openings at the inner ends of the lifters to receive the granular material
division pieces fixed with the lifters a feed screw or the like for conveying the
grain through the inner chamber, means for rotating the inner chamber and
means for oscillating the roasting chamber substantially as herein shown and
described.
5. In means for roasting, drying, torrefying, or popping grain or seed, a chamber
adapted to be rotated and formed wholly or partly of several blades or lifters each
curved to the arc of an independent circle eccentric to the axis of the chamber and
overlapping in such manner as to leave openings communicating with the interior
of the chamber and yet prevent such contents escaping substantially as herein
shown and described.
Dated this 96th dor of A nil 1905
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.