IMPROVEMENTS FANS AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING STACKS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND ALSO FOR WINNOWING AND DRYING CORN AND OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Clay at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July 1882.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHARLES CLAY of Wakefield in the County of York
FANS AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING STACKS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND
ALSO FOR WINNOWING AND DRYING CORN AND OTHER PURPOSES.
"
This invention has for its object improvements in fans and apparatus for cooling
stacks of agricultural produce and also for winnowing and drying corn and other
purposes.
My invention is illustrated by the annexed drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 is an end elevation of a fan with my
improvements applied.
The large gear wheel A is loose upon the central shaft S of the fan and drives
the pinion B. The pinion B and spur wheel C are fixed or cast together. The
spur wheel C drives the pinion wheel E which is fixed on the axle of the fan F.
The series of wheels A, B, C, E and F become a multiplying gear actuated by the
handle D. The fan is employed for exhausting air along or out of the trunk G
which is to be inserted into stacks of hay corn or other produce. By making the
driving wheel A to work on the axle of the fan itself (although I do not not
confine myself thereto) I reduce the size and compass of the fan and gearing. I
may use pitch chains, straps or ropes running in grooved pulleys.
Figure 3 shows a method of thus driving without gear. The letters A, D, E
refer to the same parts as in Figures 1 and 2. The guide pulleys P P¹ are fixed to
studs which can be regulated in slot holes at the back to make up for the
stretching of the rope which passes round a large driving wheel A and over the
guide pulleys P P and round the pinion E on fan shaft.
The fan and case may be of wood, iron, or other material as now made and the
position to the inlet G and outlet may be varied to suit circumstances.
The joint making at H is accomplished by a flanged casting (or wood frame)
attached to the inlet of the fan which sockets or fits up to a similar flanged casting
or frame H' with a recess or "lugs" to receive the casting H at or near the
...מ
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page_text: bottom. On the top of casting H one or more pawls or catches K are fixed which
drop over the edge of casting H¹ and grip the two together. By lifting the catch K
the fan is easily disconnected from the inlet tube G. The tubes may be of wood
iron or other suitable materials and such as are now in use. The tubes may be
built into the stack or they may be inserted afterwards.
I accomplish the latter by cutting on the end of a tube of any convenient
diameter a series of saw-like teeth as at A Figure 4 and clamping a cross handle B
at the other end. With this tool by screwing it round and forcing it into the
stack a circular piece can be bored or cut out of the stack and either withdrawn
by the tube itself or pulled out of the end with a hooked rod. To assist the tube
to enter the stack I may add a screw to the serrated end of the tube. This
instrument may also be used for extracting samples from stacks
The fan can either be fixed on the end of the tube in the place of the handle B
or the tool may be withdrawn and another tube substituted upon which to fix the
fan, and the stack cooled down. The serrations may be either cut into the edge of
the tube itself or may be fixed therein by any convenient means. This tube may
be used also for cutting vertical as well as horizontal holes into stacks to meet the
horizontal tubes for fixing the fans upon and for other ventilating and testing
purposes.
The thermometer for ascertaining the temperature of the stacks is made by
inserting a good glass or other thermometer into end of a metal pointed tube (iron
or brass or copper preferred) in which is a long sight hole for reading the scale.
By thrusting this apparatus into a stack the temperature is easily ascertained on
withdrawing it for the purpose. I also make this instrument with two long sight
holes opposite to each other placing the thermometer inside the tube between
them; this gives greater facility for reading the scale and seeing the height at
which the quicksilver stands. I also put a barbed point to the end of the tubo in
place of the plain point when it is requisite to extract a sample of hay or other
produce from the interior of the stack.