IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAMBERS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL FUEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Barker, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAMBERS
FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL FUEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 29th May 1868, and dated the 2nd December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Barker at the
Office of the Commissioners. of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
December 1867.
I, DAVID, BARKER, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare
the nature. of the said. Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE CONSTRUCTION
OF CHAMBERS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL FUEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of chambers applicable to the
drying of artificial fuel and other substances from which it is desirable to
separate the moisture held in combination. The outer walls of the 'chambers
are built of bricks or of other material or materials adapted for the purpose,
an important principle of the Invention being that every part of the fuel
or other substance or substances under, treatment is subjected to the influence
of the beat employed, and in provision being made for the continuous exit of
the moisture and vapours resulting from the process of drying at the several
points from which the same is or are evolved.
The arrangements for the drying of the fuel or other substances admit of
various modifications in which the essential features of the Invention, that is
to say, the thorough heating of the fuel or other substance or substances to be
dried and the exit of the moisture or vapours are provided for..

page_text: In one method of construction angle iron plates are introduced into or
attached to the walls in the interior of the chamber, the same forming rails for
the support of moveable trays, and also for the support of bars to which are
suspended steam or hot-air pipes when the same are employed for the purpose
of heating the chamber. The blocks of fuel or other substance or substances
to be dried are placed upon iron trays furnished with wheels which run upon
the angle iron, the trays being connected with each other by dovetailing or
otherwise. The trays are introduced into and removed from the chamber by
means of an endless band or other analogous or suitable arrangement, and are
so proportioned in size that when a given number are placed in the chamber
they divide the same into a series of subordinate horizontal compartments,
each of which is furnished at the lower part thereof with an outlet for the
moisture or vapours resulting from the process of drying; such outlets may
be provided by means of perforated: bricks placed in the external walls or
openings made or left therein. for. that purpose. The chamber is closed at
each end by iron shutters so as perfectly to confine the heat during the
operation of drying, shutters being also furnished for the purpose of closing
the before-mentioned outlets in the external walls. Each of the compartments
of the chamber thus made by the arrangement of the iron trays as before
described is heated by means of steam or hot air, the same being obtained .iu
the well known inanner and passed through pipes suspended in each sub-
division of the chamber from bearing bars which are supported by the angle
irou or arranged in some analogous and suitable manuer, or the requisite degree
of heat may be obtained by the direct application of jets of gas or of hot air
without the use of pipes.
'
Another mode of supplying heat to the chamber and its subdivisions is
to introduce from the top thereof revolving stoves, which may be removed
when the operation of drying the fuel or other substance or substances has
been accomplished and the withdrawal thereof is desired, or the chamber
may be constructed. with a space in the centre thereof the same running
longitudinally from end to end and extending from the top to the bottom
and into which space steam or hot air may be introduced for the purposes
required. When several chambers are placed in.juxtaposition to each other
channels or spaces may be provided between the respective chambers for the
escape of the moisture or vapours resulting from the process of drying.
The drying chamber may also be constructed in the form of an ordinary
drying tunnel, the bottom, sides, and top thereof being constructed so as to
form continuous chambers into which steam, hot air, or gas may be admitted
for the purpose of drying the fuel or other substance or substances under treat-

page_text: ment, arrangements similar to those before described being made for the exit
of the moisture or vapours.
Another mode of constructing the drying chambers, and which by pre-
ference is adopted is as follows:-The chamber is divided longitudinally
into subordinate horizontal chambers one above the other, by means of
horizontal flues or enclosed spaces formed of iron plates and extending the
entire length of the chamber, the top plate of each flue or enclosed space
furnishing a support for trays on which the fuel or other substance or
substances to be dried may be placed, and which trays may be withdrawn as
before mentioned. Outlets similar to those before described are furnished at
the lower part of each subordinate chamber for the escape of the moisture and
vapours. At one end of the chamber or at suitable intervals along the length
thereof is or are placed a "pillar" of furnaces, that is to say, a range of
superposed furnaces each of which is open to one of the flues or enclosed
spaces, and into which respectively the heated air passes from the furnaces, a
chimney or chimneys being provided for the exit of the smoke and other
products of combustion. The chamber is closed at each end by moveable
shutters, similar means being also provided for closing the outlets for the
moisture and vapours. By this arrangement each subordinate chamber
receives its beat and also discharges the moisture and vapours from the fuel
or other substance or substances under treatment, the result being that the
process of drying is performed with much greater rapidity and efficacy than
by any other method.
In all the methods of construction before described the removal of the
moisture and vapours may be facilitated by the employment of a fan or fans
or other analogous arrangement as well understood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
BARKER, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
. WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said David Barker, Her special licence that I, the said David Barker,

page_text: my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David
Barker, my 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 miglit nake; 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 THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CHAMBERS FOR DRYING ARTIFICIAL FUEL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Barker, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said 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 inmediately" after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Barker, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the construction of chambers applicable to the
drying of artificial fuel and other substances from which it is desirable to
separate the moisture held in combination. The outer walls of the chambers
are built of bricks, or of other material or materials adapted for the purpose.
An important principle of the Invention being that every part of the fuel or
other substance or substances under treatment is sul-jected to the influence of
the heat employed, and in provision being made for the continuous exit and
removal of the moisture and vapours resulting from the process of drying at
the several points from which the same is or are evolved.
The arrangements for the drying of the fuel or other substances admit of
various modifications, in which the essential features of my said Invention,
that is to say, the thorough beating of the fuel, or other substance or sub-
stances to be dried, and the exit and removal of the moisture or vapours are
provided for.
In one method of construction angle-iron plates are introduced into or
attached to the walls in the interior of the chamber, the same forming rails
for the support of moveable trays, and also for the support of bars, to which
are suspended steam or hot air pipes when the same are employed for the
purpose of beating the chamber. The blocks of fuel or other substance' or
substances to be dried are placed upon iron trays furnished with wheels, which
run upon the angle iron, the trays being connected to each other by means of

page_text: dovetailed joints, or in any other suitable and convenient manner. The trays
are introduced into and removed from the chamber by means of an endless
band or other analogous or suitable arrangement, and are so proportioned in
size that when a given number are placed in the chamber, they divide the
same into a series of subordinate horizontal compartments, each of which is
furnished at the lower part thereof with an outlet for the moisture or vapours
resulting from the process of drying. Such outlets may be provided by means
of perforated bricks placed in the external walls or openings made or left
therein for that purpose. The chamber is closed at each end by iron shutters
so as perfectly to confine the heat during the operation of drying, shutters
being also furnished for the purpose of closing the before-mentioned outlets in
the external walls. Each of the compartments of the chamber thus made by
the arrangement of the iron trays as before described is, heated by means of
steam or hot air, the same being obtained in the well-known manner, and
passed through pipes suspended in. each subdivision of the chamber from
bearing bars which are supported by the angle iron, or arranged in some
analogous and suitable manner, or the requisite degree of heat may be obtained
by the direct application of jets of gas or of hot air without the use of pipes.
Another mode of supplying, heat to the chamber and its subdivisions is to
introduce from the top thereof, revolving stoves, which may be removed when
the operation of drying the fuel or other substance or substances has been.
accomplished, and the withdrawal thereof is desired; or the chamber may be
constructed with a space in the centre thereof, the same running longitu-
dinally from end to end, and extending from the top to the bottom, and into
which space steam or hot air may be introduced for the purposes required.
When several chambers are placed in juxta position to each other, channels or
spaces may be provided between the respective chambers for the escape of the
moisture or vapours resulting from the process of drying. The drying chamber
may also be constructed in the form of an ordinary drying tunnel, the bottom,
sides, and top thereof being constructed so as to form continuous chambers,
into which steam, hot air, or gas may be admitted for the purpose of drying
the fuel or other substance or substances under treatment, arrangements
similar to those before described being made for the exit and removal of the
mixture or vapours.
Another mode of constructing the drying chambers, and which by prefer-
ence I usually adopt, is as follows:-The chamber is divided longitudinally
into horizontal flues or enclosed spaces, the same being formed by means of
iron plates extending the entire length of the chamber, the top plate of each
flue or enclosed space furnishing a support for trays on which the fuel or

page_text: other substance or substances to be dried may be placed, and which trays may be
introduced and withdrawn as before mentioned. Outlets similar to those before
described are furnished at the lower part of each subordinate chamber or flue
for the escape of the moisture and vapours. At one end of the chamber or
at suitable intervals along the length thereof is or are placed a "pillar "or
pillars" of furnaces, that is to say, a range of superposed furnaces, each of
which is open to one of the flues or enclosed spaces, and into which respec-
tively the heated air passes from the furnaces, a chimney or chimneys being
provided for the exit of the smoke and other products of combustion. By
this arrangement each subordinate chamber separately receives its heat, and
also discharges the moisture and vapours from the fuel or other substance or
substances under treatment. The heated air may also be caused to opass
through channels or flues formed in the external walls and top of the chamber.
By these arrangements the process of drying is performed with much greater
rapidity and efficacy than by any other method. ;
In all the methods of construction before described, the removal of the
moisture and vapours may be facilitated by the employment of a fan or fans,
or-other analogous arrangement, as well understood.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion
that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim as the Inven-
tion secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
are, the methods of constructing chambers for drying artificial fuel and other
substances, substantially as herein-before described and set forth, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Barker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness;
E. P. H. VAUGHAN,
Patent Agent,
54, Chancery Lane.
DAVID BARKER. (L.S.)