Year: 1886

page_text: I, LOUIS GATHMANN of Chicago, Ilinois, United States of America, Manufacturer,
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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for drying grain by artificial heat in a
continuous automatic operation; and consists essentially in arranging an air-
heating apparatus between the legs of an elevator, and providing for a free
circulation of the heated air through the grain while elevated in the buckets
of the said elevator.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved apparatus, and,
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same.
―
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A is one of a pair of sprocket-wheels mounted upon a shaft a, to which power is
applied in any suitable manner; and B is one of a pair of sprocket-wheels
mounted upon a shaft b within the boot C of the elevator. Over these sprocket-
wheels A and B are stretched endless chains or links-belts D, carrying elevator-
buckets E, which latter are made of perforated sheet metal or wire-cloth in such a
manner as to hold the grain and yet to allow a circulation of air through such
grain.
For the purpose of providing a ready discharge of the grain from the buckets E
into the hopper F, I place below the upper sprocket-wheels A a pair of idler-
wheels G, that guide the chains D on their loose or downmoving side to about on
a parallel line with the elevating side of the chains. But these guide-wheels G are
not essential, since by placing the elevator on an inclination, it can be made to
discharge the grain into the hopper F without such guide-wheels G.
H, H are the elevator-legs in which the bucket-chains travel, and extending
from the boot C to the head I. To one end of the head I is connected the hopper F,
which, at its lower end, has a rotating spout J.
The space which is generally left open between the elevator-legs H H¹ is,
according to this invention, closed in upon both sides, and into the vertical
chamber Z thus obtained I place the horizontal flue L at the lower end and the
horizontal flue M at the upper end, which flues communicate through a series of
vertical tubes N.

page_text: O is a stove or furnace placed near the elevator. The hot gases or products of
combustion from a fire in such stove O are conducted through the smoke-pipe P
into the flue L, whence they pass upward through the flues N into the flue M, and
thence are carried off through a smoke pipe Q. The flues L, M and N thus
arranged form a radiator for heating the air circulating in the chamber Z. The
stove or furnace O is enclosed by a casing R, supported upon legs in order to admit
air from beneath it into the space surrounding the stove, which air, as it becomes
heated, will rise and pass off through the pipe S connected with the space Z beneath
the flue L.
The two walls h and i of the elevator leg H¹ are perforated, to allow the heated
air from the chamber Z to pass through said leg H and thereby through the grain
in the perforated buckets E. The air thence passes into a flue K attached to the
outer wall i and communicating with a suction or exhaust fan T, which draws off
the air impregnated with the moisture evaporated from the grain by the heat, and
which produces a strong air-circulation through the elevator-leg H'.
Grain to be dried is conducted from the bin of an elevator, or is unloaded direct
from vessels or wagons into the elevator-boot through the hopper W. This hopper
is provided with a gate p for regulating the feed of such grain.
If the grain is not sufficiently dried by passing through the machine once, the
spout J is turned to discharge into the hopper X, whence through a chute Y, the
grain is conveyed into the boot to pass through the machine once more, or as often
as necessary.
.
The apparatus may be arranged in any desirable manner to change and regulate
the speed of the upper shaft a, in order that the grain may be held in the buckets
a longer or shorter time according to its condition or the degree of dryness to be
obtained.
It is obvious that a steam radiator may be arranged between the elevator-legs;
or that the heated air may be forced through the grain by a pressure fan, instead
of drawn through by an exhaust fan.
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
First. A grain-drying apparatus consisting of an elevator, and a heat radiator
placed or formed between the legs of such elevator, substantially as set forth.
Second. A grain drying apparatus consisting of an elevator having perforated
buckets, and a heat radiator placed or formed between the legs of such elevator,
substantially as set forth.
Third. A grain drying apparatus consisting of an elevator, a heat radiator placed
or formed between the legs of such elevator, and an exhaust fan connected with
such elevator, all substantially as set forth.
Fourth. A grain drying apparatus consisting of an elevator having perforated
buckets, a heat radiator placed or formed between the legs of such elevator, and an
exhaust fan connected with such elevator, all substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.