IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING AыIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTERS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Joseph Ellis, of 43, Castle Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING AыIMAL AND VEGETABLE
MATTERS,"
Sealed the 8th April 1870, and dated the 13th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Joseph Ellis
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th October 1869.
I, ROBERT JOSEPH ELLIS, of 43, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING ANIMAL
AND VEGETABLE MATTERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improved system of desiccating
or drying animal and vegetable matters, the substances to be dried being
treated in vacuo.

page_text: casing or jacket, a cover, which is also jacketted. In the interior of this
tank, cylinder, or other vessel there may be tubes or pipes having one
end open to the casing or jacket. Connected with this casing or jacket
is a pipe, by means of which superheated steam or hot air may be
introduced, which steam or hot air circulates freely through the jacket
of the tank or vessel, also through the cover and the tubes or pipes
before mentioned. The interior of the tank or vessel is connected by
means of a pipe or passage with a condenser fitted with an air pump,
which condenser may be placed in a tank of water, or as found expedient.
The steam jacket and cover, or in other words the whole exterior of the
tank and steam pipe, are thickly lagged with felt or other suitable
clothing material, which lagging is secured by means of wood or
otherwise in the ordinary manner. The cover may be fitted with an
india-rubber ring or other means of obtaining an air-tight joint. The
cover is also fitted with rings or eye bolts for the purpose of removal.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The animal or vegetable
matter or substance to be desiccated or dried is upon removal of the
cover placed in the tank. The cover is then replaced and steam or hot
air is admitted into the jacket or casing, cover, and pipes or tubes.
Evapouration of the moisture contained in the inatter in the tank then
takes place, which vapour or steam passes through the pipe or passage,
and is condensed in the condenser and then ejected. It will thus be
seen that the matter is desiccated in vacuo.
By preference I would construct an apparatus according to this
Invention as follows, namely, a cased or jacketted cylindrical tank hung
or suspended by means of trunnions, and having four vertical tubes or
pipes of suitable dimensions in the interior of the tank, closed at the
top and connected with the jacket or casing at the bottom and a distanco
of not more than twelve inches from pipe co pipe or from pipes to side
of tank. This tank is supported and swings between two vertical frames
having suitable trunnion bearings on the outside of the tauk, and cou-
nected with one trummion is an exhaust pipe or passage which is open to
the top of the interior of the tank Connected with this exhaust passage
is a pipe which is connected with a condenser having a suitable stuffing
box, allowing the tank to oscillate when necessary. Passing through the
other trunnion is a pipe connected with and open to the steam casing or
Jacket of the tank, and working in a suitable stuffing box. The tank is

page_text: fitted with a suitable jacketted cover which is connected to the main
jacket or casing of the tank by means of a pipe having an ordinary screw
coupling joint. The cover forms an air-tight joint with the tank by
means of its own weight pressing on a recessed india-rubber ring which
extends round the outside flange of the tank. The whole of the tank
and steam pipe are lagged over in a suitable manner. The bottom and
cover of the tank are fitted with suitable cocks for the withdrawal of
any water or condensed steam contained therein.
The action of this apparatus will then be as follows:-On removal of
the cover the interior of the tank is filled with the matter to be
desiccated, the vertical tubes passing through the midst. The cover is
then replaced and steam or hot air is introduced by means of the pipe
passing throngh the trunnion, which steam circulates freely through the
jacket cover and pipes, causing evapouration of the moisture contained
in the matter in the interior. The vapour or steam thus created passes
through the exhaust passage into the condenser, where it is condensed
and ejected, thus forming a vacuum in the interior of the tank. It will
When it is
thus be seen that the matter is being desiccated in vacuo.
considered the matter has been sufficiently dried the cover is removed
and the whole tank canted over and emptied.
As one of the great evils to be contended with in the boiling of some
matters is priming, or in other words the evaporation being given off in
foam or globular particles containing steam, and in this form going into
the condenser, I fit inside the tank what I terin a foam disperser, which
consists of two series of small vertical plates, the plates being placed
alternately, and each plate being connected to a bar at the top and
bottom alternately. The action of this foam disperser is thus :-The steam
or foam passes between these vertical plates or rakes, which are kept in
The globular
constant agitation by some suitable mechanical motion.
particles are thereby crushed, allowing the steam contained to pass
through the exhaust passage and the foreign matter forming what may
be termed the skin of the globules or bubbles to remain in the tank.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Joseph Ellis in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
JOSEPH ELLIS, of 43, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year
of ller reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Joseph Ellis, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Joseph Ellis, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Joseph Ellis, 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 might make, 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
APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Joseph Ellis, my
executors 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Joseph Ellis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
my
This Invention has for its object an improved system of desiccating
or drying animal or vegetable matters, the substances to be dried being
treated in vacuo.
An apparatus constructed according to this Invention consists as
follows, namely, of a cylindrical or other shaped tank or vessel, having
an exterior casing or jacket, a cover, which is also jacketted. In the
interior of this tank, cylinder, or other vessel there may be tubes or

page_text: COUNCcted WIDIS
pipes having one end open to the casing or jacket.
this casing or jacket is a pipe, by means of which steain, superhcated
steam, or hot air, or hot water may be introduced, which steam, or hot
air, or hot water circulates freely through the jacket of the tank or
vessel, also through the cover and tubes or pipes before mentioned.
The interior of the tank or vessel is connected by means of a pipe or
passage with a condenser fitted with an air pump, which condenser
may be placed in a tank of water, or as found expedient. The jacket
and cover, or in other words the whole exterior of the tank and steam
pipe, are thickly lagged with felt or other suitable clothing material,
which lagging is secured by means of wood or otherwise in the ordinary
manner. The cover is fitted with an india-rubber ring or other suitable
means of obtaining an air-tight joint. The cover is also fitted with
rings or eye bolts for the purpose of removal.
By preference I would construct an apparatus according to this Inven-
tion, especially for drying or desiccating cotton, wool, or other fibrous
substances, as follows, namely, a cased or jacketted cylindrical tank
hung or suspended by means of tunnions, and having four vertical
tubes or pipes of suitable dimensions in the interior of the tank, closed
at the top end and connected with the jacket or casing at the bottom,
and a distance of not more than twelve inches from pipe to pipe or
from pipes to side of tank. This tank is supported on trunnions and
On
swings between two vertical frames having suitable bearings.
the outside of the tank and connected with one trunnion is an exhaust
pipe or passage, which is open to the top of the interior of the tank.
Connected with this exhaust passage is a pipe which leads to a condenser ;
this pipe has a suitable stuffing box, allowing the tank to oscillate or
revolve for purposes of agitating or emptying when necessary. Through
the other trunnion passes a stea:n pipe connected with and leading into
the steam casing or jacket of the tank, and working in a suitable stuffing
box. The tank is fitted with a jacketted cover, which is connected to
the main jacket or casing of the tank by means of a pipe having an
ordinary screw coupling joint. The cover forms an air-tight joint with
the tank by means of its own weight pressing on a recessed india-rubber
ring or other packing which extends round the outside flange of the
tank. The bottom and cover of the tank are fitted with suitable cocks
for the withdrawal of any water or condensed steam contained therein.
The pipes or interior tubes are fitted with "pet" cocks for the purpose

page_text: of blowing through or driving out the air. The whole of the tank and
steam pipe are thickly lagged with felt and timber in a suitable
manner.
A modification of this machine for the more especial purpose of
drying grain or making or drying malt consists of a barrel-shaped
tank cased or jacketted all over, having four or any suitable number of
horizontal pipes or tubes running from end to end and opening into the
jacket or casing. A man-hole door is provided for the purpose of
emptying and supplying the tank. The tank revolves freely on suitable
trunnions on each end, through one pair of which steam is admitted
into the jacket, and through the other the vapour given off from the
grain is drawn into a condenser, the grain being thus dried in vacuo.
As one of the great evils to be contended with in the drying, boiling,
or evaporating of some matters is "priming," or in other words the
evaporation being given off in foam or globular particles containing
steam, and in this form being drawn into the condenser, I fit when
required and inside the tank and over the exhaust passage what I term
a foam disperser, which consists of two series of small vertical plates
being placed alternately, and each plate being connected to a bar or rod
at the top and bottom alternately.
In order that this my Invention may be more clearly seen and under-
stood, I have hereunto annexed Drawings illustrating an apparatus
constructed according to my Invention that will enable any engineer
to carry the same into practical effect. For simplicity and clearness I
have shown a cylindrical tank, as before described, but I do not confine
myself to this especial shape, as the tank may be made barrel-shaped
with horizontal tubes or of any shapes, especially suited for the purposes
to which it is to be adapted. Like letters and figures marked on the
different views are used to denote similar parts throughout the various
Figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing a desiccating tank according
to my Invention hung in trunnions; attached is a condenser and air
pump; Figure 2 is an end ontside elevation of the same; Figure 3 is
a plan of tank condenser and air pump; Figure 4 is a plan of cover;
Figures 5 and 6 elevation and part plan of foam disperser, which may
be fitted near top inside of tank when required.
A, interior of tank; B, steam jacket round tank; C, steam tubes or
pipes inside tank ; D, exhaust pipe or pussage leading to the condenser;

page_text: E, condenser; F, air pump; G, water tank, containing condenser and air
pump; H, cover of tank; I, I', truunion brackets or supports; K,
steam or hot air pipe leading from a boiler or hot air chamber to jacket
of tank; L, toothed bevel wheel for canting or revolving tank; M,
lagging; N, ring bolt for removing cover, O, stays for strengthening
tank; P, P, stuffing boxes; Q (Figures 2 and 4), connexion between
cover and steam jacket of tank; R, cock for removing water or
densed steam from steam jacket of tank; S, india-rubber or other
packing ring between cover and tank forming a perfect joint.
con-
The action of the machine is as follows:-The matter to be desiccated
is placed within the tank and round the tubes C and the cover put in
its place, forming a joint with the tank by means of the packing ring S.
Steam or hot air is then introduced into the jacket, pipes, or tubes, and
cover by means of the pipes K and Q. The air pump is then set to
work, causing the vapour generated in the tank to be brought into the
condenser E and condensed, and from thence ejected, thereby forming
a vacuum in the tank; thus the matter in the tank is being dried or
concentrated in vacuo. In the case of adapting a barrel-shaped tauk
with horizontal tubes open to the jacket at both ends, and having a
man-hule door or cover for entrance to the tank, the tauk is filled with
grain or material to be dried through this mau-hole door or cover;
the man-hole cover is then replaced and the tank made to revolve by
means of suitable mechanism, the grain being thereby turned and turned,
allowing every particle to be acted upon by the heat of the tank.
The foam disperser, Figures 5 and 6, acts in this manuer :-The series
of plates b, b, b, b, are fixed inside the tank. The plates are worked
horizontally to and fro between the plates 6 by suitable rods d, working
through stuffing boxes in the side of the tank, thus breaking the foain
or globules formed by the ebullition of the matter, and allowing the
steam or vapour generated to be drawn freely into the condenser.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
saine into practical effect, I wish it to be clearly understood that I do
not confine myself to the relative dimensions or various proportions of
the apparatus as shown in the Drawings, as it will be readily seen that
the same may be considerably varied without departing from my Inven-
tion; but what I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent
aforesaid is,

page_text: Firstly. The construction, arrangement, aud combination herein shown
and described, constituting an apparatus for desiccating animal and
vegetable matters, substantially in the manner herein set forth.
Secondly. The foam disperser shown in Figures 5 and 6, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Joseph Ellis, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH,
of 43, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
ROBERT JOSEPH (L.s.) ELLIS.