IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR OTHERWISE TREATING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1866

page_text: G
LETTERS PATENT to William Creasy, of Bull's Hall, Bedfield, in the County
of Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR DRYING OR OTHERWISE TREATING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES,"
Sealed the 12th March 1867, and dated the 15th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Creasy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
September 1866.
I, WILLIAM CREASY, of Bull's Hall, Bedfield, in the County of Suffolk, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR OTHERWISE TREATING GRAIN AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in modifications of machinery invented by me, and
patented on the 19th December 1865, with a view of more readily dealing
with large quantities of grain, in which case it is essential to render the
appliances for loading and discharging as perfect as possible.
To this end my present Invention consists, firstly, of an arrangement of an
inner and outer cylinder composed of wire cloth or perforated plates, between
which cylinders the grain or other material to be treated is fed either through
an ordinary hopper regulated by a sliding or hinged valve or ordinary feeding
roller, the one cylinder being made to revolve more rapidly than the other, and
one or both carrying arms or projections which may be spirally disposed so as
Priced 1

page_text: to cause progression of the grain from one end to the other. Instead of
regulating the flow of grain by means of a hopper valve or feed roller, the
regulation may be made at the end of the cylinders at which the said grain is
discharged. Hot air, gas or steam, or other fluid or liquid is passed through
the centre of the inner cylinder, and is forced or drawn through the said grain
and so through the outer cylinder into a casing which surrounds the same, or
the action may be reversed, the het air or other fluid passing through the
outer cylinder and being discharged through the centre of the inner one.
My Invention consists, secondly, in arranging two perforated cylinders as
above described, but only giving motion to one of them, this motion being
sufficient only to cause the necessary progression of the grain. Hot air is
supplied by an ordinary hot-air stove, and is drawn or forced through the grain
by ordinary fans. In the first arrangement described dust, water, or other
matter would be thrown out of the grain by centrifugal force as the cylinders
are intended to run at a high speed. In some cases two fans may be used,
one for exhausting and one for forcing, and where great pressure is required
to get the air through the substance to be treated, such as brewer's grains,
two fans may be combined to produce the necessary blast.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in constructing an endless band of perforated
plates hinged together, or of wire gauze or other suitable material, such band
carrying boards or paddles upon it, between which the grain is made to lie.
The band is caused to travel by passing over two rollers, and the grain is made
to fill the spaces between the said paddles by means of a hopper and arrange-
ment as heretofore described. Beneath the lower portion of the band a per-
forated bottom is placed, so that when the grain is inverted by passing round
the roller furthest from the feeding end it falls on the perforated bottom and
is drawn along it by the action of the paddles. A division is placed between
the two rollers in line with their centres, so that hot air may be made to pass
through the grain on the upper part of the band, and also through the perforated
bottom, and through the grain upon it, the vapour passing away from the said
grain through the lower portion of the band and below the division between
the rollers before described. Instead of a moveable band in some cases I
prefer to fix the paddles on endless chains, and make them work between fixed
perforated plates. Two or more of such bands or series of paddles may be
arranged one over the other or side by side, or may be inclined, the grain from
one passing on to the next, or by closing the feed orifice the grain may be
worked several times over on the same band.
My Invention cousists, fourthly, in the introduction of pipes into the casing
of the machine which may be heated by steam or otherwise when the air

page_text: direct from the stove is objectionable. In the last arrangement described
these pipes would lie between the two parts of the endless band or chain of
paddles, the vapour passing off at the sides, that is, when the band is placed
vertically.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in arranging the trays described in ny
former Patent so that the hot air or other fluid shall be made to pass through
single trays of the grain or substances to be treated instead of through several
of them, proper inlets and outlets being arranged for this purpose; and,
further, that a series of rotating spindles with suitable projections upon
them are arranged for the purpose of keeping the grain stired or moved
while lying upon the fixed trays. These stirers may be driven in any
convenient way, and may be so arranged as to feed the several trays to
which they are attached.
To further facilitate the evaporation of moisture from the grain I construct
the arms or projections described in the first and second parts of my Invention
hollow or double, the sides of such arms or blades being perforated so as to
allow air or other fluid to pass through them; this applies to both those on
the moving and fixed cylinders, the stems to which they are or may be
attached to the cylinders being hollow and so arranged that they can be
altered in position so as to cause progression of the grain with more or less
rapidity. I construct also the paddles described in the third part of my
Invention hollow with perforations for the same purpose when such paddles
are attached to the endless perforated band.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Creasy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CREASY, of Bull's Hall, Bedfield, in the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Creasy Her special licence that I, the said William
Creasy, my executers, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Creasy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR OTHERWISE TREATING GRAIN
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Creasy, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 nextand immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Creasy, 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 improvements consist in modifications of machinery invented by me
and patented on the 19th December 1865, with a view of more readily
dealing with large quantities of grain, in which case it is essential to render
the appliances for loading and discharging as perfect as possible. To this end
my present Invention consists, firstly, of an arrangement of an inner and
outer cylinder composed of wire cloth or perforated plates, between which
cylinders the grain or other material to be treated is fed, either through an
ordinary hopper regulated by a sliding or hinged valve, or ordinary feeding
roller; the one cylinder being made to revolve more rapidly than the other,
and one or both carrying arms or projections which may be spirally disposed,
so as to cause progression of the grain from one end to the other. Instead of
regulating the flow of grain by means of a hopper, valve, or feed roller, the
regulation may be made at the end of the cylinders at which the said grain is
discharged. Hot air, gas, or steam, or other fluid or liquid is passed through
the centre of the inner cylinder and is forced or drawn through the said grain,
and so through the outer cylinder into a casing which surrounds the same, or
the action may be reversed, the hot air or other fluid passing through the
outer cylinder, and being discharged through the centre of the inner oue.
My Invention consists, secondly, in carrying two perforated cylinders, as
above described, but only giving motion to one of them, this motion being
sufficient only to cause the necessary progression of the grain. Hot air is
supplied by an ordinary hot-air stove, and is drawn or forced through the
grain by ordinary fans. In the first arrangement described dust, water, or
o'her matter would be thrown out of the grain by centrifugal force, as the

page_text: cylinders are intended to run at a high speed. In some cases two fans may be
used, one for exhausting and one for forcing, and where great pressure is
required to get the air through the substance to be treated, such as brewers'
grains, two fans may be combined to produce the necessary blast.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in constructing an endless band of per-
forated plates hinged together, or of wire gauze or other suitable material,
such band carrying boards or paddles upon it, between which the grain is
made to lie. The band is caused to travel by passing over two rollers, and
the grain is made to fill the spaces between the said paddles by means of a
hopper and arrangement as heretofore described. Beneath the lower portion
of the band a perforated bottom is placed, so that when the grain is inverted
by passing round the roller furthest from the feeding end it falls on the per-
forated bottom and is drawn along it by the action of the paddles. A division
is placed between the two rollers in line with their centres, so that hot air
may be made to pass through the grain on the upper part of the band, and
also through the perforated bottom and through the grain upon it, the
vapour passing away from the said grain through the lower portion of the
band and below the division between the rollers before described. Instead of
a moveable band in some cases I prefer to fix the paddles on endless chains,
and make them work between fixed perforated plates. Two or more of such
bands or series of paddles may be arranged one over the other, or side by
side, or may be inclined, the grain from one passing on to the next, or by
closing the feed orifice the grain may be worked several times over on the
same band.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in the introduction of pipes into the casing
of the machine, which may be heated by steam or otherwise when the air
direct from the stove is objectionable. In the last arrangement described
these pipes would lie between the two parts of the endless band or chain of
paddles, the vapours passing off at the sides, that is, when the band is placed
vertically.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in arranging the trays described in my
former Patent, so that the hot air or other fluid shall be made to pass through
single trays of the grain or substances to be treated instead of through several
of them, proper inlets and outlets being arranged for this purpose; and,
further, that a series of rotating spindles, with suitable projections upon
them, are arranged for the purpose of keeping the grain stirred or moved
while lying upon the fixed trays. These stirers may be driven in any
convenient way, and may be so arranged as to feed the several trays to
which they are attached.

page_text: To further facilitate the evaporation of moisture from the grain I construct
the arms or projections described in the first and second parts of my Invention
hollow or double, the sides of such arms or blades being perforated so as to
allow air or other fluid to pass through them. This applies to both those
on the moving and fixed cylinders, the stems to which they are or may be
attached to the cylinders being hollow, and so arranged that they can be
altered in position so as to cause progression of the grain with more or less
rapidity. I construct also the paddles described in the third part of my
Invention hollow, with perforations, for the same purpose when such
paddles are attached to the endless perforated band.
Having now described the general nature of my improvements, I proceed
to point out how the same may be carried out practically, but would first
observe that I find it is not necessary always to perforate the plates of which
the cylinders or bands, above described, are made, it sometimes being con-
venient to form them of plain sheet iron, merely perforating the projecting
arms or blades through which the hot air or vapour may pass. I also some-
times form the outer cylinder of the rotating cylinder arrangement in the
form of a screen, i.e., a cylinder formed of wirework, which may be so
arranged in the ordinary way of adjusting screens so that any small grains
may be driven through, and so separated from the bulk of grain treated.
Fig. 1 shews one of the arrangements first described. A is the revolving
cylinder, either of plain sheet iron or perforated, and carrying the arms or
blades E, E, which are also perforated; B is the outer cylinder, in this case
fixed and perforated, but may be made of plain sheets, and have perforated
blades to let out the vapour; Cis the outer casing; D, the hopper for feeding,
and F, the spout for discharging the grain; G is the pipe through which
the hot air is driven by a fan from an ordinary portable furnace, and H, the
pulley for driving the inner cylinder. The blades E, E, may be more or
less inclosed, so as to cause more or less progression of the grain, or may
be omitted in some cases altogether, and doors formed in the outer cylinder
for taking the grain out of the machine.
Fig. 2 shews another modification of the cylindrical arrangement. In this
case outer cylinder A revolves by means of belt on the drum B; the smaller
cylinder C is fixed, and may be perforated or not, as above described; if not
it must have perforated arms attached to it. The outer cylinder also carries
arms spirally arranged, and perforated or not. The hot air is fed through the
hollow perforated shaft D, upon the ends of which the outer cylinder revolves,
being carried by the friction rollers E, E. The grain is fed in at the tube F,
and is discharged through openings at the end G; H, H, are standards sup-

page_text: porting the whole machine; a hopper may be fitted over the feeding tube F.
In the arrangement described above, where both outer and inner cylinders
revolve, a pulley is attached to the shaft carrying the inner cylinder, as well
as upon the outer cylinder, to which respectively any relative velocities can
be given, their motion being either in the same or opposite directions.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Creasy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM CREASY. (L.S.)