An Improved Method of and Means for Drying Granular and Pulverulent Materials.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Drying Granular and
Pulverulent Materials.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of The Towers, Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and means for drying malt,
grain, seeds, coffee, tea and like vegetable substances or other granular and
pulverulent materials by which the drying operation can be conducted very
expeditiously and without injury to the materials treated.
According to my invention the drying is effected by superheated steam in direct
contact with the materials treated. Preferably the steam is passed through the
materials so as to come into intimate contact with all the material and to expedite
the operation.
For the purposes of my invention I employ a drying chamber in which the
materials to be dried are placed on trays or otherwise, and I pass superheated steam
into the said chamber and preferably draw the same off continuously through a
suitable outlet by means of an exhaust pump or fan. The degree of superheat is
regulated according to the character of the materials to be treated.
I sometimes employ close to the drying chamber a superheater either for super-
heating steam coming from a boiler or exhaust steam or for supplementing the
superheat of steam coming from another superheater, and so arranged that the
temperature can be readily controlled. For example the said superheater may be
heated by gas, oil, coal, coke or similar heating agents. Any suitable form of
superheater may be employed. In some instances the pump or fan before mentioned
is dispensed with, and in such instances the steam is blown through the drying
chamber. In other instances the superheated steam is blown in contact with the
material into the chamber vessel or receiver.
The steam may be caused to traverse a circuitous route in its passage through
the drying chamber. The slight amount of condensation of steam that occurs when
the materials are cold is soon re-evaporated, along with the moisture originally
contained in the materials when the temperature rises.
When necessary or desirable a reducing-valve is used to reduce the pressure of
the superheated steam.

page_text: An Improved Method of and Means for Drying Granular and
Pulverulent Materials.
I, HUGH MCPHAIL, of The Towers, Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer,
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:
I have described in the Complete Specification of an application for Patent
No. 11,448 of 1897, filed simultaneously herewith, a method of drying such materials
as yarns and textile fabrics by superheated steam brought into actual or direct
contact therewith. It is the object of my present invention to utilize the same
method for drying articles such as malt, grain, seeds, coffee, tea and like vegetable
substances, or other substances of a granular or pulverulent character.
The manner in which I carry my invention into practice is similar to that set
forth in my aforesaid specification, that is to say I employ a chamber wherein the
substances to be treated are placed and to which the superheated steam is supplied
from a superheater which may be arranged in proximity thereto; the superheated
steam, after having absorbed or taken up the moisture from the substances to be
dried, being withdrawn from the chamber by any suitable means.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an apparatus suitable for
carrying out my invention although if desired I may employ apparatus of other
construction.
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section.
A is the body portion which is in the form of a cylinder somewhat contracted at
its lower end and surrounded with a steam jacket A¹ through which steam can be
caused to circulate by passing in at the pipe a and out at the pipe a¹.
B is a lateral passage situated near the top of the apparatus through which the
granular and pulverulent materials are admitted to the chamber A. This passage
is provided with a valve B' for enabling it to be shut off from the external
atmosphere.
C Care pipes communicating with the lower part of the said chamber A and
provided with valves cc. These pipes communicate with the steam superheater
and serve to admit the steam to the chamber A. D is an exit opening at the bottom.
of the chamber A through which the materials in the chamber can escape after
having been dried. 1) is a valve by which this opening can be controlled.
D is a ring carried by the casing of the said valve D and provided with a series
of hooks D for enabling a sack to be readily connected to the apparatus and
supported in a position to receive the materials as they are allowed to escape from
the chamber A.
E is a pipe near the top of the chamber A through which the superheated steam
after having acted upon the materials within the chamber A can be withdrawn by
suction. E is a horizontally arranged perforated partition or sheet of gauze located
within the chamber A immediately below the pipe E and serving to prevent any of
the granular or pulverulent materials from being withdrawn from the chamber A
when the suction takes place. E is a cover to close the top of the chamber and
permit of ready access being had to the interior of the said chamber when necessary.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
8:1
1. A method of drying the above named or similar substances by subjecting them
to the direct action of superheated steam substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for use with my improved method, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
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1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.