Improvements in and relating to Methods and Apparatus for the Preservative Desiccation of Vegetable and Animal Substances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Methods and Apparatus for the
Preservative Desiccation of Vegetable and Animal Substances.
I, BENJAMIN LONGACRE RYDER, Physician, of Chambersburg, County of Franklin,
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to fruit driers or evaporators, more particularly, to the class
of apparatus by means of which fruits, vegetables, cereals, seed, herbs, and animal
food products are subjected to preservative desiccation.
My invention has for its object the improvement of the constructions set out in
the class of apparatus aforesaid, and to produce a drier capable of carrying out con-
veniently, rapidly and cheaply, a number of known processes in the art of preparing
edible substances by evaporation to resist decay. My present improved drier consists
of the conventional chambers, usually three, arranged one above the other hori-
zontally, the bottom of the lower chamber being inclined in one form of the invention.
In combination with the chambers are suitably hung doors affording ingress and
egress at each end of every chamber, and sliding dampers or valves enable the heated
air as it rises to be directed through the chambers in accordance with the particular
amount or character of drying to be accomplished. My invention comprises, further,
a new and especially accessible hinged hood wherein is to be placed the urn or
brazier containing the bleaching or color-setting chemical in a state of fusion.
preferred construction of furnace is also described, as well as an improved plan of
building the customary trays, with means for grouping them automatically.
A
In connection with my invention I employ trays formed of comparatively wide end
pieces and comparatively narrow side pieces. A wire gauze or open-work bottom is
fastened from side piece to side piece and from end piece to end piece in such
manner that a portion of the width of each end piece extends below the open-work
bottom. Through the bottom the circulating air finds its way, and passes about
each portion of the substance borne by the tray.
As stated above, the body of my invention consists of a box portion divided length-
wise into three chambers as customarily constructed.
On the division floors of each
chamber are fixed strips upon which the trays rest, the wide side pieces of the trays
being in contact with the strips or rails. It will be understood, therefore, that
between the floor of each chamber and the open-work bottom of the trays there
results ample space for the circulation of the drying air currents.
It is my practice to incline the floor of the lowest chamber, and to provide that
chamber with strips or rails fixed to the sides of the chamber, in addition to and
above the floor strips. The side rails are wider apart at one end of the chamber and
converge towards the other end, terminating within the chamber at a distance from
the end door somewhat greater than the width of a tray. If, therefore, a tray be
placed upon either of two corresponding side rails and pushed forward, it will
ultimately fall from the rails to the floor of the lowest chamber. It is the intentional
mode of operation, to place the first tray upon the strips fixed to the floor of the
lowest chamber and to move it forward and place a second tray immediately behind

page_text: it. A third tray is then placed upon the lower of the pairs of side rails. A fourth
tray is pushed in behind the two upon the floor strips, and a fifth tray behind that
upon the side rails. A sixth tray is then placed upon the upper pair of side rails,
cand a similar routine followed with subsequent trays. The method of arrangement
described fills the floor strips with trays from end to end before the side rails are
filled, and, as the trays drop from the side rails they fall upon a tray already in
position beneath. Thus the trays are automatically piled in groups one above another,
usually three high, in which combinations they may be removed and transferred to
the upper chambers.
A suitable heater is attached to or connected with the box of chambers, and
apertures, governed by dampers or equivalent devices, are provided near the ends of
each floor to direct the drying current as desired in different operations.
A stack or up-take of proper form and height is connected with the upper chamber
of the box, and the smoke pipe from the heater is ordinarily admitted into the stack
to increase the draft. Adequate receptacles are introduced in the stack to catch any
falling soot, in order that the same may not drop upon the drying fruit.
An aperture is formed through the top of the box farthest from the heater, and,
covering this aperture is a box or hood hinged or secured to the box in any con-
venient manner.
It is customary to provide a glazed opening in the front of the box
or hood, through which may be seen and watched a quantity of burning sulphur, or
other appropriate chemical, contained in a brazier placed within the hood upon the
top of the box. The fumes of the sulphur being heavier than the heated air displace
the latter and permeate so much of the different chambers and fruit bearing trays as
may be desired, depending upon the character of the operation in hand and the
arrangement of the dampers.
As already stated, the chambers each possess doors at both ends, and, the upper
chamber, in addition to its terminal doors has a swinging or movable partition by
means of which it may be divided or entirely separated from the lower chambers, the
dampers in the floor being manipulated accordingly.
It will be understood that any form of air-heating furnace may be employed as an
element of my invention. The heater is usually located beneath the larger end of
the convergent or lowest chamber, into which the rising column of heated air passes
through an adequate opening or series of openings cut in the slanting floor of the
chamber. I prefer to employ a heater comprising a furnace, a hot air chamber, and
registers or dampers by means of which the supply of cold air to the hot air chamber
may be regulated.
It is not necessary that the brazier containing the burning sulphur should be
permanently located within the hinged hood. It may be placed upon the heater
enabling the fumes to be carried mechanically upward and distributed by the ascending
current of heated air.
This invention includes also, slatted doors which may be inserted in the frames of
the regular doors to permit the admission of external air in performing a certain
class of operations.
To recapitulate, my invention consists of a horizontally placed and suitably sup-
ported oblong box having a slanting lower floor. Interiorly, horizontal floors divide
the box into, usually, three chambers arranged one above another. The floor of each
chamber has strips fixed lengthwise near the side walls of the box, and the trays
above described are constructed to rest upon these strips on the lower edges of their
end pieces. Clearly, the trays can be pushed along the strips one after another as
stated. Through each of the floors near their ends are apertures, and dampers are
provided to open and close such openings. The upper chamber opens at one end
into a suitable stack which carries away the heated air after it has passed over the
fruit contained in the trays upon the rails. At the other end the top of the box is
pierced by an opening which is covered exteriorly by a hinged hood having a
transparent aperture through which may be seen the brazier containing burning
sulphur or equivalent chemical.
The lower chamber is, as a result of the construction explained, larger at one end,

page_text: and the air-heater supports the box beneath that end of the lower chamber which
opens
into the hot air chamber of the heater. Fixed upon the side walls of the
lower chamber are the side rails which approach each other towards the end of the
chamber remote from the heater, terminating at a distance within the chamber
slightly exceeding the width of the trays.
The invention is constructed of any materials selected with reference to the special
and peculiar requirements of each part.
T
2011
1000
Improvements in and Relating to Methods and Apparatus for the
Preservative Desiccation of Vegetable and Animal Substances.
I, BENJAMIN LONGACRE RYDER, Physician, residing at Chambersburg, in the
County of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, of the United States of America, 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 fruit driers or evaporators, more particularly, to the class
of apparatus and methods employed by means of which fruits, vegetables, cereals,
seed, herbs, and animal food products are subjected to preservative desiccation.
My invention has for its object the improvement of the construction set out in the
class of apparatus aforesaid, and to produce a drier capable of carrying out con-
veniently, rapidly and cheaply, a number of known processes in the art of preparing
edible substances by evaporation to resist decay. My present improved drier consists
of the conventional chambers, usually three, arranged one above the other horizontally,
the bottom of the lower chamber being inclined in one form of the invention. In
combination with the chambers are suitably hung doors affording ingress and
egress at each end of every chamber, and sliding dampers or valves enable the
heated air as it rises to be directed through the chambers in accordance with the
particular amount or character of drying to be accomplished. My invention
comprises, further, a new and especially accessible hinged hood wherein is to be
placed the urn or brazier containing the bleaching or color-setting chemical in a
state of fusion. A preferred construction of furnace is also shown herein, as well as an
improved plan of building the customary trays, with means for grouping them
automatically. Not the least important object of my invention is to produce a drying
apparatus wherein the flow of heated air may be so accelerated, retarded, deflected,
or combined with external air and its temperature controlled, that any skilful
operator familiar with the manipulation of mechanical driers in "sweating,"
"developing and preserving flavor or aroma" in tea, coffee, etc., and "arresting
fermentation," in the more common substances, may have adequate apparatus offering
unlimited opportunity for the determination of the best possible treatment,
individually considered, throughout a wide selection of natural products, while
less experienced users may devote the entire structure to the simpler operations
with which they are conversant.
Each constituent element of my invention is described in detail, and its office
together with the mode of operation of the whole fully explained hereinafter.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers are employed to
designate like parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 represents a vertical, longi-
tudinal, mid-sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical,

page_text: longitudinal, mid-sectional view of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 3
represents a perspective, detail view, showing the plan adopted for constructing the
trays, with the means for retaining them in position when grouped. Fig. 4
represents an end elevation from the left of my invention placed as in the first figure.
Fig. 5 represents a vertical cross-section taken upon the plane indicated by line X-X
in the first figure. Fig. 6 represents a vertical, longitudinal, mid-sectional view of
the modification, showing the sliding cut-off and substitute doors in position; Fig. 7
showing the sliding cut-off or partition for use in the upper bleaching chamber, and
Fig. 8 the substitute doors having adjustable, pivoted slats. Both cut-off and
substitute doors are employed at will either in connection with the modification or
with my invention as shown in the first figure. Fig. 9 represents a cross-section
setting out the details of one plan of constructing and combining the walls of the
drier, Fig. 10 showing a view lengthwise of one side wall. Fig. 11, represents a cross-
section setting out the details of a modified plan of constructing and combining the
walls of the chambers, and Fig. 12 shows an interior lengthwise view of one side
wall.
Considering Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, numeral 1 designates the top, 2 the bottom,
3 and 4 the sides of an oblong and customarily rectangular box forming the body
of my invention, which is divided interiorly into an upper, a middle and a lower
chamber by horizontal partitions or floors 5, 6. Frequent mention being made of
these chambers as such, I have indicated them for purposes of this description by the
letters, A for the lower, B the middle and C the upper chamber. Most conveniently
available for building the walls of the box are matched boards (tongue and groove),
see Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, wherein also appear the vertical clamping rods 7, 8, and the
horizontal clamping rods 9, 10. As ordinarily built, the top and bottom extend
laterally beyond the sides, see particularly, Fig. 9. Top 1 has attached to its under
surface the edge strips or rails 11, 12, placed longitudinally, and inner strips 13, 14,
also fixed lengthwise and parallel with strips 11, 12, leaving an interval between outer
and inner strips. Bottom 2 possesses similar outer strips 15, 16 upon its upper
surface together with inner strips 17, 18, and corresponding longitudinal recesses.
Side 4, being a duplicate of side 3, is shown in Fig. 10 to be strengthened by cross
pieces or cleats 19, effectively secured to the tongue and groove stuff, and each cleat
ending at a distance from the edge of the side approximately equal to the depth of
the longitudinal recesses formed by the strips upon top and bottom as described.
Into the recesses the edges of the sides are fitted, and the vertical clamping
screws 7, 8, are passed through alined orifices in outer strips, top and bottom. Of
common design, provided with a head, a threaded end and nut, the rods call for no
special description. Horizontal clamping rods 9, 10, pass beneath the floors 5, 6,
to avoid interference with the passage of the trays as explained hereinafter.
Floors 5, 6, are usually placed upon and supported by horizontal rods 9, 10, in order
that they may be easily removed, and upon the upper surface of each floor, placed
against the sides and extending longitudinally, are attached the rails 20, 20, all
sensibly alike. It is upon these rails that the groups of trays are set and moved.
Considering Figs. 11, 12, a modified plan of construction will be understood.
According to this method longitudinal grooves are cut in adjacent sides of rectangular
corner-beams, 21, 21, and in such grooves the top, bottom and sides are removably
inserted. Exteriorly the beams 21 project laterally beyond the sides 3, 4, and the
vertical clamping rods pass through these projecting portions. To support floors 5, 6,
grooved strips 22, 22, are fixed lengthwise on the inner surfaces of the sides, see
Fig. 12, and the floors are secured within the grooves. In this modified construction
the upper edges of strips 22, 22, perform the same office as tray-carrying rails 20.
In chamber or compartment A, see Figs. 9, 11, 12, appear the local or side-board
rails 23, 23, also tray-carriers, which will be again mentioned. Local rails 23 are
customarily strips having convergent edges. They are screwed lengthwise of the
sides, the intervals between them being greatest at the front or heater end of the
chamber, and least at the rear. I do not confine myself to any special structure,
nor do I limit myself to wood as the sole material to be used. Indeed, in certain

page_text: special cases, the floors are most advantageously constructed of sheet metal, plain
or corrugated.
Considering Figs. 1, 2 and 6, number 24 marks the stack, of any height, having a
flange or collar 25 through which pass bolts 26 whereby the stack is fixed upon a
soot box 27. A door 28 affords means of cleaning the box. It will be noted that
soot falling from the stack settles upon the bottom of the box and not upon the
damper shown in the three figures; an important feature of my invention, as
otherwise fine particles of soot might, in falling, be distributed over the contents of
the trays.
In Figs. 1, 2, 6, also appears the hinged hood 29, consisting of a curving top
and back, with perpendicular front and sides. 30 marks the hinge, or one of several
hinges, and by removing the pins of these hinges the hood can be wholly detached
for transportation or storage. Through the upright front is an opening 31 glazed by
a glass or mica plate, and seated upon top 1 within the hood rests the brazier 32
lined with fire clay or otherwise prepared to contain flowers of sulphur ignited.,
Brazier 32 with its charge of burning bleaching chemical, may be removed from
hood 29 and placed in any other part of the apparatus, or upon the heater hereafter
described. It is essential only that the fumes should thoroughly permeate either or
all of the chambers, A, B, C, that may be employed in bleaching during any
particular operation. Through top 1 under the hood 29 a transverse opening or slot
is made, which is numbered 33. Opening 33 permits the heavy fumes of the
burning sulphur to enter the body of the drier, while the hood guards the opening
against external air.
It will be noted, see Figs. 1, 2, 6, that each of chambers A, B, C, possesses two
doors, one at each end. The doors of chamber A are numbered 34, 35, left and right;
those of chamber B, 36, 37, and those of chamber C, 38, 39. As a matter of
convenience, doors 36, 38, open upon a common hinge 40, but such device is not
essential, nor do I confine myself to the exact manner in which the terminal
doors are represented as opening.
At the left and situated near the doors is a
transverse opening through top 1, marked 41; a like opening through floor 5 is
marked 42, another through floor 6, is marked 43, and one through bottom 2 is
marked 44. Opening 41 is closed upon the upper surface of top 1 by damper 45,
arranged to slide within guides 46, 46. Opening 42 is closed on the upper surface
of floor 5 by damper 47, sliding laterally upon the floor between rails 20. Opening 43
through floor 6 is closed on the upper side by damper 48, sliding upon the floor.
While the sliding dampers, consisting of flat boards or metal sheets having cleats
secured along the side edges, and operated by hand through the doors as shown
herein, are preferred as being the simplest, any known devices for accomplishing the
purpose might be substituted. At the right are openings of substantially similar
form to those located at the left of my invention. Opening through floor 5 is
designated by number 49, that through floor 6, by number 50. Damper 51 may be
reciprocated on the floor above opening 49, and damper 52 closes opening 50.
Operating within chamber C at the left will be noted the swinging partition 53,
pivoted upon a suitably supported rod or shaft 54. Outside of the body of my
invention the rod 54 terminates in a crank 55, shown in Fig. 5, but omitted in
Fig. 4.
In the latter figure appears cord 56, one end of which connects with the
outer end of crank 55 and the cord is then led over small pulleys 57, the remaining
extremity being tied to a screw eye 58 in the edge of door 38. Clearly, when door 38
is opened partition 53 will be raised by means of cord and crank. The office of
partition 53 is to close chamber C from the draft of the stack when that chamber is
being employed for bleaching and the remaining chambers are at the same time
employed in drying operations. By drawing upon the cord and fastening it to
eye 58, the partition may be held in its raised position for any length of
time.
A suitable column 59 supports the body of my invention at one end, although any
form of support including brick or stone work could be used. At the other end the
.body.rests upon the casing 60 of the heater. Near the top of the casing are provided

page_text: inlet apertures 61, which can be closed by registers, or hinged flaps, 62, of well known
form and operation. Next within the casing is met the cylindrical apron 63, which
is bolted in close circular contact with bottom 2, and extends downwardly to within
a short distance of the top of ash box 64. The ash box is provided with suitable
draft-regulating doors 65, and into the box through a common grate the heater opens.
To carry off the products of combustion the pipe 66 is provided, and is led into stack 24,
see Figs. 4, 5, where its buoyant contents are delivered and aid the drying air to
pass through and over the trays. Usually, pipe 66 is given one or more turns within
the apron to increase the heating surface, care being taken that no leak exists from
pipe 66 or heater into the hot air channels. By thus first directing the cold air
downwardly between casing and apron, a great deal of the heat, otherwise, radiated
and lost is saved and rendered useful, and a greater volume of heated air, constant
in temperature, obtained. I do not limit myself to this or any particular form of
heater, but may employ a stove or steam heater where available, enclosing the
same in brick or masonry.
Considering Fig. 3, the construction of the trays forming a part of my invention
will be understood. They are composed of comparatively narrow side pieces 67,
wider end pieces 68, having the pins 69, upon the upper edges, placed at the middle
point of each end piece. Pin holes 70, in the lower edges of the end pieces, are
properly formed and situated for the reception of the pins of another tray. 71 marks
the woven wire fabric bottom of one tray, and all are similarly closed at the bottom,
in order that the bleaching fumes and subsequently the drying air may surround
each piece of fruit. In chamber C, Fig. 2, beside the group of two trays, there is
shown a truck or crib 72, movable upon rollers 73, 73, which is sometimes used for
bleaching or setting the color of fruits, or for wilting herbs and tea leaves and like
purposes. Truck 72 is often more convenient for special operations than the regular
trays, although the latter could be arranged to act as well. Rollers 73 rest upon
rails 20 in common with the trays, but the truck is more easily moved when heavily
loaded than a correspondingly laden group of trays.
Considering the modification shown in Fig. 6, number 74 designates a movable
cut-off or partition, more clearly presented in Fig. 7, and intended to be moved
along the rails in chamber C in front of the trays or bleaching truck. The office
of cut-off 74 is to reduce the size of the chamber in small bleaching operations
and to retard the escape of the bleaching fumes. It consists usually of two
boards fixed together at right angles, with side pieces acting as braces, and may be
entered at door 39 and removed through door 38. There also appears in Fig. 6, and
more clearly in Fig. 8, a representation of one of my ventilating or substitute doors.
Each consists of a rectangular frame 75, surrounding and supporting pivoted
slats 76. The pivots of each slat may be formed to fit more or less tightly
causing sufficient friction to permit them to be adjustably opened or closed.
Framnes 75 are constructed to occupy the apertures normally closed by doors 35,
37, and any convenient device may be used to retain the frames within the
apertures, such as the buttons 77 which fasten the doors. As substitute doors, I
could employ perforated boards, and I do not, therefore, confine myself to the
construction detailed herein.
Various processes may be carried out by competent operators with the aid of my
present invention. In setting the color of fruits it has been found that heat is often
needed in addition to energize the bleaching or germicidal properties of the sulphur
fumes. Floor 5 being made of metal, this heat is readily supplied from below both
by radiation and convection. This reception of heat takes place also, though in a
lesser degree, when the floor is of wood as described. By closing the inlet
apertures 61, and proceeding with a small fire, all the chambers may be devoted to
bleaching in considerable operations. After confining the heat and sulphur fumes to
the chamber or chambers wherein are trays of freshly cut fruit, etc., for perhaps an
hour, I begin drying by filling a few trays and placing them over or back of the
heater in chamber A, see Fig. 2, through door 34. Trays may be removed by
door 35 and placed in chamber B by either of its doors, being pushed forward,

page_text: singly or grouped, one after another. It is occasionally necessary to carry
some of the trays or their contents over a second time through the drying chambers,
"doubling" or placing the fruit from two or more trays upon one, and I frequently
utilize chamber C as a finishing or maturing chamber for fruits not sufficiently cured
to pack. In ordinary operations dampers 48, 51, are caused to close the apertures 43, 49,
dlampers 45, 47, 52 being withdrawn. I may dispense with damper 45 entirely in
certain instances. In preparing barks and spices I have found that a moderate
temperature of air through the several chambers is most efficient, and I therefore
withdraw dampers 45, 48, 51, 52, raise swinging partition 53 by the cord, and permit
the heated air to pass from front to rear of both chambers A, B, upward and forward
through chamber C to the stack.
Fig. 2 illustrates a form of my invention which I have found to be particularly
effective in drying cut sweet corn, grated cocoanut and substances of like nature
that cannot practically be spread thin enough upon the trays to permit the air
passage through the material. The trays are placed in series upon bottom
rails 17, 18 and upon local rails 23, 23, one tray acting to push forward that or those
ahead of it. Each series of trays is thus separated from the others by a sufficient
space for the passage of hot air currents, which refuse to pass between layers or
masses of wet, green material when too closely superimposed. The efficiency of the
invention is further improved by increasing the depth of chamber A near the heater
with corresponding separation of the rails. As the series of trays resting upon the
bottom rails 17, 18 is complete, the end of one tray will nearly touch door 35. It
will be noted here, see Figs. 2, 6, that local rails 23 terminate before reaching that
door, leaving an interval slightly greater than the common width of the trays. The
first trays are placed upon rails 17, 18, 23 in order shown in Fig. 2, chamber A,
marked a, b, c, and others introduced behind them. Tray a leading the lowest series
must, therefore, reach the rear first. As the end tray b of the series next from the bottom
reaches the termination of its local rails, or the point from which upper and lower
local rails diverge towards the door at the heater end of the body, its forward end
drops and its inner end rises against the upper local rails. If tray b is continually
pushed forward by the trays in rear, its outer lower corner finally drops upon the
end tray of the lowest series. Further movement causes it to leave its local rails and
fall upon the bottom tray, the pins of the latter entering the pin holes of the former
as already explained. It will be understood that the progress of tray bas described,
is precisely that of tray c in its turn. But a minimum of skill and attention is called
for to group the trays in the inauner just set out. It is clearly within the scope of
iny invention to further enlarge or expand chamber A, and add other local rails if
required.
The modification, see Fig. 6, contemplates the employment of the slatted or
substitute doors, see Fig. 8, in "air drying" herbs, seed, etc. It will be readily seen
that by permitting the heated air to ascend directly into the stack, outside air will
flow through the substitute doors and the heat of the chambers can be tempered at
will for special uses. It is unnecessary to detail here each and all operations which
are known or might be suggested to persons habitually following the art to which
my invention relates, as the manner of using my invention can be varied almost
without limit to suit any circumstances or weather conditions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a fruit drier, the combination of an air-heating device consisting of a heater
and a hot air compartment, a suitably supported box or body in communication with
said hot air compartiment, said box being divided into chambers by horizontal floors,
each of said chambers having doors at its ends, each of said floors having apertures
and dampers near its ends, a stack in communication with the upper chamber of said
box, rails secured to the side walls of the lowest chamber of said box, said rails

page_text: beginning at one end opening of said chamber and terminating within the said
chamber, substantially as described.
2. In a fruit drier, the combination of an air-heating device consisting of a heater
and a hot air compartment, means for regulating the hot air supply, a suitably
supported box or body in communication with said hot air compartment, said box
being divided into chambers by horizontal floors, each of said chambers having doors
at its ends, each of said floors having apertures and dampers near its ends, a stack in
communication with the upper chamber of said box, the lowest chamber having an
inclined bottom, rails secured to the side walls of said lowest chamber, said rails
beginning at the greater end opening of said chamber, converging towards each
other and terminating within said chamber, substantially as described.
3. In a fruit drier, the combination of an air-heating device consisting of a heater
and a hot air compartment, a box or body in communication with said hot air
compartment, one end of said box being supported by the air-heating device, means
for supporting the remaining end of the box, said box being divided into chambers
by horizontal floors, each of said chambers having doors at its ends, each of said floors
having apertures and dampers near its ends, a stack opening into the upper chamber
of said box, said upper chamber provided with an adjustable partition, said box having
au opening through the top, a hood, said hood being pivotally secured over said box
top opening, a suitable brazier, rails secured to the floors of said chambers, rails
secured to the side-boards of the lowest of said chambers, said side-board rails
beginning at the door of said lowest chamber nearest the air-heating device and
terminating within said chamber, substantially as described.
4. In a fruit drier, the combination of an air-heating device consisting of a heater
and a hot air compartment, a box or body in communication with said hot air
compartment, one end of said box being supported by the air-heating device, means
for supporting the remaining end of the box, said box being divided into chambers by
horizontal floors, each of said chambers having doors at its ends, each of said floors
having apertures and dampers near its ends, a stack opening into the upper chamber
of said box, said upper chamber provided with an adjustable partition, the floor of
said upper chamber being constructed of metal, said box having an opening through
the top, a hood, said hood being pivotally secured over said box-top opening, a suitable
brazier, rails secured to the floors of said chambers, rails secured to the side-boards of
the lowest of said chambers, said side-board rails beginning at the door of said lowest
chamber nearest the air-heating device and terminating within said chamber,
substantially as described.
Tuted this Oth day of October A.D. 1897