Improvements in Drying, Cleaning, and Cooling Grain and Granular and other Substances, and in Automatically Operating Machinery therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drying, Cleaning, and Cooling Grain and Granular
and other Substances, and in Automatically Operating Machinery
therefor.
I, JOHANNES PANNEVIS, of No. 1 Hoogenoord, Utrecht, Holland, Milling
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to my invention I treat wetted grain (and other granular or other
substances in a wet or damp condition) by means of automatically operating
machinery in such manner as to render the grain dry, clean and cool with the husks
and germs or blue heads removed and fit for being ground or milled and in such a
condition that all the products afterwards obtained in the flour will represent
a much higher value; the bran for instance is light, clean and dry, and it becomes
impossible for the silk to become stopped up or clogged which often occurs when
too damp grain is ground. Very soft wheat can also with advantage be treated by
means of this process and apparatus.
The wetted grain is at regulated intervals delivered into a measuring hopper, and
thence emptied into a vessel wherein it is exposed for a definite period to a current
of hot air of adjustable temperature while rotated and thrown about in the vessel,
the hot air being drawn in and removed along with the vapour and the husks and
germs (which latter have become detached) by exhauster action. The grain is
then automatically discharged into an intermediate vessel or hopper and then into
a sloping troughshaped cooling apparatus wherein it is being cooled for a definite
period by currents of cold air while passing slowly down the trough and finally
discharged therefrom. The cooling air is drawn in through the grain, and the hot
air among the grain is withdrawn by exhauster action. The whole of the process
is continuous and is performed automatically or by machinery.
A suitable form of apparatus is as follows. I provide a measuring hopper which
has fine perforations in its lower part and is provided with a stirring device to
prevent clogging. This hopper converges to a smaller diameter at top and at
bottom and has a top inlet slide or other valve and a bottom outlet slide or other
valve. These valves are operated mechanically so that the inlet valve is first
opened, and when the hopper has been run full of the required measure of wetted
grain the inlet valve is closed and then the outlet valve is opened whereby the
contents are admitted to the upper part at one end of the drying vessel and into
the interior of a perforated drum therein below the aforesaid measuring hopper.
The drying vessel is horizontal cylindrical above and tapering down below the
cylindrical part to a narrower dimension. In the cylindrical part there is a central
slowly rotatable shaft passing out at each end through end covers. Upon this shaft
is fixed the perforated drum provided with inner helical blades crossing each other.
The one helix runs along the inner circumference of the drum while the other helix
is inside of the first named helix and touching it but going in the opposite direction.
Between the perforated drum and the inside of the vessel at the height of the
centre of the drum there is a space on each side and these lateral spaces are
covered by flaps or partitions attached to the interior sides of the vessel and kept
in elastic contact with the drum by means of springs so that the drum can rotate
while in contact with these flaps. A perforated partition is provided in the lower

page_text: part of the vessel so as to form a bottom chamber, which communicates with a hot
air or hot gas supply apparatus and with a cold air inlet, the hot and cold air
supply being regulated by valves. The hot air is drawn into the bottom chamber
and passes through the perforations in the partition and thence through the
perforations in the lower part of the rotating drum into and through the grain
therein throughout the length of the drum, the grain being as stated moved about
or thrown about so as to be in intimate contact in all its parts with the hot gas or
hot air, which then loaded with wet vapours from the wet grain and with the germs
and husks which have become detached by the heat and agitation is drawn off by
means of an exhauster applied to the upper part of the vessel where the exhauster
pipe is provided with a regulating valve; the exhauster is in connection with a
cyclone or other collector whereby the husks and germs are collected. The drying
cylinder should be provided with gear for turning the drum by hand in case the
driving power from any cause should suddenly fail and thereby cause the grain to
be overdried or charred and small hand-hole doors may be provided in the upper
part of the vessel for the same purpose and for examining the interior of the
apparatus. The grain having been treated a sufficient and determined length of
time in the drying apparatus (during which time the measuring hopper has been
filled ready for the next operation), an outlet valve in the front end of same is now
opened mechanically and the grain propelled to the front by the outer larger and
more powerful helix passes into a hopper (with upper part or cover removable for
affording facility for cleaning and clearing as required) and provided with a flap
valve, which opens downwards, by the weight of the grain. This hopper discharges
into the cooling apparatus which is in the form of a sloping trough with lattice
bars along the top for inlet of cold air and provided with a perforated false bottom;
the chamber below this bottom communicates at the lower end of the trough with
an exhauster and cyclone. The aforesaid flap valve in the hopper is by adjustable
lever and rod gear connected to the outlet valve at the lower end of the trough in
such manner that when the hopper valve is depressed or opened by the weight of
the grain flowing into the hopper, the trough outlet valve is also opened but as the
hopper becomes emptied the hopper valve gradually closes and the trough valve
closes gradually accordingly, but meanwhile the grain spreads itself evenly in the
trough while cold air is drawn through the grain therein and part of it remains
there exposed to the cooling action, the trough being evenly filled until the next
discharge of warm grain into the hopper takes place, when the hopper valve opens
and so also the trough valve, and the cooled grain is discharged from the trough.
The valve in the intermediate hopper and the valve at bottom of trough are so
connected and adjusted that the time that the grain is being cooled is properly
regulated; the cooling trough always remains filled which is necessary for the
good working. During these operative cycles an entire charge of grain from the
hopper is discharged at one time from the trough. The trough may be hinged on
at the top for facilitating its adjustment according to the most suitable slope.
The two valves in the measuring hopper and the outlet valve for the drying
vessel are operated by cams from some suitable rotating shafting but by preference
from the rotating drum shaft and all so timed that the various stages in the process
are mechanically performed according to the requirements. And if the time that
the drying of the charge takes be say 15 minutes, then the time that the dried
change takes in its passage from the drier to the outlet from the cooling trough
would also be 15 minutes, so that the process is continuous.
Dated this 14th day of March 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Drying, Cleaning, and Cooling Grain and Granular
and other Substances, and in Automatically Operating Machinery
therefor.
I, JOHANNES PANNEVIS of No. 1 Hoogenoord, Utrecht, Holland, Milling
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:-
According to my invention I treat wetted grain (and other granular or other
substances in a wet or damp condition) by means of automatically operating
machinery in such manner as to render the grain dry, clean and cool with the
germs or blue-heads and the outer hulls or husks removed, and fit for being ground
or milled, and in such condition that all the products afterwards obtained in the
flour mill represent a much higher value the bran for instance is light clean and
dry and it becomes impossible for the silk to become stopped up or clogged which
often occurs when too damp grain is ground. Very soft wheat can also with
advantage be treated by means of this process and apparatus.
The wetted grain is at regulated intervals delivered into a measuring hopper and
thence emptied into a vessel wherein it is exposed for a definite period to a current
of hot air or hot gases, of adjustable temperature, while rotated and thrown about
in the vessel, the hot air being drawn into and thoroughly penetrating the grain in
all its parts and finally removed, along with the vapour and the germs and husks
(which have become detached), by exhauster action. The grain is then
automatically discharged into an intermediate vessel or hopper, and then into a
sloping trough-shaped cooling apparatus wherein it is cooled for a definite period
by currents of cold air while passing slowly down the trough which is provided
with a slanting perforated bottom that is always covered with grain and finally
discharged therefrom through a mechanically operated sliding door into a suitable
receptacle with the aid of conveyors or helices if necessary. The rooling air is
drawn in through the grain, and the hot air among the grain is withdrawn by
exhauster action; the germs and husks which may have been removed are
discharged into a dust collector which may be outside the building. The whole of
the process is continuous and performed automatically or by machinery.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical longitudinal section through
the upper part of the machinery, Fig. 2 a vertical cross section through the
drying vessel, Fig. 3 a front view of the latter and Fig. 4 a side view of the front
cover and cam gear fixed thereto. Fig. 5 is a side view of the back cover and the
driving gear applied thereto, Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the
lower part of the machinery, Fig. 7 a front view and Fig. 8 a plan, Fig. 9 is a
sectional side view, of the upper part of the hopper F1 F2, the lower part F2 of
said hopper being shewn in Fig. 6.
A Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is a measuring hopper which has fine perforations in its
lower part and is provided with a stirring device on spindle A¹ to prevent clogging.
This hopper converges to a smaller diameter at top and at bottom and has a top
inlet slide valve A2 (or other valve) and a bottom outlet slide valve A³ (or other
valve). These valves are operated mechanically as hereinafter described so that
the inlet valve A is first opened, and when the hopper has been run full of the
required measure of wetted grain the inlet valve A is closed, and then the outlet
valve A³ is opened whereby the contents are admitted to the upper part at one end
of the drying vessel B and into the interior of a perforated drum B therein,
below the hopper A. The drying vessel B is horizontal, cylindrical above, and
tapering down below the cylindrical part to a narrower dimension see Fig. 2. In

page_text: the cylindrical part there is a central rotatable drum shaft C passing out at each
end through end covers B2 B3. Upon the latter are mounted brackets B' with
bearings for a cross shaft B5 provided with strap pulley B" at one end see Fig. 5.
for driving the shaft B by power and a spur wheel Be at the other end into which
gears the pinion B on the spindle Bs provided with handle B' for turning it by
hand if the power should accidentally fail. Bevel gearing transmits the power
from the shaft B' to the shaft C upon which the drum B' is fixed. The drum is
quite open in front and closed behind. It is firstly provided with four inner
helical blades C which are fixed to the inner perforated circumference of the
drum and make about one and a quarter revolution in the length of the drum and
all in the same direction; four other helices C2 are provided inside of the helix
or helices C' of about the same pitch and touching them but going in the opposite
direction. Between the drum and the inside of the vessel B at the height of the
centre of the drum there is on each side a space and these spaces are covered by
flaps or partitions D attached to the inner sides of the vessel B and kept in elastic
contact with the drum B1 by means of springs D', so that the drum can rotate
while in contact with the flaps D. A perforated partition B° is provided in the
lower part of the vessel B so as to form a bottom chamber B which communicates
by the pipe E with a hot air or hot gas supply apparatus and with a cold air
inlet E, the hot and cold air supply being regulated by a valve E2 and a similar
one in the cold air inlet pipe E. Hot gas may be supplied from the combustion
chamber of a furnace heated by a coke fire (good cokes), when the fire has become
quite clear, the damper to the chimney is closed, and a damper is opened for
admitting the hot gases to the pipe E by means of an exhauster, cold air from
the pipe E being allowed to mingle therewith as and when required. The hot
air is drawn into the bottom chamber Bx and passes through the perforations in
the partition B° and thence through the perforations; in the lower part of the
rotating drum B into and through the grain therein throughout the length of
the drum, the grain being as stated moved about or thrown about so as to be in
intimate contact in all its parts with the hot gas or hot air, which then, loaded
with wet vapours from the wet grain, and with the germs and husks which have
become detached by the heat and agitation, is drawn off by means of an exhauster
applied to the upper part of the vessel B where the exhauster pipe B10 is provided
with a regulating valve B12 the exhauster is in connection with a cyclone whereby
the germs dust, bran and dirt are collected into a receptacle outside the building.
The gear B B7 B8 B for rotating the drum B' by hand in case the driving power
from any cause should suddenly fail prevents the grain from being overdried or
charred; small hand hole covers P are provided in the upper part of the vessel B
and a small door Q in the front cover B for the same purpose and for examining
the interior of the apparatus.
The grain having been treated a sufficient and determined length of time in the
drying apparatus (during which time the measuring hopper A. has been filled ready
for the next operation) an outlet valve F in the front end of the dryer is now
opened mechanically, and the grain which is propelled to the front by the outer
larger and more powerful helix C passes in a very short time into a hopper F F
see Figs. 1 and 6, the upper part (or a cover) F (which is removable for affording
facility for cleaning and clearing as required) being provided with a flap valve F
which opens downwards by the weight of the grain. This hopper discharges into
the cooling apparatus which is in the form of a sloping trough G with lattice
bars Galong the top for inlet of cold air and provided with a perforated false
bottom G2; the chamber G³ below this false bottom communicates at the lower
end of the trough with an exhauster and cyclone or other collector by means of a
pipe G. The Hap valve F in the hopper is by adjustable levers F and G and
rod F connected to the outlet valve G at the lower end of the trough in such
manner that when the hopper valve F is depressed or opened by the weight of the
grain flowing into the hopper, the trough outlet valve Ge is also opened. Before
the cooling apparatus is started for the first time the space between the rearmost

page_text: bars G' and the perforated bottom G is filled with grain when the apparatus is at
work the flap valve F3 opens and also the outlet slide G, and the warm grain from
the hopper F flows into the cooling apparatus and passes along therein at the
speed which corresponds to the extent that the adjustable slide G is opened and
spreads itself evenly over the slanting bottom of the trough, while cold air is
constantly drawn through over the whole surface of the grain therein, as is
necessary for the proper action of the cooler, and the last part of it remains there
exposed to the cooling action, the trough being evenly filled, until the next dis-
charge of warm grain into the hopper takes place, when the hopper valve F³ opens
and so also the trough valve G and the cooled grain is discharged from the trough.
During this as well as the following operative cycles an entire charge of grain from
the hopper is discharged at one time from the trough which latter however is
always charged with grain. The trough may be hinged on at the top as shewn for
facilitating its adjustment according to the most suitable slope. The lower end of
the trough terminates in two sloping outlets G* for gathering the grain properly
and unhinderedly towards the outlet valve G. The outlet opening and heuce the
suction action may be varied as required by shifting the slide G'.
The two valves A2 and A3 in the measuring hopper A. and the outlet valve F
from the drying vessel are operated by three cams from some suitable shafting and
all so timed that the various stages in the process are mechanically performed
according to the requirements. On the front end of the drum shaft C Figures 3
and 4 is fixed a sprocket wheel H which by an endless chain H' and a sprocket
wheel I on a spindle I transmits motion to the latter which carries a worm 12 that
gears with a worm wheel K' on a spindle K. This latter has a worm K² which
engages with a worm wheel L' on a spindle L. Upon the latter are fixed the
cams M N and O. A roller on the lower end of a two armed lever M' operates
against the cam M and by means of the rod M2 and the double armed lever M³
serves to open and close the inlet slide A to the measuring hopper. A weight M
attached to a cord M passing over a pulley M and attached to the slide A serves
to hold the lower end of the lever M' with its roller against the cam M.
In a
somewhat similar manner the cam N operates the lower outlet slide A³ by means
of the lever N and the rcd N2, the weight N on the cord N passing over the
pulley N and attached to the slide A³ serving to hold the roller on the lower
end of the lever N. R is a guide for the lever M³. The spindle L also carries
a cam O against which works a roller on one end of the double armed lever (1
the other end of that lever coming against a roller F on the lower vertically
guided sliding outlet door F on the front cover B2 of the vessel B. When
the door F is raised or opened the charge passes by the shoot F' into the
hopper F1 F
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The continuous process for treating wet or damp grain or other granular and
other substances consisting in automatically firstly supplying automatically a
definite charge of said substance at regulated intervals to a closed vessel with
inner perforated drum wherein it is subjected for a definite length of time to
the influence of a current of hot gas or hot air of fixed adjustable temperature while
agitated and thoroughly turned over then secondly admitting the said charge into
an intermediate vessel or hopper and thence thirdly by its own weight on a valve
in the hopper entering into a cooling apparatus the inlet valve to which is
simultaneously opened so far that the grain slowly slides down in the filled cooling
apparatus wherein it is exposed to a current of cold air until it has been quite
cooled and cleaned while a next charge simultaneously flows into the hopper
substantially as set forth.
2. An automatically operating drying and cleaning apparatus consisting of an
outer vessel B an inner rotatable perforated drum B which receives the goods to.

page_text: be dried in measured quantities from a measuring hopper which automatically
opens and closes at definite intervals while the goods in the drum are continuously
displaced and turned over and are traversed by hot gas or air passing from below
through perforated walls B° by means of an exhauster and passing out at the top
carrying with it the moisture and the impurities the dried goods being emptied
out of the apparatus at the front by means of an automatically and properly timed
valve, substantially as set forth.
3. A heating and drying vessel consisting of an outer vessel such as B an inner
rotatable perforated drum such as B' provided with lateral yielding partitions D
between the vessels B and B for the purpose of compelling the hot current of gas
or air entering from below to be sucked through the drum B₁ and out at the top
through a pipe B10 substantially as set forth.
4. In apparatus as secondly claimed the drum shaft C rotatable by hand as well
as by strap pulley and suitable transmission gear and shaft L with cams M N
and O which actuate the inlet and outlet valves of the measuring hopper and also
the outlet valve from the drum B' for the purpose of automatically passing a
definite quantity of the goods into the said hopper, thence into the drum B' and
finally out of the latter substantially as set forth.
5. In apparatus as secondly claimed the helices C' and C2 of opposite pitch
direction and at different radial distances for the purpose of thoroughly turning
over the goods while they are being dried and then forcing them out when the
front slide F has been opened substantially as set forth.
6. In apparatus as secondly claimed a cooling apparatus arranged under the
hopper F F and in the form of a downwardly slanting trough such as G with
lattice bars G on the top, perforated false bottom G chamber G3 below it and an
automatically operated bottom outlet valve G which receives the charge from the
hopper F F when the latter and the valve G are simultaneously opened the
charge passing slowly through it while an exhauster draws cold air down
through it and cools and cleans it, the warm air and the impurities being sucked
off below through the space G³ and the pipe G' substantially as set forth.
7. Apparatus as secondly and sixthly claimed in which the lower end of the
hopper FF is closed by a flap valve F that opens downward by the weight of
the inflowing goods and is connected to the slide G which closes the lower end of
the cooling apparatus in such manner that a fresh charge of warm goods flowing
into the hopper opens simultaneously the valve F3 and the slide G in order to
ensure a regular displacement of the goods in the cooler and a regular discharge
therefrom as long as there are goods in the hopper and so that otherwise the
flap F and the slide G close simultaneously and that the cooler in any case is
charged with goods substantially as set forth.
8. The construction of machinery shewn in the drawings.
Dhi anch
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.