Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying Leaves of the Tea Plant, the same being applicable for Drying other analogous Substances.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying Leaves of
the Tea Plant, the same being applicable for Drying other
analogous Substances.
ALFRED HORATIO BELL SHARPE 32 Charlesworth Terrace, Foss Bank,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
- Special objects of the invention are to render the apparatus less complicated
and of a less costly construction than as ordinarily made and to render the method
of operation capable of being more expeditiously and advantageously effected, than
in apparatus of ordinary construction and to economise and use to the best
advantage the drying agent and to lessen manual labour necessary in carrying out
the said operation.
Fig. 1. shews elevation in section of improved dryer (operated by power).
In carrying out the present improvement I mount a series of endless tea carrying
trays each constructed in reversible perforated sections, pivotally connected at their
ends, to carrying chains on series of actuating chain wheels, the latter being mounted
on carrying and actuating shafts arranged at the opposite ends of the machine
in such a manner, that the whole series of such chain wheels, and endless trays are
carried by such shafts, and are actuated therefrom, in, alternately reverse
directions, as described, in the Specification of my Patent No. 1021 of 1893, so
that the adjacent courses of the series of trays, are caused to traverse the length
of the drying chamber, in such alternately reverse directions, and at the ends of
each traverse each course of such trays is caused to deposit its contents, onto the
relatively next lower course, by which, said contents are carried back at a lower
level to the other end of the drying chamber, and so on whereby the operation is
rendered continuous until the dried leaves are finally discharged from the apparatus
by the lowest course of trays.
On the shafts A and C the chain wheels are so arranged as to give motion to
the alternate chains and endless trays, say for example the first and third of a
series of three in the same direction (vide arrowheads in Fig. 1). The chain
wheel B gives motion to the remaining chains and endless trays of the series.
In the example represented in the drawing Fig. 1. there are but three of such
endless trays with their supporting. and actuating chain wheels, but it must be
understood that a series of a greater number may be used in like manner.
In the example represented the chain wheels A. B. C are keyed or otherwise
made fast to their respective shafts, so as to impart motion to the first, second,
and third endless trays, which latter are merely carried by corresponding chain
wheels D, E, which are loosely mounted on pins or shafts, and at the other end by
corresponding chain wheels F, G, H, J, K which are also loosely mounted on pins
or shafts.
If desired, the chain wheels D, E, F, G, H, J, K, can be keyed on, or otherwise
made fast on their respective shafts which may be rotated in any convenient
bearings.
Fig. 2. represents the machine in transverse sectional elevation, attached to the
multitubular air heating stove, at the opposite end, or cold air inlet is fixed a

page_text: casing or chamber L outside, or inside of which, a fan is fixed, taking its supply of
air from the surrounding atmosphere, and gently blowing the air, which becomes
heated on its' passage through the tubes of air heating stove, into the machine.
When economy of room is a consideration I place a fan inside the bot air
chamber M, and gently draw the heated air through the tubes of air heating stove
at the same time blowing a continuous stream of pure hot air into the machine.
The moisture from the drying tea is drawn off by an exhaust fan N. as shewn in
Fig. 1.
The casing O round the lower part of air heater chimney forms part of a duct P.
connected to the machine, this 'duct is fitted with the valve R (closed whilst
working machine), but in the event of any circumstance-necessitating the temporary
astoppage of machinery whilst full of drying tea, the valve R can be withdrawn and
the hot air allowed to escape through the duct P and casing O thus reducing the
temperature in the drying chamber to such a degree that all risk of burning the
tea is at once avoided.
Dated this 12th day of June 1894.
ALFRED HORATIO BELL SHARPE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying Leaves of
the Tea Plant, the same being applicable for Drying other
"analogous Substances.
"
I, ALFRED HORATIO BELL SHARPE, of 32 Charlesworth Terrace, Foss Bank,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in machinery or apparatus used
for drying leaves of the tea plant and applicable for use for drying analogous
substances.
The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1, represents a longitudinal elevation of the tea drying machine-and
Fig. 2, represents an end elevation of the machine combined with a multitubular
"air-heating stove.
The invention is part relates to a development of the invention for which Letters
Patent No. 1021 of 1893, have been granted to me, and to such extent has more
particular reference to improved means of supporting and actuating series of endless,
sectional, reversible ten-carrying trays a, constructed and arranged to operate in
the manner described in the Specification of such Patent.
In lieu of supporting and actuating the series of such trays on series of actuating
chain-wheels mounted on two carrying and actuating shafts common to the series,
as described in the Specification of such Patent, I, according to the present
improvements, mount each tray a, (of such series of trays,) at each end on a
separate chain-wheel or wheels b, bx, b', the wheels b, bx, b', of each chain being
mounted on separate shafts c, cx, c!, and not on shafts common to the series as
aforesaid.
The series of wheels b. are driving wheels and are mounted fast on their
respective shafts c; the wheels b*, are carrying wheels and are preferably loosely
mounted but may be fast on the shafts (*; the shafts c, c*, being carried in
bearings d, occupying relatively fixed positions; and the wheels &', are also
carrying wheels and are preferably loosely mounted but may be fast on their
respective shafts c'; each of which is carried in an adjustable bearing d', which
permits of the endless trays respectively being readily shipped and unshipped and
adjusted as to their respective tensions as may be desired.

page_text: The shafts e, are geared together externally of the casing of the drying chamber
by toothed gearing c³, so arranged as to give motion to the alternate chains a, and
endless trays (say, for example, the first and third of a series of three, and so on)
in the same direction (ride the arrow heads Fig. 1), and to give motion to the
other alternate chains and endless trays of the series in the reverse direction, such
motions being as described in the Specification of said Patent, but effected from.
the one end of the machine in the improved manner herein described.
One of the shafts c,-is-actuated-from the ordinary fan-shaft e, by a strap e',
connecting stepped pulleys e³, e, respectively on the shaft e, and on a shaft e
from which latter the motion is communicated to said shaft c, by intermediate
gearing T.
f. represents stationary brushes used to clear the trays of such leaves as may
tend to stick in the perforations thereof, and which I find most convenient to apply
above the trays and in the respective positions indicated in Fig. 1.
g, represents the feeding hopper where the tea leaves or other analogous material
to be dried are fed into the machine, and h, represents the outlet from the machine
of the dried material.
In existing tea-drying machinery, it is usual to depend upon the suction created
by a fan e, situated at the top of the tea drying chamber i, for drawing atmospheric
air into and through the air-heater j, and into and through the drying chamber.
1, however, have found that a much more effective and speedier drying can be
effected by applying, in addition to the fane, operating as aforesaid by suction, at
the atmospheric air inlet to the tubes j', of the air-heater, a casing or chamber *
within or outside of which is mounted a fan j³, which serves to withdraw air from
the atmosphere and to gently blow the same through the air heating tubes and into
the drying machine, through which latter it circulates until it emerges on being
withdrawn therefrom by the fan e³.
When economy of floor space occupied is of special consideration, I place said
additional fan in a chamber k, intermediate of the outlet ends of the air heating
tubes and of the inlet side of the drying machine, and operate the same so as to
gently draw the air through the air heating tubes and blow a continuous stream of
the heated air into the drying machine; the moisture from the drying tea being
drawn off by the exhaust fan e in both cases.
I also, in accordance with the present improvements, surround the chimney 1, of
the air-heater with an open topped tubular hot air outlet ', which communicates
by a duct, with the aforesaid chamber k, under the control of a suitably placed
valve, which is closed during the ordinary operation of the machine.
The application of the outlet 1, duct, and valve, to the air-heater is of
advantage in the event of any circumstance necessitating the temporary stoppage
of the machine whilst in operation drying tea, in that, upon the valve being
withdrawn, it permits of the hot air from the air heating tubes and drying chamber
escaping to and through the outlet, thus reducing the temperature of the drying
chamber sufficiently to avoid all risk of burning or charring the tea.
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 herein before described improved means of supporting and actuating
series of successively surrounding, endless, sectional, reversible tea-carrying trays
operating as aforesaid.
2. The application to tea drying machinery, of a fan, either to the inlet ends of
the air-heater tubes for gently blowing the air through both the heater and the
drying machine, or intermediate of the air-heater and drying machine for drawing
the air through the heater and blowing it through the drying machine, both above,
and in combination with the ordinary fan operating by suction in drawing the air
from the drying chamber.

page_text: 3. The application to the air-heater of a hot air outlet, an escape duct and a
controlling valve,-co-operating as and for the purpose aforesaid.
Dated this 25th day of September 1894.
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.