IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR DRYING OATS, MALT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Watt of the Mills of Keith in the County. of
Banff North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR
DRYING OATS, MALT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Watt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1883.
JAMES WATT of the Mills of Keith in the County of Banff North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR DRYING OATS, MALT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
"
This invention has for its object the drying of oats, malt or other substances in
such a manner as to secure drying to any required degree with perfect equality and
safety and with increased speed and saving of labor.
In my improved kiln the drying floor is composed of a series of six (more or less)
stages or steps, each of these stages forming the top of a heating flue which has
plates perforated as is usual in drying kilns. The first or top stage of the drying
floor may conveniently be about two feet in diameter, while the diameter of the
second stage which is annular may be four feet, the third six feet and so on the
lowest stage being 12 feet while there is a drop of 6 inches between the several
stages, but these dimensions as well as the number of stages and corresponding flues
may be varied as desired. The drying floor is thus of conical form and I will
hereinafter speak of it as the cone.
There are two cones to each kiln supported on the walls of the building, and the
brick arching of the pot below is brought close up to the lower edge. In the case
of the cones being over each other as they would be in a high building the pot
below the upper cone will be circular at the top leaving the four angles of the
The four angles
building clear for the discharge of heated air from the lower cone.
of the lower cone are made close to the building which will also be the case where
both cones are placed on the same level.
The heating is effected by means of a furnace in the usual way, the furnace being
arranged to heat the cones separately whether placed one above the other or on the
same level, dampers being placed on each division to regulate the heat. The heated

page_text: air passes through the perforated plates and ascends direct to the chimney-cowl.
In either arrangement the heating may be done with husks.
On the top stage of each cone there is a revolving feed hopper attached to an
upright shaft carrying two or more arms which extend down over the cone, one of
these arms being fitted with two ploughs to each stage. At each revolution the
outer plough on each stage throws off half the grain on that stage on to the stage
below, the inner plough meantime shifting the other half forward to the outer
edge; and so on down to the lowest stage, which has discharge holes. On this
stage a travelling collector takes the place of the ploughs discharging the grain
into the holes; from thence the grain is passed on to the second cone and is
there treated in a similar manner as already described. After passing the second
cone the grain is taken by means of elevators to the dry corn bins. In the case
where half-drying is required the grain would be discharged into the elevators
after passing one cone, raw grain being supplied to both hoppers at the same
time, thus twice as much grain would be acted upon as when whole drying.
The other arm or arms attached to the revolving hoppers are fitted with
lifting rakes which raise the grain and turn it over on each stage; so that if two
arms with rakes be attached to each hopper, every particle of grain will be lifted
and turned over seventy two times before passing both cones. This secures perfect
drying, and quite prevents browning or discoloring of the grain.
The grain may be supplied to the hoppers or cones in various ways, by means of
elevators or otherwise. The revolving hoppers are fitted with a gauge to secure a
uniform feed which may be regulated by belt cones. These are controlled by a lever
handle near the furnace, the revolving gear being worked by worm and wheel or
. otherwise.
This kiln is very easily worked and may be attached to existing mills without
requiring additional motive power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Watt in the Patent Office on the 17th March 1884.
JAMES WATT of the Mills of Keith, in the County of Banff, North Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR DRYING OATS, MALT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
"
This invention has for its object the drying of Oats, malt or other substances in
such a manner as to secure drying to any required degree with perfect equality and
safety and with increased speed and saving of labor.
For this purpose I construct kilns in the manner represented in the annexed
drawings. Figure 1 represents a kiln suitable for use in a high building and
Figure 3 one suitable for use in a low building. Figures 2 and 4 are part
horizontal sections of the 2 kilns shown respectively in Figures 1 and 3.
In my improved kilns the drying floor is composed of a series of 6 (more or less)-
stages or steps a¹ a² a³ a* a³ a³ each of these stages forming the top of a heating
flue which has plates perforated as is usual in drying kilns. The first or top
stage al of the drying floor may conveniently be about 2 feet in diameter, while
the diameter of the second stage a³ which is annular may be 4 feet, the third a³
6 feet and so on the lowest stage a being 12 feet while there is a drop of 6 inches
between the several stages, but these dimensions as well as the number of stages
and corresponding flues may be varied as desired. The drying floor is thus of
conical form and I will hereinafter speak of it as the cone a.
There are 2 cones a a to each kiln supported on the walls of the building, and
the brick arching of the pot 6 below is brought close up to the lower edge. In the
case of the cones a a being over each other as they would be in a high building
(see Figure 1) the pot below the upper cone will be circular at the top leaving the
4 angles of the building clear for the discharge of heated air from the lower cone.
The angles of the lower cone are made close to the building which will also be
the case where both cones are placed on the same level.
The heating is effected by means of a furnace c in the usual way, the furnace
being arranged as seen in the drawings to heat the cones separately whether placed
one above the other or on the same level, dampers d d being placed on each
division to regulate the heat. The heated air passes through the perforated plates
and ascends direct to the chimney cowl e. In either arrangement the heating may
be done with husks.
On the top stage a¹ of each cone there is a revolving feed hopper f attached to
an upright shaft g driven by gearing as shown and carrying 2 or more arms h, i
which extend down over the cone, one of these arms h being fitted with 2 ploughs
to each stage as is seen in the drawings. At each revolution the outer plough on
each stage throws off half the grain on that stage on to the stage below, the inner
plough meantime shifting the other half forward to the outer edge, and so on down
to the lowest stage as which has discharge holes at kk On this stage a travelling
collector takes the place of the ploughs discharging the grain into the holes; from
the lowest stage of the first cone the grain is passed on to the second cone and is
there treated in a similar manner as already described. After passing the second
cone the grain is taken by means of elevators to the dry corn bins. In the case
where half drying is required the grain would be discharged into the elevators
after passing one cone, raw grain being supplied to both hoppers at the same
time, thus twice as much grain would be acted upon as when whole drying.
The other arm i (or arms) attached to the revolving hoppers f is fitted with
lifting rakes as seen in the drawings which raise the grain and turn it over on each
stage; so that if 2 arms with rakes be attached to each hopper, every particle of
grain will be lifted and turned over 72 times before passing both cones.
secures perfect drying, and quite prevents browning or discoloring of the grain.
This

page_text: The grain may be supplied to the hoppers or cones in various ways by means of
elevators or otherwise.
The revolving hoppers are fitted with a guage to secure a uniform feed which
may be regulated by belt cones l l. These are controlled by a lever handle m
near the furnace, the revolving gear being worked by worm and wheel or
otherwise.
This kiln is very easily worked and may be attached to existing mills without
requiring additional motive power.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim :——
1. Constructing kilns for drying oats, malt or other substances with drying floors
composed of a series of stages or steps, each of which forms the top of a heating
flue, and with ploughs made to travel around the several stages or steps so as to
shift the grain or material and throw it off on to the stage below all substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. In combination with a drying floor composed of a series of stages or steps and
with ploughs acting as referred to in the first claim, I claim the lifting rakes for
raising and turning over the grain or material on the several stages or steps
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The general construction or arrangement of drying kiln as herein before
described and represented in the annexed drawings,
In witness whereof I the said James Watt have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twelfth day of March One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
JAMES WATT (L.S.)