IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND OTHERWISE AND OTHER SURATA NORS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Creasy,
Creasy, of Bulls' Hall, Bedford,
Wickham Market, in the County of Suffolk, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND OTHERWISE
AND OTHER SURATA NORS
Sealed the 5th January 1869, and dated the 9th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Creasy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th July 1868.
I, WILLIAM CREASY, of Bulls' Hall, Bedfield, Wickham Market, in
the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND OTHERWISE
TREATING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery and
apparatus for drying and otherwise treating grain and other substances..
For this purpose I employ a revolving cylinder, through the centre of
which and lying in the same direction is a fixed hollow tube supported
at the ends by standards or the general framework of machine; upon
this hollow tube the said cylinder is arranged to revolve by the

page_text: application of friction rolls.
The cylinder is arranged to revolve in a
lateral or horizontal position, and when used for operating upon grain
I prefer clothing it with perforated or woven iron or zinc around
its circumference. The filling is effected by means of a hopper, from
which there is a passage into the interior of the cylinder running in a
diagonal direction through the stationary tube and commencing with
the hopper on the outside of cylinder at the upper end and with the
interior of the cylinder at the lower. The progression of the grain through
the cylinder is effected by being carried by the action of the revolving
cylinder against some blades fixed at an angle to the stationary tube; it
is then discharged at the further end in a similar manner. Sliding
valves are conveniently arranged for regulating the progression of the
grain and other substances through the cylinder, either at feed or
discharge end, or both.
Before describing the process of drying I would first observe that in
some cases I prefer passing the heated air, together with the products
of combustion, through the material or substance to be dried. In others
where the object is to employ pure air it is heated by a series of tubes
or flues running through it, the channels of which are in direct com-
munication with the fire, or they are filled with high-pressure steam.
In the latter case the arrangement for heating the air is as follows:-
First, a stove by preference of a cylindrical shape and constructed of
plate iron or fire-brick, or with both, is employed, in which fuel is
burned; this stone is connected by a short pipe with a series of small
tubes fixed within the stationary tube and extending lengthways through
it, a chimney being provided to allow the escape of the products of
combustion. Secondly, an external casing surrounding the stove with
an air space between them is connected by a similar short pipe with the
stationary tube; the air in this space communicates with the spaces around
and between the series of tubes, and is raised in temperature by the
heat given off from their surfaces. Air is forced into the spaces sur-
rounding the stove by the action of a fan fixed to the external casing,
and is then carried forward to the stationary tube, passing from thence
through some openings into a number of hollow perforated blades
attached to and partly surrounding its periphery, and which are made
to extend in a radiating line into the interior of the cylinder, thereby
causing the heated air to pass in and through the grain as it is carried
against and around them, escaping from thence through the exterior

page_text: of the cylinder. When the heated air, together with the products of
combustion are employed, the series of small tubes fixed within the
stationary tube are dispensed with. When heat is obtained from the
furnace of an engine suitable means are provided to conduct the heated
air through the series of tubes before referred to. A fan is connected
with the space surrounding the tube to conduct the heated air through
the grain and other substances, as before described. The température
of the heated air and the supply to the stove is regulated by dampers
fixed in any convenient way in the stove and chimney.
For the purpose of drying malt and other moist substances I prefer
to enclose the cylinder with plate iron, a suitable opening being made
in its periphery for loading and unloading. In this case the ventilation
is effected by means of a passage running along the upper side of the
stationary tube, and which is in communication with the chimney;
from this passage pipes project into the upper part of the cylinder, their
ends being turned over to allow the escape of moist air without
blocking.
My Invention consists also in constructing the stove with an opening
communicating with a series of pipes or partitions running up and down
in the annular space between the stove and the external casing, so as to
carry the products of combustion up and down a number of times before
finding their exit into the air, thereby heating the air between and
around them. A fan is connected with the external casing, as before
described, to draw the heated air through the material.
My Invention again consists in an improved method of heating
mangel wurzel, turnips, green vetches, and other root and green crops
and straw, so as to form a cheap and nutritious fodder for horses and
cattle. For this purpose, the roots are first cleaned and pulped by the
ordinary machines used for that purpose; or if a green crop I bruise
or cut it into chaff, they are then partly dried by the cylindrical machine
before referred to; straw is then either bruised or cut into chaff and
mixed with the partly dried pulp or green crop, it is then thrown into
the bay of a barn or any other convenient receptacle, well trodden down,
and allowed to ferment, which very much enhances its value for feeding
purposes. It may then be used from the heap as wanted or pressed
into blocks or cakes by hydraulic or other machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Creasy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CREASY, of Bulls' Hall, Bedfield, in the County of Suffolk, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Creasy, Her special licence
that I, the said William Creasy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Creasy, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND OTHERWISE TREATING GRAIN
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Creasy, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Creasy, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-

page_text: tube the said cylinder is arranged to revolve by the application of friction
rolls or by other suitable means. The cylinder is arranged to revolve
in a lateral or horizontal position, and when used for operating upon
damp grain I prefer clothing it with perforated or woven iron or zinc
placed around its circumference. The filling is effected by means of a
hopper, from which there is a passage into the interior of the cylinder
running in a diagonal direction through the stationary tube, and com-
municating with the hopper to the outside of the cylinder at the upper
end, and with the interior of the cylinder at the lower. The progression
of the grain through the cylinder is effected by being carried by the
action of the revolving cylinder against some blades which are fixed at
an angle to the stationary tube; it is then discharged at the farther end
in a similar manner. Sliding valves are conveniently arranged for
regulating the progression of the grain or other substances through
the cylinder, either at the feed, or the discharge end, or both.
Before describing the process of drying adopted in using my apparatus,
I would first observe that in some cases I prefer passing the heated air
with the products of combustion through the material or substance to be
dried; in others where the object is to employ pure air, it is heated by
a series of tubes or flues, the channels of which are in direct com-
munication with the fire, or they are filled with high-pressure steam.
Where the object is to employ pure heated air (fire being the heating
agent) the arrangement for heating the air is as follows:-First, a stove
by preference of a cylindrical shape and constructed of plate iron, or
fire-brick, or with both, is employed in which fuel is burned; this stove
is connected by a short pipe with a series of small tubes fixed within
the stationary tube and extending lengthways through it, a chimney
being provided to allow the escape of the products of combustion.
Secondly, an external casing surrounding the stove with an air space
between them is connected by a similar short pipe with the stationary
tube; the air in this space communicates with the spaces around and
between the series of tubes, and is raised in temperature by the heat
given off from their surfaces. Air is forced into the spaces surrounding
the stove by the action of a fan fixed to the external casing, and is then
carried forward to the stationary tube, passing from thence through some
openings with a number of hollow perforated blades attached to and
partly surrounding its periphery and which are made to extend in a

page_text: radiating line into the interior of the cylinder, thereby causing the
heated air to pass in and through the grain as it is carried against
and around them, escaping from thence through the exterior of the
cylinder.
When steam is employed as the agent for heating the air, the arrange-
-ment is as follows:-A cone-shaped piece is fastened to the tube plate
to connect the steam spaces; the large tube is connected at the end to a
fan which communicates with the spaces around and between the steam
tubes and the cylinder, as before described. Two pipes are passed
through openings in tube communicating with the steam spaces for the
purpose of supply steam and letting off the condensed water. When
the heated air together with the products of combustion are employed
the series of small tubes are dispensed with. When heat is obtained
from the furnace of an engine suitable means are provided for conducting
the heated air through the series of tubes before referred to. A fan is
connected with the space surrounding the tubes to conduct the heated
air through the grain, as before described. The temperature of the heated
air and the supply to the stove are regulated by a damper fixed in any
convenient way in the stove and chimney.
For the purpose of drying malt and other moist substances I prefer to
enclose the cylinder with plate iron (though in many cases a perforated
or wire cylinder acts better), a suitable opening being made in its
periphery for loading and unloading. In this case the ventilation is
effected by means of a passage running along the upper side of the
stationary tube and which is in communication with the chimney.
From this passage pipes project to the upper part of the cylinder,
their ends being turned over to allow the escape of moist air without
blocking.
My Invention consists also in constructing the stove with an opening
communicating with a series of pipes or partitions running up and down
in the annular space between the stove and the external casing, so as
to carry the products of combustion up and down a number of times
before finding their exit into the air, thereby heating the air between
and around them. A fan is connected with the external casing, as before
described, to drive the heated air through the material. I sometimes
modify the construction of the cylinder by passing the stationary tube
through the upper part of the cylinder, and to the right or left of a

page_text: vertical line drawn through the centre, the consequence being that the
further the tube is taken from the centre the larger must be the openings
in the heads of cylinder; these openings are filled by an eccentric
piece which forms a part of the stationary tube and on which the
friction rolls are arranged to revolve. In machines of this construction
I sometimes prefer feeding the cylinder through an opening in the
eccentric piece and discharging it in the same manner. The result
of this arrangement is to prevent any lodgment upon the stationary
tube or in the feeding pipe. I regulate the quantity of grain or other
substance in the cylinder by the feed pipe, the delivery end of which
is brought higher or lower in the cylinder; for instance, if I required
the cylinder to be kept constantly one-third full, then the delivery
pipe would project to the lower part of the cylinder, and if I wished
to keep it half full the delivery would be higher.
Some kinds of grain that are washed and dried, such as Egyptian
wheats, I prefer to treat in the following manner:-I employ a small
perforated pipe, which runs through the cylinder by the side of the
stationary tube and is fixed to the eccentric pieces. Water is fed
into this pipe through an opening in the eccentric piece (having a
cock to regulate its flow) when the cylinder is revolving; the effect
of this by the motion of the corn against the blades, and the water
descending upon it, is to wash and break up the dirt which falls with
the water through the perforated exterior of cylinder; after being suffi-
ciently washed the heated air is turned on and it is dried before leaving
the cylinder. These cylinders will also act as ordinary screens during
the operation of drying by being more or less perforated.
My improved machinery and apparatus can be used for treating and
storing mangel worzel, turnips, green vetches, and other root and
green crops and straw so as to form a cheap and nutritious food for
horses and cattle, for which purpose the roots are first to be cleaned
Or if
and pulped by the ordinary machines used for that purpose.
a green crop I bruise and cut it into chaff, they are then partly dried
by my cylindrical machine above described, and straw is then bruised
or cut into chaff and mixed with the partly dried pulp or green crop,
when it can be thrown into the bay of a barn or other convenient
receptacle, well trodden down, and allowed to ferment, which very much
enhances its value for feeding purposes. It may then be used from

page_text: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus (constructed
according to my Invention in which pure heated air is used for drying,
the agent employed for heating being fire; Figure 2, transverse section
of same.
a, a, revolving cylinder, which may be constructed of perforated or
woven iron, or zinc, or otherwise; b, b, stationary tube; c, c, mechanism
for driving cylinder; d, hopper for supplying the apparatus with
grain or other material; e, passage communicating with the hopper
and the interior of the cylinder; f, tube for discharge of grain from
cylinder; g, g, blades fixed to stationary tube; h, slide for regulating
the discharge of grain; i, i, stove; j, j, tubes through which the
products of combustion pass; k, short tube forming communication
between stove and tubes j, j; l, chimney for the escape of pro-
ducts of combustion; m, m, external casing surrounding the stove; n, n,
air space between stove (i, i,) and external casing (m, m,); o, o, short
pipe connecting air space (n, n,) and stationary tube (b, b); p, fan
for forcing current of heated air through air space (n, n,) stationary
tube (b, b,) to hollow perforated blades (g, g,) (which are connected
with stationary tube (b, b,)) the heated air passing out through the
hollow perforated blades (g, g,) into corn or other material; t, damper
for regulating temperature of heated air.
Figure 3, part longitudinal section of apparatus (constructed according
to my Invention) in which steam is employed as the heating agent;
Figure 4, transverse section of same. q, cone-shaped piece connecting
tubes (j, j,) which in this apparatus are used for steam; r, tube for
the supply of steam; s, tube for drawing off water of condensation. In
this apparatus the fan (p) is in direct communication with the stationary
tube (b, b,) the stove and its external casing being dispensed with. The
other letters used in these Figures refer to similar parts to those referred
to by them above (in Figures 1 and 2).

page_text: understood that I do not claim the mere constituent details per se and
apart from the purposes of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Creasy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
JAMES CREASY.
WILLIAM CREASY. (L.S.)