Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying, Carbonizing, or Cooling Fibrous or other Material.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1895--Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying, Carbonizing,
or Cooling Fibrous or other Material.
JOHN FIELDEN of 32 Sussex Street Rochdale in the County of Lancaster
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The first part of my invention relates to a method of carrying and conveying
which is applicable for that class of apparatus or machine by which fibrous or other
Also for the conveyance of
material is dried either by cold or by heated air.
materials through drying stove or chamber in which vegetable substances are
carbonized or extracted by heat from the animal fibres-such as wool hair,
rags &c.
For this purpose I propose to use a table or any number of tables or conveying
trays upon which the material being operated upon has to travel. This table or
tables can be made any convenient length and breadth desirable, and supported or
suspended in such a manner that a to and fro motion may be imparted thereto by
any mechanical arrangement which is so constructed that the conveying table or
tables will stop suddenly in the forward travel or motion.
The material to be dryed or conveyed is received upon the conveying table or
tables or trays and is carried along by the forward and backward motion imparted
thereto as herein stated, but at each sudden stop of the conveying table the
momentum already given to the material being conveyed will cause this material to
travel or slide a distance forward along the conveying table or tables.
By this means the fibrous or other materials will be intermittently conveyed along
the table or tables through either stove or cooling chambers.
This conveying table will save much time in cleaning the drying apparatus.
Another method of mechanical operation I adopt for convenience when the said
table or conveying trays are not large or heavy. They are caused to perform the
work of conveying as herein described by means of springs, hammers, or other
suitable mechanism arranged and made to force the table or conveyor back suddenly
and intermittently from underneath the material resting upon the said table or tables
.during the process of drying or heating.
The second part of my invention relates to the metal feeding rollers of the
continuous drying machine or cooling chamber (usually two rollers). When either
of these two feeding rollers are heated with steam, for the purpose of drying, I place
a suitable core or block inside to prevent any excessive quantity of water from
collecting in the steam box or cylinder used for heating the said feeding roller
or rollers.
و,
be used in connection
or shaker may
"A reciprocating perforated clearing flat
with the said conveying table inside the drying apparatus.
When it is desirable to have a current of heated air passing through the drying
apparatus I propose to arrange tubes and guide plates in such a manner that they
will direct and cause the air supply to enter at the top or near the top of the drying
chamber by more than one inlet at the same time in such a manner that the air
pressure will be distributed instead of the whole force of the blast entering in at one
end of the heated chamber.
It will be obvious from the present description of improvements that when the
conveving table or tray is in motion as herein set forth any material such as wool

page_text: or other fibre fed upon one end of the said table or tray will be caused to travel
along its surface intermittently to the opposite end without being tangled or
damaged in any way and that when any number of conveying tables are suitably
arranged in tiers one above another the material operated upon after arriving at
the extreme end of a conveying table will fall upon the next conveyor below and
thereby continue its course to the opposite end and so on from conveyor to conveyor
to the end of the series somewhat after the manner that fibrous and other material
is usually conveyed through drying chamber or machine by a series of travelling
brattice one above another but with the advantage that the said new conveying
table can be made very strong and durable with very few wearing parts, also the
said conveying tables effectually clear themselves from the material placed upon
them which will greatly facilitate the working of the continuous drying apparatus.
By the introduction of a core or block inside the feeding roller used to feed fibrous
material into the drying chamber or stove as herein explained there is economy in
the use of steam when heating these feeding rollers.
The distribution of the air supply from fan or blower in the upper part of the
drying apparatus or stove, will prevent small particles of wool or other fibre from
being blown about or rolled on its passage along the surface of the aforesaid
conveying tables or trays, which is often the case when the full blast of heated air
is all admitted at one end of the upper conveying table.
Dated this 31st day of May A.D. 1894
JOHN FIELDEN.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying, Carbonizing,
or Cooling Fibrous or other Material.
JOHN FIELDEN of 32 Sussex Street Rochdale in the County of Lancaster
Mechanical 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 :---
The first part of my invention relates to a method of carrying and conveying
which is applicable for that class of apparatus or machine by which fibrous or other
material is dried either by cold or by heated air. Also for the conveyance of
materials through drying stove or chamber in which vegetable substances are
carbonized or extracted by heat from the animal fibres, such as wool, hair
rags &c. &c.
For this purpose I propose to use a table or any number of tables or conveying
trays by which the material to be operated upon is to be conveyed. This table
or tables may be made any convenient length and breadth desirable. The said table
or tables which may be of perforated metal or other suitable material may be of any
convenient dimensions and so adapted or arranged as to operate respectively in a
backward and forward direction or to have to and fro movements which movements
are effected by suitable mechanical means but more particularly so arranged that
the said table, tray or trays shall during its forward movement engage, abut or
come in contact with a buffer or stationary piece, the effect of which produces
stoppage of the table or tray by concussion and consequently causes the material
which may be situate on the surface to slide thereon or therefrom laterally in contra-
distinction to the pitching or tossing action as hitherto, and which effect, viz., the
stop or concussive force, for the said purposes herein forms a novel feature of my
invention as by such means rolling or tangling of the material is obviated.
The material to be dried or conveyed is received or placed upon the conveying
table or tables or trays which may be arranged in series or tiers in the ordinary
manner and now well known, and is carried impelled or slid forward along the

page_text: urface thereof and eventually therefrom on to the succeeding or subjacent
eciprocating concussion tray or any suitable table as in the case when one conveying
ray is to be used.
These simultaneous occurrences, viz., the sliding on and from the tray or trays
ccurring continuously from the receiving end to the delivering end of the machine.
By these means fibrous or other materials is caused to be intermittently conveyed
long the table or trays through either stove or cooling chamber.
The said conveying table or tray will save much time in cleaning the drying
apparatus.
In the case of conveying trays of small dimensions or not of heavy construction.
employ a modification of mechanical means for effecting the concussive force or
top of the table or tray for the purpose herein before described.
The said conveying tables or trays may also be caused to perform the work of
conveying as herein before described by means of springs and hammers or other
suitable means but arranged and adapted to simultaneously force the conveying
table or tray forward then backward intermittingly from underneath the material
resting upon the said table or tables during the process of drying or heating.
The second part of my invention relates to the metal feeding rollers of the
continuous drying machine or cooling chamber, usually two rollers.
When either of these rollers are heated with steam for the purpose of drying
I place a suitable core or block inside to prevent any excessive quantity of water from
collecting in the steam box or cylinder used for heating the said feeding roller or
rollers.
A reciprocating perforated cleaning flat or shaker may be used in connection
with the said conveying table inside the drying apparatus.
When it is desirable to have a current of heated air passing through the drying
apparatus I propose to arrange tubes and guide plates in such a manner that they
will direct and cause the air supply to enter at the top of the drying chamber by
more than one inlet at the same time, in such a manner that the air pressure will
be distributed, instead of the whole force of the blast entering in at one end of the
heated chamber above the said conveying tables.
In order that my invention may be clearly comprehended I have hereunto
annexed two sheets of drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
like parts.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are longitudinal sections of a series of conveying tables or
conveying trays placed one above another.
Fig. 4. is a side elevation of a reciprocating shaker or cleaning flat.
Fig. 5. is an end elevation of a series of conveying tables arranged to work one
above another.
Figs. 6 and 7. represent respectively the longitudinal side section and end section
of the steam heated feeding roller.
Fig. 8. (Sheet 2) is a longitudinal section of the feeding end of a drying and
carbonizing machine.
Fig. 9. (Sheet 2.) is an end section of the feeding end of the drying and
carbonizing machine containing a series of conveying tables one above another.
The conveyor A, Fig. 1, rests upon the small wheels or bearings (a.) attached
thereto, and at the feeding end of this conveyor there may be a piece (c.) attached
so that any projections upon rotary discs or cams (d.) will cause the said conveyor
to travel slowly backwards upon the bearings (a.) or by any other equivalent
contrivance giving intermittent motion in a direct line or horizontal plane. This
"conveyor is then forced forward upon its bearings (a.) by any elastic body spring
or weight (f) these motive powers together causing a to and fro motion in a direct
line or in a horizontal plane laterally and at each alternate stroke propelling the
said conveyor or projecting piece S against the abutment or stop S¹ thereby causing
5 concussions.
This concussive effect repeated during the forward motion of the conveyor A.
causes wool, cotton or other material resting upon its surface to slide or travel

page_text: bodily in one direction as shown by arrows-but the said conveying table or tray
is at rest during the interval or period at each periodical stop or concussion.
A similar conveyor B, Fig. 2, is suspended by levers, chains or suitable hangers
as (k. k.) which hinge upon the fixed studs (b. b.) in place of resting upon small
bearing wheels as described and illustrated at A. Fig. 1.
The backward travel may be caused by rotary projections or cams upon any
convenient driving shaft so that they catch or come in contact with the piece
attached for that purpose to the conveying table similar to (C.) Fig. 1-but in
place of springs or weights to force this conveyor forward it may be arranged to
swing by its own weight in the direction illustrated by dotted lines (v.) against
the stop or abutment S¹, thus causing concussions which move the wool or other
material resting upon its surface to travel in a direct line latterally along its surface
as desired from end to end of the conveying table and as shown by arrows upon the
drawing herewith. Fig. 3. represents another modification showing the conveying
table C. supported on bearings, which table is provided with wheels or bowls a.
as in Fig. 1. but in this modification the movements of the conveyor are effected
by means of a striking piece or weighted hammers m. and a resisting piece or
spring. The said hammers which may be provided one on each side of the
conveyor, are caused by the action of the rotatory pieces n. n to periodically
strike the tray or table C. at the part S. This conveying table according to this
arrangement as shown in the said Fig. 3. is caused when the said hammers m. m¹
have struck the table or tray at S. to move it in a backward direction, and
afterwards the table is caused to travel forward by the reaction of the spring or
piece 7. which is in engagement with the horizontally situated tray at e. or if
desired the said table or tray may be situated in an angular position or rest upon
an inclined plane, thus in this latter case the conveying tray may and would travel
forward by its own weight or by gravitation down the incline and thus abut against
a stop piece i. and is again impelled up the incline by the percussive force of the
aforesaid weighted hammers-thereby attaining the desired concussions. Thus it
will be understood that I have described and illustrated three methods of producing
concussive effect or stops with conveying, tables or trays. When desired I adopt
another method of stop to the conveyor illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, this may
be a chain O, a rod or other suitable material having one end attached to the
conveyor and the other end attached to or arranged to abut against some fixed
object so that it may serve as a check or stop the conveying table suddenly in its
forward motion and thereby cause the material resting upon its surface to slide
forward in a lateral direction. I may employ such check apparatus in lieu of the
stationary buffer or stop S.
Fig. 4. (h.) is a reciprocating or oscillating flat (h.) of perforated plate so placed
in the drying machine or chamber that any fibrous material falling upon it whilst
in motion from the aforesaid conveying table or tray will be beaten and opened a
little thereby loosening and separating some of the heavy foreign matter or carbon
from the said fibrous material. The oscillations-of-this-cleaning flat or beater
may be caused by a rotating crank and connecting rod. (p.) as shown or other
equivalent.
Fig. 5. is an end elevation of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Illustration Fig. 6. is the section of a metal core or block (r.) resting inside the
stationary steam box or cylinder (G.) around which the metal feeding roller (g.)
rotates. This core or block fills or partially fills the lower portion of the said
steam box (G.) which will prevent any large quantity of condensed steam or water
from lodging in the said steam box or cylinder when a syphon cannot be
conveniently used with the feeding roller of the drying machine.
Sheet (2). Figs. 8 and 9 are the sectional side elevation and the end elevation
respectively of one part of a drying and carbonizing machine illustrating by
arrows the direction that the air may be caused by any blower or fan to travel
through air supply tubes as B' CD to the upper portion of the drying chamber
and pass through inlets or perforated plate or plates (w.) or may come into contact

page_text: with deflecting plates E. E. arranged in either case to distribute the current of air
as equally as possible over the fibrous material, after passing thro' the feeding
rollers, the position of which is here indicated at F. These perforated plates or
the deflecting plates may extend across the top of the machine from side to side
and may be adapted or so fixed so as to distribute the current of air as it enters
the drying chamber. By preference I use these guide plates when the air enters
the upper portion of the machine or drying chamber and travels downwards in the
same direction as the fibrous or other material being dried, and in combination with
the conveying table or tray as herein before described.
It will be obvious from the present description of improvements that when the.
conveying table or tray is in motion as herein set forth, any material such as wool
and other fibre fed upon one end of the said table or tray will be caused to travel
along its surface intermittently to the opposite end without being lifted, tangled or
damaged in any way, and that when any number of conveying tables are suitably
arranged in tiers one above another the material operated upon after arriving at the
extreme end of a conveying table will fall upon the next conveyor below and
thereby continue its course to the opposite end and so on from conveyor to conveyor
to the end of the series somewhat after the manner that fibrous and other material
is usually conveyed through drying chambers or machine by a series of travelling
brattices one above another, but with the advantage that the said new conveying
table can be made very strong and durable with few wearing parts. Also the said
conveying tables effectually clear themselves from the materials placed upon them—
which will greatly facilitate the working of the continuous drying apparatus.
By the introduction of a core or block inside the feeding roller used to feed
fibrous material into the drying chamber or stove as herein explained there is
economy in the use of steam when heating this feeding roller.
The distribution of the air supply from fan or blower in the upper part of the
drying apparatus or stove will prevent small particles of wool or other fibre from
being blown about or rolled on its passage along the surface of the aforesaid
conveying tables or trays, which is often the case when the full blast of heated air
is all admitted at one end of the upper conveying table or tray.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and the modes of carrying the same into effect I declare that what I
claim is―
Firstly. In combination a conveying tray provided with a projecting part S, a
stationary buffer or stop piece S¹, or as a substitute for the said buffer a flexible or
other check connection or attachment and actuating mechanism engaging with the
said conveying tray actuating the same intermittently by percussive or other
impelling force as exemplified in Figs. 1, 2, 3, whereby the concussions checks or
stops are produced or effected as and for the purpose herein fully set forth.
Secondly. A semi solid roller or inserted block (r.) used in connection with the
drying machine as and for the purpose herein fully set forth.
Thirdly. In combination the perforated distributing plate or deflecting
plates E. E. with the reciprocating conveying tray substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
Fourthly. In a drying machine in which air is injected or passed at the upper
part or top thereof the perforated plate W or deflecting plate or plates E E
whereby air is distributed thro' a number of inlets or openings as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1895.
JOHN FIELUEN.