Improvements in Machines for Drying Granular, Fibrous, and like Materials, also Applicable for Cleaning, Bleaching, Damping, Germinating, or Disinfecting.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1889-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Drying Granular, Fibrous, and like
Materials, also Applicable for Cleaning, Bleaching, Damping,
Germinating, or Disinfecting.
I, RALPH HOWARTH, of 24 Manchester Road Rochdale in the County of Lancashire,
Corn Miller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The principal object of my improvements is to increase the efficiency and capability
of the aforesaid machines, and consists in the first place in compelling hot or dried air
or gases to pass through a permeous compact body of material under treatment.
I accomplish this in the first place preferably by arranging inside and concen-
trically with a perforated horizontally or vertically rotating cylinder, a perforated tube
of suitable diameter, and suitably connected by means of an air trunk or trunks with
one or more fans.
By reason of the particular position of the perforated tube the hot or dried air, or
gases, are compelled to pass through the whole body of the material under treatment,
and make their way into the perforated tube, thus causing the material to be treated
effectively and uniformly.
The outlet at the end of the machine I form at such a height, that the perforated
tube in the perforated cylinder will always be fully covered by the material in the same,
and in order to regulate the outlet according to the inlet, I provide the outlet opening
with a slide.
My improvements consist in the second place in forming the lower part of the
delivery end of the machine with a perforated portion, for the purpose of drawing, by
means of the suction fan, a current of cold air through the material before delivery,
thus cooling it when required.
My improvements consist in the third place, in forming the delivery end of the
perforated cylinder, i.e. its ring, with a suitable number of openings, furnished with
doors at a level with the periphery of the perforated cylinder, in connection with a
stationary semi-circular trough, furnished with a shoot, for the purpose of facilitating
the emptying of the perforated cylinder when desired.
My improvements consist in the fourth place in the employment of a worm inside
the perforated tube, in connection with a Hap valve at the end of the same near its
connection with the air trunk, for the purpose of removing automatically any dust
or fine material which may have entered the same through the perforations.
In order to keep the perforations of the cylinder open, I employ a fixed or moving
brush, or its equivalent, over the periphery, and on the top of the same.
For the purpose of preventing the material from passing through the perforated
cylinder irregularly, employ inside the same a series of rings and discs, which
regulate its passage.
Instead of employing a perforated rotating cylinder as described, the material may
be moved in a permeous, compact body, by gravitation between inclined or vertical
perforated walls.
My improvements consist in the fifth place in providing the inlet or hopper, and
outlet of the machine with a flap valve respectively, for the purpose of preventing the
inrush of cold air, on the material, entering or leaving, so as not to lower the tem-
perature inside the machine.
When treating certain materials I cause the body of material to be moved inter-
mittently.
When using hot or dried air the same may be created by an open fire, preferably by
smoke-less fuel or by a series of air pipes surrounded by steam, or by air pipes, with
steam nines in the centra.

page_text: The improvements as described are also applicable for cleaning granular fibrous,
and like substances, but for bleaching and disinfecting purposes, suitable means will
be employed to create or admit the gases necessary below the aforesaid rotary cylinder
so as to be either drawn or blown through the same, with or without the hot or dried
air.
For damping & germinating a spray arrangement is employed over or against the
said rotary cylinder.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Drying Granular, Fibrous, and like
Materials, also Applicable for Cleaning, Bleaching, Damping,
Germinating, or Disinfecting.
I, RALPH HOWARTH, of 24, Manchester Road, Rochdale in the County of Lancashire,
Corn Miller, 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 principal object of my improvements is to increase the efficiency and capability
of the aforesaid machines, and consists in the first place in compelling hot or dried
air or gases to pass through a permeous automatically moved compact body of material
under treatment.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto two sheets of drawings marked with letters of reference indica-
ting like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1. sheet I. is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2. an end view, Fig. 3. a cross section.
Figs. 4. & 6. sheet II. are cross sections, Fig. 5. a plan of Fig. 4. Figs. 7. & 8. are
detached cross sections of modifications of my invention.
In carrying out my invention and referring to Figs. 1. 2. & 3. sheet 1., a is the
chamber in which the perforated cylinder 6 revolves either horizontally or vertically,
the ends of which, I provide with rings c, fixed on the shaft d, and rotating against
the stationary disc e, bolted to the cross pieces a', the covering being suitably
fastened to the said rings c, and intermediate rings e fixed on the shaft d, to which a
slow, continuous or intermittent rotary motion is transmitted, preferably by means of
worm and worm wheel d².
Inside and concentrically with the perforated cylinder b, a perforated rotating
tube B, of suitable diameter, and suitably connected by means of an air trunk or
trunks with one or more fans n, is arranged, to draw from one or both ends of the
perforated tube B.
By reason of the particular position of the latter, the hot or dried air, or gases, aro
compelled to pass through the body of the material or substance A, under treatment,
and make their way into the perforated tube B, thus causing the material or substance A,
to be treated effectively and uniformly.
The outlet opening g at the end of the machine I form at such a height in the disc e,
that the perforated tube B in the perforated cylinder will always be fully covered
by the material or substance A in the same, and in order to regulate the outlet according
to the inlet f, I provide the outlet opening 7 with a slide c', whereby a constant over-
flow of the treated material or substance A is effected.
I
My improvements consist in the second place in forming the lower part or disc e
of the delivery end of the machine with a perforated portion C, for the purpose of
drawing, by means of the suction fan n, a current of cold air through the material or
substance A before delivery, thus cooling it when required.
My improvements consist in the third place, in forming the delivery end of the
perforated cylinder b, i.e. its ring e, with a suitable number of openings D, furnished

page_text: with doors D at a lovel with the periphery of the perforated cylinder b, in connection
with a stationary trough D2, furnished with a shoot D³, for the purpose of facilitating
the emptying of the perforated cylinder when desired. My improvements consist
in the fourth place in the employment of a worm E inside the perforated tube B, in
connection with a flap valve E' at the end of the same near its connection with the
air trunk 1, for the purpose of removing automatically any dust or fine material or
substance A, which may have entered the same through the perforations.
In order to keep the perforations of the cylinder open I employ a fixed
or moving brush F, or its equivalent, over the periphery, and on the top of the
same.
For the purpose of preventing the material or substance from passing through the
perforated cylinder birregularly, I employ inside the same, a series of rings and
discs G G', which regulate its passage.
My improvements consist in the fifth place in providing the inlet or hopper f³, and
outlet trunk g of the machine with a flap valve H; H' respectively, for the purpose of
preventing the inrush of cold air, on the material or substance entering or leaving, so
as not to lower the temperature inside the machine.
When treating certain materials or substances I cause the body of material or sub-
stance to be moved intermittently.
Instead of employing a perforated rotating cylinder b as described, the material or
substance may be moved in a permeous compact body, by gravitation between inclined
or vertical perforated walls.
Figs. 4. 5.& 6. sheet II. represents an apparatus with vertical and inclined walls K.
In each case the upper extremity is brought in connection with a feed worm L and
trough L' and their lower extremity with collecting werin M, and trough M.
The said perforated walls may be made of wire netting or other perforated material
or be formed of louvre openings made of wood iron or other material, and so as to
prevent the overflowing of the material or substance, see Fig. 8.
Between the vertical or inclined walls K an air chamber N is formed, in which
are employed along the inner of the said perforated walls K a number of steami
pipes N.
This air chamber N may be in communication with a stove, 1. a fan or fans may
be employed to blow or draw the hot air from the stove 1 or steam pipes N' or both
through the perforated walls K and permeous compact body of material or substances A
under treatment, whereby the same is dried.
In some cases the stove I or steam pipes N¹ gives the desired effect without the use
of a fan O.
If deemed necessary the perforated walls K, may inside be furnished with projections i
see Fig. 4. for the purpose of turning the material or substance A well over.
The air chamber N, I may form in compartments
by means of the partitions k¹
in connection with one or more fans, so as to cause the material or substance A under
treatment to be alternatly exposed to hot and cold air if required.
In certain cases I employ steam pipes 1, between the perforated walls K, passing
through the permeous compact body of material or substance A under treatment, see
Fig. 7 in lieu of or in addition to other heat medium in or outside the chamber N
and bring the said perineous compact body A in communication with a suction or
blowing fan suitably employed.
When using hot or dried air the same may be created by an open fire, (preferably
by smokeless fuel), or by a series of air pipes surrounded by steam, or by a series of
steam pipes surrounded by air, or by a stove I., as illustrated in the drawings.
For some materials or substances, chemically prepared air may be employed.
The improvements as described are also applicable for cleaning granular, fibrous
and like substances, and for bleaching or disinfecting purposes, suitable means are
employed to create and admit tho gases necessary, so as to bo drawn or blown through
the permeous compact body of material or substance and for bleaching a bowl with
sulphur, below the same, such as shown in Figs. 1. & 3. may be used.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
"In machines for drying granular, fibrous and like material, also applicable for
cleaning, bleaching damping, germinating or disinfecting."
1st. The combination of the perforated cylinder with a perforated tube B con-
centric therewith, with or without a propellor E and in connection with one or more
fans, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. Providing the delivery end, with an opening g and slide c¹ at a level above the
tube B through which opening g the treated material or substance overflows, subsian-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. Providing the lower part of the delivery end with perforations C in communica-
tion with the body of the material or substance in the cylinder b, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
4th. Providing the delivery end with a number of openings D and slides D', in
communications with the interior of the cylinder and trough D2, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
5th. The valves H, H¹, E', respectively employed in the hopper and outlets g & g³,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6th. The employment of rings G & discs G inside the cylinder b in combination
therewith and the perforated tube B substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7th. The employment of vertical or inclined perforated walls K between which the
material or substance under treatment gravitates in a permeous compact body A in
communication with suitable heating mediums, substantially as described.
8th. The employment of vertical or inclined perforated walls K between which the
material or substance under treatment gravitates in a permeous compact body A in
communication with one or more suction or blowing fans and heating mediums, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 31st day of July 1889
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.