Improvements in Drying Apparatus for Brewers' Grains and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SIBUITIATION.
Improvements in Drying Apparatus for Brewers' Grains and
the like.
I, HANNIBAL WOODWORTH RAPPLEYE, of 2814 Poplar Street Philadelphia, in
the County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to that class of drying machines which consists in a rotary
vessel in which the material to be dried is placed and hot air or other heating
medium is passed through said vessel and the material therein contained; and it
consists in certain novel mechanism to cause all the heat to be used in that portion
of the cylinder containing the material to be dried. My invention is specially
adapted for drying what are called brewers' grains, although it may be used for
drying other material.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view of machine.
Figure 2 is a sectional view on line -, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view on line y—y, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional view on line -, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal part sectional view of modified form of machine.
Figure 6 is a sectional on the line a-x, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a part section on the line y—y, Figure 5.
Figure 8 is an end view to smaller scale.
Figure 9 is a plan view to smaller scale.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the cams.
Figure 11 is a plan view of one of the cams, showing the course of rollers on
valve-stems.
Figure 12 is an enlarged view of one of the valves.
Figure 13 is a section on the line, Figure 12, showing manner of preventing
valve-stem from rocking.
In all the drawings, D is a cylinder in which the material to be dried is placed,
provided with a perforated periphery and closed ends. Surrounding the cylinder D
is a casing or cylinder E, which is solid. A door or opening D' is provided on the
periphery of the cylinder D, and doors e e¹ are also provided on the periphery of
the casing or cylinder E.
I will now describe the preferred form of embodiment of my invention, illustrated
particularly in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, although the same may be varied without
departing from my invention.
Fis a shaft supported to uprights F, F, one adjacent to each end of the
cylinder D. Upon the shaft F is the sprocket wheel G, which is driven from any
desired source of power. G1, G2, are gear wheels upon the shaft F, one at each
end of the cylinder D and which engage gear H, H', on said cylinder to rotate said
cylinder, D. Within the cylinder D and extending through the ends of the cylinder
are the pipes I provided with openings i. J, J, are heads, one at each end of the
cylinder. These heads surround the ends of the cylinder, and angle-guards k are
secured to cylinder D and project over the heads J, J, as shown in Figure 2. The
heads J, J, are supported upon hollow trunnions, K, K. A portion of the heads
are cut away, forming a recessed chamber O, as shown in Fig. 2, and the hollow
trunnions, K, K, open into this recessed chamber O. A pipe L', adapted to carry
hot air, is connected, to each of these bearings, so that hot air is admitted to the
recessed chamber O. The trunnions, K, K, are supported by the uprights, F', F',

page_text: in which the shaft F finds a bearing. As may be seen from the drawings, the
heads J, J, where they are not cut away to form the recessed chamber O, rest
closely against the cylinder D, thus closing the pipes at that point, but where
the heads are cut away, a recessed chamber is formed between the heads and
cylinder, and the hot air, passing through the supports K, K, will pass into said
chamber and through the pipes I. Oil pipes 1, 1, lead from oil reservoirs, L, L,
to the portion where heads J, J, and cylinder D are in contact, to prevent friction.
It is especially desirable to concentrate the heat at that portion of the cylinder D
where the material is, and I accomplish this with my machine. The hot air enters
through the hollow trunnions K, K, into the recessed chamber O, from which it
passes through the perforated pipes I, which are in line with said chamber, into the
cylinder D and through the material, and with the moisture it has absorbed it
passes through the perforated periphery of cylinder D into the outer casing E,
whence it passes to outlet N.
In order to prevent the temperature falling so that moisture abstracted from the
material will be deposited in the casing E, a super-heater O is provided, which
connects with casing E by the openings O2, by which means hot air is carried into
the casing and the temperature retained so that the moisture will not be deposited
in the casing E.
The operation is as follows: The material to be dried is placed in the cylinder D;
the doors of both the cylinder D and casing E closed, the cylinder D revolved as
described and hot air admitted through the trunnions K, K. As the cylinder
revolves, the pipes I will come in line with the recessed chamber D, when hot air
is passed through them, and then come in line with the solid portion of the heads, when
they receive no hot air. The pipes which are above the material being in line with the
solid portion of the heads, and the pipes surrounded by material being in line with
the recessed chamber O. The operation is continued until the material is
sufficiently dried, when it is removed through the bottom or lower surface of
cylinder D and casing E; and during the operation, as the pipes rise above the
material, they come in line with the closed portion of the heads, and when they are
surrounded by material, they come in line with the recessed chamber O. In some
cases, the pipes, I, need not be perforated, in which case the hot air passes through
the pipes without escaping into the material, in which case steam or hot air would
be admitted through one of the supports, J, J, only, the other support J being used
for the purpose of allowing the steam or hot air to pass out.
The extent of the recessed chamber O may be varied.
I will now describe a slightly modified construction, illustrated particularly in
Figures 5-13, and this too may be varied without departing from my invention.
Bare outer cylinder heads, which are secured to the cylinder D by the bolts b, b
forming a chamber B' between said outer cylinder head and the cylinder D.
A, A, are bearings on which the outer cylinder B, B, revolve. In place of the
outer cylinder head revolving directly on the bearings, I can interpose rollers to
reduce the friction, as is well known. These bearings are provided with oiling-
holes
a,
a¹.
K is a sprocket wheel connected to the outer cylinder-head B, having hollow
trunnions integrally connected therewith, and Q is the sprocket chain proceeding
from the source of power and operating said sprocket wheel K.
J is the gland of the stuffing-box, which is used to make a tight joint.
I is the pipe adapted to convey hot air. This pipe passes into the trunnions
integrally connected with the outer cylinder head B, passing into the chamber B'.
Within this cylinder D and extending through the head are the pipes F, provided
with openings f. The hot air is conveyed through pipe I into the chamber B',
whence it passes through pipes F, escaping through the openings f and permeating
the material in said cylinder D.
G, G, are a series of valves provided at one end with the roller 9. These valves
equal in number to the pipes F in the cylinder E and project through the outer
cylinder head B to a point in front of each of the pipes F. The stems of these
are
1°

page_text: valves are prevented from turning by the bracket R, one end of the valve stem
being flattened and resting in the slot in one end of the bracket, the other end of
the bracket being fastened to the outer cylinder-head B by bolt r.
When
H, H, are cams, provided with the raised portions Hand angular projections H².
These cams are secured to the bearing A by means of the bolt h', which passes
through the slots h. The cam H is shown in detail in Figures 7 and 10.
the cylinder D is rotated by the sprocket chain and wheel, the rollers on the
valve come in contact with the cam H, and if the cylinder be revolved in the
direction of the arrow, the rollers g, as they pass over the raised surfaces H', are
pushed in, so that the pipes F corresponding to said valves are closed at their ends
by said valves. When the cylinder D is rotated, so that the rollers g on the valves
strike angular pieces H on the cam, the valve is pulled forward, opening the ends
of the pipe F corresponding to said valves, the pipes thus being alternately closed
and opened, the cam being adjusted by the bolt so that the roller g will be
pushed in so as to close the pipe when said pipe is at the upper part of its movement
and opened when it is at the point where the material to be dried is in the
cylinder E.
In Figure 11, the action of the cams upon the rollers g and valve-stem G is
clearly shown. The object of this is that these pipes F only which are surrounded
by the material to be dried shall have hot air passing through them, and thus all
the hot air is used directly upon the material to be dried.
In Figure 6 is shown the open and closed pipes F, the closed being above the
line of material and the open below. Of course, at the beginning of the operation
some of the pipes will be closed before they are above the material; but as the
water becomes evaporated out of the mass its bulk decreases and it does not extend
up so high in the cylinder D.
P are supports for the outer casing E, to which it is connected by the angle
wires Pl. The hot air enters through the pipe I into chamber B', from which it
passes through the perforated pipes F, which are opened, into the cylinder D and
through the material, and with the moisture it has absorbed it passes through the
perforated periphery of cylinder D into the outer casing E, whence it passes to the
outlet N.
The operation of this modified machine is as follows:
The material to be dried is placed in the cylinder D and casing E closed, the
cylinder D revolved, and hot air admitted through the pipes I, the hot air passing
into the perforated pipes F. As the cylinder revolves, the valves are affected by
cam H so as to alternately close and open the pipes, the pipes above the material
being closed and those below open. The operation is continued until the material
is sufficiently dried, when it is removed through the bottom or lower surface of.
cylinder D and casing E. In some cases the pipes F need not be perforated, in
which case the hot air passes through the pipes without escaping into the material,
in which case steam or hot air would be admitted through one of the inlet pipes I
only, the other pipe I being used for the purpose of allowing the steam of hot air
to pass out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
pipes passing through said cylinder, through which pipes hot air is carried and
means, substantially as described, to automatically open the ends of said pipes.
2. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
perforated pipes passing through said cylinder, through which pipes hot air is
carried, and means, substantially as described, to automatically close and open the
ends of said pipes.

page_text: 3. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a rotary cylinder, pipes passing
through the cylinder, and a stationary head recessed or cut away except at its
upper part to form a heat chamber communicating with the pipes.
4. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a rotary cylinder having closed
ends, perforated pipes passing through the cylinder, and a stationary head fitting
against the end of the cylinder, said head being recessed or cut away except at its
upper portion.
5. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a rotary cylinder, pipes passing
through the cylinder, and a stationary head recessed or cut away except at its
upper part to form a chamber communicating with the pipes, the upper portion of
said head being substantially flush with said cylinder.
6. In a drying apparatus, the combination of a rotary cylinder having closed
ends, perforated pipes passing through said cylinder, and a stationary head fitting
against the end of the cylinder, said head being recessed or cut away except
at its upper portion, the upper part of said head being substantially flush with said
cylinder.
7. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer-cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinders and said outer-cylinder-heads, into which chamber hot air is
conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, valves equal in number
to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder-heads in line with said pipes
and means, substantially as described, to automatically operate said valves to close
and open the ends of said pipes.
8. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer cylinder-heads, into which chamber hot air is
conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinders, valves equal in
number to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder head in line with said
pipes, and means, substantially as described, to automatically operate said valves so
that the pipes which are above the material to be dried shall have their ends
closed while those pipes which are surrounded by the material to be dried shall
be open.
9. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer cylinder head, into which chamber hot air
is conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, valves equal in
number to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder-head in line with
said pipes, a projection on the end of the stem of said valves, and a cam, sub-
stantially as described, in line of travel of the projection of said valve, whereby
the valve is operated to close and open the pipes.
10. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination; a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer cylinder-heads, into which chamber hot air
is conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, valves equal in
number to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder-heads in line with said
pipes, a roller on the end of the stem of said valve, and a cam, substantially as
described, in the line of travel of the roller of said valves, whereby the valve is
operated to close and open the pipes.
11. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer cylinder heads, into which chamber hot air is
conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, valves equal in number
"...>

page_text: to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder-heads in line with said pipes,
a roller on the end of the stem of said valve, and a cam, substantially as described,
in the line of travel of the roller of said valves, said cam being so constructed that
it will push the valve inward and close the corresponding pipe when said pipe is
above the material to be dried and pulls said valve forward and opens the
corresponding pipe when the pipe is in the material to be dried.
12. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer-cylinder heads, into which chamber hot air is
conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, pipes equal in number
to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder-heads in line with said pipes,
a roller on the end of the stem of said valve, and a cam, H, provided with a raised
portion Hand angular overhanging portions, HI, said cam being in the line of
movement of the rollers of said valves, whereby when the roller strikes the
portion Hit is pushed forward, closing the corresponding pipe, and when the
roller strikes the overhanging portion the valve is pulled forward and the
corresponding pipe opened.
13. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer cylinder-heads, into which chamber hot air is
conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, valves equal in number
to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder-heads in line with said pipes,
a roller on the end of the stem of said valve, and a cam H, adjustably secured to
the bearings in which said outer cylinder-heads revolve, said cam being provided
with a raised portion H' and angular overhanging portions H³, said cam being in
the path of movement of the rollers of said outer cylinder-heads, whereby when the
roller strikes the portion H¹ it is pushed forward, closing the corresponding pipe,
and when the roller strikes the overhanging portion the valve is pulled forward
and the corresponding pipe opened.
14. In an apparatus for drying materials, in combination, a cylinder adapted to
rotate, in which the material to be dried is placed, means to rotate said cylinder,
outer cylinder-heads secured to said cylinder so as to form chambers between the
heads of said cylinder and said outer cylinder-heads, into which chamber hot air is
conveyed, perforated pipes extending through said cylinder, valves equal in number
to said pipes projecting through said outer cylinder heads in line with said pipes, a
roller ou the end of said valve stem, a bracket, and a slot in said bracket in which
the end of the valve-stem rests.
Dated this 27th day of Controban A D 1000
HANNIBAL W. RAPPLEYE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.