Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Drying or Seasoning Timber and other Substances, Ventilating or Warming Apart- ments, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Feb., 1889
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Drying or Seasoning
Timber and other Substances, Ventilating or Warming Apart-
ments, and the like.
-
I, GEORGE HALL ELAND, 21 Portia Street, Stanley Road, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Timber Measurer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention is designed partly with the object of drying or seasoning timber or
other substances. It is, however, also applicable for ventilating or warming apart-
ments such as the cabins of vessels.
In carrying out the invention, I arrange the timber to be dried or seasoned in the
usual manner with spaces between to allow a free current of air. Beneath the timber,
I arrange an inlet pipe for atmospheric air, preferably perforated, and beneath or
around said inlet pipe, I arrange steam or hot water tubes. By the sides of the
timber or between the timber or in other suitable position, I arrange a number of
upright tubes perforated at intervals, all leading to an exhaust fluc or pipe, which
terminates in a chimney of suitable height so as to obtain the requisite draught.
The cold or heated air entering through the inlet pipe escapes through the perforations
in said pipe and is heated by the steam or hot water pipes immediately beneath it.
The current of air being heated rises between and around the timber, thoroughly
drying it, and causing the moisture to evaporate. The air current now rises through
the perforations in the upright pipes and escapes through the exhaust flue to the
chimney. 1 can, if desired, use a fan for drawing a current of air through the
apparatus, but I do not generally find this necessary.
In apartments such as cabins in vessels, the perforated inlet pipe for air can be
arranged beneath or upon the floor of the apartment. At the sides or walls of room
or in other position, I place perforated exhaust pipes, all terminating in an exhaust
flue. The current of air is preferably caused by an exhaust fan or by other suitable
artificial means. If it is desired to heat the apartment, the air drawn through the
inlet pipe may be first heated.
Deated this 22nd day of May 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Drying or Seasoning
Timber and other Substances, Ventilating or Warming Apart-
ments, and the like.
I, GEORGE HALL ELAND of 21, Portia Street, Stanley Road, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Timber Measurer, 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 invention is designed partly with the object of drying or seasoning timber-or
other substances. It is, however, also applicable for ventilating or warming apart-
ments, such as the cabins of vessels.
The manner in which I carry the invention into effect may be understood from the
accompanying drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 show how the invention may be applied to the drying or seasoning
of timber, Figure 1 being a sectional plan on line a a, Figure 2, and Figure 2a
transverse section on line y y, Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the manner in which the invention may be applied
to the warming or ventilating of a ship's cabin, both Figures being vertical sections.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2:-
A is a suitable room or chamber in which the timber to be dried or seasoned is
placed. The timber is arranged in the usual manner so as to allow a free current of
air through it. Preferably it is built up in stacks B, as shown in dotted lines in
Figure 2, the bottom of the stack being raised slightly from the floor of the
chamber by cross laths b, and a suitable gangway being left between the stacks
as shown.
Below the floor C, and either directly below the timber or below the gangway
aforesaid, I arrange one or more steam or hot water tubes or pipes D, which prefer-
ably pass backwards and forwards several times for the entire length of the chamber,
as shown in Figure 1.
.
Atmospheric air is admitted into the chamber A in such a manner that it may pass
freely between and around the heating pipes D. This may be conveniently effected
by means of two air trunks E. which are arranged below the floor C, parallel to and
on the outside of the pipes D. The air trunks are provided with side openings e
below the said pipes, and the air escaping from the openings passes between the
pipes and into the chamber through apertures c¹ in the floor thereof. One end
only of each trunk E may be open to the outer air, and the open end is preferably
provided with a double screen e¹ of gauze or perforated metal, which prevents, in

page_text: great measure, the entrance of water, dust, etc., into the chamber. This is a matter.
of some importance when seasoning white or light coloured timber, etc.
The air escapes from the chamber by means of a number of upright tubes F, which
are perforated at intervals as at . These tubes may be arranged in any suitable
positions, but preferably at the sides of the chamber as in Figure 1. The tubes F all
lead into exhaust flues or pipes F, Figure 2, which communicate, by means of
trunks FF, with a chimney F of such a height that the requisite draught is
obtained through the apparatus. Or the flues Fi could, if desirable, communicate
directly with the chimney F
The mode of action of the above apparatus is as follows:-
The air passes through the double screens e¹ e¹, into the air trunks E, and thence it
escapes through the openings e e, and passes up between the heating pipes D into the
chamber A, where it arrives in a heated state. The heated air now rises in the
chamber, passing between and around the timber, which it thoroughly dries by
evaporating the moisture therein. The current of air laden with moisture, now
escapes through the perforations ff, into the upright pipes F, and thence by the
flues F and trunks F F into the chimney F The air trunks E being near the
centre of the chamber and the perforated pipes F being at the sides thereof,
the heated air is compelled to pass through the timber stacks in order to escape from
the chamber.
I can, if desirable, use a fan for drawing a current of air through the apparatus,
but I do not generally find this necessary.
The manner in which the invention may be applied to the warming or ventilating
of a ship's cabin, may be understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4. A' is the
cabin, E, Figure 3, is the inlet air trunk, which is carried from a suitable point above
the deck C³ to the distributing air trunk E', which is placed in a convenient position
below or upon the floor C, and communicates with the cabin by apertures e e. The
upper end of the inlet air trunk is preferably fitted with a revolving hood E³, which
is provided at its side with a double screen e¹ e as aforesaid, and the latter may be
further protected by louvres e². The hood is fitted with a vane E³, so placed that the
louvres e are always held towards the wind. Or the upper part of the trunk E
may be fixed, in which case, the inlet opening is made to face towards the bow of
the vessel.
The exhaust pipe or pipes F, Figure 4, may be placed in any suitable position at
the sides or top of the cabin, but preferably against the roof thereof, as shown. The
exhaust pipe or pipes are each perforated as at ff, and lead into an exhaust flue or up
take F which passes upwards to a convenient point above the deck C, and is there
provided with a hood F. The latter is preferably revolvable, and carries a vane Fe
so that the mouth of the hood is always turned away from the wind.
The mode of action is essentially. the same as that described in reference to the
timber seasoning apparatus. The entrance of the air into the inlet trunk is assisted
by the speed of the ship, or other artificial means may be employed, such as an
exhaust fan. It will be seen, that the fresh air enters at the lower part of the cabin,
and the foul and heated air escapes from the upper part thereof by the exhaust pipe
The
or pipes F. Its exit may also, if desired, be assisted by artificial moans.
incoming air may be heated by steam or hot water pipes when desired.
The above warming or ventilating apparatus may also, with slight modifications, be
applied to dwelling houses, offices, or other apartments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A timber drying or seasoning apparatus consisting of a closed chamber in which
the timber is suitably stacked, one or more inlet air trunks at the lower part of said
chamber and provided with a series of exit openings. communicating with the same,
one or more heating pipes between or around which the air from said openings passes,

page_text: and one or more exhaust flues at or near the top of sail chamber and connected on
the one hand, with the chamber, by a series of perforated pipes, and, on the other
band, either directly or indirectly with a suitable chimney or uptake, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
2. The modified form of the above apparatus as applied to the ventilating or
warming of apartinents or the like, substantially as set forth.
3. The timber drying or seasoning apparatus as a whole constructed substantially
as shown and described.
Dated th: 04. 1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.