A Novel Construction of Rotatable Machine for Drying Tea Leaf, Grain, or other Substance.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Construction of Rotatable Machine for Drying Tea Leaf,
Grain, or other Substance.
I, ALBERT SAXE LIEGE HULETT, of Kearsney, Natal, South Africa, Tea
Planter, 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 :-
This invention has for object, the construction and employment of a rotating
machine for drying tea leaf, grain, and other produce, said machine being built up
of end boxes and connecting pipes for the passage of steam. The pipes are
surrounded with a wire, or meshed screen for the free passage of air and escape of
vapour. The steam conveying and exit pipes, which are attached to the end boxes
respectively, serve as bearers for the machine, and work in suitable standards
under the control of gearing in any desired manner.
Where the pipes connecting the end boxes are very long or joined up, the central
part may have a band and be supported by rollers.
In practice, the tea, or other produce is fed from a fixed hopper to a hood
attached to one end box, and as the machine rotates, the material falls into the
spaces between the pipes from which it tumbles, and becomes turned over and over
until it reaches the end of the screen and then falls into a receptacle placed under
that end of the machine for the purpose.
The heat from the steam pipes, coupled with free access of air through the
meshes of the screen, dries the material gradually, and the agitation of all the
particles without a tendency to clog or mat together during the rotation, ensures an
equal drying treatment.
My invention will be clearly understood from the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine, as above referred to.
Figure 2 a part inner face view and section respectively of one of the end
boxes.
Figure 3 is an elevation similar to Figure 1, except that I show a central band
supported by rollers, a plan which may be useful if the pipes be of extra length, or
are coupled up, and such as may be necessary with some material requiring very
slow evaporating action.
A, A, are pipes arranged as a circular cage from end boxes B, C, each of which
has a shoulder or boss D for the attachment of pipes E, F, for support upon
bearings G, H, in which they serve as axles for the machine. 1 is a wire, or other
meshed screen arranged over the pipes A, A, and is close up against the end
box B, the opposite end being stopped short to leave an outlet space next the other
end box C.
Each end box has hollows between the arms J, J, which arms are also hollow
(see Figure 2) for the passage of steam from the central eye to the radial
pipes A, A, at one end B, and from the radial pipes A, A, to the central eye at
the other end C. K is a fixed hopper with its lower part dipped into the hood L
which is attached to the end box B to rotate with the cage, and M is a band, if
such be required, to support the machine upon the roller N. This will reduce the
weight strain upon the steam pipes E, F, and will serve to steady the rotative
motion.
The cage is set at an angle, so that the material can gravitate to the lower end
for delivery.
P is a gland stuffing box, and Q is the driving pulley from a strap, or ordinary
spur gearing can be used in lieu thereof and operated in any desired manner.

page_text: I can fit draw off cocks to the end boxes for the removal of any condensed
steam.
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 :-
The construction and employment of a drying machine, as herein before described
and shown on the annexed drawings, and consisting of end boxes B, C, connected
by pipes A, A, forming a cage supported by steam inlet and outlet pipes as axles,
the whole being rotatable in the manner set forth.
Dated this 24th day or AUGUST 183A
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Albert Saxe Liege Hulett.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Albert Saxe Liege Hulett.