An Apparatus for Cooling Tealeaf to Facilitate the Oxydation or Fermentation, and for Withering of same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
An Apparatus for Cooling Tealeaf to Facilitate the Oxydation or
Fermentation, and for Withering of same.
1. NATILAN WILLIAM HORATIO SHARPE, of 26 Perth Road, Stroud Green, London,
N., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention I provide a suitable tray rack, upon the cover of
same is arranged a water tank, the edge of the cover is made inclined all round to
hang or project over the trays when in the rack. Round the edge of the cover at
the top of the inclined part is a perforated pipe communicating with the tank to
enable water to trickle down the inclined edge all round. Attached to the bottom
of the inclined edge are curtains of loose textile material which become soaked
by the water running down. Opposite the curtains-preferably only the two end
ones--is a blast fan to blow against the same to introduce cool and moistened air
over the trays of tealeaf. The end curtains are preferred to be of gunny cloth.
l'or withering the leaf the water is not used and hot air passed into the rack over the
trays the curtains being replaced by a stiffer covering, the necessary opening being
made in the ends for the introduction of the hot air.
Dated this 1st day of September 1896.
FREDERIC PRINCE.
Agent for Applicant.
An Apparatus for Cooling Tealeaf to Facilitate the Oxydation or
Fermentation, and for Withering of same.
I, NATHAN WILLIAM HORATIO SHARPE, of 26 Perth Road, Stroud Green,
London, N., 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:-
This invention relates to an improved method of cooling tea leaf to accelerate the
fermentation and also to means for withering the same during the treatment it is
subjected to to fit it for sale. The fermentation process essentially consists in
blowing air cooled by water over the leaves while spread out, the arrangement of
the apparatus is such that a very large surface of the tea leaf is exposed to the
effect of the cooled and moistened air in a small compass. The same apparatus
is also suitable for withering the leaf by introducing hot air in place of the cool
and moistened air. It will be readily understood that numerous arrangements
of apparatus for the above purposes could be easily devised without in any way
TD 0.77

page_text: departing from the spirit of the invention I therefore only propose to describe one
form of apparatus which I have found to be suitable for the purposes.
To enable the invention to be properly understood I will proceed to describe the
same with aid of the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation. A,
illustrates a metal rack frame to support tiers of motal trays A', upon which are to
be spread the tea leaf for treatment as described. Round the top and bottom of
rack frame are rods B, C, to hold curtains C, C, of loose textile material, these are
secured to rings which are passed upon the said rods. The curtains meet in the
middle and are supported in the way described to facilitate the drawing apart to
enable the trays with tea leaf to be drawn out and replaced. Both ends of the
rack frame are also closed by hanging curtains D, of a looser material than the
side ones, preferably gunny material. Placed over the top of the rack is a water
tank E, communicating with a perforated pipe F, arranged under the water pipe
is an inclined ledge G, to receive the water as it exudes from the perforations of
the pipe and conduct it on to the curtains, thereby keeping them saturated. If
preferred the ledge G, and perforated pipe F, could be dispensed with, by making
the upper rod B, a perforated pipe, placed in communication with the water tank.
At one or both ends of the rack frame is or are arranged an air blast or exhaust
fan H, to either blow air through the end curtains D, or to draw it through the
side curtains by running in the necessary direction to exhaust the air from inside
the curtains By air being driven or drawn through the moistened curtains keeps
the inside of the curtains charged with cool and moist air which facilitates tho
fermentation or oxidising of the tea laying upon the trays.
When the apparatus is used for withering the leaves, the water is not used and
the curtains C, C, and D, are replaced by thicker ones to keep in heat, the fan or
fans H, is or are in communication with heated air, an opening being made in the
end curtains D, for the heated air to pass inside the curtains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In the treatment of tea leaf, an enclosed apparatus having the interior
arranged to enable a large surface to be given for spreading tea leaf over, such as
by a number of shallow trays upon which the tea leaf is spread supported one over
the other in a rnok, and means for either continuously or intermittently introduc-
ing cooled and moistened air into the interior to act upon the spread out leaves,
the enclosing of the apparatus being of such a character as to admit of opening a
and closing, to enable the tea being removed and replaced.
2. In an apparatus such as is set out in the preceding claim, forming the side
enclosure of the samo of curtains of woven or such like material kept saturated
with water, and suitable means such as a fan, for forcing or drawing air through
such saturated material to keep the interior charged with a continuous supply of
cool and moistened air, as herein before described.
3. In an apparatus for subjecting tea leaf to the action of heat to wither same,
forming the side enclosure walls of such an apparatus of curtains of woven
material, and so arranged as to admit of opening and closing.
Dated 1 of 1 100%
FREDERIC PRINCE.
37, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, London, E.C.
Agent for Applicant,