IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS FOR DRYING, CLEANING, AND COOLING GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE PRODUCTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Weems, of Johnstone, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS FOR DRYING, CLEANING, AND COOLING
GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE PRODUCTS."
Sealed the 12th April 1864, and dated the 22nd October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Weems at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
October 1863.
I, JOHN WEEMS, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS FOR DRYING, CLEANING, AND COOLING
GRAIN AND OTHER VEGETABLE PRODUCTS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to drying, cleaning, and cooling corn, wheat, peas,
beans, draff, malt, and all other vegetable products by steam, water, or "flue
heated" air, by the use of curved, round, or square steam pipes or plates, and
wrought by screw motion, and is partially based upon an Invention of
"Improvements in Drying Grain and other Substances," for which Letters
Patent were granted to John Weems on or about the 29th day of June 1855,
and numbered 1489.
One modification of this Invention relates to the use of curved steam pipes
to form a circle or part of a circle, so as to make a hot bed for a screw motion

page_text: to work in for the purpose of drying, turning, and conveying of grain to the
required distance so as to be dried or partly dried. This screw may be set at
an elevation, so as to deposit the grain at any required height with or without
spaces for the admission of hot air, which may be supplied by a fan blast,
natural current, or other contrivance; the cold air to be forced, drawn, or
sucked through a part of the grain after it is dry for the purpose of cooling
and cleaning. The heated air is to-go to assist the drying processes, if wanted;
the heating apparatus to be set at any convenient place.
Another modification relates to the use of a hot air receptacle, so as to form
a hot bed for the screw to work in for the purpose of drying.
Another modification is to have square or flat pipes with or without spaces
between them for the purpose of heating and drying.
Another modification relates to the use of a double-cased pipe for the
purpose of making a hot bed for the screw to work in.
Another modification for drying and cleaning grain is to have a revolving
shaft with a number of cones or plates with flappers, and an outside case with
either hot or cold fan blast or exhaust for extracting the refuse.
Another modification is a revolving cylinder divided into compartments with
sliding frames to be filled, or partly filled, with grain or other substances to
be dried, the frames to be covered with cloth, wire gauze, or perforated
sheets of metal, and to be wrought or revolved in a hot air chamber, with or
without the fan blast or other current. The grain as dried is fed or falls into
a receptacle either automatically or otherwise, in either case, the weight or
bulk of the grain is covered up, and thus conveyed to a sealed receptacle.
--SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Weems in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WEEMS, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Weems, Her special license that I, the said John Weems, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John

page_text: Weems, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel-
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY,
APPARATUS, OR MEANS FOR DRYING, CLEANING, AND COOLING GRAIN AND OTHER
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Weems, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Weems, do hereby declare the.
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to drying, cleaning, and cooling corn, wheat,
peas, beans, draff, malt, and all other vegetable products, by steam, or steam
and "flue-heated" air combined, by the use of curved, round, or square steam.
pipes or plates, and wrought by screw motion, and is partially based upon an.
Invention of improvements in drying grain and other substances, for which
Letters Patent were granted to me on or about the 29th day of June 1855,,
and numbered 1489.
One modification of this Invention relates to the use of curved steam pipes
to form a circle or part of a circle so as to make a hot bed for a screw motion
to work in for the purpose of drying, turning, and conveying of grain to the.
required distance so as to be dried or partly dried. This screw may be set at
an elevation so as to deposit the grain at any required height with or without
spaces for the admission of hot air, which may be supplied by a fan blast,
natural current, or other contrivance, the cold air to be forced or drawn through
the grain after it is dry for the purpose of cooling and cleaning. The heated
air is to go to assist the drying processes if wanted, the heating apparatus to
be set at any convenient place.
Another modification relates to the use of a hot air receptacle so as
to form a hot bed for the screw to work in for the purpose of drying.
Another modification is to have square or flat pipes with or without spaces
between them for the purpose of heating and drying

page_text: Another modification relates to the use of a double cased pipe for the purpose
of making a hot bed for the screw to work in.
Another modification for drying and cleaning grain is to have a revolving
shaft with a number of cones or plates with flappers and outside case, with
either hot or cold fan blast or exhaust for extracting the refuse.
Another modification is a revolving cylinder divided into compartments with
sliding frames, to be filled or partly filled with grain or other substances to be
dried, the frames to be covered with cloth, wire gauze, or perforated sheets of
metal, and to be wrought or revolved in a hot air chamber with or without the
fan blast or other current. The grain as dried is fed or falls into a receptacle,
either automatically or otherwise, in either case the weight or bulk of the grain
is covered up and conveyed to a sealed receptacle.
And in order that my said Invention may be thoroughly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the system, mode, or method under which the same
is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to
the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto attached (in the
several Figures of which similar letters indicate corresponding parts) for the
purpose of showing one modification under which my said Invention is or may:
be judiciously carried out in practice.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of one form of my improved drying
apparatus, one portion of which is shown as broken away; Figure 2 being a
sectional elevation on the line 1, 1, in the plan Figure 3; Figure 4 is an
enlarged elevation of one end of the heated and drying troughs; Figure 5 is
a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2, 2, Figure 3; Figure 6 is a
transverse vertical section taken on the line 3, 3, Figure 3.
In Figure 1 at A is represented a longitudinal section of the first trough
into which the grain or other substance to be dried is fed from the hopper B and
caused to travel the length of the troughs A, A', and A, more particularly seen
in the plan Figure 3 by means of the rotatory action of the screw-bladed shafts
C, C, and C, the diameter of of the screw blades being nearly equal to that of
the semicircular troughs in which they revolve, whilst the requisite revolving
motion is imparted to them by means of the spur wheels D fixed on to their outer
ends and actuated from any convenient prime mover. These shafts C, C, C³,
are kept in position by the plummer blocks E, E, and E, fixed on to the end
plates of the troughs A, A¹, and A2, also by intermediate bearings suspended
from frames E, placed transversely at convenient intervals along the troughs,
and into which plummer blocks suitable bearings are placed for the shafts to
revolve in. The spur gearing D is more particularly seen in the end sectional
view Figure 2. The sides of the troughs A, A', A³, are composed of several
5

page_text: metallic chambers F, by preference made of cast iron, the body or main
portions of which have the sectional forms more particularly seen at 1 and 2 in
the enlarged transverse sectional view, Figure 6, their ends being made flat
and perpendicular to the horizontal portions, at the same time on these ends
short cylindrical tubular projections F are formed, having flanches on them
by which any number of side chambers are or can be bolted together. It is
evident that when any two of such chambers are thus bolted together that
there would be a space between them equal in length to the, length of the two
projections, (and as it is necessary that these chambers should when bolted
together present their upper surfaces continuous for the length of the troughs
of which they form part,) there is made at the extremity of the upper side of
each one, and at both ends of these chambers, recesses into which the plates F:
having the same superficial form as the adjoining surface of the chamber are
laid, thus making the surface continuous for the length of the trough. When
several sets of such formed chambers as described are bolted together and laid
longitudinally parallel to one another, they form the sides of a trough whose
lower part is of a semicircular form, but at the same time there is left between
any two of them a longitudinal parallel opening, this opening is filled up (so
as to complete the semicircle) by the perforated plates G, Figures 1 and 3,
but more particularly seen in the enlarged transverse sections, Figures 5 and 6,
where these perforated plates are also seen resting on the flanches G' pro-
jecting from the chambers A, A' and A2; in this way the entire semicircular
troughs are made up and laid upon girders H, Figure 1, and shown in enlarged
elevation at H, Figure 6. These girders are laid across the upper part of a
long rectangular chamber I, made by preference of masonry, and in it is fixed
the heating apparatus J, for which Letters Patent were granted to me on or
about the 29th day of June 1855, and numbered 1489, consisting of the outer
metal casing K and tubes K', through which the air to be heated passes. The
steam is let into the chamber at the upper portion by a suitable pipe L,.and when
condensed escapes at the lower part by the duct L'. The air is forced through
the tubes continuously by means of the revolving fan M, rotatory motion being
imparted to it from an approximate steam engine or other prime mover, and
the currents when produced.are led into the heating apparatus.J by means of
the duct N leading from the fan box N¹.
On referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the fan box
s placed in a chamber O, the top portion of which is made secure by means,
of the floor O', and that this closed chamber is connected immediately with
he last trough A2 by means of the duct P, more particularly seen in sectional
lan, Figure 3; the use of this last arrangement will be herein-after-more fully:

page_text: explained. The chambers F, forming the troughs A, A, and A2, arc heated
by steam, let into them through the main transverse steam pipe Q, from
which the several branches Q' lead to the chambers F, this last arrangement
At the
being more particularly seen in enlarged end view at Figure 4.
end opposite to that at which the grain enters, and as the steam becomes
condensed, it is drawn off at the further end by means of the duct Q. The
semicircular portion of the trough A is formed of a perforated plate R, below
which is left a hollow duct or passage along its entire length, and at the end
of this duct, nearest to the frame M, the duct P, as seen in dotted lines,
Figure 1, communicates with the closed chamber O.
Having now described in detail the several parts of one form of my
improved machinery or apparatus, I shall now proceed to explain the mode
of operating the same. The requisite speed of revolution having been
imparted to the several screw-bladed shafts C, C', and C, after the manner
herein-before described, grain or other substance to be dried is first fed into the
hopper B, whence it falls into the end of the trough A, along which it is
moved or caused to travel by means of the progressive action of the screw-
bladed shaft C, in the direction shown by the arrows in Figure 3; on arriving
at the further end of the trough A, in the side of which an opening. S is made,
it enters the second trough A', in which the screw-bladed shaft C¹ rotates in a
direction contrary to the first screw-bladed shaft C, thus causing the grain or
other substance to be dried to move or travel in a direction the reverse of
that in the trough A; when arriving at the further end of the second trough A'
it passes through the opening S' into the cooling trough A2, through which it
travels by means of the action of the screw-bladed shaft C, and is finally
'discharged through the duct T into any convenient receptacle. As the grain
or other substance to be desiccated passes, as herein-before described, through
the two troughs A and A', it is heated and dried partly by contact with the
sides of the steam-beated chambers F, and partly by the heated currents of
air which are forced by means of the fan M through the steam-heating
apparatus J into the rectangular chamber I, whence they pass up through
the perforated plates G in the bottom or lower parts of the troughs A and A',
and are thence dispersed through the grain or other substance at the time
being acted upon.
And in order that the substance to be dried shall (after
leaving the heating troughs A and A¹) be discharged into the receptacle in a
comparatively cool state, the last trough A³, which, as herein-before described,
has a perforated plate R placed in its lower portion, and is connected by
means of the duct P to the chamber O, containing the fan M, which by its
revolution tends to draw currents of cold air partly through the heated sub-

page_text: stance in the trough through the perforations, thus causing the substance to
be much lowered in temperature, and at the same time effecting a considerable
economy in the first process of heating, for by this arrangement a great
portion of the heat first employed for drying the substance is absorbed from
it, and again used to dry successive quantities of the substance to be
desiccated. At the same time, whilst the heated currents pass through the
substance being dried as it passes through the troughs A, A', and A², the
currents, if either forced or drawn through it, tend to expel the dust from
the substance, and in this way a great cleansing of it is effected.
A second modification of my said Invention consists in the use and adaptation
of a longitudinal double-cased receptacle of any required length, either made
in one piece or of several pieces jointed together by bolts passing through
flanches or otherwise, the double case thus enclosing a closed space which is
heated by steam, steam-heated air, steam and flue-beated air, or by steam-
heated air and flue-beated air combined, thus forming a hot bed on or in
which the grain or other substance to be dried is laid or fed in quantities, as
desired, and caused to travel the length of the bed by means of a rotating
screw-bladed shaft similar to those herein-before described in reference to the
first modification; and it is preferred to make the lower part of this trough
semicircular, so that the screw-bladed shaft may revolve in proximity to it.
One or more of such beds may be laid parallel to one another, and in the caso
of more than one bed being arranged in such a manner, the alternate screw-
bladed shafts would be caused to rotate in reverse directions, thus causing the
travel of the substance to be dried to be continuous throughout a series of
such hot beds to the point where it is discharged.
:
A third modification of my Invention consists in employing a double cased
trough, similar in form and construction to those described in reference to the
last modification, with the exception that the inner case is perforated; and
through these perforations the heated currents, either singly or in combination
as herein-before described, are either drawn or forced through the perforations
and the substance being dried by means of fanners or by any other convenient
arrangement of mechanism.
A fourth modification of my Invention consists in forming a double cased
cylinder with its axis arranged vertically, the inner casing of such cylinder
being perforated. In the centre of this cylinder is arranged so as to revolve
a vertical shaft driven in any convenient manner and working in bearings
placed in the centre of the covers or ends of it. On this vertical shaft are
fixed at convenient-intervals a number of circular, flat, or coned plates, and
extending from the perforated interior casing of such cylinder, aud inter-

page_text: mediate between the spaces left between the afore-mentioned flat or coned
plates are inclined annular plates extending towards the central portion of the
flat or coned plates on the vertical shaft. An opening is made in the top
cover of this apparatus, and into it is fixed a duct leading from a hopper into
which the substance to be dried is fed, whence it falls on to the central part
of the first plate on the vertical revolving shaft, thence it is thrown by centri-
fugal action to the first inclined annular plate fixed to the perforated interior
casing, which in turn conveys the material near to the central portion of the
second revolving plate, whence it is discharged again by centrifugal action to
the second conical annular plate, and so on successively for any number of such
fixed and stationary plates until it reaches the bottom of the cylinder, where
there is arranged a duct through which it is carried away into any convenient
receptacle. The annular space betwixt the inner and outer cylinder is or may
be heated either by the forcing or drawing of heated currents, either singly or
in combination, as herein-before described in reference to the second modi-
fication.
One modification of applying the heated currents in this last arrangement
consists in forcing the air in at the lower or upper part of the inner cylinder, but
by preference at the lower part of it, so that it shall act continuously upon the
substance being dried as it successively passes through the apparatus, at the
same time éxpelling the aqueous vapour and dust through the perforations
surrounding it. In this last arrangement an outer cylinder or casing is not
necessary, or, if used, only to receive the dust.
Another modification consists in forcing ordinary heated currents through
this apparatus by means of a fan connected to the outer casing or cylinder by
a suitable duct, through which the air is either forced into or drawn from the
annular space between the perforated and outer cylinder, thence into or from
the inner space of the apparatus through the perforated interior. In the case
of the currents being forced through, the aqueous vapour and dust escape at
the upper part of the inner cylinder, which in this case would require no cover,
but when the currents are drawn through, the inner chamber is closed and put
in direct communication with the heated currents, in which case the aqueous
vapour and dust will pass out through the perforations.
A fifth modification of my Invention consists in forming a double-cased
cylinder arranged to revolve perpendicularly or horizontally, the space enclosed
by the inner chamber of which has its ends covered, with the exception of a
circular opening around. the central shaft at one end, through which opening
or duct communicates to the interior space of this cylinder. The annular space
between the inner and outer casing is divided by annular or longitudinal

page_text: diaphragms into a number of cells or receptacles into which the substances to.
be dried are placed, suitable openings with doors for closing them being formed,
in the outer casing through which the substance to be dried is passed. In
this arrangement both the inner and outer casing are perforated with holes..
and when the beated currents are forced through they pass through tho central.
duct leading from the heating apparatus, whence they pass through the perfora-,
tions in the inner casing to the substance being dried, and are finally expelled
through the perforations in the outer casing. In the case of the heated
currents being drawn through, the cylinder is arranged to revolve in a heated
chamber or flue, whence the currents are drawn first through the outer casing
and grain, or other substance to be acted upon, through the inner perforated
casing, and are finally expelled through the duct leading to the fan, the action
of which causes the drawing of the current. The revolving action of the
cylinder causes a motion to be imparted to the substances being dried, which
renders the mingling of the heated currents with it very effective. This
arrangement also enables several different substances to be dried at one and
the same time, by placing various substances in the several compartments or
receptacles formed in the cylinder. When the cylinders are very large it is
preferred to cause them to revolve on friction rollers instead of central shafts.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and several modifications under which it is or may be used or
practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not
confine myself to the precise details or arrangements I have had occasion to
describe, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the true principles and main features of my Invention; but what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, apparatus, or
means for drying or desiccating and cleansing grain, peas, beans, draff, malt,
starch, cochineal, arrowroot, pulverized clays, whitening, stucco, and all
other earths used in manufacturing purposes, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of drying, cooling, and cleansing grain and other
substances by steam or steam-heated air, or steam and flue-heated air com-
bined, with a screw-bladed shaft, by which the substances to be acted upon is
caused to travel, substantially, as herein-before described, or any mere modifi-
cation thereof.
Third, the combination of perforated beds (through which the heated
currents are either drawn or forced) with a screw for turning and conveying

page_text: the substances to be dried, cooled, and cleansed, substantially as herein-before
described, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth, the application of curved cliambers, pipes, or surfaces heated by
steam, air and steam combined, or flue-heated air and steam combined for the
purposes of drying, cooling, and cleansing substances, as herein-before described,
or any mere modification thereof.
Fifth, the application and construction of a double revolving druin with or
without compartments, through or into which the heated currents may be
drawn or forced, as herein-before described, or any mere modification thereof.
Sixth, the application of revolving dises or conical plates, either enclosed in
a chamber or not, with suitable openings through which the currents may be
either drawn or forced for the purpose of drying, cooling, and cleansing
substances, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Weems, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and
sixte-four
JOHN WEEMS. (L.S.)