CA1177639A - Air distributor - Google Patents
Air distributorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1177639A CA1177639A CA000386264A CA386264A CA1177639A CA 1177639 A CA1177639 A CA 1177639A CA 000386264 A CA000386264 A CA 000386264A CA 386264 A CA386264 A CA 386264A CA 1177639 A CA1177639 A CA 1177639A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- vanes
- distributor according
- distributor
- tapered edges
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B17/00—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement
- F26B17/12—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed solely by gravity, i.e. the material moving through a substantially vertical drying enclosure, e.g. shaft
- F26B17/122—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed solely by gravity, i.e. the material moving through a substantially vertical drying enclosure, e.g. shaft the material moving through a cross-flow of drying gas; the drying enclosure, e.g. shaft, consisting of substantially vertical, perforated walls
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
- F26B21/004—Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes
Abstract
Abstract:
An air distributor is described for distributing air uniformly along a longitudinal plenum, particularly in a grain dryer. The air distributor comprises a pair of spaced side wall panels, each panel tapering from a large end to a small end and a plurality of air deflector vanes mounted across between the side walls adjacent the tapered edges. The vanes are arranged along the tapered edges in opposed pairs of decreasing spacing therebetween and are contoured to deflect in an outward direction air travelling longitudinally between the side walls.
An air distributor is described for distributing air uniformly along a longitudinal plenum, particularly in a grain dryer. The air distributor comprises a pair of spaced side wall panels, each panel tapering from a large end to a small end and a plurality of air deflector vanes mounted across between the side walls adjacent the tapered edges. The vanes are arranged along the tapered edges in opposed pairs of decreasing spacing therebetween and are contoured to deflect in an outward direction air travelling longitudinally between the side walls.
Description
Air Distributor This invention relates to an improved air distributor for distributing air uniformly along a longitudinal plenum, particularly in a grain dryer.
It is frequently necessary to dry grain before it is stored because a high moisture content may cause discolor-ation and spoilage during storage.
Many systems have been developed over the years which are intended to heat and dry grain uniformly while at the same time avoiding the problems of stress cracking. One such system is the cross-flow column type grain dryer in which air is transversely forced through the downwardly moving grain in an attempt to evaporate moisture. As typical examples of cross-flow dryers there can be men-tioned Markowich, U.S. Patent 2,732,630 and Fry, U.S.Patent 3,238,640. Such dryers typically have a plenum for distributing hot drying air and one of the problems of this type of dryer is that of trying to provide a uniform air flow throughout the drying zone. As can be seen from U.S. Patent 3,238,640, the plenum may be of substantial length with heating air being introduced from one end of the plenum. With this design it is very difficult to have the drying air distributed throughout the plenum such that there will be uniform pressures and flow rates of air throughout the entire drying area.
`~
~.
' `
11~7'7f;39 It is, therefore, an object of the ~resent invention to provide a simple but effective distribution system which will uniformly distribute drying air throughout the full length of a longitudinal plenum.
Thus, the present invention in its broadest aspect relates to an air distributor comprising a pair of spaced side wall panels each tapering from a large end to a small end and a plurality of air deflector vanes mounted across between the side walls adjacent the tapered edges. These vanes are contoured to deflect in an outward direction air travelling longitudinally between the side walls.
The vanes are preferably arranged in opposed pairs and because of the taper of the panel edges, it will be seen that the spacing between the vanes of the opposed pairs 15 decreases along the length of the distributor.
The distributor system of this invention is open at the top and bottom between the deflector vanes so that the vanes in moving toward the centre line along the length of the distributor have the effect of cutting successive slices from a stream of air moving longitudinally through the distributor. It is highly surprising that the air which is allowed to pass between the vanes without deflec-tion tends to continue on its longitudinal path such that a very uniform distribution is achieved.
Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a typical grain dryer embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the 30 distributor of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the distribution and Figure 4 is a top plan view of a plenum chamber of a grain dryer containing the distributor.
The grain drying apparatus of the present invention is 35 generally illustrated in Figure 1 and is in the form of a tower 10 supported by legs 11.
11'~ 39 Grain is introduced into the tower through a grain inlet 12 and into a wet grain holding zone 13. This holding zone is formed between outer solid panels 14 and 15 and inner solid panels 16 and 17. The grain is directed from the holding zone 13 into a drying zone 18 formed between inner and outer screen or mesh sections 19 and 20. These screen sections terminate in solid lower panels 21 and a solid divider panel 22. This divider panel 22 forms two outlets containing discharge metering rolls 24 driven by a variable speed drive unit 25.
The grain discharges into hopper 26 and is picked up from there by vertical elevator tube 27 containing a grain lifting auger 28. This lifts and discharges the grain into an inner steeping zone 25 formed by the inner faces of the lS panels 16 and 17 and lower inclined panels 30 and 31, which in turn define an inlet to an inner drying zone 32. This inner drying zone has outer and inner screen panels 33 and 34 respectively which terminate in lower solid panel sec-tions and a divider panel forming two outlets containing discharge metering rolls. These discharge into a dry grain outlet 35.
Drying air for the drying columns 18 and 32 is supplied through plenum 36 and the distributor 40 of the present invention is mounted in an upper region of this plenum.
As will be seen from Figure 2, the distributor 40 has a pair of tapering side walls 41 with tapering lower and upper edges 42 and 43 respectively.
The distributor has a closed small end 44 and an open air inlet large end 45. The large end also has vertical mounting brackets 46 and horizontal mounting brackets 47 for mounting the distributor within a plenum. Correspond-ing mounting brackets are provided at the small end.
Extending across between these side panels 41 immed-iately adjacent the tapering edges 42 and 43, are series of air deflector vanes 48.
--~ 11';"7~
-- 'I --These vanes 48 are preferably substantially uniformly spaced along the tapered edges and are preferably arranged in opposed pairs. The vanes are also preferably of circular contour, each forming a 90 arc of a circle.
The vanes 48 come closer and closer together along the length of the distributor until the pair of vane9 at the small end 44 are in contact with each other and are, in fact, welded together.
As will best be seen from Figures 2 and 3, a column of air enters through inlet 45 and in effect, slices are cut from the top and bottom of this column by the first pair of vanes 48, 49 and deflected upwardly and downwardly.
The column of air that remains continues to the second set of vanes where a second pair of slices is cut off and directed upwardly and downwardly and this continues along the length of the distributor until the final remaining thin column of air is totally distributed in two direc-tions by the pair of touching vanes at the small end 44.
While the above description has shown an arrangement 20 particularly for use in a cross-flow grain dryer, it will be seen that this distributor system can function equally well either horizontally or vertically and can be used in any kind of system where air must be uniformly distributed through a plenum.
.
.
It is frequently necessary to dry grain before it is stored because a high moisture content may cause discolor-ation and spoilage during storage.
Many systems have been developed over the years which are intended to heat and dry grain uniformly while at the same time avoiding the problems of stress cracking. One such system is the cross-flow column type grain dryer in which air is transversely forced through the downwardly moving grain in an attempt to evaporate moisture. As typical examples of cross-flow dryers there can be men-tioned Markowich, U.S. Patent 2,732,630 and Fry, U.S.Patent 3,238,640. Such dryers typically have a plenum for distributing hot drying air and one of the problems of this type of dryer is that of trying to provide a uniform air flow throughout the drying zone. As can be seen from U.S. Patent 3,238,640, the plenum may be of substantial length with heating air being introduced from one end of the plenum. With this design it is very difficult to have the drying air distributed throughout the plenum such that there will be uniform pressures and flow rates of air throughout the entire drying area.
`~
~.
' `
11~7'7f;39 It is, therefore, an object of the ~resent invention to provide a simple but effective distribution system which will uniformly distribute drying air throughout the full length of a longitudinal plenum.
Thus, the present invention in its broadest aspect relates to an air distributor comprising a pair of spaced side wall panels each tapering from a large end to a small end and a plurality of air deflector vanes mounted across between the side walls adjacent the tapered edges. These vanes are contoured to deflect in an outward direction air travelling longitudinally between the side walls.
The vanes are preferably arranged in opposed pairs and because of the taper of the panel edges, it will be seen that the spacing between the vanes of the opposed pairs 15 decreases along the length of the distributor.
The distributor system of this invention is open at the top and bottom between the deflector vanes so that the vanes in moving toward the centre line along the length of the distributor have the effect of cutting successive slices from a stream of air moving longitudinally through the distributor. It is highly surprising that the air which is allowed to pass between the vanes without deflec-tion tends to continue on its longitudinal path such that a very uniform distribution is achieved.
Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a typical grain dryer embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the 30 distributor of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the distribution and Figure 4 is a top plan view of a plenum chamber of a grain dryer containing the distributor.
The grain drying apparatus of the present invention is 35 generally illustrated in Figure 1 and is in the form of a tower 10 supported by legs 11.
11'~ 39 Grain is introduced into the tower through a grain inlet 12 and into a wet grain holding zone 13. This holding zone is formed between outer solid panels 14 and 15 and inner solid panels 16 and 17. The grain is directed from the holding zone 13 into a drying zone 18 formed between inner and outer screen or mesh sections 19 and 20. These screen sections terminate in solid lower panels 21 and a solid divider panel 22. This divider panel 22 forms two outlets containing discharge metering rolls 24 driven by a variable speed drive unit 25.
The grain discharges into hopper 26 and is picked up from there by vertical elevator tube 27 containing a grain lifting auger 28. This lifts and discharges the grain into an inner steeping zone 25 formed by the inner faces of the lS panels 16 and 17 and lower inclined panels 30 and 31, which in turn define an inlet to an inner drying zone 32. This inner drying zone has outer and inner screen panels 33 and 34 respectively which terminate in lower solid panel sec-tions and a divider panel forming two outlets containing discharge metering rolls. These discharge into a dry grain outlet 35.
Drying air for the drying columns 18 and 32 is supplied through plenum 36 and the distributor 40 of the present invention is mounted in an upper region of this plenum.
As will be seen from Figure 2, the distributor 40 has a pair of tapering side walls 41 with tapering lower and upper edges 42 and 43 respectively.
The distributor has a closed small end 44 and an open air inlet large end 45. The large end also has vertical mounting brackets 46 and horizontal mounting brackets 47 for mounting the distributor within a plenum. Correspond-ing mounting brackets are provided at the small end.
Extending across between these side panels 41 immed-iately adjacent the tapering edges 42 and 43, are series of air deflector vanes 48.
--~ 11';"7~
-- 'I --These vanes 48 are preferably substantially uniformly spaced along the tapered edges and are preferably arranged in opposed pairs. The vanes are also preferably of circular contour, each forming a 90 arc of a circle.
The vanes 48 come closer and closer together along the length of the distributor until the pair of vane9 at the small end 44 are in contact with each other and are, in fact, welded together.
As will best be seen from Figures 2 and 3, a column of air enters through inlet 45 and in effect, slices are cut from the top and bottom of this column by the first pair of vanes 48, 49 and deflected upwardly and downwardly.
The column of air that remains continues to the second set of vanes where a second pair of slices is cut off and directed upwardly and downwardly and this continues along the length of the distributor until the final remaining thin column of air is totally distributed in two direc-tions by the pair of touching vanes at the small end 44.
While the above description has shown an arrangement 20 particularly for use in a cross-flow grain dryer, it will be seen that this distributor system can function equally well either horizontally or vertically and can be used in any kind of system where air must be uniformly distributed through a plenum.
.
.
Claims (8)
1. An air distributor for distributing air uniformly along a longitudinal plenum, comprising a pair of spaced side wall panels, each tapering from a large end to a small end and a plurality of air deflector vanes mounted across between said side walls adjacent the tapered edges thereof, said vanes being contoured to deflect in an outward direction air travelling longitudinally between said side walls.
2. A distributor according to claim 1 wherein the vanes are arranged in opposed pairs along the tapered edges.
3. A distributor according to claim 1 wherein each vane has a cross-section forming an arc of a circle.
4. A distributor according to claim 3 wherein each vane forms approximately a 90° arc.
5. A distributor according to claim 2 wherein a pair of opposed vanes at the small end are joined to form a closed end.
6. A distributor according to claim 2 wherein the vanes are substantially equally spaced along the tapered edges.
7. A distributor according to claim 1, 2 or 3 mounted in the plenum chamber of a grain dryer.
8. A distributor according to claim 1, 2 or 3 mounted in the plenum chamber of a cross-flow grain dryer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000386264A CA1177639A (en) | 1981-09-21 | 1981-09-21 | Air distributor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000386264A CA1177639A (en) | 1981-09-21 | 1981-09-21 | Air distributor |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1177639A true CA1177639A (en) | 1984-11-13 |
Family
ID=4120997
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000386264A Expired CA1177639A (en) | 1981-09-21 | 1981-09-21 | Air distributor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1177639A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113405349A (en) * | 2021-05-20 | 2021-09-17 | 东台恒禾丰食品有限公司 | Cross-flow type grain drying machine |
-
1981
- 1981-09-21 CA CA000386264A patent/CA1177639A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113405349A (en) * | 2021-05-20 | 2021-09-17 | 东台恒禾丰食品有限公司 | Cross-flow type grain drying machine |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |