GB346416A - Improvements in steam kettles or cookers for treating meal or cattle cake and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooker for meal &c. comprises a kettle, in the cylindrical walls and/or endplate of which is or are cast a heating pipe or pipes bent to helical, spiral, or other suitable shapes. Upper and lower vessels A, E, Fig. 1, are separated by a flanged heightening ring B, fitted with a diaphragm C provided with spouts D, the lower vessel E being mounted on a ring F provided with feet. The upper vessel is closed by the lid a<1> which has an inlet opening I and inspection flaps. A vertical power shaft K, sealed at the top by oil k<4>, carries <PICT:0346416/III/1> <PICT:0346416/III/2> stirrers J, J<1>, and scrapers S, S<1> to prope the meal through the outlets in the vessels. The scrapers S, S<1> have a central boss s<1> made in halves and bolted together, the bore of each boss being grooved to fit half sleeves s<2>, s<3>, recessed on the shaft K, the scrapers being adjustable axially. The shaft is driven by a worm Q and worm wheel R; the worm-wheel boss r<1> is mounted in ball or roller journal bearings r<2> and thrust bearings r<3>; the upper portion of the bore of the boss r<1> has a tapered seating r<4> to take the portion k<6> of the shaft, the lower end of the said boss having a reversely-set conical seating r<5> to take the sleeve r<6> fitting the spigot end k<7> of the shaft which is secured in the boss by the nut r<7>. Keys or feathers may be fitted. The worm wheel and its bearings are enclosed in the gear-box G attached to the spacing ring F. The said gear casing G also contains the driving shaft a<1>, Fig.4, of the worm Q with thrust and journal bearings q<2>, q<3>. The gland q<7> carries the worm shaft, rendering the gear-box fluidtight. The gear may be oil-immersed. The split shedder plate k<9> protects the gearing from meal, which is discharged through the opening O. The construction described permits the removal of shaft K, arms J and scrapers S on removal of the cover a<1>. The walls and base are heated by steam ducts p<1>, p<2>, p<3>, the walls being covered externally with insulating material. Steam or other gas or vapour is introduced through nozzles H shaped with knife edges towards the oncoming meal, and arranged as tangents to a common cylinder. The steam is controlled by valves. In a modification the blades of the scrapers S are mounted adjustable on the arm, or the latter is carried adjustably by the sleeve or boss. The apparatus may also by used for cooling. It is stated that a steam pressure of 200 lbs. may be attained in the coils with a pressure of only 20 lbs. in the kettle. The rate of discharge of grain from the upper to the lower vessel is controlled by the amount of grain in the lower vessel. Several vessels in series may be used.