GB503964A - Improvements in or relating to methods of and means for drying fodder-plants - Google Patents

Abstract

503,964. Drying grass &c. JENNY, H. Oct. 21, 1937, No. 28724. Convention date, Oct. 21, 1936. [Class 34 (ii)] In apparatus for drying grass by circulating a mixture of combustion products. and air through it, the hot gases and moisture are drawn from a drying chamber K, Fig. 1, through conduits 10 which heat fresh air drawn into the space around the conduits by a fan V2 and supplied, under the control of a temperature regulator R, partly as combustion air into the furnace O from which the combustion gases are taken and partly into the gases. Grass bales are passed along a table 3, Figs. 2 and 4, in a drying chamber surrounded by a casing 2 divided at the bottom by transverse partitions forming compartments a<1> . . a<5>, which contain fans 6 circulating the combustion products and air transversely through the bales. The fan V1 drawing the products and air from the part of the chamber above the centre compartments a', a<3>, a4, discharges into the part of the chamber above the first compartment a', and fresh air circulated in the part above the last compartment is drawn by the fan V2 through an aperture 1a in the chamber walls into the casing 2. In a modification the grass passes through a rotary drum having stirring prongs, and the mixture of combustion products and air enters -the compartments a<1>, a<2> through boxes with bottom discharge opening and provided with electric or other heating elements. The grass may be first treated in a separate rotary drum traversed by the gases from the main drum. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 also describes apparatus in which fresh air is drawn through a preheater and forced by a blower through a drier, and is then circulated through the drier and a heater by a blower of greater capacity than the supply blower. Part of the foul air drawn from the drier is returned to the fresh air supply and part is forced through a second drier. The two driers may comprise rotary drums mounted on a common shaft. Drying drums are provided with stirring and lifting devices consisting of perforated plates, or rakes 33, Fig. 14, (Cancelled), pivoted on shafts 32 supported by radial arms 31. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.