US1095375A - Grain-heater. - Google Patents

Description

F. BRENNER.

GRAIN HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1910. v 1,095,375. Patented May 5, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOuRAPl-l 60.. WASHINGTON. I74 C.

P. BRENNER.

GRAIN HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22; 1910.

Patented May 5, 1914.

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P. BRENNER.

GRAIN HEATER.

APPLIQATION FILED SE31. 22, 1910.

Patented May 5, 1914.

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Witnesses:

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FREDERICK BRENNER, 0E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0E ONE-HALF r0 CHARLES '1. s'rocx, an, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

GRAIN-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed September 22, 1910. Serial No. 583,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FnnDEnIoK BRENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain- Heaters, of which the following 18 a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

The main objects of this invent-ion are to uniformly, effectively and economically dry and heat wheat and other grain preparatory to subjecting the same to grinding or'other milling operations, and generally to improve the construction and operation and increase the efliciency of apparatus of this class.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grain heater embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation as viewed from the left with reference to Fig. 1 with parts omitted; Fig. 3 is an end elevation as viewed from the opposite direction with reference to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line a i, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4C, of a part of one of the quadrangular heating chambers; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 6 6, Fig. t; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 '7, Fig. at; Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line 8 8, Fig. 4; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the agitators.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to et inclusive, the heater comprises a number of quadrangular, square prismatic or rhombic heating chambers 1, assembled horizontally one above another, with diagonally opposite angles of each at the top and bottom thereof, a number of triangular prismatic half heating chambers 2, and a number of triangular prismatic quarter heating chambers 3, assembled so as to form with the whole quadrangular chambers 1, intersect-- ing zigzag or sinuous passages 4: of substantially uniform cross section for the gravity flow of grain. The number, size and arrangement of these chambers may be varied, in the present case the heating chambers are arranged in two groups one above the other with a grain combining, mixing and equalizmg chamber or conduit 5 between them connecting the lower ends of the passages 4 of the upper group with the upper ends of the passages 4 in the lower group. The heater is provided at the top with a feed hopper 6, and at the bottom with a discharge hopper 7, the upwardly diverging sides of which form .the outer walls of the lower portions of the passages 4t, opposite and parallel with the lower inclined sides of the bottom chamber. 7

The several heating chambers are closec at the ends by correspondingly shaped heads or plates 8, 9 and 10, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, and are supported and held in .the proper relation to one another by angle bar uprights or standards 11, horizontal tie bars 12 and spiders or fillers 13. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the tie bars 12 are bolted at the ends to the uprights or standards 11 and are provided on their inner sides with bands or fillets 12 against which the edges of the adjoining triangular chambers bear. The spaces between the ends of the heating chambers at the sides of the grain passages 4: are closed by the spiders or fillers 13, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 8. These spiders or fillers are thickened at the ends and are fastened by screws or otherwise to the uprights or standards 11, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 They are formed at the intersection of their arms and of the grain passages 4, with outwardly projecting hubs 14:, in which are mounted reciprocating agitator bars 15. These bars are provided with radiating or transverse rods or arms 16 which extend therefrom into the adjacent grain passages 4: lengthwise thereof, as shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. The lowest agitator bar in the present case is provided with vertically depending rods or arms in the spout or lower part I of the discharge hopper 7 which also serves as a combining, mixing and equalizing chamber, while the lowest agitator bar of the upper group is provided with two rows of divergent arms projecting downwardly therefrom into the combining, mixing and equalizing chamber or conduit 5, and the upper agitator bar of the lower group is provided with a single row of rods or arms projecting upwardly therefrom into said combining and mixing chamber between the divergent arms of the agitator above. The several agitator bars 15 are connected at one end by strap rods 17 with eccentrics 18 on a vertical shaft 19, which is supported as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 by brackets 20, which are bolted to the adjacent standards or uprights 11. At its upper end the shaft 19 is provided with a bevel gear 21 meshing with a similar gear 22 on a short horizontal shaft 22 supported on the upper bracket 20 and provided with tight and loose pulleys 23. The heater is supported by leg or base sections 24, to which the uprights r standards 11 are bolted and which form the ends of the discharge hopper and also a closure for the lower converging portions of the grain passages 4. They are also formed or provided with outwardly projecting hubs or bearings for the lowest agitator.

The discharge hopper 7 is provided with gates 25, which are pivoted or hinged to the lower edges of its sides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The pivot or hinge stems at one end of the gates are provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with arms 26, projecting in opposite directions therefrom and connected by a link 27, and one of the stems is provided with an arm 28 for adjusting the gates to vary the area of the discharge opening of the hopper 7 and regulate the flow of grain through and from the heater. The arm 28 is provided with a screw and thumb nut 29, by which it is fastened in adjusted position to a quadrant or are 30 on the adjacent leg or base section 2%. A vertical pipe 31 for supplying steam or other heating medium to the heating chambers is connected by branch pipes 32, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, with the several chambers, and the branch pipes are provided with valves 33 arranged to control and regulate the supply of the heating medium to the several sect-ions of the heater independently.

A discharge pipe 34. is connected by branches 35 with the lower parts of the several heating chambers and these branch pipes are provided with check valves 36 which close toward said chambers and prevent back flow of the heating medium from the pipe 34 into said chambers and at the same time permit water of condensation to flow freely therefrom whether the inlet valves 33 are open or closed. The branch pipes 35 leading out of the chambers 1, are bent downwardly at the inner ends thereof, as shown in Figs. l and 5, so as to remove all or practically all of the water of condensation collecting in said chambers.

The whole chambers 1 and the half chambers 2, are preferably formed as shown in Fig. 4:, with longitudinal strengthening webs or partitions 87, dividing said chambers into compartments which communicate one with another through openings 38 in the ends of the webs or partitions, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

To increase the area of the heated surfaces to which the grain is subjected in its passage through the heater, and to further strengthen the walls of the heating chan1- bers, said walls are corrugated in a direction lengthwise of the passages 1, as shown in Fig. 8. The corrugations oi? the walls fornr ing the grain passages also coiiperate with the rods or arms 16 of the agitators to thoroughly stir and mix the grain, said rods or arms approaching and receding from the opposing walls of said passages as the agi tators move back and forth therein, as will be seen. by referring to Fig. 8.

A quadrangular deflector or spreader 39, which may be made of sheet metal and corresponds in shape and size with the whole heating chambers 1, is supported at the ends upon the upper spider or filler in the feed hopper 63, forming the inner walls of the upper portions of the grain passages 4 of the upper section of the heater. it serves to divide the grain as it is delivered thereon from the spout or pipe 10 into two streams and to distribute the same evenly to both passages 4. The spout or pipe 10 terminates in two branches as shown in Fig. 1 and delivers the grain in two streams upon the upper angle of the deflector or spreader 39 adjacent to the ends of the hopper, thereby distributing the grain lengthwise thereof preliminary to distribution crosswise of the hoaaer to the )assa 'es 4:. The ruarter CD chambers 3 of the upper group may be connected by pipes 41 with the quarter cha1nbers 8 of the lower group and steam or other heating medium supplied to the upper pair and discharged from the lower pair thereof, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the operation of the heater, steam or other heating medium is supplied through the pipe 31 and its branches 32 to the heating chambers 1, 2 and 3 and discharged there from through the pipe 31 and its branches 35. Grain supplied to the feed hopper 6 through the spout or pipe 4-0, iiows therefrom by gravity dow ward and alternately inward and outward through the Zigzag or sinuous passages t in contact with the heated corrugated walls of the chambers 1, 2 and 3. During its flow through these passages it is constantly agitated by the rods or arms 16 of the reciprocating agitators and is alternately brought together and mixed and separated into two streams at the in tersections of the passages 4L. ihS the gain flows over the outer angles of the main chambers 1 it is turned and further agitated and mixed so that every part thereof is brought into contact with the heated walls of said chambers and thereby iroughly and uniformly heated. In its pas: go from the upper group of heatin chambers to the lower group through the chamber or conduit 5, the two streams being brought together, agitated and mixed, the temperature of the entire mass is equalized in case portions of the separate streams passing through the upper part of the heater issue therefrom at different temperatures or in different condi tions. As it flows from the combining, mixing and equalizing chamber or conduit 5 through the zigzag or sinuous passages a in the lower part of the heater and through the discharge hopper 7, the grain is further heated, agitated and mixed, so that when it is discharged from the heater, it has been thoroughly and uniformly heated and is in proper condition for the grinding and other milling operations to which it is to be subjected. lhe rate of flow of grain through the heater is regulated by the adjustment of the gates 25 controlling the discharge opening of the hopper 7, and the supply of the heating medium to the several sections of the heater is controlled and regulated by the adjustment of the valves 83, according to kind and varying condition of the grain. \Vith the arrangement of the heating chambers and the connections for supplying them with a heating medium as herein shown and described, the heat to which the grain is subjected in its flow through the passages 4; along the walls of the chambers 1, 2 and 3, may be controlled and regulated so as to secure the best results with grain of different kinds and in different conditions, it being possible with such construction and arrangement of parts to cut off or regulate the heat in diiferent sections of the heater independ dently of other sections. WVith such provision for controlling and regulating the supply of the heating medium to the several sections or parts of the heater inclependently of one another, grain entering the machine at different temperatures may be heated therein to and discharged therefrom at the desired temperature without increasing or diminishing its flow, by admitting the heating medium to or shutting it completely or partially off from more or less sections or parts of the heater.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a grain heater the combination of heating walls forming a grain passage of oblong cross section, means for supplying heat to said walls, and a reciprocating agitator movable across said passage trans versely to the flow of grain therein.

2. In a grain heater the combination of heating chambers having corrugated walls forming a grain passage of oblong cross section, the corrugations running in the direction of the flow of the grain, means for sup plying a heating medium to said chambers, and a reciprocating agitator movable across said passage in the direction of its greatest width transversely to the flow of grain therein.

3. In a grain heater the combination of a plurality of heating chambers having imperforate walls forming transverse sections of the walls of a conduit for the fiow of grain by gravity, and means for supplying and controlling the supply of aheating medium to different chambers and diiferent sections of the walls of said conduit independently of one another whereby a vari able length of the conduit in the direction of the flow of grain may be heated.

t. In a grain heater the combination of heating chambers having walls forming a sinuous grain passage of oblong and sub stantially uniform cross section, means for supplying and regulating the supply of a heating medium to different sections of the heater independently of one another, and a reciprocating agitator movable across said passage in the direction of its greatest width transversely to the flow of grain therein.

In a grain heater the combination of heating chambers having walls which form intersecting sinuous grain passages of substantially uniform area in cross section throughout their length, means for supplying a heating medium to said chambers, and an agitator movable through said passages transversely to the flow of grain therein.

6. In a grain heater the combination of a quadrangular prismatic heating chamber and triangular prismatic heating chambers arranged to form opposite walls of sinuous grain passages which are of substantially uniform cross section and which come together above and below the quadrangular prismatic heating chamber diagonally opposite angles of which lie in substantially the same vertical plane, and means for supplying a heating medium to said chambers.

7. In a grain heater the combination of quadrangular and triangular prismatic heating chambers arranged to form intersecting grain passages of oblong and substantially uniform cross section, means for supplying a heating medium to said chambers, means for feeding and evenly distributing grain to the upper ends of said passages, and means for regulating the discharge of grain at the lower ends of said passages.

8. In a grain heater the combination of upper and lower groups of grain conduits arranged for the flow of grain therethrough by gravity, heating chambers adjoining said conduits, a combining, mixing and equalizing chamber connecting the conduits of the upper with the conduits of the lower group, and means for supplying and for controlling the supply of a heating medium to the heating chambers of each group of conduits independently of the other.

9. In a grain heater the combination of upper and lower groups of grain conduits arranged for the flow of grain therethrough by gravity, heating chambers adjoining said conduits, a combining, mixing and equalizing chamber connecting the conduits of the upper with the conduits or" the lower group, means for supplying and for controlling the supply of a heating medium to the heating chambers of each group of conduits indc pendcntly ot the other, and movable agitators arranged to work in said conduits and the connecting chamber.

10. In a grain heater the combination of upper and lower groups of grain conduits arranged for the flow of grain therethrough by gravity, heating chambers adjoining said conduits, a combining, mixing and equalizing chamber connecting the conduits oi the upper with the conduits of the lower roup, means for regulating the flow of grain through said conduits, and means for supplying and for controlling the supply of a heating medium tothe heating chambers of each group of conduits independently oi. the other.

ll. in a grain heater the combination of walls forming a plurality of grain passages, means for supplying heat to said walls, a (.lischarge hopper into which said passages open, and a reciprocating agitator movable transversely to the flow of grain and having cross arms projecting into the hopper and into the passage leading therefrom.

12. In a grain heater the combination of two groups of heating chambers having walls arranged to form intersecting divergent and convergent grain passages, a combining, mixing and equalizii'ig conduit connecting the grain passages of the upper group with the grain passages of the lower group and means for su 'i 'ilying a heating medium to said chambers.

ii. In a grain heater the combination of horizontally disposed heating chambers hav ing walls forming divergent and convergent passages intersecting each other at intervals tor the [low oi": grain, means for sup ilvin a heatin medium to said chambers and agitators consisting of horizontally reciprocating bars located at the intersections of said passages and having transverse arms extending lengthwise into the passages.

14:. in a grain heater the combination of a number of heating chambers forming transverse sections of impertorate walls of a grain conduit, and pipes connected with said chambers for supplying a heating medium thereto and provided with valves a rranged to control and regulate the supply ot the heating medium to dilierent c ianibers and corresponding sections of the walls of the grain conduit independently of one another whereby a variable length of the walls of said comjluit in the direction oi the flow oi grain may be heated.

15. In a grain heater the combination of a number of separate heating chambers forming separate transverse sections of impertorate walls of a conduit for the flow of grain by gravity, supply and discharge pipes connected with said chambers and provided with valves arranged to regulate and con trol the supply of a heating medium to different chambers and corresponding sections of the walls of said conduit independently of one another whereby a variable length of the walls of said conduit in the direction of the flow of grain may be heated.

16. In a grain heater the combination of quadrangular and triangular heating chambers arranged horizontally to form opposing walls of zigzag grain passages which intersect each other at intervals, said chambers being divided by longitudinal partitions into compartments which communicate with one another at the end in each chamber and pipes provided with valves for supplying the several chambers with a heating medium and for independently regulating the supply to each section of the heater.

1.7. In a grain heater the combination of a series of parallel horizontally disposed quadrangular heating chambers arranged. one above another with opposite angles of each at the top and bottom thereof, triangular heating chambers arranged to term therewith two zigzag grain passages intersecting each other at intervals and means for supplying a heating medium to said chambers.

18. in a grain heater the combination of parallel horizontally disposed quadrangular heating chambers arranged one above another with opposite angles of each at the top and bottom thereof, triangular heating chambers forming therewith zigzag grain passages intersecting each other at intervals, the walls of said chambers forming said passages being corrugated lengthwise of the passages, and means for supplying a heating medium to said chambers.

19. in a grain heater the combination of quadrangular heating chambers, triangular halt heating chambers and triangular qua-rter heating chambers arranged to form intersecting zigzag grain passages, and means for supplying a heating medium to said ('li a mbers.

it). In a grain heater the combination of horizontally disposed angular heating chamhers arranged to term opposite walls of intorsecting zigzag grain passages, spiders interposed between the ends of said chambers and provided opposite the intersection of said pas gcs with alined bearings, a re CiDl'OCiitlllfl agitator bar mounted in said hearings and provided with rods extending in opposite directions therefrom upwardly and downwardly in said passages, and means for supplying a heating medium to said chambers.

21. In a grain heater the combination of horizontally disposed heating chambers forming opposing walls of intersecting zigzag grain passages, a feed hopper at the upper ends of said passages, a discharge hopper Or spout at the lower end thereof, reciprocating agitator bars passing transversely through said passages at the intersections thereof and provided with arms extending transversely therefrom into said passages, and a vertical shaft at one end of the heater provided with eccentrics which are connected with said bars.

22. In a grain heater the combination of a grain conduit having longitudinally corrugated walls, of a reciprocating agitator having arms arranged in said passages lengthwise of the corrugations of the walls and movable transversely thereto.

23. In a grain heater the combination of horizontally disposed heating chambers constructed and arranged to form opposing walls of intersecting zigzag grain passages, a feed hopper at the upper ends of the upper passages, a combining, mixing and equalizing conduit connecting the upper with the lower passages, a combining, mixing and equalizing discharge hopper at the lower ends of the lower passages reciprocating agitators extending into and movable transversely to said passages, conduit and discharge hopper, a shaft provided with eccentrics, means connecting said eccentrics with said agitators, and means for supplying a heating medium to the several chambers and regulating the supply to each section independently.

In witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK BRENNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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