US1174371A - Grain conditioner and drier. - Google Patents

Description

F.' A. WEGN'ER.

-GRAIN CONDITIONER AND DRH-IR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1912. I

zsHEETs-SHEET 1.

'Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

i 4,293@ mw( F. A. WEGNER.

GRAIN CONDITIONER AND DRIER.

l APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22,'1912.

l 174,371 Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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FREDERICK A. WEGNER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GRAIN CONDITIONER AND DRIER. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Magi'. 7, 1916.

Application le August 22, 1912. Serial No. 716,496.

To all whom 'it may concern: j

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. WEG- xnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, did invent certain new and useful Improvements inV Grain Conditioners and Driers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to grain conditioners and driers, and it has for its primary object the provision of an apparatus of this kind and which will treat all kinds and conditions of grain in a perfect mannerl 'and in which the heating of every kernel of grain uniformly is assured.

t also has for its object the provision of an apparatus of this kind through the use of which the cost of production of each barrel of flour is materially lessened and in which wheat or other grain may be subjected to any degree of temperature demanded.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for regulating the iiow ofV the grain through the conditioner or drier; and to so construct the apparatus that waste of grain or improper working of the apparatus cannot well take place.y

With these and other objects in view to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and pointed out in the subjoined claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical broken section of a conditioner or drier embodying my invention in what I now consider the preferred construction. Fig. l2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1, looking up. Fig. 4f is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the lower end of the drier and the-hopper suspended therefrom. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of a portion of one of the regulator or closure bars and its spring keeper.

The apparatus comprises a casing 6 which is preferably cylindrical and provided with a fiange 7 at itsY upper end and a similar flange 8 at its lower end. This casing is advisedly constructed of boiler iron so as to withstand the pressure of steam which is Y directed into it through an inlet pipe 9 which enters the casing and has a valve 10 therein the grain may pass beyond the spreader,

for controlling the passage of steam therethrough, said inlet pipe being equipped with a pressure gage 11 to determine the pressure to which the casingy is subjected. At the lower end of the casing is an exhaust'pipe 12 for the exhaust of the water of condensation, said exhaust pipe leading to any suitable point and having if desired, a valve to control the same. At or near each end of the cylindrical casing 6 the usual heads 13, 14 are provided Vwhich are welded or otherwise secured to the cylindrical wall of the casing. These heads are-provided with a series of alined openings for the reception of opposite ends of grain tubes 15 which are secured in said heads and extend above the upper and beneath the lower head, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Suspended in each of the grain tubes 15 is a chain 16 or other flexible agitating device which serves to prevent packing of the grain passing through said tubes. Beneath the casing is suspended a hopper 17 in any suitable manner, it having situated therein a cone or conical spreader 18 against which the grain gravitates and by means ofwhich it is directed toward the wall of the hopper., said hopper having at its lower end a cylindrical depending tube 19. The cone 18 is secured in place by means of brackets 20 secured to the wall of the upwardly into the and in order that the basal portion or lower end thereof is separated from the walll of the hopper by an annular intervening space 21. Adjustably secured to the depending tube 19 of the hopper is a regulator sleeve 22, the adjusthopper and extending cone or conical spreader,

ment ther eof with reference to said depend-` ing tube 19 being manually effected by means of set screws 23 passing through said regulator sleeve and impinging against said depending tube. f

Suspended from the hopper 17 is a reducing hopper 24 which is provided with an inwardly directed support 25 on which is axially supported a cone or conical spreader 26 which spreader extends upwardly into the regulator sleeve 22 and is separated from the lower edge of said sleeve by an annular space 27, said space controlling the nal feed or discharge of the grain from the apparatus andbeing readily enlarged orV diminished in size by adjusting the regulator sleeve. The space between the lower end of said regulator sleeve and the ,sov

the flanges 7, 8 of the casing,

cone or conical spreader 26 is diminished when lowering said sleeve, while whenk raising said sleeve said space is enlarged in size, thus feeding the grain from the apparatus according to the adjustment. The adjustment of said regulator sleeve 22 may be effected manually by means of the set screws 28, but l preferably provide for automatically adjusting said sleeve in accordance with the feeding of the grain through the grain tubes. For this purpose I provide a receiving receptacle or basket 28 at the upper end of the casing, which receptacle or basket is preferably somewhat smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of said casing and extends slightly into it. Said receptacle or basket has openings 29 therein corresponding in number with the number of grain tubes in the casing and being also in alinement therewith. Said receptacle or basket is also provided with a number of brackets 30 which are arranged around the same and extend laterally therefrom, and to said brackets are secured rods 31 which eX- tend downwardly through openings 32 in also through openings 33 in the rim 34 of the hopper 17, said openings serving' to guide said rods and confine them to vertical movement. Surrounding each of the rods 3l between the upper flange 7 of the casing and the brack- .ets 30 and bearing respectively against the same at opposite ends is a coil spring said coil springs carrying the weight of the receiving receptacle or basket 28. Pivotally secured to a lug or lugs formed on the reducing hopper 24 are levers 36 which eX- tend both inwardly and outwardly from their pivotal points 37, the inner ends of said levers engaging the regulator sleeve and the outer ends being pivotally secured to collars 88 on the rods 31 secured by means of set screws 39, or otherwise.

Although in the figures of the drawings only one lever is shown it will be plain upon examination of Fig. 2 that one of said levers is associated with each of the rods 31, herein shown as three in number placed equidistantly around the casing and it will be also clear that any other number of rods may be used. When using three rods it is apparent that the receiving receptacle or basket 28 is suspended from three points and that by reason of said receptacle or basket being supported by the springs 35, it is yielding and rises and falls in accordance with the changing quantities of grain delivered into it.

Secured to the underside of the lower flange 8 of the casing 6 is a supporting ring 40, to the underside of which are secured a number of brackets 4l, three of said brackets being shown, said brackets and the supporting rings having alined openings 42 which coincide with the openings 32 in the flanges of the casing and the openings 33 in the rim 34 of the hopper 17. These brackets have rollers 43 rotatably secured thereto on which is supported a feeder plate 44 having openings 45 therein so arranged with respect to the grain tubes that when said plate is rotated at least one opening passes under each circular series of tubes, or any other arrangement may be provided whereby upon rotation of said plate assurance is had that all the openings in said plate will pass underneath all the grain tubes and permit the grain to pass through the openings in said plate and enter the hopper 17. However, as grain and particularly wheat varies in kind and condition, it is necessary at times to provide for acceleration of the feeding through the plate 44, and for this purpose I provide a series of auxiliary openings 46 in the feeder plate 44 which are closed by a regulator device or devices In the construction shown the series of auX- iliary openings are arranged diametrically across the plate, as best shown in 3, and the-regulator devices comprise swinging closure plates 48, each of which closes oneralf of said series of auxiliary openings. Said plates are pivotally secured at 4Q in line with the auxiliary openings and to permit of this said closure plates are provided with notches 50, the notches of each plate permitting portions of the coperating plate to fit thereinto. These plates are also guided to prevent their moving out of contact with the under face of the feeder plate 44 by suitable guides 51 secured to the underside of said last-mentioned plate and to the outer end of each plate is secured a spring keeper 52 which is adapted to engage in two of a series of notches 53 formed on an annular rim 54 depending from the feeder plate 44.

Secured to the upper side of the feeder plate is a confining ring 55 which serves to confine the grain to the space inclosed thereby as it is fed from the lower ends of the grain tubes. Proj ecting upwardly from the feeder plate 44 is a confining ring 5G which is spaced from the ring 55 by an annular intervening space 57, said space` receiving any grain that may be forced over the edge of the confining ring 56, and in order that the overflow' of grain thus entering the annular space 57 may also be fed into the hopper 17, the feeder 44 is provided with an annular series of openings 58 which lie within the region defined by the depending iiange Said fiange 55 in addition to serving as a means to retain the closure plates in adjusted position also serves to prevent spreading of the grain passing through the openings 58, thereby assuring proper delivery of said overflow grain into the hopper 17. The periphery of the plate 44 is provided with gear teeth 59 with which meshes a gear wheel 60 secured to a vertically-disposed shaft 61 journaled in bearings 62, 63 secured, respectively, tothe upper and lower flanges 7, 8, respectively, of the casing.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft 61 is a bevel gear 64 which meshes with a bevel gear 65 secured to a horizontally-disposed shaft 66 journaled in a frame 67 supported by the casing 6 and a journal member 68 secured to casing, or in any suitable manner. Said shaft has a belt pulley 69 secured thereto by means ofwhich the shaft 66 may be rotated and in turn the feeder plate 44 caused to be rotated for the purpose of permitting the grain to pass therethrough and be fed into the hopper 17.

1n order to prevent clogging of the grain within the space between the feeder plate 44 of the lower ends of the tubes 15 and also with a view of keeping said plate clean in circular paths of the openings 45 therein, l provide a scraping device 70 which in preferred form consists of a wire having one end thereof secured axially to the underside of the lower head 14 of the casing and extended from such point radially with a nuinber of depending portions 71 formed by twisting the wire upon itself, said depending portions lying in contact with the upper face of the feeder plate 44 and as said plate rotates causing the grain to vbe Y scraped therefrom in the circula-r paths in which the openings 45 are arranged.

The operation of the device is as follows z-By means of any suitable feed hopper or otherwise, grain is delivered into the receiving receptacle or basket 28, the weight of the grain delivered into said receptacle or basket causing compression of the springs 35, thereby permitting the rods 31 to move downward and cause the regulator sleeve 22 to be elevated by the levers 36. The grain is fed from said receptacle or basket 28 through the openings 29 in the bottom thereof and into the grain tubes 15, the steam within the casing heating the grain within the tubes to the desired temperature and according to the kind and condition of the grain being treated. The chains 16 or the agitating devices within said tubes serve to prevent packing of the grain as it passes therethrough. The gra-in emerges from the lower ends of the tubes and is delivered upon the revolving feeder pla-te 44 and confined by the annular confining ring 55, and if for any reason the grain should overflow said ring, it is again confined by the upstanding rim 56 on said plate. The grain confined b v the ring 55 passes through the openings 45 in the rotating feeder plate, and gravitates into the hopper 17, and the overflow grain entering the annular space 57 between the ring 55 and rim 56 passes through. the smaller openings 58 and also gravitates into the hopper; thus assurance is had that there will be no loss of grain during the operation of the fappraratus. The cone or conical spreader 18 prevents packing of grain with-V in'the-hopper 17 and the latter leads the grain into the regulator sleeve 22 which is designed to feed the grainas quickly or as slowly as may be desired into the reducing hopper 24, from which latter it may be delivered to any desired point. During the rotation of the feeder plate 44, the scraping device 7() which is fixedly located within the space between the lower head of the casing and said plate, serves to scrape the grain from the plate into the openings 45 as they approach the depending portions 71 of said scraping device. Said scraping devicealso prevents packing of the grain within said space so that assurance is had of a proper feed. As the grain within the receptacle or basket 28 becomes emptied, the rods 31 are elevated, which causes the regulatorv sleeve 22 to be lowered and the feed space between the same and the cone or co-nical spreader 26 to be diminished in size, thus the feeding of the grain is at all times in proportion to the quantity withinthe receptacle or basket 28. 1f it should be desired, the regulator sleeve 22 may be retained in any adjusted-position by'tightening the set screws 23 and loosening the set screws V39 threaded'into the col* lars 38, YThe rods 81 would then be free to risel and lower without limparting motion to the levers 36. -lVhen it is desired to increase the flow of the grain throughv the rotating feeder plate 44, the spring keepers 52 or either of them may be disengaged from the notches of the annular depending rim 54 in which they are seated, and either or both closure plates swung to the desired extent to open the auxiliary opening 46 in said feeder plate to any degree desired.

It is apparent from the foregoing that changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention orsacriiilcing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,- j

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be passed for treatment, of a hopper at the lower end ofv said casing to receive said grain, a` regulating device associated with said hopper for regulating the discharge of the grain, a receiving receptacle at the upper end of said casing, means whereby the same is yieldingly .supported so as to yield under and-according to the weight therein, and operative connection between said receiving receptacle and said regulating device whereby the latter is automatically adjusted .according to the weight of the grain within said receptacle.

2. In an apparatus ofthe kind described, the combination with a. casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be passed for treatment, of a receiving receptacle at the upper end of said casing having brackets extending therefrom, rods secured to said brackets and extending downwardly beyond the lower end of said casing, springs surrounding said rods and bearing with opposite ends against said brackets and said casing, respectively, a regulator device beneath said casing to regulate the discharge of grain, and operative connection between said regulating device and said rods whereby said regulating device is adjusted according to the position of the receiving receptacle.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for treatment of grain, of a receiving receptacle adapted to feed grain to said easing and being yieldingly supported to rise and fall according to the weight carried thereby, a hopper beneath said casing, a conical spreader supported axially beneath said hopper, a regulator sleeve surrounding the lower end of said hopper and the upper portion of said conical spreader, levers pivotally supported between their ends and engaging said regulator sleeve at their inner ends, and means for connection between the outer ends of aidlevers and said receiving receptacle.

4f. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grainfof a receiving receptacle delivering grain to said casing and yieldingly supported, a hopper at the lower end of said casing, a conical spreader arranged axially with said hopper, a regulator sleeve surrounding a portion of said hopper, levers pivotally supported between their ends and each having one of its ends engaging said regulator sleeve, rods secured to said receiving receptacle and movable with the same, and collars secured to said rods and having pivotal connection with the other ends of said levers.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with acasing for the treatment of grain, of a hopper associated with the lower end of said casing and having a cylindrical portion at its lower end, a regulator sleeve surrounding the cylindrical portion of said hopper and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, and a conical spreader arranged axially with said regulator sleeve and extending vupwardly into the same.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain, of a hopper receiving the grain from said casing and having a cylindrical lower end, a spreader associated with the cylindrical lower end of said hopper, a regulator sleeve surrounding said lower end of the hopper and a portion of said spreader, and set screws passing through said regulator sleeve and impinging against said hopper, said regulator sleeve being adjustable to increase or diminish the space between the lower end thereof and said conical spreader.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain having grain escape openings, of a feeder element.y beneath said casing spaced from said escape openings and having openings therein, and means for moving said feeder element.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain having escape openings at its c lower end, of a movable feeder element beneath said casing provided with an upstanding confining ring and with a series of openings within the region bounded by said confining ring, a hopper beneath said feeder element into which the grain passes when escaping through the openings in said feeder element, and means to cause the grain overflowing said confining ring to be di- 'rected into said hopper.

9. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain having escape openings at its lower end, of a movable feeder plate beneath said easing and spaced from said escape openings, said feeder plate having openings therein, a hopper beneath said feeder plate into which grain passing through the openings in said plate is caused to gravitate, and means to close a portion of the openings in said feeder plate or open the same to any extent desired.

l0. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be passed for treatment, of a movable feeder plate arranged beneath said casing and spaced from the lower ends of said grain tubes, said feeder plate having openings therein and being provided with an upstanding confining ring and an upstanding confining rim surrounding said confining ring and separated from the latter by an intervening space, said feeder plate having a series of openings between said confining ring and confining rim.

11. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be passed for treatment, of a rotatable feeder plate arranged beneath said easing and spaced from the lower ends of said grain tubes, said feeder plate having two series of openings and an upstanding confining ring, and a closure device for closing one of said series of openings or for opening the same to any extent desired.

12. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain provided with means for discharging the grain from the lower end thereof, of a rotatable feeder plate beneath said casing -provided with openings and with a depending flange, and a closure device movably secured to the underside of said feeder plate and adapted to close a part of said openings or open the same to any eXtent desired, said closure device having means engaging said depending flange to cause said closure device to be held in any adjusted position.

13. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is passed for treatment, of a rotatable feeder plate arranged beneath said casing and spaced from the lower ends of said grain tubes, said feeder plate having openings and an annular depending fiange provided with a series of notches, and a closure plate pivotally secured to the underside of said feeder plate and adapted to close a part of said openings or open the same to any extent desired, said closure plate having a spring keeper adapted to engage any of the series of notches of said depending flange to retain said plate in any adjusted position. p

14. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain having discharge openings at its lower end, of a rotatable feeder plate beneath said casing and spaced from said discharge openings, said feeder plate having a series of openings traveling in circular paths alined with said discharge openings and having also a second diametrically arranged series of openings and a depending flange bounding the region in which the openings of said plate are located, and a pair of closure plates pivotally secured to the underside of said feeder plate and adapted to close said diametrically arranged series of openings or to openpthe same ory any number of the same to any extent desired, said closure plates having means to engage said depending flange whereby said plates aretretained in any adjusted position.

15. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be passed for treatment, of a rotatable feeder plate arranged beneath said casing and spacedvfrom the lower ends of said grain tubes, said feeder plate having'v an upstanding confining ring, a series of openings bounded by said confining ring, an upstanding rim spaced from said confining ring and surrounding the latter and anY annular series of openings between said confining vring and confining rim, and a hopper arranged beneath said feeder plate, and a closure device adapted to close a part of said Vfirst-mentioned series of openings or open the same to any degree desired.

16. In an apparatus of the kind described,

the combination with a casing having discharge openings at its lower end and brackets secured toy said casing having rollers rotatable thereon, of a rotatable feeder plateA supported by said rollers, means for rotating said feeder plate, and a hopper beneath said feeder plate, said feeder plate having openings for thev passage of grain from said casing to said hopper.

17. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having a series of discharge openings at its lower end, a rotatable feeder plate provided with openings traveling in paths in line with said discharge openings, and a scraping device secured to the underside of said casing coacting with the upper face of said feeder plate, for the purpose described.

18. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be f passed for treatment, of a rotatable feeder plate arranged beneath said casing and spaced from the lower ends of said grain tubes, said rotatable feeder plate having openings therein traveling in circular paths alined with the lower ends of said grain tubes, and a scraping device at the lower ends of said casing having depending por-V tions arranged to co-act with the upper face plate travel.

19. In an apparatus of the kind described,

Vof said feeder plate and positioned in the circular paths in which the openings of said the combination with a casing having grain tubes therein through which grain is to be passed for treatment, of a ro-tatable feeder plate provided with openings traveling in circular paths alined with the lower ends of `said grain tubes, and a scraping device com- 1 prising a wire secured at or near the center of said casing and fashioned to provide depending portions co-acting with the upper side of said feeder plate, the outer end of said scraping device being free and the depending portions thereof being positioned in the circular paths in which the openings in said feeder plate travel.

20. The combination with a series of independent ways, of a way intercepting platform below and spaced from said ways to hold material inthe ways for heating during a time interval, and driving means for the platform tovmove the platform out of way intercepting position as to each way for L a less time 'interval than the heating interval.

21.` The combination with a series of independent ways, of a way flow intercepting means embodying a rotary member'below and spaced from said ways effecting flow interception of each way during more than half of its rotation.

22. The combination with ,a series of in- 'i dependent ways, ofv way flow intercepting means below, and spaced from, said ways and embodying a way intercepting platform, and a continuously rotating driving member for giving the platform a period of travel including a way opening interval and a greater way intercepting interval.

23. The combination with a drum heater having a series of independent ways therethrough, the walls of said drum and ways forming therebetween heating medium space for directly heating the ways, and means for supplying a heating medium thereto, of continuous driving means, and a way intercepting device below said drum, spaced from said ways, embodying a member driven by said means to move for an interval int-o way intercepting position .as to each way, and for a less interval. out of way intercepting position as to each way.

24. The combination with a drum heater having a series of independent ways therethrough, the walls of said drum and ways forming therebetween heating medium space for directly heating the outside of the ways, and means for supplying a heating medium thereto, of a device below and spaced from said ways, including means for periodically retarding the iiow through each way and precluding variable material flow in the different ways, and driving mechanism for the means.

25. The combination with a drum having heads therein and a plurality of independent ways connecting said heads having common delivery and common discharge passages, a device in the discharge passage including way iow intercepting means spaced from said ways, and a driving device connected to actuate said means out of way intercepting position with reference to the ways consecutively.

26. The combination with a drum having heads therein and a plurality of independent ways connecting said heads, of a way flow interrupter embodying means spaced from said ways, and a continuous driving device relatively to actuate the means as to the ways.

27. rlhe combination with a drum having heads therein, and a plurality of independent ways connecting said heads, of relatively movable means spaced rom said ways and on relative movement adapted to open and close them to tlow'in consecutive order, and ak driving device :tor said means.

28. The combination in a continuous How treating device of a plurality of independent ways having common delivery and common discharge passages, a flow control device in the discharge passage, flow governing means in the delivery passage, actuating connections from the means to the device whereby upon increased supply to the delivery passage to increase discharge passage capacity by actuating said device, .and additional independently operable means to vary flow in the separate ways.

29. The combination in a continuous iow treating device of a plurality of independent ways having common delivery and common discharge passages, and flow control means in the discharge passage embodying mechanism movable relatively to the ways to vary the iow through the ways, and a driving device for the mechanism.

30. rl'he combination in a continuous flow treating device of a plurality ot independent ways having common delivery and common discharge passages, a flow check device in the discharge passage, How governing means in the delivery passage, actuating connections from the means to the device to vary the eiifective common discharge passage by actuating said device, an additional flow check device for the separate ways, and driving means for the separate-ways Howcheck-device.

3l. The combination in a continuous flow treating device of a plurality of independent ways having common delivery and common discharge passages, a flow check device in the discharge passage, flow governing means in the delivery passage, actuating connections from the means to the device to vary the effective common discharge passage by actuating the device, a member having perforations for registry with the separate ways, and driving means for movingl the member relatively to the ways to effect check in material flow through said ways. 32. rlhe combination with a heater having a plurality of independent ways, and a rotatable perforate member coacting with and spaced from the ways and when rotated adapted alternately to open and close the ways in consecutive order to preclude excessive variation in relative way flow.

33. A grain heater provided with a series of independent parallel equal length ways therein,and a continuously rotatable member coacting with and spaced from the ways alternately to open and close the ways to control their flow, and means for continuously rotating the same.

34. A heater provided with a plurality of independent ways therein having a common delivery passage and a common discharge passage, and flow control means for the separate ways, said means disposed in the discharge passage and including a device movable relatively to the ways to retard way flow, and continuous driving means for the device.

35. A grain heater provided with a plurality of independent ways, said ways disposed in circular series, and a member spaced from the ways and having openings therein for each of the circular series of ways, and means for causing the same to travel to bring the openings successively into register with the individual openings of each series of ways.

36. A continuous flow grain heater provided with a plurality of independent ways, a movable iiow controlling member spaced from the ways and provided with openings to register with certain of said ways, uniformly-operating member-actuatingmeans for similarly timing successive flow registry of the openings with the separate ways, and driving means for the member.

37. A continuous flow grain heater pro vided with a plurality of independent ways, and a movable flow controlling member spaced from said ways, said member pro vided with an opening for registering with the ways successively, and driving means for similarly timing successive flow registries of the opening with said Ways.

38. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing provided with a plurality of ways therethrough for the treatment of gra-in, said ways being jacketed by said casing to provide a chamber for a heat controlling medium, of a hopper at the lower end of said casing to collect the grain from said ways, a regulating device associated with said hopper for regulating the discharge of the grain and embodying ad- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the justing means for varying the hopper discharge, including a movable member, a lever connected thereto, a hopper above the casing and provided with grain flow actuated means, and connection between the grain flow actuated means and the lever to actuate the saine.

39. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a casing for the treatment of grain, of a hopper associated with said casing and having a cylindrical portion at its lower end, a regulator sleeve surrounding the cylindrical portion of said hopper and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, grain iow actuated mechanism for the sleeve comprising a hopper delivering to said casing, and connections from the hopper to the sleeve to actuate the sleeve, and a conical spreader arranged axially with said regulator sleeve and extending upwardly into the same.

In testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK A. WEGNER.

Witnesses:

Doneer W. KELLOGG, JOHN C. COLLINS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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